Opinion ID: 1890354
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Dr. RoBards' Study

Text: CSX's motion in limine sought to preclude Dr. RoBards from testifying at trial on the grounds that she was not qualified to testify to causation, Moody's ability to return to work, or whether he was disabled and that her testimony lacked the degree of scientific validity and reliability that Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals, Inc., [20] requires. CSX reasoned that, as a psychologist, Dr. RoBards' lacked the qualification to opine as to the medical cause organic brain damagea neurological condition. Thus, her conclusions on the issue are the product of a flawed methodology, which relates back to [her] lack of qualifications. CSX stated at the hearing on the motion that while it did not object to testimony from Dr. RoBards indicating that testing revealed Moody's condition to be consistent with solvent-induced encephalopathy, she should not be permitted to testify that solvent exposure caused his brain damage because she is not a physician. Moody asserted that Dr. RoBards' findings were relevant to the question of foreseeability and agreed that she would not be asked to testify to causation. The Court of Appeals rejected CSX's Daubert challenge, noting that its argument appeared to concern the sufficiency of the evidence of causation rather than its admissibility. CSX disagrees, relying on Burton to argue that the trial court erred in admitting Dr. RoBards' testimony concerning her study because Moody failed to show a substantial similarity in the circumstances of the persons that she studied and also between them and Moody. CSX concludes that her testimony was substantially prejudicial and warrants a new trial. We disagree. Unlike the situation in Burton , Dr. RoBards testified at Moody's trial. She stated that she began her study with the case of a patient who suffered from various neuropsychological deficits after working at CSX's South Louisville shops. The study consisted of surveying others who worked at the same place, at the same time, under the same working conditions, and with the same job description to determine if they had similar symptoms. [21] She found that they did. Dr. RoBards testified that Moody was one of the study participants. She concluded after conducting a neuropsychological evaluation that his symptoms were consistent with toxic encephalopathy. CSX did not object to the testimony. [22] Having failed to do so, CSX cannot complain that the trial court erred by failing to exclude the testimony.