UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT NORTHERN DISTRICT OF MISSISSIPPI
ABERDEEN DIVISION KMART CORPORATION,
Plaintiff CIV. ACT. NO. 1:11-CV-103-GHD-DAS
versus THE KROGER CO., et al.
Defendants
MOTION IN LIMINE TO EXCLUDE OR LIMIT TESTIMONY OF ROBERT ELEY
Plaintiff, Kmart Corporation, moves to exclude the proposed testimony of Robert Eley, a
purported expert witness supposedly jointly retained by Defendants, Fulton Improvements, LLC,
E&A Southeast Limited Partnership, Kansas City Southern Railway Co., and The Kroger Co.
(collectively ADefendants@), because Mr. Eley=s analysis does not meet all the elements of Federal
Rule of Evidence 702 and Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 1
$ Mr. Eley conceded at his deposition that he has no training, knowledge or experience regarding at least one floodproofing measure C floodproof or watertight doors. Thus Mr. Eley is not qualified to offer a broad opinion as to whether
Mr. Eley=s
anticipated testimony that Ano amount of caulking, waterproofing or protective membrane would
have prevented water from entering the Kmart building during the flood event,@ should be
excluded or limited for the following reasons:
any
floodproofing measures would have prevented water from entering the Kmart building.
$ Mr. Eley=s opinion that no amount of floodproofing measures C specifically, floodproof doors C would have prevented water from entering the Kmart building in Corinth, Mississippi is not the product of reliable principles and methods, and is entirely devoid of supporting data.
1 509 U.S. 579 (1993).
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In addition, Mr. Eley=s anticipated testimony that Athe City of Corinth correctly
interpreted the pre-construction site survey data (Existing Conditions Plan), compared this data
to the 1981 FIRM maps and properly concluded that the 1981 Flood Maps were incorrect, or
inconsistent with the existing conditions on the ground at this location@ should be excluded or
limited because it constitutes a legal conclusion that impermissibly instructs the jury on which
conclusions to reach.
In support of its Motion, Kmart submits the following:
$ Exhibit AA@ - Robert Eley=s Expert Report (June 22, 2013) $ Exhibit AB@ - A photograph depicting the rushing flood waters entering
through the entryway doors $ Exhibit AC@ - Lease Agreement (December 17, 1991)
$ Exhibit AD@ - Deposition of Robert Eley
$ Exhibit AE@ - Deposition of David M. Huwe
Accordingly, Kmart respectfully requests that this Court grant its Motion to Exclude the proffered expert testimony of Robert Eley.
/s/ Ryan O. Luminais __________________________________________ JAMES M. GARNER (La. Bar. No. 19589) JOHN T. BALHOFF, II (La. Bar. No. 24288) RYAN O. LUMINAIS (Miss. Bar. No. 101871) SHER GARNER CAHILL RICHTER KLEIN & HILBERT, L.L.C. 909 Poydras Street, Twenty-eighth Floor New Orleans, Louisiana 70112 Telephone: (504) 299-2100 Facsimile: (504) 299-2300 ATTORNEYS FOR KMART CORPORATION
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3
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
I hereby certify that a copy of the above and foregoing has been served on all known
counsel of record with the Clerk of Court using the CM/ECF system which will automatically
send-email notification to all known counsel of record, this 8th day of October, 2013.
/s/ Ryan O. Luminais _________________________________________ RYAN O. LUMINAIS
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