Court Opinion

ID: 3214103
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-06-16 18:09:18.107934+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:42:54.760411
License: Public Domain

Supreme Court

                                                              No. 2014-284-M.P.
                                                              (PB 11-2488)

Cashman Equipment Corporation, Inc.      :

                  v.                     :

    Cardi Corporation, Inc. et al.       :

           NOTICE: This opinion is subject to formal revision before
           publication in the Rhode Island Reporter. Readers are requested to
           notify the Opinion Analyst, Supreme Court of Rhode Island, 250
           Benefit Street, Providence, Rhode Island 02903, at Telephone 222-
           3258 of any typographical or other formal errors in order that
           corrections may be made before the opinion is published.
                                                                      Supreme Court

                                                                      No. 2014-284-M.P.
                                                                      (PB 11-2488)

    Cashman Equipment Corporation, Inc.         :

                      v.                        :

        Cardi Corporation, Inc. et al.          :

              Present: Suttell, C.J., Goldberg, Flaherty, Robinson, and Indeglia, JJ.

                                           OPINION

        Justice Robinson, for the Court. Cashman Equipment Corporation, Inc. (Cashman)

filed a petition for issuance of a writ of certiorari in which it stated that it was seeking review of

the May 13, 2014 denial in Providence County Superior Court of its motion to compel the

production from Cardi Corporation, Inc. (Cardi)1 of the following: “all materials and documents,

less core attorney work product, including all computer models and drafts of materials and

documents, developed and considered by [Cardi’s] testifying expert * * * in the process of

formulating his written expert opinions * * *.” In a November 20, 2014 order, this Court granted

Cashman’s petition. Cashman contends that the hearing justice erred in denying its motion to

compel because, in Cashman’s view, materials which are considered by a testifying expert in

formulating his or her opinion are discoverable, with the exception of “core attorney work

product.” According to Cashman, it was, therefore, error for the hearing justice to refuse to

compel Cardi to produce the requested documents.

1
       We note that, in addition to Cardi, RT Group, Inc. also filed a brief before this Court,
contending that the hearing justice did not err in denying Cashman’s motion to compel.

                                                -1-
       For the reasons set forth in this opinion, we quash the writ and affirm the ruling of the

Superior Court.

                                                I

                                       Facts and Travel

       The civil action from which this discovery dispute evolved concerns work performed in

the course of building the Sakonnet River Bridge. Specifically, the case addresses, among other

issues, whether or not Cardi provided a defective cofferdam2 design for that bridge-building

project. On May 2, 2011, Cashman commenced the instant action setting forth a number of

allegations against Cardi including breach of contract, unjust enrichment, and negligence due to

the fact that Cardi allegedly supplied a defective design for the cofferdams and defective

materials. Cashman contended, in its May 2, 2011 complaint, that Cardi’s actions required

Cashman to perform additional work on the bridge for which it was entitled to compensation.

       During the course of discovery, Cardi refused to turn over certain computer models and

draft reports that had been “considered by” its testifying expert, George Tamaro, and Mr.

Tamaro’s engineering firm, Mueser Rutledge Consulting Engineers. Cardi refused to turn over

the documents at issue because it contended that the documents were not included within the

scope of expert discovery permitted under Rule 26(b)(4)(A) of the Superior Court Rules of Civil

Procedure. On April 18, 2014, Cashman moved to compel disclosure. A hearing on Cashman’s

motion followed on May 13, 2014.

       At the hearing, Cashman argued that it was desirous of obtaining any computer models

which Cardi’s expert created to determine “certain stress and loads that are going to be placed on

2
       A cofferdam is “[a] temporary watertight enclosure that is pumped dry to expose the
bottom of a body of water so that construction, as of piers, can occur.” The American Heritage
Dictionary of the English Language 358 (5th ed. 2011).

                                              -2-
certain points on this cofferdam.” Specifically, Cashman stated that it was seeking models “that

[the expert] created which [he] may not have relied on but certainly would’ve considered” as

well as draft reports. Cashman stressed the usefulness of such models in cross-examining an

expert witness, and it emphasized their necessity for the purpose of determining how the expert

arrived at the final model or report which he ultimately relied upon in forming his expert

opinion. Cardi responded by contending that materials “considered by” an expert in forming his

or her expert opinion are not discoverable under the terms of Rule 26(b)(4).

        The hearing justice issued a decision from the bench at the close of the hearing on May

13, 2014. He concluded that he did not have the authority to compel production of the draft

reports and computer models; and he denied Cashman’s motion to compel, stating as follows:

                       “The Court holds in this matter that it seems to the Court
               there is no question but that under the circumstances here, counsel
               for Cashman would certainly be advantaged in connection with the
               cross-examination that he would undertake of the experts put forth
               by Cardi if the Court were to grant to him what is the subject of the
               motion pending before the Court.
                       “If the Court were writing on a clean piece of paper there is
               no question but that the Court, at least based on my reading and the
               arguments presented and the papers presented by the parties, would
               order the production. The Court, however, here believes that it is
               without authority to do so.
                       “* * *
                       “[T]he Court is constrained to deny the motion.”

On October 17, 2014, Cashman filed a petition for issuance of a writ of certiorari with this Court,

seeking review of the hearing justice’s denial of its motion to compel. This Court granted that

petition.

                                               -3-
                                                 II

                                       Standard of Review

       Typically, this Court’s “review on a writ of certiorari is limited ‘to examining the record

to determine if an error of law has been committed.’” Crowe Countryside Realty Associates,

Co., LLC v. Novare Engineers, Inc., 891 A.2d 838, 840 (R.I. 2006) (quoting State v. Santiago,

799 A.2d 285, 287 (R.I. 2002)). In conducting such a review “[w]e do not weigh the evidence

on certiorari, but only conduct our review to examine questions of law raised in the petition.” Id.

(citing Boucher v. McGovern, 639 A.2d 1369, 1373 (R.I. 1994)). Rulings on such questions of

law are reviewed de novo by this Court. Id. In addition, with respect to determining the scope of

Rule 26, we have repeatedly employed a de novo standard of review. State v. Lead Industries

Association, Inc., 64 A.3d 1183, 1191 (R.I. 2013).

                                                III

                                             Analysis

                                                 A

                                    The Parties’ Contentions

       Cashman contends that materials considered by Cardi’s testifying expert during the

process of forming his opinion are “fully discoverable.” Cashman points to ample federal

precedent indicating that federal courts allow for such discovery, and it invites this Court to

embrace the reasoning of the cited federal court cases. It further posits that the discovery it seeks

is necessary to assure effective cross-examination of testifying experts at trial, to serve judicial

economy, and to effectuate cost savings. Additionally, this Court notes that Cashman is very

clear that it is not seeking any documents that would be considered “core attorney work

product.”

                                                -4-
       Cardi responds by averring that the plain language of Rule 26(b)(4)(A) limits discovery

with respect to testifying experts to interrogatories and depositions and does not provide for

discovery “by document subpoena” or discovery “of matters ‘considered by’ but not relied upon

in forming an expert’s opinion.” Cardi points this Court to the differences between the Rhode

Island Rule 26 and the Federal Rule 26. It has also brought to our attention the history of the

Rhode Island rule to support its contention that the rule was not meant to include the discovery

of documents considered by a testifying expert. Cardi goes on to posit that this Court should not

expand the scope of Rule 26(b)(4)(A) absent the promulgation of a formal amendment to the rule

following the statutorily provided amendment process, which would require approval by a

majority of the Superior Court justices. See G.L. 1956 § 8-6-2(a). In addition, Cardi contests

Cashman’s assertions that the discovery it requests would make for more effective cross-

examination, would serve judicial economy, or would effectuate cost savings.

                                                   B

                                          Rule 26(b)(4)(A)

       We must begin our inquiry into whether or not Cashman is entitled to the discovery it

seeks with the rule at issue—viz., Rule 26(b)(4)(A). The most current version of the rule, which

is applicable to the instant case, reads in pertinent part as follows:

               “A party may through interrogatories require any other party to
               identify each person whom the other party expects to call as an
               expert witness at trial, to state the subject matter on which the
               expert is expected to testify, and to state the substance of the facts
               and opinions to which the expert is expected to testify and a
               summary of the grounds for each opinion. A party may depose any
               person who has been identified as an expert expected to testify
               when the expert interrogatory has been responded to by the other
               party.” Id.

                                                 -5-
We have repeatedly applied our long-standing rules of statutory construction to construing court

rules. See, e.g., State v. Brown, 88 A.3d 1101, 1110 (R.I. 2014) (construing Rule 8(a) of the

Superior Court Rules of Criminal Procedure); In re Law Offices of James Sokolove, LLC, 986

A.2d 997, 1002 (R.I. 2010) (applying the rules of statutory construction to Article II, Rule 10 of

the Supreme Court Rules for the Admission to Practice Law). In construing statutes or court

rules, it is a fundamental principle of our jurisprudence that “[w]hen the language of a rule is

clear and unambiguous, this Court must give the words of the rule their plain and ordinary

meanings.” Brown, 88 A.3d at 1110; see Shine v. Moreau, 119 A.3d 1, 9 (R.I. 2015); see also

McCarthy v. Environmental Transportation Services, Inc., 865 A.2d 1056, 1060 (R.I. 2005);

Capital Properties, Inc. v. City of Providence, 843 A.2d 456, 460-61 (R.I. 2004). If we “find the

statute [or rule] to be unambiguous, we simply apply the plain meaning and our interpretive task

is done.” Shine, 119 A.3d at 9 (internal quotation marks omitted); see also State v. Diamante, 83

A.3d 546, 550 (R.I. 2014).

       Our review of the language of Rule 26(b)(4)(A) leads us to the ineluctable conclusion

that that rule is indeed clear and unambiguous. The first sentence specifically states what one

party may require of another party, through interrogatories, with respect to testifying expert

witnesses. The second sentence allows a party to depose an expert expected to testify at trial.

Thus, the rule is confined by its very terms to discovery through interrogatories or deposition. It

does not provide for the disclosure of documents. In light of our well-settled principles of

interpretation, we are duty-bound to apply the plain meaning of the rule to the instant case;

therefore, it is our conclusion that Cashman is not entitled to the discovery which it seeks from

Cardi. To determine otherwise would require this Court to alter the present rule by judicial fiat,

                                               -6-
a practice in which we will not engage. See Capital Properties, Inc., 843 A.2d at 460 (declining

to adopt a Federal Rule of Civil Procedure by “judicial fiat”).

       As Cardi points out, the process for amending the Superior Court Rules of Civil

Procedure is provided by statute. Section 8-6-2(a) provides in pertinent part as follows:

                       “The supreme court [and] the superior court, * * * by a
               majority of their members, shall have the power to make rules for
               regulating practice, procedure, and business therein. * * * The
               rules of the superior * * * court * * * shall be subject to the
               approval of the supreme court. Such rules, when effective, shall
               supersede any statutory regulation in conflict therewith.”
               (Emphasis added.)

We have no desire to deprive the Superior Court of the right to make a recommendation, by a

majority of its members, to this Court with respect to any changes to the Superior Court Rules of

Civil Procedure. We recognize that the hearing justice in the instant case, if he were “writing on

a clean piece of paper,” would have preferred to rule in Cashman’s favor. But, if there is to be a

change made to Rule 26(b)(4)(A) to effectuate the result for which Cashman advocates, that

change must come from the Superior Court in accordance with § 8-6-2(a); it will not be

effectuated by this Court under the circumstances presented in the instant case.

       We note as well that, in this Court’s opinion in Crowe Countryside Realty Associates,

Co., LLC v. Novare Engineers, Inc., 891 A.2d 838, 843, 847 (R.I. 2006), we chose to emphasize

“protection principles” with respect to discovery under Rule 26 and to apply our “strong policy”

of protecting opinion work product from discovery. To rule as Cashman invites us to would be

inconsistent with those general protection principles that we have applied with relation to

discovery under the terms of Rule 26.3

3
       We pause to briefly discuss the relationship between the instant case and our decision in
Crowe Countryside Realty Associates, Co., LLC v. Novare Engineers, Inc., 891 A.2d 838 (R.I.
2006). Initially, it is important to clarify that our decision in Crowe was based on an earlier

                                               -7-
        Accordingly, based on the clear and unambiguous language of Rule 26(b)(4)(A), we

perceive no error on the part of the hearing justice in denying Cashman’s motion to compel

production of “all computer models including drafts considered by Cardi’s testifying expert.”

                                                  C

                                     The Evolution of Rule 26

        Although we need not go beyond the clear and unambiguous language of Rule

26(b)(4)(A), we will briefly address the relevance of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and

federal case law interpreting those rules to the instant case. In our judgment, an exploration of

the evolution of Federal Rule 26 and of Rhode Island Rule 26 even more firmly bolsters our

confidence in the correctness of our holding that Cashman is not entitled to the discovery it seeks

in the instant case.

        Prior to its amendment in 1993, Federal Rule 26(b)(4)(A) read in pertinent part as

follows:

                        “(i) A party may through interrogatories require any other
                party to identify each person whom the other party expects to call
                as an expert witness at trial, to state the subject matter on which the
                expert is expected to testify, and to state the substance of the facts
                and opinions to which the expert is expected to testify and a
                summary of the grounds for each opinion. (ii) Upon motion, the
                court may order further discovery by other means * * *.”
                (Emphasis added.)

version of Rule 26(b)(4) than is at issue in the instant case—that rule having been amended in
2006. Moreover, Crowe was concerned with the discoverability under Rule 26 of core attorney
work product. Cashman has expressly stated that it is not seeking any documents in the instant
case that constitute core attorney work product. Crowe also dealt with factual attorney work
product; however, given our conclusion that Cashman is not entitled to the discovery that it is
seeking under the amended language of Rule 26(b)(4)(A), we need not address whether or not
that discovery would include factual attorney work product. Therefore, we do not find Crowe to
be controlling in the instant case.

                                                 -8-
In 1993, the Federal Rule 26 was amended. After the amendment, Federal Rule 26(b)(4)(A)

provided that a party could depose only an expert “whose opinions may be presented at trial.”

However, section (a)(2)(B) of Federal Rule 26 was amended to require that the disclosure of any

expert witnesses expected to testify at trial had to be accompanied by a written report, including,

among numerous other things, “the data or other information considered by the witness in

forming the opinions.” (Emphasis added.)

        In Rhode Island, Rule 26 was amended in 1995. At that juncture, the Rhode Island courts

were free to adopt either the pre-1993 Federal Rule, the 1993 Federal Rule, or something else

entirely.   The 1995 Committee Notes4 state, with respect to Rule 26(b)(4)(A), that: “This

subdivision is based on the 1970 version of the federal model.” Thus, Rhode Island chose to

adopt the pre-1993 Federal Rule 26(b)(4)(A) and, in fact, it did so nearly word for word. As

such, the 1995 Rhode Island rule included the following language found in the pre-1993 Federal

Rule: “Upon motion the court may order further discovery by other means” but did not include

the “considered by” language of the 1993 Federal Rule.

        Cashman urges this Court to look to the pre-1993 Federal Rule 26(b)(4)(A) and the case

law that it has cited applying and interpreting that rule in assessing this case. It is true that we

have stated on more than one occasion that “[w]hen * * * the Rhode Island rule is substantially

similar to the federal rule, we often look to federal courts’ decisions for guidance and

interpretation.” O’Connor v. Newport Hospital, 111 A.3d 317, 323-24 n.5 (R.I. 2015); see

Brown, 88 A.3d at 1110 n.7. However, Cashman’s contention fails to take into account that Rule

4
       We acknowledge that “we are not bound by reporter’s notes in applying [a] rule.” State
v. Macaskill, 475 A.2d 1024, 1028 (R.I. 1984). However, such notes can certainly be instructive
and are appropriate for consideration in our analysis of a rule. See, e.g., Crowe, 891 A.2d at 847
(looking to the committee notes to Rule 26).

                                               -9-
26 was amended by Rhode Island again on June 15, 2006, and it is that amended version of the

rule, rather than the 1995 Rhode Island rule, that is applicable to the instant case.

       When the 2006 amended version of Rhode Island Rule 26(b)(4)(A) (quoted in Part III.B,

supra) became effective, the following sentence had been removed: “Upon motion the court may

order further discovery by other means * * * ;” it was replaced with: “A party may depose any

person who has been identified as an expert expected to testify when the expert interrogatory has

been responded to by the other party.” Thus, Rhode Island rejected, for a second time, the 1993

Federal Rule language requiring disclosure of “the data or other information considered by the

witness in forming the opinions.” (Emphasis added.) Accordingly, it would not be appropriate

for this Court to look to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure or federal case law in evaluating

our present Rule 26(b)(4)(A) because our rule is clear on its face and also is no longer

substantially similar to any of the previous or current versions of the Federal Rule.

       As such, our examination of the evolution of Federal Rule 26 and Rhode Island Rule 26

confirms our conclusion that Cashman is not entitled to the discovery which, in its petition for

issuance of a writ of certiorari, it stated it is seeking—namely, “all materials and documents, less

core attorney work product, including all computer models and drafts of materials and

documents, developed and considered by [Cardi’s] testifying expert * * * in the process of

formulating his written expert opinions * * *.” (Emphasis added.) Consequently, we perceive

no error in the hearing justice’s denial of Cashman’s motion to compel.

                                                 IV

                                            Conclusion

       For the reasons stated in this opinion, we quash the writ and affirm the ruling of the

Superior Court. We remand this case to the Superior Court with our decision endorsed thereon.

                                                - 10 -
                                 RHODE ISLAND SUPREME COURT CLERK’S
                                               OFFICE

                                 Clerk’s Office Order/Opinion Cover Sheet

TITLE OF CASE:        Cashman Equipment Corporation, Inc. v. Cardi Corporation, Inc.
                      et al.

CASE NO:              No. 2014-284-M.P.
                      (PB 11-2488)

COURT:                Supreme Court

DATE OPINION FILED: June 3, 2016

JUSTICES:             Suttell, C.J., Goldberg, Flaherty, Robinson, and Indeglia, JJ.

WRITTEN BY:           Associate Justice William P. Robinson III

SOURCE OF APPEAL:     Providence County Superior Court

JUDGE FROM LOWER COURT:

                      Associate Justice Michael A. Silverstein

ATTORNEYS ON APPEAL:

                      For Petitioner: Michael A. Kelly, Esq.

                      For Respondents: Robert G. Flanders, Jr., Esq.
                                       Mark P. Dolan, Jr., Esq.
                                       Mark P. Dolan, Esq.
                                       Jeremy Ritzenberg, Esq.
                                       Christopher N. Dawson, Esq.