Nelson v. Tennessee Gas Pipeline Co.
United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
243 F.3d 244 (2001)

- Written by Sean Carroll, JD
Facts
James Nelson and others (the claimants) (plaintiffs) sued Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company (the company) (defendant), alleging that its use of Pydraul AC at its compressor station contaminated the ground. The claimants alleged that the contamination caused them long-term harm. The claimants relied on the expert opinions of Dr. Kilburn and Dr. Hirsch. The doctors examined the claimants, and Kilburn produced a report in which he compared the health of the claimants to the health of individuals from other parts of Tennessee. The company filed a motion in limine to exclude the experts’ opinions as unreliable under Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals. The magistrate judge granted the motion without holding an evidentiary hearing and then granted the company summary judgment as a result. The claimants appealed, arguing that the judge erred by rendering a ruling on the motion without holding an evidentiary hearing.
Rule of Law
Issue
Holding and Reasoning (Guy Jr., J.)
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