Opinion ID: 2521038
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: The Expert Witness Daubert Objection

Text: [¶ 20] Prior to trial, the sellers apprised the trial court of their objection to the buyers' expert witness' testimony alleging he was unqualified and failed to perform certain tests to confirm his opinion. During the course of the engineer's testimony, the objection was renewed with regard to admission of his written report. The court overruled the motion stating it would decide what weight, if any, the report should be given after it had received all the evidence. As is apparent from the court's opinion letter and findings, the testimony and report were ultimately accorded considerable weight. [¶ 21] As noted by the sellers, we have adopted the federal Daubert model, imposing gatekeeping responsibilities on trial courts to decide whether scientific or technical expert testimony is admissible. Chapman v. State, 2001 WY 25, ¶ 8, 18 P.3d 1164, ¶ 8 (Wyo.2001); Bunting v. Jamieson, 984 P.2d 467, 471 (Wyo.1999) (citing Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 509 U.S. 579, 592-93, 113 S.Ct. 2786, 125 L.Ed.2d 469 (1993)). However, as recently reiterated in Chapman, we did not `abandon our own precedent regarding the admissibility of expert testimony.' 2001 WY 25, ¶ 8, 18 P.3d 1164 (quoting Bunting, 984 P.2d at 471). Under the Daubert model, the trial court must first determine whether the expert's methodology is reliable; then the court must determine whether the proposed testimony `fits' the facts of the particular case. Id. In Kumho Tire Co., Ltd. v. Carmichael, 526 U.S. 137, 119 S.Ct. 1167, 143 L.Ed.2d 238 (1999), the United States Supreme Court further clarified the scope of Daubert, holding the gatekeeping duties of the trial judge apply to all expert testimony, whether such testimony is based on scientific, technical, or other specialized knowledge. Smith v. Ingersoll-Rand Company, 214 F.3d 1235, 1243 (10th Cir.2000). Kumho also made it clear the gatekeeping function is a flexible and commonsense responsibility. The trial judge is granted broad latitude in deciding the means to determine reliability as well as in ultimately deciding whether the testimony is reliable. Id. (citing Kumho Tire Co., Ltd., 526 U.S. at 141-42, 119 S.Ct. 1167). [¶ 22] The Daubert gatekeeping function is not intended to measure every expert by an inflexible set of criteria but rather is to ensure an adequate inquiry to `make certain that an expert, whether basing testimony upon professional studies or personal experience, employs in the courtroom the same level of intellectual rigor that characterizes the practice of an expert in the relevant field.' Id. (quoting Kumho Tire Co., Ltd., 526 U.S. at 152, 119 S.Ct. 1167). We agree that, as gatekeepers of expert testimony, judges must always perform some form of reliability analysis; however, we have overtly declined to `shackle the district court with a mandatory and explicit' reliability proceeding. Chapman, 2001 WY 25, ¶ 23, 18 P.3d 1164 (quoting Hoult v. Hoult, 57 F.3d 1, 5 (1st Cir.1995)). Instead, ... we `assume that the district court performs such an analysis sub silencio throughout the trial with respect to all expert testimony.' Id. (quoting Hoult, 57 F.3d at 5). The decision to admit or reject expert testimony is exclusively within the trial court's discretion. Id. at ¶ 8, 18 P.3d 1164; Seivewright v. State, 7 P.3d 24, 29 (Wyo.2000). [¶ 23] At trial, the buyers' expert testified at length regarding his educational background in civil engineering and experience designing and inspecting residential buildings. He testified he had been a consulting engineer in self-practice for approximately eight years in the Cody area. In that time, he had completed more than fifty building inspections to determine whether there was water permeation damage to basements made of concrete block and concrete. He explained the inspection process and that a normal inspection does not entail tearing off paneling, running soil or cement samples, or performing other invasive procedures. The engineer then specifically and incrementally described his July 1997 inspection of the property and his final conclusions. [¶ 24] The sellers have the burden to demonstrate admission of this evidence was an abuse of discretion, and, upon our review, we must conclude they have failed. At a minimum, they should have provided evidence contesting the validity of the methodology and the reliability of the results. This was not the course they chose at trial; therefore, their appeal presents little more than unfounded assertions. Due regard is given to the trial judge's opportunity and ability to assess credibility, and our review does not entail weighing disputed evidence. Scherer Construction, LLC v. Hedquist Construction, Inc., 2001 WY 23, ¶ 30, 18 P.3d 645, ¶ 30 (Wyo.2001); Hopper v. All Pet Animal Clinic, Inc., 861 P.2d 531, 538 (Wyo.1993). The evidence in the record supports the findings that the engineer was qualified and his testimony was relevant and reliable. The trial court appropriately overruled the objection and advised the parties it would determine the weight the evidence was to be given at the close of the trial. We conclude the trial court's analysis was conducted sub silencio through the course of the proceeding and in light of all the evidence received. Admission of the expert testimony and report was not clearly erroneous or an abuse of discretion.