Opinion ID: 1831469
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: application of the modified daubert standard

Text: ¶ 27. First, the Mississippi Rules of Evidence define relevant evidence as that which has any tendency to make the existence of any fact that is of consequence to the determination of the action more probable or less probable than it would be without the evidence. M.R.E. 401. If the proffered evidence has any probative value at all, Rule 401 favors its admission. Holladay v. Holladay 776 So.2d 662, 676 (Miss.2000). That is, the threshold for admissibility of relevant evidence is not great. Evidence is relevant if it has any tendency to prove a consequential fact. Whitten v. Cox, 799 So.2d 1, 15 (Miss.2000). Walker's testimony regarding damages and the methods he used in determining damages was clearly relevant in this eminent domain action. Therefore, Walker's testimony satisfies the first prong of the modified Daubert standard. ¶ 28. Second, in our following reliability analysis we do not intend to set forth a generic checklist of factors that our state courts shall use in every instance where parties present expert witness testimony. Rather, we choose to follow the lead of the federal courts, using the illustrative Daubert factors for guidance and leaving the determination of which reliability factors are applicable in particular cases to the sound discretion of our learned trial judges. As our cases instruct, we review a trial judge's decision to admit expert witness testimony for abuse of discretion. See Puckett v. State, 737 So.2d at 342. Because the application of the modified Daubert rule is fact-specific, a review of Walker's trial testimony is necessary for our analysis. Walker used the 750-foot line method to determine the after value of a portion of the McLemores' property. Walker reasoned that the McLemore property abutting the proposed interstate right-of-way would be most affected by the proposed construction. Thus, Walker concluded that there is a certain amount of [the McLemore] land... that would be less desirable and consequently have less value that it did before. Based on this reasoning, Walker projected an imaginary area, kind of a buffer between the interstate right-of-way and where the new construction would be, ... that would be less desirable after construction of the interstate. ¶ 29. In determining the boundary of the so-called buffer zone, Walker concluded that there is a certain distance from the right-of-way at which the proposed construction no longer has an adverse effect on the property's desirability. According to Walker, this point is at a distance of... between five hundred and a thousand feet from the proposed interstate right-of-way. Arbitrarily splitting the difference, Walker concluded that the McLemore property within 750 feet of the proposed interstate would be more adversely affected than the rest of the property. According to his subsequent calculations, Walker determined that the buffer zone area consisted of 317 acres. Consequently, under Walker's theory, these 317 acres suffered more damage than the rest of the McLemore property. ¶ 30. Prior to trial, the MTC submitted a motion in limine requesting that the trial court exclude Walker's anticipated testimony regarding the 750-foot line method. The trial judge denied the MTC's motion, reasoning that [w]e are in ... a new era of eminent domain ... and ... if there are experts who testify with some basis their opinions are to be weighed by the jury as is the credibility of their testimony. During the course of the trial, the MTC repeatedly objected to Walker's testimony regarding his 750-foot line method. ¶ 31. After describing to the jury his 750-foot line method and the results obtained from his calculations, Walker gave the following curious testimony regarding his appraisal method: Q: Mr. Walker, is the method that you have performed this appraisal, is it according to generally accepted appraisals standards and you understand them? A: Well, I think, I think that we have got some issues here with what those standards are. And my opinion is that we have got a situation that is fairly rare and new, especiallyjust eminent domain itself is new. But this is what I consider breaking new ground in that there is a situation here where I think there is no question that the after value is affected by this highway. And in determining how much you want to try to use accepted standards and methodology that has been in the past, but when this is maybe the first time that something like this has happened or at least the first time it has happened this particular way, there is problem with using methods that have been used in the past, because they just not there. ¶ 32. In addition, Walker testified to the following facts on cross-examination: (1) the method he employed in his appraisal is, to his knowledge, not printed in any textbook; (2) the method is not taught in seminars; (3) the 750-foot line method is unique to the McLemore appraisal; (4) the 750-foot line method is not a principle of any kind; and (5) the 750-foot line method was not taught in any of the courses Walker completed to obtain his appraiser's licenses in Mississippi, Tennessee, and Arkansas. ¶ 33. Unlike his expert testimony in United States v. 14.38 Acres of Land , Walker's testimony in this case is entirely speculative. None of the illustrative factors approved by the United States Supreme Court in Daubert and Kumho Tire weigh in favor of allowing Walker's testimony here. Therefore, it is clear that Walker's testimony was inadmissible and should have been excluded. ¶ 34. First, it is apparent that Walker's 750-foot line method has not been tested in the appraisal field since Walker himself testified that his appraisal method was unique to the McLemore appraisal. Moreover, it is clear that Walker's theory cannot be tested. Under the theory, there is some portion of the McLemore property that will be more adversely affected by the construction than the rest of the property. This portion abuts the proposed interstate and extends a distance of between 500 and 1000 feet onto the McLemore property. Walker concluded that this most affected portion of the property terminates at a distance of 750 feet from the interstate right-of-way. This theory cannot be tested since the location of the imaginary boundary line is not based on any principle. Walker merely split the difference between 500 and 1000 feet. In other words, Walker could have chosen to locate the line at 813 feet or 698 feet instead of 750 feet. This theory is clearly not capable of being tested since Walker simply chose the 750-foot offset at random. ¶ 35. Second, there is no evidence that Walker's theory has been the subject of any peer review. It is also evident from the record that the theory has not been the subject of any publication. Walker himself testified that the theory is not printed in textbooks or taught in courses and seminars. ¶ 36. Third, there is a high potential rate of error associated with Walker's theory. Again, the key to Walker's theory is the placement of the imaginary buffer zone boundary line. There is no evidence that the location of this line is based on anything more than Walker's speculation. Thus, there is a very real and high potential for error associated with the 750-foot line method. ¶ 37. Fourth, there is no evidence of standards that control the operation of Walker's 750-foot line method. As discussed, supra, Walker arbitrarily chose to use 750 feet as the offset instead of another random distance. In essence, Walker's speculation alone determines the location of the buffer zone boundary line; therefore, it is clear that there are, in fact, no standards that control this method. ¶ 38. Finally, Walker himself testified the method was unique to the McLemore appraisal. If this method is peculiar to a single appraisal, that the appraisal community has not adopted this method. Therefore, it is clear that this theory is not generally accepted in the appraisal field. ¶ 39. Walker's testimony was inadmissible under the modified Daubert standard since it wholly fails to comport with the non-exhaustive, illustrative list of factors set out in Daubert and Kumho Tire. The trial court therefore clearly erred in admitting Walker's testimony. Because we reverse and remand this case for a new trial, we need not consider MTC's second assignment of error.