Opinion ID: 160909
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Causation Testimony

Text: 30 Appellants next contend the district court erroneously excluded testimony of their expert, Dr. Benjamin E. Zola. Dr. Zola apparently would have testified that Phillips' alleged drug use did not cause bacterial endocarditis. The district court, however, ruled that evidence of what caused plaintiff's fatal condition was not at issue. See Vol. II, p. 755-56. The court stated the issue was whether Dr. Cobb negligently treated Phillips on September 23, 1998 and whether Phillips contributed, by withholding pertinent health information, to the alleged negligent care. See id. As such, what actually caused bacterial endocarditis was irrelevant to whether Dr. Cobb's treatment fell below the recognized standard of care.
31 Ordinarily, this court would review the exclusion of expert testimony under the standards set forth in Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals, Incorporated, 509 U.S. 579, 589 (1993). See, e.g., Hynes v. Energy West, 211 F.3d 1193,1202 (10th Cir. 2000) (citing Kumho Tire Co. v. Carmichael, 526 U.S. 137, 152 (1999)). Here, however, the district court did not exclude Dr. Zola's testimony based upon the merits of his expert opinion but rather because the proffered testimony was irrelevant to the issue at hand. This court reviews rulings excluding testimony under an abuse of discretion standard. See Dodoo v. Seagate Tech., Inc., 235 F.3d 522, 528 (10th Cir. 2000). We will not overturn the trial court unless it has made `an arbitrary, capricious, whimsical, or manifestly unreasonable judgment[.]' Id. (citing Woodworker's Supply, Inc. v. Principal Mut. Life Ins. Co., 170 F.3d 985, 992 (10th Cir. 1999)).
32 Appellants made a proffer that Dr. Zola would testify that, based upon a reasonable degree of medical certainty, Phillips' drug use did not cause bacterial endocarditis. See Vol. II, p. 753-55. This testimony was necessary, appellants argue, to rebut arguments or evidence that HMC or Dr. Cobb might present to the effect Phillips caused his own death. The district court stated that the cause of Phillips' bacterial endocarditis was irrelevant to the negligence claim at issue and that Phillips' use of drugs was relevant only to the extent that he failed to inform Dr. Cobb of a pertinent medical condition. See id. at 755. While counsel for HMC and Dr. Cobb were free to argue Phillips withheld pertinent information, the district court rule that if [counsel for HMC or Dr. Cobb] start even for a moment suggesting that the cause of death was drug use, then there will be serious old testament stuff. Id. 33 Because appellant has failed to indicate any events contrary to this ruling actually occurred, we are assured all arguments fell well within this ruling. Without evidence alleging Phillips caused his own death, appellants' sole justification for Dr. Zola's testimony vanishes. Accordingly, we hold the district court's decision fell well within his wide discretion. Furthermore, while it may have been appropriate to offer a limiting instruction to the jury, there is no indication appellants requested one. Given appellants' failure, we can not say plain error occurred. See Gilbert v. Cosco Inc., 989 F.2d 399, 404 (10th Cir. 1993); see also United States v. Pedraza, 27 F.3d 1515, 1526 (10th Cir. 1994) (stating the failure to seek a limiting instruction, in a criminal case, may be the result of a tactical decision).