General Electric Co. v. Joiner, 522 U.S. 136 (1997), was a Supreme Court of the United States case between Robert Joiner and General Electric Co. that concerned whether the abuse of discretion standard is the correct standard an appellate court should apply in reviewing a trial court's decision to admit or exclude expert testimony.[1] The case is notable for helping articulate the Daubert standard.
Abuse of discretion-the standard ordinarily applicable to review of evidentiary rulings-is the proper standard by which to review a district court's decision to admit or exclude expert scientific evidence.
Joiner had worked around transformers as an electrician since 1973. During his electrical work, the dielectric fluid used as a coolant for the transformers got into his eyes and mouth, and stuck to his arms and hands. In 1983, it was discovered that the fluid in some of its transformers contained toxic PCBs. Later, in 1991, Joiner was diagnosed with small cell lung cancer. He sued General Electric, the manufacturer of the transformers and dielectric fluid. Joiner had been a smoker for eight years and there was a history of lung cancer in his family. Joiner alleged that his exposure to PCBs “promoted” his cancer. He claimed that, had it not been for his exposure to these substances, his cancer would not have developed for many years, if at all. General Electric claimed there was no evidence that Joiner suffered significant exposure to PCBs and that there was no admissible scientific evidence that PCBs promoted Joiner's cancer.[2]
Holding
General Electric removed the case to federal court and then moved for summary judgment. The district court ruled that there was no evidence that Joiner had been exposed to PCBs.[3] The district court also held that testimony of Joiner's experts failed to show that there was a link between exposure to PCB and small cell cancer. The case was dismissed. Joiner appealed the ruling and the court of appeals reversed. The Supreme Court of the United States granted certiorari and, after review, reversed the appellate court's ruling and affirmed the district court's ruling.[4]
References
^General Electric Co. v. Joiner, 522U.S. 136 (1997).
Text of General Electric Co. v. Joiner, 522U.S. 136 (1997) is available from:CornellCourtListenerFindlawGoogle ScholarJustiaLibrary of CongressOyez (oral argument audio)
general, electric, joiner, 1997, supreme, court, united, states, case, between, robert, joiner, general, electric, that, concerned, whether, abuse, discretion, standard, correct, standard, appellate, court, should, apply, reviewing, trial, court, decision, adm. General Electric Co v Joiner 522 U S 136 1997 was a Supreme Court of the United States case between Robert Joiner and General Electric Co that concerned whether the abuse of discretion standard is the correct standard an appellate court should apply in reviewing a trial court s decision to admit or exclude expert testimony 1 The case is notable for helping articulate the Daubert standard General Electric Co v JoinerSupreme Court of the United StatesArgued Oct 14 1997Decided Dec 15 1997Full case nameGeneral Electric Company v Robert JoinerDocket no 96 188Citations522 U S 136 more 118 S Ct 512 139 L Ed 2d 508 1997 U S LEXIS 7503HoldingAbuse of discretion the standard ordinarily applicable to review of evidentiary rulings is the proper standard by which to review a district court s decision to admit or exclude expert scientific evidence Court membershipChief Justice William Rehnquist Associate Justices John P Stevens Sandra Day O ConnorAntonin Scalia Anthony KennedyDavid Souter Clarence ThomasRuth Bader Ginsburg Stephen BreyerCase opinionsMajorityRehnquist joined by unanimous parts I II O Connor Scalia Kennedy Souter Thomas Ginsburg Breyer part III ConcurrenceBreyerConcur dissentStevensLaws appliedFederal Rules of Evidence Contents 1 Facts 2 Holding 3 References 4 External linksFacts EditJoiner had worked around transformers as an electrician since 1973 During his electrical work the dielectric fluid used as a coolant for the transformers got into his eyes and mouth and stuck to his arms and hands In 1983 it was discovered that the fluid in some of its transformers contained toxic PCBs Later in 1991 Joiner was diagnosed with small cell lung cancer He sued General Electric the manufacturer of the transformers and dielectric fluid Joiner had been a smoker for eight years and there was a history of lung cancer in his family Joiner alleged that his exposure to PCBs promoted his cancer He claimed that had it not been for his exposure to these substances his cancer would not have developed for many years if at all General Electric claimed there was no evidence that Joiner suffered significant exposure to PCBs and that there was no admissible scientific evidence that PCBs promoted Joiner s cancer 2 Holding EditGeneral Electric removed the case to federal court and then moved for summary judgment The district court ruled that there was no evidence that Joiner had been exposed to PCBs 3 The district court also held that testimony of Joiner s experts failed to show that there was a link between exposure to PCB and small cell cancer The case was dismissed Joiner appealed the ruling and the court of appeals reversed The Supreme Court of the United States granted certiorari and after review reversed the appellate court s ruling and affirmed the district court s ruling 4 References Edit General Electric Co v Joiner 522 U S 136 1997 General Electric Co v Joiner https www oyez org cases 1990 1999 1997 1997 96 188 General Electric Co v Joiner 522 U S 136 1997 Justia Law Retrieved 2020 11 12 Albert J Grudzinskas and Kenneth L Appelbaum General Electric Co v Joiner Lighting Up the Post Daubert Landscape http www jaapl org content 26 3 497 full pdf External links EditText of General Electric Co v Joiner 522 U S 136 1997 is available from Cornell CourtListener Findlaw Google Scholar Justia Library of Congress Oyez oral argument audio This article related to the Supreme Court of the United States is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title General Electric Co v Joiner amp oldid 988245306, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
