1

NOTICE

Decision filed 01/22/08. The text of

this dec ision m ay be changed or

corrected prior to the filing of a

Petition for Re hea ring o r the

disposition of the same.

NO. 5-06-0618

IN THE

APPELLATE COURT OF ILLINOIS

FIFTH DISTRICT

________________________________________________________________________

XON BLACKBURN et al., ) Appeal from the

) Circuit Court of

 Plaintiffs, ) Marion County.

)

and )

)

DELBERT COPPLE, CARL HEINRICHSMEYER, )

and DONALD HYATT, )

)

 Plaintiffs-Appellees, )

)

v. ) No. 04-L-25

)

ILLINOIS CENTRAL RAILROAD COMPANY, ) Honorable

) Patrick J. Hitpas,

 Defendant-Appellant. ) Judge, presiding.

________________________________________________________________________

JUSTICE SPOMER delivered the opinion of the court:

The defendant, Illinois Central Railroad Company (the Railroad), appeals from the

order of the circuit court of Marion County that entered a judgment on jury verdicts in favor

of plaintiffs Delbert Copple, Carl Heinrichsmeyer, and Donald Hyatt (the plaintiffs). For the

reasons set forth below, we affirm the judgment of the circuit court. 

FACTS

The plaintiffs are among a group of 24 plaintiffs who sued the Railroad for claims

arising under the Federal Employers' Liability Act (FELA) (45 U.S.C. §51 et seq. (2000)),

whereby they alleged they were injured when they were exposed to asbestos, diesel exhaust,

and other dangerous products during the course of their employment. The plaintiffs claimed,

inter alia, that the Railroad negligently failed to provide them with a reasonably safe place

to work. The Railroad filed a motion to sever the cases for trial, and the circuit court granted
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the motion in part by consolidating the plaintiffs' cases into groups of four for trial. The

plaintiffs' cases were the second group to be tried together before a jury. The other plaintiff

in their group did not participate in the trial for reasons unrelated to this appeal. The verdicts

in the first group's trial were previously affirmed on appeal. Xon Blackburn v. Illinois

Central R.R. Co., No. 5-06-0417 (2007) (unpublished order under Supreme Court Rule 23

(166 Ill. 2d R. 23)). 

Delbert Copple was 79 years old at the time of the trial. Mr. Copple worked for the

Railroad continuously from 1950 to 1986 as a stockman and laborer in various facilities in

and around Centralia. He testified that in his work, he was exposed to asbestos-containing

products, including asbestos sleeves, gaskets, brake shoes, and firebrick. Carl

Heinrichsmeyer was 62 years old at the time of the trial. Mr. Heinrichsmeyer worked for the

Railroad from 1963 until 1982, also in and around Centralia. He worked at various times as

a stockman, chauffeur, and store clerk, and he testified that he also handled asbestos sleeves

and gaskets. Donald Hyatt was 70 years old at the time of the trial. Mr. Hyatt worked for

the Railroad from 1969 to 1999, beginning at the facility in Champaign. From 1970 until

1984, Mr. Hyatt was responsible for maintaining water and steam lines at various facilities

from Champaign to Effingham. During his employment, Mr. Hyatt was exposed to asbestos

piping and boiler insulation.

In 2003, the plaintiffs attended a screening set up by the attorneys working for their

union. After the screening, Dr. Alvin Schonfeld diagnosed the plaintiffs with asbestosis,

which is defined as the scarring of the lungs created by asbestos fibers. At the trial, Dr.

Schonfeld testified that the plaintiffs' asbestos exposure during their employment with the

Railroad caused, in whole or in part, their injuries. 

After a lengthy trial at which each side presented numerous lay and expert witnesses,

the jury returned verdicts in favor of the plaintiffs, awarding $220,000 in damages to Mr.
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Copple, $167,000 to Mr. Heinrichsmeyer, and $220,000 to Mr. Hyatt. The circuit court

denied the Railroad's motions for a directed verdict, made at the close of the plaintiffs'

evidence and again at the end of the trial. The circuit court denied the Railroad's posttrial

motions and entered a finding pursuant to Illinois Supreme Court Rule 304(a) (210 Ill. 2d R.

304(a)). The Railroad filed a timely notice of appeal. We will set forth additional facts from

the record as needed to explain our resolution of each issue on appeal.

ANALYSIS

1. Instructing the Jury on the Fear of Cancer

The Railroad argues that the circuit erred in instructing the jury on the fear of cancer.

The Railroad's argument on this issue is twofold. First, the Railroad argues that the circuit

court erred in refusing to instruct the jury that in order to award damages for the fear of

cancer, the jury must find that the fear must significantly and detrimentally affect the ability

to carry on everyday life and work. Second, the Railroad argues that there was insufficient

evidence presented to warrant a jury instruction on the fear of cancer as an element of

damage for each plaintiff. We will address each argument in turn.

The United States Supreme Court has held that an asbestosis claimant, upon

demonstrating a reasonable fear of cancer stemming from the claimant's existing disease, can

recover for that fear as a part of asbestosis-related pain-and-suffering damages in a suit

brought under FELA. Norfolk & Western Ry. Co. v. Ayers, 538 U.S. 135, 157, 155 L. Ed.

2d 261, 281, 123 S. Ct. 1210, 1223 (2003). However, it is incumbent upon the claimant to

prove that his alleged fear is genuine and serious. Ayers, 538 U.S. at 157, 155 L. Ed. 2d at

281, 123 S. Ct. at 1223. In this case, the circuit court instructed the jury separately regarding

each plaintiff as follows:

"If you decide for the plaintiff *** on the question of liability, you must then

fix the amount of money which will reasonably and fairly compensate him for any of
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the following elements of damages proved by the evidence to have resulted, in whole

or in part, from the negligence of the defendant, taking into consideration the nature,

extent[,] and duration of the injury:

* * *

The genuine and serious fear of cancer experienced and reasonably certain to

be experienced in the future."

The circuit court refused the Railroad's proposed instruction, which stated: "In order

to recover for fear of cancer, a plaintiff must demonstrate that his fear is genuine and serious.

This means fear that significantly and detrimentally affects the ability to carry on everyday

life and work." This proposed instruction was modeled after Justice Breyer's partial dissent

in Ayers, in which he stated that he would "permit recovery where the fear of cancer is

unusually severe–where it significantly and detrimentally affects the plaintiff's ability to carry

on with everyday life and work." 538 U.S. at 187, 155 L. Ed. 2d at 300, 123 S. Ct. at 1239

(Breyer, J., concurring in part and dissenting in part). The Railroad argues that Justice

Breyer is proposing a definition of "genuine and serious." However, he is in fact, proposing

a more stringent standard than that handed down by the majority in Ayers. Accordingly, the

circuit court did not err when it rejected the Railroad's tendered instruction and instructed the

jury in accordance with the majority opinion in Ayers.

We now turn to the issue of whether the circuit court erred in determining that there

was sufficient evidence to support a jury instruction on the fear of cancer regarding each

plaintiff. Our review of the record reveals that Dr. Douglas Pohl testified that asbestos is

carcinogenic and that a person who has been exposed to asbestos is at an increased risk of

cancer. Dr. Schonfeld also testified that asbestosis sometimes causes cancer. Mr. Copple

testified that he is concerned, even worried, about the prospect of developing cancer. Mr.

Heinrichsmeyer testified that he is concerned about taking care of his family in the event that
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he contracts the disease. Mr. Hyatt testified that cancer is on his mind all the time and that

he had pneumonia in January and thought he might have been contracting cancer at that time.

We find this evidence sufficient to support the circuit court's decision to instruct the jury that

it could award each plaintiff damages for the fear of cancer should it find that fear to be

genuine and serious. 

 2. Denial of the Motion for a New Trial on the Issue of Damages or a Remittitur

a. Standard of Review

The Railroad also argues that the circuit court erred in denying its motion for a new

trial on the entire damages award and in denying its alternative motion for a remittitur on the

future-medical-expense and pain-and-suffering awards. When we review a circuit court's

ruling on a motion for a new trial on the issue of compensatory damages, the standard of

review is whether the verdict is against the manifest weight of the evidence. Hollowell v.

Wilder Corp. of Delaware, 318 Ill. App. 3d 984, 990 (2001) (citing Maple v. Gustafson, 151

Ill. 2d 445, 454 (1992)). "A verdict is against the manifest weight when it is arbitrary,

unreasonable, or not based upon any evidence." Hollowell, 318 Ill. App. 3d at 990 (citing

Maple, 151 Ill. 2d at 454). The standard of review for the circuit court's ruling on a motion

for a remittitur is whether the circuit court abused its discretion. Hollowell, 318 Ill. App. 3d

at 991. 

In addition to the standard of review, it is important to note several principles that are

applicable when reviewing a damages award. "The determination of damages is a question

reserved to the trier of fact, and a reviewing court will not lightly substitute its opinion for

the judgment rendered in the trial court." Richardson v. Chapman, 175 Ill. 2d 98, 113

(1997). "An award of damages will be deemed excessive if it falls outside the range of fair

and reasonable compensation or results from passion or prejudice, or if it is so large that it

shocks the judicial conscience." Richardson, 175 Ill. 2d at 113. "When reviewing an award
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of compensatory damages for a nonfatal injury, a court may consider, among other things,

the permanency of the plaintiff's condition, the possibility of future deterioration, the extent

of the plaintiff's medical expenses, and the restrictions imposed on the plaintiff by the

injuries." Richardson, 175 Ill. 2d at 113-14.

b. The Identical Awards

Before turning to our analysis of the specific items of damages awarded to each of the

plaintiffs, we recognize that in several places in the Railroad's brief, the Railroad points to

the fact that the jury made identical awards to the plaintiffs for the fear of cancer, disability,

and pain and suffering and identical awards to Mr. Copple and Mr. Hyatt for future medical

expenses. The Railroad directs this court's attention to that fact in support of its arguments

that the trials should have been severed; that the jury should have been instructed on a

definition of "genuine and serious" in relation to the fear of cancer; and that without evidence

of life expectancy the jury should not have been instructed to consider, in assessing the

awards for future medical expenses, how long the plaintiffs are likely to live. Although we

have analyzed these specific issues in other parts of this opinion and found no error, we find

it provident to consider whether the identical awards, in and of themselves, would necessitate

a new trial on damages.

We find no authority in Illinois, and the Railroad points to none, that stands for the

proposition that identical awards, in and of themselves, are reversible error. In light of this,

we have examined how this issue has been handled by other jurisdictions. In so doing, we

were persuaded by the reasoning of the Kansas Supreme Court, which stated as follows:

"The ' ["]only standard for evaluation is such amount as reasonable persons

estimate to be fair compensation for the injuries suffered.["] ' (Emphasis added.)

Morris v. Francisco, 238 Kan. [71,] 77-78[, 708 P.2d 498, 503-04 (1985)] (quoting

Ratterree v. Bartlett, 238 Kan. [11,] 23[, 707 P.2d 1063, 1072 (1985)]). There is no
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per se rule which discredits identical awards, and there is no provision in current law

for comparison of one plaintiff's recovery with another's to serve as the basis for

overturning a jury's verdict." Kuhl v. Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Ry. Co., 250 Kan.

332, 344, 827 P.2d 1, 9 (1992).

The Kansas Supreme Court went on to explain that if reasonable persons could

estimate the damages of each individual plaintiff to be a fair compensation for the injuries

suffered, without comparing them to each other, then the identical awards should be upheld.

Kuhl, 250 Kan. at 344, 827 P.2d at 9. Similar conclusions have been reached by the Maine

Supreme Court, as well as the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. See

Harris v. Soley, 2000 ME 150, ¶27, 756 A.2d 499, 508 (2000); Lambert v. Ackerley, 180

F.3d 997, 1011 (9th Cir. 1999). We find this analysis persuasive for our purposes here,

especially in light of the fact that all three plaintiffs were similarly diagnosed with asbestosis

and had similar physical manifestations of this disease, presenting with symptoms of

shortness of breath and some limitations on their levels of exertion. Although Mr. Copple

was 79 years old at the time of the trial, while Mr. Heinrichsmeyer was 62 and Mr. Hyatt was

70, a reasonable jury could conclude that because longevity is uncertain, similar awards for

future damages were justified based on the similarity of their asbestosis-related conditions.

Accordingly, we decline to substitute our judgment for that of the jury solely on the basis of

identical awards. 

c. Future Medical Expenses

We begin our analysis of the particular verdicts at issue with the award for future

medical expenses. The jury awarded Mr. Copple and Mr. Hyatt each $100,000, and it

awarded Mr. Heinrichsmeyer $47,000 for future medical expenses. We cannot say that these

awards are against the manifest weight of the evidence or that the circuit court abused its

discretion in denying the motion for a remittitur with regard to future medical expenses. Dr.
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Schonfeld testified that because the plaintiffs were diagnosed with asbestosis, they would

need periodic X rays, medical exams, and colonoscopies. Similarly, Dr. Pohl testified that

an asbestosis patient must have routine pulmonary testing throughout his life. Mr. Copple

testified that he plans to monitor his condition with his family doctor. Mr. Heinrichsmeyer

testified that he also plans to monitor his health. Mr. Hyatt testified, without objection, that

his doctor told him he would need a chest X ray every year. 

The Railroad argues that these verdicts should be reversed because the plaintiffs did

not produce evidence of any specific medical expenses that they would incur in the future

other than "generic references" to periodic visits to a physician for a chest X ray. However,

"the trier of fact enjoys a certain degree of leeway in awarding compensation for medical

costs that, as shown by the evidence, are likely to arise in the future but are not specifically

itemized in the testimony." Richardson, 175 Ill. 2d at 112. The Railroad also points to the

plaintiffs' counsel's statement during closing argument that a "fair figure" for future medical

expenses would be $5,000. However, " '[a] jury's award of a verdict higher than that

requested by counsel does not, by itself, indicate that the jury acted out of passion or

prejudice.' " Tri-G, Inc. v. Burke, Bosselman & Weaver, 222 Ill. 2d 218, 250-51 (2006)

(quoting Fedt v. Oak Lawn Lodge, Inc., 132 Ill. App. 3d 1061, 1072 (1985)). 

We find that the amounts awarded fall within a range of fair and reasonable

compensation for periodic X rays, exams, and other diagnostic testing that the evidence

shows the plaintiffs will face due to the asbestosis diagnosis. In addition, these amounts are

not so large that we can say that they are based on juror passion or prejudice or that they

shock the judicial conscience. Accordingly, we will not substitute our judgment for that of

the jury. The circuit court did not err in allowing the jury's verdict with regard to future

medical expenses to stand.
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d. Pain and Suffering, Disability, and Fear of Cancer

We now turn to the jury's award to the plaintiffs for pain and suffering and disability

and fear of cancer. The jury awarded each of the plaintiffs $15,000 for pain and suffering,

$75,000 for disability, and $30,000 for fear of cancer. Dr. Alvin Schonfeld testified that the

plaintiffs suffered from asbestosis, a permanent condition, which was caused, in whole or in

part, by their employment with the Railroad. Dr. Schonfeld testified that the plaintiffs'

complaints of shortness of breath were consistent with his findings of asbestosis and that the

plaintiffs were at an increased risk of developing cancer as a result of their exposure to

asbestos. Dr. Donald Breyer testified that the plaintiffs' chest X rays contained varying

degrees of abnormalities consistent with asbestosis. Mr. Copple testified that he gets winded

when he works out at the gym and when walking up stairs. Mr. Heinrichsmeyer testified that

just about every activity makes him short of breath. He testified that he is not able to work

the same hours he used to work at his tavern, due to shortness of breath. Although he plays

golf, he must use a golf cart. Mr. Hyatt testified that he would have to stop halfway up the

stairs due to shortness of breath. Dr. Pohl testified that the plaintiffs' complaints were

consistent with his diagnosis of asbestosis. The plaintiffs testified that they experience

shortness of breath to varying degrees, and they gave some indication on how this impacts

their lives.

In addition to the testimony of the plaintiffs, expert testimony was presented that

asbestosis has the very real potential to worsen in the future. In addition, expert testimony

was presented regarding the increased risk of cancer, and the plaintiffs testified regarding the

concern and worry this caused them. As explained elsewhere in this opinion, the jury was

correctly instructed on these elements of damages, and it was within its discretion to assess

a monetary value for these noneconomic items of damage. Because we cannot say that the

amounts awarded fall outside the range of fair and reasonable compensation or result from
10

passion or prejudice or that the amounts awarded are so large that they shock the judicial

conscience, we will not disturb the award. Accordingly, the circuit court did not err when

it denied the Railroad's motion for a new trial on damages or a remittitur. 

[The following material is nonpublishable under Supreme Court Rule 23.]

3. Instructing the Jury on Negligence and Damages

a. Standard of Review

The Railroad argues that the circuit court erred by instructing the jury on the issues

of negligence and damages. "A litigant has the right to have the jury clearly and fairly

instructed upon each theory which was supported by the evidence." Leonardi v. Loyola

University of Chicago, 168 Ill. 2d 83, 100 (1995) (citing Ervin v. Sears, Roebuck & Co., 65

Ill. 2d 140, 145 (1976)). "However, it is error to give an instruction not based on the

evidence." Leonardi, 168 Ill. 2d at 100. "The question of what issues have been raised by

the evidence is within the discretion of the trial court." Leonardi, 168 Ill. 2d at 100. "The

evidence may be slight; a reviewing court may not reweigh it or determine if it should lead

to a particular conclusion." Leonardi, 168 Ill. 2d at 100. "The test in determining the

propriety of tendered instructions is whether the jury was fairly, fully, and comprehensively

informed as to the relevant principles, considering the instructions in their entirety."

Leonardi, 168 Ill. 2d at 100.

b. Instructions on Negligence

We note that heading "L" in the Railroad's brief includes a statement that the circuit

court abused its discretion in instructing the jury regarding the Railroad's negligence.

However, the Railroad's brief is devoid of any argument regarding any error the circuit court

might have made in instructing the jury on negligence. Pursuant to Illinois Supreme Court

Rule 341(h)(7) (210 Ill. 2d R. 341(h)(7)), points not argued in the appellant's brief are

waived. Moreover, even if the Railroad had not waived the issue of the jury instructions on
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negligence, there is ample evidence in the record upon which the circuit court could base

those instructions, as we have explained below with regard to the circuit court's denial of the

Railroad's motion for a judgment notwithstanding the verdict on the issue of negligence.

Accordingly, the circuit court did not err in instructing the jury with regard to negligence.

c. Instructions on Future Medical Expenses

With regard to damages, the Railroad argues that the circuit court abused its discretion

when it instructed the jury it could award the plaintiffs damages for future medical expenses.

As previously noted with regard to the motion for a new trial on damages, our review of the

record reveals that there was enough evidence for the circuit court to so instruct the jury. Dr.

Schonfeld testified that because the plaintiffs were diagnosed with asbestosis, they would

need periodic X rays, medical exams, and colonoscopies. Similarly, Dr. Pohl testified that

an asbestosis patient must have routine pulmonary testing throughout his life. Copple

testified that he plans to monitor his condition with his family doctor. Heinrichsmeyer

testified that he also plans to monitor his health. Hyatt testified, without objection, that his

doctor told him he would need a chest X ray every year. From this testimony, we conclude

that there was "some evidence" to warrant a future-medical-expense instruction. See Mikus

v. Norfolk & Western Ry. Co., 312 Ill. App. 3d 11, 33 (2000) (holding that expert testimony

that future medical treatment is required is sufficient to warrant a future-medical-expense

instruction). Accordingly, the circuit court did not err when it instructed the jury that it could

award future medical expenses to the plaintiffs.

d. Instructions on Present Cash Value

In a related argument, the Railroad argues that the circuit court erred when it

instructed the jury that it must reduce any future-medical-expense award to present cash

value but failed to instruct the jury on the requisite methods to calculate present cash value.

The circuit court instructed the jury on present cash value as follows:
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"In computing the damages arising in the future because of future medical

expenses[,] you must determine their present cash value. 'Present cash value' means

the sum of money needed now, which, when added to what that sum may reasonably

be expected to earn in the future, will equal the amount of the expenses at the time in

the future when the expenses must be paid. 

Damages for pain and suffering and disability are not reduced to present cash

value."

This instruction was taken verbatim from Illinois Pattern Jury Instructions, Civil, No.

34.02 (2006) (hereinafter IPI Civil (2006)). There is no requirement that actuarial or

statistical evidence be present to guide the jury in its determination of present cash value

when this instruction is given. See Robinson v. Greeley & Hansen, 114 Ill. App. 3d 720, 725

(1983); Crabtree v. St. Louis-San Francisco Ry. Co., 89 Ill. App. 3d 35, 39 (1980). The

Railroad does not contest the definition of "present cash value" contained in the instruction,

does not claim the jury improperly computed present cash value, and did not submit another

formula that it believed better explained the method of arriving at present cash value. See

Robinson, 114 Ill. App. 3d at 725. We recognize, as did the courts in Robinson and Crabtree,

that actuarial evidence is often helpful to juries in reducing damages to monetary figures.

Robinson, 114 Ill. App. 3d at 725; Crabtree, 89 Ill. App. 3d at 39. However, that evidence

could have been presented by the Railroad had it felt that it was necessary. See Robinson,

114 Ill. App. 3d at 725; Crabtree, 89 Ill. App. 3d at 39. Accordingly, the circuit court did

not err in instructing the jury on present cash value.

e. Instructions on Pain and Suffering and Disability

The Railroad also argues that the circuit court erred in instructing the jury on pain and

suffering and disability. However, as set forth above, we find ample evidence to support the

jury's verdicts for the plaintiffs for both of these elements of damage. Accordingly, we find
13

no error in the circuit court's instructions in these areas.

f. Instructions Regarding the Plaintiffs' Longevity

With regard to the instructions on future damages, the Railroad also takes issue with

the circuit court instructing the jury in accordance with IPI Civil (2006) No. 34.01. That

instruction provided as follows:

"If you find that a plaintiff is entitled to damages arising in the future because

of injuries, you must determine the amount of these damages which will arise in the

future.

If these damages are of a continuing nature, you may consider how long they

will continue. If these damages are permanent in nature, then in computing these

damages you may consider how long the plaintiff is likely to live."

The Railroad contends it was error to give this instruction without mortality tables in

evidence to instruct the jury on how long the plaintiffs are likely to live. However, the

Railroad points to no authority, and our research reveals none, that requires those tables to

be admitted into evidence prior to instructing the jury that it may consider how long the

plaintiff is likely to live in assessing future damages. In fact, IPI Civil (2006) No. 34.04

instructs the jury on the use of mortality tables if and when they are entered into evidence.

That instruction states that the jury is only to use mortality tables "in connection with other

evidence relating to the probable life expectancy of the plaintiff in this case, including

evidence of his occupation, health, habits, and other activities, bearing in mind that some

persons live longer and some persons less than the average." IPI Civil (2006) No. 34.04. As

is the case with the actuarial data, the Railroad was free to offer mortality tables into

evidence. The circuit court did not err in giving IPI Civil (2006) No. 34.01.
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4. Denial of the Motion for a Judgment Notwithstanding the Verdict

a. Standard of Review

The Railroad argues that the trial court erred in denying its motion for a judgment

notwithstanding the verdict (n.o.v.) because the plaintiffs failed to present any evidence that

the Railroad acted negligently toward them or that they were injured as a result of any

negligent conduct. The Railroad further argues that the plaintiffs failed to offer any evidence

of pain, suffering, or loss of a normal life expectancy. To analyze these issues on appeal, we

begin with the standard the circuit court must employ in ruling on a motion for a judgment

n.o.v., as well as our standard of review. "[A] judgment n.o.v. is properly entered in those

limited cases where 'all of the evidence, when viewed in its aspect most favorable to the

opponent, so overwhelmingly favors movant that no contrary verdict based on that evidence

could ever stand.' " Maple v. Gustafson, 151 Ill. 2d 445, 453 (1992) (quoting Pedrick v.

Peoria & Eastern R.R. Co., 37 Ill. 2d 494, 510 (1967)). "Put another way, 'a motion for

judgment [notwithstanding the verdict] presents "a question of law as to whether, when all

of the evidence is considered, together with all reasonable inferences from it in its aspect

most favorable to the plaintiffs, there is a total failure or lack of evidence to prove any

necessary element of the [plaintiff's] case." ' " Blount v. Stroud, Nos. 1-06-2428, 1-06-2968,

slip op. at 9 (September 28, 2007) (quoting York v. Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke's Medical

Center, 222 Ill. 2d 147, 178 (2006) (quoting Merlo v. Public Service Co. of Northern Illinois,

381 Ill. 300, 311 (1942))). Appellate courts employ a de novo standard of review when

reviewing decisions on motions for a judgment n.o.v. McClure v. Owens Corning Fiberglas

Corp., 188 Ill. 2d 102, 132 (1999).

b. Liability

With regard to the Railroad's argument that the circuit court erred in denying its

motion for a judgment n.o.v. because the plaintiffs failed to present evidence on the issue of
15

liability, FELA provides as follows: 

"Sec. 1 of [FELA] makes the carrier liable in damages for any injury or death

'resulting in whole or in part from the negligence' of any of its 'officers, agents, or

employees.' *** At common law the duty of the employer to use reasonable care in

furnishing his employees with a safe place to work was plain. [Citation.] That rule

is deeply engrained in federal jurisprudence. [Citations.] *** [I]t is a duty which

becomes 'more imperative' as the risk increases. *** It is that rule which obtains

under [FELA]." Bailey v. Central Vermont Ry., 319 U.S. 350, 352-53, 87 L. Ed.

1444, 1447, 63 S. Ct. 1062, 1063-64 (1943).

The most basic question for the court in every FELA case is "whether the proofs

justify with reason the conclusion that employer negligence played any part, even the

slightest, in producing the injury or death for which damages are sought." Rogers v. Missouri

Pacific R.R. Co., 352 U.S. 500, 506, 1 L. Ed. 2d 493, 499, 77 S. Ct. 443, 448 (1957). The

quantum of evidence necessary to support a jury verdict of liability in a FELA case is "much

less than in an ordinary negligence case." Lewis v. Cotton Belt Route-St. Louis Southwestern

Ry. Co., 217 Ill. App. 3d 94, 112 (1991). That causes other than employer negligence have

played a role in the plaintiff's injury does not preclude a finding of negligence against the

employer. Rogers, 352 U.S. at 506, 1 L. Ed. 2d at 499, 77 S. Ct. at 448. 

Our review of the record on appeal leaves no doubt that the plaintiffs submitted

evidence from which the jury could determine that the Railroad knew or should have known

that the plaintiffs were exposed to harmful levels of asbestos during their employment and

that they were injured as a result of this exposure. Without objection, the plaintiffs

introduced exhibits that indicated that the Railroad was aware of the risks of asbestos

exposure as early as the mid-1930s, that asbestos was dangerous whether workers handled

it themselves or were only near others using it, and that certain safety precautions could
16

lessen those risks. Lyndle Burton, the Railroad's manager of industrial hygiene,

acknowledged that, from an industrial hygiene perspective, a failure to implement the safety

precautions recommended in the exhibits was unreasonable based on the knowledge reflected

in the exhibits that asbestos is dangerous. 

Charles Garrett, the Railroad's senior risk mitigation officer, testified that he

investigates claims against the Railroad for lung injuries from substances such as asbestos.

He testified that the Railroad's discovery responses included statements that it did not issue

any written warnings to its employees about the hazards of asbestos exposure, and the

Railroad did not deny that asbestos was used in the workplaces where the plaintiffs were

employed. The plaintiffs testified at length and in detail regarding how they were exposed

to asbestos materials and they were present when asbestos dust was in the air in the various

facilities where they worked. The plaintiffs also testified that the Railroad did not provide

them with respirators to filter out the dust, did not tell them that exposure to asbestos dust

might be dangerous, and did not advise them to take any safety precautions, such as wetting

down the dust, when working with or around asbestos.

The plaintiffs' expert witness, Dr. Michael Ellenbecker, a certified industrial hygienist,

testified that the medical and surgical section of the Association of American Railroads, of

which the Railroad was a member, recognized as early as 1937 that asbestos used in the

Railroad's workplaces posed a hazard. He stated that the railroad industry recognized the

concept of bystander exposure to asbestos as early as 1940 and that the plaintiffs were

exposed to very high and unsafe levels of asbestos during their employment with the

Railroad, even though methods to reduce exposure to asbestos were available. He concluded

that the Railroad did not provide the plaintiffs with a reasonably safe place to work. There

is no doubt from our review of the record that the plaintiffs produced sufficient evidence of

FELA liability to withstand a motion for a judgment n.o.v.
17

c. Damages

In addition, we cannot say that the plaintiffs failed to produce sufficient evidence of

damages to withstand a motion for a judgment n.o.v. As explained above, we find ample

evidence in the record to support the jury's verdicts. Because the plaintiffs put forth some

evidence for each element necessary to prove their FELA claims, we find that the circuit

court did not err in denying the Railroad's motion for a judgment n.o.v.

5. Denial of the Motion to Sever

The Railroad argues that the circuit court erred by failing to sever the plaintiffs' trials

because their claims lacked the requisite commonality to justify consolidation. Specifically,

the Railroad contends that the plaintiffs were allegedly exposed to asbestos when they

worked at different facilities, during different time periods, for markedly different durations,

in different trades, through the use of different products. "An action may be severed, and

actions pending in the same court may be consolidated, as an aid to convenience, whenever

it can be done without prejudice to a substantial right." 735 ILCS 5/2-1006 (West 2004).

The trial court has broad discretion in matters of consolidation and severance, which

discretion is to be guided by considerations of convenience and the rights of the parties.

Needy v. Sparks, 51 Ill. App. 3d 350, 355-56 (1977). "Where separate causes are of the same

nature, involve the same or like issues[,] and depend largely upon the same evidence,

consolidation is not an abuse of discretion." Ad-Ex, Inc. v. City of Chicago, 247 Ill. App. 3d

97, 103 (1993). Indeed, in at least one instance, this court has found consolidation proper

with regard to three personal injury claims and one wrongful death claim where the jury was

properly instructed, the evidence was not confusing or misleading, and the record did not

show any prejudice to the defendant. Pickering v. Owens-Corning Fiberglas Corp., 265 Ill.

App. 3d 806, 811-12 (1994). "Inherent in the power to consolidate is the authority to

integrate evidence at a joint trial in the interest of convenience and economy." Pickering,
18

265 Ill. App. 3d at 811.

We agree with the plaintiffs that the trial of their cases together was not unfair to the

Railroad. The evidence regarding the Railroad's knowledge of the hazards of asbestos in the

workplace and the available safety measures for reducing those risks was the same for all

three plaintiffs. The Railroad's knowledge of these hazards was not dependent upon location,

so the fact that the plaintiffs may have worked at different locations is not dispositive of the

severance issue. We recognize that the jury had to assess the damages issues for each of the

three plaintiffs separately. However, we find that the trial court balanced this factor with the

need for convenience in the administration of justice and determined that the jury could

handle the separate damages of three or four plaintiffs at the same time without causing

substantial prejudice to the Railroad. The jury was properly instructed that it was to

determine the cases of each plaintiff separately on its own merits. We find that the decision

to allow a consolidated trial of three plaintiffs was not an abuse of discretion.

6. Denial of Motion for Leave to File Third-Party Complaint for Contribution

On March 9, 2006, less than three months before the start of the jury trial under

review, the Railroad filed a motion for leave to file a third-party complaint against nine

asbestos manufacturers and one insurance company. In the motion, the Railroad alleged that

it should be allowed to file the third-party complaint because "it is necessary to ensure that

[the Railroad] does not pay more than its pro rata share of any responsibility it may have for

plaintiffs' claimed injuries." The Railroad alleged that it had not filed the motion earlier

because it "needed to conduct an investigation with respect to those companies or entities that

may be responsible for plaintiffs' claimed injuries." The Railroad blamed its late filing on

the plaintiffs, who "did not provide information in response to defendant's discovery requests

regarding other lawsuits until August 2005." The Railroad alleged that it "then, at its own

considerable expense, traveled to Florida and reviewed those files to obtain copies of all
19

relevant pleadings." On March 15, 2006, the circuit court denied the motion as untimely with

regard to the trial of the plaintiffs, although it later granted the motion for future trials.

Although the trial court may allow a FELA defendant to file a third-party complaint

for contribution (Norfolk & Western Ry. Co. v. Ayers, 538 U.S. 135, 162, 155 L. Ed. 2d 261,

284, 123 S. Ct. 1210, 1226 (2003)), the circuit court is justified in exercising its discretion

to deny leave to file a third-party complaint when a late filing would delay the underlying

trial. Grimming v. Alton & Southern Ry. Co., 204 Ill. App. 3d 961, 977-78 (1990). The

appropriate time for the Railroad to have filed its third-party complaint for contribution was

within the time for it to file its answer. See Grimming, 204 Ill. App. 3d at 977.

In its motion, the Railroad did not assert that when it filed its answer in April 2004,

it did not know or have records of the manufacturers providing asbestos products to the

facilities at which the plaintiffs worked. When the Railroad filed its answer, it failed to file

a request for an extension of time within which to file its third-party complaint. Rather, the

Railroad waited until almost two years after it had filed its answer and less than three months

before the trial under review to request leave to file a third-party complaint. As in Grimming,

if the circuit court had granted the Railroad's motion for the trial under review, 10 additional

third-party defendants would have been brought into the case, necessarily delaying the trial.

The fact that the circuit court granted the motion for subsequent trials substantiates the fact

that the circuit court's denial was based on the delay. It was not an abuse of the circuit court's

discretion for the court to determine that it was a prejudice to these plaintiffs on the

immediate trial docket to grant the motion for leave to file a third-party complaint.

7. Exclusion of Evidence of Absence of Warnings From Asbestos Manufacturers

The Railroad's fourth issue on appeal is that the circuit court erred in granting the

plaintiffs' motion in limine to exclude evidence that the manufacturers of the asbestos-
20

containing products used in the Railroad's facilities did not include warnings on their

packages. The Railroad argues that evidence regarding warnings is relevant to the issue of

foreseeabililty and, therefore, properly admitted. " 'Whether granted or denied, a motion in

limine itself does not preserve the issue for appellate review.' " Bergman v. Kelsey, 375 Ill.

App. 3d 612, 635 (2007) (quoting Sullivan-Coughlin v. Palos Country Club, Inc., 349 Ill.

App. 3d 553, 561 (2004)). " 'Rather, to preserve an error in the exclusion of evidence, the

proponent of the evidence must make an adequate offer of proof in the [circuit] court.' "

Bergman, 375 Ill. App. 3d at 635 (quoting Sullivan-Coughlin, 349 Ill. App. 3d at 561).

" 'Failure to make such offer of proof results in waiver of the issue on appeal.' " Bergman,

375 Ill. App. 3d at 635 (quoting Sullivan-Coughlin, 349 Ill. App. 3d at 561). 

Here, as set forth in the Railroad's reply brief, the only offer of proof that the Railroad

made concerning warnings on asbestos products was during the video evidence deposition

of the plaintiffs' expert industrial hygienist, Michael J. Ellenbecker. During this deposition,

the Railroad presented Mr. Ellenbecker with a document that, according to the Railroad, dealt

with Kaylo pipe insulation, an insulating product made by Owens-Corning in the 1950s. The

Railroad had Mr. Ellenbecker read some writing on the document that stated "non[]irritating

to the skin and non[]toxic." We find that, even if evidence of warnings on asbestos products

was relevant to the issue of foreseeabililty, the Railroad failed to lay the proper foundation

for the admission of this evidence within its offer of proof. The offer of proof did not set

forth any evidence tending to prove that the Railroad used that particular product, when the

Railroad used the product, that anyone at the Railroad saw the statement on the exhibit, or

whether the Railroad relied on the statement. Accordingly, it was not an abuse of discretion

to exclude the evidence set forth in the offer of proof. We find the issue of admissibility

waived for all other direct evidence of warnings on asbestos products, because absent an

offer of proof, there is no way to determine whether a proper foundation for the admission
21

of that evidence was established.

8. Sustaining Objection to Recross-Examination of Dr. Pohl on Lack of Warnings

The Railroad also argues that the circuit court erred in sustaining an objection to the

Railroad's cross-examination of the plaintiffs' expert, Dr. Douglas Pohl, regarding the

absence of warnings on asbestos products until the 1960s, after Dr. Pohl testified to that

effect on direct examination. On direct examination, the following colloquy occurred

between counsel for the plaintiffs and Dr. Pohl:

"Q. In 1969, Don Hyatt started working at a job for the *** Railroad where

he would remove asbestos pipe covering and reapply it, sometimes make this mud that

you've talked about and those sorts of activities. What is your opinion, sir, based upon

a reasonable degree of medical certainty as to whether it was generally known by

1969 that those types of activities carried a risk of asbestos disease?

A. Of course it was. The warnings were starting to go on products in 1964.

So, clearly, industry was well aware of the dangers and they were actually putting

warning labels on the products. The problem was and was recognized that if not all

the products had the warnings or the products were delivered to the workers without

warnings–

Q. Let me interrupt you there, sir."

The Railroad did not object or ask that Dr. Pohl's answer be stricken. After the direct

examination ended, the Railroad conducted a brief cross-examination of Dr. Pohl with

respect to his credentials, his possible bias as a hired expert witness who testifies primarily

on behalf of plaintiffs, his lack of specific knowledge of the plaintiffs' specific histories of

exposure and medical conditions, and other matters unrelated to the product-warnings issue.

On redirect, counsel for the plaintiffs questioned Dr. Pohl only on issues elicited by the

Railroad on cross-examination. On recross-examination, the Railroad stated as follows:
22

"One last area, Your Honor. You mentioned, Dr. Pohl, that when you talked about the

scientific literature[,] warnings from manufacturers didn't come in until the 1960[]s and early

'70[]s–"

At that time, the attorney for the plaintiffs objected on the basis that the questioning

violated the circuit court's order in limine. The attorney for the Railroad argued that the

plaintiffs opened the door to this questioning by eliciting information on the warnings issue

on direct. However, he did not make an offer of proof. From the record, it appears that

counsel was going to reiterate what Dr. Pohl had testified to on direct, that manufacturers

began to put warnings on their products in the 1960s. We can only guess what the remaining

portion of counsel's question was going to be. This, again, highlights the importance of

making an adequate offer of proof. "When a party seeks to have a reviewing court determine

whether the trial court's evidentiary rulings improperly restricted the examination of a

witness, the record must be clear regarding what the witness'[s] testimony would have been."

Holder v. Caselton, 275 Ill. App. 3d 950, 955 (1995). The purpose and importance of an

offer of proof have been described as follows:

" '[O]ffers of proof are designed to eliminate such speculation and not only to give the

trial court the opportunity to better understand the nature of the proffered

evidence–and thereby reevaluate its prior ruling–but also to give courts of review the

opportunity to see precisely the nature of the evidence the appellant complains the

trial court improperly excluded.' " Holder, 275 Ill. App. 3d at 955 (quoting People

v. Land, 241 Ill. App. 3d 1066, 1086 (1993)). 

Because the Railroad failed to make an adequate offer of proof at the trial, this court

cannot know the exact nature of the evidence the Railroad claims the circuit court

erroneously excluded. See Holder, 275 Ill. App. 3d at 956. We decline to speculate about

what question counsel was attempting to ask Dr. Pohl and what Dr. Pohl's testimony would
23

have been. Accordingly, we have no basis upon which to conclude that the circuit court

erred in excluding the recross-examination of Dr. Pohl.

9. Excluding Evidence of Customs and Practices of Other Companies or Industries

The Railroad argues that the circuit court erred in excluding evidence of customs and

practices of other companies or industries in dealing with the dangers associated with

asbestos at the time of the plaintiffs' employment. The circuit court granted the plaintiffs'

motion in limine to exclude this evidence. However, the Railroad did not make any offer of

proof regarding this evidence. As explained above with regard to the evidence of the lack

of warnings on asbestos-containing products, there is no way for this court to review the

propriety of the circuit court's ruling on this issue because there is no way of knowing what

the evidence would have shown. Accordingly, we find this issue waived.

10. Allowing Evidence of the Diagnosis of a Nonplaintiff

The Railroad argues that the circuit court erred by allowing evidence of the specific

diagnosis of a plaintiff not involved in the trial during the plaintiffs' cross-examination of the

Railroad's expert radiologist, Brent Harrison, M.D. On direct examination, Dr. Harrison

testified that based on his review of the plaintiffs' chest X rays, they did not truly have the

asbestos-related disease with which they had been diagnosed by Dr. Schonfeld. During

cross-examination, counsel for the plaintiffs established that Dr. Harrison had been

acquainted with defense counsel for several years. Counsel then stated to Dr. Harrison that

he wished to review the diagnoses set forth in Dr. Harrison's reports with regard to other

injured claimants referred to Dr. Harrison by counsel for the Railroad. The Railroad objected

on the basis of relevance, and the circuit court overruled the objection. The Railroad

requested a continuing objection, which the circuit court noted. Counsel for the plaintiffs

then proceeded to verify with Dr. Harrison that his reports on several other injured claimants

stated, "[T]here is no evidence of active disease and nothing to suggest previous occupational
24

exposure." Dr. Harrison answered each leading question in the affirmative but kept

interjecting that there was more in the reports' summaries than counsel was suggesting. 

Counsel for the plaintiffs then asked the same question about Dr. Harrison's report on

Daniel Hogan, a nonplaintiff associated with a previous trial group in this matter. Dr.

Harrison again verified that he had reached the same conclusion–that "there is no evidence

of active disease and nothing to suggest previous occupational exposure"–but again

interjected that there was more written in Mr. Hogan's summary than counsel for the

plaintiffs had read. Counsel then stated, "Right, because Dan Hogan had cancer and had part

of his lung removed, isn't that true?" The Railroad then objected, again on the basis of

relevance. The circuit court did not rule on this objection, and the questioning continued

concerning another claimant.

According to the Railroad, the circuit court should have sustained the Railroad's

objection and stricken the question concerning Mr. Hogan from the record. However, the

plaintiffs correctly point out that the Railroad did not properly preserve this error for review

because it failed to obtain a ruling on its objection. See Harris Trust & Savings Bank v.

Abraham-Zwirn, 314 Ill. App. 3d 527, 540 (2000) (citing People v. Waller, 67 Ill. 2d 381,

386 (1977)). In addition, we may consider this issue waived pursuant to Illinois Supreme

Court Rule 341(h)(7) (210 Ill. 2d R. 341(h)(7)), because the Railroad cites no authority for

its position. See also Piasa Motor Fuels v. Industrial Comm'n, 368 Ill. App. 3d 1197, 1205

(2006). Accordingly, we find that the Railroad has waived this issue on appeal.

Moreover, "[a] reviewing court will grant reversal based on evidentiary rulings only

when the error was substantially prejudicial and affected the outcome of the trial." Bachman

v. General Motors Corp., 332 Ill. App. 3d 760, 785 (2002). "The burden is on the party

seeking reversal to establish prejudice." Bachman, 332 Ill. App. 3d at 785. We do not

believe that the Railroad has met its burden to establish such prejudice. The Railroad's
25

contention in this regard is that Mr. Hogan's condition bolstered the plaintiffs' claims of their

alleged fear of cancer. However, even absent the question from counsel regarding a

nonplaintiff's cancerous condition, the Railroad introduced credible evidence, in the form of

expert testimony, that a person with asbestosis is at an increased risk of cancer. Accordingly,

we cannot find that the question affected the outcome of the trial, and we decline to reverse

the judgment of the circuit court on this basis.

11. Excluding Evidence of Other Medical Conditions of the Plaintiffs

The Railroad also claims that the circuit court erred when it granted the plaintiffs'

motion in limine to exclude evidence of their medical conditions that were not alleged to be

asbestos-related. However, the Railroad fails to cite to the record to direct this court to any

offer of proof made by the Railroad at the trial regarding evidence of any of the other medical

conditions it sought to have admitted. This is a violation of Illinois Supreme Court Rule

341(h)(7) (210 Ill. 2d R. 341(h)(7)), which requires that the argument portion of the

appellant's brief include citation of the pages of the record relied on. In addition, we note

that the Railroad's brief incorrectly describes the circuit court's ruling. The circuit court

granted the plaintiffs' motion in limine to exclude "any reference or evidence that any

plaintiff suffered from any disease other than those claimed herein unless defendant can first

lay a proper foundation that the other illness or disease is connected to the plaintiff's

currently claimed illness or symptoms." (Emphasis added.) The circuit court's ruling was

a correct reflection of the law. The Illinois Supreme Court has held that such a foundation

is necessary before introducing evidence of other injuries. See Voykin v. Estate of DeBoer,

192 Ill. 2d 49, 59 (2000). Without an adequate offer of proof, neither the circuit court nor

this court has any way of knowing whether the Railroad could establish an adequate

foundation for the evidence it sought to introduce or whether expert testimony was necessary

to establish the relationship between the plaintiffs' complaints and their other injuries and
26

conditions. See Voykin, 192 Ill. 2d at 59. Hence, we find this issue waived with regard to

any evidence for which there was no offer of proof and for which the Railroad fails to cite

to the record. 

Although waived for a failure to cite to the record on appeal, our review of the record

establishes that the Railroad did attempt to ask Mr. Hyatt on cross-examination whether he

has high blood pressure. The plaintiffs objected, citing the circuit court's order in limine

which required that a proper foundation be established for the admission of evidence of

another medical condition. During a sidebar, the Railroad explained to the circuit court that

it wished to ask Mr. Hyatt whether anyone had ever told him his high blood pressure could

be attributed to his shortness of breath and whether he was following his doctor's advice

about taking medication for high blood pressure. The circuit court asked the Railroad if it

had any witness who could attribute high blood pressure to shortness of breath. The Railroad

replied: "I don't know, Your Honor. I was just going to ask him if anybody ever told him

that." The plaintiffs pointed out that the Railroad had disclosed no expert opinion on the

matter. The circuit court sustained the objection. We find that this was proper because the

Railroad was unable to establish the requisite foundation under Voykin. 192 Ill. 2d at 59.

12. Denying the Railroad's Motion to Quash the Subpoena of Lyndle Burton

The Railroad argues that the circuit court erred by denying the Railroad's motion to

quash the plaintiffs' Illinois Supreme Court Rule 237 (210 Ill. 2d R. 237) subpoena, which

compelled the testimony of the Railroad's employee, Lyndle Burton. Rule 237(b) provides

that the appearance at a trial of a person who at the time of the trial is an officer, director, or

employee of a party may be required by serving the party with a notice designating the person

who is required to appear. 210 Ill. 2d R. 237(b). "Compelling the appearance of a party at

trial is a matter for the sound discretion of the trial court, and the court's power to order a

party to appear should only be exercised for a good cause and in such a manner that a party
27

may not be subject to harassment, oppression[,] or hardship." Pickering v. Owens-Corning

Fiberglas Corp., 265 Ill. App. 3d 806, 816 (1994). 

According to the Railroad, compelling Burton's appearance was error because Burton

was not hired until 2003 and thus had no relevant information regarding the Railroad's

industrial hygiene practices and procedures during the plaintiffs' employment from 1939 to

1979. We note that the plaintiffs did not file a response to the motion to quash and that the

transcript of the final pretrial conference, which according to the docket sheet is when the

circuit court heard arguments on the motion to quash, is not a part of the record on appeal.

Therefore, we have no way of knowing the justification given by the plaintiffs for compelling

Burton's attendance at the trial. However, our review of the record reveals that Burton was

called as an adverse witness at the trial pursuant to section 2-1102 of the Illinois Code of

Civil Procedure (735 ILCS 5/2-1102 (West 2004)). On cross-examination, he testified to his

qualifications as an expert witness in the field of industrial hygiene and explained the nature

of the field to the jury. He testified that the purpose of an industrial hygienist is to ensure a

safe workplace and that he was the first hygienist to be hired by the Railroad despite the field

having been in existence since at least the 1940s.

Burton further testified that he was familiar with the "AAR documents," which is a

group of documents that were admitted into evidence without objection. These documents

consist of various letters and meeting notes obtained from the Association of American

Railroads (the AAR), of which the Railroad is a member. Without objection, counsel for the

plaintiffs reviewed these documents with Burton, and based on these documents, Burton

opined that the Railroad knew that asbestos could potentially be hazardous in the 1930s.

Burton further opined that the Railroad's failure to implement the recommendations set forth

in the AAR documents, such as air testing, wetting down asbestos to minimize dust, and the

use of respirators, would have been an unreasonable safety practice at the time that these
28

recommendations were issued. Furthermore, Burton explained to the jury the concept of

bystander exposure. Based on the foregoing testimony by Burton, we cannot say that the

circuit court's order compelling his attendance at the trial pursuant to Illinois Supreme Court

Rule 237 was an abuse of discretion. Burton clearly had information relevant to the issues

of liability in this action.

13. Prohibiting the Railroad From Cross-Examining Dr. Breyer on the "Gitlin Study"

The Railroad next argues that the circuit court erred when it prohibited the Railroad

from cross-examining the plaintiffs' expert, Donald A. Breyer, M.D., concerning the "Gitlin

Study." "Decisions of the trial court on the admission of evidence will not be disturbed

absent an abuse of discretion." Bowman v. University of Chicago Hospitals, 366 Ill. App.

3d 577, 587 (2006). "A court abuses its discretion when no reasonable person would agree

with the trial court's decision." Bowman, 366 Ill. App. 3d at 587. "In general, crossexamination of an expert witness with material from 'a recognized text or treatise is proper

where either the court has taken judicial notice of the author's competence [citation] or,

absent concession by the witness, the cross-examiner proves the text or treatise is

authoritative [citations].' " Bowman, 366 Ill. App. 3d at 587 (quoting People v. Johnson, 206

Ill. App. 3d 875, 879 (1990)). "The author's competence is established if the judge takes

judicial notice of it[] or if it is established by a witness expert in the subject." Darling v.

Charleston Community Memorial Hospital, 33 Ill. 2d 326, 336 (1965). 

Here, the circuit court granted the plaintiffs' motion in limine to exclude "[a]ny

reference to a publication by Gitlin, et al., unless defendant can first establish, outside the

presence of the jury, an acceptable foundation for reference to the article in the presence of

the jury." The only offer of proof made by the Railroad was during the cross-examination

of Dr. Breyer, who testified via video evidence deposition. Dr. Breyer testified that he is a

diagnostic radiologist and a "B-reader" who is certified by the National Institute of
29

Occupational Safety and Health. As Dr. Breyer explained, a B-reader conducts side-by-side

comparisons of patients' chest X rays with standard films that reflect varying degrees of

exposure to asbestos. Dr. Breyer testified that he conducted B-read examinations of all three

plaintiffs' chest X rays. On each plaintiff's B-read, Dr. Breyer testified to varying degrees

of abnormalities consistent with asbestosis.

On cross-examination, the Railroad asked Dr. Breyer if he was familiar with the Gitlin

Study. Dr. Breyer testified that he had heard of the study and had read the article about a

year before his testimony. Dr. Breyer verified that the article on the Gitlin Study appeared

in the Journal of Academic Radiology, which is a peer-reviewed journal. Dr. Breyer

admitted that when he was publishing in his academic career, he relied upon various review

articles as source material. The Railroad then asked Breyer if the Gitlin Study is the type of

article that he would have looked at if he was going to express an opinion or write an article

on the same topic. Dr. Breyer answered that he could only say that it is an article in a peerreviewed journal. Dr. Breyer then explained that it was his understanding that the authors

of the Gitlin Study had compared some B-reader findings with their own findings and had

concluded that these B-reader radiologists had a higher number of positive findings than they

did. Dr. Breyer did not recall the exact figures. The article itself does not appear in the

record on appeal. 

Based on the foregoing, we cannot say that it was an abuse of discretion to exclude

the cross-examination of Dr. Breyer concerning the Gitlin Study. A reasonable person could

find that the Railroad's offer of proof did not establish the authors' competence or the

authoritative nature of the article. We recognize that Dr. Breyer admitted that the article was

published in a peer-reviewed journal. However, the authors of the article were not even

identified, and we decline to hold that proof that a study is published in a peer-reviewed

journal establishes, as a matter of law, the requisite foundation. Accordingly, we will not
30

reverse the judgment of the circuit court on this basis.

14. Excluding Testimony Regarding the "Halley Study"

Finally, the Railroad argues that the circuit court erred when it precluded the Railroad

from eliciting testimony regarding the "Halley Study." According to the Railroad's brief, the

Railroad attempted to elicit testimony regarding the Halley Study from the plaintiffs'

industrial hygiene expert, Dr. Michael Ellenbecker, on cross-examination, as well as the

Railroad's own industrial hygiene expert, Dr. Francis Weir, on direct examination. Both

experts testified via video evidence deposition. Although the Railroad cites to the record

where the circuit court's ruling can be found regarding the cross-examination of Michael

Ellenbecker, it fails to cite to the ruling regarding Dr. Weir and fails to cite the actual

testimony that was stricken from the video evidence depositions of the experts and served

as the Railroad's offer of proof. Again, this is a clear violation of Illinois Supreme Court

Rule 341(h)(7) (210 Ill. 2d R. 341(h)(7)), and we could consider this issue waived on this

basis. 

Despite the Railroad's clear violation of Rule 341(h)(7), we have scoured the record

for the testimony and argument needed to resolve the issue on appeal. Our review of the

record reveals that Dr. Ellenbecker testified on direct examination that he took into

consideration a study, entitled the "Millette Study," in rendering his opinion that the plaintiffs

were exposed to significant levels of asbestos in the course of their employment with the

Railroad. Millette had simulated several activities involving asbestos that were occurring in

the railroad industry during the relevant time period and had measured the exposure levels

for those activities. On cross-examination, the Railroad asked Dr. Ellenbecker whether he

was aware of the Halley Study, a study that reported that an inspector in Huntington, West

Virginia, had taken a measurement of exposure at a railroad facility during the mixing of

asbestos mud and had determined that there was an acceptable exposure level. Dr.
31

Ellenbecker testified, over the plaintiffs' objection, that he was aware of the study and that,

in his opinion, the study reached an erroneous conclusion. At the trial, the circuit court

sustained the plaintiffs' objection to cross-examination of Dr. Ellenbecker using the Halley

Study, and this testimony was cut from the video that was shown to the jury at the trial.

During the Railroad's case in chief, the Railroad requested that it be permitted to read

to the jury the prior testimony of Dr. Weir (from the trial of a prior group of plaintiffs in this

cause) due to Dr. Weir's unavailability. During the prior trial, Dr. Weir testified that he had

conducted a literature review which included the Halley Study. He then described the report

and its findings, explaining that it was published by a public agency. At no time did Dr. Weir

testify that he considered the author to be competent or the study to be authoritative. Upon

objection in the prior trial, the Railroad asserted that Dr. Weir had not relied on the Halley

Study in forming his opinions and that the Halley Study was being offered as circumstantial

proof that the Railroad had knowledge of the study. At the prior trial, the circuit court

overruled the objection to this testimony, allowing Dr. Weir's testimony. 

The plaintiffs objected to the reading of Dr. Weir's testimony at the trial under review,

on the basis of hearsay, and the circuit court overruled the objection. Prior to the circuit

court's ruling on the objection, counsel for the Railroad stated, "The Halley material would

also have to be excluded." Cocounsel for the Railroad then stated: "We talked about Halley.

You already ruled that out in Ellenbecker's testimony, presuming your ruling is the same."

Following the circuit court's ruling that the testimony could be read to the jury, the following

colloquy between counsel and the circuit court occurred:

"THE COURT: Okay. Anything else before the jury comes in? You need time

to clean that up?

MR. GAVIN [counsel for the plaintiffs]: Yes. I mean I feel like I need to

make a record on a lot of this Dr. Weir testimony because there is a lot of stuff in here
32

that–there are pages of discussion about the Halley and stuff.

THE COURT: Okay. You agree to take that out?

MR. KURZ [counsel for the Railroad]: Well, I agree I'll abide by your ruling.

THE COURT: You agree it's coming out?

MR. KURZ: I think it should come in, but I understand your ruling.

THE COURT: Why don't the two or three of you take a few minutes, see what

you can excise out of there. If you don't agree, I'll rule.

MR. KURZ: That's fine."

The record reflects that the Railroad read to the jury the testimony of Dr. Weir,

excluding his testimony about the Halley Study, without further argument on the issue of its

admissibility.

We will first address the circuit court's decision to exclude the Railroad's crossexamination of Dr. Ellenbecker regarding the Halley Study. The Railroad did not obtain Dr.

Ellenbecker's concession that the Halley Study was an authoritative source of information

in the field of industrial hygiene or that the author of the Halley Study was competent to

render the conclusions that were rendered in that study. See Bowman, 366 Ill. App. 3d at 587

(quoting Johnson, 206 Ill. App. 3d at 879); Darling, 33 Ill. 2d at 336. In fact, Dr.

Ellenbecker testified to just the opposite. Dr. Ellenbecker testified that the Halley Study

reached an erroneous conclusion. In addition, even if Dr. Weir's testimony concerning the

Halley Study had been admitted, Dr. Weir did not testify about the authoritative nature of the

Halley Study. In fact, the Railroad conceded during Dr. Weir's testimony at the first trial that

Dr. Weir's testimony regarding the Halley Study was not offered as a source that Dr. Weir

relied upon in reaching his opinions in this matter. According to the Railroad, Dr. Weir's

testimony regarding the existence of the Halley Study was being offered in the first trial only

as circumstantial evidence that the Railroad might have had knowledge of its conclusions.
33

Accordingly, we find that the circuit court's ruling was not an abuse of discretion because a

reasonable person could reach the same conclusion that the Railroad again failed to lay the

requisite foundation to use the Halley Study for the purpose of cross-examination.

We now turn to the exclusion of Dr. Weir's testimony about the Halley Study. The

circuit court clearly stated that the parties should excise all the testimony that they agreed to

excise from Dr. Weir's testimony and that if there was anything they did not agree on, the

circuit court would rule. The Railroad then read Dr. Weir's testimony to the jury, excluding

his testimony about the Halley Study, without any further argument. Accordingly, we find

that the Railroad failed to properly preserve any alleged error on the part of the circuit court

in excluding Dr. Weir's testimony on the Halley Study, by stipulating to its exclusion. 

[The preceding material is nonpublishable under Supreme Court Rule 23.]

CONCLUSION

For the foregoing reasons, the judgment of the circuit court is affirmed.

Affirmed.

WELCH and WEXSTTEN, JJ., concur.
 NO. 5-06-0618

IN THE

APPELLATE COURT OF ILLINOIS

FIFTH DISTRICT

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XON BLACKBURN et al., ) Appeal from the

) Circuit Court of

 Plaintiffs, ) Marion County.

)

and )

)

DELBERT COPPLE, CARL HEINRICHSMEYER, )

and DONALD HYATT, )

)

 Plaintiffs-Appellees, )

)

v. ) No. 04-L-25

)

ILLINOIS CENTRAL RAILROAD COMPANY, ) Honorable

) Patrick J. Hitpas,

 Defendant-Appellant. ) Judge, presiding.

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Opinion Filed: January 22, 2008

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Justices: Honorable Stephen L. Spomer, J.

Honorable Thomas M. Welch, J., and

Honorable James M. Wexstten, J.,

Concur

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Attorneys Thomas R. Peters, Mark R. Kurz, Gundlach, Lee, Eggmann, Boyle & Roessler, 5000

for West Main Street, Box 23560, Belleville, IL 62223-0560

Appellant

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Attorney William P. Gavin, Gavin Law Firm, #17 Park Place Professional Centre, Belleville,

for IL 62226

Appellees

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