Opinion ID: 610114
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: analysis

Text: 7 Bernas argues that summary judgment is particularly inappropriate in negligence cases like this, where the uncontradicted evidentiary facts presented are susceptible to conflicting interpretations. True, a factual issue which may reasonably be resolved in favor of either party will preclude the entry of summary judgment if it is material to the case. A.V. Consultants, Inc. v. Barnes, 978 F.2d 996, 1000 (7th Cir.1992). Generally, if the party opposing summary judgment fails to make a sufficient showing on an essential element of his case to which he bears the burden of proof, there can be no genuine issue of material fact, since a complete failure of proof concerning an essential element necessarily renders all other facts immaterial. Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 322-23, 106 S.Ct. 2548, 2552 (1986). This standard is qualified, however, by the actual quantum and quality of proof necessary to support liability under the governing substantive law. Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 254, 106 S.Ct. 2505, 2513 (1986). 8 Cases from this circuit hold that the quantum of evidence required to establish liability in a[ ] FELA case is much less than in an ordinary negligence action. 6 Harbin v. Burlington N. R.R. Co., 921 F.2d 129, 131 (7th Cir.1990); see also Deutsch v. Burlington N. R.R. Co., 983 F.2d 741, 743 (7th Cir.1992), cert. denied, 113 S.Ct. 1845 (1993). Under the FELA, the test of a jury case is simply whether the proofs justify with reason the conclusion that employer negligence played any part, even the slightest, in producing the injury ... for which damages are sought. Wilson v. Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pac. R.R. Co., 841 F.2d 1347, 1353 (7th Cir.) (citing Rogers v. Missouri Pac. R.R. Co., 352 U.S. 500, 506, 77 S.Ct. 443, 448 (1957)), cert. dismissed, 487 U.S. 1244, 109 S.Ct. 1 (1988). Discretion to engage in common sense inferences regarding issues of causation and fault is exclusively vested with the jury in all but the infrequent cases where fair-minded jurors cannot honestly differ whether fault of the employer played any part in the employee's injury. Walden v. Illinois Cent. Gulf R.R., 975 F.2d 361, 364 (7th Cir.1992) (citing Rogers, 352 U.S. at 510, 77 S.Ct. at 451). Therefore, the case must be submitted to the jury when there is even slight evidence of negligence, Harbin, 921 F.2d at 131; Deutsch, 983 F.2d at 743, whether or not the evidence would also reasonably permit the jury to attribute the injury to other causes as well. Wilson, 841 F.2d at 1353. 9 Viewing the evidence most favorable to the employee, judicial appraisal of the proofs is narrowly limited to the single inquiry whether a jury may with reason conclude that negligence of the employer played any part at all in the injury. Id.; Rogers v. Missouri Pac. R.R. Co., 352 U.S. 500, 506-07, 77 S.Ct. 443, 448-48 (1957). This court's review on appeal is governed by the same standard. Deutsch, 983 F.2d at 743. After reviewing the record de novo, and drawing all reasonable inferences in favor of the nonmoving party, this court will uphold the grant of summary judgment if there are no genuine issues of material fact and if the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. Fed.R.Civ.Pro. 56(c); Liberty Lobby, 477 U.S. at 250, 106 S.Ct. at 2511. 10 In response to defendant's motion for summary judgment, Bernas stated that the deposition testimony of Dr. O'Connor came as a surprise because it was expected that Dr. O'Connor would testify that a cause of the stroke was the conduct of the railroad in obtaining a release from Bernas and in refusing to allow him to resume his employment. When viewed in the light most favorable to the plaintiff, it is possible to draw a negative inference from Dr. O'Connor's testimony that although all reasonable (i.e., common medical) causes of the stroke were precluded by testing, potential stress-related causes were not precluded. Testimony that he was also unable to offer an opinion as to any non-organic causes, however, undermines this inference. Even if reasonable, it appears unlikely that this inference alone would be sufficient to establish liability. 11 To establish liability under the FELA, current Seventh Circuit case law holds that an injury under FELA requires physical contact or the threat of physical contact. Ray v. Consolidated Rail Corp., 938 F.2d 704, 705 (7th Cir.1991), cert. denied, 112 S.Ct. 914 (1992) (White and Thomas, JJ. dissenting, argue that a uniform rule should be announced, noting a split in the circuits regarding whether a claim for an emotional injury caused by emotional distress negligently inflicted without an accompanying physical injury or physical contact is cognizable under the FELA). Accord Hammond v. Terminal R.R. Ass'n, 848 F.2d 95, 98 (7th Cir.1988), cert. denied, 489 U.S. 1032 (1989). Contra Gottshall v. Consolidated Rail Corp., 988 F.2d 355 (3d Cir.1993); Plaisance v. Texaco Inc., 937 F.2d 1004, 1009 (5th Cir.1991), aff'd, 966 F.2d 166 (en banc), cert. denied, 113 S.Ct. 604 (1992). It appears that under the zone of danger rule, Bernas' claim for negligently inflicted emotional distress may not be cognizable under the FELA even if, as alleged here, it manifested itself in physical injury. Gillman v. Burlington N. R.R. Co., 878 F.2d 1020, 1025 (7th Cir.1989) (where employee was not physically contacted or hurt, no claim for relief of negligent infliction of emotional distress under the FELA); see also Lancaster v. Norfolk & W.Ry. Co., 773 F.2d 807 (7th Cir.1985) (claim of intentional infliction of emotional distress not cognizable under the FELA), cert. denied, 480 U.S. 945 (1987). 12 Plaintiff's motion argued that Dr. O'Connor had stated his inability to render the anticipated causation opinion was based on review of his treatment records and the fact that he had not seen Bernas in the short time preceding the stroke. 7 Response Motion at 2. In light of this, plaintiff attached to his motion a note from Dr. Peter G. Verges which stated that he had treated Bernas in 1983, that Bernas was hospitalized from October 4, 1983 to October 8, 1983, and diagnosed with acute gastritis, hypertension, and pancreatitis. Dr. Verges' note further stated that I understand that on November 23, 1983 [Bernas] had a C.V.A. for several days which could be attributed to arteriosclerosis and possibly stress reaction from the workplace. Response Motion (note attached). The Magistrate Judge disregarded Dr. Verges' opinion as insufficient evidence of causation because it was not made on the basis of personal knowledge. Order of October 23, 1991 at 3. 13 Even though counsel conceded before the Magistrate that there was insufficient evidence of causation to prevent summary judgment in favor of the defendant, (Motion Tr. 15 & Response Motion at 2), Bernas, acting pro se on appeal, disputes this. 8 He argues that Dr. Verges' opinion does present the threshold showing of causation and, as such, is sufficient to create a genuine issue for trial. Br. at 15. The record reveals that this note was the only evidence, although not the kind required by Rule 56(e), offered to support causation. Viewed in the light most favorable to the plaintiff, Dr. Verges' note at best suggests only a possible causal connection between the defendant's negligence and the stroke, rather than a probable one. Even under the lenient standard for avoiding summary judgment under the FELA, evidence of only a possible causal link may be insufficient. Bernas next argues that even if this evidence was insufficient, he was entitled to a continuance for additional discovery to obtain the necessary opinion of causation. 14 Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 56(f) allows a party who has no specific evidence contradicting a motion for summary judgment, to survive the motion by presenting both valid reasons for lack of proof and showing how postponement of a ruling will permit the non-movant to rebut the movant's showing. 9 Chicago Florsheim Shoe Store Co. v. Cluett, Peabody & Co., 826 F.2d 725, 727 (7th Cir.1987); Otto v. Variable Annuity Life Ins. Co., 814 F.2d 1127, 1138 (7th Cir.1986), cert. denied, 486 U.S. 1026 (1988). Although unaccompanied by the required Rule 56(f) affidavit, DeBruyne v. Equitable Life Assur. Soc., 920 F.2d 457, 462 (7th Cir.1990), plaintiff did attach the note from Dr. Verges. 15 On appeal, Plaintiff also provides excerpts from Dr. O'Connor's deposition testimony which, although not part of the record before the Magistrate Judge, indicate that Bernas' work-related stress produced a psychosomatic overlay which may provide support for a causal connection between the defendant's negligence and the stroke. Appellant's Appendix at 44. Unfortunately, plaintiff has offered no reason why he could not have presented this evidence with his response motion, and it is difficult to discern one. There is also no excuse offered for why plaintiff had not previously sought the necessary discovery. Finding no reasonable explanation why plaintiff was unable to obtain proof on medical causation when given ample time and opportunity, the court denied Bernas' request and granted summary judgment in favor of the defendant, Soo Line Railroad. 16 It is well established that [a] party who has been dilatory in discovery may not use Rule 56(f) to gain a continuance where he has only made vague assertions that further discovery would develop genuine issues of material fact. United States v. Bob Stofer Oldsmobile Cadillac, Inc., 766 F.2d 1147, 1153 (7th Cir.1985). More than five years had passed since Bernas filed an action against his employer for negligently causing the stroke he suffered in November of 1983. After re-filing the case in April of 1990, and more than three months after discovery closed, almost three months after Dr. O'Connor's deposition, two months after the final pretrial order, and only one week before the scheduled date for trial, Bernas still sought additional time to support causation. Even after learning that Dr. O'Connor's deposition testimony was not as favorable as plaintiff had hoped, he still had approximately three months to obtain the necessary proof of causation. Because Bernas' failure to produce evidence of a causal connection is attributable to counsel's failure to make reasonable efforts to complete discovery, the district court's refusal to grant a continuance under Rule 56(f) was not an abuse of its discretion. Colby v. J.C. Penney, Co., 926 F.2d 645, 648 (7th Cir.1991), Todd v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 942 F.2d 1173, 1178 (7th Cir.1991). Moreover, although Bernas was allowed only eight days to respond to the summary judgment motion, he clearly had adequate time prior to the close of discovery. Instituto Nacional v. Continental Ill. Nat. Bank, 858 F.2d 1264, 1272 (7th Cir.1988) (not an abuse of discretion to deny an extension of time when a response was ordered within ten days from receipt of a motion for summary judgment). 17 With respect to his second claim of fraudulent inducement in obtaining the release of personal injury claims, Bernas presented no argument or evidence to support this allegation at the summary judgment hearing. 10 Bernas' failure to present sufficient evidence on a claim for which he had the burden of proof at trial renders the grant of summary judgment in favor of the defendant proper. See Callen v. Pennsylvania R.R. Co., 332 U.S. 625, 630, 68 S.Ct. 296, 298 (1948) (burden on employee to show that release of claims under FELA invalid as procured through fraud).