Tag: Legal Conclusion
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Legal Conclusions Do Not Necessitate the Wholesale Exclusion of Insurance Expert Witness’ Testimony
Plaintiff Ashley Fawcett was in a car accident in 2017, while she was covered by an insurance policy issued by Defendant Standard Fire Insurance Company (doing business as Travelers Insurance Company (“Travelers”)). Fawcett opened claims with Travelers, and alleged in this lawsuit that Travelers unreasonably investigated and evaluated her claim for underinsured motorist (“UIM”) benefits.…
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Law Enforcement Expert Witness’ Conclusions Regarding Control Excluded
In the early hours of September 24, 2021, Cedric Lofton was arrested for allegedly battering officers of the Wichita Police Department. WPD determined that, due to his arrest, Lofton needed to be taken into custody. Because Lofton was still a juvenile, he was transported to the Sedgwick County Juvenile Intake and Assessment Center (“JIAC”) for…
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Retirement Plan Expert Witness’ State of Mind Opinions Excluded
In 2016, Defendants Signode Industrial Group, LLC, and Illinois Tool Works, Inc. unlawfully terminated promised healthcare benefits for Plaintiffs, a class of retirees and their dependents. On March 26, 2019, this Court enjoined Defendants to reinstate Plaintiffs’ healthcare benefits that were in effect before January 1, 2016. Defendants implemented a new healthcare benefits plan effective…
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Safety Expert Witness’ Testimony on Deficient Inspections Limited
Plaintiff Bailey Aldrich slipped and fell from a single step landing at a United States post office, injuring her foot. Aldrich testified that as a result of her fall, all of her weight landed on her right foot, and she broke three bones in the top of her right foot close to her ankle. She then…
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Opposing Experts’ Testimony On Fire Origin and Cause Investigation Partly Excluded
This matter arises from a July 30, 2022, lightning strike in Water Valley, Mississippi, which caused a fire and ultimately the destruction of a warehouse and its contents, including automotive components owned by the Plaintiff Kodaco and stored in the warehouse. Kodaco claims “approximately $3,500,000.00 worth of business property” was stored at the subject warehouse,…
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Fire Investigation Expert Witness’ Legal Conclusions About the Parties’ Responsibilities under Contracts Excluded
On the evening of July 30, 2022, lightning struck WareHouse’s property at 121 Industrial Park Drive causing a fire at the warehouse. Shilla Industrial Co., Ltd. (“Plaintiff”) is a South Korean corporation that manufactures automobile parts and maintains suppliers in Mississippi and other southern states. Shilla alleges “approximately $5,000,000.00 worth of business property” was stored at…
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Corporate Law Expert Witness Improperly Opines on Defendant’s Mental State
Douglas Worman owns and operates Worman Forest Management, LLC (“WFM”), a limited liability company providing forestry services to various public and private entities. Worman’s spouse owned CRW Resources, LLC (“CRW”), another forestry services limited liability company. Worman was a signer on several of CRW’s bank accounts. In 2015, Worman entered into a factoring agreement with…
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Land Use Expert Witness’ Testimony Regarding General Land Use and Development Industry Standards Rejected
This federal diversity action arises out of a commercial lease agreement for a three-story building located at 2555 Park Boulevard in the City of Palo Alto, California (“City”). Plaintiff KJ-Park, LLC (“KJ-Park”) retained Erik Schoennauer, a land use consultant, to testify about land use entitlement and permitting procedures relating to the subject property. Defendants Match…
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Law And Legal Expert Witness’ Testimony as to the Existence of Probable Cause Excluded
In this action, the Frazier Parties alleged that the Eagle Air Parties lacked probable cause to sue them for defamation and other similar claims in an underlying lawsuit that concluded in 2020 (the “Underlying Action”). The Frazier Parties claimed that the Underlying Action damaged Sentinel’s existing or prospective client relationships, resulting in lost profits of…
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Mortgage Lending Expert Witness’ Testimony Regarding Deviation from HUD Standards Limited
On November 22, 2019, Plaintiffs Alfredo and Chelsie Dominguez (“collectively “Plaintiffs” or “Dominguez”) refinanced their manufactured home with Wallick & Volk, working with loan originator and W&V employee, Christina Bingham. In February 2020, W&V sold the loan and transferred servicing to The Money Source, Inc. (“TMS”). Nine months later in November 2020, Plaintiffs’ hazard insurance…
