Court Opinion

ID: 9856449
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-09-24 06:47:45.358903+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:38:48.042087
License: Public Domain

Judge Walker
dissenting in part and concurring in part.
I recognize the deficiencies in defendants’ appeal as pointed out by the majority. However, in order to prevent any manifest injustice to the defendants, I would nonetheless review the merits of their appeal pursuant to Rule 2 of the North Carolina Rules of Appellate Procedure. State v. Petty, 100 N.C. App. 465, 466, 397 S.E.2d 337, 339 (1990).
All three questions raised in defendants’ brief involve the central issue of whether plaintiff’s witness, Dr. Fred Williams, was competent to testify regarding the cause of decedent’s pancreatic cancer. Dr. Williams was qualified without objection by defendants as an expert who examines the relationship between occupational exposures and the development of disease in the field of environmental health. Dr. Williams, relying on medical and scientific literature, testified that pancreatic cancer has been linked to industrial chemical exposure. Further, Dr. Williams opined that decedent’s pancreatic cancer was probably caused by his exposure to formaldehyde, sodium hydroxide, and other industrial chemicals during his employment with Boise Cascade.
It is well recognized that an expert may testify regarding the ultimate issue. Beam v. Kerlee, 120 N.C. App. 203, 215, 461 S.E.2d 911, 920 (1995), cert. denied, 342 N.C. 651, 457 S.E.2d 703 (1996). Furthermore, our Supreme Court has recently clarified the task of trial judges when faced with a proffer of expert scientific testimony in the case of Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 509 U.S. 579, 125 L.Ed.2d 469 (1993). In Daubert, the Court held that the trial judge must determine “whether the expert is proposing to testify to (1) scientific knowledge that (2) will assist the trier of fact to understand or determine a fact in issue.” Daubert, 509 U.S. at —, 125 L.Ed.2d at 482. The Court said that a pertinent consideration is whether the “theory or technique has been subjected to *448peer review and publication.” Daubert, 509 U.S. at -, 125 L.Ed.2d at 483.
Here, Dr. Williams cited at least five studies regarding pulp and paper mill workers, which demonstrated that employees in the pulp and paper industry suffer from pancreatic cancer at a higher rate than the national average. Dr. Williams also relied on other textbook materials to support his position that a link has been established between occupation and the incidence of pancreatic cancer. Therefore, we find that there was a sufficient factual basis to support Dr. Williams’ testimony.
Additionally, I note that the defendants had ample opportunity to cross-examine Dr. Williams regarding the scientific and medical literature upon which he relied. Also, defendants introduced their own expert in an effort to refute the testimony of Dr. Williams.
However, it is the province of the Industrial Commission, not the appellate courts, to weigh the credibility of the evidence. Therefore, the Commission did not err by accepting the expert opinion of Dr. Williams. Accordingly, I would affirm the decision of the Full Commission on this issue.
With regard to plaintiff’s cross-appeal, I concur with the majority that the case must be remanded to the Industrial Commission for further proceedings to determine if plaintiff is entitled to temporary total disability benefits.