Hill v. Star et al

Filing 121

ORDER FOR PRETRIAL PREPARATION. Pretrial Conference has been set for Monday, 5/18/2015 03:00 PM in Courtroom 2, 17th Floor, San Francisco before Hon. Thelton E. Henderson. Jury Selection and Jury Trial has been set for Tuesday, 6/9/2015 09:00 AM in Courtroom 2, 17th Floor, San Francisco before Hon. Thelton E. Henderson. Signed by Judge Thelton E. Henderson on 04/20/2015. (tmi, COURT STAFF) (Filed on 4/21/2015)

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

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NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

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TION ALONZO HILL, SR.,
Plaintiff,

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v.

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ARNOLD STAR, et al.,

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Case No. 09-cv-05434-TEH
ORDER FOR PRETRIAL
PREPARATION

Defendant.

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Good cause appearing, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that:

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United States District Court
Northern District of California

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1.

TRIAL DATE
Trial before the JURY will begin in Courtroom No. 2 on Tuesday, June 9, 2015, at

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9:00 AM. If the Court advises counsel that they must be prepared to go to trial on a trailing

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basis, then the trial will begin as soon after the scheduled date as possible. The trial shall

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last for an estimated 4 trial days. The trial of liability and damages issues SHALL NOT be

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separate.

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2.

The Court will hold a pretrial conference on Monday, May 18, 2015, at 3:00 PM.

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PRETRIAL CONFERENCE

Counsel who intend to try the case must attend the pretrial conference.

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3.

DISCOVERY.
(a) Discovery Cutoff. All discovery, except for depositions of expert witnesses,

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shall be completed on or before N/A. All depositions of expert witnesses shall be

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completed no later than 7 calendar days before the pretrial conference.

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(b) Disclosures Regarding Expert Witnesses. Plaintiff and Defendants shall
comply with Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 26(a)(2)(A) (i.e., disclose the identity of any

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person who may be used at trial to present expert testimony). The parties shall comply with

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the written report requirements of Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 26(a)(2)(B). Failure to

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comply with these deadlines will prevent a witness from testifying as an expert.

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4.

PRETRIAL CONFERENCE STATEMENT.
(a)

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Required Meeting and Disclosure Prior to Pretrial Conference. Lead

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counsel who will try the case shall meet and confer on or before April 27, 2015, or as soon

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as practicable thereafter. At that time, they shall discuss:
(1) Prospects for settling the action;

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(2) The preparation and content of the joint pretrial conference statement;

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(3) The preparation and exchange of pretrial materials to be served and

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lodged with the Court; and
(4) Resolution of any differences between the parties regarding items (2)

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and (3) above. To the extent such differences are not resolved, the parties must present the

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issues in the joint pretrial conference statement so that the Judge may rule on the disputes

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at the pretrial conference.

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Within one week after meeting and conferring, the parties shall file a joint

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statement, signed by all counsel, stating that they have met and conferred on the above

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issues.

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(b)

Joint Pretrial Conference Statement. The parties shall file a joint pretrial

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conference statement no later than 10 calendar days before the pretrial conference. If the

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parties disagree over the wording of the statement, each party may state its position in its

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own words. All parties or their counsel must sign the statement. The statement shall

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contain the following information:

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(1)

The Action.
(A) Substance of the Action. A brief description of the substance of

claims and defenses that remain to be decided.
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(B) Relief Prayed. A detailed statement of the relief claimed,

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including an itemization of all claimed damages, along with a list of witnesses, documents,

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or other evidentiary material to be presented on the amount of damages.
(2)

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The Factual Basis of the Action.

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(A) Undisputed Facts. A plain and concise statement of all relevant

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facts not reasonably disputable. This should include a statement of facts which the parties

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stipulate may be incorporated into the trial record without supporting testimony or

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exhibits.
(B) Disputed Factual Issues. A plain and concise statement of all

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disputed factual issues that remain to be decided.
(C) Agreed Statement. A statement assessing whether all or part of

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Northern District of California

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the action may be presented upon an agreed statement of facts.
(D) Stipulations. A statement of stipulations requested or proposed

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for pretrial or trial purposes.

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(3)

Trial Preparation.

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(A) Estimate of Trial Time. An estimate of the number of court

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days needed for the presentation of each party’s case, indicating possible reductions in

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time through proposed stipulations, agreed statements of facts, or expedited means of

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presenting testimony and exhibits.

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(B) Witnesses to be Called. A list of all witnesses likely to be called

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at trial, other than solely for impeachment or rebuttal, together with a brief statement

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following each name describing the substance of the testimony to be given. Parties must

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indicate any objections to the use of the listed witnesses and shall certify that counsel have

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met and conferred regarding such objections. No party shall be permitted to call any

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witness in their case in chief that is not disclosed in the pretrial conference statement

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unless the Court grants leave for good cause shown.

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(C) Use of Discovery Responses. A list of evidence that may be

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presented at trial, other than solely for impeachment or rebuttal, through use of excerpts

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from depositions, interrogatory answers, or responses to requests for admission. Parties

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must indicate any objections to use of these materials and shall certify that counsel have

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met and conferred regarding such objections.

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(D) Exhibits, Schedules, and Summaries. A list of all documents

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and other items to be offered as exhibits at the trial, other than solely for impeachment or

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rebuttal, with a brief statement following each item describing its substance or purpose and

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the identity of its sponsoring witness. The statement shall include a list of all exhibits that
the parties agree may be admitted into evidence. Parties must indicate any objections to

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the receipt in evidence of the listed exhibits and shall certify that counsel have met and

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conferred regarding such objections. No party shall be permitted to introduce any exhibit

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in their case in chief that is not disclosed in the pretrial conference statement unless the

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Court grants leave for good cause shown.
(E) Further Discovery or Motions. A statement of all outstanding

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discovery or motions, including motions in limine.

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(4)

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Trial Alternatives and Options.
(A) Settlement Discussion. A statement summarizing the status of

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settlement negotiations and indicating whether further negotiations are likely to be

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productive.

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(B) Consent to Trial Before a Magistrate Judge. A statement

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explaining whether reference of all or part of the action to a special master or magistrate

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judge is feasible, including whether the parties consent to a court or jury trial before a

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magistrate judge with appeal directly to the Ninth Circuit.

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(C) Amendments or Dismissals. A statement of requested or
proposed amendments to pleadings or dismissals of parties, claims, or defenses.

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(D) Bifurcation of Issues. A statement of whether bifurcation (i.e.,

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separate trials) of specific issues is feasible and desired.

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(5)

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Miscellaneous. Any other subjects relevant to the just, speedy, and

inexpensive resolution of this action.

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(c) Pretrial Order. The Court may, as appropriate, make pretrial orders at or

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following the pretrial conference. Such orders shall control the subsequent course of the

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action as provided in Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 16.

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5.

TRIAL PREPARATION DEADLINES.

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(a) Motions in Limine. The only appropriate purpose for a motion in limine is to

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obtain, in advance of trial, an evidentiary ruling on the admissibility of a specific piece of

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evidence. Unless otherwise allowed by the Court, all motions in limine shall be filed no

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later than 21 calendar days before the scheduled trial date, and written opposition to such

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motions shall be filed no later than 14 calendar days before the trial date. All motions in

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limine must be accompanied by a declaration stating that counsel have met and

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conferred in good faith regarding the motions prior to their filing, and that the

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parties are unable to resolve informally any remaining disputes.

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(b) Exhibits. Two sets of all exhibits to be offered at trial, together with a list of

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exhibits, shall be lodged with the Court no later than 7 calendar days before the scheduled

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trial date. Exhibits must be placed in three-ring binders of no more than three inches each

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and must be pre-marked in accordance with the attached forms.

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(c) Objections to Evidence. Counsel shall meet and confer with respect to any

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evidentiary objections in advance of the pretrial conference. They shall advise the Court at

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the pretrial conference if any objections contained in their joint pretrial conference
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statement have been subsequently resolved.

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(d) Jury Instructions. If a jury trial has been demanded, the parties shall meet and
confer to discuss proposed jury instructions. The Court uses its own set of standard

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instructions regarding the role of jurors, organization of the jury, communication with the

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Court, etc., and the parties need not discuss such instructions during their meeting and

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conferring. No later than 10 calendar days before the pretrial conference, the parties shall

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file (a) proposed jury instructions upon which all parties have agreed and (b) jury

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instructions upon which any other party does not agree. The proposed jury instructions

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must be accompanied by a declaration stating that the parties have met and conferred in

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good faith in an attempt to agree upon as many jury instructions as possible. The

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chambers copies of all proposed jury instructions shall be accompanied by an electronic

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copy of the instructions in Word or Word Perfect format.

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For each disputed instruction, the offering party shall indicate the corresponding

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instruction(s), if any, being proposed by other parties. The parties shall file written

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objections to all disputed instructions no later than 7 calendar days before the scheduled

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trial date.

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All proposed jury instructions shall be concise and free from argument; cover only

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one subject to be indicated in the caption; show the identity of the offering party; be

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typewritten out in full on a separate page or pages; be consecutively numbered; and set

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forth specific citations to supporting authority. Case citations must include pinpoint

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citations to the exact page or pages that support the proposed instruction.

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(e) Voir Dire. If a jury trial has been demanded, the parties may, at their option,

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submit proposed questions for voir dire. Any such questions must be filed no later than 10

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calendar days before the pretrial conference.

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(f) Special Verdict Forms. If a jury trial has been demanded, the parties shall
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meet and confer to discuss any desired special verdict forms. The parties shall follow the

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procedure outlined in paragraph 6(d) in filing their proposed verdict forms.

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6.

TRANSCRIPTS. Arrangements must be made with the Courtroom Deputy at least

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14 calendar days before the scheduled trial date if the parties desire daily transcripts and/or

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realtime reporting.

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7.

SETTLEMENT CONFERENCE. The parties SHALL arrange for a mandatory

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settlement conference before Magistrate Judge Nandor J. Vadas of this Court. This
conference shall be scheduled to take place no later than 5 calendar days before the pretrial

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conference.

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8.

PROCEDURE FOR AMENDING THIS ORDER. No provision of this order

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may be changed except by written order of this Court. The Court may enter such an order

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upon its own motion or upon motion of one or more of the parties. The parties must make

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any such motion in accordance with the Civil Local Rules and with a demonstration of

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very good cause. The mere fact that the parties have stipulated to a change does not

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constitute good cause, nor does a conflict with a court date set after the date of this order.

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IT IS SO ORDERED.

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Dated: 4/20/2015
_____________________________________
THELTON E. HENDERSON
United States District Judge

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

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NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

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CASE NO. C -

TEH

DATE:

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___________________________ v. __________________________
EXHIBIT LIST

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( ) Plaintiff

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( ) Defendant

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EXHIBIT
NUMBER

MARKED

ADMITTED

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United States District Court
Northern District of California

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DESCRIPTION OF EXHIBIT

Case No. _________________________

Case No. _________________________

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PLTF Exhibit No. _______1_________

DEFT Exhibit No. _______A ________

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Date Admitted _____________________

Date Admitted _____________________

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Signature _________________________

Signature _________________________

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Case No. _________________________

Case No. _________________________

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PLTF Exhibit No. _______2_________

DEFT Exhibit No. _______B_________

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Date Admitted _____________________

Date Admitted _____________________

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Signature _________________________

Signature _________________________

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Case No. _________________________

Case No. _________________________

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PLTF Exhibit No. ________3________

DEFT Exhibit No. _______C_________

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Date Admitted _____________________

Date Admitted _____________________

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Signature _________________________

Signature _________________________

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Case No. _________________________

Case No. _________________________

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PLTF Exhibit No. ________4________

DEFT Exhibit No. _______D_________

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Date Admitted _____________________

Date Admitted _____________________

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Signature _________________________

Signature _________________________

Case No. _________________________

Case No. _________________________

PLTF Exhibit No. ________5________

DEFT Exhibit No. _______E_________

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Date Admitted _____________________

Date Admitted _____________________

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Signature _________________________

Signature _________________________

Case No. _________________________

Case No. _________________________

PLTF Exhibit No. ________6________

DEFT Exhibit No. _______F_________

Date Admitted _____________________

Date Admitted _____________________

Signature _________________________

Signature _________________________

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