Opinion ID: 1965114
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Deposition of Dr. Klein

Text: Howard Klein, M.D. (Dr. Klein), Petitioners' expert on the causal relation between Terran's exposure to lead paint and lead paint poisoning, was deposed by the defendants. [4] Initially, Petitioners' counsel referred Dr. Klein to Hall's answers to interrogatories, including the answer that Hall and Terran resided at the subject premises between 1992 and 1993, that they moved there in the spring/summer of 1992, and that Terran was cared for by Porter at the subject premises during the hours of 8:00 a.m. through 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday with dates unspecified. When asked whether, based on this information, he had an opinion within a reasonable degree of medical probability, as to whether or not Terran Pittman was exposed to lead-based paint at [the subject premises], Dr. Klein testified that if that information is correct, he was [exposed]. Later, Respondents' counsel redirected Dr. Klein's attention to both Hall's deposition and answers to interrogatories, asking for the basis of his opinion that a major contributor to ... this young boy's problems, [was] from lead exposure at [the subject premises]. Dr. Klein replied: Well, one of the problems is that although I have a Baltimore City Health Department inspection record of [the subject premises] and we know that he continued to have elevated levels well past `93, it's basically the answer to interrogatories that talks about the child being there. I mean I don't have any other, as I mentioned to you in previous questioning, I don't have any other source for that information. When defense counsel, assuming two months to be the longest period of residence stated in Hall's deposition, asked: [Terran's] there for two months, that's the worst case scenario, according to her answers, two months. Do you really believe that you can say, to a reasonable degree of medical certainty, that his problems, a major contributor of his problems, is the lead at [the subject premises], where he could have stayed approximately two months? Dr. Klein replied: It's unlikely. Finally, redirecting Dr. Klein to Hall's interrogatory answers, defense counsel initiated the following exchange: Q ... [T]he answer I'm reading to [Dr. Klein] is that, `Other than 1805 Harlem Avenue, the minor plaintiff was cared for at [the subject premises] by Rita Porter during the hours of 8 AM through 4 PM, Monday through Friday.' Does that have any significance to you without some sort of date or time frame or context? Was that one week? Was it in 1995? Do you have any idea when that was? A That's why I can't give you medical probability and that's why I'm saying that it's unlikely that this was a major contributor. Q Even based on these responses [to the interrogatories], though, too, isn't that right? A That's why I answered as I answered. In sum, Dr. Klein acknowledged on deposition that, without any time frame, he could not state with a reasonable degree of medical probability that lead exposure at the subject premises was a major contributor to Terran's injuries. Dr. Klein was able to opine, however, that a two months residence was an insufficient period of exposure to be a substantial factor in causing Terran's injuries.