Court Opinion

ID: 166710
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2010-08-14 09:28:27+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:48:47.053174
License: Public Domain

F I L E D
                                                        United States Court of Appeals
                                                                Tenth Circuit
                 UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                                                            December 2, 2005
                        FOR THE TENTH CIRCUIT
                                                               Clerk of Court

KERN RIVER GAS TRANSMISSION
COMPANY, a Texas general
partnership,

         Plaintiff-Appellee,                    No. 04-4033
                                         (D.C. No. 2:02-CV-694-TC)
 v.                                               (D. Utah)

6.17 ACRES OF LAND, MORE OR
LESS, IN SALT LAKE COUNTY,
UTAH, KNOWN AS KERN RIVER
TRACTS 186.01W, 186.06W,
186.07W AND 187AW; NU TEAM, a
Utah corporation; FOUNDERS
TITLE, a Utah corporation and trustee
named in a trust deed of record;
CAROLINE STAYMAN EDLER, a
beneficiary named in a trust deed of
record; MONTE C. NELSON,
beneficiary, by assignment, of a trust
deed of record, trustee of the Monte
Cannon Nelson Trust; DAVID M.
NELSON, beneficiary, by assignment,
of a trust deed of record; MERIDIAN
TITLE, a Utah corporation and trustee
named in five trust deeds of record;
CITY PROPERTIES, a Utah limited
liability company and beneficiary
named in a trust deed of record;
GAIUS CROSBY AND SUSAN
CROSBY CHARITABLE UNITRUST,
a beneficiary named under a single
trust deed of record; KENBAR
FAMILY PARTNERSHIP LARSEN, a
beneficiary named under a single trust
deed of record; W. BART
    CHRISTENSON, a beneficiary named
    under a single trust deed of record;
    BARBARA CHRISTENSON, a
    beneficiary named under a single trust
    deed of record; KATHERYN
    HOOPES PAXMAN, a beneficiary
    named under a single trust deed of
    record; OAK LEAF INVESTMENTS,
    a Utah limited liability company and a
    beneficiary by assignment of a trust
    deed of record; STEFFENSON LAW
    OFFICE; BRIAN W. STEFFENSON;
    C.A.T., LLC, a Utah limited liability
    corporation; JMS FINANCIAL, a Utah
    limited liability corporation; JS WEST
    ASSOCIATES, a Utah corporation;
    WATSON FAMILY, a Utah limited
    liability corporation; WYOMING-
    CALIFORNIA PIPELINE
    COMPANY, a Colorado general
    partnership and holder of an easement
    of record,

            Defendants,

         and

    JMS-MEADOW, a Utah limited
    liability company,

            Defendant-Appellant.

                            ORDER AND JUDGMENT           *

*
      This order and judgment is not binding precedent, except under the
doctrines of law of the case, res judicata, and collateral estoppel. The court
generally disfavors the citation of orders and judgments; nevertheless, an order
                                                                       (continued...)

                                             -2-
Before EBEL , HARTZ , and McCONNELL , Circuit Judges.

       After examining the briefs and appellate record, this panel has determined

unanimously to grant the parties’ request for a decision on the briefs without oral

argument. See Fed. R. App. P. 34(f); 10th Cir. R. 34.1(G). The case is therefore

ordered submitted without oral argument.

       Plaintiff Kern River Gas Transmission Co. filed an action under the Natural

Gas Act, 15 U.S.C. § 717f(h), to condemn certain property in Utah, including

property owned by defendant JMS-Meadow, for an interstate natural gas pipeline.

The district court granted immediate occupancy of the JMS-Meadow property to

Kern River, and later held a bench trial to determine the value of the easement.

JMS-Meadow appeals the district court’s decisions excluding it from presenting

expert testimony, the expert’s report, or other documents at the bench trial and

refusing to reopen the trial to take additional testimony. We affirm.   1

*
 (...continued)
and judgment may be cited under the terms and conditions of 10th Cir. R. 36.3.
1
        At this court’s request, the parties briefed whether this court has
jurisdiction to consider this appeal. In their memoranda briefs, the parties agree
that this court now has jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1291. Although the
case was not final at the time of appeal, the district court later entered a proper
final judgment under Fed. R. Civ. P. 54(b).      See Stockman’s Water Co., LLC v.
Vaca Partners, L.P. , 425 F.3d 1263, 1264 (10th Cir. 2005) (describing
                                                                         (continued...)

                                            -3-
      The relevant facts are largely undisputed. The parties scheduled a

Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(f) attorney’s planning meeting on November 18, 2002. When

JMS-Meadow did not send a representative, Kern River postponed the meeting

and allowed JMS-Meadow to participate by telephone. After the parties set dates

at the meeting, Kern River agreed, at JMS-Meadow’s request, to adjust those

dates back one month. On January 22, 2003, Kern River filed the Attorneys’

Planning Meeting Report with the district court, explaining that JMS-Meadow

failed to sign the report despite Kern River making several requests for it to do

so. The report stated that the parties would make initial disclosures by February

3, submit expert reports by February 28, and complete discovery by May 30.

      JMS-Meadow failed to meet the Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(a) initial disclosures

date of February 3. It ignored Kern River’s later requests for initial disclosures.

JMS-Meadow still had not met the initial disclosures requirements by February

26, the date of the initial pretrial conference. At that conference, the magistrate

judge extended the time for JMS-Meadow to provide its initial disclosures to

March 31. The magistrate judge also ordered disclosure of JMS-Meadow’s expert

reports by April 30, a date two months beyond the time agreed by the parties. The

1
 (...continued)
requirements for Rule 54(b) certification). The notice of appeal therefore ripened
on the date of the Rule 54(b) certification, thereby permitting us to accept
jurisdiction pursuant to the savings provision of Fed. R. App. P. 4(a)(2).  See
United States v. Brown , 348 F.3d 1200, 1206 (10th Cir. 2003).

                                         -4-
magistrate judge left May 30 as the discovery cut-off date and set August 7 as the

trial date.

       JMS-Meadow did not provide initial disclosures by the new date of

March 31. Nor did it request an extension of time to do so. In response to an

April 10 request by Kern River for initial disclosures, JMS-Meadow, on April 16,

sent an initial disclosures pleading with no documents attached. On April 22,

Kern River requested the documents referred to in the initial disclosures, but

JMS-Meadow did not produce them.

       Although the magistrate judge had ordered disclosure of the expert reports

by April 30, JMS-Meadow again failed to comply. On May 12, Kern River agreed

to allow JMS-Meadow until May 16 to provide its initial disclosures documents

and its expert report. But Kern River clarified that in light of the May 30

discovery deadline, it would not agree to any further extensions and would seek to

exclude any evidence not produced by May 16. It noted that the discovery cut-off

date was three weeks away, and JMS-Meadow’s actions were to the point of

prejudicing Kern River. On May 16, JMS-Meadow provided Kern River a letter

from its appraiser, William Lifferth, indicating that he had done a “preliminary

investigation,” but not an appraisal or report. Aplt. App., Vol. I at 184 O2, 184

O4. JMS-Meadow also provided a letter from Scott Turville, the manager of

JMS-Meadow, criticizing Kern River’s expert report.

                                         -5-
      On May 28, Kern River sent notice to JMS-Meadow that it would take

depositions on May 30, the last day of the discovery period, of JMS-Meadow’s

designated fact witnesses, Mr. Turville and Hal Rosen, its accountant, and of its

expert, Mr. Lifferth. JMS-Meadow sought an extension of time from Kern River,

which was denied. JMS-Meadow then failed to produce these persons for

deposition. On the May 30 ending date for discovery, Kern River filed, pursuant

to Fed. R. Civ. P. 37, a motion to exclude JMS-Meadow’s evidence at trial or to

compel and for sanctions, arguing that no documents had been produced during

discovery as required by Rule 26(a)(1)(B) and (C), JMS-Meadow’s witnesses had

not appeared for depositions, JMS-Meadow did not provide an expert report

complying with Rule 26(a)(2), the discovery period had ended, and the trial date

was two months away. JMS-Meadow countered with a motion for protective

order asserting that it had not received sufficient time before the depositions were

to be taken, and Kern River refused to permit an extension. JMS-Meadow, for the

first time in its reply in support of its motion for protective order, indicated that

Mr. Turville, who allegedly was the only person who could act on JMS-Meadow’s

behalf, was dealing with family and personal health issues.

      The magistrate judge granted Kern River’s motion and denied

JMS-Meadow’s motion. The magistrate judge ordered JMS-Meadow to produce

its two fact witnesses for deposition and precluded, pursuant to Rule 37,

                                           -6-
JMS-Meadow from introducing at the trial any expert evidence or documents not

produced during discovery. The magistrate judge found that JMS-Meadow had

failed to comply with Rule 26(a) despite the scheduling order and receiving

numerous extensions and that Kern River would be prejudiced by further delay.

      JMS-Meadow appealed to the district court arguing that Rule 26(a)(1)(B)

only requires identification and not production of documents; Kern River did not

make a Fed. R. Civ. P. 34 document request; there was no Rule 26(a) failure to

produce documents; even if there had been a Rule 26(a) violation, there was no

prejudice to Kern River; JMS-Meadow should have been given an opportunity to

cure; there was still time to cure; JMS-Meadow did not act in bad faith; and

Mr. Lifferth’s report was only technically deficient. The district court upheld the

magistrate judge’s order.

      Thereafter, the district court held a bench trial on the issue of just

compensation for the land taking. The evidence showed that based on Kern

River’s easement, JMS-Meadow would lose 67 townhouse units from the total 465

housing units that West Valley City, Utah had approved for JMS-Meadow’s

townhouse and condominium development. Gary Free, Kern River’s expert

witness, testified that any alterations to the approved plan would require another

approval by West Valley City, but that Steve Pastorik of the city planning

department had told Mr. Free that any revision would be done administratively

                                          -7-
and would not require a public hearing process. Aplt. App., Vol. II at 558, 565

(trial testimony); Aplee App. at 220 (expert report). Mr. Turville countered by

testifying about the difficulty of reconfiguring all 67 units and in receiving

approval from West Valley City for any changes. He specifically denied that it

would be possible to obtain approval administratively. The district court,

however, recognized that because neither side presented a city witness

specifically addressing the reconfiguration issue, all testimony was speculative.

      After the trial, JMS-Meadow filed a motion to reopen to present testimony

specifically relating to Mr. Free’s testimony about West Valley City’s approval

process and Mr. Pastorik. JMS-Meadow contended that if Mr. Pastorik could

testify he would contradict Mr. Free’s trial testimony. In a supporting

declaration, Mr. Pastorik stated that he did not remember any details of a

conversation he may have had with Mr. Free or someone in his office about the

JMS-Meadow property and that, if he did have such a conversation, he never

would have said it would be easy to reconfigure the plat or possible to do so

administratively without a public hearing.

      The district court entered findings of fact and conclusions of law adopting

Mr. Free’s appraisal and awarded compensation of $436,000. The district court

also denied the motion to reopen, recognizing that (1) it was tardy;

(2) JMS-Meadow failed throughout the litigation to meet court-ordered deadlines;

                                          -8-
and (3) JMS-Meadow failed to justify its request that additional evidence be

received at such a late date. JMS-Meadow appealed.

                                    ANALYSIS

I. Production of Documents

      JMS-Meadow argues the district court abused its discretion in sanctioning

it pursuant to Rule 37 for failing to voluntarily produce documents. According to

JMS-Meadow, Rule 26(a)(1)(B) did not require it to produce documents; that rule

only required it to describe and identify the documents. Also, JMS-Meadow

argues that Kern River did not request production of the documents pursuant to

Rule 34, as Kern River allegedly was required to do after JMS-Meadow had

described the documents.

      Rule 26(a)(1) requires a party to provide initial disclosures “without

awaiting a discovery request” of

            (B) a copy of, or a description by category and location of, all
      documents, data compilations, and tangible things that are in the
      possession, custody, or control of the party and that the disclosing
      party may use to support its claims and defenses, unless solely for
      impeachment;

             (C) a computation of any category of damages claimed by the
      disclosing party, making available for inspection and copying as
      under Rule 34 the documents or other evidentiary material, not
      privileged or protected from disclosure, on which such computation
      is based, including materials bearing on the nature and extent of
      injuries suffered[.]

                                        -9-
Rule 37(c)(1) provides that “[a] party that without substantial justification fails to

disclose information required by Rule 26(a) . . . is not, unless such failure is

harmless, permitted to use as evidence at a trial . . . any witness or information

not so disclosed.” The district court has discretion both to impose sanctions for

discovery abuses under Rule 37 and to decide whether any Rule 26(a) violation

was justified or harmless.   Woodworker’s Supply, Inc. v. Principal Mut. Life Ins.

Co. , 170 F.3d 985, 992-93 (10th Cir. 1999);       Orjias v. Stevenson , 31 F.3d 995,

1005 (10th Cir. 1994). In reviewing for an abuse of discretion, “we examine the

totality of the circumstances involved in the case.”      Olcott v. Del. Flood Co. , 76

F.3d 1538, 1557 (10th Cir. 1996).

       It is true, as JMS-Meadow argues, that Rule 26(a)(1)(B) did not require

JMS-Meadow to produce documents.          See Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(a)(1) advisory

committee note (1993 amendments). Since JMS-Meadow provided only a

description, Kern River was expected to obtain the documents under Rule 34 or

through informal requests.    Id. Although Kern River never made a formal Rule

34 motion, it did make informal requests for the documents, and the magistrate

judge ordered that those documents be produced during discovery. JMS-Meadow,

however, failed to produce a single document. We therefore reject

JMS-Meadow’s argument that it was not required to produce any documents.

                                            -10-
      JMS-Meadow further argues that, even if it was required to produce the

documents, the law did not favor the harsh sanction of denying admission of the

documents at trial, especially where (1) there was no prejudice to Kern River;

(2) JMS-Meadow should have been given an opportunity to cure; (3) there was

time to cure; and (4) JMS-Meadow did not act in bad faith, but instead was

hampered by Mr. Turville’s and his mother’s health problems.   2
                                                                   In construing

Rule 37(c)(1), we have held that:

      [a] district court need not make explicit findings concerning the
      existence of a substantial justification or the harmlessness of a
      failure to disclose. Nevertheless, the following factors should guide
      its discretion: (1) the prejudice or surprise to the party against whom
      the testimony is offered; (2) the ability of the party to cure the
      prejudice; (3) the extent to which introducing such testimony would
      disrupt the trial; and (4) the moving party’s bad faith or willfulness.

Woodworker’s Supply , 170 F.3d at 993 (citation omitted).

      Under the totality of the circumstances presented here, JMS-Meadow did

not show that its violation of Rule 26(a) was either justified or harmless.

JMS-Meadow’s behavior prejudiced Kern River in its ability to conduct

discovery, prepare for trial and cross-examine JMS-Meadow’s witnesses. In light

of the many extensions of time it received, JMS-Meadow had ample opportunities

2
      Kern River contends that JMS-Meadow did not make most of these
arguments to the magistrate judge, and, instead, first made them when appealing
the magistrate judge’s order to the district court. Because the district court did
not decline to consider the arguments, we too address them on their merits.

                                         -11-
to cure, but it failed to do so. JMS-Meadow first asserted Mr. Turville’s family

problems after the discovery deadline had passed. At no time has Kern River

argued that JMS-Meadow acted in bad faith. Even without bad faith, the totality

of the circumstances show no abuse of discretion.

                                        -12-
II. Expert Evidence

      JMS-Meadow argues that the district court abused its discretion in

excluding its expert report from the bench trial. Although JMS-Meadow admits

Mr. Lifferth’s report is deficient, it contends that any flaws were minor, and it

should have been permitted to supply the missing information. JMS-Meadow also

argues that the district court abused its discretion in precluding Mr. Lifferth’s

expert testimony at the bench trial.

      A party must disclose the written report of its expert witness. Fed. R. Civ.

P. 26(a)(2)(B).

      The report shall contain a complete statement of all opinions to be
      expressed and the basis and reasons therefor; the data or other
      information considered by the witness in forming the opinions; any
      exhibits to be used as a summary of or support for the opinions; the
      qualifications of the witness, including a list of all publications
      authored by the witness within the preceding ten years; the
      compensation to be paid for the study and testimony; and a listing of
      any other cases in which the witness has testified as an expert at trial
      or by deposition within the preceding four years.

Id. (emphasis added). Rule 26(a)(2)’s requirements “are mandatory and

self-executing.”   Lohnes v. Level 3 Commc’ns, Inc.   , 272 F.3d 49, 59 (1st Cir.

2001). Again, “[a] party that without substantial justification fails to disclose

information required by Rule 26(a) . . . is not, unless such failure is harmless,

permitted to use as evidence at trial . . . any witness or information not so

disclosed.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 37(c)(1).

                                          -13-
      JMS-Meadow never argues that its expert report was complete; it admits

the report was only a preliminary report. Thus, the report did not comply with

Rule 26(a)(2).   See Salgado ex rel. Salgado v. Gen. Motors Corp.   , 150 F.3d 735,

741 n.6 (7th Cir. 1998) (“Expert reports must not be . . . preliminary in nature.”).

The Rule 26(a) violation was neither justified nor harmless. Permitting

JMS-Meadow to present expert evidence at trial despite failing to disclose the

expert report would have inhibited Kern River’s ability to prepare for trial; Kern

River would have had no pre-trial opportunity to learn the substance of the

expert’s direct examination testimony.    See Jacobsen v. Deseret Book Co.   ,

287 F.3d 936, 953 (10th Cir. 2002). Excluding the evidence properly avoided

prejudice to Kern River.   Id. at 953-54. Accordingly, we conclude the district

court did not abuse its discretion in refusing to permit JMS-Meadow to present

expert evidence at the bench trial.

III. Fraud on the Court

      Lastly, JMS-Meadow argues that Kern River committed a fraud on the

court by allowing Mr. Free to testify about a purported conversation with

Mr. Pastorik. JMS-Meadow argues the district court should have reopened the

trial to permit JMS-Meadow to present evidence disputing this alleged

conversation.

                                          -14-
       “[A] finding of fraud on the court permits the severe consequence of

allowing a party to overturn the finality of a judgment.”      Zurich N. Am. v. Matrix

Serv., Inc. , 426 F.3d 1281, 1291 (10th Cir. 2005);     see also Robinson v. Audi

Aktiengesellschaft, 56 F.3d 1259, 1265 (10th Cir. 1995) (“Any request to set aside

a judgment must be viewed in light of a fundamental principle of the finality of

duly entered judgments: namely, where a reasonable opportunity has been

afforded to the parties to litigate a claim before a court having jurisdiction, and

the court has finally decided the controversy, the interests of the public and of the

parties require that the validity of the claim and any issue actually litigated in the

action shall not be litigated again by them.”).

       Thus, we have described fraud on the court strictly:

       “Fraud on the court . . . is fraud which is directed to the judicial
       machinery itself and is not fraud between the parties or fraudulent
       documents, false statements or perjury. It has been held that
       allegations of nondisclosure in pretrial discovery will not support an
       action for fraud on the court. It is thus fraud . . . where the impartial
       functions of the court have been directly corrupted.”

United States v. Buck , 281 F.3d 1336, 1342 (10th Cir. 2002) (quoting       Bulloch v.

United States , 763 F.2d 1115, 1121 (10th Cir. 1985)). Clear and convincing

evidence is needed to prove fraud on the court.       Id. “Intent to defraud is an

‘absolute prerequisite’ to a finding of fraud on the court.”     Zurich N. Am. , 426

F.3d at 1291 (quoting Robinson , 56 F.3d at 1267).

                                            -15-
       JMS-Meadow has failed to sufficiently allege or provide any evidence to

show that Kern River had an intent to defraud. Even if Kern River made a

misrepresentation to the court through Mr. Free’s testimony, there is not a

sufficient ground to set aside the district court’s judgment based on fraud on the

court without an intent to deceive.     See Robinson , 56 F.3d at 1267. Because the

record fails to show any fraud on the court, we conclude the district court did not

abuse its discretion in denying relief on that basis.   See Buck , 281 F.3d at 1342

(reviewing denial of relief for fraud on court for abuse of discretion).

       Nor did the district court abuse its discretion by denying the motion to

reopen. See Morsey v. Chevron, USA, Inc.        , 94 F.3d 1470, 1477 (10th Cir. 1996)

(reviewing denial of motion to reopen for abuse of discretion). JMS-Meadow

could have, but did not, participate in discovery. It did not depose either

Mr. Pastorik or Mr. Free, even though Mr. Free clearly noted in his disclosed

expert report that Mr. Pastorik told him that any alteration to the previously

approved plan would be handled administratively without a public hearing.

Aplee. App. at 220. JMS-Meadow did not subpoena Mr. Pastorik or another West

Valley City planning department employee to testify on its own behalf at trial.

Because JMS-Meadow failed to properly prepare for trial, the district court did

not abuse its discretion in denying reopening.

                                             -16-
The judgment of the district court is AFFIRMED.

                                          Entered for the Court

                                          David M. Ebel
                                          Circuit Judge

                               -17-