Expert Properly Excluded in Mazda Water Pump Suit, 9th Cir. Says

Mazda Motor of America Inc. consumers lost their bid to toss a district court ruling that excluded their expert’s report because it failed to show what caused alleged water pump failure in certain Mazda vehicles.

The consumers argued the lower court shouldn’t have excluded the expert because of his education and credentials. But, “regardless of one’s qualifications, an expert must still base his opinions on sufficient facts and data and a reliable methodology,” the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit said in an unpublished opinion Monday.

• The consumers alleged Mazda’s 2008–2015 CX-9 and 2009–2013 6 s cars contained ...