Category: Expert Challenges
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Insurance Adjuster Expert Witness’ Testimony Admitted Despite Methodological Deficiencies in Gathering Prices
Plaintiff Ram Krishana Inc., a Louisiana business owned by Mukesh and Kailash Zaveri, operated as Motel 6 (“Hotel Property”) at 2022 Ruth Street, Sulphur, Louisiana. ANK Holdings, LLC, a Louisiana limited liability company with the same Mukesh and Kailash Zaveri as its only members, owned a restaurant (“Restaurant Property”) at an adjoining address. Defendant Mt.…
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Safety Expert Witness’ Lack of Consideration of Certain Documents did not Render his Opinion Unreliable
This lawsuit arises out of the designation of Sassine Avenue as a “no truck route.” Plaintiff, Kirk Thomas, engages in various agricultural and commercial pursuits, many of which involve the use of his property. Consequently, commercial vehicles commonly travel to and from Thomas’s property. Plaintiffs Thomas and KT Trucking and Cattle, LLC, asserted that the only safe…
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Law And Legal Expert Witness Improperly Speculates about the Defendant’s Motivation
This is an insurance bad faith case stemming from Westfield’s handling of a first-party property insurance claim following a fire. Plaintiffs JME Investments, LLC (“JME”) and Hiway Bar, LLC (“Hiway Bar”) (together, “Plaintiffs”) filed claims after a kitchen fire damaged their property on July 12, 2020. The fire burned a building owned by JME. Constructed…
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Risk Management Expert Witness’ Testimony on Economic Injury Conditionally Admitted
In June 2008, USA experienced the collapse of the housing market and the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression. For homeowners who put down less than 20% for the purchase of their homes, most were required to purchase private mortgage insurance to protect their lenders in the event of default. Many of those private…
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Elevator and Escalator Expert Witness’ Testimony on Elevator Malfunction Admitted
In September 2019, Plaintiff Nathan White, a security guard at the Cosmopolitan Hotel in Las Vegas, inhaled fumes from a malfunctioning elevator while responding to a smoke alarm in the elevator’s brake room. Days later, Defendant TKE’s (formerly known as Thyssenkrupp Elevator) employees recklessly destroyed the relevant elevator parts. Plaintiff sued Defendant TKE under strict products…
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Psychology Expert Witness’ Testimony on Plaintiff’s Suicidal Ideation Admitted
Plaintiff was raped in September 2018, when she was a student at Louisiana Tech University. Her attacker—known to her only as “Daniel”—was also a Tech student, having recently transferred from University of Louisiana Lafayette (“UL Lafayette ). At the time, Plaintiff did not know that “Daniel” was a sexual predator who had been reported for…
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Life Care Planning Expert Witness Allowed to Testify Despite Her Limited Experience with Pediatric Patients
On July 29, 2022, a minor, Kamila, represented by her mother Keila Robles Figueroa (“Plaintiff” or “Robles”), filed a medical malpractice lawsuit against Dr. Juan C. Castañer (“Castañer”), Presbyterian Community Hospital, Inc. (“the Hospital”) and the Hospital Pediátrico Universitario (collectively “Defendants”). The allegations of negligence in this lawsuit are centered on the medical care providers’ treatment…
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Biomechanical Engineering Expert Witness’ Opinion Supported by Industry-Approved Methods
On November 6, 2022, the Plaintiff, Jean Joyce Lejeune, was driving a 2021 Toyota Camry westbound on I-10. The Plaintiff alleged that while she was traveling, an 18-wheeler switched lanes and collided with her vehicle. The parties disputed which vehicle deviated from its respective lane. The Defendant, Moses Nganga Rugu, was the driver of the…
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Ski Safety Expert Witness is Not Qualified to Opine on the Ultimate Mechanism of Injury
This case involves a ski collision that occurred on March 19, 2023, involving Plaintiff, Tasha Barber and Defendant, Christine Mack that occurred at Aspen Highlands Ski Resort. The Plaintiff alleged that the Defendant was skiing uphill of her and had the primary duty to avoid colliding with the Plaintiff. As a result, the Plaintiff sought…
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Neonatology Expert Witness Not Allowed to Opine on Autism
On July 29, 2022, a minor, Kamila, represented by her mother Keila Robles Figueroa (“Plaintiff” or “Robles”), filed a medical malpractice lawsuit against Dr. Juan C. Castañer (“Castañer”), Presbyterian Community Hospital, Inc. (“the Hospital”) and the Hospital Pediátrico Universitario (collectively “Defendants”). The allegations of negligence in this lawsuit are centered on the medical care providers’ treatment…