Opinion ID: 1188815
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: The district court correctly applied Daubert and allowed the expert testimony.

Text: Finally, Pansier challenges the admissibility of William Kerr's expert testimony, arguing that the district court did not properly consider the reliability of Kerr's testimony as required by Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 509 U.S. 579, 589, 113 S.Ct. 2786, 125 L.Ed.2d 469 (1993). He further argues that Kerr was not qualified to testify about Treasury Direct accounts or the Uniform Commercial Code and that his testimony about Treasury Direct account numbers was directly contradicted by that of Donna Ayers, an employee of the Bureau of Public Debt. Finally, Pansier argues that the court erred by allowing Kerr to testify as to ultimate issues involving a legal conclusion. The admissibility of expert testimony is governed by Federal Rule of Evidence 702 and the framework established by the Supreme Court in Daubert. Winters v. Fru-Con Inc., 498 F.3d 734, 741 (7th Cir.2007). Rule 702 allows the admission of expert testimony if scientific, technical, or other specialized knowledge will assist the trier of fact to understand the evidence or to determine a fact in issue. Fed.R.Evid. 702. The district court, however, must act as the gatekeeper to ensure that the proffered testimony is both relevant and reliable. Kumho Tire Co., Ltd. v. Carmichael, 526 U.S. 137, 147-49, 119 S.Ct. 1167, 143 L.Ed.2d 238 (1999); Daubert, 509 U.S. at 589, 113 S.Ct. 2786; Jenkins v. Bartlett, 487 F.3d 482, 488-89 (7th Cir.2007). To determine reliability, the court should consider the proposed expert's full range of experience and training, as well as the methodology used to arrive a particular conclusion. Smith v. Ford Motor Co., 215 F.3d 713, 718 (7th Cir.2000). We give the court great latitude in determining not only how to measure the reliability of the proposed expert testimony but also whether the testimony is, in fact, reliable, Jenkins, 487 F.3d at 489, but the court must provide more than just conclusory statements of admissibility to show that it adequately performed the Daubert analysis, Naeem v. McKesson Drug Co., 444 F.3d 593, 608 (7th Cir.2006). We review de novo whether the court applied the legal framework required under Rule 702 and Daubert, and we review the court's decision to admit or exclude expert testimony for abuse of discretion. Kunz v. DeFelice, 538 F.3d 667, 675 (7th Cir.2008). Here, Kerr's testimony established his qualifications as an expert in legitimate and fictitious financial instruments and banking. The district court responded to Pansier's objections as to the reliability of Kerr's opinions by directing the government to lay a foundation as to Kerr's analysis of the specific documents involved and only allowed Kerr's expert testimony after he specifically testified about his methods for ensuring the reliability of his analyses. The court, therefore, adequately performed the Daubert analysis. Moreover, the fact that Kerr's testimony touched upon the Uniform Commercial Code and Treasury Direct accounts as a part of his overall analysis of the fictitious financial instruments did not render the testimony inadmissible. The district court properly permitted the testimony within the context of Kerr's analysis of the financial instruments and his expertise in banking. Likewise, any possible inconsistency with another witness's testimony about the numbers used to identify a Treasury Direct account does not mean that Kerr's testimony was unreliable. Although his testimony was that a Treasury Direct account is identified by the account-holder's social security number, while Ayers's testimony was that the accounts are identified with a unique account number but can be retrieved with a social security number, it was up to the jury to determine the import of any discrepancy as a factual matter. See Chapman v. Maytag Corp., 297 F.3d 682, 687 (7th Cir.2002); Smith, 215 F.3d at 718 (The soundness of the factual underpinnings of the expert's analysis and the correctness of the expert's conclusions based on that analysis are factual matters to be determined by the trier of fact.). Finally, an expert may testify about an ultimate issue to be decided by the jury but must refrain from giving an opinion or inference as to whether the defendant did or did not have the mental state or condition constituting an element of the crime charged or of a defense thereto. Fed.R.Evid. 704; see United States v. Chube II, 538 F.3d 693, 700 (7th Cir.2008); United States v. Blount, 502 F.3d 674, 679 (7th Cir.2007). Here, Kerr testified as to the ultimate issues that the sight drafts were fictitious financial instruments and were purportedly drawn on a Treasury Direct account under the authority of the United States. See 18 U.S.C. § 514. He did not, however, testify as to Pansier's state of mind or his intent to defraud, and the district court, therefore, did not abuse its discretion in allowing the testimony. See Blount, 502 F.3d at 679-80.