# SURMAN v. PAYNE

> District Court, W.D. Pennsylvania · March 30, 2023

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/cases/10418835

## Case

- **Court:** District Court, W.D. Pennsylvania
- **Decided:** March 30, 2023
- **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/10418835

## How later opinions describe it (automated extraction)

- holding that testimony that Defendants did not disclose in “their pretrial disclosures or discovery responses” was admissible at trial only if it was “subject to Rule 26(a)’s ‘solely for impeachment’ exception”

## Opinion text

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF PENNSYLVANIA
NICHOLINA SURMAN, and )
STEPHEN SURMAN, H/W, ) CIVIL ACTION NO. 3:19-216
)
Plaintiffs, )
) JUDGE KIM R. GIBSON
v. )
)
ROBERT PAYNE, and )
DOT TRANSPORTATION, INC., )
)
Defendants/Third-Party )
Plaintiffs, )
)
v. )
)
STEPHEN SURMAN, )
)
Third-Party Defendant. )
MEMORANDUM OPINION
I. Introduction
This case stems from a motor vehicle accident that occurred on October 23, 2017. (ECF No.
49 at 4).1 On that date, Plaintiff Stephen Surman (“Mr. Surman”) was driving a vehicle in which
his wife, Plaintiff Nicholina Surman (“Mrs. Surman”) (collectively, the “Surmans” or the
“Plaintiffs”) was a passenger. (Id. at 4-5). At the time of the accident, the Surmans were traveling
in the left lane of Interstate Route 70 (“I-70”) in Somerset Township, Washington County,
Pennsylvania. (Id. at 4).

1 The Court derives the background information in this section from its Memorandum Opinion and Order
resolving Mr. Surman’s Motion for Summary Judgment, which sets forth a more extensive description of
the factual background of this case. (ECF No. 49).

At about the same time and place, Defendant Robert Payne (“Mr. Payne”), acting on behalf
of his employer, DOT Transportation, Inc., (“DOT”) (collectively, the “Defendants”), was driving
a tractor trailer in the right lane of I-70. (Id.). Due to construction, the vehicles in the right lane
were required to merge into the left lane. (Id. at 4-5). As Mr. Payne and the Surmans approached
the location where the right lane ended (the “merge point”), Mr. Payne merged into the left lane,
and his vehicle and the Surmans’s vehicle collided. (Id. at 5).
As this case nears trial, the Surmans continue to advance the following three claims
against Mr. Payne and DOT, all of which arise out of the accident: (1) Negligence (Count I), (2)
Respondeat Superior (Count II), and (3) Loss of Consortium (Count IH). (ECF No. 17 at 3-6).
Further, Mr. Payne and DOT advance a claim for Negligence against Mr. Surman, contending
that his negligence caused the accident, and that he “alone [is] liable to [Mrs. Surman], or jointly
and severally liable or liable over to [the Defendants] for contribution and/or indemnification.”
(ECF No. 35 at 3-4).?

* The Court notes that the procedural history of this case is somewhat complex. Indeed, on January 10, 2020,
the Surmans filed an Amended Complaint, advancing claims for Negligence, Respondeat Superior, and
Loss of Consortium against Mr. Payne and DOT. (ECF No. 17). On March 25, 2020, Mr. Payne and DOT
filed a motion requesting that the Court: (1) sever Mr. Surman’s claims from Mrs. Surman’s claims and (2)
permit Mr. Payne and DOT to file a Third-Party Complaint against Mr. Surman. (ECF No. 31). On April 23,
2020, the Court granted Mr. Payne and DOT’s motion, severing the claims of Mr. Surman from those of
Mrs. Surman, and giving Mr. Payne and DOT leave to file a Third-Party Complaint against Mr. Surman.
(ECF No. 34). Accordingly, on April 29, 2020, Mr. Payne and DOT filed their Third-Party Complaint against
Mr. Surman, asserting a claim for Negligence. (ECF No. 35).
Then, on August 12, 2022, Mr. Payne and DOT filed a motion requesting that the Court consolidate the
claims of Mr. Surman with those of Mrs. Surman. (ECF No. 102). Mr. and Mrs. Surman did not oppose that
motion. (ECF No. 108). Accordingly, on August 31, 2022, the Court granted the Defendants’ motion,
ordering that the “claims of [Mr.] Surman and [Mrs.] Surman shall be consolidated for discovery and case
management, nunc pro tunc, and for Trial.” (ECF No. 110).
The Court offers the foregoing background in order to note that for purposes of Mr. Payne and DOT’s
Negligence claim against Mr. Surman, Mr. Payne and DOT are technically Third-Party Plaintiffs, and Mr.
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Pending before the Court are the following nine motions in limine (four of which are
accompanied by a supporting brief):
1. Mr. Surman’s “Motion to Allow [Mr.] Payne’s Motor Vehicle Conviction as Evidence”
(ECF Nos. 60, 61);
2. Mr. Surman’s “Motion to Exclude the Report and Testimony of Reconstruction Expert
Daniel Connolly” (ECF Nos. 65, 66);
3. Mr. Surman’s “Motion in Limine to Exclude Reference to [Mr.] Surman’s Liability
Insurance” (ECF Nos. 67, 68);
4, Mr. Payne and DOT’s “Motion ... to Preclude Evidence and/or Testimony of [Mrs.
Surman’s] Medical Bills at Trial” (ECF No. 69);
5. Mr. Payne and DOT’s “Motion ... to Preclude Evidence and/or Testimony Related to
the Repair Estimate/Bill for Damages to [the Surmans’s] Vehicle at Trial” (ECF No. 70);
6. Mr. Payne and DOT’s “Motion ... to Preclude Purported Expert Testimony of
Corporal Scott Ryan Abbott” (ECF No. 71);
7. Mr. Payne and DOT’s “Motion ... to Preclude Evidence From and/or Testimony
Related to the PIP File From Liberty Mutual Insurance” (ECF No. 72);
8. Mr. Payne and DOT’s “Motion ... to Preclude Inadmissible Portions of the Police
Accident Report” (ECF No. 73); and
9. Mrs. Surman’s “Motion in Limine to Preclude ... [Mr.] Payne and DOT
Transportation, Inc. From Introducing a Video at the Time of Trial” (ECF Nos. 95, 100).

Surman is technically a Third-Party Defendant. However, for simplicity’s sake, the Court refers to Mr. and
Mrs. Surman as “Plaintiffs” and Mr. Payne and DOT as “Defendants.”

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The relevant parties have filed Responses (and one Reply) to several of the foregoing
motions. (ECF Nos. 77, 78, 79, 80, 86, 103, 104, 105). The time for filing responses has passed, (see
ECF Nos. 52, 112, 119), and the motions are ripe for disposition.
For the following reasons, the Court:
1. GRANTS Mr. Surman’s “Motion to Allow [Mr.] Payne’s Motor Vehicle Conviction as
Evidence” (ECF No. 60);
2. DENIES Mr. Surman’s “Motion to Exclude the Report and Testimony of
Reconstruction Expert Daniel Connolly” (ECF No. 65);
3. GRANTS Mr. Surman’s “Motion in Limine to Exclude Reference to [Mr.] Surman’s
Liability Insurance” (ECF No. 67);
4, GRANTS Mr. Payne and DOT's “Motion ... to Preclude Bvidence and/or Testimony
of [Mrs. Surman’s] Medical Bills at Trial” (ECF No. 69);
5. GRANTS Mr. Payne and DOT’s “Motion ... to Preclude Evidence and/or Testimony
Related to the Repair Estimate/Bill for Damages to [the Surmans’s] Vehicle at Trial”
(ECF No. 70);
6. GRANTS IN PART and DENIES IN PART Mr. Payne and DOT’s “Motion ... to
Preclude Purported Expert Testimony of Corporal Scott Ryan Abbott” (ECF No. 71);
7. GRANTS Mr. Payne and DOT’s “Motion ... to Preclude Evidence From and/or
Testimony Related to the PIP File From Liberty Mutual Insurance” (ECF No. 72);
8. GRANTS IN PART and DENIES IN PART Mr. Payne and DOT's “Motion ... to
Preclude Inadmissible Portions of the Police Accident Report” (ECF No. 73); and

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9. CONDITIONALLY DENIES Mrs. Surman’s “Motion in Limine to Preclude ... [Mr.]
Payne and DOT Transportation, Inc. From Introducing a Video at the Time of Trial”
(ECF No. 95).
Ii. The Court Grants the Four Unopposed Motions (ECF Nos. 67, 69, 70, 72)
Four of the motions in limine referenced above are unopposed. (ECF Nos. 67, 69, 70, 72).
The Court begins its analysis by examining those four motions. Upon doing so, the Court finds
that it is appropriate to grant all four.
A, The Court Grants Mr. Surman’s “Motion in Limine to Exclude Reference to
[His] Liability Insurance” (ECF No. 67)
In Mr. Surman’s Motion at ECF No. 67, he requests that the Court prohibit any party from
referencing either his liability insurance or liability premiums at the upcoming trial. (ECF No. 67
at 2-3). Mr. Surman asserts that under Federal Rule of Evidence 411, “evidence of insurance ‘is
not admissible to prove whether the person acted negligen[tly] or otherwise wrongfully.” (Id. at
2) (quoting FED. R. Evip. 411). Therefore, he argues that his insurance policy cannot be introduced
into evidence in order to “prove or suggest that [he] acted negligently or otherwise wrongfully.”
(Id.). Further, Mr. Surman contends that this case “involves a tractor trailer colliding into a motor
vehicle that was already established in its lane.” (Id.). Accordingly, because any “statements about
[Mr. Surman’s] insurance policy or insurance premiums do not make it more or less probable that
the subject accident occurred[,]” any reference to Mr. Surman’s “insurance policy or insurance
premiums is irrelevant and should be prohibited at the trial of this lawsuit.” (Id.).
Federal Rule of Evidence 401 provides that Evidence is relevant if: “(a) ithas any tendency
to make a fact more or less probable than it would be without the evidence; and (b) the fact is of

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consequence in determining the action.” FED. R. EVID. 401. Under Rule 402, relevant evidence is
admissible unless the: (1) United States Constitution, (2) a federal statute, (3) the Federal Rules of
Evidence, or (4) other rules prescribed by the Supreme Court provide otherwise. FED. R. EVID.
402. However, irrelevant “evidence is not admissible.” Id. Further, Rule 403 states that the court
“may exclude relevant evidence if its probative value is substantially outweighed by a danger of
one or more of the following: unfair prejudice ....” FED. R. EVID. 403. Finally, Rule 411 provides
that evidence “that a person was or was not insured against liability is not admissible to prove
whether the person acted negligently or otherwise wrongfully. But the court may admit this
evidence for another purpose, such as proving a witness’s bias or prejudice or proving agency,
ownership, or control.” FED. R. Evip. 411.
Here, under Rule 411, evidence of Mr. Surman’s liability insurance is not admissible to
prove whether he acted negligently or otherwise wrongfully in this case. Gradley v. Ellis, No. 3:13-
CV-17, 2015 WL 4412768, at *3 (W.D. Pa. July 17, 2015) (“TE]vidence that Defendant carried
liability insurance is not admissible in this case to show that Defendant acted negligently or
wrongfully. Thus, any reference to Defendant's liability insurance, whether by testimony or
documentary evidence, is inadmissible at trial for that purpose.”). Further, Mr. Payne and DOT
have offered no argument, and the Court sees no reason, why Mr. Surman’s liability insurance
has any relevance to this case outside of potentially speaking to whether he acted negligently or
otherwise wrongfully.
Finally, even if Mr. Surman’s liability insurance or liability premiums were admissible
under Rules 401, 402, and 411, the Court would still bar introduction of Mr. Surman’s liability
insurance and liability premiums because the risk of unfair prejudice from introducing either
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piece of evidence at trial substantially outweighs its very low probative value. Gradley, 2015 WL
4412768, at *4 (“Here the prejudice to Defendant in allowing Plaintiff to introduce evidence of
liability insurance coverage is significant.”). Therefore, the Court will not permit any party to
introduce evidence of either Mr. Surman’s liability insurance or his liability premiums at the
upcoming trial in this matter, and the Court will grant Mr. Surman’s Motion at ECF No. 67.
B. The Court Grants Mr. Payne and DOT’s Motion in Limine to “Preclude
Evidence and/or Testimony of [Mrs. Surman’s] Medical Bills at Trial” (ECF No.
69)
In Mr. Payne and DOT’s Motion at ECF No. 69, they ask the Court to preclude reference
and/or testimony regarding Mrs. Surman’s medical bills at trial. (ECF No. 69 at 1). Mr. Payne and
DOT assert that at the time of the accident, Mrs. Surman “was covered by a New Jersey personal
automobile policy issued by Liberty Mutual Insurance (“Liberty Mutual”) with personal injury
protection (“PIP”) coverage of $250,000.00.” (id.). Further, Mr. Payne and DOT state that Mrs.
Surman’s “medical treatment was covered and paid for by Liberty Mutual[,]” and the “Liberty
Mutual PIP lien was compromised in or about April 2020 on behalf of [Mr. Payne and DOT].” (Id.
at 2). Therefore, because “Liberty Mutual has already been reimbursed for its PIP lien, those
amounts are not relevant to any issue, including damages.” (Id.). Moreover, Mr. Payne and DOT
contend that “any reference to the amount of medical bills paid for by Liberty Mutual would
mislead the jury into believing that [that amount] was an element of recoverable damages, when
they are not since the lien has been satisfied.” (Id.).
Here, the Court reiterates that the Surmans have not filed a response to Mr. Payne and
DOT’s Motion at ECF No. 69. Further, as Mr. Payne and DOT note, (id.), in the Surmans’s
Proposed Jury Instructions, they request that the Court give the jury the following instruction:
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“You have heard testimony that [Mrs.] Surman received medical services for the diagnosis and
treatment of injuries suffered in the accident. However, you received no evidence regarding the
amount of those medical expenses because those losses are not recoverable damages in this case.” (ECF No.
58 at 38) (emphasis added). Therefore, it appears that the Surmans agree with Mr. Payne and
DOT that evidence of Mrs. Surman’s medical bills are not relevant in this case. The Court concurs
with the parties’ assessment and finds that evidence of Mrs. Surman’s medical bills is not relevant
to the upcoming trial. FED. R. EVID. 401. Additionally, even if evidence of Mrs. Surman’s medical
bills was relevant, the Court would find that the very low probative value of that evidence would
be substantially outweighed by the risk of misleading the jury into thinking it could award
damages based on those medical bills. FED. R. Evib. 403 (“The Court may exclude relevant
evidence if its probative value is substantially outweighed by a danger of one or more of the
following: unfair prejudice, confusing the issues, misleading the jury, undue delay, wasting time,
or needlessly presenting cumulative evidence.”).
Therefore, the Court will bar the Surmans from introducing evidence of Mrs. Surman’s
medical bills at the upcoming trial, and the Court will grant Mr. Payne and DOT’s Motion at ECF
No. 69.3

3 The Court notes that Mr. Payne and DOT also argue that should the Surmans “be permitted to introduce
testimony or evidence of future medical bills, the face amount of the medical bills is not admissible. Rather,
only the amount accepted by the healthcare provider as payment in full is compensable and/or admissible.”
(ECF No. 69 at 2). Based on this contention and the Court’s reading of Mr. Payne and DOT’s Motion at ECF
No. 69, which focuses largely on Mrs. Surman’s past medical bills, the Court stresses that in resolving the
Motion at ECF No. 69, the Court is excluding all reference to Mrs. Surman’s past medical bills at the
upcoming trial. The Court is not presently ruling on the admissibility of any future medical bills.
With that clarifying point in place, the Court makes three notes.

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Cc. The Court Grants Mr. Payne and DOT’s Motion in Limine to “Preclude
Evidence From and/or Testimony Related to the PIP File From Liberty Mutual
Insurance” (ECF No. 72)
In Mr. Payne and DOT’s Motion at ECF No. 72, they ask the Court to bar the Surmans
from introducing evidence and/or testimony related to the “PIP File from Liberty Mutual

First, in Mrs. Surman’s Pretrial Narrative, she states that her “damages are non-economic.” (ECF No. 53 at
2). Therefore, it appears unlikely to the Court that the Surmans will offer evidence of future medical bills
for Mrs. Surman at trial.
Second, in the event that the Surmans do attempt to offer evidence regarding future medical bills at trial,
the Court notes that Mr. Payne and DOT cite to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court's decision in Moorhead v.
Crozer Chester Med. Ctr., 765 A.2d 786 (Pa. 2001), for the principle that “only the amount accepted by the
healthcare provider as payment in full [is] compensable and/or admissible.” (ECF No. 69 at 2). However,
in that case, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court “solely addressed the issue of the measure of compensatory
damages for past medical expenses.” Cleaver v. United States, No. 08-CV-425, 2012 WL 912729, at *3 (W.D.
Pa. Mar. 15, 2012). Indeed, in Moorhead, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court held the following:
When a plaintiff will continue to incur expenses for medical services, it is appropriate for
the factfinder to determine the amount of damages which will compensate the plaintiff for
those expenses that “are reasonably necessary to be incurred.” Conversely, where, as here,
the exact amount of expense has been established by contract and those expenses have
been satisfied, there is no longer any issue as to the amount of expenses for which the
plaintiff will be liable. In the latter case, the injured party should be limited to recovering
the amount paid for the medical services.
765 A.2d at 789. Therefore, it is unsurprising to this Court that other courts have “uniformly rejected the
application of Moorhead as a measure of future medical damages.” Cleaver, 2012 WL 912729, at *3 (collecting
cases). Accordingly, insofar as Mrs. Surman will advance a claim for future medical damages at trial, the
Court sets Moorehead aside as inapplicable.
Third, the Court turns to what Pennsylvania law has to say about proving future medical bills at trial.
“Pennsylvania law provides that a plaintiff seeking to recover future medical expenses must establish, ‘by
expert testimony, not only that future medical expenses will be incurred, but also the reasonable estimated
costs of such services.” Good v. FirstEnergy Corp., No. 3:13-CV-149, 2016 WL 492804, *6 n.6 (M.D. Pa. Feb.
9, 2016) (quoting Mendralla v. Weaver Corp., 703 A.2d 480, 485 (Pa. Super. Ct. 1997)). Pennsylvania law also
offers an exception to this general rule: “when there is a reasonable basis for the jury to conclude that the
medical care rendered in the past is the same as the medical care that will be required in the future, the
plaintiff can introduce past medical bills in lieu of expert testimony about future costs.” Keifer v. Reinhart
Foodservices, LLC, 563 F. App’x 112, 117 (3d Cir. 2014) (citing Rogers v. Phila. & Reading Ry. Co., 106 A. 734,
736 (1919)). However, because the Court has barred evidence of Mrs. Surman’s past medical bills, this
exception is not applicable in this case. Therefore, if the Surmans intend to introduce evidence of Mrs.
Surman’s future medical bills at the upcoming trial, they must present expert testimony indicating the
reasonable estimated costs of such services.
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Insurance” at trial. (ECF No. 72 at 1). Mr. Payne and DOT state that in the Surmans’s Pretrial
Narrative Statement, they “identify as an exhibit that may be offered P-44 PIP File from Liberty
Mutual Insurance.” (Id. at 2). Mr. Payne and DOT argue that, for the same reasons they advanced
in their motion regarding Mrs. Surman’s medical bills, “those portions of the PIP File from Liberty
Mutual should not be permitted as an exhibit during trial.” (Id.). Finally, Mr. Payne and DOT
contend that the entire PIP File should be precluded because no witness has been identified to
authenticate it, and because the file constitutes inadmissible hearsay. (Id.).
In resolving this Motion, the Court notes that the Surmans have neither filed a Response
in Opposition to this Motion nor provided the Court with the PIP File. (ECF Nos. 53, 55, 56).
Therefore, the Court accepts Mr. Payne and DOT’s implicit assertion that the PIP File contains
evidence of medical bills that the Court has already barred from introduction at trial, see supra
Section II.B, and the Court bars the evidence in the PIP File containing those medical bills for the
same reasons outlined above. Further, to the extent that the PIP File contains additional materials,
the Court cannot examine the file to determine whether those materials are relevant, whether
they survive Rule 403 balancing, or whether they constitute inadmissible hearsay. Therefore, the
Court will preclude the Surmans from introducing evidence and/or testimony related to the PIP
file from Liberty Mutual Insurance at trial, and the Court will grant Mr. Payne and DOT’s Motion
at ECF No. 72.
D. The Court Grants Mr. Payne and DOT’s Motion in Limine to “Preclude
Evidence and/or Testimony Related to the Repair Estimate/Bill for Damages to
[the Surmans’s] Vehicle at Trial” (ECF No. 70)
In Mr. Payne and DOT’s Motion at ECF No. 70, they ask the Court to preclude the Surmans
from introducing evidence and/or testimony at trial related to the repair estimate/bill for damages
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to the Surmans’s vehicle. (ECF No. 70 at 1). Generally speaking, Mr. Payne and DOT contend that
the repair estimate/bill: (1) is not relevant to any issue in the case and (2) would only serve to
confuse the issues and mislead the jury. (Id. at 2).
In resolving this Motion, the Court notes that the Surmans have not advanced a claim for
the cost of the repairs to their vehicle, either in their Amended Complaint or their Pretrial
Statements. (ECF Nos. 17, 53, 55, 56). Therefore, the Court finds that evidence of the repair
estimate/bill is not relevant to the issue of damages in this case. Further, the Surmans have
advanced no argument, and the Court sees no reason, why the repair estimate/bill is relevant to
the issue of liability in this case. Finally, even if the repair estimate/bill was relevant to any issue
in this case, the Court would still exclude it under Rule 403 because its extremely low probative
value would be substantially outweighed by the risk of misleading the jury into believing that
the repair estimate/bill constitutes a basis upon which to award the Surmans compensatory
damages in this case.
Therefore, the Court will bar the Surmans from introducing evidence and/or testimony at
trial related to the repair estimate/bill for the damages to their vehicle, and the Court will grant
the Motion at ECF No. 70.
III. The Court: Grants the Motion at ECF No. 60; Grants in Part and Denies in Part the
Motion at ECF No. 71; and Grants in Part and Denies in Part the Motion at ECF No. 73
Following the accident between the Surmans and Mr. Payne, Corporal Scott Abbot
(“Corporal Abbot”) of the Pennsylvania State Police responded to the scene of the crash. (ECF

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No. 49 at 7).4 Because Corporal Abbott did not witness the accident, he reviewed the physical
evidence and the statements of Mr. Payne, the Surmans, and an independent witness. (Id.). Based
on the information that he gathered, Corporal Abbott issued three citations to Mr. Payne. (Id.).
These and other actions by Corporal Abbott provide much of the background information
for the motions in limine at ECF Nos. 60, 71, and 73. The Court now examines and resolves those
three motions in turn.
A. The Court Grants Mr. Surman’s “Motion to Allow [Mr.] Payne’s Motor Vehicle
Conviction as Evidence” (ECF No. 60)
For reasons that the Court outlines below, the Court grants Mr. Surman’s Motion at ECF
No. 60.
1. Mr. Payne’s Motor Vehicle Conviction
At his deposition, Mr. Payne testified that he received three citations by mail following
the accident. (ECF No. 60-1 at 49:12-16). Further, he stated that he pleaded guilty to one of the
three citations—the one that read “[uJpon changing lanes, driver failed to do so safely, thus
causing a crash.” (Id. at 68:3-21). Indeed, the citation to which Mr. Payne pleaded guilty was
issued for his purported violation of 75 Pa.C.S. § 3309(1) (the “Section 3309(1) citation”). (ECF No.
80 at 1). While Mr. Payne acknowledges that he pleaded guilty to this citation, he denies the
suggestion that in doing so, he admitted to causing the crash. (ECF No. 42-1 at 71:8-13). Mr. Payne
testified that he pleaded guilty to the Section 3309(1) citation and paid the resulting fine because

* The Court notes that the information in this paragraph comes from Corporal Abbott’s deposition
testimony. (ECF No. 49 at 7). Accordingly, the Court does not take the assertions in this paragraph as
established facts, and the Court stresses that it only relays this information in order to provide background
that pertains to certain of the pending motions in limine.
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he “was annoyed. [He] didn’t want to be there. [He] just wanted to get it over with, pay the fine,
and put it behind me.” (Id. at 51:10-20).
It is this guilty plea by Mr. Payne that is the subject of Mr. Surman’s Motion at ECF No.
60.
2. The Parties’ Arguments
In Mr. Surman’s Motion at ECF No. 60, he requests that the Court allow Mr. Payne’s
vehicle conviction to be entered into evidence at trial. (ECF No. 60 at 7). In his Brief in Support of
his Motion, Mr. Surman contends that Mr. Payne’s vehicle conviction is admissible as either a
statement against interest or an admission of a party opponent, or both. (ECF No. 61 at 4-5).
Further, Mr. Surman cites to caselaw in which courts have found that: (1) guilty pleas to traffic
citations have high probative value and (2) the risk of unfair prejudice can be eliminated by
allowing the individual who pleaded guilty to the citation to explain why he or she entered the
guilty plea. (Id. at 5-7) (citing Allen v. Fletcher, No. 3:07-CV-722, 2009 WL 3103828 (M.D. Pa. Sept.
24, 2009); Malantonio v. Boyle, No. 15-CV-6444, 2017 WL 633997 (E.D. Pa. Feb. 16, 2017)). Similarly,
Mr. Surman argues that in this case, Mr. Payne's guilty plea is “highly probative on the question
of whether [Mr.] Payne caused the accident, and also, there would be no unfair prejudice in
admitting this guilty plea.” (Id. at 7).
In response, Mr. Payne and DOT first note that the Pennsylvania legislature has passed
42 Pa.C.S. Section 6142(a), which provides that any plea “by ‘any person charged with violation
of Title 75 (relating to vehicles) shall not be admissible as evidence in any civil matter arising out
of the same violation or under the same facts or circumstances.” (ECF No. 80 at 2) (quoting 42
Pa.C.S. §6142(a)). In a related vein, Mr. Payne and DOT assert that because “it is well recognized
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that persons charged with minor traffic citations often will plead guilty and pay a fine not because
they feel they are guilty, but for other reasons, a guilty plea for a summary traffic violation does
not make it more or less probable that the person is liable for an accident.” (Id.). Further, Mr.
Payne and DOT contend that any “perceived relevancy from the guilty plea is substantially
outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice, confusing the issues and misleading the jury. Such
evidence is inadmissible pursuant to Fed. R. Evid. 403.” (Id. at 2-3) (citing Compton v. Schweikhard,
No. 3:06-CV-78, 2007 WL 9761634, at *5 (M.D. Pa. Oct. 12, 2017)).
Finally, even if the Court permits the jury to hear of Mr. Payne’s guilty plea, Mr. Payne
and DOT “request that the actual guilty plea, which contains ‘Remarks’ by Corporal Abbott, as
to causation, not be admitted into evidence or submitted to the jury, or if it is, that the ‘Remarks’
be redacted.” (Id. at 5). Specifically, Mr. Payne and DOT request that the Court not permit the jury
to see the “Remarks” portion that reads “[u]pon changing lanes, driver failed to do so safely thus
causing a crash.” (ECF No. 79 at 3-4).
3. Legal Standard
At the outset, the Court notes that “federal law rather than Pennsylvania law governs”
the issue of whether a traffic citation to which an individual pleaded guilty is admissible in federal
court. Coldsmith v. Agency Ins. Co., 556 F. Supp. 3d 445, 453 (M.D. Pa. 2021) (citing Shelton v. Gure,
No. 3:19-CV-00843, 2021 WL 2210989, at *7 (M.D. Pa. June 1, 2021)); see also Salas by Salas v. Wang,
846 F.2d 897, 904 (3d Cir. 1988) (“[I]f the [evidentiary] rules [between federal and state courts]

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conflict we must apply the federal rules so long as they are ‘rationally capable of classification’ as
procedural.”); Rain v. Pavkov, 357 F.2d 506 (3d Cir. 1966).
Under the Federal Rules of Evidence, a court considering the admissibility of a guilty plea
to a traffic citation must “ask if the evidence is: (1) inadmissible hearsay, and (2) inadmissible
under the balancing test of Federal Rule of Evidence 403.” Coldsmith, 556 F. Supp. 3d at 453.
With respect to the issue of hearsay, there is precedent indicating that: (1) a guilty plea to
a traffic citation can fall under hearsay exceptions, such as statements against interest and (2)
evidence of a guilty plea to a citation is admissible as an admission of a party opponent and
therefore not hearsay. Malantonio v. Boyle, No. 15-CV-64444, 2017 WL 633997, at *1 (E.D. Pa. Feb.
16, 2017); see also Rain, 357 F.2d at 509 (“It is the general rule that a plea of guilty to a charge of
reckless driving is an admission against interest, and evidence thereof is admissible in an action
for personal injuries based upon the same facts and circumstances from which the charge arose.”);
Allan ov. Fletcher, No. 3:07-CV-722, 2009 WL 3103828, at *2 (E.D. Pa. Sept. 24, 2009) (“I ... find that
the guilty plea [by the Defendant to a traffic citation] is an admission of a party opponent and

5 By way of further explanation, the Court reiterates that Mr. Payne and DOT cite to 42 PA. CONS. STAT.
Section 6142(a) to demonstrate that Pennsylvania courts generally bar “guilty pleas for summary traffic
offenses[.]” (ECF No. 80 at 2). The Court notes that this provision falls under a Chapter of Pennsylvania
law dealing with Rules of Evidence—specifically, “Chapter 61. Rules of Evidence.” 42 PA. CONS. STAT. §
6142(a).
As the Court noted above, when “the [evidentiary] rules [between federal and state courts] conflict[,]”
federal courts “must apply the federal rules so long as they are ‘rationally capable of classification’ as
procedural.” Salas, 846 F.2d at 904. And the Federal Rules of Evidence “are largely procedural.” Id. at 906.
Therefore, because the Pennsylvania statute to which Mr. Payne and DOT cite is an evidentiary rule, and
because the Federal Rules of Evidence that this Court cites in this subsection are procedural, the Court must
apply the Federal Rules of Evidence over the conflicting state rule of evidence cited by Mr. Payne and DOT.
When the Court applies the Federal Rules of Evidence, as well as Third Circuit and district court precedent
interpreting those rules, the Court finds that it is appropriate to admit evidence of Mr. Payne’s guilty plea
to the Section 3309(1) citation.
-15-

therefore not hearsay.”). Further, when an individual receives and pleads guilty to a traffic
citation, that citation bears sufficient indicia of trustworthiness and is admissible. Coldsmith, 556
F. Supp. 3d at 453; Shelton, 2021 WL 2210989, at *7.
With respect to Rule 403, as the Court noted earlier, that Rule provides that the “court
may exclude relevant evidence if its probative value is substantially outweighed by a danger of
one or more of the following: unfair prejudice, confusing the issues, misleading the jury, undue
delay, wasting time, or needlessly presenting cumulative evidence.” FED. R. EVID. 403. There “is
a strong presumption that relevant evidence should be admitted, and thus for exclusion under
Rule 403 to be justified, the probative value of evidence must be ‘substantially outweighed’ by
the problems in admitting it. As a result, evidence that is highly probative is exceptionally
difficult to exclude.” Coleman v. Home Depot, Inc., 306 F.3d 1333, 1343-44 (3d Cir. 2002).
4. Analysis
Turning first to the issue of hearsay, the Court finds that Mr. Payne’s guilty plea to the
Section 3309(1) citation is an admission of a party opponent and therefore not hearsay. Allen, 2009
WL 3103828, at *2; FED. R. EVID. 801(d)(2)(A). Further, because Mr. Payne testified that he received
the Section 3309(1) citation and pleaded guilty to it, (ECF No. 60-1 at 49:12-16; 68:3-21), the Court
finds that it is sufficiently trustworthy to be admitted into evidence at trial. Coldsmith, 556 F. Supp.
3d at 453; Shelton, 2021 WL 2210989, at *7.
Therefore, the Court turns to the issue of whether Mr. Payne's guilty plea to the Section
3309(1) citation is admissible under Rule 403. The Court finds that the guilty plea’s probative
value is high because it will help the jury determine what precipitated, and who caused the
accident on October 23, 2017. Coldsmith, 556 F. Supp. 3d at 453; Shelton, 2021 WL 2210989, at *7;
-16-

Malantonio, 2017 WL 633997, at *1.° Further, the Court will permit Mr. Payne to testify at trial
regarding his reasons for pleading guilty to the Section 3309(1) citation, which mitigates the risk
of any potential unfair prejudice that he will face from the Court admitting his guilty plea.
Malantonio, 2017 WL 633997, at *1 (“Since Defendant will have the opportunity to testify
regarding the circumstances surrounding his plea to the traffic citation and will be able to explain
his actions, we find that the probative value of the evidence outweighs any prejudicial effect of
admitting the evidence.”). Therefore, the Court finds that the risk of unfair prejudice to Mr. Payne
if the Court admits the guilty plea does not substantially outweigh its probative value. Coleman,
306 F.3d at 1343-44 (“[E]vidence that is highly probative is exceptionally difficult to exclude.”).
Accordingly, the Court will permit the Surmans to introduce evidence of Mr. Payne’s guilty plea
to the Section 3309(1) citation at trial.
In closing, the Court addresses Mr. Payne and DOT’s request that the Court bar the
Surmans from introducing the “Remarks” portion of the Section 3309(1) citation at trial. (ECF No.
80 at 5). As the Court noted earlier, Mr. Payne and DOT take exception to Corporal Abbott's
“Remarks” on the Section 3309(1) citation that “[u]pon changing lanes, [Mr. Payne] failed to do
so safely thus causing a crash.” (ECF No. 79 at 3). However, for reasons that the Court outlines
below, see infra Section IIIB, the Court finds that the majority of Corporal Abbott's “Police Crash

6 To the extent that Mr. Payne and DOT contend that the guilty plea is irrelevant (ECF No. 80 at 2), the
Court finds that they are incorrect. Indeed, the following two facts do make it more probable that Mr. Payne
caused the accident on October 23, 2027: (1) the investigating officer in this case, Corporal Abbott, cited Mr.
Payne for his actions, and (2) Mr. Payne admitted that he was guilty of violating the Pennsylvania Motor
Vehicle Code relative to the accident. Although the Court understands Mr. Payne’s contention that his
guilty plea was not an admission that he caused the accident, but rather borne out of a desire to see the
matter come to a close, the Court finds that an admission of guilt in open court is not easily dispensed with
as irrelevant.
-17-

Report” (the “Report”) from the accident is admissible at trial. In one of the portions of the Report
that the Court will admit at trial, Corporal Abbott indicated that Mr. Payne was responsible for
“CARELESS PASSING OR LANE CHANGEL,]” and in another admissible portion of the Report,
Corporal Abbott stated that Mr. Surman had “NO CONTRIBUTING ACTION” relative to the
accident. (ECF No. 73-1 at 1, 3). Therefore, because the Court sees no meaningful distinction
between these portions of the Report and the “Remarks” portion of the Section 3309(1) citation,
the Court will permit the Surmans to introduce the “Remarks” portion of the Section 3309(1)
citation at trial for the same reasons that the Court permits introduction of Corporal Abbott's
findings in his Report. See infra Section II1.B.”
Accordingly, the Court will permit the Surmans to introduce evidence of Mr. Payne’s
guilty plea to the Section 3309(1) citation at trial, and the Court will grant the Motion at ECF No.
60.8

7 Indeed, the “Remarks” portion of the citation to which Mr. Payne pleaded guilty appears to be admissible
at trial as a public record. FED. R. EVID. 803(8); see infra Section II.B. Further, although Mr. Payne asserted
in his deposition that he did not plead guilty to causing the crash, (ECF No. 42-1 at 71:8-13), he admits in
his Response to Mr. Surman’s Motion at ECF No. 60 that the “Remarks” portion of the “PA Traffic Officer’s
Copy” of the guilty plea read “[uJpon changing lanes, driver failed to do so safely thus causing a crash.”
(ECF No. 79 at 3). Therefore, the Court has no indication that the “Remarks” portion of the Section 3309(1)
citation lacks trustworthiness, and the Court will admit it at trial. Mr. Payne is of course free to explain his
understanding of his guilty plea, and it is the jury that must decide how much weight to assign to the
“Remarks” portion of the citation to which Mr. Payne pleaded guilty.
§ In admitting this evidence at trial, the Court reiterates that Pennsylvania courts “do not give preclusive
effect in a civil case to a defendant’s prior conviction of a traffic violation,” meaning that the jury will have
to decide whether Mr. Payne did in fact violate Section 3309(1). Thompson v. Austin, 272 F. App’x 188, 192
n.6 (3d Cir. 2008) (citing Hurtt v. Stirone, 206 A.2d 624, 627 (Pa. 1965)).
-18-

B. The Court Grants in Part and Denies in Part Mr. Payne and DOT’s Motion in
Limine to “Preclude Inadmissible Portions of the Police Accident Report” (ECF
No. 73)
For reasons that the Court explains below, the Court grants in part and denies in part Mr.
Payne and DOT’s Motion at ECF No. 73.
1. Corporal Abbott’s Report
As the Court noted above, Corporal Abbott prepared a Report regarding the accident.
(ECF No. 73-1). In that document, Corporal Abbott included general information about the
parties, such as DOT’s insurance company and policy number. (Id. at 2). Further, the Report
includes a diagram of the accident, Corporal Abbott’s conclusions regarding the cause of the
accident, and details of the investigation that Corporal Abbott conducted. (Id. at 1-6). Finally, the
Report lists the three citations that Corporal Abbott issued to Mr. Payne. (Id. at 7).
2. The Parties Arguments
In Mr. Payne and DOT’s Motion at ECF No. 73, they ask the Court to bar the Surmans
from introducing the following portions of the Report at trial: (1) the reference to “Defendants’
commercial liability insurer[;]” (2) the three citations that Corporal Abbott issued to Mr. Payne;
(3) conclusions that Corporal Abbott included in the Report regarding the cause of the accident;
and (4) Corporal Abbott's diagram of the accident. (ECF No. 73 at 1-2). Mr. Payne and DOT state
that there is “no evidence that [Corporal Abbott] possessed the requisite training or experience
to render reconstruction opinions[,]” and that all of the conclusions and opinions that he drew
must therefore be excluded from trial. (Id. at 2-3).
In response, Mr. Surman states that he “agrees that all reference to liability insurance
should be excluded as inadmissible].]” (ECF No. 78 at 1). However, Mr. Surman argues that the
-19-

balance of the Report is admissible as a public record. (Id. at 3). Indeed, Mr. Surman asserts that
the Report is trustworthy because: (1) Corporal Abbott arrived on the scene shorty after the
accident; (2) Corporal Abbott has twenty-two years of experience and has previously investigated
many vehicle accidents; and (3) Corporal Abbott has no connection to the parties in this case, and
therefore no improper motive. (Id. at 4).
3. Legal Standard
Hearsay “is a statement, other than the one made by the declarant while testifying at the
trial, offered by a party into evidence to prove the truth of the matter asserted, and hearsay is
inadmissible unless it falls under an applicable exception.” Prescott v. R&I Transfer, Inc., No. 3:11-
CV-203, 2015 WL 12564232, at *3 (W.D. Pa. Apr. 21, 2015) (citing FED. R. Evip. 802). Among the
“exceptions provided in the Federal Rules of Evidence is the hearsay exception for public

-20-

records.” Id. A public record is “not excluded by the rule against hearsay, regardless of whether
the declarant is available as a witness.” FED. R. EVID. 803(8).
The public record exception provides the following:
(8) Public Records. A record or statement of a public office if:
(A) it sets out:
(i) the office’s activities;
(ii) a matter observed while under a legal duty to report, but not including,
in a criminal case, a matter observed by law-enforcement personnel; or
(iii) in a civil case or against the government in a criminal case, factual
findings from a legally authorized investigation; and
(B) the opponent does not show that the source of information or other
circumstances indicate a lack of trustworthiness.
Id. (emphasis in original). Thus, Rule 803(8)(A)(iii)? “explicitly excepts public records and reports
resulting from an investigation made pursuant to authority granted by law, from exclusion under
the hearsay rule, because official reports contain inherent indicia of trustworthiness.” Clark v.
Clabaugh, 20 F.3d 1290, 1294 (3d Cir. 1994) (internal quotation marks omitted).
Further, regarding Rule 803(8)(A)(iii), the Supreme Court has held that “portions of
investigatory reports otherwise admissible under [Rule 803(8)] are not inadmissible merely
because they state a conclusion or opinion. As long as the conclusion is based on a factual
investigation and satisfies the Rule’s trustworthiness requirement, it should be admissible along
with other portions of the report.” Beech Aircraft Corp. v. Rainey, 488 U.S. 153, 170 (1988).
Additionally, there “is no requirement that a public report admissible under Rule 803(8) must

? This quote initially referenced Federal Rule of Evidence 803(8)(C), which was a precursor to Rule
803(8)(A) (iii).
-21-

also satisfy Rule 702[.]” McDaniels v. City of Phila., 234 F. Supp. 3d 637, 649 (E.D. Pa. 2017) (citing
Clark, 20 F.3d at 1294) (“Rule 803(8) does not on its face require that the one who undertakes the
investigation and authors the report be qualified as an expert before the report becomes
admissible[.]”).
Finally, in “evaluating the trustworthiness of a public record under Rule 803(8) courts
have considered the timeliness of the investigation, the skill or experience of the investigating
officers, whether a hearing was held, and the presence of any improper motive.” Prescott, 2015
WL 12564232, at *3.
4. Analysis
At the outset, the Court finds that the reference in the Report to “Defendants’ commercial
liability insurer” is inadmissible for the reasons that the Court outlined above regarding evidence
of Mr. Surman’s insurance policy and insurance premiums. See supra Section ILA.
Turning to Corporal Abbott’s conclusions regarding the cause of the accident and the
diagram that he drew of the accident, the Court finds that because Corporal Abbott prepared the
Report as the state police officer investigating the accident, (ECF No. 73-1 at 1), the Report plainly
constitutes “factual findings from a legally authorized investigation.” FED. R. Evip. 803(8)(A)(iii).
Therefore, the Report, “including its opinions, conclusions and recommendations,” is admissible,
“unless [Mr. Payne and DOT] demonstrate its untrustworthiness.” Clark, 20 F.3d at 1294,
With respect to trustworthiness, Corporal Abbott arrived on the scene and began
conducting his investigation approximately thirteen minutes after the accident occurred. (ECF
No. 73-1). Further, he testified that at the time he investigated the accident, he had been a police
officer for twenty-two years, and he had “investigated multiple crashes and [was] able to
-22-

determine how a crash occurs through statements and physical evidence.” (ECF No. 71-1 at 44:21—
25). Mr. Payne and DOT have not disputed Corporal Abbott's years of service or the fact that he
has investigated multiple crashes. (ECF No. 73). Nor have they offered any indication that
Corporal Abbott was motivated by an improper purpose in investigating the accident and
preparing the Report. (Id.). Therefore, because: (1) Corporal Abbott based the Report on an
investigation he conducted shortly after the accident, (2) Corporal Abbott had many years of
experience working as a police officer and investigating accidents at the time of his investigation,
and (3) the Court has no indication that Corporal Abbott conducted his investigation or wrote his
Report while operating under an improper motive, the Court easily finds that the Report is
trustworthy. Prescott, 2015 WL 12564232, at *3 (finding that the police report was trustworthy
where the officer preparing the report: (1) arrived on the scene approximately nineteen minutes
after the accident occurred, (2) had nineteen years of experience, (3) had investigated many
vehicle accidents, and (4) had no connection to the parties). Accordingly, the Court holds that
Corporal Abbott’s conclusions regarding the cause of the accident, as stated in his Report, as well
as the diagram that he drew of the accident, are admissible under Rule 803(8)."° Id. (finding that

10 Given the trustworthiness of the Report, the fact that Corporal Abbott is not an accident reconstructionist
and has not been qualified to give expert testimony under Rule 702 has no bearing on this analysis. Clark,
20 F.3d at 1295 (“We have held that [b]efore an [objection to the opinion testifier’s expert qualifications]
may be recognized, ... the party challenging the validity of an official report admitted under Rule
[803(8)(A)Gii)] must come forward with some evidence which would impugn its trustworthiness.”)
(internal quotation marks and citation omitted).
-23-

the report, which was authored by the Pennsylvania State Police officer investigating the accident,
was admissible as a public record).
Finally, the Court turns to the admissibility of the three citations that Corporal Abbott
issued to Mr. Payne. In doing so, the Court notes that it has already admitted Mr. Payne’s guilty
plea to the Section 3309(1) citation. See supra Section IIL.A. Therefore, because the traffic citation
itself is part and parcel to the guilty plea, the Court rests on its prior analysis and finds that the
Section 3309(1) citation itself is admissible at trial. Accordingly, the Court turns its attention to
the citations that Corporal Abbott issued to Mr. Payne for his purported violations of Section
3111a and Section 3334a of the Pennsylvania Motor Vehicle Code. (ECF No. 73-1 at 7).
Mr. Payne and DOT contend that these two citations are inadmissible because the risk of
unfair prejudice from their introduction at trial substantially outweighs their probative value.
(ECF No. 73 at 2; ECF No. 80). The Court agrees with Mr. Payne and DOT that these two citations

are inadmissible under Rule 403.
With respect to probative value, the issuance of a citation alone is “probative of whether
[an individual’s purportedly] unsafe driving contributed to the accident[.]” Prescott, 2015 WL
12564232, at *5. However, the Court also finds that a citation that is fully adjudicated is more
probative than one that is not. Indeed, where Mr. Payne pleaded guilty to the Section 3309(1)
citation, and thereby (at least purportedly) agreed with the assertion that he violated the law
relative to the accident, the two citations to which he did not plead guilty are not as probative
because they do not express such apparent agreement on his part. Therefore, the Court finds that

-24-

these two citations have some probative value, but that it is not as high as the probative value of
the Section 3309(1) citation.
Turning to the risk of unfair prejudice, the Court is concerned that admitting traffic
citations to which Mr. Payne did not plead guilty (and which in fact appear to have no apparent
disposition) creates a fairly high risk of unfair prejudice to Mr. Payne and DOT. Forrest v. Beloit
Corp., 424 F.3d 344, 359 n.10 (3d Cir. 2005) (“It is worth stressing that the term ‘unfair prejudice’
as a factor against which the probative value of evidence is weighed under Rule 403 is often
misstated as mere prejudice. Indeed, any evidence that tends to harm a party’s case could be said
to be prejudicial. Thus, the prejudicial effect of admitting the evidence must rise to the level of
creating an unfair advantage for one of the parties for the evidence to be excluded under Rule
403.”) (internal quotation marks and citation omitted). Indeed, if the jury is permitted to hear
evidence that Mr. Payne was given two citations for purportedly violating the law, it might be
inclined to simply deem him a lawbreaker who must have been wholly responsible for the
accident on October 23, 2017. In the absence of Mr. Payne pleading guilty to those citations, the
Court is not inclined to permit the jury to hear that they were issued.
Relatedly, the Court is concerned that introducing citations to which Mr. Payne did not
plead guilty will only confuse the issues in this case by making the jury wonder at why they were
issued, as well as their ultimate disposition. See FED. R. EVID. 403 (“The Court may exclude
relevant evidence if its probative value is substantially outweighed by a danger of one or more of
the following: unfair prejudice, confusing the issues ....”). Therefore, the Court finds that the
probative value of these two citations is substantially outweighed by the risk of unfair prejudice

-25-

and the risk of confusing the issues. Accordingly, the Court will not permit the Surmans to
introduce evidence of the two traffic citations to which Mr. Payne did not plead guilty at trial.”
In sum, the Court grants in part and denies in part the Motion at ECF No. 71. Specifically,
the Court will bar the Surmans from introducing the following two portions of the Report into
evidence at trial: (1) any reference to Defendants’ liability insurance and (2) any reference to the
two citations to which Mr. Payne did not plead guilty. The Surmans may introduce the balance
of the Report at trial.
C. The Court Grants in Part and Denies in Part Mr. Payne and DOT’s Motion in
Limine to “Preclude Purported Expert Testimony of Corporal ... Abbott” (ECF
No. 71)
In their Pretrial Statements, the Surmans indicate their intent to call Corporal Abbott to
testify at trial regarding liability and damages. (ECF No. 53 at 4; ECF No. 55 at 3; ECF No. 56 at
3). For the following reasons, the Court grants in part and denies in part the Motion at ECF No.
71 regarding his testimony.
1. The Parties’ Arguments
In Mr. Payne and DOT’s Motion at ECF No. 71, they request that the Court bar the
“{pjurported [e]xpert [t]estimony” of Corporal Abbott at trial. (ECF No. 71 at 1). Mr. Payne and
DOT contend that Corporal Abbott is not an expert and should therefore be “precluded from
offering any opinions as to fault or the cause of the accident.” (Id. at 4). Further, Mr. Payne and
DOT argue that the Court should not permit Corporal Abbott to offer opinion testimony

1! Unlike these two citations, the conclusions in the Report, such as Mr. Payne engaging in “CARELESS
PASSING OR LANE CHANGE?” (ECF No. 73-1) are not unfairly prejudicial because they do not constitute
undisposed of legal assertions regarding Mr. Payne’s conduct. Moreover, the conclusions in the Report do not
run the risk of confusing the issues in this case.
-26-

regarding fault or causation because he did not witness the accident, meaning that his testimony
would “usurp the jury’s role as factfinder’ relating to fault for the accident.” (Id. at 4-5). Finally,
Mr. Payne and DOT assert that the:
[P]robative value of any purported expert testimony Corporal Abbott might offer
is substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice particulary because:
(1) Corporal Abbott is not an accident reconstruction officer; (2) neither he nor any
other officer performed an accident reconstruction in this case; and (3) a jury may
give his opinions, which are not based on any expertise in accident reconstruction,
improper and undue weight because he is a trooper.
(Id. at 5).
In response, Mr. Surman asserts that Corporal Abbott's “testimony is admissible under
Rules 401 and 701.” (ECF No. 77 at 2). Mr. Surman first contends that in another case, this Court
“allowed the testimony of the State Trooper who arrived on scene after the crash, investigated
the crash, and authored the report based on his observations.” (Id.) (citing Prescott, 2015 WL
12564232). Second, Mr. Surman notes that Corporal Abbott testified that at the time of the accident

on October 23, 2017, he “had been a police officer for 22 years,” he had “investigated multiple
crashes,” and he is “able to determine how a crash occurs through statements and physical
evidence.” (Id. at 3). Third, Mr. Surman distinguishes the cases that Mr. Payne and DOT cite from
this case by arguing that in this case, Mr. Payne’s guilty plea to one of Corporal Abbott's citations
“fills in the gaps’ as to anything Corporal Abbott may not have witnessed.” (Id. at 3-4). Finally,
Mr. Surman contends that Corporal Abbott should be permitted to testify as to the facts that went
into his decision to cite Mr. Payne for the violation to which he pleaded guilty, as well as Mr.
Payne’s responsibilities on the road on the day of the accident and what type of conduct the state
police seek to deter as violations of the law. (Id. at 4-5). In sum, Mr. Surman argues that Corporal

-27-

Abbott “should be allowed to testify to his observations of evidence, the statements, his
understanding of the law, and any other relevant observations regarding the accident or conduct
of the parties and be allowed to refer to the citation and conviction.” (Id. at 5).
2. Legal Standard
Federal Rule of Evidence 701 provides that:
If a witness is not testifying as an expert, testimony in the form of an opinion is
limited to one that is:
(a) rationally based on the witness’s perception;
(b) helpful to clearly understanding the witness’s testimony or to
determining a fact in issue; and
(c) not based on scientific, technical, or other specialized knowledge within
the scope of Rule 702.
FED. R. EviD. 701.
With respect to the first requirement, a “lay opinion must be rationally based on the
witness’s perception and ‘firsthand knowledge of the factual predicates that form the basis for
the opinion.” Hirst v. Inverness Hotel Corp., 544 F.3d 221, 225 (3d Cir. 2008) (quoting Gov't of V.I.
v. Knight, 989 F.2d 619, 629 (3d Cir. 1993)).
With respect to the second requirement, “lay opinion testimony must be ‘helpful to a clear
understanding of the witness’ testimony or the determination of a fact in issue.” Id. at 226
(quoting FED. R. EvibD. 701(b)). As the “Sixth Circuit has recognized, ‘seldom will be the case when
a lay opinion on an ultimate issue will meet the test of being helpful to the trier of fact since the
jury’s opinion is as good as the witness’ and the witness turns into little more than an ‘oath
helper.” Id. (quoting Mitroff v. Xomax Corp., 797 F.2d 271, 276 (6th Cir. 1986)).

-28-

Finally, under Rule 701(c), “admissible lay opinion testimony must ‘not [be] based on
scientific, technical, or other specialized knowledge within the scope of Rule 702.” Id. at 227
(quoting FED. R. EvID. 701(c)). This provision:
[W]as added to “eliminate the risk that the reliability requirements set forth in
Rule 702 will be evaded through the simple expedient of proffering an expert in
lay witness clothing” and to “ensure[] that a party will not evade the expert
witness disclosure requirements set forth in Fed. R. Civ. P. 26 and Fed. R. Crim. P.
16 by simply calling an expert witness in the guide of a layperson.”
Id. (quoting FED. R. EVID. 701 advisory committee’s note).
With respect to Rule 701 as a whole, the Third Circuit has explained that the Rule “means
that a witness is only permitted to give her opinion or interpretation of an event when she has some
personal knowledge of that incident.” United States v. Fulton, 837 F.3d 281, 291 (3d Cir. 2016)
(emphasis added). The “objective of such testimony is to put ‘the trier of fact in possession of an
accurate reproduction of the event.’” Id. (quoting United States v. Freeman, 730 F.3d 590, 595 (6th
Cir. 2013)). But the Rule is “carefully designed to exclude lay opinion testimony that ‘amounts to
little more than choosing up sides, or that merely tells the jury what result to reach.” Id. (quoting
United States v. Stadtmauer, 620 F.3d 238, 262 (3d Cir. 2010)).
3. Analysis
It is clear that the Surmans only intend to elicit Rule 701 testimony from Corporal Abbott
at trial. Indeed, Mr. Surman offers no argument, in his Response to Mr. Payne and DOT’s Motion,
that Corporal Abbott's testimony is admissible under Rule 702. (ECF No. 77). Likewise, the
Surmans’ Pretrial Statements offer no indication that the Surmans intend to elicit expert testimony
from Corporal Abbott at trial under Rule 702. (ECF Nos. 53, 55, 56).

-29-

Accordingly, the Court must evaluate whether Corporal Abbott may testify to the
following under Rule 701: (1) fault and causation of the accident and (2) his “observations of
evidence [at the scene of the accident], the statements [of those that witnessed the accident], his
understanding of the law, and any other relevant observations regarding the accident or conduct
of the parties and be allowed to refer to the citation and conviction.” (ECF Nos. 71, 77).
Under Rule 701, the Court finds that Corporal Abbott may testify to matters about which
he has personal knowledge, such as: (1) the evidence he personally observed at the scene of the
accident, (2) his investigation of the accident, (3) the statements of those that witnessed the
accident and spoke to Corporal Abbott about what they saw,’ and (4) the Section 3309(1) citation™

2 To the extent that the parties dispute whether Corporal Abbott may testify to other matters, such as the
type of conduct that the state police seek to deter, (ECF No. 77 at 5), the Court defers ruling on those
categories of testimony until the Court hears the specific questions, as well as the context in which they are
asked, at trial. However, because Corporal Abbott is only being offered to provide lay testimony under
Rule 701, the Court stresses that all testimony he gives must comply with that Rule.
18 Of course, any such statement must be admissible under the Rules governing hearsay.
4 Tn permitting Corporal Abbott to testify regarding these matters, the Court makes four notes. First, the
Court reiterates that it has found that Mr. Payne’s guilty plea to the Section 3309(1) citation is admissible at
trial as an admission of a party opponent. See supra Section IIL.A. Second, as the Court noted earlier, see
supra Section IILB, the traffic citation itself is part and parcel with the guilty plea. Third, the conclusions in
Corporal Abbott's Report (with the exception of the two citations to which Mr. Payne did not plead guilty)
are admissible at trial because they are included in a public record. See supra Section IIIB. Finally, the
Surmans have not indicated an intention to elicit Rule 702 testimony from Corporal Abbott at trial.
These four findings are important because they explain the distinction between the matters to which
Corporal Abbott may testify at trial and the matters to which he may not testify. Indeed, as the Court
explains below, Rule 701 does not permit Corporal Abbott to testify broadly regarding fault and causation
of the accident. However, Corporal Abbott may testify to matters that implicate fault and causation and
about which he has personal knowledge, such as the findings in his Report and the Section 3309(1) citation,
because those items are already admissible independent of Rule 702, and because Corporal Abbott was the
individual who prepared those items.
Therefore, the Court will bar Corporal Abbott from making sweeping generalizations about who caused
the accident on October 23, 2017. But the Court will permit Corporal Abbott to relay the assertions in his
-30-

because such testimony satisfies the requirements of that Rule. Hirst, 544 F.3d at 225; Prescott, WL
12564232, at *3 (“Troopers Magnuson and Reifer both investigated the scene after the accident.
Both troopers can testify as to their personal observations at the scene.”); Botey v. Green, No. 3:12-
CV-1520, 2017 WL 2535852, at *3 (M.D. Pa. June 8, 2017) (“To the extent that [the trooper] is offered
only as a lay witness, he may testify about what he saw on the day of the accident, the full scope
of his investigation, and provide appropriate lay witness opinions which are rationally based on
his perception and personal knowledge of the accident.”).
Turning to Corporal Abbott’s understanding of the law, the Court will permit him latitude
to testify to his own knowledge of the law insofar as it impacted his decision to cite Mr. Payne for
violating Section 3309(1) because the Court finds that such testimony complies with the
requirements of Rule 701. Wilburn v. Maritrans GP Inc., 139 F.3d 350, 356 (8d Cir. 1998) (“[A] lay
witness with first hand knowledge can offer an opinion akin to expert testimony in most cases,
so long as the trial judge determines that the witness possesses sufficient and relevant specialized
knowledge or experience to offer the opinion.”) (internal quotation marks and citation omitted);
see also Donlin v. Philips Lighting N. Am. Corp., 581 F.3d 73, 81 (3d Cir. 2009) (“When a lay witness
has particularized knowledge by virtue of [his] experience, [he] may testify—even if the subject
matter is specialized or technical—because the testimony is based upon the layperson’s personal
knowledge rather than on specialized knowledge within the scope of Rule 702.”). However, the
Court will not permit Corporal Abbott to offer broad generalizations regarding Mr. Payne's
duties under the law, as the Court finds that such broad generalizations would not be helpful to

Report, the citation to which Mr. Payne pleaded guilty, and the facts that Corporal Abbott found in the
course of his investigation that led him to write the Report and cite Mr. Payne for violating Section 3309(1).

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the jury. Hirst, 544 F.3d at 226. Indeed, the Court will give all appropriate instructions to the jury
regarding Mr. Payne’s responsibilities under the law at the conclusion of trial.
Finally, turning to fault and causation, Corporal Abbott testified that he did not witness
the accident on October 23, 2017. (ECF No. 49 at 7). Further, his Report regarding the accident

was based on items such as the physical evidence from the crash, his interviews with Mr. Payne
and Mr. Surman, and his interview with an independent witness. (ECF No. 73-1 at 6). Therefore,
because any broad opinion testimony offered by Corporal Abbott regarding fault or the cause of
the accident would largely be based on items other than his “perception and firsthand knowledge
of the factual predicates that” would form the basis for his opinion, the Court holds that he may
not testify broadly as to fault or causation of the accident at trial. Hirst, 544 F.3d at 225 (“[A] lay
opinion must be rationally based on the witness’s perception and firsthand knowledge of the
factual predicates that form the basis for the opinion.”) (internal quotation marks and citation
omitted); see also Duhon v. Marceaux, 33 F. App’x 703, 703 (5th Cir. 2002) (“As a general rule, police
officers’ lay opinions as to the cause of an automobile accident formed by viewing subsequent
evidence at the scene are excluded under Rule 701.”) (internal quotation marks and citation
omitted); Botey, 2017 WL 2535852, at *3 (“However, should [the trooper] not be offered as an
expert witness, he may be precluded from offering testimony as to his conclusions regarding fault
of the parties due to the lack of proper expert qualifications to offer such an opinion as well as the
risk that such testimony would ‘amount{] to little more than choosing up sides’ or ‘merely tell[]
the jury what result to reach.’”) (quoting Fulton, 837 F.3d at 291).

15 Because fault and causation of the accident constitute the ultimate issues in this case, and because Mr.
Surman has offered the Court no indication that this is an exceptional case where the Court should permit
Rule 701 testimony by Corporal Abbott on the ultimate issues, (ECF No. 77), the Court also finds that it is
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In sum, the Court will not permit Corporal Abbott to testify broadly at trial regarding fault

or causation of the accident. However, the Court will permit Corporal Abbott to testify to matters
about which he has personal knowledge, such as: (1) the evidence he personally observed at the

scene of the accident, (2) his investigation of the accident, (3) the statements of those that
witnessed the accident and spoke to him, (4) the Section 3309(1) citation, and (5) Corporal
Abbott's understanding of the law insofar as it relates to that citation. Accordingly, the Court
grants in part and denies in part the Motion at ECF No. 71.
If a party believes that Corporal Abbott's testimony at trial is in violation of the foregoing,
or if his testimony pertains to some area that the Court has not addressed in this Memorandum
Opinion and that a party believes is outside the ambit of Rule 701, that party may lodge an
appropriate objection during trial.
To summarize the Court's disposition of the three foregoing motions, the Court permits
the Surmans to introduce evidence of Mr. Payne’s guilty plea to Section 3309(1) citation (and that
citation itself) at trial. With respect to the Report, the Court bars the Surmans from introducing:
(1) any reference to Defendants’ liability insurance and (2) any reference to the two citations to
which Mr. Payne did not plead guilty, but the Court permits the Surmans to introduce the rest of
the Report. Finally, with respect to Corporal Abbott’s testimony at trial, the Court will not permit
Corporal Abbott to testify broadly regarding fault or causation of the accident. However, the Court

appropriate to bar Corporal Abbott from testifying broadly to those issues because such testimony would
not comply with Rule 701(b). Hirst, 544 F.3d at 226 (“As the Sixth Circuit has recognized, ‘seldom will be
the case when a lay opinion on an ultimate issue will meet the test of being helpful to the trier of fact since
the jury’s opinion is as good as the witness’ and the witness turns into little more than an ‘oath helper.’””)
(quoting Mitroff, 797 F.2d at 276)).
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will permit Corporal Abbott to testify to matters about which he has personal knowledge, such
as: (1) the evidence he personally observed at the scene of the accident, (2) his investigation of the
accident, (3) the statements of those that witnessed the accident and spoke to him about what
they saw, (4) the Section 3309(1) citation, and (5) Corporal Abbott’s understanding of the law
insofar as it relates to that citation.
IV. The Court Denies Mr. Surman’s “Motion to Exclude the Report and Testimony of
Reconstruction Expert Daniel Connolly” (ECF No. 65)
In his Motion at ECF No. 65, Mr. Surman asks the Court to bar Daniel Connolly’s (“Mr.
Connolly”) expert report and testimony from being introduced at trial. For the following reasons,
the Court denies this Motion.
A. The Contents of Mr. Connolly’s Report
Mr. Connolly’s report contains a total of thirteen pages. (ECF No. 65-1). On page one,’
Mr. Connolly outlines the information that he reviewed in preparing his report. (Id. at 2). On
pages two through four, Mr. Connolly outlines and quotes extensively from: (1) Corporal
Abbott's Report, (2) Mr. Payne’s recorded statement, (3) Mr. Payne’s deposition testimony, (4)
Mr. Surman’s deposition testimony, (5) Mrs. Surman’s deposition testimony, and (6) Matthew
Micklic’s (an individual who witnessed the accident) (“Mr. Micklic’) deposition transcript. (Id. at
3-5).
On pages five and six, Mr. Connolly provides photographs of the “video ... from the
drive-cam from the Volvo tractor” that Mr. Payne was driving at the time of the accident. (Id. at

16 In referencing these page numbers, the Court is referring to the number in the upper left-hand corner of
the report (i.e, Page 2 of 12).
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6-7). Further, Mr. Connolly provides commentary regarding what the viewer sees in the video—
for example, “[a]s the video continues, the Volvo travels approximately 90 feet and starts to merge
left. Exhibit 2 shows the front left mirror shows a clear left lane.” (Id. at 6) (emphasis in original).
At the top of page seven,” Mr. Connolly states that there was “disputed testimony
between the parties as to who hit who. Mr. Payne stated in his recorded statement and his
deposition that he was impacted by the mini-van on the left trailer tandems. Mr. Surman testified
that they were struck by the side of the trailer.” (Id. at 8).
Moving from the middle of page seven through page ten, Mr. Connolly offers
photographs and explains how those photographs inform his opinions, such as his assertion that
the “physical evidence confirms that the initial contact to the trailer was made by the Dodge
Caravan and not the result of a side-swipe.” (Id. at 8-11).
On page eleven, Mr. Connolly offers the following six conclusions:
[1.] [Mr.] Payne was traveling eastbound in the right lane of Interstate 70
approaching a construction zone. Due to heavy traffic, he was having difficulties
merging into the left open lane. As Mr. Payne approached the merge point, he saw
an opportunity to merge after look[ing] into his left mirrors.
[2.] [Mr.] Payne in a Recorded Statement and Deposition testimony stated he had
approximately 10 feet of clearance to merge. He stated that when he was
approximately half way into the left lane, he observed the Dodge Caravan start to
speed up and impact into his left rear tandems.
[3.] [Mr.] Surman was operating a Dodge Caravan. Due to the construction zone,
he had merged into the left lane. Based on his Deposition testimony, he was
focused forward when the tractor trailer zoomed past him in the right lane and
while merging left, struck the right side of his Dodge just behind the tractor,
pushing him into the left Jersey barrier.

17 The Court notes that there are two pages labeled page six in the report. (ECF No. 65-1). The Court
therefore construes the first of these two pages as page six and the second of these two pages as page seven.
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[4.] Based on the physical evidence of both the trailer wheels and right side of the
Dodge, the evidence aligns with the version of Mr. Payne.
[5.] Due to the lack of damage to the rear of the Dodge, it is clear that impact did
not happen just behind the tractor as described by Mr. Surman and Mr. Miklic. If
impact occurred in that area of combination, I would expect to see damage to the
rear right corner of the Dodge from contact with the left rear bottom corner of the
frame rail and ICC bumper.
[6.] In the deposition testimony of Nicholina Surman, she testified, “And when he
hit us, I went forward and then back.” If they were hit on the side, her movement
would be toward the principal direction of force. That force would have originated
from the right and she would have moved toward the right. Her testimony that
she initially went forward aligns with the version of Mr. Payne.
(Id. at 12).
Also on page eleven, Mr. Connolly offered the following opinion:
Based on the physical evidence observed on both the trailer and Dodge Caravan,
it confirms that the Dodge impacted the left rear corner of the trailer and left rear
tandem as it was merging. The testimony of Mrs. Surman about her movement
inside the Dodge, also confirms the front to rear impact. The damage is not
consistent with a side swipe crash as [t]estified to by the [Surmans].
(Id.).
Finally, on page twelve, Mr. Connolly indicated that he reached the above conclusions
“within a reasonable degree of scientific certainty[]” and stated that he did so using
“methodologies which are reviewed and accepted within the collision investigation industry and
based on [his] education, training and experience as a crash investigator since 1993 and an
accredited Crash Reconstructionist since 1996.” (Id. at 13).
B. The Parties’ Arguments
Mr. Surman asks the Court to bar the “report, conclusions and testimony of [Mr.
Connolly] ... from being presented at trial.” (ECF No. 66 at 5). Specifically, Mr. Surman argues

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that with respect to Mr. Connolly’s first, second, third, and sixth conclusions on page eleven of
his report, he has simply summarized the testimony and indicated what testimony the jury
should believe. (Id. at 4). Mr. Surman contends that the “jury should be permitted to assess the
testimony and credibility of the parties, and this requires no specialized training or expert
analysis.” (Id.). Further, Mr. Surman asserts that conclusions four and five “purport to be based

on physical evidence, but they are just a discussion of where on the vehicles the damage is, in the
photos. Again, the jury can view the photos themselves.” (Id.). Finally, Mr. Surman argues that
the Court should bar Mr. Connolly’s review of the drive-cam video because Mr. Connolly does
not base any of his conclusions on the video, and because the jury should be permitted to view
the video and draw its own conclusions. (Id. at 4-5).
In response, Mr. Payne and DOT argue that Mr. Connolly’s report and testimony meet the
three requirements of Rule 702 and are therefore admissible at trial. (ECF No. 86).
C. Legal Standard
“Under the Federal Rules of Evidence, a trial judge acts as a ‘gatekeeper’ to ensure that
‘any and all expert testimony or evidence is not only relevant, but also reliable.’” Pineda v. Ford
Motor Co., 520 F.3d 237, 244 (3d Cir. 2008) (quoting Kannakeril v. Terminix Int'l, Inc., 128 F.3d 802,
806 (3d Cir. 1997)). Therefore, “when a party seeks to admit expert testimony, the Court must
make a preliminary determination that the requirements of Federal Rule of Evidence 702 have
been met.” Abed-Rabuh v. Hoobrajh, No. 3:17-CV-15, 2019 WL 2298711, at *3 (W.D. Pa. May 30,
2019) (citing Magistrini v. One Hour Martinizing Dry Cleaning, 68 F. App’x 356, 356 (3d Cir. 2003)).
Under Federal Rule of Evidence 702:

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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 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 (d) the expert has reliably applied the principles and methods to the
facts of the case.
FED. R. EVID. 702; see also United States v. Walker, 657 F.3d 160, 175 (3d Cir. 2011).
Rule 702 “has three major requirements: (1) the proffered witness must be an expert, □□□□□
must be qualified; (2) the expert must testify about matters requiring scientific, technical or
specialized knowledge [1.e., reliability]; and (3) the expert’s testimony must assist the trier of fact
fit].’” United States v. Schiff, 602 F.3d 152, 172 (3d Cir. 2010) (quoting Pineda, 520 F.3d at 244).
The qualification prong “requires ‘that the witness possess specialized expertise.” Pineda,
520 F.3d at 244 (quoting Schneider ex rel. Estate of Schneider v. Fried, 320 F.3d 396, 404 (3d Cir. 2003)).
The Third Circuit has “interpreted Rule 702’s qualification requirement liberally ... [it] has held
that a broad range of knowledge, skills, and training qualify an expert.” Id. (internal quotation
marks and citation omitted).
Turning to the reliability prong, the Third Circuit has identified several factors for courts
to consider:
(1) whether a method consists of a testable hypothesis; (2) whether the method has
been subject to peer review; (3) the known or potential rate of error; (4) the
existence and maintenance of standards controlling the technique’s operation; (5)
whether the method is generally accepted; (6) the relationship of the technique to
methods which have been established to be reliable; (7) the qualifications of the
expert witness testifying based on the methodology; and (8) the non-judicial uses
to which the method has been put.
Elcock v. Kmart Corp., 233 F.3d 734, 745-46 (3d Cir. 2000).

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This list is “non-exclusive and ... each factor need not be applied in every case.” Id. at 746.
Indeed, the “reliability inquiry is flexible, and the relevance of each factor depends on the nature
of the issues and the subject of the testimony.” Abed-Rabuh, 2019 WL 2298711, *4 (citing Kumho
Tire Co., Ltd. v. Carmichael, 526 U.S. 137, 150 (1999)). In certain cases, the “relevant reliability
concems may focus upon personal knowledge or experience.” Kumho Tire Co., Ltd., 526 U.S. at
150.
In short:
The test of admissibility is not whether a particular scientific opinion has the best
foundation, or even whether the opinion is supported by the best methodology or
unassailable research. Rather, the test is whether the particular opinion is based
on valid reasoning and reliable methodology. The admissibility inquiry thus
focuses on principles and methodology, not on the conclusions generated by the
principles and methodology. The goal is reliability, not certainty. Once
admissibility has been determined, then it is for the trier of fact to determine the
credibility of the expert witness.
In re TMI Litig., 193 F.3d 613, 665 (3d Cir. 1999) (internal quotation marks and citations omitted).
Finally, turning to the “fit” prong, the “Rule 702 inquiry ‘requires that the expert
testimony ‘fit’ by assisting the trier of fact.’” Galentine v. Estate of Stekervetz, 273 F. Supp. 2d 528,
542 (D. Del. 2003) (quoting ID Sec. Sys. Can., Inc. v. Checkpoint Sys., Inc., 198 F. Supp. 2d 598, 602—
03 (E.D. Pa. 2002)). Admissibility “thus depends in part upon ‘the proffered connection between
the scientific research or test result to be presented and particular disputed factual issues in the
case.’” Oddi v. Ford Motor Co., 234 F.3d 136, 145 (3d Cir. 2000) (quoting In re Paoli Railroad Yard
PCB Litig., 35 F.3d 717, 743 (3d Cir. 1994)). However, “this standard does not require that the
plaintiff prove that the opinions of their experts are correct, rather they only have to demonstrate
that they are reliable.” Galentine, 273 F. Supp. 2d at 542-43 (citing Oddi, 234 F.3d at 145). Finally,

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“expert testimony based on assumptions lacking factual foundation in the record is properly
excluded under the fit requirement.’” Abed-Rabuh, 2019 WL 2298711, at * 4 (quoting Meadows v.
Anchor Longwall & Rebuild, Inc., 306 F. App’x 781, 790 (3d Cir. 2009)).
D. Analysis
The Court finds that Mr. Connolly’s report (and testimony to the same or similar effect)
satisfy the requirements of Rule 702, for reasons that the Court now explains.
Turning first to Mr. Connolly’s qualifications, the Court notes that Mr. Surman only offers
the conclusory assertion that Mr. Connolly “is not qualified to be a reconstruction expert in this
matter and his report should be excluded from evidence at the time of trial.” (ECF No. 65 at 2).
Further, Mr. Connolly’s curriculum vitae indicates that he has significant experience working,
teaching, researching, training, consulting, and testifying as an expert witness regarding accident
reconstruction and related fields. (ECF No. 54-1 at 13-24). Indeed, at the time that Mr. Connolly
authored his report in this case, he had been a crash investigator for approximately twenty-seven
years and an accredited Crash Reconstructionist for approximately twenty-four years. (Id. at 1,
12). Therefore, like another Court in this district, this Court finds that Mr. Payne and DOT “have
met their burden to show that [Mr.] Connolly is qualified in accident reconstruction by his
‘specialized expertise.’” Repa v. Napierkowsk1, No. 1:19-CV-101-RAL, 2022 WL 1522360, at *2 (W.D.
Pa. May 13, 2022) (“For about twelve years as a policeman, [Mr. Connolly] investigated numerous
kinds of vehicle accidents, performed accident reconstruction, and supervised others in that
work. Since then, he has consulted in accident reconstruction for nearly thirteen years, trained
others in accident reconstruction, and received relevant trainings and certifications.”) (quoting
Pineda, 520 F.3d at 244).
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Turning to the reliability prong, the Court finds that Mr. Connolly’s report (and testimony
to the same or similar effect at trial) is based on valid reasoning and reliable methodology because
Mr. Connolly: (1) consulted reliable evidence regarding the damage to the two vehicles in the
accident and closely related matters (such as pictures, Corporal Abbott’s Report, and Mrs.
Surman’s deposition testimony), (2) coupled that evidence with his extensive experience,
expertise, and training in the field of accident reconstruction, and then (3) reached conclusions
that can be examined and tested by others regarding which part of Mr. Payne’s vehicle collided
with which part of Mr. Surman’s vehicle, as well as closely related matters. Repa, 2022 WL
1522360, *5 (“[Mr.] Connolly may also testify to his opinion in bullet point eleven that the
intersection where the accident occurred has ‘adequate size to handle a turning 57-foot tractor
trailer combination’ ... His experience in accident reconstruction qualifies him to draw this
conclusion.”). Therefore, the Court finds that Mr. Connolly’s report, as well as his testimony to
the same or similar effect at trial, satisfy the reliability requirement of Rule 702.
Finally, turning to fit, the Court notes that Mr. Payne and DOT allege that “Mr. Surman
sped up in an attempt to pass” Mr. Payne at the time of the accident. (ECF No. 54 at 2). Further,
the Court reiterates that Mr. Connolly’s conclusion in his report is that “the Dodge (driven by Mr.
Surman) impacted the left rear corner of the trailer and left rear tandem (of Mr. Payne's tractor-
trailer) as it was merging ... The damage is not consistent with a side swipe crash[.]” (ECF No.
65-1 at 12). Therefore, Mr. Connolly’s report and testimony go directly to whether Mr. Surman
sped up at the time of the accident (and thereby made contact with the rear end of Mr. Payne’s
vehicle rather than the side), which relates directly to Mr. Payne and DOT's claim that Mr.
Surman was negligent and a cause (or the cause) of the accident. (See ECF No. 49). Accordingly,
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given the close connection between the testimony to be offered and the particular factual disputes
of this case, see Oddi, 234 F.3d at 145, the Court finds that the third prong of Rule 702 is likewise
satisfied with respect to Mr. Connolly’s report and related testimony.
In closing, the Court briefly addresses Mr. Surman’s arguments that: (1) certain of Mr.
Connolly’s conclusions constitute him simply reiterating evidence that the jury can view and
assess for itself and (2) Mr. Connolly engages in improper credibility determinations in the course
of his report. (ECF No. 66 at 4-5).
With respect to Mr. Connolly reiterating evidence in the course of his report, Federal Rule
of Evidence 703 provides that an expert:
[M]ay base an opinion on facts or data in the case that the expert has been made
aware of or personally observed. If experts in the particular field would reasonably
rely on those kinds of facts or data in forming an opinion on the subject, they need
not be admissible for the opinion to be admitted.
FED. R. EVID. 703. Having reviewed Mr. Connolly’s report, the Court finds that when he outlines
deposition testimony and other evidence, he is simply explaining the evidentiary bases for his
opinions. Further, the Court notes that Rule 703 provides that if the “facts or data [upon which
an expert relies in formulating an opinion] would otherwise be inadmissible, the proponent of
the opinion may disclose [the facts or data] to the jury only if their probative value in helping the
jury evaluate the opinion substantially outweighs their prejudicial effect.” Id. However, Mr.
Surman has offered no argument that any of the evidence relied upon by Mr. Connolly is
inadmissible at trial. (ECF Nos. 65, 66). Therefore, the Court finds that this argument by Mr.
Surman does not warrant the exclusion of portions of Mr. Connolly’s report.

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Finally, with respect to Mr. Surman’s argument that portions of Mr. Connolly’s report
constitute credibility determinations, while Mr. Connolly does make statements such as “the
physical evidence of both the trailer wheels and right side of the Dodge ... aligns with the version
of Mr. Payne[,]” (ECF No. 65-1 at 12), the Court finds that those statements primarily constitute
Mr. Connolly offering his opinion regarding what happened at the moment of the accident, not
simple credibility determinations by Mr. Connolly that Mr. Payne told the truth and Mr. Surman
did not. Ralston v. Garabedian, No. 19-CV-1539, 2022 WL 19273, at *13 (E.D. Pa. Jan. 3, 2022)
(explaining that “expert testimony which does nothing but vouch for the credibility of another
witness encroaches upon the jury’s vital and exclusive function to make credibility
determinations[.]’”) (quoting United States v. Adams, 271 F.3d 1236, 1245 (10th Cir. 2001)).
Accordingly, the Court will admit Mr. Connolly’s report (and testimony to the same or
similar effect) at trial, and the Court will deny Mr. Surman’s Motion at ECF No. 65.
If Mr. Surman believes that Mr. Connolly begins to offer testimony at trial that solely
constitutes a credibility determination, he may lodge an appropriate objection at that time. Coney
v. NPR, Inc.,312 F. App’x 469, 474 (3d Cir. 2009) (citing Adams, 271 F.3d at 1245) (“[T]he credibility
of witnesses is generally not an appropriate subject for expert testimony.”) (internal quotation
marks and citations omitted).
V. The Court Conditionally Denies Mrs. Surman’s “Motion in Limine to Preclude
Defendants, [Mr.] Payne and [DOT] From Introducing a Video at the Time of Trial”
(ECF No. 95)
In Mr. Payne and DOT's “Supplemental Pretrial Statement[,]” (ECF No. 92), which they
filed on August 4, 2022, they indicated the following: “Defendants have video that they may
introduce at the time of trial for impeachment purposes only. Because the video is solely for
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impeachment, it has not previously been disclosed.” (Id. at 1). It is this video that is the subject of
Mrs, Surman’s Motion at ECF No. 95.
A. The Parties’ Arguments
In Mrs. Surman’s Motion, she requests that the Court bar Mr. Payne and DOT “from
introducing into evidence the ‘video’ referenced in their Supplemental Pretrial Statement filed
with the Court on August 4, 2022.” (ECF No. 95 at 5). Mrs. Surman contends that Mr. Payne and
DOT have an obligation under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 26 to “disclose documents and
other evidence and to timely supplement their disclosure[s] if new evidence becomes available[,]”
and that because Mr. Payne and DOT did not provide the video to Mrs. Surman by the close of
discovery in December 2020, the introduction of the video at trial “may severely prejudice” Mrs.
Surman. (ECF No. 100 at 2-3). Relatedly, Mrs. Surman notes that Rule 26 excludes from discovery
evidence used solely for impeachment. (Id. at 3). However, Mrs. Surman states that there is a
“large body of case law that interprets both the definition of ‘solely for impeachment’ and how
to handle the evidence that the party is seeking not to produce.” (Id.). After outlining that caselaw,
Mrs. Surman reiterates that she is “prejudiced by going into trial blind. F.R.C.P. 26 and the
discovery rules were fashioned to prevent this. The only way to cure this is for [D]efendants to
be precluded from introducing the video at the time of trial.” (Id. at 9).
In response, Mr. Payne and DOT argue that the Federal Rule of Civil Procedure governing
initial disclosures, the Federal Rule of Civil Procedure governing pretrial disclosures, and this
Court’s Local Rules all exempt evidence to be used solely for impeachment from the automatic
disclosure requirement. (ECF No. 104 at 2-3). Indeed, after outlining caselaw discussing the
meaning of evidence to be used “solely for impeachment,” Mr. Payne and DOT assert that “based
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on the plain language of both the Federal Rules and the Local Rules, and case law defining
impeachment evidence, Defendants did not have a duty to disclose video they intend to introduce
at trial, if necessary, for impeachment purposes. (Id. at 5) (emphasis in original). Finally, Mr.
Payne and DOT contend that in light of the uncertainty surrounding the meaning of “solely for
impeachment,” even if this Court “were to disagree with the line of cases that provides such
evidence does not need to be identified prior to its use, at trial, precluding Defendants [from]
using the video, at trial, as a sanction, would be unjustifiably harsh and unwarranted.” (Id. at 7).
Finally, in Mrs. Surman’s Reply, she argues that the caselaw that Mr. Payne and DOT cite
is distinguishable from this case. (See ECF No. 105). Further, she asserts that Mr. Payne and DOT
not only want to show the video to Mrs. Surman for purposes of impeachment, but that they want
to “show the video to [Mrs. Surman] and the jury simultaneously.” (Id. at 2). In closing, Mrs.
Surman again requests that the Court grant her motion in limine and preclude Mr. Payne and
DOT from introducing the video at trial. (Id. at 5).
B. Legal Standard
Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 26(a)(1)(A)(ii) provides the following regarding initial
disclosures:
(A) In General. Except as exempted by Rule 26(a)(1)(B) or as otherwise stipulated
or ordered by the court, a party must, without awaiting a discovery request,
provide to the other parties:
(ii) a copy—or a description by category and location—of all documents,
electronically stored information, and tangible things that the disclosing
party has in its possession, custody, or control and may use to support its
claims or defenses, unless the use would be solely for impeachment.

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FED. R. Civ. P. 26(a)(1)(A)(ii) (emphasis added). These disclosures are due “within 14 days after
the parties’ Rule 26(f) conference unless a different time is set by stipulation or court order, or
unless a party objects during the conference that initial disclosures are not appropriate in this
action and states the objection in the proposed discovery plan.” FED. R. CIV. P. 26(a)(1)(C).
With respect to pretrial disclosures, Rule 26(a)(3)(A)(iii) provides the following:
(A) In General. In addition to the disclosures required by Rule 26(a)(1) and (2), a
party must provide to the other parties and promptly file the following
information about the evidence that it may present at trial other than solely for
impeachment:
(iii) an identification of each document or other exhibit, including
summaries of other evidence—separately identifying those items the party
expects to offer and those it may offer if the need arises.
R. Civ. P. 26(a)(3)(A)(iii) (emphasis added). Unless the “court orders otherwise, these
disclosures must be made at least 30 days before trial.” FED. R. CIv. P. 26(3)(B).
As the foregoing rules make clear, information “used solely for impeachment need not be
disclosed pursuant to Rule 26(a)(1)(A), (C)” or Rule 26(a)(3)(A), (B). Mulero v. Walsh, No. 3:15-CV-
1406, 2018 WL 1084235, at *7 (M.D. Pa. Feb. 28, 2018); see also Standley v. Edmonds-Leach, 783 F.3d
1276, 1282 (D.C. Cir. 2015) (holding that testimony that Defendants did not disclose in “their
pretrial disclosures or discovery responses” was admissible at trial only if it was “subject to Rule
26(a)’s ‘solely for impeachment’ exception”); Burdyn v. Old Forge Borough, 330 F.R.D. 399, 409
(M.D. Pa. 2019) (“[T]he ... photograph need not have been disclosed if it was being offered by
counsel solely for impeachment purposes.”); Marinkovic v. Battaglia, No. 1:14-CV-49, 2017 WL
6729756, at *2 (W.D. Pa. Oct. 20, 2017). While substantive evidence is “offered to establish the
truth of a matter to be determined by the trier of fact,” Standley, 783 F.3d at 1282 (internal

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quotation marks and citation omitted), impeachment “evidence is not offered to prove the truth
of the matter asserted, but rather is offered to impugn the credibility of the person testifying.”
Rosen v. Superintendent Mahoney SCI, 972 F.3d 245, 259 (3d Cir. 2020).
But this exception for evidence used solely for impeachment begs the question—what
does solely for impeachment mean? The Third Circuit has not spoken to this issue, and other
Courts of Appeals are divided on it. Indeed, in “applying Rule 26(a)’s impeachment exception,
some courts have concluded that the impeachment exception is limited to evidence that has no
potential utility other than impeachment.” Standley, 783 F.3d at 1283 (citing Chiasson v. Zapata Gulf
Marine Corp., 988 F.3d 513, 517-18 (5th Cir. 1993)). On the “other hand, the Seventh Circuit has ...
held that undisclosed evidence with both impeachment and substantive qualifies may be
presented at trial so long as it is strictly used to impeach.” Id. (citing DeBiasio v. Ill. Cent. R.R., 52
F.3d 678, 686 (7th Cir. 1995)). However, under “either approach, the courts have focused on the
word ‘solely[,|’” and circuit courts have “read that term strictly.” Id.
As the Court explains below, at this juncture in this case, the Court need not choose a side
in this circuit split because the Court currently lacks access to the video and therefore cannot

assess whether it has any substantive value. However, the Court outlines the law in this area
because, after reviewing the video, it may have to choose which line of caselaw it finds more
persuasive. Finally, in the event that the Court finds that Mr. Payne and DOT did have an
obligation to disclose the video pursuant to Rule 26(a), the Court will need to decide whether to
exclude the video pursuant to Rule 37(c)(1), the Rule to which the Court now turns.
Under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 37(c)(1), if a “party fails to provide information or
identify a witness as required by Rule 26(a) or (e), the party is not allowed to use the information
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or witness to supply evidence on a motion, at a hearing, or at a trial, unless the failure was
substantially justified or is harmless.” FED. R. CIV. P. 37(c)(1). Indeed, when a party fails to comply
with Rule 26(a)’s disclosure requirements, the evidence that that party failed to disclose is
inadmissible at trial unless the failure to disclose was substantially justified or harmless. Standley,
783 F.3d at 1282 (“The defendants concede that they did not identify Kellar as a witness in their
pretrial disclosures or discovery responses, and they do not maintain on appeal that their failure
to identify Kellar before trial was substantially justified or harmless. See FED. R. CIv. P. 37(c)1).
Kellar’s testimony, therefore, was admissible at trial only if it is subject to Rule 26(a)’s ‘solely for
impeachment’ exception.”); Mulero, 2018 WL 1084235, at *7—8 (finding that: (1) the video that was
not disclosed within the timeframe set forth by Rule 26(a) was substantive and impeaching in
nature and that (2) it was therefore subject to exclusion from trial unless the failure to disclose

was substantially justified or harmless).
In determining whether to exclude evidence pursuant to Rule 37, courts in the Third
Circuit consider the following four factors:
(1) [T]he prejudice or surprise of the party against whom the excluded evidence
would have been admitted; (2) the ability of the party to cure that prejudice; (3)
the extent to which allowing the evidence would disrupt the orderly and efficient
trial of the case or other cases in the court; and (4) bad faith or willfulness in failing
to comply with a court order of discovery obligation.
Nicholas v. Penn. State Univ., 227 F.3d 133, 149 (3d Cir. 2000). A court “must also consider the
importance of the evidence in question, which the Third Circuit has noted is ‘often the most
significant factor.” Mulero, 2018 WL 1084235, at *8 (quoting ZF Meritor, LLC v. Eaton Corp., 696
F.3d 254, 298 (3d Cir. 2012)).
C. Analysis
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Here, Mrs. Surman does not argue that Mr. Payne and DOT failed to produce the video
in response to a discovery request, and she does not refer the Court to any particular Court order,
Federal Rule of Civil Procedure, or Local Rule that she contends Mr. Payne and DOT violated in
failing to disclose the video, other than Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 26.12 (ECF Nos. 95, 100,
105). Therefore, the Court finds that if Mr. Payne and DOT were required to disclose the video to
Mrs. Surman, that requirement would have had to come from Federal Rule of Civil Procedure
26(a).
As the Court explained above, Rule 26(a) does not require parties to disclose evidence that
is to be used solely for impeachment. Mulero, 2018 WL 1084235, at *7. In this case, the Court cannot
conclusively rule on Mrs. Surman’s Motion at ECF No. 95 because the Court does not have access
to the video and accordingly cannot review it to decide whether it constitutes evidence that Mr.
Payne and DOT would be using at trial “solely for impeachment.” Therefore, the Court will
require Mr. Payne and DOT to provide the video to the Court on or before April 7, 2023, for an
in-camera review. In the interim, the Court will temporarily accept Mr. Payne and DOT's
assertion that the video “is solely for impeachment” (ECF No. 92 at 1) and conditionally deny the
Motion at ECF No. 95 on that basis.
In conducting the in-camera review of the video, the Court notes that it has two options
in terms of how it proceeds. First, in accordance with Rule 26(a) and the decisions of the District
of Columbia Circuit, the First Circuit, the Fifth Circuit, and the Seventh Circuit, if the Court finds
that the video has “no potential utility other than impeachment[,]” the Court will permit Mr.

18 The only specific portion of Rule 26 to which Mrs. Surman refers is Rule 26(a). (ECF Nos. 95, 100, 105).
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Payne and DOT to use the video for impeachment at trial without disclosing it to Mrs. Surman.
Standley, 783 F.3d at 1283.19 Second, if the Court finds that the video has a substantive quality, the
Court will address the circuit split referenced above (to the extent necessary) and all other
relevant legal principles, and, if the Court finds that Mr. Payne and DOT were required to disclose
the video pursuant to Rule 26(a), the Court will apply the four factors set forth by the Third Circuit
in weighing whether to exclude the video as a sanction for Mr. Payne and DOT's failure to
disclose the video pursuant to Rule 26(a).”°
VI. Conclusion
For the foregoing reasons, the Court:
1. GRANTS Mr. Surman’s “Motion to Allow [Mr.] Payne’s Motor Vehicle Conviction as
Evidence” (ECF No. 60);
2. DENIES Mr. Surman’s “Motion to Exclude the Report and Testimony of
Reconstruction Expert Daniel Connolly” (ECF No. 65);
3. GRANTS Mr. Surman’s “Motion in Limine to Exclude Reference to [Mr.] Surman’s
Liability Insurance” (ECF No. 67);

19 After the in-camera review, the Court will also further explore the issue of whether it is appropriate to
permit Mr. Payne and Dot to show the video to the jury, as opposed to simply showing it to Mrs. Surman.
20 In closing, the Court briefly explains why the cases Mrs. Surman cites in her Brief at ECF No. 100 are
distinguishable from this case, at least at this juncture. First, in McDevitt v. Verizon Services Corp., No. 14-
CV-4125, 2016 WL 1072903, at *3 (E.D. Pa. Feb. 22, 2016), the Court was considering whether to exclude a
surveillance video that Defendant withheld from Plaintiff even though Plaintiff sought that video in his requests
for production of documents. Id. at *3. Second, in Gibson by Gibson v. Nat'l R.R. Passenger Corp., 170 F.R.D. 408
(E.D. Pa. 1997), the Court likewise dealt with the issue of whether a party had to disclose surveillance videos
or photographs in response to a request for production. Id. at 409-11. Finally, as the Court noted earlier, in
Mulero, the Court excluded surveillance video that was “both substantive and impeaching in nature” where
the Rule 37(c)(1) factors weighed in favor of exclusion. 2018 WL 1084235, at *7—9.
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4. GRANTS Mr. Payne and DOT’s “Motion ... to Preclude Evidence and/or Testimony
of [Mrs. Surman’s] Medical Bills at Trial” (ECF No. 69);
5. GRANTS Mr. Payne and DOT’s “Motion ... to Preclude Evidence and/or Testimony
Related to the Repair Estimate/Bill for Damages to [the Surmans’s] Vehicle at Trial”
(ECF No. 70);
6. GRANTS IN PART and DENIES IN PART Mr. Payne and DOT’s “Motion ... to
Preclude Purported Expert Testimony of Corporal Scott Ryan Abbott” (ECF No. 71);
7. GRANTS Mr. Payne and DOT’s “Motion ... to Preclude Evidence From and/or
Testimony Related to the PIP File From Liberty Mutual Insurance” (ECF No. 72);
8. GRANTS IN PART and DENIES IN PART Mr. Payne and DOT's “Motion ... to
Preclude Inadmissible Portions of the Police Accident Report” (ECF No. 73); and
9. CONDITIONALLY DENIES Mrs. Surman’s “Motion in Limine to Preclude ... [Mr.]
Payne and DOT Transportation, Inc. From Introducing a Video at the Time of Trial”
(ECF No. 95).
An appropriate order follows.

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF PENNSYLVANIA
NICHOLINA SURMAN, and )
STEPHEN SURMAN, H/W, ) CIVIL ACTION NO. 3:19-216
)
Plaintiffs, )
) JUDGE KIM R. GIBSON
v. )
)
ROBERT PAYNE, and )
DOT TRANSPORTATION, INC., )
)
Defendants/Third-Party )
Plaintiffs, )
)
v. )
)
STEPHEN SURMAN, )
)
Third-Party Defendant. )
ORDER
= at A
AND NOW, this Se day of March, 2023, upon consideration of the following Motions:
1. Mr. Surman’s “Motion to Allow [Mr.] Payne’s Motor Vehicle Conviction as Evidence”
(ECF No. 60);
2. Mr. Surman’s “Motion to Exclude the Report and Testimony of Reconstruction Expert
Daniel Connolly” (ECF No. 65);
3. Mr. Surman’s “Motion in Limine to Exclude Reference to [Mr.] Surman’s Liability
Insurance” (ECF No. 67);
4. Mr. Payne and DOT’s “Motion ... to Preclude Evidence and/or Testimony of [Mrs.
Surman’s] Medical Bills at Trial” (ECF No. 69);

-1-

5. Mr. Payne and DOT’s “Motion ... to Preclude Evidence and/or Testimony Related to
the Repair Estimate/Bill for Damages to [the Surmans’s] Vehicle at Trial” (ECF No. 70);
6. Mr. Payne and DOT’s “Motion ... to Preclude Purported Expert Testimony of
Corporal Scott Ryan Abbott” (ECF No. 71);
7. Mr. Payne and DOT’s “Motion ... to Preclude Evidence From and/or Testimony
Related to the PIP File From Liberty Mutual Insurance” (ECF No. 72);
8. Mr. Payne and DOT’s “Motion ... to Preclude Inadmissible Portions of the Police
Accident Report” (ECF No. 73); and
9. Mrs. Surman’s “Motion in Limine to Preclude ... [Mr.] Payne and DOT
Transportation, Inc. From Introducing a Video at the Time of Trial” (ECF No. 95);
and for the reasons set forth in the accompanying Memorandum Opinion, IT IS HEREBY
ORDERED that the Court:
1. GRANTS Mr. Surman’s “Motion to Allow [Mr.] Payne’s Motor Vehicle Conviction as
Evidence” (ECF No. 60);
2. DENIES Mr. Surman’s “Motion to Exclude the Report and Testimony of
Reconstruction Expert Daniel Connolly” (ECF No. 65);
3. GRANTS Mtr. Surman’s “Motion in Limine to Exclude Reference to [Mr.] Surman’s
Liability Insurance” (ECF No. 67);
4. GRANTS Mr. Payne and DOT’s “Motion ... to Preclude Evidence and/or Testimony
of [Mrs. Surman’s] Medical Bills at Trial” (ECF No. 69);

-2-

5. GRANTS Mr. Payne and DOT’s “Motion ... to Preclude Evidence and/or Testimony
Related to the Repair Estimate/Bill for Damages to [the Surmans’s] Vehicle at Trial”
(ECF No. 70);
6. GRANTS IN PART and DENIES IN PART Mr. Payne and DOT’s “Motion ... to
Preclude Purported Expert Testimony of Corporal Scott Ryan Abbott” (ECF No. 71);
7. GRANTS Mr. Payne and DOT’s “Motion ... to Preclude Evidence From and/or
Testimony Related to the PIP File From Liberty Mutual Insurance” (ECF No. 72);
8. GRANTS IN PART and DENIES IN PART Mr. Payne and DOT’s “Motion ... to
Preclude Inadmissible Portions of the Police Accident Report” (ECF No. 73); and
9. CONDITIONALLY DENIES Mrs. Surman’s “Motion in Limine to Preclude ... [Mr.]
Payne and DOT Transportation, Inc. From Introducing a Video at the Time of Trial”
(ECF No. 95).
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that, on or before April 7, 2023, Mr. Payne and DOT shall
provide the video that is the subject of the Motion at ECF No. 95 to the Court for an in-camera
review.

BY THE COURT:

KIM R. GIBSON
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/cases/10418835. Public record. Not legal advice.