Robinson v. Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
__________________________________________
)
DARLENE C. ROBINSON, )
)
Plaintiff, )
)
v. )
) Civil Action No. 11-0723 (ESH)
WASHINGTON METROPOLITAN )
AREA TRANSIT AUTHORITY, )
)
Defendant. )
)
MEMORANDUM OPINION
On April 16, 2008, plaintiff Darlene Robinson boarded a Metrobus operated by an
employee of Washington Metropolitan Transit Authority (“WMATA”). (Compl. ¶ 4.) Before
she reached her seat, she fell and injured her ankle. She has filed suit against WMATA for
negligent operation of the bus. Before the Court is WMATA’s Renewed Motion for Summary
Judgment and Motion to Dismiss. (“Def.’s Renewed Mot.”)
BACKGROUND
I. FACTS
The facts here are largely undisputed. On April 16, 2008, near the intersection of 11th
Street and Gallatin Street, NE, Robinson boarded Bus No. 2170, an E-2 Metrobus operated by
WMATA employee Ronald Bumpass. (Compl. ¶ 4; Def.’s Mot. for Summ J. (“Def.’s First
Mot.”), Ex. 2 (“Accident Report Form”) at 1-2.) 1 There were approximately seven passengers
1
In its Renewed Motion for Summary Judgment and Motion to Dismiss, WMATA has
incorporated by reference its first motion for summary judgment. (See Def.’s Renewed Mot. at
2.) In its opposition, plaintiff has also incorporated by reference her response to WMATA’s first
motion for summary judgment. (See Pl.’s Opp’n to Def.’s Renewed Mot. for Summ. J. (“Pl.’s
Opp’n to Renewed Mot.”), Ex. 1 at 1.)
on the bus at that time. (Accident Report Form at 1.) After Robinson paid her fare, she walked
down the bus aisle looking for a seat. (Def.’s First Mot., Ex. 3 (“Robinson Dep.”) 43:9-43:16.)
By the time eight to ten seconds had elapsed, she was standing about halfway down the bus aisle
with her hand holding a handrail on the back of one of the seats. (Id. 39:22-44:9, 52:14-53:13.)
At that point, she fell and injured her left ankle. (Id. 52:14-53:13.)
The bus was moving when Robinson fell. According to the plaintiff, it was going “faster
than the normal bus trip” (id. 91:14-92:3) and moving with “sudden jerk speed.” (Id. 102:9-
102:11.) She testified that someone yelled “slow down” and the bus driver abruptly pressed the
brakes. (Id. 44:3-45:13; 100:5-100:22.) As a result, her body twisted, her hand slipped off the
handrail, and she fell with her leg twisted under her. (Id. 45:10-45:13; 102:5-102:22.)
During this time, Bumpass was sitting in the driver’s seat, facing the windshield, and he
did not see her walk down the aisle or fall. (Pl.’s Opp’n to First Mot., Ex. 3 (“Bumpass Dep.”)
50:20-51:2.) At his deposition, Bumpass testified that he did not look behind him or check the
interior mirrors before he pulled away from the bus stop. (Id. 50:20-51:2.) After plaintiff paid
her fare, the next time that he was aware of her was when another passenger approached him and
told him that Robinson had fallen. (Id. 52:4-53:4.) When Bumpass approached her, she told him
that her ankle was hurt, but declined his offer of help and said that she was going home to call
her doctor. (Accident Report Form at 2.)
Plaintiff filed suit against WMATA on April 14, 2011, alleging that WMATA was liable
for the bus driver’s negligence in operating the bus. (Compl. ¶ 4.) During discovery, WMATA
moved for summary judgment on the basis that plaintiff lacked expert testimony necessary to
establish her claims. (Def.’s First Mot. for Summ. J.) Subsequently, plaintiff filed a
supplemental Rule 26(a)(2) statement disclosing Carl Berkowitz as its transportation engineering
2
expert (Pl.’s Supp. Rule 26(a)(2) Statement (“Berkowitz Rep.”)), and WMATA’s motion was
accordingly denied as moot. (See Minute Order of Jan. 10, 2010.) Following the close of
discovery, WMATA has now filed a renewed motion for summary judgment and to dismiss,
arguing that the Court lacks jurisdiction due to sovereign immunity and that it is entitled to
summary judgment because plaintiff has failed to establish a prima facie case of negligence.
ANALYSIS
I. SOVEREIGN IMMUNITY
WMATA, which was created through the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit
Authority Compact signed by Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia, see Pub. L. No.
89-774, 80 Stat. 1324 (1966) (codified as amended at D.C. Code § 9-1107.01 et seq.)
(“Compact”), is entitled to share in the sovereign immunity of the Compact’s signatories. Beebe
v. WMATA, 129 F.3d 1283, 1287 (D.C. Cir. 1997). WMATA’s sovereign immunity is therefore
waived for “torts . . . committed in the conduct of any proprietary function,” but preserved for
“torts occurring in the performance of a governmental function.” D.C. Code § 9-1107.01(80).
Courts interpreting the Compact’s sovereign immunity provision apply a two-part test to
determine whether an activity enjoys its protection. WMATA v. Barksdale-Showell, 965 A.2d 16,
20 (D.C. 2009). The first part of the test asks whether a particular act is governmental or
proprietary. Id. Activity that is “quintessentially governmental” is shielded from suit by
WMATA’s sovereign immunity. Id. The second part addresses activities that are not
quintessentially governmental functions; in those cases, immunity depends on whether the
activity is discretionary or ministerial. Burkhart v. WMATA, 112 F.3d 1207, 1216 (D.C. Cir.
1997). Only discretionary activity is protected by sovereign immunity. Id.Discretionary functions are governmental actions and decisions that are “based upon
considerations of public policy” and which require “an element of judgment or choice.”
3
Berkovitz v. United States, 486 U.S. 531, 536-37 (1988). If a “‘statute, regulation, or policy
specifically prescribes a course of action’” for WMATA to follow, then no discretion is involved
because WMATA had “no rightful option but to adhere to the directive.” Barksdale-Showell,
965 A.2d at 21 (quoting United States v. Gaubert, 499 U.S. 315, 322-23 (1991)). If there is no
prescribed code of conduct and the decision involves “political, social, [or] economic” choices, it
is considered discretionary. See Burkhart, 112 F.3d at 1217. “For a court to find that an act is
discretionary, thus entitling the municipality to immunity, the court must determine that the act
involves the formulation, as opposed to the execution, of policy.” Briggs v. WMATA, 293 F.
Supp. 2d 8, 12 (D.D.C. 2003), aff’d, 481 F.3d 839, 843 (D.C. Cir. 2007).
In the instant case, WMATA has moved to dismiss plaintiff’s complaint, arguing that it
cannot be held liable for Bumpass’ decision to drive while Robinson was standing because its
policy allowing bus drivers to operate a bus while passengers are standing is the product of a
discretionary decision. (Def.’s Renewed Mot. at 9-10.) It explains that “WMATA’s policy []
permit[ing] buses to continue on the route with standing passengers” is based on considerations
including efficiency, customer service, and budgetary constraints. (Id. at 9-10.) Therefore, it
argues, relying on Burkhart, 112 F.3d at 1216-17, it is entitled to sovereign immunity and the
Court lacks subject matter jurisdiction. (See Def.’s Renewed Mot. at 11.)
To the extent that this policy is part of plaintiff’s theory of liability, the Court agrees that
defendant is immune. However, WMATA’s immunity for that policy does not justify dismissal
of plaintiff’s complaint because her negligence claim is not based entirely on the fact that
Bumpass drove away from the bus stop while she was standing. (See Compl. ¶¶ 3, 5, 6-7.)
Here, as in Washington Metro. Area Transit Auth. v. O'Neill, plaintiff does not challenge
WMATA’s rule itself, but rather claims “that the bus driver was negligent in not following
4
WMATA’s safety directives.” 633 A.2d 834, 838 (D.C. 1993).2 Specifically, she argues that
Bumpass was negligent—and breached the WMATA Standard Operating Procedures
(“SOPs”)—in at least two ways.
First, Bumpass failed to comply with WMATA’s rule that he “[c]heck that passengers are
secure and prepared for vehicle movement.” (Pl.’s Opp’n to Renewed Mot. at 13.) It is true, as
defendant notes (Def.’s Renewed Mot. at 4), that Robinson complains about Bumpass not
waiting to drive until she sat down, as bus drivers often do, but her negligence claim does not
hinge on the fact that he did not wait. Instead, she attacks his failure to check on passengers at
all since he did not look to see if she was secure. (See Pl.’s Opp’n to Renewed Mot. at 2-7, 13-
15.) Notably, defendant does not claim that this lapse was part of WMATA policymaking or
necessarily compliant with its policies. In fact, defendant has proffered testimony which tends to
support plaintiff’s argument that Bumpass had an obligation to check on his passengers before
moving. (See Def.’s Reply to Pl.’s Opp’n to Renewed Mot. for Summ. J. and Mot. to Dismiss
(“Def.’s Reply”), Ex. 1 (“Harris Aff.”) ¶ 4) (“By th[e]requirement [(that the bus operator check
that passengers are secure and prepared)], the bus operator should be generally aware that
passenger[sic] are in a position to hold on to one of numerous vertical and horizontal poles
located around the fare box, along the aisle, and on top of most seats of the bus.”) Moreover,
defendant does not dispute the fact that Bumpass was required to perform some “check” so as to
“be generally aware” of Robinson’s whereabouts, which he admits that he did not do.3
2
Therefore, her “suit does not interfere with WMATA’s judgment as to the appropriate
response . . . to be followed by its drivers in dealing with” passengers who choose or are forced
to stand rather than sit. Id.3
Although defendant states that a bus driver is “not required to maintain a constant watch of a
passenger on the bus while the bus proceeds through traffic” since it must also watch traffic, its
side mirrors, and the road ahead (Harris Aff. ¶ 5), there is no evidence that the existence of these
competing considerations gives the bus driver discretion to ignore the directive that it “[c]heck to
5
Therefore, WMATA cannot claim that his decision to violate its policy is entitled to immunity.
See O’Neill, 633 A.2d at 839 (“WMATA’s sovereign immunity did not bar this suit premised on
the alleged negligence of its driver in carrying out express safety directives intended for the
protection of its passengers.”).
Second, Robinson challenges Bumpass’ failure to follow WMATA’s directive that bus
drivers “[s]tart gradually, stop smoothly, and turn slowly” (see Pl’s Opp’n to Renewed Mot. at
15; Pl.’s Opp’n to First Mot., Ex. 1 (excerpt from SOPs handbook) at 7) by accelerating and
decelerating in a “very fast” and “jerky” way. Again, defendant does not claim that Bumpass’
action was part of its discretionary decisionmaking and therefore it is not entitled to immunity on
this aspect of plaintiff’s claim. Thus, unlike Burkhart, 112 F.3d at 1216-17, plaintiff here has
pointed to policies that “specifically prescribe[]” guidelines for passenger safety which, on their
face, leave Bumpass no choice but to adhere. See O'Neill, 633 A.2d at 838.
Finally, this is not a case in which the SOPs have left these decisions to Bumpass. Cf.
Barksdale-Showell, 965 A.2d 16, 22-23 (D.C. 2009) (finding that WMATA’s internal operating
procedure permitted discretionary decisionmaking where it directed an action “if possible”);
Robinson v. WMATA, 676 A.2d 471, 473-75 (D.C. 1996) (contrasting use of mandatory versus
permissive language in WMATA’s SOPs and concluding that, since the employee was not
required to take specific action, decision was discretionary); Gaubert, 499 U.S. at 324 (“I]f a
regulation allows the employee discretion, the existence of the regulation creates a strong
presumption that a discretionary act authorized by the regulation involves consideration of the
same policies which led to the promulgation of the regulations.”).
ensure that passengers are secure and prepared for movement.” (Pl.’s Opp’n to First Mot., Ex. 1
(excerpt from SOPs handbook) at 5).
6
Ultimately, plaintiff’s suit is not barred by sovereign immunity because defendant does
not—nor could it— claim immunity for Bumpass’ alleged failure to follow WMATA’s
directives. However, defendant’s motion to dismiss the complaint is granted to the extent that
the suit challenges WMATA’s policy of allowing drivers to proceed with standing passengers.
II. SUFFICIENCY OF PLAINTIFF’S EXPERTS
In its renewed motion for summary judgment, WMATA argues that plaintiff has not
made out a prima facie case of negligence. To establish negligence, “the plaintiff has the burden
of proving by a preponderance of the evidence the applicable standard of care, a deviation from
that standard by the defendant, and a causal relationship between the deviation and the plaintiff’s
injury.” Varner v. Dist. of Columbia, 891 A.2d 260, 265 (D.C. 2006) (internal quotation marks
omitted). Here, WMATA argues that summary judgment is warranted because plaintiff has not
established a national standard of care against which its actions can be judged, nor has she shown
a deviation from that standard, i.e., negligence. (Def.’s Renewed Mot. at 11-15; Def.’s Reply at
1-2, 3-6.)
A. Expert on Standard of Care
To establish the standard of care, a plaintiff must put on expert testimony “‘if the subject
in question is so distinctly related to some science, profession or occupation as to be beyond the
ken of the average layperson.’” Briggs, 481 F.3d at 845 (quoting Dist. of Columbia v. Arnold &
Porter, 756 A.2d 427, 433 (D.C. 2000)). “The D.C. Court of Appeals has required expert
testimony in a number of cases that, on first blush, appear to be within the realm of common
knowledge.” Briggs, 481 F.3d at 845 (collecting cases).
When expert testimony is required, the expert must identify a “concrete standard upon
which a finding of negligence could be based.” Dist. of Columbia v. Carmichael, 577 A.2d 312,
315 (D.C. 1990). The expert must clearly articulate what the standard is and how it was violated
7
by the defendant, which is to be done by comparing “specific standards with specific facts or
conduct.” Id.; see also Butera v. Dist. of Columbia, 235 F.3d 637, 659 (D.C. Cir. 2001) (“The
expert must refer to commonly used . . . procedures, identifying specific standards by which the
jury could measure the defendant’s actions.”); cf. Dist. of Columbia v. Moreno, 647 A.2d 396,
400-01 (D.C. 1994) (rejecting expert testimony that “briefly referred to standards without
eliciting what the standards are or what they require”). “Thus the expert must clearly relate the
standard of care to the practices in fact followed by other comparable governmental facilities or
to some standard nationally recognized by such units.” Clark v. Dist. of Columbia, 708 A.2d
632, 635 (D.C. 1997). Neither personal opinions nor unsupported generalizations provide a
permissible basis for the expert’s articulation of the applicable standard of care. See Travers v.
Dist. of Columbia, 672 A.2d 566, 569 (D.C. 1996); Messina v. Dist. of Columbia, 663 A.2d 535,
538 (D.C. 1995).
Here, plaintiff’s proposed expert on passenger safety standards for transportation systems
is Carl Berkowitz, who has worked as a public transportation engineer for over thirty years,
including four years as the highest ranking civil service engineer in the New York City Transit
system. (Berkowitz Rep. at 1.) 4 He has multiple degrees, including a Ph.D in Transportation
Planning and Engineering from Polytechnic Institute of New York University, has held
numerous teaching positions, has published academic and news articles, and is a member of
various industry associations. (Id. at 3-4.) In his expert report, Berkowitz indicated that he had
relied upon the following information in determining that the WMATA SOPs reflected the
4
Berkowitz is an engineer licensed in New York and New Jersey. (Id.) Although he is not
licensed in the District of Columbia and is nonetheless testifying in a District of Columbia case,
which arguably contravenes D.C. Code § 47-2853.04 (24) (see Def.’s Renewed Mot. at 17-18),
the Court declines defendant’s invitation to disqualify him on this basis since he has the requisite
“specialized skills and training to perform the services offered” as an expert. D.C. Code § 47-
2853.04 (24).
8
national standards for safe transport of passengers: research done by professional organizations
including the American Society of Civil Engineers (id. at 17), the Transportation Research Board
of the National Academy of Science (id. at 21-22 (including recommended guidelines for
improving passenger safety); and the American Public Transit Association (including manuals
and recommendations for public transit systems and transit worker training) (id. at 23-24). In his
deposition, he explained that his opinion is also based on his participation in research
conferences attended by representatives of the “big five” transit agencies (i.e., five of the largest
transportation systems in the United States: Chicago, Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Atlanta).
(See Pl’s Opp’n to Renewed Mot., Ex. 2 (“Berkowitz Dep.”) 104:1-105:10.) It was based on
this industry-wide collaboration that WMATA had developed the SOPs. (See id.; see also
Berkowitz Rep. at 5-6.) Applying the national standard to plaintiff’s case, he concluded that
Bumpass deviated from the standard of care by: failing to monitor and observe passengers’
readiness for movement before driving away; failing to provide any audible communication to
the plaintiff that he intended to drive away: and failing to ensure that the bus moved in a safe
way due to his abrupt acceleration and braking. (Id. at 24-26.)
WMATA argues that Berkowitz’ testimony is insufficient because he does not identity a
national standard beyond WMATA’s SOPs, which are merely internal guidance. (Def.’s
Renewed Mot. at 13.) However, this argument fails because Berkowitz has, contrary to
WMATA’s contention, articulated and referenced a national standard of care by which
defendant’s actions can be measured. WMATA is correct that Berkowitz’ report references
WMATA’s internal guidance and that the SOPs, without more, are insufficient to establish a
9
national standard of care. (Id.) See Varner, 891 A.2d at 270.5 However, WMATA is incorrect
that he relies solely upon the SOPs and ultimately fails to articulate a national standard. (See
Def.’s Renewed Mot. at 12.) Although Berkowitz referenced WMATA’s SOPs as a document
that set forth the national standard on which he relies (Berkowitz Dep. 34:13-34:19), his expert
report explains that WMATA’s SOPs do not set the national standard, but rather reflect the
industry standard for similar transit agencies. (Berkowitz Rep. at 6.)6 Specifically, he explains
that
[t]his national standard of care is derived from industry studies and
analysis intended to replicate recurring circumstances in the way
that occupants use and interact with a bus environment to avoid
injury. Published standards for operators, such those [sic]
provided by WMATA, are intended for distribution and use by bus
operators to inform him/her how to identify potential injury
conditions.
Id. Indeed, the D.C. Circuit explicitly noted the evidentiary weight of this type of expert
testimony, which confirms that the “‘[manuals] . . . embod[y] the national standard of care and
not a higher, more demanding one,” and suggested that it would be sufficient. Briggs, 481 F.3d
at 848 (quoting Clark v. Dist. of Columbia, 708 A.2d 632, 636 (D.C. 1997) (alternations in
original). At a minimum, Berkowitz has “put forward a colorable basis to believe that his
5
Varner notes, however, that although the SOPs do not establish the standard of care, they may
nonetheless be admitted as evidence of it. Id.6
It is important to recognize that transportation systems for different cities may have different
needs depending on factors including the city’s size. Therefore, to the extent that WMATA
suggests that a “one-size-fits-all” standard is necessary to meet the requirements of specificity
and articulability, this Court cannot agree.
10
testimony may satisfy the standards described above.” Liser v. Smith, 254 F. Supp. 2d 89, 103-
04 (D.D.C. 2003).7
This finding is not undermined by WMATA’s argument that Berkowitz’ testimony is
contrary to District of Columbia law simply because, at deposition, he indicated that WMATA
bus drivers should not drive away from a bus stop if passengers are standing. (Def.’s Renewed
Mot. at 13-14.) In his Rule 26(a)(2) report, he recognizes that this is not always true and
proceeds to explain a bus driver’s duties when driving while passengers are standing.
(Berkowitz Rep. at 6 (explaining that drivers must assure themselves that passengers are
safeguarded against injury from impending movement through “actual observation”). In any
case, this point would not warrant summary judgment because, as explained above (see supra
Section I), plaintiff’s negligence claim is not based solely on the fact that that Bumpass drove
while she was standing.
For these reasons, WMATA has not demonstrated that it is entitled to judgment as a
matter of law on this basis.
B. Expert on Negligence
To show a bus driver’s negligence when pulling away from a bus stop, a plaintiff must
adduce evidence “that the ‘jerk’ or ‘sudden start’ was of such unusual and extraordinary force
that it could not reasonably be said to have happened in the ordinary operation of the vehicle.”
Boyko v. WMATA, 468 A.2d 582, 583-84 (D.C. 1983) (quoting Wiggins v. Capital Transit Co.,
122 A.2d 117, 117 (D.C. 1956)). This degree of force “cannot be inferred from ‘mere
7
This is a relevant distinction because, although “the test for deciding a motion for summary
judgment is essentially the same as that for a motion for a directed verdict,” Varner, 891 A.2d at
270 (quoting Beard v. Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., 587 A.2d 195, 199 (D.C. 1991)), his
testimony at trial, when subjected to direct and cross-examination, will provide an opportunity to
resolve any ambiguity in his statements.
11
descriptive adjectives and conclusions’” alone. Boyko, 468 A.2d at 583-84 (quoting Wiggins,
122 A.2d at 118). Courts have found it sufficient, however, where plaintiffs have supported their
own testimony with statements from doctors providing “evidence concerning the injury itself” or
other witnesses to the incident. Id. at 584-85; see, e.g., Pazmino v. WMATA, 638 A.2d 677, 680
(D.C. 1994).
To augment her testimony, plaintiff has proffered expert testimony to demonstrate that
Bumpass deviated from the standard of care. Her proposed expert witness, Jamie Williams, is a
biomechanical engineer with over fifteen years of experience in biomechanics and orthopedics,8
who will offer her opinion about the degree of torsional force that would have been necessary to
produce an injury like Robinson’s. (Id. at 1-15.) In particular, Williams will opine on the force
that would have been necessary to break the grasp of an average person from the bus seat and the
force exerted on Robinson’s fibula bone as she fell. (Id. at 12-13.)
WMATA argues that Williams’ testimony is not helpful because her conclusions are
based on an average person’s grip strength—as opposed to Robinson’s— and because she
provides no evidence (i.e., the speed of the bus, its rate of acceleration or deceleration, or
whether it jerked) that would show that Bumpass was negligent. (Def.’s Renewed Mot. at 15-
17.) Therefore, defendant argues, Williams’ opinion does not help plaintiff surmount Boyko, 468
A.2d at 582.
The Court, however, finds that Williams’ testimony regarding the degree of force
necessary to break an average grip and explaining how Robinson’s ankle was fractured may aid
the jury in evaluating plaintiff’s testimony. In that sense, her testimony is similar to a doctor’s
8
Biomechanics is a subspecialty of bioengineering in which engineering mechanics are applied
to understand basic biological processes related to the structure of bone and skeletal tissues.
(Pl.’s Rule 26(a)(2) Statement at 9.)
12
opinion about the way that an injury occurred. See, e.g., Brighthaupt v. WMATA, No. 97-7217,
1998 U.S. App. LEXIS 28472, at *4 (D.C. Cir. Oct. 9, 1998) (finding evidentiary weight in the
fact that “[o]ne of Brighthaupt’s treating physicians confirmed that . . . his injuries were
consistent with ‘pitching forward’”). Williams’ testimony may be particularly helpful here since
plaintiff is unable to provide witness accounts of the incident. Ultimately, Williams’ testimony
could be “enough, when augmented by the descriptions of the bus’s movement [or Robinson’s
grip] to support [a] jury’s verdict” in her favor. Id. at *5.9
III. ADDITIONAL ISSUES
Finally, in its opposition to defendant’s renewed motion for summary judgment, plaintiff
raises several issues related to discovery, including a challenge to the substitution of plaintiff’s
expert witness. (Pl.’s Opp’n to Renewed Mot. at 11-13.) These discovery disputes are not
properly raised in a responsive filing to defendant’s motion and plaintiff has not complied with
the Court’s rules.
Nonetheless and for the sake of efficiency, the Court will resolve one of these issues by
permitting the substitution of Edward Harris, Service Director of Bus Operations for WMATA,
for Ruby Conway, Assistant Superintendent of Bus Transportation Training, to provide expert
testimony on the WMATA SOPs and Rules and Regulations. This substitution is reasonable
since Conway is unable to testify at deposition or trial due to serious medical concerns. (See
9
The testimony outlined in Williams’ Rule 26(a)(2) report lies somewhere between that of
Boyko, 486 A.2d at 585 (finding the testimony of the plaintiff and her doctor sufficient where it
described “violent” motion inconsistent with normal operation of a bus), and that of Johnson v.
WMATA, No. 90-7029, 1991 U.S. App. LEXIS 25141, at **6-7 (D.C. Cir. Oct. 21, 1991)
(finding doctor’s testimony insufficient where it showed that the injury was equally consistent
with the normal operation of a bus). Both of those cases were decided based on the experts’
testimony at trial. While the Court cannot find, at this stage, that plaintiff’s evidence is not
sufficient to support a jury’s verdict, it may well reach a different conclusion at the close of
plaintiff’s case.
13
Def.’s Reply at 4; Def.’s Reply, Ex. 1 (email from defense counsel to plaintiff’s counsel).)
Moreover, plaintiff will not be prejudiced because she was informed of the need for this
substitution (due to medical reasons) on February 27, 2012,10 and the substance of the expert
testimony will be the same. (See id.) Therefore, the substitution of Harris will be permitted, but
WMATA must file an amended Rule 26(a)(2) statement, on or before May 8, 2012, to reflect any
changes and, if plaintiff wishes to depose Harris, it must take the deposition on or before May
21, 2012.
CONCLUSION
For the foregoing reasons, the Court denies defendant’s renewed motion for summary
judgment and motion to dismiss. A separate order accompanies this Memorandum Opinion.
/s/
ELLEN SEGAL HUVELLE
United States District Judge
Date: May 1, 2012
10
Plaintiff initially noticed Conway’s deposition on February 23, 2012. (Pl.’s Opp’n to
Renewed Mot., Ex. 6 (email from plaintiff’s counsel to defense counsel).)
14