On January 5, 2016, in Martin v. Crown Equipment Corporation, et al., Judge Marvin H. Shoob of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia (Atlanta Division) granted motions to exclude expert testimony and, consequently, a motion for summary judgment filed by Thomas J. Cullen, Jr., Ericka L. Downie, and John D. Maxa on behalf of Crown Equipment Corporation. Plaintiffs sought damages based on injuries allegedly caused by exposure to chemicals in spray paint manufactured for Crown. Plaintiffs alleged that the use of the spray paint during planned maintenance of Crown’s material handling equipment caused a rare form of acute leukemia. Plaintiffs offered two causation experts. Judge Shoob excluded the opinions of both of Plaintiffs’ causation experts, citing their lack of qualifications and failure to rely upon a sufficient factual foundation and reliable methodology. Accordingly, Judge Shoob awarded summary judgment and costs to Crown.
