Opinion ID: 203265
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Motion To Strike Affidavit

Text: We turn first to Livick's appeal of an evidentiary matter. On defendants' motion, the district court struck a portion of the affidavit of Peter Miller, who worked as a human resources manager for Gillette in Janesville from 1993 to 1999. Id. at 5. When reviewing a grant of summary judgment, we often first consider challenges to the district court's evidentiary rulings, as such rulings define the record on which the summary judgment rests. See Hoffman v. Applicators Sales & Serv., Inc., 439 F.3d 9, 13 (1st Cir.2006); Schubert v. Nissan Motor Corp., 148 F.3d 25, 29 (1st Cir.1998); Vazquez v. Lopez-Rosario, 134 F.3d 28, 33 (1st Cir.1998). We review the district court's decision to exclude evidence, such as affidavits, for abuse of discretion. Hoffman, 439 F.3d at 13. Under that standard, we will not disturb the district court's ruling unless the record demonstrates an error of law or a serious lapse of judgment on the part of the court. Id. at 14; Schubert, 148 F.3d at 30. Under Rule 56(e), an affidavit at the summary judgment stage must be made on personal knowledge, set out facts that would be admissible in evidence, and show that the affiant is competent to testify on the matters stated. Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(e)(1). This requisite personal knowledge must concern facts as opposed to conclusions, assumptions, or surmise. Perez v. Volvo Car Corp., 247 F.3d 303, 316 (1st Cir.2001). The district court struck ¶ 5 of Miller's affidavit [3] because it would be inadmissible due to its lack of relevance to and probity of the issues of the case. See Livick, 492 F.Supp.2d at 5. The court did not abuse its discretion in striking the paragraph.