# Petition for ReHearing — Young v. Cargill

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URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/documents/brief%3Amicro_IA40386017_2138%3A4

## Record

- **Collection:** Supreme Court brief
- **Document type:** Petition for ReHearing
- **Published:** January 1, 2010
- **Citation:** 562 U.S. 840

## Text

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE
UNITED STATES

() PISTTTION FOR A WRIT O}
RIIORATL TO THhk UNITED SIATI.
COURT OF APPEALS FOR THEs

Vig tT TION Od
Phd] P10) 144 (
Mas
1] J ry ds
rool, KI
( (5! j
fon fa

QUESTIONS PRESENTED

ViIu. PHIec UNITED STATIS FILE
VDDITIONAL CHARGES AGAINS |
CARGIILA FOR VARIOUS OTHER
IWNVIRONMIENTAL VIOLATIONS?

DOS CARGILL IWMPLOY
UNDOCUMENTED WORKER:
PURPOSELY TOAVOTD EMPLOY
LIABILITY, THUSLY
DEMONSTRATING A }

PATTER OF ABUSK TOWAK
WOKERS INJURED ATT
PROC ING PLANT,

“MAT Ie
PONSIBIEDTDS
Ye EGMI TT Ok THs LAW?

TABLIE OF CONTENTS

QUESTIONS PRESENTED

LABLEIE OF CONTENT: dj

TABLA OF AUTTHORETINS CET) iii

TABLE OF APPENDICK,

IN PRODUC TION |

REASONS FOR GRANTING

Rh ARING/RIECONSIDICRA'TION |
The Courts Decision in Bielunos
Misty Dawn Inc. No.09-2048 in

4 . A
the burst Circuit Court of Appea

and Barnett v. Bank of America
No. $1009-1326 in the third district
(Court of Apype als of the State of

hlornida wa gecided hortly alte

Vrit was dened in the mistant

Casas } {

L hier me mostantial grounds te

rearity Uda Vrjit that were not

pore hous pore ented namely

Lig by} 01 ‘rial p13) 1a)

Gnvironmentatl | 1 |

(VOONCLUSION

TABLE OF AUTHORITIES CITED
sarnett v. Bank of America No. {109
1326, Third District Court of Appeals for
the State of Florida... (,
Baum v. Helget Gas Products, Inc., 440
Mood 1O19, 1022 (&th Ci
ZOOG) 1 /
Siglunos v. Misty Dawn Ine. no.09%°> 204%
(he United States Court of Appeals for the
hourst Carcuit ... ay |
Bourassa v Busch 929 So.Zd 552
oft ee | |
Mapinoza v Cargill no: O9- EIEIO Tr the
UJnited States Court of Appeals 5!

Circuit 1G
Gates v WR Grace et al case no? #08 «
2560-t-277TBM United States District
Court for the Middle District of Florida
Tampa Division.......... error |i
In RE: Cargill Fertahzer OGC Iile No. 04
161%; DEP 04-1575 September 10, 2004

State of Mlorida [de partinne nt of

lonvironimental Protection iZ

Ney Leasing Corporation Inc. v. Cargill

Meat Logistics Solutions No 2:09-¢ev-01051
in the United States District Court for the
Northern District of lowa, Muastern
Division ... . Pan Pistia 1
United States of America v Cargall Ince
No.99- 1875 In the United States District
(Court for the District of Columbia L/

United States v. Cargill 10-2752 |:

TABLE OF APPENDICES

4

\ppendix A* exhibit CAROOI2Z1
Appendix Be exhibit CAROOO2G
Append ©: lexhibit CAROOOGS
lexhubit CAROOOS4
exhibit CAROOOGE

Appendis 1)
\ppendix ft
Appendix I; Article from Lakeland Ledger
Dated December 17.200]
Appendix G- Bielunos v. Misty Dawn Ince
no O09 204% the United States Court of
Appeals for the lurst Cirecuat

Narnett v Bank of America no. SDOO- 1371
Third District Court of Appeal for thi

tate of Florida

PETITION FOR REHEARING

Petitioner respecttully requests that this
court prant rehearmy/reconsideration of
its order dated October 4, Z0O10, which
denied certiorari, and that the Court now

prant certiorari
INTRODUCTION

Qn December 29, 2001, at approximately
Zacm., Ms. Lorene Young was injured in
an anhydrous ammonia gas explosion at
Cargill’s citrus processing plant in Avon
Park, kl. More than thirty employees
largely Hispanic, were taken to local
hospitals in the area for treatment
Anhydrous ammonia, im use for
refrigeration, was stored in large

ammonia receivers and piped throughout

the plant.! After the accident, top plant

Officials met to discuss an action plan to
Climuinate amionia reef valves trom
reheving at ground level. According to
handwritten notes of a mecting held with
administrators Ray Spurlock

(Maintenance Manaper),

Pete (pope madix A exhibit lab le i ( AROOLY I

Larry bladden Genvironmental Health are
Safety Manager), Mike Loudermilk
(Safety Supervisor) Mike Maloney CCitru:
lorce Safety Supervisor), Bill Brey
(Director of Operations), Hiram Saylor
(Refrigeration Maintenance), and Gary
(CCutral (Citrus Force-Supervisor), a

uction valve had been closed prior to the
acadent. They discussed the valve

bnilarity toa water hose valve and how it
could have closed madvertently. When the
evaporators operator turned off thi
essence umts. the rehet valve mnimediately

closed. With nowhere to escape, pressure

built up anside the pipes and triggered the

release of ammonia by the rehet valve

The notes from the meeting indicate that
the relnef valve was vented to the
atmosphere ail round level. thre
testimony of the plarnatitt Well
UW Othe! Cinployes the ow itl Ww
not built an accordance with the
planus, did not run up to the ceil
and did not completely parate tt
emporary banking center from the

l CPuction area
Vecording to the depositro thie
pe Lil ay Ween the I Tructro
it and thi Le] MOT ETSY I) Lint!

ter allowed a Liat if
au tL, Odo! and tun

nh aday eat COMmMputlel nd tabi
* oe a covered by i thar raver Oo]
bul l neha ( ete {
bers partic Ih elnp
vere breathing ¢ d tum
t le t precarat rial | 1)

BEGsJ ‘Thy I , I wa

Phice bosanike Gemed that any of the air
from the construction area entered
the bank's temporary facility. The
bank arvued that at responded
properly to Chics miployes complaint:
and thatas of December 2002
piterion air testing revealed that the
airy Guality in the building wa:
Nithinn a normal ragnpe
The court concluded that the cianployes
“onpaved in conduct which was
thstantially certain to result in injpury of
deiithi This case questioned “whether a
reasonable person would understand that
thie Grployers conduct was: ubstantially
certain to result in anyury or death to the
Cin ployce Under this approach, the

@inployers actual mitent as not controlling

lovidence of the welef valves dangerous
location ain the mpstant case) is currently
an unaddre edassue of material fact
relevant to the intentional tort exception
to blondas Workers Compensation

Craployer gaimianaby Chatase

Lt)

bodice bibeenbiomal Lor { Cplion appli 1]
reasonable person would view as
“substantially certain to result in wayury

or death ffoure it ffsasch

hntertarinment.$ 929 So.2d4 b52. 556 (Z0O0G6)

rouny Was required bo ace aharea shi
unaware would certaimly Expose her

to moxious levels of animonia il the rei {

briptunse resulted from Carvill failure to

(1) { | ‘ Ldie bao ial fat «yf tiie y ¢ ag | Yella vs Ld)
Criployer Working in Close proximity to
lhe relriveranl YSlein and to adhere to

Gngunecring design that would allow thie
relicl valve to fulfill their purpose sately
1 die bbCLigy) i} Ve bhnadvertent place Hier gil
also dmplicate a disregard Jor the seriou

ity of tizargn ot mishandling could

QUISTIONS PRESENTED

WILL THI UNITED STATES FILE
ADDITIONAL CHARGIOS AGAING |
CARGILL FOR VARIOUS OTHER

ENVIRONMENTAL VIOLATIONS?

fn the United States Court of Appeals for
the fight Circuit the povernment through
the Mnvironmental Protection Agency ha
filed suit against Carpall, In United States
v. Carpall 10-2737 the vovernment issued

( argaull Vabiow Citations for au pollution
and (arpill has not comple do with
vovernmcntal regulations, and since some
of the violations start as carly as January
1997 and litigation is in propre it)
feasible that the United States may
“mend their complaint to include
violations of OSHA re ulations on

( aryalls bdorida plants

The courtaun In Rk: Cargill Fertalizer
tated On September 5, 2004 Cargill
reported the breach of a pypsum dam
Within the System, resulting an the
discharge ol partially neutralized o1
Untreated proce wastewater nto water:

Ol the State

Cargill ha mamaveda Loops Ula PiGd\

and temporarily play the breach
hilowever, the oystem continue to be in
the cmusttreat) trivver statu peciied in
VO CVPR 418. TS and Chapter 62-672 of the
blorida Administrative Code with proc
wstewater levels at or near thi
miaxXinium emergency Elevation Phese
emergency levels Cannot be sustamed ove
long period of time without
compromising the mbeyrity of the dam
fracture. Cargill's third-party enpinee)
has recommended that levels wathin
Cargill's cooling pond be lowered as OOn
po btole lo prevent a cata trop lise
failure resulting in severe harm to human
health and the environment lhe
department of luivironmental Protection
entered the following order Gn part)
Cargill i hereby ordered to take
bnmedimte actions to stabilpze (liith zil
{hie bacility fo preventa cata Lropthia
release of untreated wastewater trom thie
baciity. Action to permanently Stabilize

L pie aica bicald doe completed a Creat) «il

Cargill shall submit plaas within 24

hours of the time of rec Iptl ol this Order to
three De partment for review and approval
to mneutradize a miimum volume of LOO
miitlion gatlons of process wastewater with
caustic soda, lime or other suitable
neutralizing agent im other compartinent
bi) the cooly pond or othe pods Gob sale
Any actions taken by Cargill under tha
Phomediate Final Order shall not be
construed to limit the Department’
exereme ofits cntorcement

authority (nor shall Cargvilbcause
damave to natural resources. di thy
United States District Court for the

Middle District of Florida ‘Tampa
Division, Gates v WR Grace et al@Cargill is
nonamed defendant) case mo: 8:08 ev 2560
(277 BM Mr. Gates, the prdccanital cull £¥ 4 d
that Cargill and the other defendant:
(successors dn interest) neglipently
released and dis harged COX
Contaminants into the pround waters

eucpuunde rsystem, whi i Spree ad bile Nir
Gaates well which he used for drinking ane
cooking, Mr. Caate: also alleged threat
Cargill released and discharged toxr
contaminants mto the am and soil apon

bia Properly

DbOKS CARGILE LMPILO)
UINDOCUMEN TIED WOKKTR
PURPOSELY 'POAVOLD IEMPILAOSA TK
LIABILITY, THUS)
DIEMONSTTRATTING A SYS TIEMA TH
PATYRIERN OF ABUSE TOWARDS TT.
WOKERS INJURED AT TE

tbindocumented WOPKCE Opie WHOL We
bayuread i the ¢ y plo ron of Decembe
OO] Pia tha 2 €FIYCUIL COME O! \pp
the Case of fOsp moze \ Cargill hae. UI

eewae wit picanitall cal oO Worked th

IS CARGH hid bYOTEMATH
VVOTLDANCEE OF RESPONSIBILITY A
rORM OF CONTIEMPT OF Till LAW

On October 6, VO the Ulnited Stats
Distret Court for the Northern District of
lowa, Mastern Division Ney Leasing
Corporation Inc. v. Cargill Meat Logistics

Solutions No 2-O9O ev O1L05 1

Ina contract dispute Cargill wa
demied summary pudginent, the court
stated “Summary judgment is no
pp rop reat if the nNon-moving party can
Sel forth specity fact by attdavait
depo ition, or other evidence showing i
Peruiie issue for trial. Quotihy Beau \
Helget Gas Products, Inc., 410 bkoSd LOS
lOve? th Cir. 2ZOOG) Phe court in Ney also

tated \ party's entitlement to plead
alternative theories of recovery should not
be confused with the election ot remedi
riile Phos case is set for trial on
November 8, BOLO. Inthe United State
District Court for the District of Columbian
the courtain United States of America vy
Cargall Inc. No OO- S75 the court ordered
Cargill to divest interest i grain clevator

around the country based on the

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BIMLUNAS v. MISTY DAWN INC
Wojciech BIELUNAS, Plaintiff, Appellee,
v. F/V MISTY DAWN, INC., Defendant
Appellant
No. 09-2048

October 08, 2010
Before BOUDIN, GAJARSAand
THOMPSON, Cireuit Judge
Joseph A. Kegan, with whom John David

iat at 1 | and be Sail) &. K at \ Lula? WETC OY])

?

brie fol appre lant JO eph S mtace \ with

Vhom James P. dacobsen and Beard

Lacey & Jacobsen LLP

Ap) pre lle
Tha Calo according to Woy tel ee

Bichlunas aus about life-altering pain
aboard the F/V SHA WATCHER |
Miclunas had his right foot crushed in a

ehastlhy accident An orthopedi urgeon

Vorking as a commercial fisherman

aid it looked hike someone had taken a
ledgehammer to Bielunas's foot. Hi
livelthood lost, Bielunas later sued the

( el's owner, F7V Misty Dawn, Ine

charging Jones Act nevlivence,! ship

unsea vorthine and a right to
mamtenance and cure.“ A jury returned a
verdict in Bielunas's favor, and the district

judyve entered padre nv agalnst Misty

Dawn for $2,307,690. In this arena, Mi

Dawn criticize the district judge tor
admitting certain evidence and denyin
motion for new trial or remiuttitua
Detecting no hint of reversible erro!
affirm the jyudgyment belov

Backeround

W pre ent the tact in the hieht most
flattering to the jury’ verdict. see, ¢
Whitheld v. Melendez-Rivera, 431 I .3d ]
(ist Cir. 2005). Bielunas emigrated from
Poland to the United States with hi:
family in 1995, eventually settling in rural]
Pennsylvania. He had worked on fishin
Doatl before leaving Poland, and he
became a commercial fisherman her
hrom 2005 through 2006, Bieluna

worked tO} Mii LY Dawn a Ma cil hu ev

corporation, on its vessel, the SILA
WATCHER

Ssalety was hardly the watchword for
Misty Dawn's conduct Phe COMpany J LCi ¢

no real effort to ensure that at employee

complhed with accepted satety tandard
Viisty Dawn had some satety guideline

but they were not posted anywhere on the
LA WATCHER. Instead, the company

rehed on word-of-mouth, with owner hip

pa inv safety concerns to the captain Who

dd thie mon to the crew. But

there |} ome dispute whether ownership

ever did thi

‘To make the \ a protit ibple
possible, Misty Dawn stored clam ci

the walkway: With the walkway
blocked, crew members looking to

Uta hip had LO idle Wong al thin
unguarded ledge overlooking a nine foot
drop mito the cargo hold or amble over a
convevor belt. But the conve yor belt w
nota realisti option because the belt

quite lippery and the \ tem lacked

adequate handrails, so the crew Gre

the « aptain) opted to shimmy along tha
hatch ledge Appare ntly no one told them
not to do thi

‘That brings u

help close the hatch that «

hold, Bielunas had to indic:

crew member when the ce

proper posilion a wire cable ¢
hydraulically" powered machine would
haul the hatch forward along the ledg
[deally, one would p>! rform this job by
tanding on the designated walkways. But
because they were bloc ked Mieluna rode
abop the closing hatch cover-that is how le
and others had done it betore, and no one
had ever told him to do it differently
Unfortunately, he his balance

Lepped onto the Pave keep from falling

bhite Ut] cargo hold and got hh

caught between the cover and a

protruding prece of metal. “Stop

Mielunas yelled, hoping to get the

ittention of thi Caiman operating the

th \ drawl ally powered Tii

Phe doctor noticed that about halt of

bone material was dead. Hie

ad matter and a

removed the

mnilicant amount of

Pi

ad miu cle and U1 Li¢ LOO but ay could

the wound. Iventually, afte.
two months, doctors sealed the
‘ning, but Bielunas's toot } Lill

heured and the damage 1s severe

Pllicil and de rpenerative \ if thi

were not enough, Bielunas walks with

| ronounced limp and hy alte I'¢ d Pail

triggered back and knee problem

Mieluna ‘rr be able to return te

form of hard work. His poor english

highly unlkely that he will

|
abl to do office Ol clerical work

thi We yniy Kind of

‘ mployime nt that a person with his new

phy: it al disability would be capable ol
performing, Bielunas will likely never be
able to work again-he can even cross-oftl
pizza delivery and security guard from
any list of potential jobs because hi:
mangled foot affects his driving and
Ability to patrol a Site, LOO

Bielunas's total medical and economi
damapes approximated $762,000. In hi
opening statement, Bielunas's lawyer
pushed for a $2,500,000 damages award
Which he upped to $3,328,767 in his
closing. The jury returned a $2,775,000
verdict against Misty Dawn but also found
Pielunas 15% ¢ OmMmparatlive ly negligent
hactoring in the 15% figure and an

arreed upon set olf between the partic

the district pudge entered a $2,307,090
jidvment in Bielunas's favor. Misty Dawn
moved fora new trial or a remittitur
Which the district denied in an

LiTie xplained orde)

With this background in place, we turn t

the lie presented on appeal
highhehting turther facts when needed to
put Mi ty Dawn: claim Into propel
pective

lvidentiary | ue:

Misty Dawn contend: that the district

judge erred in admitting plaints ¢ x hibit
2 and Lawson Bronson’: expert
testimony. Neither claim has traction
Plaintiff's exhibit 32
Phe protes ted exhibit 1s a : taged photo
(apparently taken by a defense expert) of a
deckhand holding a wire and s idling along
inine-inch hatch led pe as the SEA
WA'TTCHE R's crew frequently would
Visty Dawn argues here, as it did below
that the exhibit is irrelevant because
lsieclunas was injured while standing on
the moving hatch cover-not while
traveling along the hatch ledge holding a
wire. This argument is easily disposed of
\ relevancy-based argument 1s usually a
» sell. The definition of relevance 1:
quite expansive: relevant evidence 1:
evidence having any tendency to make

thie Kistence of any fact that 1s of

COTS equence mpoOore O} les: probable Ser
Fed Rolevid. 40] | mphasi added). To be

relevant, the evidence need not

definitively resolve a key issue in the case
yy United States v. Rivera Calderon
Mosd 78%, 96-97 Cist Cir.Z009), cert
demied, 130 5.Ct. 1107 (2010)-1t need only
move the inquiry forward to some degree
ee 2 Jack B. Weinstein & Margarct A

Berger, Weinstein's Federal lividence &

1() ] O42] |b] (Jo eph M. Mecl.aughlin ed
2d ed.2010). Because this is a

quintessential judgment call, see Moral
Keheiano \ Rtullan, 378 F.3d 42. 57 Ust

Coir.2004). we rive trial yudge

considerable leeway In ae Ming whethe
the contested evidence satistfie thi
not too difficult-to-meet standard
reversing only on a showing of abuse ol
discretion, see, e.v., United States \v
pepulveda, 15 3d 1161, 1194 Csi
Cur. 1993)
Relevancy is not assessed in a vacuumeit
is gauged “in light of the underlying
ubstantive law see Koy v. The Austin
Cio., 194 F.3d 840, $43 C/th Cir. 1999)
here, Jones Act negligence and ship
unseaworthiness. A Jones Act shipowne)
must see “to the safety of the crew
Koehler \ Presque Isle Transp CoO ] 1 |
K.2d 490, 491 (2d Cir.1944) Crank, J.). A
crew member's burden of proving
causation i: “featherweight, meaning
liability exists if the shipowner'
“neglige nee contributed even in the
shghtest” to the injury. lerrara v. A. & \
I): hing Inc., 99 FLSd 449, 4538 Cst
Cir. 1996) (quotation marks omitted). Also

“a § hipowner must keep the ship its de | :

passaveway equipment, etvce.-in a

eaworthy condition and must use sate
work methods, too. See id. And a
hipowner 1s responsible tor
unseawortlhiness-imduced myuries even if
not negligent. See id
Ifa picture speaks a thousand words, thi
one spoke plenty, giving context so the
yury could better understand the parti
actions. Again, the photo showed a
seaman inching his way along a tiny hatch
with no guardrails while lugging a
wire-an unacceptable practice Bielunas'
expert said, which Misty Dawn turned a
blind eye to and which highlhghted Misty
Dawn's cavaher attitude toward satety
The photo also showed a ship with blocked
walkways, which further bolstered
bielunas's theory that Misty Dawn failed

LO Pron ide Aa s ate deck for work Or) the high

eas. Misty Dawn talked a good game
about how crew safety was a top concern
but the photo suggested otherwise. Seen
in this light, then, the photo tended to
make Misty Dawn's negligence and the
hip: unseaworthines: more probable SE. E
ge nerally DeCnoia \ LJnited States fine:
Co., 304 F.2d 421, 423 (2d Cir. 1962)
(holding that a cluttered deck constitute
Jones Act neglgence and vessel

unseaworthiness); Bonnewell v. United

ates, 1/0 F.2d 411, 412-13 Ath
Cir. 1948) Gsame)-which is all the liberal
relevancy standard requires, see, e.g
lacobucc: v. Boulter, 193 I’.3d 14, 20 (1st
Cir. 1999). Consequently, the district judge
did not abuse his broad discretion in
admitting plaintiff's exhibit 32
bronson's testimony
Also sailing wide of the mark is Misty
Dawn's claim that the district judge
stumbled in admitting Bronson‘
testimony about the means of traversing
the deck, the danger of obstructing the
walkway: and othe. safety problem: On
the SKA WATCHER. Misty Dawn eall:
this testimony irrelevant and says 1t:
admission atfected the verdict (Misty
Dawn does not contest Bronson’: expert
credentials)-which means we apply the
abuse-of-discretion standard. See, e.g
Pages Ramirez Vv hteamire yf (7,0onzalez OUD
Kk oSd 109, 115-16 Uist Cir.2010). Again
that standard 1s hard to satisfy, and Misty
Dawn cannot satis fy it here
bronson's testimony discussing the

meaning and significance of the staged

photo, the dangers posed by the open

hatch covers and the missing conveyo)
belt handrails. ete.-went to matters of

consequence: did Misty Dawn provide

fielunas with a safe work place, and wa:
the Sk A WATCHER seaworthy? Misty
Dawn protests that Bielaunas was not hurt
While sidling along the hatch ledge Ca
Misty Dawn-accepted practice that
Bronson condemned), that only one cove

was open when tragedy struck, and that

the missing handrails played no part in

the mishap Ggnoring that Misty Dawn
had faulted Bielunas for not standing on
the conveyor belt during the hateh-closing
episode, a ridiculously unsafe suggestion
Bronson said, given the lack of handrails)
tut this evidence gave the jury a proper
frame of reference for asses: 1nhy the
parties’ competing Claims, so itis relevant
pee Kaipin v. Kelly, 184 I'.3d 67, &1 Cist
Cir. 1999). Misty Dawn could and did fight
tooth and nail to undermine the evidence'
meaning. But once relevancy ts found
complaints of the sort. Misty Dawn
pursues go to the weight, not the
admissibility, of Bronson's testimony

UJnited States v. Schultz, :

416 (2d Cir.2003); United ¢
Diaz, 878 F.2d GOS, 615 (2d Cir. 1989). The
upshot of all this is that we do not see
anything close to an abuse of discretion
here

The New ‘Trial/Remittitur |:

Pra ats post trial motion, Misty Dawn
blasted Bielunas's counsel! for suge
damage award in his opening :
($2,500,000) and closing argument
328,767), saying counsel's Comment:
uaifairly influenced the jury and entitled it
toa new trial, Misty Dawn also contended
that the jury's ultimate award
($2,775,000, constituting roughly
$2,000,000 in non-economic damage
whichis the crux of the matter) was
simply too large to stand. The district
judge denied the motion without comment
so we have two choice remand fot
clarification or address the issue head-on
Me reasonable byea: Ist upporting thie orde}
made maniest on the record “ United
States v. Podolsky, 158 F.3d 12, 16 Cst
Cir. 1998); see also generally Presley \
| nited hotate: Posta Nerv mp oe | if /
173 (2d Cir.2003) (noting that “IM hile i
written explanation of a district court's
basis for denying la new-trial motion] ij
certainly preferable as an aid to appellate
review, a Separate written opinion is not

necessarily required when a district court

rebuff: the motion). We choose option AS

this instance
upyesting specilic damage amount

Misty Dawn did not object to the

pecilic-damage-award comme
Mielunass Counsel's openimy sti
and closing summation. Kather, it first
urfaced this issue in its new-trial motion
Phatas still an Unpreserve d challenge
however, So our review 1s limited to a
earch for plain error. United St:
Brandao, 539 I 8d 44
accord springer v. Henry
183 (3d Cir. 2006)
Plain Grror is one hard test to meet
particularly in civil tigation. See Smith
Kmart Corp 177 3d 19
1999). Plain error is (1) error which (2)
so clear that a trial judge should act
even without an objection and which G3)
aifect: the appellant’ substantial
rights-on top of that, even if the appellant
make this reé quire d showing, w need not
mtervene unless the error al:
semously impugns the “lairne
or public reputation of judicial
proceedings. United States v. Roy
30 (ist Cir. 2007) (quotation
omitted); see also Smith, 177 I
at 25; Nat'l Union ire Ins. Co. of
Pittsburgh, PA v. West Lake Acad., 54%
hid &, 22 (Uist Cir .2008) Consequently

Misty Dawn faces a st« ep chimb nearing YO

depree ultimately, that slope 4

mMnsurmountabl
Misty Dawn cits no it
banning lawyers from sugey
damage number to the jury stead it
ays that federal courts tend to let counse
make unitool- time arguments durimny
Winination (e.g., a luwyes tells the ju
plaintiffs pain is worth A dollars pei
month, o1 ar and then multiphe
plaintiff's life expectancy to get a
lump-sum figure). Bielunas's lawyer did
proposing a number and

MWe a proce through which the
puury could reach it.4
ome courts permit unit-ol-time
arguments, si » 1ECAaN he matter to thi
trial judge's discretion, and some ban thi
practice outright-though most court
particularly federal court
into the first two camps. See generally
Mileski v Long Island IMR 10., 499 F.2d
1169, J173 n. 2, n. 3, n. 4 (2d Cir.1974)

(collecting federal and state cases); Giant
ood Inc. v. Satterfield, 603 A
679-80 (Mad.Crt per App 1992) (same)

this Court, however. We forbid counse
from asking jurors to consider the amount
ofa party's ad damnum in crafting a
damage aw ard, see Davi:

Browning-kerris Indu: Ine

t) > /
bradle« New Iengvland, Ine
mn. Le : Deand we h

ited appro mvly a case outside thi
qircuit for thre po rnt that lawyer Ci

Late in Stuumimation the number thre
pUTOr hould award IO} pain and
uffering. Hee Davi BO } Ud at
(highhehting Waldorf mehuta 90) |
(23 Cd Cir. 1990)). Building on thy
foundation, we held ip an unpubl
Opinion that Davi preclude counsel tro.
requesting a paln and ulleriny dollar
amount in closing. Kimberly f Mat
Hitchcock Mem. Ho WS Hhitehecoch
Clinics, Inc., No. 93-1488, 1993 W
198O2ZG, at *9-10 Cist Cir. De
(unpublished). Consistent with thi
line of case district pudges in this circuit
have: LOpype qd lawye) Wom doing just that
ee Wilson, 250 F.8d at 23 n. 25 ee al
Pe rh rally Budet-Correa \ { nited Parcel}
mery S22, I Hupp 2a 139. 141-4
(D.PR.2004) (discussing and applyi
Davis and the like). Con equently
measured by Ou! precede ril We CON
that the district pudve here made

mistake, and that the mistake 1s obvjou

,

enough But, again plain error require

more the mistake must al » bye pore percha

ma ense that there J a rensonabt

probability (not WuaISU a trie (ore tical
po ibility) that it affected the result. and

the result must be unjust, too. See Unite

Leate \ Viareu fou 3.71 ata, 104
(2O 10) (+f al QO United State Padilla
115 8d 21), 225 CUst Cir. 2005) (Boudin

().J., concurring) (en bane). This is where
Viisty Dawn gets tripped up

ie) Lartel we are not Convinced that
thal WAS a Palle cChanviny crrot ()]
[Jnited States v. Taylor, 54 I. 3d 967. 9%
(Ist Cir. Lodo) (stre Ing that the
plaincerror doctrine LOCcuse (3)
blockbusterl ]” errors) (quotation ma)
omitted). We question whether Misty
Dawn can show that it 1s reasonably
probable as Oppo ed to merely

po sible-that the jury would have tixed
different damage figure absent the
unit-of-time breakdown. That the jul)
found Bielunas 15% comparatively
neghpent as opposed to the 5% his lawye»

had argued lor suggest: that the jury did

not blindly adopt COUNSE] analysi sul
A) ¢ need not dwell on thi: ] Lif Pee
Johnson v. United State vs Oe Be. 1]

169 (1997) skipping over the third
component of the plam-cerror test and

ce ( hdany Live Caist (oT) tye fourth pron r)

} iyuimMent

affected the outcome
myustice her
@ Oub lias iit
ed of his livelihood (det
into below)
“ard is intoler:

nmeede (| and

bLabemenyt ana argcuine
not evidence and that the veraict
reached on the ( hdence alone
COUTTS not object o
mstruction on the unit-o
delhberating 1 ¢ a bit, the yr
if Bieluna MM rcou
upgested award amount
oning used ich them
attorne
mind the jurors that urgument
Ot ¢ hence in the case and that
lo decid the matter “on their o

idge apreed and told the jur'

r

presume that you are referring

ylaiptiff counsel's arvument to

laid out I

TTC Tilo qe

iit

toate | i pst You are
remembet \ ‘ the evidence w:
What coun Wi end WOrINE
to remind you ol what the eviden
md put his wnpterpretation betore
hy could con baer il

LO thet Ye

member the «

Lructions
rot claim
\ Robin Ol) }
PAR Owe.
tain error 1s not
tandard, United
VAZQUEZ Molina
Cair.2004), vacated on other vr

U.S. 946 (2005), and nghtfully

4

parties from rolling the dice on a
erdict and then raising problem
appeal that could have been easily

Witha timely objection

LJnited State Jacquillon

) (Wisdom

dii (
ra
i }
Lil (
Sill
t(j
nen 3
i
4 i
I ul
} |
It
id
{ { ii

{ { lit
‘
ii] 4)!
|
a 4)
7 Asé
1) 1 >¢
A | ;
‘ YV ilit
i ‘

i i}
in hot, Misty Daw C2
PCCOMNOT f dan i CaW
Mp) ciyire OnAabh high I
| udre 10! not ordering
VO se thangs differen
nye ie Vu dama mito al
thie jun Hy -CONSEeEqGCuUeN
din extraordinal circ
eto Line pill C(ie¢Ccl I I)
Dia Palau, 463 } qd
(JOO fiat particular]
on Lrict pur pre WhO a\
{ Iden pla Ol retu
ard. ld it oteppiny
that ruiiny to? Pil ( Of]
1, revel i only ii the de
ie Wert burden Of pre
ted award } 14) | (
noch ’ 10 the coy} (
xr so Ingh that it woulda
mustice % permit 1 to Sti
hn mart omitted). This 1
Vill NOL Jeutl nadan i £7 ¢
Cause A think It to Fe

y¢ ii
mdi. |
ij)
AV if
r 4 i
itv
!

damarpe that could be ba ed upon the
evidence betfore the jury . Casillas- Diaz
1G | ia altos (quotation marks omitted)
here is no mathematical formula fon
determining the monetary equivalent of
non CCONnOMIC yuri pee, c.v., lLimom
UJnited States, 579 F.3d 79, 105 Cst
Cor.ZO09). But the district pudge told the
puro. Without objection, that they cou]
rany physical, mental, o1
emotional pain Bielunas has suffered, 1

ulfering, and will sulfer because of hi

VyVouNnd DWamarves must be reasonable and
not based on hunche the judve stre ed
but “no evidence of value’ is needed fo}

the intanpible myumes: in translating
decision into dollars, “you are not

dete ring value but you hould award
an amount that you feel will fully and

fairly CO) prt nsate Bieluna 10! hi pra {

present and future mental distr and
ply: ical pain The) Lic then, 1
mescapably “lactl- bound (

Crasilla Diaz. 463 I ats. and the
Pact measured under the | ra] criveria
Outline qd above upport the a) Lrict yu
decision not to pare gown the award
Mmielhuna uffered unimaginable pain on

the Sit A WA'TTCHIICK, and pain clings to

Pb)d)) Lidl ,multicton hatch cover crushe

his loot, pulverizing a bone, fracturing
others in multiple places, and leaving the
whole thing a bloodied me: ‘The doctor
could not close the wound for the longest
time, and they w bil mnie VC! make him fully
better actually, things will only get worse
\nd the injury has exacted quite a toll
causing him to lose many of the thing
that made his life worth living. No more
vorking on a fishing boatcin facet, no mort
meaningful employment at all. No more
taking long hike with trends and family
Jo more doing certain chores around the

house No more helping neighbor with

home-improvement projects. All of thi:
has left him feeling powerle lost, and
depre ed. He worries about his future, he
lashes out at others, and lis marriage ha

ulfered, too. ‘Val Inge verything Into
account, we cannot say that the jyury'
award 1s unconnected to the evidence
CONSCIC NCE hoc} Ing, Or SO lavish that it
vould offend common notions of justice if
ib stands-so no remittitur 1s needed
Misty Dawn makes much of the fact that
Miclunas does not take pain medication
md had fractured the heel on the same
foot years belore aninyury that Misty
Dawn's ¢ xpert suggee ted caused many of

thie ime problems that Bieluna

Complain about now. None ol thi

changes our view of the case
Arain Micluna { Ti r
f |
() K I ‘ (
Hockis |
199Q) the plamtillt
a oyniypurr Prom inhatie
. | 4 i}
ttifitdl pteila vv if}
it¢ ral { ii} bitch)
11>) I ai rl it]
'
1 dhe i)
i (| 1] {}
1) Til | |
| 1) I
’
11) hic] |
'e potadd } ii]
Pmanul;
J { Ht)
pail ( | HoStahi
‘ F : | !
} | } dil y
pore pila {i 4
I il i } ! ]

alety equipment" Id. at 96-97. The burst

substantial cenaint y

rsed the ordel

Propet
Pyistmet held that the

fandard was met and reve

sing the « Omplainet
thatthe sub

MSH)
fantial certaint'

lt bears emphasis
landard apple where there i ubstantial
rlainty of either injury or death

is added). bhus the

been appr gin

lurner, /54

(

( ¢ Paplha

ibstantial ce rlamty test ha

ing a non-fatal injury, Cunningham;
2d at 259) (ankk byury), a

lisher: burnes

( LIVOLYV

Makeriman, YO!
Ivinge fatality

i} a Ca biive i
j be
Phe Dunk relr on McClanahan v. State, « '
95 ad | ¢ ZAM) S ) In that case the
mulls wer empl yees ol the lorida
Justice. They worked tn

Department of Juvenile
detention center which had been built

} Crake
the carly 1990: Phey alleged that there had
pence im the desipn and Construction of
Was Contaminated by

i levels ol moisture, nuldew, and mold
it J/O4. The plamull alleped r piratory

W ronyptul (it alh 8)

pire anna) Ube
mployer phe exact nature of the contamiunatror
1 ¢ tcl 1 mist Were nol pelled out 1rd Chae
lhe Second Distnact concluded that thr
( miOons AMounted to Claims Of me Plipe al
ict and that th sostantial Ccrtaimtly test had
tL bee a
bhie pi i dilles nificant! bine Clay
as nol

_ULTI

alfida

biditl

iy

)

KCEPCcl body
on the day of the mcidcent hon wa
grab the plamltlf's fingers, resulting ina strugpl
in Which the plaintiff's arm was severed at Ue
clobow. The Second District upheld the workei
Compensation iminunity, based on the tact that
fgusch Gardens had a
Pape 1 |
(rarninyp program in pla Cc Wh WwW: beleved to

ty adequat lo addr WOrKID with

ston Whaler, Ine
1997), which
da respiratory injury. The Walks cast
as decided in 1997 and was based squarely On
iw Supreme Courts decision in bisher. The
hiorida Supreme Court receded from lishes
2000. Turner. The legal basis of Wilk
undermined
Phe bank also maintains that the expert affidavit
Of lar. Robbin as lepally insulficient. Thi
Objection in the trial Court was that the affidavit
as lacking in personal knowledpe and did not
attach the documents to which the doctor
d. The |e pal authority cited by the bank
»X Iransportation, Inc. v. Pasco County

é¢ OF de ¥, / 9 (I 1a 2a | »¢ A 199 BP i IL dial

emmvolved alfidavits submitted by tact

inesses Uryipy to establish whether
Construction had >< Puil Qt) a rainlroad Cit)
Ol a parucular date. The alfidavitin this ca

the alliday fan ex t witness. |The bank

I

provid dd ati iuithmority be thi pre
that the allidavitis insufficient the alfidavit ot
an expert with
rave £2
bor the lated reason there are disputed 1 Lie
Ol material fact and summary pudepment should
hot hia bcen pranted. We reverse th LaydaEbhaa

Land remand for lurther procecdin

---

Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/documents/brief%3Amicro_IA40386017_2138%3A4. Public record. Not legal advice.
