Opinion ID: 1445166
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Striking of Expert Affidavit

Text: Next, Popoalii argues that the district court erred in striking the affidavit of Dr. Dreyer. We review the district court's rulings on admission of expert opinion testimony for abuse of discretion. Ahlberg v. Chrysler Corp., 481 F.3d 630, 635 (8th Cir.2007); Dow Corning Corp. v. Safety National Cas. Corp., 335 F.3d 742, 751-52 (8th Cir.2003). Popoalii timely disclosed Dr. Dreyer as an expert witness, and his report was submitted on June 30, 2006. Dr. Dreyer was deposed about his opinions, and he stated that the report completely and accurately summarized his opinions concerning Popoalii's medical care. After the close of discovery, Popoalii filed an additional affidavit from Dr. Dreyer. This second affidavit accompanied Popoalii's response to defendants' motion for summary judgment. The district court struck this second expert affidavit because the defendants had no opportunity to depose Dr. Dreyer on these new opinions before close of discovery. Further, the court noted that because Popoalii represented that the affidavit contained nothing new, she would not be prejudiced by its exclusion. Generally, a court is required to consider an otherwise admissible affidavit, unless that affidavit contradicts previous deposition testimony. Webb v. Garelick Mfg. Co., 94 F.3d 484, 488 (8th Cir.1996). If an additional affidavit simply restates information already contained in deposition testimony or elaborates on information already conveyed, then the district court should consider the affidavit. Id. Contradictory supplemental affidavits are a different matter. We have held that [i]f testimony under oath . . . can be abandoned many months later by the filing of an affidavit, probably no cases would be appropriate for summary judgment. A party should not be allowed to create issues of credibility by contradicting his own earlier testimony. Camfield Tires, Inc. v. Michelin Tire Corp., 719 F.2d 1361, 1365 (8th Cir.1983). Post-deposition contradictory affidavits are admitted only when the prior deposition testimony shows confusion, and the subsequent affidavit helps explain the contradiction. Cuffley v. Mickes, 208 F.3d 702, 707 (8th Cir.2000). Popoalii contends that Dr. Dreyer's second affidavit merely elaborated on the information contained in his initial report and deposition and, therefore, should have been admitted as non-contradictory supplemental information. In his initial report, Dr. Dreyer opined that the defendants' failure to seek Popoalii's medical records resulted in the lack of appropriate care and led to the blindness of Ms. Popoalii. Dr. Dreyer, however, acknowledged that Popoalii's medical records did not contain a diagnosis of her actual condition. Dr. Dreyer testified that he had no specific criticisms of the defendants' medical treatment. He also testified that there were two ways cryptococcal meningitis could lead to blindnesseither by the swelling of the brain and increased cranial pressure or by a direct fungal invasion of the optic nerveand only if Popoalii's blindness was caused by intracranial pressure would relieving the pressure have reduced the chances of blindness. He would not opine whether Popoalii's blindness was caused by intracranial pressure or fungal infection of the optic nerve. He also stated that a patient could develop blindness even if they received treatment. In his post-discovery affidavit, Dr. Dreyer did not assert that he was clarifying his initial report and deposition. The second affidavit, unlike his initial report, opined that if the defendants had tested and monitored Popoalii's intracranial pressure, they could have likely prevented her blindness. Dr. Dreyer's second affidavit thus conflict's with his initial opinion. He initially stated he did not know whether intracranial pressure or fungus caused Popoalii's blindness; however, Dr. Dreyer's post-discovery affidavit opines that if the defendants had treated Popoalii's intracranial pressure they likely could have prevented her blindness. Therefore, because Dr. Dreyer's affidavit is not merely supplemental but is actually inconsistent with his previous testimony, we cannot say that the district court abused its discretion in striking the affidavit.