Opinion ID: 3021413
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: The Hallowells

Text: We disagree with the District Court’s finding that the Hallowells conducted little or no investigation into their cows’ symptoms between 1972 and 1996. As described above, the Hallowells consulted dairy farm specialists, including veterinarians, nutritionists, breeders, and an agricultural extension agent. Suspecting radiation poisoning, Hallowell administered iodine to his cows. Upon the advice of nutritionists, the Hallowells altered the cows’ nutritional program. Upon the advice that the problem might be chemical, they administered chemicals tests. The Hallowells contacted PADER and sent blood samples to experts at Michigan State University. The Hallowells installed a new air ventilation system and, upon the advice of their veterinarian, a new drinking water system. Given these numerous and varied efforts, a reasonable juror could conclude that the Hallowells exercised reasonable diligence to determine the cause of their cows’ symptoms. We also find that the 1996 New Bolton study may have lead the Hallowells to reasonably conclude that fluorosis was not the cause of their cows’ symptoms. Like the Mests, the Hallowells noticed their injury and sought the advice of medical experts, who, after performing tests, assured the Hallowells that fluoride was not to blame. Therefore, for the reasons explained above, there is a material fact issue as to whether the 1996 New Bolton study led the Hallowells to reasonably believe that the defendants were not the cause of their injury. Given that, under Debiec, the Hallowells may have reasonably relied on the 1996 New Bolton study, we next consider 16 whether the Hallowells’ actions after the New Bolton study constituted reasonable diligence. As we previously stated, continued reliance on a misdiagnosis in the face of contrary evidence may be considered unreasonable as a matter of law. See Bohus, 950 F.2d at 930; Debiec, 352 F.3d at 132. Here, however, when their cows’ symptoms did not subside despite the New Bolton Center’s advice, the Hallowells continued to investigate their cows’ illness by consulting the EPA. The EPA’s tests – like those of the New Bolton Center – concluded that the cause was farm-specific and not environmental. Thus, until the 1999 diagnosis by GreenWatch, the Hallowells made continued efforts, which only confirmed the New Bolton study’s conclusion that the cause was farm-specific and not caused by Cabot. Therefore, a reasonable juror could certainly find that the Hallowells exercised reasonable diligence following the 1996 New Bolton study. We also disagree with the District Court that the Hallowells did not exercise reasonable diligence as a matter of law because of their failure to obtain the Davis Reports. Both the Hallowells and the Mests contacted PADER regarding their problems and were not told of the reports. Furthermore, not one of the experts the Hallowells and the Mests consulted found the reports until GreenWatch’s investigation in 1999. These circumstances, we believe, raise at least a material issue of fact as to how easily these reports could have been obtained and whether reasonable diligence required the Hallowells to obtain them. In sum, we hold that a material issue of fact exists as to whether the Hallowells exercised reasonable diligence sufficient to toll the statute of limitations under the discovery rule. 2. Tolling Due to Cabot’s Alleged Fraudulent Concealment The plaintiffs also argue that the statute of limitations should be tolled because Cabot fraudulently concealed the cause of the plaintiffs’ injury. Pennsylvania’s fraudulent concealment doctrine tolls the statute of limitations where “through fraud or concealment the defendant causes the plaintiff to relax vigilance or deviate from the right of inquiry.” Ciccarelli v. Carey Canadian Mines, Ltd., 757 F.2d 548, 556 (3d Cir. 1985). The plaintiffs allege that, during the Hallowells’ discussions with representatives of the Cabot Facility in the 1970s and 1996, Cabot concealed its knowledge about potential fluoride contamination and misled the Hallowells 17 through its assurances that fluoride from the Cabot Facility could not be the cause of their cows’ injuries. Specifically, the Hallowells allege that Cabot told them that there was no danger from the Cabot Facility, that Cabot monitored its fluoride emissions closely to ensure they were at safe levels for crops and animals, and that the emissions were not in sufficient quantities to harm the Hallowells’ cows. (JA at 448.) The plaintiffs argue that, because Cabot knew of the Davis Reports when it made these misrepresentations, its actions constitute fraudulent concealment sufficient to toll the statute of limitations. The District Court rejected this argument, holding that it was unreasonable for the plaintiffs to rely on any statements made by Cabot. Like the discovery rule, the fraudulent concealment doctrine does not toll the statute of limitations where the plaintiff knew or should have known of his claim despite the defendant’s misrepresentation or omission. Bohus, 950 F.2d at 925-26. Where common sense would lead the plaintiff to question a misrepresentation, the plaintiff cannot reasonably rely on that misrepresentation. Id. at 925. The District Court held that, here, “it was not reasonable for Plaintiffs to rely on the statements of a company they suspected of poisoning their cow herds” and that “it was unreasonable for Plaintiffs to continue to rely on those statements when their cows continued to have problems.” Mest, 2004 WL 945131 at . In our view, whether Cabot’s assurances caused the Hallowells to reasonably believe that their problems were not caused by Cabot is an issue best decided by a fact-finder. Generally, where reasonable minds can disagree, questions of whether fraudulent remarks were made and whether the plaintiff was reasonable in relying on them or continuing to rely on them are left to the jury. See Fine v. Checcio, 870 A.2d 850, 862 (Pa. 2005) (question of what statements were actually made by defendant was best answered by jury); Drelles v. Mfrs. Life Ins. Co., 881 A.2d 822, 832 n.6 (Pa. Super. 2005) (“[I]t is for the jury to say whether fraudulent remarks actually were made.”); Crown Cork & Seal Co. v. Montgomery, McCracken, Walker & Rhoads, LLP, No. 03185, 2003 WL 23120185, at  (Pa. Com. Pl. 2003) (whether plaintiff reasonably relied on defendants’ allegedly false statements was question of fact best decided by jury). We conclude that rational jurors could find that it was reasonable for the Hallowells to rely on 18 the statements made by Cabot. However, we note that the Mests may not assert the doctrine of fraudulent concealment to toll the statute of limitations. The record on appeal does not disclose any communication between the Mests and Cabot or that Cabot made potentially misleading statements to the Mests as it did to the Hallowells. Under the doctrine of fraudulent concealment, “[t]here must be an affirmative and independent act of concealment that would divert or mislead the plaintiff from discovering the injury.” Bohus, 950 F.2d at 925. Silence can constitute fraud only where there is an affirmative duty to disclose because of a fiduciary relationship between the parties or a similar relationship of trust and confidence. Chiarella v. United States, 445 U.S. 222, 227-28 (1980); Sevin v. Kelshaw, 611 A.2d 1232, 1236 (Pa. Super. 1992); Smith v. Renaut, 564 A.2d 188, 192 (Pa. Super. 1989). We disagree with the plaintiffs’ argument that Cabot had a duty to disclose the existence of the Davis Reports to the Mests. This argument implies that Cabot had an affirmative duty to disclose to all area farmers, without their inquiry, the existence of public reports that raised possible concerns for the farmers. The plaintiffs offer no precedent suggesting such a duty; rather, they cite cases regarding the duty of care in a negligence action. See, e.g., Miller v. Group Voyagers, Inc., 912 F. Supp. 164, 167 (E.D. Pa. 1996); Snyder v. ISC Alloys, Ltd., 772 F. Supp. 244, 253 (W.D. Pa. 1991); Venzel v. Valley Camp Coal Co., 156 A. 240, 242 (Pa. Super. 1931). These cases do not demonstrate that a relationship of trust existed between Cabot and the Mests such that Cabot’s failure to disclose the existence of the Davis Reports constituted fraudulent concealment. Moreover, the plaintiffs do not define the parameters of this alleged duty, such as which area farmers were owed this duty and how long this duty persisted after the Davis Reports were published as, presumably, new farmers moved into the area. We cannot find that such a sweeping duty exists under Pennsylvania law.