GENERAL ELECTRIC V. JOINER
522 U.S. 136 (1997)
NATURE OF THE CASE: This was a dispute over the discretion of a trial court regarding
expert testimony.
FACTS: Joiner (P) worked as an electrician. This required P to work around transformers
and the dielectric fluid used as a coolant got into his eyes, mouth and stuck to his arms
and hands. In 1983, his employer discovered that the fluid in some of its transformers
contained PCB's; which are hazardous to human health. In 1991, P was diagnosed with small
cell lung cancer. He sued General Electric (D) because they manufactured transformer and
dielectric fluid. P claimed that his cancer was a direct result of his exposure to the PCB's
in D's transformers. D had also been a smoker for eight years and there was a history of
lung cancer in his family. D removed the case to federal court and then moved for summary
judgment; there was no evidence P suffered significant exposure to PCB's and there was no
admissible scientific evidence that PCB's promoted P's cancer. The district court ruled that
there was a genuine issue of material facts but there was no evidence that P had been
exposed and the testimony of his experts failed to show that there was a link between PCB
exposure and small cell cancer. The case was dismissed. P appealed. The court of appeals
reversed under a stringent standard of review based in the trial judge's exclusion of
evidence. The Supreme Court granted certiorari.
ISSUE:
RULE OF LAW:
HOLDING AND DECISION:
LEGAL ANALYSIS:
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