Opinion ID: 730904
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The Jenkinses' Claims

Text: 9 The Jenkinses argue that the district court abused its discretion in: (1) denying certain of their discovery requests and failing to rule on others; (2) denying their application for a continuance; (3) admitting into evidence a videotaped animated reconstruction of the accident offered by GM, and various exhibits (accident data charts); and (4) excluding from evidence a rebuttal videotape offered by the Jenkinses. 10 We have considered the trial errors alleged by the Jenkinses and find them to be without merit. None of the alleged errors amounted to an abuse of the district court's discretion in managing discovery, denying a continuance, or ruling on evidence. Furthermore, the Jenkinses' appeal from the January 9, 1996 order of the district court, which held them jointly and severally liable, together with their attorneys, for the costs and fees associated with deposing GM's experts, lacks merit. Rule 26(b)(4)(C) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure provides as follows: 11 Unless manifest injustice would result, (i) the court shall require that the party seeking discovery pay the expert a reasonable fee for time spent in responding to discovery under this subdivision; and (ii) with respect to discovery obtained under subdivision (b)(4)(B) of this rule the court shall require the party seeking discovery to pay the other party a fair portion of the fees and expenses reasonably incurred by the latter party in obtaining facts and opinions from the expert. 12 The plain language of this rule indicates that the district court properly held the Jenkinses liable for the expert costs and fees. See Business Guides, Inc. v. Chromatic Communications Enters., Inc., 498 U.S. 533, 540-41 (1991) ( 'We give the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure their plain meaning.' As with a statute, our inquiry is complete if we find the text of the Rule to be clear and unambiguous. (quoting Pavelic & LeFlore v. Marvel Entertainment Group, 493 U.S. 120, 123 (1989))).