Category: Human Factors Expert Witness
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Human Factors Expert’s Opinion on Driver Inattentiveness Excluded
This case arises out of an alleged design defect and failure to warn regarding a 2017 Toyota Tacoma. Lee Griffin was the primary driver of a 2017 Toyota Tacoma. After Griffin died due to accidental carbon monoxide poisoning from an automobile inadvertently continuing to run in the garage, Caroline Griffin filed suit individually and as executor…
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Human Factors Expert Barred from Testifying on Whether Injury Was Foreseeable
Monserrate Caraballo (“Caraballo” or “Plaintiff”) has sued Home Depot U.S.A., Inc. (“Home Depot” or “Defendant”) under state common law tort for negligence, alleging that Defendant’s negligent display of boxed tile resulted in injuries to Plaintiff’s left eye. Caraballo filed a motion to exclude certain testimony from Home Depot’s expert, Dr. Robert Rauschenberger. Human Factors Expert…
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Police Practices Expert’s Use-of-Force Opinions Excluded
Plaintiff Deven Barrette (“Plaintiff) brings this action against Defendants the Village of Swanton; Kyle Gagne (“Defendant Gagne”); Jordan M. Mosher (“Defendant Mosher”); Robert Recore (“Defendant Recore”); and Leonard Stell (“Defendant Stell”); as well as John and Jane Does I-X (the “Doe Defendants”). Plaintiff’s claims arose from his detention by Swanton Village Police Department (“SVPD”) officers on…
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Human Factors Expert Lacks Expertise in the Context of Officer-Involved Shooting
Essentially, this case involves a civil rights and state tort claim stemming from the fatal shooting of Mickel Lewis, Sr., by Kern County Sheriff Deputy Jason Ayala on October 2, 2020. Therefore, the central legal question is whether Deputy Ayala’s use of deadly force was justified. Consequently, the Plaintiffs have filed a motion to exclude…
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Human Factors Expert Witness Improperly Relied on Studies Regarding the Climbing Abilities of Children
Plaintiffs Kyle and Annaleah Justice raised claims of negligence and strict liability against Defendants Bestway (USA), Inc. and Rural King under the Missouri Wrongful Death Statute. Plaintiffs’ claims arose from the drowning death of their minor daughter, E.M.J., in an above-ground pool on August 3, 2019. On March 10, 2022, Bestway USA filed a Third-party…
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Human Factors Expert Witness’ Opinion About the Alleged Design Deficiencies of the Boppy Newborn Lounger Admitted
The Boppy Newborn Lounger (“BNL”) was on the market for nearly sixteen years, and during that time, Boppy sold over 3.3 million BNLs. Boppy’s warnings and marketing made clear that the BNL was intended to give caregivers a place to lay infants down for supervised awake time only, but never for sleeping. As with any…
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Human Factors Expert Witness’ Opinions About Tripping on the Raised Fuel Pump Excluded
On November 30, 2022, Plaintiff, Cynthia Burgett, was at the Hy-Vee Fast & Fresh convenience store in Prairie Village, Kansas, to purchase gas. The gas station’s fuel pump islands are shaped like an “H” and also referred to by the parties as a “dog bone” shape. The fuel pump islands are elevated above the parking…
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Human Factors Expert Witness’ Ergonomics Analysis Not Fully Excluded Despite Alleged Lack of Testing
Stephen Ratcliffe has brought a lawsuit against BRP, the manufacturer, and Tidd’s Sport Shop, Inc. (Tidd’s), the dealer, of a 2019 Can-Am Maverick X3, a utility terrain vehicle (UTV), asserting negligence and strict liability claims arising out of an incident in which Ratcliffe’s Maverick X3 rolled onto its side and crushed his arm. The Plaintiff…
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Evidentiary Standard of Reliability is lower than the merits standard of correctness;Court admits the testimony of Human Factors Expert Witness regarding the adequacy of the product’s warning labels in this failure-to-warn suit
In a products liability action, Plaintiffs Timothy and Jean Moore filed a failure-to-warn lawsuit against Defendant Combe Inc., the manufacturer of the Just For Men brand of hair dye products. The Moores alleged that Combe knew or should have known that their products could cause vitiligo and/or skin depigmentation but failed to adequately warn users…
