This lawsuit arises out of the death of Timothy L. Stringer (“Stringer”) resulting from a May 15, 2021, explosion on an offshore oil and gas production platform owned by Fieldwood Energy LLC (“Fieldwood”).
At the time of the accident, Stringer was working on the platform and, along with another employee, was performing a pressure integrity test on a well. To perform this test, Stringer was provided with a Crystal XP2i Digital Test Gauge (“Crystal Gauge”) to monitor the internal pressure on the pipe casing. Ametek, Inc. is the manufacturer of the Crystal Gauge, and Robin Instrument & Specialty, LLC (“Robin”) distributed it to Stringer’s employer.
Stringer’s spouse and children alleged that Ametek and Robin failed to warn users like Stringer of the foreseeable misuse that the Crystal Gauge could be set to read in either PSI or Bar and of the dangers associated with misinterpreting or mixing up the units of pressure.
Ametek, joined by Robin, argued that Plaintiffs’ expert, Glenn Gleason (“Gleason”), is unqualified and that his report and testimony are speculative and unreliable.
Mechanical Engineering Expert Witness
Glenn H. Gleason is a licensed Professional Engineer with a Ph.D., Master of Science, and Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering. During his academic career, Gleason claims that he became proficient with different types of physical mechanisms and instruments commonly used to measure pressure.
Gleason also served as a consultant at an engineering firm where he conducted “mechanical system and equipment failure analysis” and tested mechanical relief valves, pressure vessels, and the use of pneumatic and hydraulic equipment requiring the monitoring of pressure gauges.
Discussion by the Court
The Court found that Gleason is qualified to serve as an expert in this matter due to his educational and professional experience. Any doubts as to Gleason’s qualifications are suitable for cross-examination, but these doubts do not warrant exclusion.
The Court next turned to Gleason’s methodology in reaching his proffered opinion. In his report, Gleason opined that Ametek could and should have: (i) presented clear warnings accompanying pressure units so consumers can disable unused unit systems on the gauges; and (ii) limited available unit systems through factory default settings on gauges that would be used in industries that only use PSI.
Gleason based his opinion on investigations of the incident conducted by other engineering firms, the market in which the Crystal Gauge was sold (where PSI was the sole unit of measure), deposition testimony stating that Ametek disabled all other units besides Bar in the Chinese market, the Crystal Gauge’s operation manual, and a physical inspection of the Crystal Gauge itself. All told, these factual bases are sufficient for this Court to find that Gleason’s report is not so speculative as to warrant exclusion.
Doubts about an expert’s qualifications or the factual basis for their testimony generally concerns the weight of the evidence, not its admissibility. As a result, doubts regarding Gleason’s qualifications or the factual basis for his opinions are best left to a jury, not this Court.
Held
The Court denied Defendants’ Daubert motion to exclude the testimony of Glenn Gleason.
Key Takeaway
An expert may base an opinion on facts or data in the case that the expert has been made aware of or personally observed. If experts in the particular field would reasonably rely on those kinds of facts or data in forming an opinion on the subject, they need not be admissible for the opinion to be admitted.
Case Details:
| Case Caption: | Stringer V. Robin Instrument & Specialty, LLC |
| Docket Number: | 6:23cv415 |
| Court Name: | United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana, Lafayette Division |
| Order Date: | February 20, 2026 |
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