Fuller v. Star Fiber Glass

Filing 76

LETTER ORDER granting 72 Motion to Bifurcate the Issue of Punitive Damages. Signed by Judge William R. Wilson, Jr on 4/13/09. (bkp)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS RICHARD SHEPPARD ARNOLD UNITED STATES COURTHOUSE 500 W. CAPITOL, ROOM D444 LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS 72201-3325 [phone] Facsimile [phone]

April 13, 2009 Mr. Austin Porter, Jr. Attorney at Law 323 Center Street Suite 1300 Little Rock, AR 72201 Mr. Christopher E. Moore Mr. Christine M. White Coats Rose - New Orleans 400 Poydras Street Suite 1400 New Orleans, LA 70130 Re: Fuller v. Fiber Glass Systems LP, 4:07-CV-01120-WRW Dear Counsel: The trial will be bifurcated. If the jury returns a verdict for Plaintiff in the first stage, then I will determine whether it will be submitted on punitive damages. If decide to submit it on punitive damages, I will give the standard AMI instruction, and I will allow short closing arguments on the issue. The parties may conduct a short voir dire on punitive damages, or, if you prefer, I will do it during my voir dire. Whether I do the voir dire on punitive damages, or the lawyers do it, it should be brief. You should ask prospective jurors that if they are asked to consider punitive damages, if they have strong feelings about punitive damages -- for or against. I will address the remaining pretrial issues by letter this afternoon or in the morning when we take up matters before we call the jurors up. Defendants' Motion to Bifurcate Issue of Punitive Damages (Doc. No. 72) is GRANTED. Cordially, /s/ Wm. R.Wilson, Jr. Original to the Clerk of the Court