Opinion ID: 733
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Other Damages Testimony

Text: Having decided that the district court did not abuse its discretion by excluding Dr. Basi's testimony, we must address Cole's claim that it can prove damages though other means. After Homier moved for summary judgment, Cole subsequently submitted affidavits and deposition errata sheets in which it claimed to be able to prove damages without Dr. Basi. The district court held that Cole was precluded from using other evidence because this testimony was contrary to the position that Cole had maintained throughout discovery in regard to its damages calculations. We review this holding for abuse of discretion. Yates v. Rexton, Inc., 267 F.3d 793, 802 (8th Cir.2001). Generally, a court should consider an affidavit submitted in response to a motion for summary judgment when that affidavit elaborates upon or clarifies information already submitted. Popoalii v. Corr. Med. Servs., 512 F.3d 488, 498 (8th Cir.2008). However, a party cannot avoid summary judgment by contradicting previous sworn testimony. Id. ; Webb v. Garelick Mfg. Co., 94 F.3d 484, 488 (8th Cir. 1996). If testimony under oath . . . can be abandoned many months later by the filing of an affidavit, probably no cases would be appropriate for summary judgment. Camfield Tires, Inc. v. Michelin Tire Corp., 719 F.2d 1361, 1365 (8th Cir. 1983). Cole first argues that its affidavits and deposition errata sheets are merely clarifications and that they do not contradict its prior testimony. But the record reveals otherwise. In both its response to Homier's interrogatories and at all subsequent depositions, Cole maintained that it was relying on Dr. Basi to calculate its damages and otherwise had no damages calculations. The subsequent claim that it had made and was relying on damages calculations created without the aid of Dr. Basi's expert report is plainly to the contrary. Second, Cole attempts to justify its inability to provide damages calculations on the ground that the documents necessary to prove those damages were not available until the close of discovery. The record shows, however, that Homier made these documents available to Cole well before the close of discovery; Cole simply failed to request to inspect the documents. A party's own failure to examine available documents cannot justify a subsequent contradiction of prior testimony. Finally, Cole notes on appeal that Homier's response to Cole's interrogatories indicates sales of $95,513.90 worth of tractors [6] and parts to Plaintiffs' dealerships prior to notice of termination. Setting aside any question of whether there was evidence that these were sales of whole goods, as prohibited by the Distributorship Agreement, or whether this is contradictory to Cole's prior representations, Cole did not plead contract damages arising out of sales that Homier allegedly made to dealerships. In its contract claims, Cole alleged damages arising out of Homier's: (1) termination of the agreements without good cause; (2) sale of whole goods directly to the public within Missouri; (3) failure to provide tractors and other equipment in sufficient volume to meet Cole's resale needs; and (4) failure to provide sufficient repair parts to Cole for Cole to meet its warranty obligations. There is nothing in the complaint that would have notified Homier that Cole was seeking damages in its contract claims arising out of direct-to-dealer sales. It cannot, therefore, be used to oppose summary judgment. See N. States Power Co. v. Fed. Transit Admin., 358 F.3d 1050, 1057 (8th Cir.2004) ([W]hile we recognize that the pleading requirements under the Federal Rules are relatively permissive, they do not entitle parties to manufacture claims, which were not pled, late into the litigation for the purposes of avoiding summary judgment.). Accordingly, we find that the district court did not abuse its discretion in refusing to consider Cole's supplemental testimony and we affirm the dismissal of Counts I and II.