Lloyd v. American Airlines, Inc.

United States Court of Appeals
FOR THE EIGHTH CIRCUIT
___________
No. 01-1047
___________
In re: Air Crash at Little Rock *
Arkansas, on June 1, 1999. *
*
________________________ *
*
Anna Lloyd, *
* Appeal from the United States
Appellee, * District Court for the Eastern
* District of Arkansas.
v. *
*
American Airlines, Inc. *
*
Appellant. *
*
_________________________ *
*
United States; Air Transport *
Association of America, Inc., *
*
Amici on Behalf *
of Appellant. *
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Submitted: October 15, 2001
Filed: May 29, 2002 (Corrected June 20, 2002)
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Before HANSEN, 1 Chief Judge, McMILLIAN and BEAM, Circuit Judges.
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BEAM, Circuit Judge.
American Airlines appeals the judgment and verdict in favor of Anna Lloyd in
this multi-district litigation case. We affirm in part, reverse in part and remand for
further proceedings.
I. BACKGROUND
On June 1, 1999, American Airlines flight 1420 crashed on the runway at Little
Rock Airport in Little Rock, Arkansas. The pilot and ten passengers died as a result
of the accident. Anna Lloyd was a passenger on this flight, returning from a three-
week trip to Germany and Austria with a group of college singers from Ouachita
Baptist University. This incident spawned several lawsuits, and the Judicial Panel on
Multi-district Litigation consolidated the cases and transferred them to the Eastern
District of Arkansas. Because Lloyd was an international passenger, she sued
American under the Warsaw Convention for the Unification of Certain Rules Relating
to International Transportation by Air, Oct. 12, 1929, 49 Stat. 3000, 876 U.N.T.S. 11
(1934), reprinted in 49 U.S.C. § 40105 note (1994) (the Warsaw Convention). Prior
to trial, American moved for leave to file a third-party complaint against the United
States for contribution in all cases arising out of the air crash, both domestic and
international. The district court granted the motion with regard to the domestic cases,
but denied the motion for international cases. The district court ruled that because
American signed a series of International Air Transport Association (IATA)
1
The Honorable David R. Hansen became Chief Judge of the United States
Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit on February 1, 2002.
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intercarrier agreements,2 it was liable to the passenger in contract, not in tort, and
therefore could not be a joint tortfeasor.
At trial, Lloyd's testimony about the accident and her recovery revealed the
following facts. Lloyd was seated near the back of the airplane at the time of the
crash, and her leg was punctured and scraped by the bolts from an airplane seat. She
also suffered traumatic quadriceps tendinitis when other seats fell on her knees.
Lloyd was treated for these injuries and smoke inhalation, and released from the
hospital on the same night as the crash. Lloyd later saw two doctors concerning her
knee injuries and underwent physical therapy for three to four weeks.
Following the accident, Lloyd spent the remainder of the summer with a friend
in Texarkana, which is what she had planned to do before the accident, and worked
with young children. The next fall, Lloyd returned to Ouachita and continued her
studies toward becoming a music teacher. She testified that she was anxious and
nervous that semester and struggled to get good grades. However, her cumulative
grade point average for the 1999 fall semester was higher than her grade point
average before the accident. Further, between the time of the accident and trial,
Lloyd had traveled on three more trips with the Ouachita Singers. At the time of trial,
Lloyd continued to suffer from flashbacks and panic attacks.
2
The three intercarrier agreements are related, but separate, agreements which
operate in conjunction with each other and, among other things, serve to waive the
Warsaw Convention's liability limitation "so that recovery may be determined and
awarded by reference to the law of the domicile of the passenger." Tory Weigand,
The Modernization of the Warsaw Convention and the New Liability Scheme for
Claims Arising Out of International Flight, 84 Mass. L. Rev. 175, 183 (2000). These
agreements were drafted by the International Air Transport Association, a trade
organization of international air carriers. Blanca I. Rodriguez, Recent Developments
in Aviation Liability Law, 66 J. Air L. & Com. 21, 33 n.24 (2000). By 1998, all
United States international carriers and most of the major foreign carriers had
implemented these agreements. Id.
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Lloyd scheduled an appointment with a psychiatrist, Dr. Harris, in March 2000.
Prior to that appointment, Harris referred Lloyd to a psychological examiner, Dr.
VanBlaricom, for testing. VanBlaricom performed psychological assessment tests
and provided the results to Harris, who then diagnosed Lloyd as suffering from Post
Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and a major depressive disorder. Harris also
served as one of Lloyd's experts at trial. Harris testified that Lloyd's personality traits
made her susceptible to PTSD, and that the condition was caused by Lloyd's
experiences during the airplane crash. Harris stated that the physical injuries to
Lloyd's legs were "a factor" in her PTSD and depression, but later testified that these
conditions were not necessarily caused by her knee injuries, stating, "I think it was
so horrible on that flight, she thought she was going to die, I think she would have
had [PTSD] without the knee injury."
Harris also testified that Lloyd had a physical injury to her brain due to her
chronic PTSD. He referred to academic articles on this subject, which state that the
hypothalamus and limbic system in the brain of people with PTSD function
abnormally. However, Harris did not testify that Lloyd's hypothalamus and limbic
system functioned abnormally, and he also admitted that he did not perform available
tests which could have determined if Lloyd suffered from any such abnormalities.
Rather, Harris merely stated that Lloyd's brain was not functioning normally as
evidenced by lack of sleep and concentration, as well as the flashbacks.
Dr. Charles Fuller, a professor of music at Ouachita, testified on Lloyd's behalf.
Fuller testified that Lloyd had a "very low" chance of completing student teaching
and becoming a music teacher. Fuller stated that following the accident, Lloyd lacked
the ability to focus on schoolwork; however, he also admitted that Lloyd successfully
completed full course loads in the two semesters following the accident.
Furthermore, Fuller related that while Lloyd had dropped classes in the fall 2000
semester, she did not need a full course load to complete her degree, and that she
would be eligible to begin student teaching once she completed the course she was
then taking.
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American's psychiatric expert, Dr. Eth, examined Lloyd and her medical
records and testified that with proper treatment, Lloyd's prognosis was "quite good."
Finally, Lloyd's economic expert testified that her maximum economic losses,
including future medical expenses and income loss due to her inability to attain a
teaching certificate and become a music teacher, were $1,166,875.98.
At the close of the evidence, American made a motion for judgment as a matter
of law to strike the claims for mental injuries,3 and argued that under Eastern Airlines,
Inc. v. Floyd, 499 U.S. 530 (1991), such injuries were not recoverable under the
Warsaw Convention. The district court denied this motion and also denied a motion
for new trial. In re Air Crash at Little Rock, Ark., on June 1, 1999, 118 F. Supp. 2d
916, 917 (E.D. Ark. 2000).
The jury returned a $6.5 million verdict4 in favor of Lloyd. American appeals,
and argues that the verdict bears no reasonable relationship to Lloyd's injuries, is
3
We recognize that this type of injury is referred to in various cases under
differing terminology, i.e., emotional, psychological, psychic injuries, etc. We intend
the use of the terms "mental injuries" or "emotional distress" or "emotional damages"
to include all such similar ailments.
4
Although the Warsaw Convention originally limited carrier liability to $8300,
attempts at modification have occurred several times due to dissatisfaction with this
low liability limit. Weigand, 84 Mass. L. Rev. at 176. Recent modifications include
the intercarrier agreements referred to in footnote 2, ante. The agreements in force
at the time of Lloyd's accident provided that the carrier was strictly liable for the first
100,000 SDR's ("special drawing rights"–an International Monetary Fund currency
unit which takes inflation into account and is calculated according to the currencies
of France, the United States, Germany, England and Japan). Id. at 181, 183-84.
Beyond that amount, the passenger may prove and recover damages according to the
law of the passenger's domicile, unless the carrier can prove it took all necessary
measures to avoid the damages, Piamba Cortes v. American Airlines, Inc., 177 F.3d
1272, 1282 n.5 (11th Cir. 1999), cert. denied, 528 U.S. 1136 (2000), a standard
described as "nearly insurmountable" by one commentator. Rodriguez, 66 J. Air L.
& Com. at 35. Thus, the $6.5 million verdict awarded by the jury was permissible
under the version of the Warsaw Convention, as amended by the various intercarrier
agreements, in place at the time of trial.
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grossly excessive as a matter of law, and shocks the conscience. American also
argues the district court improperly admitted lay and opinion testimony, and finally,
that the district court improperly precluded it from joining the United States as a
third-party tortfeasor for contribution. The United States has filed an amicus curiae
brief on behalf of American on this final point.5
II. STANDARD OF REVIEW
A motion for new trial is appropriately granted if the verdict is against the
weight of the evidence and if allowing it to stand would result in a miscarriage of
justice. This ruling is reviewed for an abuse of discretion. Van Steenburgh v. Rival
Co., 171 F.3d 1155, 1160 (8th Cir. 1999).
We review a district court's ruling admitting expert witness testimony under
Rule 702 for an abuse of discretion. Bonner v. ISP Techs., Inc. 259 F.3d 924, 928
(8th Cir. 2001). We likewise review the trial court's admission of lay opinion
testimony for abuse of discretion. Wactor v. Spartan Transp. Corp., 27 F.3d 347, 350
(8th Cir. 1994).
The proper interpretation of the Warsaw Convention is an issue of law, which
we review de novo. Wallace v. Korean Air, 214 F.3d 293, 296 (2d Cir. 2000), cert.
denied, 531 U.S. 1144 (2001).
III. DISCUSSION
A. Recovery for Mental Injuries
5
The United States argues that, while it believes it will eventually prevail on
the contribution claim, it has a greater interest in the correct interpretation of the
Warsaw Convention, which explains its participation as an amici in favor of a
position which seems against its interest.
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American argues, as indicated, that the verdict was excessive as a matter of law
and that the evidence established at trial does not support an award of $6.5 million.
American also argues that mental injury damages are not recoverable at all under the
Warsaw Convention, or in the alternative, that if they are recoverable, they are
recoverable only to the extent that they flow from physical injuries. Under either
scenario, according to American, a $6.5 million verdict is excessive.
In Floyd, the Court held that mental injuries, unaccompanied by physical
injuries, were not compensable under the Warsaw Convention. The Court expressly
left open the question of whether mental injuries accompanied by physical injuries
were recoverable under the Convention. 499 U.S. at 552-53.
The aftermath of Floyd has led to a split of authority on the issue of when, if
ever, to allow recovery for mental injuries. Very few, if any, courts have taken the
primary stance that American advances–that emotional injuries are not recoverable
at all under the Warsaw Convention. See, e.g., Jack v. Trans World Airlines, Inc.,
854 F. Supp. 654, 665 (N.D. Cal. 1994) (rejecting approach of allowing no recovery
at all for mental injuries because that approach is too restrictive of passengers' rights).
And in fact, the case American cites for this proposition, Turturro v. Continental
Airlines, 128 F. Supp. 2d 170 (S.D.N.Y. 2001), does not support this rigid theory.
Instead, the Turturro court merely held that the plaintiff could not recover for physical
manifestations of her emotional damages. Id. at 178.
The more mainstream view, and widely attributed to the decision of the
Northern District of California in Jack, is that recovery for mental injuries is
permitted only to the extent the distress is caused by the physical injuries sustained.
854 F. Supp. at 668. In Jack, Trans World Airlines Flight 843 attempted to depart
from New York's JFK, but experienced an aborted takeoff, crash and fire on the
runway, injuring three international passengers. In making its determination as to
which damages should be recoverable, the court interpreted Article 17 of the Warsaw
Convention and the Floyd decision. The court evaluated several possible approaches
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to emotional distress in a Convention case, ranging from no recovery at all to
recovery only for distress "flowing from" the bodily injury. Id. at 665.
The Jack court concluded the "flowing from" approach was best, reasoning that
it would prevent inequities among the passengers, such that "[t]he happenstance of
getting scratched on the way down the evacuation slide [did] not enable one
passenger to obtain a substantially greater recovery than that of an unscratched co-
passenger who was equally terrified by the plane crash." Id. at 668. Under this
approach, a plaintiff cannot recover for the emotional distress arising from the
accident itself. Id. This approach has been utilized by several lower courts which
have considered the issue. See Alvarez v. American Airlines, Inc., No. 98-Civ.1027,
1999 W.L. 691922, at *5 (S.D.N.Y. Sept. 7, 1999) (airline not liable because the
emotional injuries were not proximately caused by physical injuries suffered during
the accident); Wencelius v. Air France, Inc., No. SACV 95-389, 1996 WL 866122
(C.D. Cal. Feb. 29, 1996) (same); Longo v. Air France, No. 95 CV 0292, 1996 WL
866124, at *2 (S.D.N.Y. July 25, 1996) (same). Cf. In re Inflight Explosion on Trans
World Airlines, Inc. Aircraft Approaching Athens, Greece on April 2, 1986, 778 F.
Supp. 625, 638-39 (E.D.N.Y. 1991) (passenger injured in an explosion and then
ejected from plane in mid-air could recover for his conscious pain and suffering),
rev'd on other grounds sub nom. Ospina v. Trans World Airlines, Inc., 975 F.2d 35
(2d Cir. 1992); Burnett v. Trans World Airlines, Inc., 368 F. Supp. 1152, 1158
(D.N.M. 1973) (damages for "mental anguish directly resulting from a bodily injury"
were recoverable); Rosman v. Trans World Airlines, Inc., 314 N.E.2d 848, 856-57
(N.Y. 1974) (holding that under Warsaw Convention, only damages which "flowed
from" bodily injury are compensable).
On the other hand, some courts have permitted full recovery for mental injuries,
provided only that there are some physical injuries as well, even unrelated, which
serve as a threshold to recovery for psychological injuries. See In re Aircrash
Disaster Near Roselawn, Ind. on Oct. 31, 1994, 954 F. Supp. 175, 178-79 (N.D. Ill.
1997) (permitting recovery for pre-impact fear when the impact resulted in physical
injury and death); Chendrimada v. Air-India, 802 F. Supp. 1089, 1092-93 (S.D.N.Y.
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1992) (denying motion to dismiss plaintiffs' claim for compensation for mental
injuries when the plaintiff also alleged physical injuries, including nausea and
cramps).
The district court followed the Roselawn approach and ruled that a physical
injury was simply a prerequisite to full recovery for mental injury. Once a physical
injury was established, all of Lloyd's mental injuries were deemed compensable. 118
F. Supp. 2d at 921.
We disagree with this approach, and hold that damages for mental injury must
proximately flow from physical injuries caused by the accident. This approach is
consistent with Floyd, yet provides full compensation for the victim within the
bounds established by the Warsaw Convention. If the emotional damages "flow
from," or are caused by, physical injuries, the physical injuries will not be fully
compensated if we do not allow recovery for this aspect of the harm. However,
allowing a physical injury, no matter how minor or unrelated, to trigger recovery of
any and all post-crash mental injuries would violate both the letter and spirit of Floyd.
Thus, the district court's ruling that a showing of any physical injury is sufficient to
trigger recovery for all emotional damages, regardless of the causal connection
between the two, is reversed.
The district court also ruled, in the alternative, that Lloyd adequately
established a nexus between her physical injuries and her mental injuries sufficient
to justify a $6.5 million verdict. 118 F. Supp. 2d at 921. Again, we disagree. Lloyd
suffered smoke inhalation and fairly deep cuts to her lower legs, both injuries for
which she was treated and released from a Little Rock hospital the same night as the
crash. She also suffered injuries to her quadriceps that required physical therapy for
a month or so. Lloyd's mental injuries are, as indicated, PTSD and depression.
While we agree that the physical injuries to Lloyd's legs may have caused some
of her emotional damages, we also agree with American's contention that Lloyd's
physical injuries did not "cause[] PTSD sufficient to sustain the principal component
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of an award of $6,500,000." Appellant's Brief at 24 n.13. Instead, in accordance with
the "flowing from" rule we announce today, we find that Lloyd can recover only
emotional damages which flow from the injuries to her legs and the smoke inhalation.
In this regard, the evidence shows that the bulk of Lloyd's mental injuries did not
result from these physical injuries. First, Lloyd testified in a deposition that her knee
injuries did not cause her PTSD. Second, her expert witness, Dr. Harris, testified that
the experience of being in the crash was the cause of Lloyd's mental injuries. When
asked, on cross-examination, whether Lloyd would have suffered PTSD if she had not
injured her legs, Harris replied, "Yes. I think it was so horrible on that flight, she
thought she was going to die, I think she would have had it without the knee injury."
Finally, the district court's reasoning suggests that it also believed the accident, and
not the physical injuries, caused Lloyd's PTSD, stating, "the knee and calf injuries,
the smoke inhalation, were all part of a terrifying accident, which led to [Lloyd's]
PTSD." 118 F. Supp. 2d at 923.
Therefore, under the Floyd interpretation of the Warsaw Convention, we must
draw a line between mental injuries flowing from physical injuries suffered in the
crash and mental injuries directly caused by the accident. At the bottom line, Lloyd's
evidence at trial was simply not sufficient to establish a $6.5 million connection
between her relatively insignificant physical injuries and her very significant PTSD
and depression.
Finally, the district court offered a second alternative ruling–that Lloyd's PTSD
was actually a physical injury within the meaning of the Warsaw Convention. 118
F. Supp. 2d at 924. In so concluding, the district court credited Dr. Harris's testimony
that people with chronic PTSD may have brain dysfunction, meaning that PTSD is
both biological and psychological. Id. According to the district court, under this
theory, Lloyd suffered a physical injury–to her brain. However, there is no contention
that Lloyd suffered a head injury of any kind in the crash. Indeed, it is
uncontroverted that her only physical injuries as a result of the accident came from
leg trauma and smoke inhalation.
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We reject this second alternative theory for two reasons. First, as discussed
further in Section B, we note there is a complete lack of proof that Lloyd actually
suffers from physical changes to her brain as a result of chronic PTSD. Lloyd was
not given a magnetic resonance spectroscopy, a positron emission tomography (PET)
scan or a single positron emission computed tomography (SPECT) scan, all tests
which Dr. Harris testified could have been utilized to show the functioning of Lloyd's
brain. Her blood was not tested for elevated levels of cortisol or other hormones,
which could also have indicated a dysfunctioning hypothalamus or thyroid. The only
evidence that Lloyd's brain actually underwent a physical change was Dr. Harris's
otherwise unsupported opinion that it did. Dr. Harris based this opinion on Lloyd's
symptoms of disrupted sleep and concentration, and flashbacks. We find that this
testimony was not adequate, as a matter of law, to establish a physical change to
Lloyd's brain.
Further, if Lloyd elects to proceed to a new trial and is subsequently able to
prove that she does have a physical injury to her brain, we hold that subsequent
physical manifestations of earlier emotional injury are not compensable under the
Warsaw Convention. Two other circuit courts which have considered this issue are
in accord with our decision. See Carey v. United Airlines, 255 F.3d 1044, 1052 (9th
Cir. 2001); Terrafranca v. Virgin Atlantic Airways Ltd., 151 F.3d 108, 110-11 (3d
Cir. 1998).6
The Terrafranca court considered whether the plaintiff's weight loss was
compensable under the Warsaw Convention as a physical manifestation of mental
injury. The court examined Floyd and concluded that dicta in the final section of the
opinion did not authorize this theory of recovery. The Terrafranca court underscored
the requirement of direct causation between the accident and the physical injury,
6
While we found the Jack court's reasoning persuasive concerning allowing
only mental injuries that flow from the physical injuries, we disagree with its dicta
that damages for physical manifestations of emotional distress could be possibly
recovered. 854 F. Supp. at 667-68.
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stating, "[w]e therefore hold that [plaintiff] must demonstrate direct, concrete, bodily
injury as opposed to mere manifestation of fear or anxiety." 151 F.3d at 111.
In Carey, the plaintiff's physical manifestations of mental injury consisted of
sleeplessness, nausea, cramps and perspiration. The court reasoned that it would
undermine Floyd to allow recovery for physical manifestations of emotional distress
injuries, stating, "[a]s a practical matter, Floyd 'would thus be converted into an easily
satisfied pleading formality, and a back door would be impermissibly opened to
recovery for purely psychological injuries' so long as plaintiff could allege nausea and
the like." 255 F.3d at 1052 (quoting Alvarez, 1999 WL 691922, at *4).
Floyd draws a clear line between physical injuries and mental injuries. Once
recovery is allowed for a physical manifestation of a mental injury, the distinction
becomes blurred and under our reading of Floyd, this approach is disallowed.
Accordingly, we agree with the reasoning in Carey and Terrafranca and reverse the
district court's second alternative holding that Lloyd's PTSD and purported physical
changes to her brain were compensable under the Warsaw Convention.
In sum, our holding today is that emotional damages are recoverable under the
Convention to the extent that they are caused by physical injuries suffered in the
accident. On the other hand, physical manifestation of mental injuries such as weight
loss, sleeplessness, or physical changes in the brain resulting from chronic PTSD are
not compensable under the treaty. Finally, the evidence at trial of the physical
injuries Lloyd suffered and of the emotional injuries which were caused by those
physical injuries, was not sufficient to sustain a $6.5 million verdict.
Clearly Lloyd suffered compensable physical injuries and it is equally clear that
some of her emotional trauma can be fairly traced to those injuries, albeit much less
than would account for the $6.5 million award. Although not long in duration, the
trial of this case was obviously stressful given Lloyd's emotional condition.
Accordingly, we are reluctant to order a new trial without permitting the acceptance
of a remittitur in lieu of another adversary proceeding.
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An appellate court may condition affirmance upon the plaintiff's acceptance
of a remittitur, and there is a somewhat lengthy history of the practice in this circuit.
See Hale v. Firestone Tire & Rubber Co., 820 F.2d 928, 936-37 (8th Cir. 1987) ($1.7
million punitive damages award remitted to $1 million rather than ordering a fourth
new trial); Hollins v. Powell, 773 F.2d 191, 198 (8th Cir. 1985) ($500,000
compensatory and punitive damages awards under section 1983 remitted or plaintiffs
were free to retry the issue of damages before another jury); Everett v. S.H. Parks &
Assocs., Inc., 697 F.2d 250, 253 (8th Cir. 1983) (though defendant had
unsuccessfully moved trial court for a remittitur "[a]n appellate court may itself order
a new trial unless the plaintiff consents to a remittitur in a specific amount") (citing
11 C. Wright & A. Miller, Federal Practice and Procedure § 2820, at 133-34 (1973));
United States v. 47.14 Acres of Land, More or Less, Situate in Polk County, 674 F.2d
722, 728 (8th Cir. 1982) (commission's award based on erroneous use of income
capitalization method remitted to conserve judicial resources for complex, lengthy
litigation); Stineman v. Fontbonne Coll., 664 F.2d 1082, 1088-89 (8th Cir. 1981)
($800,000 personal injury award for the loss of an eye during a college softball game
remitted to $200,000 where medical bills did not exceed $5,000, and jury award
"grossly exceed[ed] the damages proven at trial"); Arnott v. American Oil Co., 609
F.2d 873, 889 (8th Cir. 1979) ($325,000 verdict in antitrust case remitted to
$125,000); Kropp v. Ziebarth, 601 F.2d 1348, 1355 (8th Cir. 1979) (per curiam) (in
light of the case's complexity, the large record, and the length of time that had
transpired since the events in question, court offered remittitur option rather than
ordering a new trial where evidence of damages at prior trial was duplicative).
In light of the amount of time that has passed since the accident in June 1999,
and because this was one of several cases on the multi-district litigation docket,
instead of ordering a new trial on damages, we offer Lloyd the option of accepting a
remittitur for a final judgment of $1.5 million. We find that number more in line with
the evidence presented at trial, including that from Lloyd's own experts. If Lloyd is
not agreeable to a remittitur of this amount, we reverse and remand for a new trial.
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B. Evidentiary Rulings
In the event that Lloyd does not accept the remittitur and proceeds to a new
trial, we address American's assignments of evidentiary error regarding the testimony
of Drs. Harris and Fuller.
1. Dr. Harris
American challenges the testimony of Lloyd's expert, Dr. Harris, that Lloyd’s
PTSD was actually a biological syndrome, rather than merely a psychological one.
Harris testified that "researchers have shown brain dysfunction in people who have
chronic PTSD" and based his opinion that Lloyd had brain dysfunction on this
outside research. Harris testified that there were functional tests that would show
physiological changes in the brain, but admitted that he did not perform any of these
tests on Lloyd. At trial, American made a motion to exclude Harris's testimony on
brain function and PTSD because he was not a neurosurgeon, because he did not
perform the functional tests on Lloyd, and because the theory that PTSD results in
physical changes to the brain is not a recognized psychiatric concept. The district
court denied the motion. Lloyd argues that American's request for a Daubert hearing
was untimely and that American did not preserve the issue for appeal since it failed
to renew its objection during Harris's trial testimony.
In Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 509 U.S. 579 (1993), the
Supreme Court detailed the Rule 702 standard for admission of scientific evidence.
Daubert offers general criteria for assessing the reliability of scientific evidence, and
directs the district court to perform a gatekeeping function with respect to such
evidence to ensure that evidence submitted to the jury meets Rule 702's criteria for
relevance and reliability. Id. at 590-91. The rule's concern with scientific knowledge
bottoms on issues of reliability, while the requirement that the evidence "assist the
trier of fact to understand the evidence or determine a fact in issue" is a relevance test.
Id.
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Daubert demands an assessment of whether the expert's methodology has been
tested, and an inquiry into whether the technique has been subjected to peer review
and publication, has a known or knowable rate of error, and has been generally
accepted in the proper scientific community. Bonner, 259 F.3d at 928-29 n.3. We
recognize that the district court has considerable latitude in determining whether
expert testimony will assist the trier of fact and be reliable, and it may consider one
or all of the Daubert factors in making this determination. United States v. Larry
Reed & Sons P'ship, 280 F.3d 1212, 1215 (8th Cir. 2002).
Of American's three objections to Harris's testimony, only the third–that
physical changes to the brain resulting from PTSD is not recognized in the psychiatric
community–actually raised a Daubert issue. Unfortunately, the district court does not
appear to have considered any of the Daubert factors in addressing this objection.
The district court merely noted that Harris was a qualified psychiatrist, and then
stated "It's beyond my competence. I don't know whether what he says is true or not
or what he says in the deposition, that there is research material that shows brain
changes as a result of this syndrome." Tr. at 328. This inquiry was not adequate to
satisfy the district court’s essential gatekeeping role under Daubert. However,
Lloyd's point that American requested the Daubert hearing too late in the game is
well-taken. During the hearing on the motion, which was held prior to Lloyd's
testimony on the second day of trial, the district court noted that in prior cases where
Daubert was raised, "we have had extensive depositions taken on the issue and have
had hearings. Now, this thing is sprung on me right before the man is to testify. I
think that's a little bit late in the day to raise this particular issue." Tr. 328-29. We
agree with the district court that when reasonably possible, Daubert issues should be
raised prior to trial and that ideally the Daubert "hearing" should not be conducted
following a fifteen-minute morning recess shortly before the expert is scheduled to
testify.
However, American's second objection to Harris's testimony–that there was an
inadequate nexus shown between the scientific theory and any physical condition in
Lloyd's brain–carries the day. See Weisgram v. Marley Co., 169 F.3d 514, 521-22
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(8th Cir. 1999) (expert testimony not reliable where there was lack of nexus between
theory and conclusion), aff'd, 528 U.S. 440 (2000). Because no doctor performed any
of the various available diagnostic tests, there was no connection established between
the alleged physical brain changes Harris referred to in his testimony and Lloyd’s
condition. As previously discussed in Section A, Harris based his conclusion on
Lloyd's disrupted sleep, lack of concentration and flashbacks. This was an inadequate
foundation upon which to base the opinion that a physical change had taken place in
Lloyd's brain.
Lloyd's argument that American failed to object, and therefore preserve error,
during Harris's testimony is unavailing. The lengthy objection, covering over seven
pages of trial transcript, and made roughly one hour before Harris testified, was
sufficient to preserve this issue on appeal. The objection was made at trial, close in
time to when Harris testified, and any further objection during Harris's testimony an
hour later would have been "more in the nature of a formal exception," which is not
necessary, rather than "a timely objection calling the court's attention to a matter it
need consider." Sprynczynatyk v. General Motors Corp. 771 F.2d 1112, 1118 (8th
Cir. 1985).
If this case proceeds to a second trial and if this testimony is deemed relevant
in measuring any recoverable damages, and it may not be given our earlier rulings,
we find that a Daubert hearing should be conducted prior to trial. We direct the
district court to consider the relevant factors set forth in Bonner, 259 F.3d at 928-29
n.3, to determine whether testimony on the theories advanced by Harris should be
admitted in evidence. We agree with the district court that as a psychiatrist who
regularly treats PTSD patients, Harris is sufficiently qualified as an expert to testify
on this subject, should it pass Daubert muster. Finally, Harris should not be allowed
to opine that Lloyd actually has a physical brain injury unless tests are performed
which objectively support this conclusion.
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2. Dr. Fuller
American also challenges the opinion testimony of Dr. Fuller, one of Lloyd's
college professors, who recounted Lloyd's difficulties in school following the
accident and also gave an opinion about Lloyd’s chances of becoming a music
teacher. Specifically, Fuller stated that Lloyd would have a very low chance of
having a successful student teaching experience, which was a requirement for
completing her teaching degree. Fuller was the supervisor of music student teachers
at Ouachita College.
American alleges that Fuller was not qualified as an expert and that he gave
improper lay opinion testimony. Although the evidence at trial clearly qualified
Fuller to testify as an expert, it does not appear that his opinions were offered as those
of an expert witness.7 Instead, Fuller's testimony was based on his personal
knowledge and observations of Lloyd at college both before and after the accident.
This is more in the nature of lay opinion testimony than expert testimony. See
Wactor, 27 F.3d at 351 (experienced lockmen from the Army Corps of Engineers
gave permissible lay opinion testimony based on their participation in and
observations of events leading up to the plaintiff's injury). We therefore analyze the
issue as lay opinion testimony.
Rule 701 requires that lay witness opinion testimony need only be rationally
based on perception and helpful to a determination of a fact in issue. Fed. R. Evid.
701. Personal knowledge or perceptions based on experience is a sufficient
foundation for such testimony. Id. at 350. Lay opinion testimony is admissible if an
analysis of the events, in the form of an opinion, is necessary. Id. at 351.
7
We also note that the objections at trial were not specifically directed toward
his lack of expert qualifications. Instead, counsel only objected to the "form of the
question" and the "witness' capabilities" to answer the questions propounded.
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We find it was within the district court’s considerable discretion to admit the
opinions of Fuller. Because of Fuller's personal knowledge of Lloyd and his
experience as the supervising instructor of music student teachers at a smaller
university in Oklahoma, he was qualified to give an opinion about Lloyd’s chances
of successfully completing her student teaching requirements. Furthermore, his
perceptions and analysis of Lloyd's school experiences following the accident were
likely useful to the trier of fact in determining Lloyd's damages. Therefore, whether
the proof offered is considered expert testimony or lay opinion, the district court’s
decision to receive Fuller’s testimony was correct.
C. Contribution
Our final task is to review the district court's denial of American's motion (now
joined and supported by the United States) for leave to file a third-party complaint for
contribution against the United States and an air traffic controller in this and other
cases on the multi-district litigation docket arising from this incident. Because this
particular motion turns on an interpretation of the Warsaw Convention, we review the
question de novo. Wallace, 214 F.3d at 296.
The district court reasoned that American, as a signatory to the most recent
intercarrier agreements, reserved its right to seek indemnity and contribution as
provided by law. However, under Arkansas law, the district court stated, American
had no right to contribution because it was liable to international passengers in
contract, and not tort, under the agreements. The district court reasoned that
Arkansas law provides no right of contribution when one party is liable in tort
(presumably the United States) and the other party is liable in contract (presumably
American).
Contrary to the district court's conclusion, international cases under the
Warsaw Convention, even in light of the intercarrier agreements, sound in tort and
not contract. The Convention provides a tort remedy, not one in contract. See In re
Air Disaster at Lockerbie, Scot. on Dec. 21, 1988, 928 F.2d 1267, 1279 (2d Cir. 1991)
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(Convention is tort remedy, not contractual, as evidenced by the causes of actions it
preempts–claims the common law normally associates with the law of tort), overruled
on other grounds Zicherman v. Korean Air Lines Co., Ltd. 516 U.S. 217, 229-31
(1996) (holding that contrary to Second Circuit precedent, domestic common law
applied to Convention damages claims).
Although not the precise issue before the Court, language in El Al Israel
Airlines, Ltd. v. Tseng, 525 U.S. 155 (1999) bolsters our conclusion. In Tseng, the
question before the Court was whether the exclusivity provisions of the Warsaw
Convention preempted the state tort remedy of a passenger who was intrusively
searched before boarding an international flight. Id. at 160. The Court held that the
treaty precludes a passenger from bringing an action for personal injury pursuant to
state law, even though the incident in question did not qualify as an accident under
the Convention. Id. at 176. The Court pointed out that the preemptive effect of the
Warsaw Convention extended only to its "substantive scope." Id. at 172. We think
the "substantive scope" of preempted claims for personal injury damages is tort law.
Cf. Hussman v. Trans World Airlines, Inc., 169 F.3d 1151, 1152 (8th Cir. 1999)
(remand to state court not appropriate in suit for personal injuries arising from airline
accident because Convention preempted such claims).
Next, the intercarrier agreements do not alter the fundamental nature of the tort
remedy in the Warsaw Convention. These agreements arose out of concerns with the
treaty's low liability limits and they serve only to modify these limits; they do not
themselves provide a cause of action. Further, the agreements are actually between
the airline members of the IATA, rather than between airlines and passengers.
Weigand, 84 Mass. L. Rev. at 182.
Because the Warsaw Convention's tort remedy for damages has not been
altered by the intercarrier agreements, the district court's reasoning that Arkansas law
permits third-party claims in the domestic cases applies in the international cases as
well. We therefore reverse the district court's ruling and direct it to allow American
to file a third-party complaint against the United States. Cf. Piamba Cortes v.
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American Airlines, Inc., 177 F.3d 1272, 1305 (11th Cir. 1999), cert. denied, 528 U.S.
1136 (2000) (carrier free to pursue a contribution cause of action against other
potential tortfeasors independent of the Convention).
IV. CONCLUSION
For the foregoing reasons, we conditionally affirm the judgment of the district
court, subject to Lloyd's acceptance of a remittitur for judgment in the amount of $1.5
million.8 We reverse the district court's denial of American's motion for leave to file
a third-party complaint against the United States for contribution. Absent Lloyd's
acceptance of the remittitur, we reverse and remand for proceedings consistent with
this opinion.
A true copy.
Attest:
CLERK, U.S. COURT OF APPEALS, EIGHTH CIRCUIT.
8
Because we conditionally affirm the judgment, Rule 37(a) of the Federal
Rules of Appellate Procedure provides that Lloyd may recover post-judgment interest
on the remitted amount, $1.5 million, from the date the district court originally
entered judgment in this case on October 27, 2000.
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