Martinez v. Medical Depot, Inc.

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT January 17, 2020

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS David J. Bradley, Clerk

MCALLEN DIVISION

RAYMOND MARTINEZ, §

§

Plaintiff, §

VS. § CIVIL ACTION NO. 7:18-CV-340

§

MEDICAL DEPOT, INC.; dba DRIVE §

DEVILBISS HEALTHCARE, et al, §

§

Defendants. §

OPINION & ORDER

The Court now considers the “No Evidence Motion for Summary Judgment”1 filed by

Medical Depot, Inc. d/b/a Drive Devilbiss Healthcare (“Medical Depot”),2 the response3 filed by

Raymond Martinez (“Plaintiff”), Medical Depot’s reply and objections to Plaintiff’s summary

judgment evidence,4 and Plaintiff’s surreply.5 The Court also considers the “Motion for

Summary Judgment”6 filed by Lincare, Inc. (“Lincare”) (Medical Depot and Lincare

collectively, “Defendants”), Plaintiff’s response,7 and Lincare’s reply;8 Lincare’s “Unopposed

Motion to Supplement Summary Judgment Evidence;”9 Lincare’s “Motion in Limine to Exclude

Any References to Alleged Spoliation;”10 and Lincare’s “Motion in Limine on General

Matters.”11 After considering the motion, record, and relevant authorities, the Court GRANTS

1 Dkt. No. 21.

2 Defendant Medical Depot, Inc. d/b/a Drive Devilbiss Healthcare notes it is incorrectly named as “Medical Depot,

Inc. d/b/a Drive Devilbiss Healthcare, Inc.” Dkt. No. 1-4 p. 21 (First Amended Original Answer).

3 Dkt. No. 23.

4 Dkt. No. 25.

5 Dkt. No. 28.

6 Dkt. No. 22.

7 Dkt. No. 24.

8 Dkt. No. 26.

9 Dkt. No. 31.

10 Dkt. No. 29.

11 Dkt. No. 30.

Lincare’s motion to supplement, GRANTS Defendants’ motions for summary judgment, and

DENIES AS MOOT the remaining motions.

I. BACKGROUND

Plaintiff brings this action for an allegedly defective rental wheelchair. Plaintiff is a

disabled individual who has been confined to a wheelchair since undergoing multiple hip and

spine surgeries. On January 19, 2016, Lincare, a company that “whether by rental or sale”12

“supplies durable medical equipment . . . [including] wheelchairs to patients from whom doctors

order their use for the patient’s needs,”13 delivered to Plaintiff’s home a non-motorized

wheelchair.14 Upon delivery, Plaintiff received an operating manual and signed a Manual

Wheelchair Orientation checklist.15 Plaintiff claims the Lincare delivery representative then

represented to Plaintiff that the wheelchair had a 300-pound weight capacity.16

In October 2016, Plaintiff claims he repositioned himself about once every hour to relieve

pressure on an ulcer sore,17 but that his “pressing down the armrests to pull himself up from the

wheelchair to adjust his position was never excessive.”18 On October 29, 2016, while

repositioning himself, Plaintiff “fell from [the subject] wheelchair and broke his femur after the

wheelchair’s [left] armrest broke.”19 Plaintiff claims he weighed 160 pounds at the time.20

12 Dkt. No. 33 p. 6.

13 Id. at p. 5.

14 Dkt. No. 22-1 p. 31. Before Lincare’s delivery of the wheelchair at issue, Plaintiff used a wheelchair borrowed

from his former rehabilitation facility. While the issues with the “first” wheelchair are noted in Plaintiff’s

deposition, the “first” wheelchair is not at issue in this case. Thus, any further reference to the wheelchair at issue is

in reference to what Plaintiff considers his “second” wheelchair. The Court notes Plaintiff also mentions other

wheelchairs either observed, gifted, or delivered, but such are not the basis of this case.

15 Dkt. No. 33 p. 6; Dkt. No. 22-1 p. 62 (signed Checklist).

16 Dkt. No. 22-1 p. 21 (Martinez Dep. 79:6–13).

17 Id. at p. 50 (Martinez Dep. 196:9–18).

18 Dkt. No. 24 p. 26, ¶ 8.

19 Dkt. No. 1-4 p. 7, ¶ 12; Dkt. No. 33 p. 4, ¶ 5.

20 Dkt. No. 22-1 p. 21 (Martinez Dep. 79:14–15).

As a result of the fall, Plaintiff underwent reparative surgery on his femur on or about

November 1, 2016.21 Three days later, Plaintiff alleges Lincare “picked up the defective

wheelchair (Serial Number: 4515[1]0291[0]60 – Model Drive Cruiser X4) and delivered a new

wheelchair (Serial Number: 451608220926) for Plaintiff to use.”22 As addressed below, the

parties dispute any issues with the wheelchair’s armrest at or after delivery and whether Plaintiff

contacted Lincare about any issues with the wheelchair before the subject incident. The subject

wheelchair has apparently since been lost.23 However, Plaintiff and Plaintiff’s counsel’s brother,

Plaintiff’s original counsel,24 may still have possession of some parts.25

Plaintiff filed his original petition in state court on September 17, 2018,26 bringing claims

against Defendants for manufacturing and design defects; marketing defects; negligence; breach

of express and implied warranties of merchantability; and breach of implied warranty of fitness

for a particular purpose.27 Medical Depot, the alleged manufacturer but admitted seller28 of the

subject wheelchair to Lincare,29 received service of process on October 8, 2018;30 filed an

answer in state court on October 29, 2018;31 and removed to this Court on November 6, 2018, on

21 Dkt. No. 1-4 p. 7, ¶ 13.

22 Id. at pp. 7–8, ¶ 13. The Court notes Plaintiff’s signed Manual Wheelchair Orientation Checklist provided at

delivery lists the Manufacturer as “Drive,” Model CX418ADDASF, and Serial/LECS as #451510291060. Dkt. No.

31-3 p. 7. It is unclear if “Drive” is referring to Medical Depot or “Model Drive Cruiser X4.” However, Plaintiff

never raises this issue.

23 Dkt. No. 22-1 pp. 24–25 (Martinez Dep. 89–95).

24 Dkt. No. 33 p. 6, ¶ 6.

25 Plaintiff’s wife allegedly collected some pieces after Plaintiff’s incident. Dkt. No. 22-1 p. 15 (Martinez Dep.

53:8–25–55:1–6) & p. 45 (Martinez Dep. 173:10–25). Plaintiff apparently brought a piece to his deposition, where

Defendants first learned Plaintiff still had parts from the wheelchair. Dkt. No. 22-1 pp. 14–15 (Martinez Dep. 50–

56); Dkt. No. 22-1 pp. 24–25 (Martinez Dep. 89–95) (Plaintiffs’ counsel discussing whether Plaintiff, Plaintiff’s

counsel’s brother, or Defendants should have possession or access to the part).

26 Dkt. No. 4 (State case summary sheet).

27 Dkt. No. 1-4 pp. 8–15.

28 Dkt. No. 33 p. 6, ¶ 1 (“Plaintiff’s and Defendant [Medical Depot]’s Admissions: 1. [Medical Depot] sold the

subject wheelchair to [Lincare]”).

29 Medical Depot states it sells “durable medical products . . . to retailers, like [Lincare] in this case.” Dkt. No. 33 p.

3.

30 Dkt. Nos. 1-4, 4, 10.

31 Dkt. Nos. 1-4, 4.

the basis of diversity jurisdiction.32 Lincare received service of process on October 9, 2018,33 and

filed an answer in this Court on November 8, 2018.34

On December 4, 2018, the Court issued a case-specific scheduling order in accordance

with Rule 26 guidelines and the parties’ requests in their joint discovery/case management

plan.35 The Court set a deadline for Plaintiff to designate expert witnesses and reports by June 1,

2019; Defendants to designate expert witnesses and reports by July 1, 2019; and the parties to

complete discovery by September 27, 2019.36

Despite the six-month period between the Court’s scheduling order and Plaintiff’s first

deadline, Plaintiff failed to meet its deadline to designate expert witnesses and reports.

Defendants met their deadlines to designate expert witnesses and reports.37 Two months after

failing to timely designate expert witnesses, Plaintiff filed a motion for leave to designate late

expert witnesses “who can testify and opine for the medical treatments that [Plaintiff] received as

a result of this accident.”38 The Court denied the motion, noting Plaintiff failed to identify an

expert on damages and liability, among other deficiencies.39

Thereafter, Medical Depot filed the instant motion for summary judgment.40 Medical

Depot maintains it purchased the wheelchair from an unnamed third-party manufacturer; contests

Plaintiff’s contention that Medical Depot designed and manufactured the wheelchair; and argues

it is an “innocent seller” under the Texas Products Liability Act.41 Plaintiff responded,42 and

32 Dkt. No. 1.

33 Dkt. No. 10 pp. 9–11.

34 Dkt. No. 3.

35 Dkt. No. 9.

36 Id.

37 Dkt. Nos. 11–12.

38 Dkt. No. 15 p. 2, ¶ 7.

39 Dkt. No. 20.

40 Dkt. No. 21; Dkt. No. 33 p. 3 (“Statement of the Case” in the parties’ Joint Pretrial Order).

41 Dkt. No. 21; Dkt. No. 33 p. 3 (“Statement of the Case” in the parties’ Joint Pretrial Order).

42 Dkt. No. 23.

Medical Depot replied and objected to Plaintiff’s summary judgment evidence.43 Lincare also

filed the instant motion for summary judgment, acknowledging that it delivered the wheelchair to

Plaintiff and arguing it is an “innocent seller” under the Texas Products Liability Act.44 Plaintiff

responded,45 Lincare replied,46 and Plaintiff filed a surreply.47 Lincare later filed the instant

unopposed motion to supplement its motion for summary judgment to include exhibits

referenced in an attached affidavit.48 The parties have filed their Court-ordered joint pretrial

order.49

Two days before the originally scheduled December 20, 2019 final pretrial conference,

Plaintiff requested a six-month continuance and extension of the September 27, 2019 discovery

deadline.50 The Court denied such request, pointing out Plaintiff’s counsel’s “apparent disregard

for his client’s and opposing counsel’s time and the Court’s judicial resources” and “multiple

opportunities . . . to remedy his manifest failure to timely recognize his case management

deficiencies.”51 The Court nonetheless continued the final pretrial conference to January 21,

2020, and ordered Plaintiff’s counsel to appear for a show cause hearing on January 21, 2020.52

The motions are now ripe for review. The Court begins with Lincare’s motion to

supplement then turns to Defendants’ motions for summary judgment.

43 Dkt. No. 25.

44 Dkt. No. 22; Dkt. No. 33 p. 3.

45 Dkt. No. 24.

46 Dkt. No. 26.

47 Dkt. No. 28.

48 Dkt. No. 31.

49 The parties filed duplicate proposed joint pretrial orders, simply renaming the attached exhibits to reflect their

contents instead of numbered exhibits. Dkt. Nos. 32–33. Accordingly, the Court considers the most recently filed

proposed joint pretrial order. Dkt. No. 33.

50 Dkt. No. 35.

51 Dkt. No. 37 p. 5.

52 Id.

II. MOTION TO SUPPLEMENT

Lincare requests to supplement its provided affidavit of Ricardo Benavides, Exhibit B

attached to its motion for summary judgment, because one of the exhibits referenced in the

affidavit was “erroneously not attached [] at the time of filing.”53 Lincare states, “[t]his filing

will complete the Exhibit B . . . [t]hese documents are known to the parties as they were the

subject of testimony and examination at Plaintiff’s deposition.”54 The Court notes the requested

supplemental exhibits are already provided in the record. Nevertheless, considering the parties’

lack of opposition, the Court GRANTS Lincare’s motion. The Court turns to the motions for

summary judgment.

III. MOTIONS FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT

A. Legal Standard

The Court notes Medical Depot’s motion for “no evidence” summary judgment is only

available in Texas state court and not federal court.55 The Court thus applies the relevant federal

summary judgment standard. Under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure (“Rule”) 56, summary

judgment is proper when there is “no genuine dispute as to any material fact and the movant is

entitled to judgment as a matter of law.”56 “A fact is ‘material’ if its resolution could affect the

outcome of the action,”57 while a “genuine” dispute is present “only if a reasonable jury could

return a verdict for the non-movant.”58 As a result, “[o]nly disputes over facts that might affect

the outcome of the suit under the governing law will properly preclude the entry of summary

53 Dkt. No. 31 p. 1, ¶ 2.

54 Id. ¶¶ 4–5.

55 Allen v. Fusion Autoplex LLC, 2017 WL 1215431, at *3 (S.D. Tex. March 31, 2017) (citing Bank of America,

N.A. v. Fulcrum Enterprises, LLC, 20 F.Supp.3d 594, 602 (S.D. Tex. May 19, 2014)); Tex. R. Civ. P. 166a.

56 Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(a).

57 Burrell v. Dr. Pepper/Seven UP Bottling Grp., Inc., 482 F.3d 408, 411 (5th Cir. 2007) (internal quotation marks

and citation omitted).

58 Fordoche, Inc. v. Texaco, Inc., 463 F.3d 388, 392 (5th Cir. 2006) (citation omitted).

judgment.”59 “Although this is an exacting standard, summary judgment is appropriate where the

only issue before the court is a pure question of law.”60 As to the question of law, because federal

jurisdiction is invoked on the basis of diversity of citizenship,61 this Court, Erie-bound, must

adhere to grounds of relief authorized by the state law of Texas.62 Absent a decision by Texas’s

highest tribunal, the decisions by Texas courts of appeals control “unless [the Court] is

convinced by other persuasive data that the highest court of the state would decide otherwise.”63

The movant bears the initial burden of showing the absence of a genuine issue of material

fact,64 but is freed from this initial burden on matters for which the non-movant would bear the

burden of proof at trial; in that event, the movant’s burden is reduced to merely pointing to the

absence of evidence.65 If the movant meets its initial burden, the non-movant must then

demonstrate the existence of a genuine issue of material fact.66 This demonstration must

specifically indicate facts and their significance,67 and cannot consist solely of “[c]onclusional

allegations and denials, speculation, improbable inferences, unsubstantiated assertions, and

legalistic argumentation.”68

In conducting its analysis, the Court may consider evidence from the entire record,

viewing that evidence in the light most favorable to the non-movant.69 Rather than combing

through the record on its own, however, the Court looks to the motions for summary judgment

59 Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 248 (1986).

60 Sheline v. Dun & Bradstreet Corp., 948 F.2d 174, 176 (5th Cir. 1991).

61 See Dkt. No. 1 p. 2.

62 See Homoki v. Conversion Servs., Inc., 717 F.3d 388, 396 (5th Cir. 2013); Exxon Co. U.S.A, Div. of Exxon Corp.

v. Banque De Paris Et Des Pays-Bas, 889 F.2d 674, 675 (5th Cir. 1989); Erie R.R. Co. v. Tompkins, 304 U.S. 64

(1938).

63 Exxon Co. U.S.A., Div. of Exxon Corp., 889 F.2d at 675 (quoting West v. AT&T, 311 U.S. 223, 237 (1940)).

64 See Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 323 (1986).

65 See id. at 323–25; see also Transamerica Ins. Co. v. Avenell, 66 F.3d 715, 718–19 (5th Cir. 1995).

66 See Celotex Corp., 477 U.S. at 323.

67 See Ragas v. Tenn. Gas Pipeline Co., 136 F.3d 455, 458 (5th Cir. 1998).

68 U.S. ex rel. Farmer v. City of Hous., 523 F.3d 333, 337 (5th Cir. 2008) (citing TIG Ins. Co. v. Sedgwick James of

Wash., 276 F.3d 754, 759 (5th Cir. 2002)).

69 See Moore v. Willis Indep. Sch. Dist., 233 F.3d 871, 874 (5th Cir. 2000) (citations omitted).

and responses to present the evidence for consideration.70 Parties may cite to any part of the

record, or bring evidence in the motions and responses.71 By either method, parties need not

proffer evidence in a form admissible at trial,72 but must proffer evidence substantively

admissible at trial.73

B. Analysis

As a threshold matter, the Court notes the parties generally characterize this case as a

“products liability” case. Despite Plaintiff including negligence and breach of warranties claims

in his complaint. In the parties’ proposed joint pretrial order, Lincare contests “[w]hether

Plaintiff can maintain an action for common law negligence and breach of warranty separate and

apart from a claim as defined under the [Texas Products Liability Act] against Lincare.”74

Plaintiff does not argue distinct theories of negligence or breach of warranties, but rather,

addresses his claim only as a products liability action. Accordingly, considering Plaintiff is the

master of his action, the Court finds Plaintiff’s claims for manufacturing and design defects;

marketing defects; negligence; and breach of warranties fundamentally arise out of personal

injuries caused by the alleged defective wheelchair and sound in products liability only, as

described below.

Importantly, the parties do not dispute Chapter 82 of the Texas Civil Practice and

Remedies Code (“Texas Products Liability Act” or “TPLA”) governs this action.75 Defendants

70 See Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(e).

71 See Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(c).

72 See Celotex Corp., 477 U.S. at 324 (“We do not mean that the nonmoving party must produce evidence in a form

that would be admissible at trial in order to avoid summary judgment.”).

73 See Bellard v. Gautreaux, 675 F.3d 454, 460 (5th Cir. 2012) (“[T]he evidence proffered by the plaintiff to satisfy

his burden of proof must be competent and admissible at trial.”).

74 Dkt. No. 32 p. 10.

75 Howard v. Lowe’s Home Centers, LLC, 306 F. Supp. 3d 951, 956 (W.D. Tex. 2018), reconsideration denied, No.

1:16-CV-1279-RP, 2018 WL 6431015 (W.D. Tex. July 5, 2018), aff’d sub nom. Howard v. Lowe’s Home Centers,

L.L.C., 765 F. App’x 76 (5th Cir. 2019) (“[W]hether Section 82.003 applies to a particular claim depends not on

whether the plaintiff labeled it as a products-liability claim, but rather on whether liability arises out of personal

individually argue they are “innocent sellers” not liable under a theory of products liability

because none of the TPLA’s relevant exceptions apply.76 The parties also disagree over the

requirement of expert testimony in this case, considering Plaintiff failed to designate any experts.

Thus, the Court must resolve whether Plaintiff presents evidence sufficient to (1) establish

whether Defendants can be held liable under the TPLA; and (2) proceed with his products

liability claims without expert testimony.

a. Defendants’ Liability Under the TPLA

Texas defines a “products liability action” as:

[A]ny action against a manufacturer or seller for recovery of damages arising out

of personal injury, death, or property damage allegedly caused by a defective

product whether the action is based in strict tort liability, strict products liability,

negligence, misrepresentation, breach of express or implied warranty, or any other

theory or combination of theories.77

The TPLA defines a “seller” as “a person who is engaged in the business of distributing or

otherwise placing, for any commercial purpose, in the stream of commerce for use or

consumption a product or any component part thereof.”78 A “manufacturer” under the TPLA is

“a person who is a designer, formulator, constructor, rebuilder, fabricator, producer,

compounder, processor, or assembler of any product or any component part thereof and who

places the product or any component part thereof in the stream of commerce.”79 “[A]ll

manufacturers are also sellers, but not all sellers are manufacturers.”80

injuries or property damage caused by a defective product. See Hyundai Motor Co. v. Rodriguez ex rel. Rodriguez,

995 S.W.2d 661, 664 (Tex. 1999) (“Liability for personal injuries caused by a product’s defective design can be

imposed under several legal theories, among them negligence, breach of warranty, and strict products liability.”)).

76 Dkt. No. 21 (Medical Depot’s motion for summary judgment); Dkt. No. 22 (Lincare’s motion for summary

judgment).

77 Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code Ann. § 82.001(2) (West).

78 Id. § 82.001(3) (West).

79 Id. § 82.001(4) (West).

80 SSP Partners v. Gladstrong Investments (USA) Corp., 275 S.W.3d 444, 449 (Tex. 2008) (quoting General Motors

Corp. v. Hudiburg Chevrolet, Inc., 199 S.W.3d 249, 256 (Tex. 2006)); Gen. Motors Corp., 199 S.W.3d at 256

(“With one exception, nothing in the statute precludes one person from being both with respect to the same product

“The common law has long taught that a manufacturer has no ‘duty to warn or instruct

about another manufacturer’s products, though those products might be used in connection with

the manufacturer’s own products.’”81 Traditionally, products liability law provides that “the

plaintiff must prove the defendant supplied the product that caused the injury. It is not enough

that the seller introduced products of similar design and manufacture into the stream of

commerce.”82 Under Texas law, an “innocent seller” is a nonmanufacturing seller of a product

who “is not liable for harm caused to the claimant by that product unless the claimant proves”

one of the following seven exceptions:

(1) that the seller participated in the design of the product;

(2) that the seller altered or modified the product and the claimant’s harm resulted

from that alteration or modification;

(3) that the seller installed the product, or had the product installed, on another

product and the claimant’s harm resulted from the product’s installation onto the

assembled product;

(4) that:

(A) the seller exercised substantial control over the content of a warning or

instruction that accompanied the product;

(B) the warning or instruction was inadequate; and

(C) the claimant’s harm resulted from the inadequacy of the warning or

instruction;

(5) that:

(A) the seller made an express factual representation about an aspect of the

product;

(B) the representation was incorrect;

(C) the claimant relied on the representation in obtaining or using the

product; and

(D) if the aspect of the product had been as represented, the claimant

would not have been harmed by the product or would not have suffered

the same degree of harm;

(6) that:

(A) the seller actually knew of a defect to the product at the time the seller

supplied the product; and

or its components. The exception is in section 82.002(d), which states: For purposes of this section, a wholesale

distributor or retail seller who completely or partially assembles a product in accordance with the manufacturer's

instructions shall be considered a seller.”).

81 Air & Liquid Sys. Corp. v. DeVries, 139 S. Ct. 986, 997, 203 L. Ed. 2d 373 (2019) (Gorsuch, J., dissenting)

(quoting Firestone Steel Prod. Co. v. Barajas, 927 S.W.2d 608, 616 (Tex. 1996)).

82 Firestone Steel Prod. Co., 927 S.W.2d at 614 (citations omitted).

(B) the claimant’s harm resulted from the defect; or

(7) that the manufacturer of the product is:

(A) insolvent; or

(B) not subject to the jurisdiction of the court.83

Accordingly, if Plaintiff proves that any one of the seven exceptions individually applies

to Defendants, that Defendant may be held liable under the TPLA and cannot avail itself of the

“innocent seller” defense. The Court now discusses each Defendants’ liability.

i. Medical Depot’s Liability

Plaintiff alleges Medical Depot “manufactured, sold, distributed, and/or delivered . . .

designed, [], tested, warranted . . . and [] engaged in the business of designing, manufacturing,

testing, assembling, engineering, constructing, building, inspecting, marketing, advertising,

modifying, altering, rebuilding, selling, leasing, and/or distributing and placing into the stream of

commerce certain products, specifically [Plaintiff’s wheelchair] for sale to members of the

general public.”84 Plaintiff further alleges Medical Depot “knew the subject wheelchair had

various defects, specifically defective armrest, with respect to its safety, and was not suitable for

any use, thereby posing a serious threat of injury or death to its consumers, including Plaintiff.”85

Medical Depot argues it “sold the Wheelchair to Defendant Lincare, Inc. at some point but did

not manufacture the Wheelchair . . . there is no evidence that Medical Depot designed,

manufactured, altered or made an incorrect misrepresentation about the Wheelchair.”86 Medical

Depot further argues it “cannot be held liable under a theory of products liability because

Plaintiff has not presented any evidence that his claim falls under one of the seven exceptions

83 Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code Ann. § 82.003(a)(1)–(7) (West); Stephenson v. Caterpillar Inc., No.

216CV00071JRGRSP, 2019 WL 498337, at *8 (E.D. Tex. Feb. 8, 2019) (quoting Garcia v. LG Electronics USA

Inc., 2011 WL 2517141, at *2 (S.D. Tex. June 23, 2011)) (“Texas law ‘provides blanket protection for

nonmanufacturing sellers of products from liability for injuries caused by a defective product unless one of the

specified exceptions [under Section 82.003] appl[ies].”).

84 Dkt. No. 1-4 pp. 7–8, ¶¶ 12, 14, 17.

85 Id. at p. 8, ¶ 18.

86 Dkt. No. 21 p. 2, ¶ 3.

under Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem Code § 82.003.”87 Medical Depot notes it “could not identify the

wheelchair in question because it was no longer available for inspection, but it would have been

manufactured by one of two manual assist wheelchair suppliers for [Medical Depot].”88

In support, Medical Depot provides (1) “Plaintiff’s Response to Defendant[s’] Request

for Disclosure;”89 and (2) Medical Depot’s own objections and answers to Plaintiff’s First Set of

Interrogatories.90 Plaintiff neither raises any argument in his reply and surreply nor attempts to

provide any evidence challenging Medical Depot’s arguments or evidence.91 “The party

opposing summary judgment is required to identify specific evidence in the record and to

articulate the precise manner in which that evidence supports his or her claim.”92 The Court has

no duty “to sift through the record in search of evidence to support a party’s opposition to

summary judgment.”93 Nevertheless, the Court notes Medical Depot’s own answers to Plaintiff’s

First Set of Interrogatories do not ordinarily constitute competent summary judgment evidence

because such are hearsay when offered by Medical Depot.94 However, Plaintiff has not objected.

Thus, the Court may consider Medical Depot’s proffered evidence.95

87 Id. ¶ 5.

88 Dkt. No. 21 pp. 13–14, ¶ 33; Dkt. No. 33 p. 5, ¶ 3.

89 Dkt. No. 21-1. The Court notes this document is addressed to both Defendants, despite Plaintiff’s apparent clerical

error stating he “serves his response to Defendant Desiree Marie Aguilar’s, Request for Disclosure. . . .” There is no

defendant named Desiree Marie Aguilar in this case.

90 Dkt. No. 21-2.

91 Dkt. No. 23 (Plaintiff’s Response to Medical Depot’s Motion for Summary Judgment); Dkt. No.27 (Plaintiff’s

Surreply). Plaintiff focuses solely on responding to Medical Depot’s argument regarding the necessity of expert

testimony in this case.

92 Ragas, 136 F.3d at 458 (citing Forsyth v. Barr, 19 F.3d 1527, 1537 (5th Cir. 1994), cert. denied, 513 U.S. 871

(1994)).

93 Id. (quoting Skotak v. Tenneco Resins, Inc., 953 F.2d 909, 915–16 & n. 7 (5th Cir. 1992), cert. denied, 506 U.S.

832 (1992)).

94 Dkt. No. 21-2. Under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure (“Rule”) 56(c), “a party asserting that a fact cannot be or is

genuinely disputed must support the assertion by citing to particular parts of materials in the record, including

depositions, documents . . . affidavits or declarations . . . admissions, interrogatory answers, or other materials; or

showing that the materials cited do not establish the absence or presence of a genuine dispute.” Fed. R. Civ. P.

56(c)(1).

95 Dkt. No. 21-1.

Medical Depot directs the Court to Plaintiff’s answers to Medical Depot’s Interrogatory

No. 16, Request for Production No. 19, and Request for Disclosure under Rule 194.2(c).96

Through Interrogatory No. 16, Medical Depot requests Plaintiff “state any and all facts which

support or relate to [Plaintiff’s] contention that ‘at the time, Defendants sold the subject

wheelchair to a Hidalgo County resident, Defendants knew the subject wheelchair had various

defects, specifically defective armrest, with respect to its safety, and was not suitable for any use,

thereby posing a serious threat of injury or death to its consumers, including Plaintiff.” Plaintiff

answers, “Plaintiff never thought he was going to fall. He trusted the company making them to

keep him safe, but in the end the company failed him because of how cheaply they were

made.”97 When asked by Medical Depot in its Request for Production No. 19 to “produce any

and all documents which support or relate” to the same abovementioned contention, Plaintiff

answers “None.”98 Finally, Plaintiff answers Medical Depot’s request for Plaintiff’s “legal

theories and, in general, the factual bases [for Plaintiff’s] claims or defenses” with “Plaintiff

believes that the wheelchairs are made cheaply and not put together well.”99 The record does not

reflect Plaintiff supplemented his answers. On this evidence, Plaintiff fails to show how Medical

Depot may be liable under a TPLA exception.

As exemplified above, Plaintiff recognizes his lack of evidence proving Medical Depot

meets any of the seven exceptions under Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem Code § 82.003 to hold Medical

Depot liable for his harm caused by the alleged defective product in this case. Plaintiff makes no

effort to identify Medical Depot as “the company making [the subject wheelchair]” or present

related evidence sufficient to meet his burden on any of the available exceptions. Plaintiff fails to

96 Dkt. No. 21 p. 14, ¶ 35; Dkt. No. 21-1 pp. 3, 10, 16.

97 Dkt. No. 21-1 p. 10, ¶ 16.

98 Id. at p. 16, ¶ 19.

99 Id. at p. 3.

articulate any attempt to obtain clarification of Medical Depot’s involvement with the subject

wheelchair or the identities of potential third-party suppliers as raised by Medical Depot. Absent

any evidence from Plaintiff that Medical Depot falls under any of the seven exceptions, the Court

finds Plaintiff fails to raise a genuine issue of material fact that could preclude summary

judgment in favor of Medical Depot on this ground.100 Thus, the Court GRANTS Medical

Depot’s motion. The Court turns to the issue of Lincare’s liability.

ii. Lincare’s Liability

Plaintiff makes the same allegations against Lincare as he does against Medical Depot.101

Both Plaintiff and Lincare agree that Lincare is a “seller” as defined by the TPLA,102 but Lincare

presents arguments as to why it does not fall under any of the seven exceptions under the

TPLA.103 Plaintiff’s response fails to directly address any of Lincare’s “innocent seller”

arguments or argue any particular exceptions apply. Rather, citing his own deposition, Plaintiff

primarily focuses on the expert testimony issue. Regardless, the Court briefly addresses each of

the TPLA’s exceptions and evaluates whether Plaintiff raises a genuine issue of material fact as

to any of the seven exceptions.

As to the first and second exception, Lincare argues it “did not manufacture or design the

wheelchair at issue or any of its accessory parts nor did it alter or modify the wheelchair or any

100 See SSP Partners, 275 S.W.3d at 458 (where the Texas Supreme Court held a plaintiff’s evidence sufficient to

raise an issue of fact precluding summary judgment for a defendant arguing there was no evidence the defendant

sold the actual lighter that caused the fire at issue where such evidence showed defendant imported the specific kind

of lighter used and plaintiff knew of no one else who imported the specific kind of lighter); Romo v. Ford Motor

Co., 798 F. Supp. 2d 798 (S.D. Tex. 2011) (where store that sold an allegedly defective tire could not be held liable

because plaintiff failed to present evidence showing the store had any connection to that tire).

101 Dkt. No. 1-4.

102 Lincare states “the wheelchair was rented by [Plaintiff’s] insurer for his use, and that renters of products are

treated as sellers for these purposes.” Dkt. No. 22 p. 8, ¶ C (citing Drake v. Penske Truck Leasing Co., LP, No. 4:12-

CV-264, 2013 WL 1313697, at *1 (E.D. Tex. Feb. 21, 2013), report and recommendation adopted, No. 4:12-CV-

264, 2013 WL 1313568 (E.D. Tex. Mar. 28, 2013); Gonzales v. Robles & Sons, Inc., No. SA-14-CA-733-OLG,

2015 WL 11573773, at *1 (W.D. Tex. July 29, 2015)).

103 Dkt. No. 22.

of its accessory parts.”104 Plaintiff fails to provide any argument or evidence to the contrary, and

in turn, fails to establish the application of these exceptions.

For the third exception, which concerns the product’s “installation” by Lincare and

Plaintiff’s resulting harm from such installation, Lincare argues “[t]he wheelchair required no

assembly and was not ‘installed’ as part of any other pieces of equipment.”105 In support, Lincare

points to the affidavit of Ricardo Benavides (“Mr. Benavides”), Lincare’s area manager for south

Texas branch offices, and Plaintiff’s own deposition.106 Mr. Benavides states:

Records kept by Lincare show that employee Eugene Velasquez delivered the

wheelchair. He delivered the wheelchair and completed the delivery paperwork

associated with the delivery on January 19, 2016 . . . Lincare did not add to,

modify, or remove any parts from the wheelchair before delivery to Plaintiff, and

it is the policy and procedure of the company that no such modifications of any

kind are made to equipment rented or sold to customers or patients . . .

Wheelchairs may be provided with accessory parts, for example – foot rests, that

come from a manufacturer, but those parts are not modified in any way by

Lincare personnel.107

Lincare points out that Plaintiff “testified the wheelchair was in a box and removed from its box

and packaging at delivery.”108 While Plaintiff does not offer a direct response to Lincare’s

argument, the Court looks to Plaintiff’s deposition testimony. When asked whether the

wheelchair was [allegedly] “flimsy from the time that . . . [the wheelchair] was originally

delivered” and whether Plaintiff had to assemble the wheelchair, Plaintiff simply responded the

wheelchair “was in a box . . . The person that came and dropped it off did it for me . . . .”109

Plaintiff makes no attempt to compare Lincare’s delivery of the wheelchair to an “installation” of

104 Id. at pp. 9–10, ¶ 1.

105 Id. at p. 10, ¶ 2.

106 Id.

107 Dkt. No. 22-2 p. 2, ¶¶ 6, 11–12.

108 Dkt. No. 22 p. 10, ¶ 2; Dkt. No. 22-1 p. 27 (Martinez Dep. 101:18–22; 102:8–12) (“Q: Okay. Did the Lincare

representative who dropped this off, did he remove all the packaging, the box that you said it was in? A: Yeah, he

took it out of the plastic and everything. . . . Q: Did – did you get in the wheelchair at the time of delivery? A: No,

because I was in my bedroom. And then he took it out of the box.”).

109 Dkt. No. 22-1 p. 4 (Martinez Dep. 9:6–13).

the wheelchair or an “installation” of the alleged defective part of the wheelchair, the armrest.

Plaintiff further fails to show a genuine issue of material fact as to Lincare installing the armrest

or the wheelchair because Plaintiff presents no evidence of Lincare installing the armrest onto

the wheelchair or substantively assembling the wheelchair. Even if such argument survived,

Plaintiff fails to show a genuine issue of material fact exists as to the “installation” causing

Plaintiff’s harm. Accordingly, no material factual dispute exists as to the application of the third

exception.

Lincare argues Plaintiff cannot establish causation under the fourth and fifth exceptions

where Plaintiff “cannot prove that any warning or representation caused his injury as he

admittedly failed to read any instructions or warnings regarding the wheelchair at issue and

admits that Lincare provided him no verbal instruction regarding the wheelchair at issue.”110

Through his response and deposition testimony, Plaintiff presents some argument for the Court’s

review. Because these exceptions are distinct, the Court discusses them separately.

For Plaintiff to survive summary judgment against Lincare under the fourth exception,

Plaintiff must prove that “[Lincare] exercised substantial control over the content of a warning or

instruction that accompanied the product; the warning or instruction was inadequate; and

[Plaintiff’s] harm resulted from the inadequacy of the warning or instruction.”111 In his affidavit,

Mr. Benavides states:

Lincare representatives do not provide advice or guidance from a biomechanical

viewpoint on a customer/patient’s safest or best method for wheelchair transfer

considering their medical or physical limitations and that such instructions would

be provided by a customer’s doctor, health care provider or person providing the

order for the equipment. Rather, any instructions provided or discussed with

customers regard only the equipment and are in conformity with information

provided by the manufacturer of the equipment at issue.112

110 Dkt. No. 22 p. 10, ¶ 3.

111 Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code Ann. § 82.003(a)(4) (West).

112 Dkt. No. 22-2 p. 3, ¶ 17.

Plaintiff has not directed the Court to any evidence to the contrary. Accordingly, there is no

genuine issue of material fact that Lincare does not exercise substantial control over the content

of accompanying wheelchair instructions provided to Plaintiff.

Even if Lincare exercised substantial control over such content, Plaintiff fails to prove

how “the warning or instruction was inadequate.” On the date of delivery, Plaintiff signed

Lincare’s “Manual Wheelchair Orientation Checklist,” affirming in relevant part: (1) under the

“General” section, Plaintiff “ha[d] the current manufacturer’s operating manual for the Drive

wheelchair and is advised to read it thoroughly;”113 under the “Safety” section, Lincare

“[e]xplain[ed] all warnings in the manufacturer’s operation instructions;” under the “Operating

the Wheelchair” section, Lincare “[e]xplain[ed] the parts of the wheelchair and the function of

each;” and under the “Routine Maintenance by Customer” section, Lincare “[i]nstruct[ed]

[Plaintiff] to periodically check the wheelchair for loose parts. Advise local center if problem

arises.”114 Yet, Plaintiff argues “the wheelchair lacked adequate instructions or warnings in

regard to the safety of the armrests, and the omission of the instructions or warnings rendered the

wheelchair not reasonably safe;”115 Plaintiff “did not receive any instructions or warnings from

[Lincare] in terms of pressing down the armrests to pull himself up to reposition or stand up;”116

and Lincare “never instructed or warned in regard to Plaintiff’s usage of the armrests to

reposition his body.”117 Confusingly, Lincare characterizes Plaintiff as a “‘sophisticated’ user of

wheelchairs at the time of Lincare’s delivery [who] did not need [the Lincare delivery

113 Dkt. No. 31-1 p. 7.

114 Id.

115 Dkt. No. 24 p. 5, ¶ 2.

116 Id. at p. 13, ¶ 4.

117 Dkt. No. 24 p. 20, ¶ 7.

representative] to instruct [Plaintiff] on anything”118 and Plaintiff’s deposition testimony as

“admit[ting] that Lincare provided [Plaintiff] no verbal instruction regarding the wheelchair at

issue.”119 Nevertheless, Plaintiff does not provide evidence that would suggest or create a

genuine issue of material fact as to Lincare’s instructions, written or oral, being inadequate,

especially where Plaintiff instead presents evidence he ignored any provided instructions:

Q: Did – so when the [] wheelchair came . . . you’re saying [Lincare] didn’t give

you any paperwork to keep, and you didn’t have any questions for how this

wheelchair may operate differently than the first one. Is that right?

A: [Lincare] probably did, but you know, they don’t – I don’t – I don’t sit there,

bother reading agreements. Got in the wheelchair and just sit there or wheel

yourself around, whatever you’re going to do in the house.

Q: You don’t know if you got some paperwork from –

A: . . . [Lincare] probably gave it to me, but since I already had [the wheelchair],

why – as far as reading the manual on it.

Q: If you – if you got paperwork, did you – did you just set it aside and not look

at it?

A: Or my – my wife did.

Q: Okay. So if you got any paperwork, is it fair to say that you didn’t look at it

because you thought you already knew what you needed to know about operating

a wheelchair?

A: Yes.120

Plaintiff further fails to offer any evidence that his harm resulted from the inadequacy of

the instruction. Plaintiff has made clear his deliberate disregard for any provided instructive

materials and his self-proclaimed experience with wheelchairs. Yet, Plaintiff argues “[i]f

Plaintiff was given a proper instruction or warning in regard to pressing down the armrests of the

wheelchair to reposition his body, this falling accident would not have occurred.”121 Plaintiff

provides no evidence that a failure to instruct or an inadequate instruction on armrest use caused

his harm here. Accordingly, the fourth exception does not apply.

118 Dkt. No. 33 p. 6.

119 Dkt. No. 22 p. 10, ¶ 3.

120 Dkt. No. 22-1 p. 21 (Martinez Dep. 77:9–18; 78: 6–17).

121 Dkt. No. 24 pp. 30–31, ¶ 9.

For the fifth exception, which concerns an express factual representation about an aspect

of the product, the Court first looks to the nature of Plaintiff’s relationship with Lincare. As

noted above by Mr. Benavides, Lincare becomes involved with customers like Plaintiff after “the

customer’s doctor, health care provider or person providing the order for the equipment”122

contacts Lincare. Plaintiff confirms communicating at some point with his insurance company

who set up the wheelchair order.123 Thus, by some combination of doctor recommendation and

insurance approval, Plaintiff received the subject wheelchair. Plaintiff does not present evidence

that this process requires Plaintiff to rely on any representation made by Lincare regarding an

aspect of the subject wheelchair. Plaintiff also presents no evidence that Lincare’s delivery

included any express factual representations regarding an aspect of the wheelchair enough for

Plaintiff to have relied on the representation.

Nevertheless, Plaintiff claims “the employee of Lincare represented to Plaintiff that the

wheelchair could handle a person whose weight is 300 pounds.”124 Plaintiff argues he “had no

reason to think that the armrest will break when he pushes the armrest to pull up his body to

reposition himself.”125 Still, Plaintiff’s alleged weight of 160 pounds and testimony of how the

armrest “broke off” does not create a genuine issue of material fact regarding whether the 300-

pound weight capacity representation was incorrect or whether such representation extended to

the weight capacity of the armrest, an aspect of the wheelchair.

The Court also agrees with Lincare that Plaintiff fails to prove the causation requirement

for the fifth TPLA exception, that “if the aspect of the product had been as represented,

[Plaintiff] would not have been harmed by the product or would not have suffered the same

122 Dkt. No. 22-2 p. 3, ¶ 17.

123 Dkt. No. 22-1 p. 5 (Martinez Dep. 13–16).

124 Dkt. No. 24 pp. 11, 19.

125 Id. at p. 20, ¶ 7.

degree of harm.” Plaintiff only presents unfounded causation theories that “improper

construction or defective materials caused this falling accident;”126 “the armrest broke not due to

heavy usage, but due to manufacturing, designing, and marketing defect, because it suddenly

broke off;”127 and “[a]lternative materials such as metals, stronger plastics, or carbon pieces to

the armrests on the wheelchair in question could have prevented it from breaking off which

ultimately caused Plaintiff to fall and break his femur.”128 None of this relates to Lincare’s

representation. Even where Plaintiff speculates the wheelchair “couldn’t handle my weight, or I

don’t know,”129 Plaintiff concedes “the people who study that and manufacture those are in a

better position to understand that.”130 Plaintiff’s speculation is not proof of how a wheelchair or

armrest with a 300-pound weight capacity would have prevented Plaintiff’s harm. The Court

finds the fifth exception does not apply.

As to the sixth exception, requiring proof that Lincare actually knew of a defect to the

product at the time the seller supplied the product and Plaintiff’s harm resulted from the defect,

Lincare’s evidence shows it “has no record of prior complaints or problems with [the subject]

wheelchair, identified on delivery and pick-up paperwork as Serial Number 4S1510291060.”131

Lincare also argues Plaintiff “cannot show that Lincare actually knew of any defect in the

wheelchair.”132 Lincare’s evidence further shows that, “when asked about what issue the

126 Dkt. No. 24 p. 13, ¶ 4.

127 Id. at p. 22.

128 Id. at p. 30.

129 Dkt. No. 22-1 p. 42 (Martinez Dep. 162:10–17).

130 Id. at p. 56 (Martinez Dep. 219:5–22).

131 Dkt. No. 22 p. 13, ¶ 4; Dkt. No. 22-2 p. 2, ¶¶ 8–9 (Mr. Benavides’ affidavit) (“A review of branch records

indicate that there were no complaints or requests for a change of wheelchair by Plaintiff or anyone acting on his

behalf before it was picked up [] on November 4, 2016, from the time of its delivery on January 19, 2016. If there

had been prior complaints or a separate request for a different wheelchair, it would have been noted in [Plaintiff’s]

file records. Lincare has no record of prior complaints or problems with this wheelchair, identified on delivery and

pick-up paperwork as Serial number 4S1510291060.”)

132 Dkt. No. 22 p. 13, ¶ 4.

wheelchair displayed, [Plaintiff] said it was ‘flimsy’ but not at the time of delivery.”133 Lincare

points out the wheelchair “remained in [Plaintiff’s] sole possession until the accident occurred,

having been removed in front of [Plaintiff] from its packaging.”134

Plaintiff provides no evidence Lincare actually knew of the alleged defect at the time of

delivery. Plaintiff alleges that “[p]rior to his fall from the wheelchair on October 29, 2016,”135 he

called Lincare about the defect, but was “[n]ot even sure of the date” and that no one got back

with him.136 Clearly, the only allegation of Plaintiff’s communication to Lincare about the

alleged defect does not take place at the time of delivery and does not even prove Lincare knew

of the defect. Accordingly, the sixth exception does not apply.

Finally, the seventh exception provides for liability against an “innocent seller” where a

manufacturer is insolvent or not subject to the Court’s jurisdiction, Lincare states, “[n]o such

information has ever been pled, much less is available.”137 As noted above, it is undisputed that

Plaintiff has not identified the appropriate manufacturer sufficient to establish liability. It is

further undisputed Lincare is not the manufacturer of the subject wheelchair. In turn, Plaintiff has

failed to establish any insolvency or jurisdictional status of the relevant wheelchair manufacturer.

The seventh exception thus does not apply here.

Therefore, the Court finds Lincare is a nonmanufacturing seller for the purposes of TPLA

and there is no genuine issue of material fact as to the application of any of the abovementioned

exceptions. The Court GRANTS Lincare’s motion for summary judgment on this ground.

b. Plaintiff’s Lack of Expert Testimony

133 Id.; Dkt. No. 22-1 p. 4 (Martinez Dep. 9:2–8).

134 Id.

135 Dkt. No. 24 p. 6.

136 Dkt. No. 22-1 p. 11 (Martinez Dep. 39:5–11).

137 Dkt. No. 22 p. 14, ¶ 5.

The above analysis renders summary judgment proper. Yet, alternatively, the Court

briefly addresses the lack of expert testimony in light of the parties collectively providing more

briefing on the issue. “[P]roduct liability cases are quintessentially expert cases.”138 As noted

above, Plaintiff failed to designate an expert in this case. Without question, Plaintiff’s products

liability claims require proof of causation.139

“Whether expert testimony is necessary to prove a matter or theory is a question of

law.”140 “Under Texas law, ‘expert testimony is generally encouraged if not required to establish

a products liability claim.’”141 The Supreme Court of Texas has “consistently required expert

testimony and objective proof to support a jury finding that a product defect caused the

plaintiff’s condition.”142 Specifically, “[e]xpert testimony is required when an issue involves

matters beyond jurors’ common understanding.”143 “Proof other than expert testimony will

support a jury finding only when the jurors’ common understanding and experience will allow

138 Emery v. Medtronic, Inc., No. 19-20389, 2019 WL 6705285, at *2 (5th Cir. Dec. 9, 2019).

139 The elements of Plaintiff’s claims are as follows. “Under Texas law, in order to recover for an injury on the

theory of products liability, the plaintiff bears the burden of proving that (1) the defendant placed a product into the

stream of commerce; (2) the product was in a defective or unreasonably dangerous condition; and (3) there was a

causal connection between that condition and the plaintiff’s injuries or damages.” Smith v. Robin Am., Inc., 484 F.

App’x 908, 912 (5th Cir. 2012) (citation omitted). Plaintiff’s manufacturing defect requires Plaintiff prove “the

product was defective when it left the hands of the manufacturer and that the defect was a producing cause of the

plaintiff's injuries.” Gharda USA, Inc. v. Control Sols., Inc., 464 S.W.3d 338, 352 (Tex. 2015) (quoting Ford Motor

Co. v. Ridgway, 135 S.W.3d 598, 600 (Tex. 2004)). “To be successful on a manufacturing defect claim, the plaintiff

must identify a specific defect by competent evidence and rule out other possible causes of the damage.” Id. (citing

Nissan Motor Co. v. Armstrong, 145 S.W.3d 131, 137 (Tex. 2004)). A Texas design defect claim requires Plaintiff

to prove “(1) the product was defectively designed so as to render it unreasonably dangerous; (2) a safer alternative

design existed; and (3) the defect was a producing cause of the injury for which the plaintiff seeks recovery.” Emery,

No. 19-20389, 2019 WL 6705285, at *2 (quoting Goodner v. Hyundai Motor Co., 650 F.3d 1034, 1040 (5th Cir.

2011)). “Producing cause” means “(1) the cause must be a substantial cause of the event in issue and (2) it must be a

but-for cause, namely one without which the event would not have occurred.” Id. (citing Ford Motor Co. v.

Ledesma, 242 S.W.3d 32, 46 (Tex. 2007)). “A marketing defect is proven when the evidence shows that a defendant

fails to warn of a product’s potential dangers, when warnings are required, and that the lack of adequate warnings or

instructions renders an otherwise adequate product unreasonably dangerous.” Smith, 484 F. App’x at 912.

140 Mack Trucks, Inc. v. Tamez, 206 S.W.3d 572, 583 (Tex. 2006) (citing FFE Transp. Servs., Inc. v. Fulgham, 154

S.W.3d 84, 89 (Tex. 2004)).

141 Sims v. Kia Motors of Am., Inc., 839 F.3d 393, 409 (5th Cir. 2016) (quoting Ledesma, 242 S.W.3d at 42).

142 Gharda, 464 S.W.3d at 348 (collecting cases).

143 Id. (quoting Mack Trucks, 206 S.W.3d at 583).

them to make that finding with reasonable probability.”144 “[When] the causal link is beyond the

jury’s common understanding, expert testimony is necessary.”145 “Lay testimony may be used as

evidence of causation in certain circumstances, but “[w]hen expert testimony is required, lay

evidence supporting liability is legally insufficient.”146 “[F]or expert testimony not to be required

in a products liability case, ‘the product itself, or at least the . . . feature in question, must be

relatively uncomplicated, and the implications . . . such that a layman could readily grasp

them.’”147

Defendants separately argue, “[e]xpert testimony is required where the causal connection

between an alleged defect and the claimant’s injuries is beyond the jury’s common

understanding . . . the connection between the alleged defect and [Plaintiff’s] injuries is beyond

the jury’s common understanding.”148 Medical Depot argues, “there has been no showing, and

there will be no showing, that Plaintiff can offer these opinions under Fed. R. Evid. 701 or 702.

There are a number of explanations for the wheelchair arm breaking as alleged by Plaintiff,

including but not limited to, the Plaintiff doing something to cause it to break. Expert testimony

is clearly required to prove a products liability claim, particularly one that involves a durable

medical product.”149 Lincare continues, “[Plaintiff] cannot proffer lay witness testimony in place

of expert testimony for evidence . . . Without expert testimony, [Plaintiff] cannot show evidence

of the wheelchair’s alleged defect, an element essential to his claims, and with no evidence of a

144 Id. (citing Mack Trucks, 206 S.W.3d at 583).

145 Alexander v. Turtur & Assocs., Inc., 146 S.W.3d 113, 120 (Tex. 2004).

146 Jelinek v. Casas, 328 S.W.3d 526, 533 (Tex. 2010) (quoting City of Keller v. Wilson, 168 S.W.3d 802, 812 (Tex.

2005)).

147 Stewart v. Capital Safety USA, 867 F.3d 517, 521 (5th Cir. 2017).

148 Dkt. No. 21 p 6, ¶ 16; Dkt. No. 22 pp. 5–6, ¶ 1.

149 Dkt. No. 25 p. 3. Lincare adopts this argument. Dkt. No. 26.

defect, [Plaintiff] cannot establish a causal connection between the defect and his alleged

damages.”150

Plaintiff first attempts to differentiate his case from those cited by Defendants151 because

“the cases that [Defendants] cites primarily are cases involving a manufacturing defect, rather

than a design defect,”152 thereby failing to realize Plaintiff pleads a manufacturing defect in this

case. Without citing to any supporting cases, Plaintiff further argues his “testimony supports his

position that an expert testimony is not necessary in this particular case because the defect and

the causation in the present case do not involve the complexity that requires expert testimony to

help [the] jury to understand the issues. Even without [] expert testimony, Plaintiff can prove his

case . . . [t]he testimony of Plaintiff and Plaintiff’s treating physicians are sufficient to raise a fact

issue which should be presented to a jury.”153 Plaintiff then presents to the Court the following

causation theories: (1) “if Defendant added [a] seatbelt to the wheelchair or used other alternative

materials for the armrest, this falling accident could have been prevented;”154 (2) “the armrest

broke not due to heavy usage, but due to manufacturing, designing, and marketing defect,

because it suddenly broke off;”155 (3) “[Plaintiff] believes that the cause of the falling incident

was that the armrest of the wheelchair could not handle his weight;”156 (4) “[p]ressing down the

armrests to pull himself up from the wheelchair to adjust his position . . . was not the cause or

contributing factor in the falling incident;”157 and (5) “[a]lternative bolt and nut mechanism

150 Dkt. No. 22 p. 6, ¶ 1; p. 8, ¶ 2.

151 Both Defendants cite to Alexander v. Turtur & Associates, Inc., a Texas Supreme Court legal malpractice case

holding a jury was not competent to determine causation for negligence or DTPA claims without expert guidance.

146 S.W.3d 113.

152 Dkt. Nos. 23 & 24 p. 4, ¶ 1.

153 Dkt. No. 23 pp. 2, 5.

154 Id. at p. 20, ¶ 7.

155 Id. at p. 23.

156 Id.

157 Dkt. No. 23 p. 27.

could have prevented the falling accident.”158 The Court finds expert testimony is required in this

case.

The Court is unaware of a products liability case involving an allegedly defective

wheelchair able to proceed without expert testimony as to the alleged defect. Rather, courts in

this Circuit have evaluated the need and relevancy of wheelchair experts in similar circumstances

with heightened scrutiny. In Dorsey v. Relf, the plaintiff, a wheelchair user for 35 years, failed to

designate an expert who could provide testimony “concerning the degree of care which a

physical therapist of ordinary prudence and skill would have exercised in the same or similar

circumstances, whether [plaintiff’s physical therapist] breached that standard of care, and

whether any such breach was a proximate cause of plaintiff’s injury.”159 The Dorsey court

opined “the need to provide instructions and warnings to a wheelchair user” is not a matter of

common knowledge, as a “wheelchair is a medical device.”160

In McSwain v. Sunrise Med., Inc., where wheelchair anti-tip tubes were at issue, the

Court held the designated expert, a mechanical engineer, was qualified to “test the angle at which

the wheelchair can be tipped back before tipping over, and to explain how different factors, such

as the thickness of the seat cushion, the wheelbase measurement of the front and back tires, and

whether the tires are hard or soft plastics, affects the center of gravity, the stability of the chair,

and the propensity to tip.”161 However, the Court reserved the right to limit the expert’s

testimony at trial to matters that met his qualifications “as a mechanical engineer and [were]

outside the scope of the average juror’s experience and knowledge” because the expert’s “lack of

experience and knowledge of wheelchair use [was] troubling . . . [the expert] conclude[d] that

158 Dkt. No. 24 p. 31.

159 Dorsey v. Relf, No. 4:12-CV-021-A, 2013 WL 791604, at *4 (N.D. Tex. Mar. 4, 2013), aff’d, 559 F. App’x 401

(5th Cir. 2014).

160 Id.

161 McSwain v. Sunrise Med., Inc., No. 2:08-CV-136KS-MTP, 2010 WL 200004, at *4 (S.D. Miss. Jan. 14, 2010).

anti-tip tubes should be standard, but [had] no knowledge of the benefits of wheelchairs without

anti-tip tubes and [the expert] relie[d] on his own hypothesis, without the benefit of any

experience or education in wheelchair use or training, that the vast majority of wheelchair users

cannot do a wheelie at will.”162

Further, in Gibson v. Invacare Corp., an expert with qualifying engineering credentials

who examined the alleged defective hemi-walker compared it with identical models and

produced detailed findings was qualified to testify.163 Even when the alleged defective

wheelchair is unavailable for an expert’s examination, an expert with qualifying engineering

credentials may provide testimony where “calculations are based on a reliable formula and [the

expert’s] assumptions are based on direct evidence in the record.”164 Finally, the Fifth Circuit has

held, in the context of a products liability case involving a child’s car seat, expert testimony as to

armrest detachment is relevant and requires a reliable foundation.165

Based on the aforementioned, the Court finds the alleged defect and the causal link to

Plaintiff’s injuries is beyond jurors’ common understanding. Plaintiff fails to cite to any relevant

cases supporting his argument that his own testimony would suffice to establish causation.

Plaintiff’s own unfounded theories or reliance on alleged broken parts in his possession or

indistinct photographs will not suffice. Plaintiff further fails to present evidence that could serve

162 Id.

163 Gibson v. Invacare Corp., No. 4:09-CV-00182-CWR, 2011 WL 2262933, at *4 (S.D. Miss. June 7, 2011)

(“Rather, Dr. Clarke closely examined Gibson’s failed hemi-walker and two otherwise identical Model 6252 hemi-

walkers, and his report contains detailed findings. Perhaps Invacare’s arguments will sully Dr. Clarke’s veracity with

the jury at trial, but they are not enough to establish, for Rule 702 purposes, that his conclusions rest on mere

speculation.”).

164 Edwards v. Permobil, Inc., No. CV 11-1900, 2013 WL 12230885, at *3 (E.D. La. Aug. 9, 2013).

165 McCune v. Graco Children’s Prod., Inc., 495 F. App'x 535, 540 (5th Cir. 2012).

to supplement his lack of expert testimony,166 even where the wheelchair is unavailable for

review.

Notably, the alleged defect and the causal link to Plaintiff’s injuries appears to be beyond

Plaintiff’s common understanding. Plaintiff provides no evidence a layman could readily grasp

the alleged defective feature in question and no indication he personally grasps the actual product

and alleged defect.167 First, it is unclear how often or thoroughly Plaintiff evaluated the

wheelchair:

Q: [W]hen the wheelchair gets dropped off to – to you – you understand that no

one from Lincare is watching how you’re using it or knowing how you’re using it

every day right?

A: Right.

Q: And you understood that once it was in your possession you had to continue to

monitor its condition, correct?

A: Of course.

Q: So that means you’re going to visually look at the wheelchair, right?

A: I just sit on it. I mean, there’s no way to physically look at it.168

Although Plaintiff speculates one of the parts gathered by his wife after the fall was “supposedly

used to adjust height of armrests,”169 he acknowledges this part had nothing to do with his

accident.170 Plaintiff’s deposition testimony also reveals that Plaintiff did not read the

wheelchair’s instructions and Plaintiff inconsistently describes the armrest and wheelchair as

“broken,” “loose,” or “flimsy.”171 Accordingly, Plaintiff has not shown an understanding of the

166 See Kleppel v. Hunter’s Mfg. Co., Inc., No. 4:16-CV-03715, 2018 WL 6436269, at *9–10 (S.D. Tex. Dec. 7,

2018), reconsideration denied, No. 4:16-CV-03715, 2019 WL 1438324 (S.D. Tex. Apr. 1, 2019) (“While it is true

that Kleppel has not presented a study, data, or expert testimony to show that a [patented] Guard [to a particular

crossbow] would have prevented or significantly reduced the risk of her injury, Kleppel has produced evidence that

the Guard is designed precisely to prevent or significantly reduce the risk of her type of injury . . . Despite Kleppel’s

failure to produce expert testimony, the Court finds that the evidence discussed above is sufficient to create a triable

question of fact regarding whether a safer alternative design for the TL-4 [crossbow] existed in 2006.”).

167 Stewart v. Capital Safety USA, 867 F.3d 517, 521 (5th Cir. 2017).

168 Dkt. No. 22-1 p. 29 (Martinez Dep. 111:20–25; 112:1–7).

169 Dkt. No. 24 p. 15, ¶ 5; Dkt. No. 22-1 p. 15 (Martinez Dep. 55–56).

170 Dkt. No. 22-1 p. 45 (Martinez Dep. 174:1–25–175:1–19).

171 Dkt. No. 33; Dkt. No. 22-1 p. 14 (Martinez Dep. 50:11–21) (where Plaintiff states, “I didn’t even know it was

broken, to tell you the truth,” and when looking at the part he brought to the deposition, stating “I knew it was kind

of loose.”); Dkt. No. 22-1 p. 29 (Martinez Dep. 112:14–25) (where Plaintiff states the armrest “wasn’t loose or

cause, much less that the causal link is within his or the jury’s common understanding. Thus,

Plaintiff provides no evidence he would be qualified to testify as to the defect.

“Texas courts have repeatedly held that the mere fact that an accident occurred is not

sufficient proof [of a defect].”172 Plaintiff’s conclusory representations, speculations, and

emotions, namely that the wheelchair was “flimsy,” and Plaintiff felt “insecure” in the

wheelchair, do not constitute any evidence. Even if the Court permitted the testimony of

Plaintiff’s physicians, Plaintiff presents no information as to what Plaintiff’s physicians would

testify. Plaintiff offers nothing to show that his physicians can testify as to liability.

Accordingly, Plaintiff’s failure to provide any expert testimony also warrants summary

judgment. The Court alternatively GRANTS Defendants’ motions for summary judgment on this

basis. As no other claims or issues remain, the Court need not address the other pending motions.

IV. CONCLUSION

For the foregoing reasons, the Court GRANTS Lincare’s “Unopposed Motion to

Supplement Summary Judgment Evidence.”173 The Court also GRANTS Medical Depot’s “No

Evidence Motion for Summary Judgment”174 and Lincare’s “Motion for Summary Judgment,”175

thereby DISMISSING WITH PREJUDICE Plaintiff’s claims against Defendants. The Court

thus DENIES AS MOOT Lincare’s “Motion in Limine to Exclude Any References to Alleged

nothing . . . the wheelchair is flimsy.”); Id. at p. 41 (Martinez Dep. 160:21–24) (where Plaintiff states he had no

issue with the left armrest before the date of the accident); Id. at p. 11 (Martinez Dep. 39:5–11) (where Plaintiff

explains on an unknown date he told an unnamed girl the “wheelchair doesn’t feel right to me,” the girl allegedly

said “Well, I’ll have Mr. Rodriguez call you back,” and [Lincare employee] did not get back with Plaintiff).

172 Giovanni v. New Balance Athletics, Inc., No. 4:17-CV-3598, 2019 WL 1556470, at *2 (S.D. Tex. Feb. 25, 2019)

(quoting Romo, 798 F. Supp. 2d at 809).

173 Dkt. No. 31.

174 Dkt. No. 21.

175 Dkt. No. 22.

Spoliation”’’° and Lincare’s “Motion in Limine on General Matters.”'”” A final judgment will

issue separately.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

DONE at McAllen, Texas, this 17th day of January, 2020.

Micae varez

United States District Judge

Dkt. No. 29.

'7 Dkt. No. 30.

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