Opinion
Case No. 14-11837
02-16-2017
SHAWN HODGES, Plaintiff, v. CORIZON HEALTH, INC., et al., Defendants.
ORDER GRANTING DEFENDANTS' MOTION TO PRECLUDE EXPERT TESTIMONY
This matter came before the court on defendants Squier, Buskirk and Berhane's July 20, 2016 Motion to Preclude Plaintiff from Eliciting Expert Testimony from Any Witnesses at Trial. Plaintiff Shawn Hodges filed a response August 10, 2016; and Defendants filed a reply August 17, 2016. Oral argument was heard February 2, 2017.
BACKGROUND FACTS
Following motions to dismiss and for summary judgment, the only remaining claim in this suit against the defendant medical personnel is for deliberate indifference to serious medical needs. Plaintiff Hodges was diagnosed with a malignant tumor on his wrist. The cancer spread, and Plaintiff underwent amputation of his arm below the elbow. Plaintiff alleges that Defendants unreasonably delayed his referral for cancer treatment during a two-month period of time, thereby causing the need for the amputation.
LAW AND ANALYSIS
Pursuant to Rules 26(a)(2)(A-C) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, a party must disclose, in writing, the identity of any witness it may use at trial to present evidence under Rules 702, 703 or 705 of the Federal Rules of Evidence. "If the witness is not required to provide a written report, this disclosure must state: (i) the subject matter on which the witness is expected to present evidence under Federal Rules of Evidence 702, 702, or 705; and (ii) a summary of the facts and opinions to which the witness is expected to testify." Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(a)(2)(C).
"If a party fails to provide information or identify a witness as required by Rule 26(a) or (e), the party is not allowed to use that information or witness to supply evidence on a motion, at a hearing, or at a trial, unless the failure was substantially justified or is harmless." Fed. R. Civ. P. 37(c)(1). When a party fails to serve expert disclosures and reports, that party is prohibited from calling any expert witnesses to support his claims. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 37(c)(1); Sexton v. Uniroyal, 62 F3d. Appx. 615, 616 (6 Cir. 2003). "District courts have broad discretion to exclude untimely disclosed expert-witness testimony." Pride v. BIC Corp., 218 F.3d 566, 578 (6 Cir. 2000).
Plaintiff Hodges has the burden of proof to show that Defendants' actions or inactions proximately caused him injury by not treating his cancer sooner. See Santiago v. Ringle, 734 F.3d 585 593 (6 Cir. 2013). To support his proximate cause argument, Plaintiff must offer expert testimony or other verifying medical evidence to show that his cancer spread between August and October 2011 and that he could have avoided amputation if his cancer treatment had commenced sooner. Napier v. Madison County, 238 F.3d 739 (6 Cir. 2001). However, plaintiff Hodges failed to serve any expert disclosures or reports by the court's deadline. Therefore, pursuant to Rule 37(c)(1), he is prohibited from eliciting expert testimony from any witness at trial to support his claims.
ORDER
It is hereby ORDERED that Defendants' July 20, 2016 motion to preclude Plaintiff from eliciting expert testimony at trial is GRANTED.
s/John Corbett O'Meara
United States District Judge Date: February 16, 2017
I hereby certify that a copy of the foregoing document was served upon counsel of record on this date, February 16, 2017, using the ECF system.
s/William Barkholz
Case Manager