The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Institute for Legal Reform (ILR) has described a federal judge’s decision to overturn a $4.7 billion jury verdict against the NFL in a class-action lawsuit filed by "Sunday Ticket" subscribers as a positive step toward ensuring a fair civil justice system.
According to an ILR blog post, U.S. District Judge Philip Gutierrez ruled that the trial should have excluded the testimony of two key witnesses for the plaintiffs. He said their methodologies were flawed and that, if they had been left out, no reasonable jury would have found class-wide injury or damages.
ILR said in the post that the court’s decision emphasizes the importance of rigorous judicial scrutiny in the admissibility of expert testimony. It pointed to Federal Rule of Evidence 702, which was recently clarified by amendments.
In the post, ILR added, "By excluding unreliable expert testimony, the court has upheld the integrity of the judicial process and prevented a potentially unjust outcome. The decision highlights the critical role that judges play as gatekeepers in evaluating the reliability and relevance of expert evidence. This gatekeeping function is essential to prevent the admission of speculative or unsound scientific theories that could mislead juries and result in unjust verdicts."
According to ILR’s website, as part of the U.S Chamber of Commerce, ILR advocates for a fair legal system that promotes economic growth and opportunity. It is based in Washington, D.C.