Thomas v. Razo, et al.

Filing 92

PRETRIAL ORDER signed by District Judge Anthony W. Ishii on 2/9/15. Jury Trial set for 2/24/2015 at 08:30 AM in Courtroom 2 (AWI) before District Judge Anthony W. Ishii. (Verduzco, M)

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

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EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

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ROBERT THOMAS,

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Plaintiff,

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J. RAZO, et al.,

PRETRIAL ORDER

v.

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Case No. 1:10-cv-02173-AWI-DLB PC

Jury Trial: February 24, 2015, at 8:30 a.m. in
Courtroom 2 (AWI)

Defendants.

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_____________________________________/

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Plaintiff Robert Thomas (“Plaintiff”), a state prisoner proceeding pro se and in forma

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18 pauperis, filed this civil rights action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983 on November 22, 2010. This
19 action for damages is proceeding against Defendants J. Razo, A. Moreno, D. Brown, I. Vera, S.
20 Vasquez and A. Holguin for excessive force in violation of the Eighth Amendment of the United
21 States Constitution. Plaintiff’s claim arises out of Defendants’ alleged use of excessive force on
1
22 April 5, 2010, while he was incarcerated at California Correctional Institution (“CCI”).

23 I.

Jurisdiction and Venue

24

The Court has subject matter jurisdiction over this federal civil rights action. 28 U.S.C. §

25 1331. Venue is proper because the conduct allegedly occurred in this judicial district.
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1

On July 8, 2011, the remaining claims were dismissed from the action at the screening stage for failure to state a
claim. 28 U.S.C. § 1915A.

1 II.

Jury Trial

2

Plaintiff and Defendants demand a trial by jury. Fed. R. Civ. P. 38(b).

3 III.

Facts

4

A.

Undisputed Facts

5

1.

Plaintiff is a convicted felon, serving a life sentence.

6

2.

On April 5, 2010, Plaintiff was incarcerated at the CCI in Tehachapi, California.

7

3.

Defendants J. Razo, A. Moreno, D. Brown, I. Vera, S. Vasquez and A. Holguin

8 were all employed at CCI on April 5, 2010.
9

4.

On the morning of April 5, 2010, after Plaintiff attended a Unit Classification

10 Committee (“UCC”) meeting, an incident occurred, the nature of which is disputed.
11

5.

Several officers used Oleoresin Capsicum (O.C. pepper spray) during

12 the incident. No other weapons were used during the incident.
13

6.

After Plaintiff was transported to the medical clinic to be put into a holding cell for

14 evaluation, another incident occurred, the nature of which is disputed.
15

7.

Registered Nurse N. Kimble performed a medical evaluation of Plaintiff following

16 the incidents and prepared a medical report.
17

8.

Defendants were medically evaluated following the incidents, with injuries noted to

18 Defendants Razo and Vasquez.
19

9.

Plaintiff was decontaminated with cool water for pepper spray exposure after the

20 incidents.
21

10.

Plaintiff refused to be photographed and/or interviewed on video following the

22 incident.
23

11.

Plaintiff was charged with two separate Rules Violations (CDC Form 115) for

24 battery on a peace officer, due to the injuries to Defendants Razo and Vasquez, and he was found
25 guilty of both.
26

B.

Disputed Facts

27

1.

Whether Plaintiff disagreed with the UCC’s decision to retain his level-IV

28 placement status, and argued with committee members;
2

1

2.

Whether Plaintiff refused repeated orders by staff to return to his cell following the

2 committee meeting, and refused orders to “cuff up”;
3

3.

Whether Plaintiff advanced toward Defendant Razo in a threatening manner;

4

4.

Whether Plaintiff kicked Defendant Vasquez in the left knee while he was being

5 placed into a holding cell;
6

5.

Whether Plaintiff continued to resist staff by kicking his feet, twisting his torso, and

7 trying to turn toward staff;
8

6.

What amount of force Defendants Razo, Moreno, Vera, Vasquez, Holguin, and

9 Brown used on Plaintiff;
10

7.

Whether Defendants kicked and punched Plaintiff while he was on the ground;

11

8.

Whether Defendants Razo, Moreno, Vera, Vasquez, Holguin, and Brown acted in

12 good faith to prevent an assault and to restore order, or maliciously and sadistically to hurt
13 Plaintiff; and
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9.

What injuries Plaintiff sustained from the incidents, if any, other than pepper spray

15 exposure.
Disputed Evidentiary Issues2

16

C.

17

Defendants filed three motions in limine on September 12, 2014. Plaintiff opposed the

18 motions on September 24, 2014.
19

Defendants also reserve the right to object to testimony and evidence until they have heard

20 the testimony and/or seen the exhibits.
21

D.

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None.

23 IV.

Relief Sought

24

Plaintiff seeks $30,000 in compensatory damages, as well as punitive damages.

25

Defendants seek judgment in their favor.

Special Factual Information

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2

The parties may file motions in limine, addressed in section XVIII, and/or object to the introduction of evidence at
trial.

3

1 V.

Points of Law

2

A.

3

The Civil Rights Act under which this action was filed provides:

Section 1983

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Every person who, under color of [state law] . . . subjects, or causes to be subjected,
any citizen of the United States . . . to the deprivation of any rights, privileges, or
immunities secured by the Constitution . . . shall be liable to the party injured in an
action at law, suit in equity, or other proper proceeding for redress.

7 42 U.S.C. § 1983.
8

Section 1983 provides a cause of action for the violation of Plaintiff’s constitutional by

9 persons acting under color of state law. Nurre v. Whitehead, 580 F.3d 1087, 1092 (9th Cir 2009);
10 Long v. County of Los Angeles, 442 F.3d 1178, 1185 (9th Cir. 2006); Jones v. Williams, 297 F.3d
11 930, 934 (9th Cir. 2002). To prevail on his claim, Plaintiff must demonstrate a link between
12 actions or omissions of Defendants and the violation of his Eighth Amendment rights; there is no
13 respondeat superior liability under section 1983. Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 676-77, 129
14 S.Ct. 1937 (2009); Simmons v. Navajo County, Ariz., 609 F.3d 1011, 1020-21 (9th Cir. 2010);
15 Ewing v. City of Stockton, 588 F.3d 1218, 1235 (9th Cir. 2009); Jones, 297 F.3d at 934.
16

B.

17

The Eighth Amendment’s prohibition against cruel and unusual punishment protects

Eighth Amendment Claim

18 prisoners not only from inhumane methods of punishment but also from inhumane conditions of
19 confinement. Morgan v. Morgensen, 465 F.3d 1041, 1045 (9th Cir. 2006) (citing Farmer v.
20 Brennan, 511 U.S. 825, 847, 114 S.Ct. 1970 (1994) and Rhodes v. Chapman, 452 U.S. 337, 347,
21 101 S.Ct. 2392 (1981)) (quotation marks omitted). While conditions of confinement may be, and
22 often are, restrictive and harsh, they must not involve the wanton and unnecessary infliction of
23 pain. Morgan, 465 F.3d at 1045 (citing Rhodes, 452 U.S. at 347) (quotation marks omitted).
24

Not every malevolent touch by a prison guard gives rise to a federal cause of action.

25 Wilkins, 559 U.S. at 37, 130 S.Ct. at 1178 (citing Hudson, 503 U.S. at 9) (quotation marks
26 omitted). Necessarily excluded from constitutional recognition is the de minimis use of physical
27 force, provided that the use of force is not of a sort repugnant to the conscience of mankind.
28 Wilkins, 559 U.S. at 37-8, 130 S.Ct. at 1178 (citing Hudson, 503 U.S. at 9-10) (quotations marks
4

1 omitted). In determining whether the use of force was wanton and unnecessary, courts may
2 evaluate the extent of the prisoner’s injury, the need for application of force, the relationship
3 between that need and the amount of force used, the threat reasonably perceived by the responsible
4 officials, and any efforts made to temper the severity of a forceful response. Hudson, 503 U.S. at
5 7 (quotation marks and citations omitted).
6

While the absence of a serious injury is relevant to the Eighth Amendment inquiry, it does

7 not end it. Hudson, 503 U.S. at 7. The malicious and sadistic use of force to cause harm always
8 violates contemporary standards of decency. Wilkins, 559 U.S. at 37, 130 S.Ct. at 1178 (citing
9 Hudson, 503 U.S. at 9) (quotation marks omitted). Thus, it is the use of force rather than the
10 resulting injury which ultimately counts. Id. at 37-8.
11

C.

12

The defense of qualified immunity protects “government officials . . . from liability for

Qualified Immunity

13 civil damages insofar as their conduct does not violate clearly established statutory or
14 constitutional rights of which a reasonable person would have known.” Harlow v. Fitzgerald, 457
15 U.S. 800, 818 (1982). Qualified immunity balances two important interests, “the need to hold
16 public officials accountable when they exercise power irresponsibly and the need to shield
17 officials from harassment, distraction, and liability when they perform their duties reasonably.”
18 Pearson v. Callahan, 555 U.S. 223, 231 (2009). Qualified immunity protects “all but the plainly
19 incompetent or those who knowingly violate the law.” Officers can have a reasonable, but
20 mistaken, belief about the facts or about what the law requires in a certain situation. Saucier v.
21 Katz, 533 U.S. 194, 202 (2001); Estate of Ford v. Ramirez-Palmer, 301 F.3d 1043, 1049 (9th Cir.
22 2002).
23

In Saucier v. Katz, the Supreme Court outlined a specific, two-step analysis for

24 determining whether qualified immunity is warranted. Saucier, 533 U.S. at 201. The first inquiry
25 is whether, when taken in the light most favorable to the plaintiff, the alleged facts show the
26 officer’s conduct violated a constitutional right. Id. at 201. If a violation is established, the
27 second inquiry is whether the right was clearly established. Id. “This inquiry, it is vital to note,
28 must be undertaken in light of the specific context of the case, not as a broad general proposition
5

1 ….”

Id.

The Supreme Court explained that in determining whether the right was clearly

2 established, “[t]he relevant, dispositive inquiry . . . is whether it would be clear to a reasonable
3 officer that his conduct was unlawful in the situation he confronted.” Id. at 202.
4 The purpose of qualified immunity “is to acknowledge that reasonable mistakes can be made as to
5 the legal constraints on particular police conduct.” Saucier, 533 U.S. at 205. In an excessive force
6 context, the reasonableness of the officer’s belief should be judged from the perspective “on7 scene.” Id. (citing Graham v. Connor, 490 U.S. 386, 396 (1989)). If an officer reasonably, but
8 mistakenly, believed a person was likely to fight back, the officer would be justified in using more
9 force than necessary. Saucier, 533 U.S. at 205. “The calculus of reasonableness” must allow for
10 the reality that officers are often forced to make split-second decisions as to what force is required
11 in circumstances that are tense, uncertain, and rapidly evolving. Saucier, 533 U.S. at 211 (citing
12 Graham, 490 U.S. at 396-97).
13

Recently, the Supreme Court reconsidered the mandatory, two-step procedure set forth in

14 Saucier and concluded that the two-step Saucier procedure should not be regarded as an inflexible
15 requirement. Pearson, 555 U.S. at 236. The Supreme Court noted that, while the sequence set
16 forth in Saucier is often appropriate, it should no longer be regarded as mandatory. The judges of
17 the district courts and the courts of appeals may exercise their sound discretion in deciding which
18 of the two prongs of the qualified immunity analysis should be addressed first in light of the
19 circumstances in a particular case. Id.
20

D.

21

Plaintiff has the burden of proving what, if any, punitive damages should be awarded by a

Punitive Damages

22 preponderance of the evidence. NINTH CIRCUIT MODEL CIVIL JURY INSTRUCTIONS § 5.5
23 (2008). The jury must find that Defendants’ conduct was “motivated by evil motive or intent, or .
24 . . involves reckless or callous indifference to the federally protected rights of others.” Smith v.
25 Wade, 461 U.S. 30, 56, 103 S.Ct. 1625 (1986). Acts or omissions which are malicious, wanton, or
26 oppressive support an award of punitive damages. Dang v. Cross, 422 F.3d 800, 807-08 (9th Cir.
27 2005).
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1

E.

2

Federal Rules of Evidence 608 and 609 provide that evidence of a witness’s prior felony

Federal Rules of Evidence

3 conviction or instance of conduct demonstrating a propensity to lie may be used to impeach that
4 witness’s testimony. Federal Rule of Evidence 404(b) provides that evidence of prior crimes,
5 wrongs, or acts cannot be used to prove the character of the person in order to show conduct in
6 conformity with that character trait. Such prior acts may be admissible for other purposes only,
7 such as proof of motive, opportunity, intent, preparation, plan, knowledge, identity, or absence of
8 mistake or accident. Id.
9 VI.
10

Abandoned Issues
Plaintiff’s claims against Defendants for (1) deliberate indifference to a serious medical

11 need in violation of the Eighth Amendment; and (2) violation of due process in violation of the
12 Fourteenth Amendment were dismissed at the pleading stage for failure to state a claim upon
13 which relief may be granted. 28 U.S.C. § 1915A.
14 VII.

Witnesses

15

The following is a list of witnesses that the parties expect to call at trial, including

16 rebuttal and impeachment witnesses. NO WITNESS, OTHER THAN THOSE LISTED IN
17 THIS SECTION, MAY BE CALLED AT TRIAL UNLESS THE PARTIES STIPULATE
18 OR UPON A SHOWING THAT THIS ORDER SHOULD BE MODIFIED TO PREVENT
19 “MANIFEST INJUSTICE.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 16(e); Local Rule 281(b)(10).
20

A.

Plaintiff’s Witness List

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1.

Plaintiff

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2.

Defendant Officer J. Razo

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3.

Defendant Officer A. Moreno

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4.

Defendant Counselor D. Brown

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5.

Defendant Officer I. Vera

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6.

Defendant Officer S. Vasquez

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7.

Defendant Officer A. Holguin

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7

1

B.

Defendants’ Witness List3

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1.

Defendant Officer J. Razo

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2.

Defendant Officer A. Moreno

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3.

Defendant Counselor D. Brown

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4.

Defendant Officer I. Vera

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5.

Defendant Officer S. Vasquez

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6.

Defendant Officer A. Holguin

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7.

Steven Borg, Expert Witness

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8.

Counselor D. Chapman

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9.

Registered Nurse N. Kimble

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10.

Officer M. Nicholson

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11.

Officer J. Cardenas

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12.

Counselor C. Holman

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13.

Officer C. Nelson

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14.

Registered Nurse F. Roberts

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15.

Custodian of Records, CCI

17 VIII. Exhibits
18

The following is a list of documents or other exhibits that the parties expect to offer at

19 trial. NO EXHIBIT, OTHER THAN THOSE LISTED IN THIS SECTION, MAY BE
20 ADMITTED UNLESS THE PARTIES STIPULATE OR UPON A SHOWING THAT THIS
21 ORDER SHOULD BE MODIFIED TO PREVENT “MANIFEST INJUSTICE.” Fed. R.
22 Civ. P. 16(e); Local Rule 281(b)(11).
23

A.

Plaintiff’s Exhibits

24

1.

All reports written by Defendants related to the April 5, 2010, incident.

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3

Defendants are not required to call all of the witnesses they listed. However, as is the Court’s general practice in
cases such as this, witnesses the defense plans to call shall be present on February 24, 2015, by 9:30 a.m. and shall be
available for Plaintiff to call for direct examination.

8

1

2.

All inmate appeals filed by Plaintiff, against Defendants, related to the April 5,

2 2010, incident.
3

3.

“All other legal documents regarding named Defendants.”

4

B.

Defendants’ Exhibits

5

1.

Photographs of Facility IV-A, Unit 4-C at CCI, committee area

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2.

Photographs of Facility IV-A, Unit 4-C at CCI, dayroom area

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3.

Photographs of CCI Facility IV-A, medical clinic holding area

8

4.

Diagram of Unit 4-C, Facility IV-A at CCI

9

5.

Diagram of CCI Facility IV-A, medical clinic area

10

6.

Photographs of Defendant Vasquez from April 5, 2010

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7.

Medical report(s) for Defendant Vasquez dated April 5, 2010

12

8.

Photographs of Defendant Razo from April 5, 2010

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9.

Medical report(s) for Defendant Razo dated April 5, 2010

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10.

Photograph of Plaintiff from April 5, 2010

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11.

Medical Report (Form 7219) for Plaintiff dated April 5, 2010, completed by RN

16 Kimble
17

12.

UCC Committee Report (CDC Form 128 Chrono) for Plaintiff dated April 5, 2010

18

13.

Curriculum Vitae of Steven Borg

19

14.

Expert Report of S. Borg

20

15.

Rules Violation Reports (CDC Form 115) for Plaintiff dated April 5, 2010

21 IX.

Discovery Documents to be Used at Trial

22

Defendants may use Plaintiff’s deposition transcript and appended exhibits for

23 impeachment purposes at trial.
24 X.

Further Discovery or Motions

25

None, other than motions in limine.

26 XI.

Stipulations

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None.

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9

1 XII.

Amendments/Dismissals

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None.4

3 XIII. Settlement Negotiations
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None.

5 XIV. Agreed Statement
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None.

7 XV.

Separate Trial of Issues

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The punitive damages phase, if any, will be bifurcated.

9 XVI. Impartial Experts – Limitation of Experts
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None.

11 XVII. Attorney’s Fees
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None.

13 XVIII. Further Trial Preparation
14

A.

15

Any party may file a motion in limine, which is a procedural mechanism to limit in

Motions In Limine Hearing and Briefing Schedule

16 advance testimony or evidence in a particular area. United States v. Heller, 551 F.3d 1108, 1111
17 (9th Cir. 2009) (quotation marks omitted). In the case of a jury trial, the Court’s ruling gives
18 Plaintiff and Defendants’ counsel advance notice of the scope of certain evidence so that
19 admissibility is settled before attempted use of the evidence before the jury. Id. at 1111-12
20 (quotation marks omitted).
21

Any motions in limine must be served on the other party, and filed with the Court, by

22 February 13, 2015.5 Any motion in limine must clearly identify the nature of the evidence that the
23 moving party seeks to prohibit the other side from offering at trial.
24

Any opposition to a motion in limine must be served on the other party, and filed with the

25 Court, by February 20, 2015.
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4

As discussed previously, Plaintiff’s claims against Defendants for deliberate indifference to a serious medical need
in violation of the Eighth Amendment and violation of due process in violation of the Fourteenth Amendment were
dismissed at the pleading stage for failure to state a claim upon which relief may be granted. 28 U.S.C. § 1915A.
5

As previously noted, Defendants have already filed their motions in limine.

10

1

If any party files a motion in limine, the Court will hear and decide such motions on the

2 morning of trial at 8:30 a.m.
3

Whether or not a party files a motion in limine, that party may still object to the

4 introduction of evidence during the trial.
5

B.

6

The parties are ordered to meet and confer no later than February 17, 2015, for the purpose

Duty of Counsel to Pre-Mark Exhibits

7 of pre-marking and examining each other’s exhibits. All joint exhibits must be pre-marked with
8 numbers preceded by the designation JT (e.g., JTX-1, JTX-2). All of Plaintiff’s exhibits shall be
9 pre-marked with numbers (e.g., PX-1, PX-2, etc.). All of Defendants’ exhibits shall be pre10 marked with letters (e.g., PX-A, PX-B, etc.).
11

1.

Defendants’ counsel shall create four (4) complete, legible sets of exhibits in

12 binders as follows:
13

(a)

Two sets of binders to be delivered to Courtroom Clerk Renee Gaumnitz

14 by February 20, 2015, one for use by the Courtroom Clerk and the other for the Court; and
15

(b)

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One set for each counsel’s own use.
If the parties desire, they may have a fifth set of binders to be used for the

17 purposes of questioning witnesses.
18

2.

Defendants’ counsel and Plaintiff shall meet and confer and make the following

19 determination with respect to each proposed exhibit to be introduced into evidence and
20 Defendants’ counsel shall prepare separate indexes - one listing joint exhibits, and one listing each
21 party’s separate exhibits as follows:
22

(a)

Duplicate exhibits (i.e., documents which both sides desire to introduce into

23 evidence) shall be marked as a joint exhibit and numbered as directed above (e.g., JTX-1). Joint
24 exhibits shall be listed on a separate index and shall be admitted into evidence on the motion of
25 any party without further foundation.
26

(b)

Exhibits that are not jointly offered and to which there is no objection to

27 introduction shall likewise be appropriately marked (e.g., PX-1 or DX-A) and shall be listed in the
28 offering party’s index in a column entitled “Admitted In Evidence.” Such exhibits will be
11

1 admitted upon introduction and motion of the party, without further foundation.
2

(c)

Those exhibits to which the only objection is a lack of foundation shall be

3 marked appropriately (e.g., PX-2 - For Identification, or DX-B - For Identification) and shall be
4 indexed in a column entitled “Objection Foundation.”
5

(d)

Remaining exhibits to which there are objections to admissibility not solely

6 based on a lack of foundation shall likewise be marked appropriately (e.g., PX-3 - For
7 Identification or DX-C - For Identification) and shall be indexed in a third column entitled “Other
8 Objection” on the offering party’s index.
9

3.

Each separate index shall consist of the exhibit number or letter, a brief description

10 of the exhibit, and the three columns outlined above, as demonstrated in the example below:
11

INDEX OF EXHIBITS

12
13

EXHIBIT # DESCRIPTION

ADMITTED
OBJECTION
IN EVIDENCE FOUNDATION

OTHER
OBJECTION

14
15

Two sets of the completed joint index and the separate indexes shall be delivered to the

16 Courtroom Clerk with the two sets of binders.
17

The Court has no objection to counsel using copies. However, the copies must be legible.

18 If any document offered into evidence is partially illegible, the Court may sua sponte exclude it
19 from evidence.
20

C.

21

Defendants may use Plaintiff’s deposition transcript and appended exhibits for

Discovery Documents

22 impeachment purposes.
23

D.

24

The parties are directed to file and serve their trial briefs by February 13, 2015. Local Rule

Trial Briefs

25 285. The parties need not include in the trial brief any issue that is adequately addressed in a
26 motion in limine or in an opposition brief to a motion in limine. Any response to a trial brief shall
27 be filed and served by February 20, 2015.
28
12

1

E.

2

The parties shall file and serve proposed voir dire questions, if any, by February 20, 2015.6

3

Further, in order to aid the Court in the proper voir dire examination of the prospective

Voir Dire

4 jurors, counsel should lodge with the Court on the first morning of trial a list of all prospective
5 witnesses, including rebuttal witnesses, that counsel reasonably expect to call. The purpose of the
6 lists is to advise the prospective jurors of possible witnesses to determine if a prospective juror is
7 familiar with any potential witness.
8

F.

9

The parties shall lodge with the Courtroom Clerk a joint agreed summary of the case,

Agreed Summary Of The Case

10 briefly outlining the positions of the parties, by February 20, 2015. The summary will be read to
11 the jury panel at the outset of the trial solely for the purposes of assisting in the jury selection
12 process. The contents of the summary shall not be deemed to be evidence or an admission or
13 stipulation by a party as to any contested fact or issue.
14

G.

15

The parties shall file and serve proposed jury instructions February 20, 2015.7

16

All proposed jury instructions shall be in duplicate. One set shall indicate the party

Proposed Jury Instructions

17 proposing the instruction, with each instruction numbered or lettered, shall cite supporting
18 authority, and shall include the customary “Given, Given as Modified, or Refused,” showing the
19 Court’s action with regard to each instruction. The other set shall be an exact copy of the first set,
20 but shall be a “clean” copy that does not contain the identification of the offering party, instruction
21 number or letter, supporting authority, or reference to the Court’s disposition of the proposed
22 instruction.
23

The parties are ordered to confer after the trial confirmation hearing to determine which

24 instructions they agree should be given. As soon as possible thereafter, the parties shall submit a
25 list of joint, unopposed instructions. As to those instructions to which the parties dispute, the
26 Court will conduct its jury instruction conference during trial at a convenient time.
27

6

Defendants have already filed their proposed voir dire.

28

7

Defendants have already filed their proposed jury instructions.

13

1

H.

2

The parties shall file and serve a proposed verdict form by 4:00 p.m. on February 20,

Proposed Verdict Form

3 2015.8
4

I.

5

Any party wishing to use a videotape for any purpose during trial shall lodge a copy of the

Use Of Videotape and Computers

6 videotape with the Courtroom Clerk by February 20, 2015. If a written transcript of audible words
7 on the tape is available, the Court requests that the transcript be lodged with the Court, solely for
8 the aid of the Court.
If Defendants’ counsel intends to use a laptop computer for presentation of evidence, he or

9

10 she shall contact the Courtroom Clerk at least one week prior to trial. The Courtroom Clerk will
11 then arrange a time for counsel to bring the laptop to the courtroom, and meet with a
12 representative of the Information and Technology Department and receive a brief training session
13 on how counsel’s equipment interacts with the Court’s audio/visual equipment. If Defendants’
14 counsel intends to use PowerPoint, the resolution should be set no higher than 1024 x 768 when
15 preparing the presentation.
16

J.

17

During the trial, it is the obligation of counsel to meet with the Court each morning to

Morning Conferences During Trial

18 advise the Court and the opposing side which documents are proposed to be put into evidence that
19 have not previously been admitted by stipulation, court order, or otherwise ruled upon. The Court
20 will rule on those documents, to the extent possible, prior to the commencement of trial each day
21 out of the presence of the jury. If the ruling depends upon the receipt of testimony, the Court will
22 rule as requested upon the receipt of such testimony.
23

The Court shall consider any other legal matter at morning conferences as well. The Court

24 does not wish to recess the trial to hear legal argument outside of the presence of the jury, and
25 proper preparation by counsel will eliminate the need for that result.
26
27
28

8

Defendants have already filed their proposed verdict forms.

14

1

K.

2

In order to make the trial operate efficiently and smoothly, counsel have the continuing

Order Of Witnesses

3 obligation to advise the opposing side as to which witnesses he or she intends to call at each trial
4 session.
5 XIX. Rules of Conduct During Trial
6

A.

General Rules

7

1.

All participants in the trial shall conduct themselves in a civil manner. There shall

8 be no hostile interchanges between any of the participants.
9

2.

All oral presentations shall be made from the podium, unless otherwise permitted

10 by the Court.
11

3.

Sidebar conferences are discouraged. Legal arguments or discussion of issues

12 outside the presence of the jury should be done during recesses.
13

4.

Counsel shall advise their respective clients and witnesses not to discuss any aspect

14 of the case in the common areas of the courthouse accessible to the jurors, such as the lobby, the
15 elevators, the hallways and the cafeteria.
16

B.

Jury Selection

17

1.

The Court will conduct voir dire to be supplemented by any written questions

18 submitted by counsel prior to trial and after the Court has concluded its questioning of the jury
19 panel. In some circumstances, the Court may allow brief direct questioning by counsel.
20

C.

Opening Statements

21

1.

Counsel may use visual aids in presenting the opening statement. However, any

22 proposed visual aids shall be shown to opposing counsel before opening statement.
23

D.

Case in Chief

24

1.

Counsel shall have his or her witnesses readily available to testify so that there are

25 no delays in the presentation of evidence to the trier of fact.
26

2.

At the close of each trial day, counsel shall disclose his or her anticipated witnesses

27 and order of presentation for the next day, so that any scheduling or evidentiary issues may be
28 raised at that time.
15

1

E.

Witnesses

2

1.

Before approaching a witness, counsel shall secure leave of Court to approach the

3 witness.
4

2.

Before approaching a witness with a writing, counsel shall first show the writing to

5 opposing counsel.
6

F.

Exhibits

7

1.

All exhibits shall be marked and identified in accordance with the instructions in

8 the pretrial order.
9

2.

An exhibit shall not be published to the jury until it has been admitted into evidence

10 and counsel has secured leave of Court to publish the exhibit.
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3.

The Court usually will conduct an on the record review of the exhibits that have

12 been admitted in evidence at the conclusion of each party’s case in chief and after each party has
13 rested its entire case.
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G.

Objections

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1.

No speaking objections or arguments are permitted in the presence of the jury.

16 Counsel shall state the specific legal ground(s) for the objection, and the Court will rule based
17 upon the ground(s) stated. The Court will permit counsel to argue the matter at the next recess.
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2.

The Court will not assume that any objection made also implies with it a motion to

19 strike an answer that has been given. Therefore, counsel who has made an objection and who
20 wishes to also have an answer stricken must specifically move to strike the answer.
21

H.

Closing Argument

22

1.

Counsel may use visual aids in presenting the closing argument. However, any

23 proposed visual aids shall be shown to opposing counsel before closing argument.
24 XX.

Objections to Pretrial Order

25

Any party may file and serve written objections to any of the provisions of this order on or

26 before February 17, 2014. Such objections shall specify the requested modifications, corrections,
27 additions or deletions.
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1 XXI. Miscellaneous Matters
2

None.

3

***

4 FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH ALL PROVISIONS OF THIS ORDER MAY BE GROUNDS
5 FOR THE IMPOSITION OF SANCTIONS, INCLUDING POSSIBLE DISMISSAL OF THIS
6 ACTION OR ENTRY OF DEFAULT, ON ANY AND ALL COUNSEL AS WELL AS ON ANY
7 PARTY WHO CAUSES NON-COMPLIANCE WITH THIS ORDER.
8
9

IT IS SO ORDERED.

10 Dated: February 9, 2015

SENIOR DISTRICT JUDGE

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