Attorney(s) appearing for the Case
Joseph Alexander Anderson, Jr, Plaintiff, represented by G. Patterson Keahey , LAW OFFICES OF G PATTERSON KEAHEY & Kenneth D. Lougee , SIEGFRIED & JENSEN.
Arva Anderson, Plaintiff, represented by G. Patterson Keahey , LAW OFFICES OF G PATTERSON KEAHEY & James Wade Gent , THE GENT LAW FIRM.
Ford Motor Company, Defendant, represented by Dan R. Larsen , DORSEY & WHITNEY & Karthik Nadesan , NADESAN BECK PC.
General Motors Corporation, Defendant, represented by Dan R. Larsen , DORSEY & WHITNEY & Karthik Nadesan .
American Standard, Inc., Defendant, represented by Kamie F. Brown , RAY QUINNEY & NEBEKER, Stewart O. Peay , SNELL & WILMER, Tracy H. Fowler , SNELL & WILMER & Scott A. DuBois , WRONA GORDON & DUBOIS.
Bondex International, Defendant, represented by Dennis H. Markusson , MARKUSSON GREEN & JARVIS & Timothy C. Houpt , JONES WALDO HOLBROOK & MCDONOUGH.
Borg Warner Corporation, Defendant, represented by Melinda A. Morgan , MICHAEL BEST & FRIEDRICH LLP.
Buffalo Pumps, Defendant, represented by Mary Price Birk , BAKER & HOSTETLER LLP & Patricia W. Christensen , PARR BROWN GEE & LOVELESS.
Carrier Corporation, Defendant, represented by Katherine E. Venti , PARSONS BEHLE & LATIMER & John P. Ball, Jr , PARSONS BEHLE & LATIMER.
Certainteed Corporation, Defendant, represented by Mary Price Birk , BAKER & HOSTETLER LLP, Patricia W. Christensen , PARR BROWN GEE & LOVELESS & Ronald L. Hellbusch , BAKER & HOSTETLER LLP.
Cleaver Brooks, Defendant, represented by Melinda A. Morgan , MICHAEL BEST & FRIEDRICH LLP.
Crane Co, Defendant, represented by Katherine E. Venti , PARSONS BEHLE & LATIMER & John P. Ball, Jr , PARSONS BEHLE & LATIMER.
Durabala Manufacturing, Defendant, represented by Jonathan L. Hawkins , MORGAN MINNOCK RICE & JAMES.
Flowserve Corp, Defendant, represented by Barbara K. Berrett , BERRETT & HANNA LC, Casey K. McGarvey , EdiZONE LLC, Rebecca L. Hill , CHRISTENSEN & JENSEN PC, Scot A. Boyd , CHRISTENSEN & JENSEN PC, Stewart O. Peay , SNELL & WILMER, Tracy H. Fowler , SNELL & WILMER, Kamie F. Brown , RAY QUINNEY & NEBEKER & Melinda A. Morgan , MICHAEL BEST & FRIEDRICH LLP.
Fluor Corporation, Defendant, represented by Patricia W. Christensen , PARR BROWN GEE & LOVELESS.
Foster Wheeler North America Corporation, Defendant, represented by Mark J. Williams , PRICE PARKINSON & KERR PLLC.
Garlock Sealing Technologies, Defendant, represented by Clinton A. McAdams , J JOYCE & ASSOCIATES, Joseph J. Joyce , J JOYCE & ASSOCIATES & Ryan J. Schriever , MYLER INJURY.
Georgia Pacific Corporation, Defendant, represented by Katherine E. Venti , PARSONS BEHLE & LATIMER & John P. Ball, Jr , PARSONS BEHLE & LATIMER.
Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, Defendant, represented by Scot A. Boyd , CHRISTENSEN & JENSEN PC & Rebecca L. Hill .
Hamilton Materials, Defendant, represented by Melinda A. Morgan , MICHAEL BEST & FRIEDRICH LLP.
Henry Vogt Machine, Defendant, represented by Barbara K. Berrett , BERRETT & HANNA LC & Mark D. Taylor , LEWIS HANSEN WALDO PLESHE FLANDERS LLC.
Hill Brothers Chemical, Defendant, represented by Scot A. Boyd , CHRISTENSEN & JENSEN PC & Rebecca L. Hill .
Honeywell, Inc., Defendant, represented by Sara E. Bouley , ACTION LAW LLC & Tonn K. Petersen , PERKINS COIE LLP.
Industrial Supply, Defendant, represented by Jonathan L. Hawkins , MORGAN MINNOCK RICE & JAMES.
Oakfabco, Defendant, represented by Gregory S. Roberts , RAY QUINNEY & NEBEKER.
Philips Electronics North America Corporation, Defendant, represented by Mary Price Birk , BAKER & HOSTETLER LLP & Patricia W. Christensen , PARR BROWN GEE & LOVELESS.
Sepco, Defendant, represented by Alan Scott Goldberg , SELMAN BREITMAN LLP, Mary Price Birk , BAKER & HOSTETLER LLP, Ollie M. Harton , HAWKINS PARNELL THACKSON & YOUNG LLP, Ronald L. Hellbusch , BAKER & HOSTETLER LLP & Patricia W. Christensen , PARR BROWN GEE & LOVELESS.
SPX Cooling Technologies, Defendant, represented by Melinda A. Morgan , MICHAEL BEST & FRIEDRICH LLP.
TH Agriculture & Nutrition, Defendant, represented by Gregory S. Roberts , RAY QUINNEY & NEBEKER.
Union Carbide Corporation, Defendant, represented by Mary Price Birk , BAKER & HOSTETLER LLP, Patricia W. Christensen , PARR BROWN GEE & LOVELESS & Ronald L. Hellbusch , BAKER & HOSTETLER LLP.
Warren Pumps, Defendant, represented by Scot A. Boyd , CHRISTENSEN & JENSEN PC.
Westinghouse Electric Corporation, Defendant, represented by Stewart O. Peay , SNELL & WILMER, Tracy H. Fowler , SNELL & WILMER & Kamie F. Brown , RAY QUINNEY & NEBEKER.
York International Corporation, Defendant, represented by Dennis C. Ferguson , WILLIAMS & HUNT, Timothy J. Bywater , WILLIAMS & HUNT & Mark R. Anderson , BERRETT & HANNA LC.
Zurn Industries, Inc., Defendant, represented by Scot A. Boyd , CHRISTENSEN & JENSEN PC & Rebecca L. Hill .
Hercules Inc, Defendant, represented by Katherine E. Venti , PARSONS BEHLE & LATIMER & John P. Ball, Jr , PARSONS BEHLE & LATIMER.
Utah Power & Light Company, Defendant, represented by Gregory S. Roberts , RAY QUINNEY & NEBEKER & Rick L. Rose , RAY QUINNEY & NEBEKER.
DaimlerChrysler, Defendant, represented by Scot A. Boyd , CHRISTENSEN & JENSEN PC & Rebecca L. Hill .
Goulds Pumps, Defendant, represented by H. Scott Jacobson, Jr. , STRONG & HANNI.
Copeland Corp, Interested Party, represented by Richard K. Glauser , SMITH & GLAUSER PC.
Kaiser Gypsum Company, Interested Party, represented by Kamie F. Brown , RAY QUINNEY & NEBEKER, Stewart O. Peay , SNELL & WILMER & Tracy H. Fowler , SNELL & WILMER.
United States District Court, D. Utah.
MEMORANDUM DECISION AND ORDER GRANTING IN PART DEFENDANTS' MOTIONS IN LIMINE TO EXCLUDE REFERENCE TO MESOTHELIOMA AS AN ASBETOS-RELATED ILLNESS OR "ASBESTOS CANCER"
TED STEWART, District Judge.
This matter is before the Court on Defendant Sepco Corporation's Motion in Limine to Exclude Reference to Mesothelioma as an Asbetos-Related Illness or "Asbestos Cancer" (Docket No. 407) and Defendant Flowserve Corporation's (f/k/a Durco International, Inc.) Motion in Limine to Exclude Reference to Mesothelioma as an Asbetos-Related Illness or "Asbestos Cancer" (Docket No. 442). For the reasons set forth below, the Court will grant Defendants' Motions in part.
Defendants anticipate that Plaintiff will solicit testimony from lay witnesses that Plaintiff contracted an asbestos-related cancer.1 Defendants argue that non-expert testimony by lay witnesses as to the cause of Plaintiff's cancer and death is improper under Rule 701 of the Federal Rules of Evidence.2 Plaintiff expects its medical experts to testify at trial that asbestos is the only known occupational cause of mesothelioma in the United States.3 Rule 701 states in part, "If a witness is not testifying as an expert, testimony in the form of an opinion is limited to one that is . . . not based on scientific, technical, or other specialized knowledge within the scope of Rule 702."4 The Court will grant Defendants' Motions to the extent that the Court will require Plaintiff to establish by expert testimony that Plaintiff's mesothelioma was caused by exposure to products containing asbestos. Lay witnesses may testify to facts of which they are aware; for example, what diagnosis was offered by physicians as to the cause of Plaintiff's illness.
Defendants also seek to prevent Plaintiff's counsel from referring to mesothelioma as "asbestos cancer" throughout questioning of Plaintiff or any lay witnesses.5 The Court will grant Defendants' Motions in so far as they require Plaintiff to first establish by expert testimony that exposure to asbestos is a known cause of mesothelioma in accordance with Rules 701 and 702. Once Plaintiff lays proper foundation that asbestos is a known cause of mesothelioma, the Court will not prevent Plaintiff's counsel from using the phrase "asbestos cancer" or equivalents throughout trial.
It is therefore
ORDERED that Defendants' Motions in Limine to Exclude Reference to Mesothelioma as an Asbestos-Related Illness or "Asbestos Cancer" (Docket Nos. 407 and 442) are GRANTED IN PART as set forth above.
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