# Taylor v. City of Milford

> District Court, C.D. Illinois · March 15, 2024

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/cases/10137529

## Case

- **Court:** District Court, C.D. Illinois
- **Decided:** March 15, 2024
- **Opinion:** 100trialcourt
- **Cited by:** 0 later opinions in the Frix Law Library

## Citator (automated)

- No negative treatment found by the automated citator. That is not the same as a confirmation that the case is good law; read the citing cases.
- Full citator and citing cases: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/cases/10137529

## How later opinions describe it (automated extraction)

- noting that judges act as gatekeepers “to ensure that expert testimony is both relevant and reliable.”

## Opinion text

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE CENTRAL DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS
URBANA DIVISION
GLORIA TAYLOR, individually and as _ )
Independent Administrator of the )
Estate of STEVEN TAYLOR, )
Plaintiff,
Vv. Case No. 17-cv-2183
Officer JOSEPH GARRETT,
individually and as agent, )
Defendant.
OPINION
COLLEEN R. LAWLESS, United States District Judge:
Before the Court are Plaintiffs’ Motion to Bar Defense Expert Dr. Lyman [Doc. 28]
and Defendants’ Motion to Bar the Testimony of Dennis Waller [Doc. 31]. Because the
motions were filed before the entry of summary judgment in favor of Defendants by
United States District Judge Colin S. Bruce and Plaintiffs’ subsequent appeal, the Court
granted the parties leave to file supplements to their pleadings following the Seventh
Circuit’s Mandate. Defendant filed a Supplement [Doc. 62] to his Motion to Bar the
Testimony of Dennis Waller, and Plaintiffs filed a Supplemental Response [Doc. 61] to
that motion.
I. BACKGROUND
In her Amended Complaint, Plaintiff Gloria Taylor, individually and as
Independent Administrator of the Estate of Steven Taylor, Deceased, alleges this case
arises out of interference and excessive force used to restrain Steven Taylor, by Defendant
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Joseph Garrett while employed by former Defendant City of Milford on August 17, 2016,
at Steven Taylor's home. (Doc. 20 at 2). The Amended Complaint included several claims
against the City of Milford and Defendant Officer Garrett. (Doc. 20, 14-36). However, the
sole remaining claim in this case is brought by Plaintiffs under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 against
Garrett. (Doc. 57, 1).
In an Opinion and Order entered on December 12, 2019, Judge Bruce granted
Defendants’ Motion for Summary Judgment. (Doc. 45). Plaintiff filed a Notice of Appeal
(Doc. 47), challenging only Judge Bruce’s finding that Defendant Garrett was entitled to
qualified immunity. (Doc. 56 at 7). Following remand, the parties filed a Joint Status
Report stating that they seek rulings on three pretrial motions to bar testimony that were
denied as moot by Judge Bruce. (Doc. 57). The case has since been transferred to the
undersigned.
Each party seeks to exclude the other party’s proffered expert on police practices.
Defendant seeks to exclude the testimony of Dennis Waller, while Plaintiff moves to
exclude the testimony of Michael D, Lyman, PH.D.
Il. DISCUSSION
A. Legal Standards
Federal Rule of Evidence 702 states:
A witness who is qualified as an expert by knowledge, skill, experience, training,
or education may testify in the form of an opinion or otherwise if:
(a) the expert's scientific, technical, or other specialized knowledge will help the
trier of fact to understand the evidence or to determine a fact in issue;
(b) the testimony is based on sufficient facts or data;
(c) the testimony is the product of reliable principles and methods; and

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(d) the expert has reliably applied the principles and methods to the facts of the
case.
Fed. R. Evid. 702. In Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharm., Inc., 509 U.S. 579 (1998), the Supreme
Court interpreted an earlier version of Rule 702 and explained that it imposes a special
gatekeeping obligation on trial judges with regard to scientific testimony. The district
court’s “gatekeeping obligation ... applies not only to testimony based on scientific
knowledge, but also to testimony based on technical or other specialized knowledge.”
Kumho Tire Co., Ltd. v. Carmichael, 526 U.S. 137, 141 (1999); see also Lees v. Carthage Coll.,
714 F.3d 516, 521 (7th Cir. 2013) (“[T]he Daubert analysis applies to all expert testimony
under Rule 702, not just scientific testimony.”). While the scientific or technical evidence
need not have general acceptance, the district court must ensure that the evidence is
relevant and reliable before admitting it. See Daubert, 509 U.S. at 588-89; see also United
States v. Truitt, 938 F.3d 885, 889 (7th Cir. 2019) (noting that judges act as gatekeepers
“to ensure that expert testimony is both relevant and reliable.”)
In acting as a gatekeeper, district courts must evaluate: (1) the proffered expert’s
qualifications; (2) the reliability of the expert’s methodology; and (3) the relevance of the
expert's testimony.” Kirk v. Clark Equip. Co., 991 F.3d 865, 872 (7th Cir. 2021). To be
relevant, expert testimony must “help the trier of fact to understand the evidence or to
determine a fact in issue.” Fed. R. Evid. 702. Courts consider the reliability of an expert's
opinion by making “a preliminary assessment of whether the reasoning or methodology
underlying the testimony is scientifically valid.” Anderson v. Raymond Corp., 61 F.4th 505,
509 (7th Cir. 2023) (quoting Daubert, 509 U.S. at 592-93). Some factors to consider include:

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“(1) whether the particular scientific theory can be and has been tested; (2) whether the
theory has been subjected to peer review and publication; (3) the known or potential
rate of error; (4) the existence and maintenance of standards controlling the technique’s
operation; and (5) whether the technique has achieved general acceptance in the
relevant scientific or expert community.” Id. at 109 (internal quotation marks and
citations omitted).
Rule 702 requires a flexible inquiry and recognizes that the accuracy of proposed
expert testimony can be explored adequately via the normal adversarial process of
“vigorous cross-examination, presentation of contrary evidence, and careful instruction
on the burden of proof.” Lees, 714 F.3d at 526 (quoting Daubert, 509 U.S. at 596). It is “the
soundness and care with which the expert arrived at her opinion” that is the focus of
the inquiry and not “the ultimate correctness of the expert’s conclusions.” Anderson, 61
F.4th at 510. Moreover, “[a]n opinion is not objectionable just because it embraces an
ultimate issue.” Fed. R. Evid. 704(a).
B. Defendant Garrett’s Motion to Bar Testimony of Dennis Waller
Defendant seeks to exclude the testimony of Dennis Waller, Plaintiffs police
practices expert, who intends to offer the following opinions: (1) “[a]rbitrarily
maintaining a subject in a position which impedes his ability to breathe is contrary” to
national law enforcement standards and “[a]bsent justification for deadly force, such
action is recognized as reckless conduct which may lead to unnecessary medical
complications or an untimely death,” (2) “Officer Garrett’s use of force, i.e., forcing Steven
face down onto the bed, using pressure points to keep him face down, not rolling him
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over in a timely manner, impeded Steven’s breathing,” which was “inconsistent with
Officer Garrett's training and showed a reckless disregard to the safety and well-being of
Steven Taylor;” and (3) “Properly run police departments ensure that officers are
provided with appropriate training; policies and procedure which are consistent with
their training to provide guidance; supervision to see that officers are acting in a manner
consistent with their training and department policy; and, discipline, either positive or
negative, to ensure compliance with department policy. The Village of Milford failed to
provide even a modicum of training, meaningful policy and procedures in critical areas,
supervision, and/or discipline consistent with the demands of law enforcement in this
day and age.” (Doc. 31 at 1-2). In support of his second opinion, Waller writes, “Officer
Garrett clearly utilized unnecessary force by continuing to maintain Steven in a position
in which it was obvious he was having difficulty in breathing.” (Doc 61 at 3). Defendant
contends that, because Judge Bruce’s summary judgment ruling on Plaintiff's Monell
claim in Count VII stands, Waller’s final opinion concerning the amount of training and
supervision Garrett received from the Milford Police Department is now moot and
irrelevant.
1. Dennis Waller’s Background
Defendant claims Mr. Waller is a “hired gun” who for decades has made his
income primarily as a police practices expert and in recent years has been compensated
approximately $220,000 per year. Defendant alleges he has created a cottage industry
testifying on behalf of plaintiffs in cases brought by Chicago civil rights firms. In his

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report, Waller states he has served as a consultant in over 700 cases involving issues
related to police policy, procedure, and practice.
In considering expert testimony, a court “must ensure that it is dealing with an
expert, not just a hired gun.” Tyus v. Urban Search Management, 102 F.3d 256, 263 (7th
Cir. 1996). Plaintiff notes that Mr. Waller has degrees in both police and public
administration and has received over 3,700 hours in law enforcement training. He has
been an assessor for the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, a
Fellow of the American College of Forensic Examiners, and the director of a regional
police training academy in North Carolina. Waller has served as a police officer, field
training officer, detective, sergeant, lieutenant, department training officer, and chief. He
has been certified as an instructor in police training, defensive and arrest tactics, and as
an internal affairs investigator supervisor.
Given this background, Waller has trained hundreds of officers in numerous
aspects of citizen interactions, use of force, and issues related to professional and ethical
conduct. He has extensive experience as a consultant/expert witness involving issues
related to police policy, procedure, and practice and has served as an expert witness in
federal court, state court, and administrative hearings. He has provided opinions in over
700 police policy, procedure, and practice cases in 36 states.
The fact that an expert is paid for his testimony is not unusual and not a basis to
question his testimony. See Daubert, 43 F.3d at 1317 (That an expert testifies for money
does not necessarily cast doubt on the reliability of his testimony, as few experts appear
in court merely as an eleemosynary gesture.”). It also is fairly common for a particular
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expert to usually testify on behalf of one side or the other. Based on his extensive training
and experience, the Court concludes Mr. Waller has the educational background and
experience to offer opinions on police practices.
In United States v. Brown, 871 F.3d 532 (7th Cir. 2017), the Seventh Circuit addressed
the relevance of expert testimony about police practices in the criminal context and
specifically stated:
The level of factual complexity in the case may also bear on the relevance of expert
testimony about police practices or protocols. In many cases evaluating an officer's
conduct will draw primarily on the jury’s collective common sense. The everyday
experience of lay jurors fully equips them to answer the reasonableness question
when a case involves facts that people of common understanding can easily
comprehend. The jury’s common experience will suffice, for example, when police
use their bare hands in making an arrest, the most primitive form of force. But
when something peculiar about law enforcement (e.g., the tools they use or
circumstances they face) inform the issues to be decided by the finder of fact, a
jury’s everyday experience may not be enough to effectively assess
reasonableness. If a case involves a gun, a slapjack, mace, or some other tool, the
jury may start to ask itself: what is mace? [W]hat is an officer’s training on using a
gun? [H]ow much damage can a slapjack do?
Id. at 538(internal quotation marks and citation omitted). The defendant in Brown was
charged with willful deprivation of another’s federal right under color of law after a video
camera, showed him punching and kicking an individual. Id. at 538-39. The court
determined that an expert on police department use-of-force standards was unnecessary
given that the jury could use its collective common sense in evaluating the officer's
conduct. Id.
In Florek v. Village of Mundelein, Ill., 649 F.3d 594 (7th Cir. 2011), the Seventh Circuit
found that the magistrate judge’s exclusion of Dennis Waller's testimony was an
appropriate exercise of her discretion. Id. at 601-02. Mr. Waller would have testified that
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“no rational, experienced officer would/could reasonably expect a response and
voluntary compliance within fifteen seconds” of knocking and announcing his presence
at 10:22 p.m., when the officers executed their search. Id. at 596, 601. Waller’s proposed
testimony was excluded because it was adequately comprehensible by lay individuals.
Id. at 601-02. The court in Florek explained:
Plainly, the concerns highlighted by the Court [in Wilson v. Arkansas, 514 US. 927
(1995)] will inform the determination about whether law enforcement have
waited a reasonable time before gaining entry to a residence by force. It is self-
evident that expert testimony may be useful on those subjects. How long does it
take to dispose of drugs? What sorts of problems do law enforcement encounter
the longer they wait before entering a residence? These are questions whose
answers cannot be furnished by everyday experience. Waller's testimony, on the
other hand, did not approach Rule 702 territory. It appears that Waller's chief
contribution was going to be his belief that, given the late hour, it would have
been unreasonable to expect voluntary compliance with a knock at the door
in 15 seconds. Florek does not explain why expert testimony on __ this subject
would be useful to the jury, instead seeming to contend that expert testimony is
always necessary where “constitutional freedoms and guarantees are concerned”
and police practices are at issue. That position is untenable; everyday experience
teaches people how long it takes to walk from room to room. The magistrate
judge did not abuse her discretion in barring the testimony, nor did she do so by
keeping out Waller's testimony that a reasonable police officer would call an
ambulance if confronted with an arrestee known to be experiencing heart attack
symptoms,
Id, at 603. This case is not quite like Brown or Florek. While a lay person might understand
certain aspects of this case based on similar events that have been in the news, the
application of national law enforcement standards and whether the extent and type of
force used to subdue an individual makes it difficult for him to breathe are not necessarily
the types of issues that are comprehensible by lay individuals.
Defendant further asserts Mr. Waller’s opinions have been excluded in federal
courts throughout the country on multiple occasions for offering similar opinions
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consisting of legal conclusions and opinions that usurp the role of a factfinder. Defendant
contends Waller also offers opinions outside of his area of expertise such as forensic
medicine, pathology, and other topics. In response, Plaintiff alleges Waller’s testimony
has been limited in approximately 1% of the cases in which he was retained over a 20-
year period.
Defendant cites the following cases in which Mr. Waller’s opinions have been
excluded: Davis v. Dunn, 277 F.R.D. 362, 367 (N.D. III. 2011) (excluding Waller’s testimony
regarding how a shooting occurred because of his lack of experience in medical forensics
or pathology and noting that the same kind of testimony sought to be admitted in the
case had also been rejected in other cases); Estate of Carlock v. Williamson, 2013 WL
12244415, at *4 (C.D. Ill. 2013) (holding Waller may offer testimony in the field of law
enforcement and use-of-force policies but is not qualified to give an opinion in the
medical field); McBroom v. Payne, 2011 WL 1356925, at *3 (S.D. Miss. 2011) (excluding as
legal conclusion Waller’s opinion that the force used in officer-involved shooting was
excessive); Hallet v. Richmond, 2009 WL 5125628, at *1-2 (N.D. Ill. 2009) (excluding opinion
of Waller that defendants used unreasonable force under the circumstances); Ingram v.
Pavlak, 2004 WL 1242761, at *5 n.3 (D. Minn. 2004) (excluding Waller’s testimony for
applying police department guidelines which mirror Fourth Amendment reasonableness
to his factual characterizations standard as an improper legal conclusion); Egebergh v.
Village of Mount Prospect, 2004 WL 856437, at *3 (N.D. Ill. 2004) (permitting Waller to
testify about “certain of defendants’ actions and whether they were consistent with
proper police procedure” but excluding testimony about whether the failure to provide
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diabetes medication violated deliberate indifferent standards). Defendant also cites Hygh
v. Jacobs, 961 F.2d 359 (2d Cir. 1992) for the same proposition, but the Second Circuit was
considering another expert’s opinion in Hygh. See id. at 364.
As Plaintiff alleges, most of the examples cited by Defendant involve cases
wherein Waller's opinions and testimony may have been limited but not barred entirely.
Obviously, Waller will not be permitted to offer opinions on topics outside of his
expertise such as medicine or forensic pathology. However, the fact that an expert may
be barred in one case does not automatically preclude him from testifying in another case
as it is a matter of discretion left to the district court to determine based on the case-
specific facts and opinions offered. See Native American Arts, Inc. v. Peter Stone, U.S.A, Inc.,
222 F. Supp.3d 643, 648 (N.D. Ill. 2016); see also Estate of Stuller v. United States, 811 F.3d
890, 895 (7th Cir. 2016).
2. Methodology as a Basis for Exclusion
Defendant contends Waller's first three opinions use language that track legal
standards and essentially provide legal conclusions. Waller uses phrases like “reckless
conduct,” while stating the officer’s conduct involved “reckless disregard for the safety
of others.” These phrases, along with the statement Officer Garrett allegedly used
“unnecessary force,” are very similar to the legal standards in this case. Defendant argues
this type of testimony runs the risk of usurping the role of the factfinder by making a
credibility determination. As Plaintiff alleges, the legal test for Fourth Amendment claims
is that of “objective reasonableness.” Graham v. O’Connor, 490 US. 386, 396 (1989). Waller

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does not purport to analyze Graham or apply its objective reasonableness standard to the
facts of this case.
In Jiminez v. City of Chic., 732 F.3d 710 (7th Cir. 2013), defendants challenged some
of the testimony of plaintiff’s expert concerning reasonable police practices because
“reasonableness” is a legal conclusion, and experts should not provide legal opinions. Id.
at 720. Defendants further argued that the expert’s testimony on reasonable police
practices was intertwined with the legal standard of probable cause and should have been
barred. Id. at 721. The Seventh Circuit noted such testimony is relevant and explained,
“When an expert offers an opinion relevant to applying a legal standard such as probable
cause, the expert's role is limited to describing sound professional standards and
identifying departures from them.” Id. (internal quotation marks omitted); see also
Abdullahi v, City of Madison, 423 F.3d 763, 772 (7th Cir. 2005) (proffered expert testimony
that officer’s tactics violated standard police practices might be relevant to
reasonableness inquiry). The Court denies Defendant's request to bar Waller’s testimony
on this basis as long as his testimony avoids applying the objectively reasonable standard
to the facts of the case.
Defendant contends Waller should be precluded from offering an opinion
regarding whether the use of force restraint method could result in “medical
complications” or an “untimely death” because he is not a medical professional and has
had no training or expertise in medical forensics or forensic pathology. In response,
Plaintiff alleges Waller is testifying only to national standards of policing and not
providing opinions concerning “medical complications” or an untimely death. Waller’s
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opinion is that holding a person in a position which limits their ability to breathe is
inconsistent with nationally accepted standards of law enforcement training and practice
and, barring a justification for deadly force, such action is considered reckless because it
may lead to unnecessary medical complication or death. While Waller explains the
national standard in his report, he does not provide a causation opinion regarding
Taylor’s death.
Waller explains that police have been trained to roll individuals onto their sides
and avoid a face-down position. Waller’s report states that Defendant testified he has
received this training but, according to witnesses, did not turn Taylor face up.
Furthermore, Waller provides opinions regarding nationally recognized use of force
training standards, including methods that are less likely to harm an individual and those
that assist officers in identifying potentially dangerous positions. As long as Waller's
testimony is limited as provided in Plaintiff's response and does not stray into
impermissible areas such as medical complications or forensic pathology, the Court
concludes it is relevant and admissible.
Defendant further asserts Waller's final opinion concerning lack of training is
irrelevant because this case concerns the response to a medical emergency, not
enforcement of the law. Defendant claims that, at his deposition, Waller was unable to
answer what model safeguards or authoritative text, if any, would apply with respect to
law enforcement responding to a medical emergency as opposed to enforcing the law.
Additionally, Defendant claims Waller’s third opinion as to the lack of training and
supervision fails to account for the fact that Garrett was a highly trained EMT-Paramedic
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at the time of the incident. The sole remaining claim in this case is whether Defendant
used excessive force during the course of a medical emergency. The officer’s training is
potentially relevant in that inquiry. Defendant is correct that Waller’s opinion concerning
training of officers as it relates to Plaintiff's Monell claim is no longer relevant because the
Monell claim against City of Milford has been dismissed. However, the Court declines to
exclude the opinion because national police standards and the training received by
Defendant may be relevant to the remaining claim.
For all of these reasons, the Court denies Defendant’s Motion to Bar the Testimony
of Dennis Waller. Mr. Waller’s opinions are admissible for the reasons stated herein.
Defendant is free to object if, for example, any testimony relates to topics on which Waller
is not an expert or the testimony otherwise violates the Federal Rules of Evidence.
C. Plaintiff’s Motion to Bar the Testimony of Defendant's Expert Dr. Lyman
Plaintiff seeks to bar the testimony of Defendant's police practices expert, Michael
D, Lyman, PH.D. Dr. Lyman’s report indicates he has been a college professor teaching
and researching policing topics for over 30 years. He states he is nationally recognized in
the areas of police procedure, criminal investigation, and drug enforcement.
Defendant states that Dr. Lyman seeks to offer the following opinions: (1) “It is my
opinion, stated within a reasonable degree of professional certainty, that if Village of
Milford Police Officer Joseph Garrett’s account of this incident is to be believed, then his
actions in encountering Mr. Steven Taylor, for the purpose of protecting him from self-
harm, were justified and objectively reasonable considering the totality of the
circumstances, and were consistent with nationally recognized standards of care;” and
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(2) “It is my opinion, stated within a reasonable degree of professional certainty, that at
the time of his encounter with Steven Taylor, Village of Milford Police Officer Joseph
Garrett was properly trained and properly prepared to address the incident involving
Mr. Taylor.”!
1. Application of Principles and Methods to Case File
In alleging Dr. Lyman’s opinions are not based on reliable methodology, Plaintiff
contends that the opinions are based on an incomplete review of the record and case file.
For example, Dr. Lyman did not have access to all of the medical records or deposition
transcripts of an EMT or any treating physicians. Plaintiff argues that, without the entire
case file, Dr. Lyman could not analyze the allegations of positional asphyxiation and
whether Defendant's methods would violate national standards of police practices.
Defendant alleges Dr. Lyman did not review medical records because he is not a
medical expert and is unqualified to testify on such topics. Dr. Lyman reviewed the
Amended Complaint and Answer, Waller’s report, deposition testimony of the
responding EMTs, Defendant Garrett, and the Taylors who were present at the scene, the
International Association of Chiefs of Police (“IACP”) standards, City of Milford police
report, the Iroquois County Sheriff’s Report, the Computer Aided Dispatch Report,
Milford’s personnel policy, Milford’s Police Department Policies and Procedures, and
both the City and Garrett's responses to written discovery. Defendant claims he then

‘Like Waller's opinion concerning the nature of training provided by the City of Milford,
Lyman’s opinion concerning whether Garrett was properly trained is now irrelevant to the
extent that it relates to the Monell claim against the City of Milford.
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applied what he learned from these materials and offered his opinions based on his
education and professional training.
Plaintiff further asserts Dr. Lyman’s opinions contradict authoritative policies and
his prior opinions on positional asphyxia. Specifically, Dr. Lyman fails to consider what
Plaintiff claims is the obvious alternative explanation and Plaintiff’s entire theory of the
case—that Garrett’s unreasonable use of force and dangerous restraint tactic led to
Taylor's positional asphyxia and death. Dr. Lyman fails to apply IACP policies
concerning the detaining of individuals in face down positions. Plaintiff contends that, in
reaching these opinions, Dr. Lyman diverges from his own reliable principles of
considering the [ACP as the authority on police practices, applying those practices to the
instant case, and reviewing the entire file for evidence that positional asphyxia may have
played a role in Taylor’s death. Accordingly, Plaintiff contends Dr. Lyman has failed to
reliably apply the principles and methods to the facts of the case in violation of Rule 702.
The Supreme Court has stated that the inquiry under Rule 702 is a flexible one. See
Daubert, 509 U.S. at 594. Evidence which may be “shaky but admissible’ can be
appropriately attacked by “[v]igorous cross-examination, presentation of contrary
evidence, and careful instruction on the burden of proof.” Id. at 596. Plaintiff's contention
that Dr. Lyman ignored the obvious cause of Taylor’s death may or may not turn out to
be accurate. However, any weaknesses in his testimony can be challenged by vigorous
cross-examination and presentation of Waller’s testimony. The Court finds no basis to
exclude Defendant’s rebuttal expert witness based on the application of his principles
and methods to the case.
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2. Dr. Lyman’s Opinions and Whether There is a Sufficient Factual Basis
Plaintiff next contends Dr. Lyman’s opinions are without sufficient factual basis
because he did not receive the full record and was missing important materials.
According to Plaintiff, Dr. Lyman’s opinions are based on speculation as to what occurred
and completely discount the possibility that Taylor’s position was not consistent with
proper police protocols because Dr. Lyman did not review any medical documents that
suggested asphyxiation occurred. The only medical records Dr. Lyman reviewed had no
explanation regarding what actually caused Taylor’s difficulty in breathing and death. In
support of her argument, Plaintiff cites McKay v. City of St. Louis, 2019 WL 1436972 (E.D.
Mo. March 31, 2019), wherein the court excluded as unreliable Lyman’s opinion which
relied, in part, on several untrue or misstated facts. See Id. at *17.
Dr. Lyman’s opinion relates to Defendant’s theory of the case which, not
surprisingly, is different than Plaintiff's theory. It is based on Defendant Garrett's account
of the incident and the actions he took. At trial, Plaintiff can question Dr. Lyman about
his opinions and any perceived weaknesses, including specific information he did not
consider. Moreover, Defendant states he will have another expert on whether positional
asphyxia occurred, so Plaintiff will have an opportunity to question that witness as well.
Any alleged deficiencies in Dr. Lyman’s opinions can be addressed by cross-examination
and the testimony of Plaintiff's expert witness. The Court declines to bar the testimony
on this basis.

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3. Legal Conclusions
Plaintiff next contends Dr. Lyman’s testimony is made up entirely of legal
conclusions concerning various opinions on legal standards, including: (1) standards for
the use of force; (2) explanations and definitions of the phrase “objectively reasonable,”
including whether Defendant's conduct met that standard; (3) that the Illinois statute on
use of force is consistent with national standards; (4) that police officers are trained to
evaluate from the standpoint of reasonable force; and (5) definitions of the term
“reasonable force.”
Defendant notes Dr. Lyman offers two opinions, one regarding whether the use of
force meets police standards and another concerning whether Garrett received adequate
training. Dr. Lyman will not specifically testify that the use of force was “objectively
reasonable” as that closely mirrors the legal standard. However, he should be allowed to
testify whether Defendant's response was reasonable in relation to police practices
standards. As with Waller, the Court will not exclude the testimony as long as Dr.
Lyman’s testimony is consistent with Jimenez and Abdullahi and avoids applying the
objectively reasonable standard to the facts of this case.
Ill, CONCLUSION
For the reasons stated herein, both Defendants’ Motion to Bar the Testimony of
Dennis Waller (Doc. 31) and Plaintiff's Motion to Bar Defendants’ Expert Dr. Lyman (Doc.
28) are DENIED. At trial, the parties remain free to raise any appropriate objections.

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The Clerk is DIRECTED to terminate Defendants’ Motion to Supplement (Doc. 62),
as that pleading is a Supplement to the Motion to Bar Expert.
ENTER: March 15, 2024

FOR THE COURT:

OLELEEN RY¥LAWLESS
UNITED TES DISTRICT JUDGE

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/cases/10137529. Public record. Not legal advice.