Opinion ID: 202058
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Materiality of the Expert Testimony

Text: 74 Because we deem the court's primary holding insufficient, at this juncture, to support summary judgment, we must consider the effect of its alternative conclusion that, even with the proffered expert testimony, plaintiff's case is flawed. Noting that the experts addressed only the condition of the forklift at the time it was tested in 2004, the court observed that this evidence would not assist plaintiff in proving that the machine was defective at the time of manufacture or when the accident occurred. 75 Defendants argue that plaintiff is foreclosed from arguing the merits of the expert testimony because the issue was not raised below. Plaintiff counters that the court addressed the issue sua sponte, preventing him from fully responding to perceived deficiencies in the experts' affidavits. Defendant responds that the court's questioning at the summary judgment hearing plainly put plaintiff on notice that the materiality of the expert opinions was of concern, and they further argue that plaintiff had multiple opportunities to object to the court's having addressed the issue. 76 We decline to referee this debate. The district court likely gave short shrift to its alternative ruling because its Rule 37(c)(1) holding was dispositive. Given that defendants moved for summary judgment based solely on the exclusion of expert testimony, we think the court would have provided plaintiff additional opportunity to support his position on the merits had it not already determined the case should be dismissed. On remand, the court may again reach the same outcome on the first issue, finding that plaintiff's late disclosure was not harmless and that the case accordingly must be dismissed. Further discussion of the content of the offered testimony would then be unnecessary. If, however, the district court chooses to allow the expert testimony based on lack of prejudice, we think the interests of justice are best served if it reconsiders as well the cogency of that testimony. We therefore conclude that the grant of summary judgment for defendants must be vacated. 77 The judgment below is VACATED and the case is REMANDED for further proceedings in accordance with this opinion. The parties shall bear their own costs.