Opinion ID: 781962
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The Daubert Hearing — Summary of Cotter's Arguments

Text: 32 At the Daubert hearing, Cotter stated its intention to introduce live testimony from three of its experts. Id. at 010700. Citing Cotter's failure to notify the court of this intention in a timely manner, the court refused to allow any live witness testimony. Id. at 010704. Thus, relying solely on evidentiary proffers, each party argued its position on the admissibility of certain expert testimony. Id. at 010698-843. Three experts in particular were the focus of Cotter's argument. The first was geologist Glen Miller, whose expert testimony would be offered to establish the presence of harmful substances (i.e., uranium, molybdenum, arsenic, lead) in levels exceeding the natural background in soil, water and vegetation samples taken in and around plaintiffs' properties and also to establish that such substances derived from the Mill. Id. at 010755-782. The remaining two were Dr. Malin Dollinger, a medical doctor board certified in internal medicine and oncology, and Martyn Smith, Ph.D., a professor of toxicology; the testimony from these experts would be offered to establish that the harmful substances released from the Mill were a cause of plaintiffs' extensive range of maladies. Id. at 010706-726. 33 Briefly summarized, Cotter argued that Mr. Miller's testimony was unreliable due to his use of unreliable methodologies, specifically the method and reasoning he employed in selecting baselines with which to compare the measured levels of the substances at issue. Because each of these substances are naturally found in the environment, and because the vicinity of the Mill was known to be mineral rich and geologically varied, Cotter argued that the selection of valid baselines was nothing short of fundamental to determining if Cotter was in fact responsible for the measured levels of the substances on plaintiffs' properties. Cotter took particular issue with Mr. Miller's use of baselines from a textbook published in 1966, referred to by the author's name, Bowen, which established worldwide average baselines of various substances. Although Mr. Miller maintained that no superior source of pre-Mill-contamination baselines were available, Cotter argued, among other things, that use of Bowen's worldwide baselines, as opposed to baselines more directly tied to the specific mineral-rich vicinity of the Mill, rendered Mr. Miller's entire analysis unreliable. Id. at 010755-782. 34 Cotter also argued that the causation testimony from Drs. Dollinger and Smith was unreliable due to their reliance on improper methodology and reasoning to conclude that substances from Cotter caused the plaintiffs' maladies. Specifically, Cotter took issue with: (1) their reliance on Mr. Miller's testimony to conclude that plaintiffs were significantly exposed without any real understanding or estimate of dose or exposure amounts; (2) their conclusion without proper scientific support that the substances at issue could even cause health problems in humans like those alleged by plaintiffs; and (3) the reasoning that because nothing else seemed to account for the plaintiffs' alleged maladies, contamination from Cotter must have been the cause. 35 The district court recognized that several of Cotter's arguments merited close attention. Id. at 010839-840. The court specifically expressed concern with various aspects of the proposed expert testimony, including Mr. Miller's baselines for dust, vegetation and water. Id. at 010786, 010770-771, 010792-795, 010801, 010804, 010809-811. In fact, the court had the following to say regarding perceived problems with Mr. Miller's testimony: 36 Let me just be very candid with you. I wish that the plaintiffs had some better information on background. I think it would be much better if they had; if they had even gone out and done some tests in the surrounding areas, rather than rely on Bowen. What is the level in Europe or Israel or South Africa, it seems to me is not that critical. 37 Unfortunately, they didn't. Now, if I don't give Mr. Miller a chance to show that this background is sufficient, basically the whole plaintiffs' case goes and we might as well just strike the trial. And I frankly don't want to do that. I think the plaintiffs should have some opportunity to present their case to the jury. 38 Id. at 010817. Recognizing the need to hear from the experts themselves, the court opted to reserve ruling on each expert until trial, at which time the court would allow in camera voir dire of each contested expert. Id. at 010839-840. As a result, at the Daubert hearing, the court made no specific findings on the record concerning the reliability of the experts' testimony. Id. at 010840. The court concluded the hearing by denying Cotter's request to proffer a complete appendix of the reports and studies relied upon by the contested experts, stating that it would ask for any additional materials if it needed them. Id. at 010842. 39