Sullivan v. Rowan Companies, Inc.

BARKSDALE, Circuit Judge.

The pivotal issue in this appeal by Billy Eugene Sullivan, a Jones Act seaman, and his employer, Rowan Companies, Inc., is whether the district court committed reversible error in not permitting expert testimony by a witness for Rowan. That testimony was vital to Sullivan’s product liability claim (tried to the jury) and to Rowan’s similar cross-claim (tried to the court) against Sears, Roebuck & Company. In large part because of that ruling, the district court rendered judgment against Rowan and judgment notwithstanding the verdict against Sullivan. We AFFIRM.

I

Sulliva…