Ill. Judge Strikes Expert's Opinions on Sears Washers' Control Units

CHICAGO - A federal judge has stricken rebuttal opinion offered by a plaintiffs' expert on alleged problems with central control units in Sears washing machines, saying the issue has not been raised in prior expert reports and its admission would prejudice defendants. Butler v. Sears Roebuck & Co., No. l06-C 7023 (N.D. Ill.).

The motion to strike portions of engineer R. Gary Wilson's rebuttal report came from defendant Sears Roebuck co., which is defending against allegations that some of its front-loading washers are defective and contaminated with mold.

The allegations against Sears in the U.S. District Court for the Northern …