--- title: "Recreational Vehicle Expert’s Cost-of-Repair Opinion Admitted" meta: "og:description": "Damage valuation by the recreational vehicle expert helped the jury decide an issue of consequence" "og:title": "Recreational Vehicle Expert’s Cost-of-Repair Opinion Admitted" author: "Expert Witness Profiler" description: "Damage valuation by the recreational vehicle expert helped the jury decide an issue of consequence" --- # Recreational Vehicle Expert’s Cost-of-Repair Opinion Admitted Posted on June 6, 2025 by Expert Witness Profiler Naomi and Christopher Pershing (and their revocable Pecan Trust) sought compensation from Nexus RVs, LLC and Navistar, Inc. for their recreational vehicle, which they called defective. Nexus offered [Thomas Fribley](https://expertwitnessprofiler.com/expert-witness/Thomas-Fribley/1553686) as an opinion witness. On March 14, 2025, the Pershings filed a motion to exclude an opinion from Fribley under [Federal Rule of Evidence 702](https://www.law.cornell.edu/rules/fre/rule_702#:~:text=Rule%20702%20sets%20forth%20the,is%20a%20relatively%20narrow%20inquiry.) and _[Daubert](https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/daubert_standard)_. ## **Recreational Vehicle Expert Witness** [Thomas Fribley](https://expertwitnessprofiler.com/expert-witness/Thomas-Fribley/1553686) has over 28 years of experience with Coachmen Industries (another recreational vehicle company) where he held many roles in technical services, product evaluation, and sales. Since 2002, he has operated Fribley Technical Services, which offers expertise in RV inspections and technical services. He has been a certified master RV service technician since 1993 (a level four certification), and he has assisted in the design, manufacture, and repair of RVs and the training of others. [Want to know more about the challenges Thomas Fribley has faced? Get the full details with our Challenge Study report.](https://expertwitnessprofiler.com/order/add?eId=1553686&pId=3) ## **Discussion by the Court** Fribley intended to offer a cost-of-repair opinion. He testified that the RV’s diminished value corresponded to the estimated cost of repairs—approximately $6,000. His assessment was ostensibly based on the condition of the vehicle at the time of his inspection, rather than at the time of its acceptance. Given this difference in timing, the Pershings argued that the opinion should be excluded. The Pershings said that Indiana law limits damages for a warranty breach to “the difference at the time and place of acceptance between the value of the goods accepted and the value they would have had if they had been as warranted, unless special circumstances show proximate damages of a different amount.” Nexus argued that Indiana law recognized several alternative means for calculating damages so long as they are reasonable, including the cost of repair. The Court agreed. The Court noted that the Pershings raised no doubts about his methods or bases. Moreover, the Pershings identified no late, extraneous, or prejudicial opinion of concern. ## **Held** The Court denied the motion to exclude the testimony of Nexus’ expert Thomas Fribley. ## **Key Takeaway**: A Court should exclude testimony unless it reliably speaks, without confusing or misleading the jury, on a relevant issue that the jury must decide. However, Fribley’s cost-of-repair opinion helped the jury decide an issue of consequence. ## **Case Details:** --- ## **You Might Also Like** ![Corrections Expert's Standard of Care Testimony Admitted](https://ewp-blog.expertwitnessprofiler.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/blog-pic-640X480-2026-04-23T161938.085.jpg) [**Corrections Expert’s Standard of Care Testimony Admitted**](https://expertwitnessprofiler.com/recreational-vehicle-experts-cost-of-repair-opinion-admitted/corrections-experts-standard-of-care-testimony-admitted)![Human Resources Expert Allowed to Opine on Termination](https://ewp-blog.expertwitnessprofiler.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/blog-pic-640X480-2026-04-22T200052.311.jpg) [**Human Resources Expert Allowed to Opine on Termination**](https://expertwitnessprofiler.com/recreational-vehicle-experts-cost-of-repair-opinion-admitted/human-resources-expert-allowed-to-opine-on-termination)![Neuropsychology Expert Not Allowed to Opine on Cognitive Decline](https://ewp-blog.expertwitnessprofiler.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/blog-pic-640X480-2026-04-22T144728.528.jpg) [**Neuropsychology Expert Not Allowed to Opine on Cognitive Decline **](https://expertwitnessprofiler.com/recreational-vehicle-experts-cost-of-repair-opinion-admitted/neuropsychology-expert-not-allowed-to-opine-on-cognitive-decline)![Human Factors Expert Not Allowed to Opine on the Tile](https://ewp-blog.expertwitnessprofiler.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/blog-pic-640X480-2026-04-21T191749.960.jpg) [**Human Factors Expert Not Allowed to Opine on the Tile**](https://expertwitnessprofiler.com/recreational-vehicle-experts-cost-of-repair-opinion-admitted/human-factors-expert-not-allowed-to-opine-on-the-tile)![Insurance Expert Not Allowed to Opine on Legal Duties](https://ewp-blog.expertwitnessprofiler.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/blog-pic-640X480-2026-04-21T155751.487.jpg) [**Insurance Expert Not Allowed to Opine on Legal Duties**](https://expertwitnessprofiler.com/recreational-vehicle-experts-cost-of-repair-opinion-admitted/insurance-expert-not-allowed-to-opine-on-legal-duties)