Mitchell v. County Of Monterey

Filing 188

PRELIMINARY PRETRIAL CONFERENCE SCHEDULING ORDER Joint Pretrial Conference Statement due by 12/19/2011. Final Pretrial Conference set for 1/23/2012 11:00 AM. Jury Selection set for 2/7/2012 09:00 AM before Hon. James Ware. Jury Trial set for 2/7/2 012 01:00 PM before Hon. James Ware. Jury Trial set for 2/8/2012 01:00 PM before Hon. James Ware. Jury Trial set for 2/9/2012 01:00 PM before Hon. James Ware. Jury Trial set for 2/10/2012 01:00 PM before Hon. James Ware. Jury Trial set for 2/14/2 012 01:00 PM before Hon. James Ware. Jury Trial set for 2/15/2012 01:00 PM before Hon. James Ware. Jury Trial set for 2/16/2012 01:00 PM before Hon. James Ware. Jury Trial set for 2/17/2012 01:00 PM before Hon. James Ware. Jury Trial set for 2/21 /2012 01:00 PM before Hon. James Ware. Jury Trial set for 2/22/2012 01:00 PM before Hon. James Ware. Jury Trial set for 2/23/2012 01:00 PM before Hon. James Ware. Jury Trial set for 2/24/2012 01:00 PM before Hon. James Ware. Jury Trial set for 2/28/2012 01:00 PM before Hon. James Ware. Jury Trial set for 2/29/2012 01:00 PM before Hon. James Ware. Signed by Judge James Ware on 6/15/11. (sis, COURT STAFF) (Filed on 6/15/2011)

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1 2 3 4 5 IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 6 FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 7 SAN FRANCISCO DIVISION 8 Daniel J. Mitchell, et al., 9 Plaintiffs, United States District Court For the Northern District of California 10 11 12 NO. C 08-01166 JW PRELIMINARY PRETRIAL CONFERENCE SCHEDULING ORDER - (JURY TRIAL) v. County of Monterey, Defendant. / 13 14 This case is scheduled for a Preliminary Pretrial Conference on January 20, 2011. Pursuant 15 to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and Local Rules of this Court, the parties conferred and duly 16 submitted a Joint Pretrial Statement and Proposed Order. (See Docket Item No. 187.) Based on 17 their joint submission, it appears that a trial schedule for the case can be set without the necessity of 18 an appearance at this time. Accordingly, the Preliminary Pretrial Conference is VACATED and the 19 parties are ordered to comply with the following schedule: TRIAL SCHEDULE 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 Final Pretrial Conference at 11 a.m. (¶4 ) (.14 days before Jury Selection) January 23, 2012 Joint Pretrial Conference Statement, In Limine Motions, and Proposed Jury Instructions Due (.30 days before Final Pretrial Conference) December 19, 2011 Once the in limine binders are lodged with the Court (¶3(b)), the Court will determine whether a hearing is necessary for the motions in advance of the Final Pretrial Conference and set the hearing accordingly. Jury Selection 28 February 7, 2012 at 9 a.m. 1 3 Jury Trial Date and Sessions1 Sessions 1-4 Sessions 5-8 Sessions 9-12 Session 13 February 7-10, 2012, 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. February 14-17, 2012, 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. February 21-24, 2012, 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. February 28, 2012, 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. 4 Argue & Submit February 29, 2012, 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. 5 Jury Deliberations March 1-2, 2012, as needed 2 6 7 8 9 United States District Court For the Northern District of California 10 11 12 13 Meet and Confer Requirement 1. confer with respect to the Joint Pretrial Conference Statement, submission of a joint list of witnesses, a joint list of trial exhibits and a joint list of discovery material which each party intends to offer in evidence as a part of its case-in-chief. Unless objections are made in accord with this Order, all witnesses, exhibits and discovery material contained on the joint submission shall be deemed admissible into evidence by stipulation. 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 No later than 30 days prior to the Final Pretrial Conference, the parties shall meet and Objections and Lodging Disputed Material with the Court 2. If a party objects to receipt into evidence of a witness, exhibits or discovery response, the party shall advise all opposing parties during the conference described in Paragraph 1, and attempt to resolve the dispute. If the parties are unsuccessful in resolving the dispute, any party wishing to object to receipt of the testimony of any witness, any exhibit or discovery response into evidence shall lodge with Chambers a copy of the disputed material at the commencement of trial. Attached to the submission shall be a brief statement of the objection and any response by the proffering party. The Court will indicate on the submitted copy whether the objection is overruled or sustained and return the material to counsel. 23 24 25 1 27 Jury trials are held in afternoon sessions from 1:00pm to 4:00pm, Tuesdays through Fridays unless the Court otherwise specifies. At the Final Pretrial Conference, the Court reserves the right to fold the afternoon sessions into morning sessions (9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.) thus creating full days for trial. The final trial schedule will be confirmed at the Final Pretrial Conference. 28 2 26 1 Lodging Joint Pretrial Conference Statement, in Limine Motions 2 and Proposed Jury Instructions 3 4 5 3. Pursuant to the date set forth in the Case Schedule, the parties shall file and lodge with Chambers the following: a. Joint Pretrial Conference Statement: The parties shall file a joint pretrial 6 statement which shall contain the following information: (1) a brief 7 description of the substance of claims and defenses which remain to be 8 decided; (2) a detailed statement of all the relief claimed, particularly 9 itemizing all elements of damages claimed as well as witnesses, documents or United States District Court For the Northern District of California 10 other evidentiary material to be presented concerning the amount of those 11 damages; (3) a plain and concise statement of all relevant facts not reasonably 12 disputable, as well as which facts the parties will stipulate for incorporation 13 into the trial record without the necessity of supporting testimony or exhibits; 14 (4) a plain and concise statement of all disputed factual issues which remain 15 to be decided; (5) a statement assessing whether all or part of the action may 16 be presented upon an agreed statement of facts; (6) a statement of stipulations 17 requested or proposed for pretrial or trial purposes; (7) without extended legal 18 argument, a concise statement of each disputed point of law concerning 19 liability or relief, citing supporting statutes and decisions; (8) a list of all 20 witnesses likely to be called at trial; (9) a list of evidence the parties intend to 21 present at trial through use of excerpts from depositions, from interrogatory 22 answers, or from responses to requests for admission; and (10) any other 23 subjects relevant to the trial of the action, or material to its just, speedy and 24 inexpensive determination. Counsel are directed to meet and confer in 25 advance of the date for submission of pretrial material with respect to the 26 pretrial conference statement. 27 28 3 1 b. In Limine Motions: Any in limine motions shall be filed in writing and 2 submitted along with the Joint Final Pretrial Conference Statement. Any 3 opposition shall be filed in writing and served no later than ten (10) days after 4 the opening briefs have been filed and served. Fifteen (15) days before the 5 date of the Final Pretrial Conference, the parties shall organize their in limine 6 motions as follows: 7 (1) 8 9 United States District Court For the Northern District of California 10 11 12 (2) 13 14 15 (3) 16 17 c. Each side shall be responsible for producing a combined folder with all of their in limine motions, oppositions to their motions (if any), and replies (if any), respectively. The motion papers shall be clearly marked and separated in one single binder. The binder shall contain a table of contents, listing each motion with a short sentence regarding the grounds for in limine and a short sentence regarding the opposition; all statements must be supported by proper citations to the motions. The table of contents as well as the Motions shall also be saved on a CD in MS Word or WordPerfect format to be attached inside the binder. Please note that this binder is not a substitute for filing the motions and related papers via ECF; it is designed for the Court to evaluate the motions. Two copies of the binder shall be delivered to the Court (by way of the Clerk’s Office) no later than fifteen (15) days before the date of the Final Pretrial Conference by 3 PM. The parties must also bring the binder to the Final Pretrial Conference for their own references. These motions will be deemed submitted without oral argument, unless the Court orders otherwise. The parties shall filed their Proposed Jury Proposed Jury Instructions: 18 Instructions thirty (30) days before the date of the Final Pretrial Conference. 19 The parties shall bring to the Final Pretrial Conference their Proposed 20 Jury Instructions on a CD in MS Word or WordPerfect format. 21 22 Final Pretrial Conference 4. The Court will conduct a Final Pretrial Conference on the date set forth in the Case 23 Schedule. The trial attorneys must attend the conference. At the final pretrial conference, the Court 24 will consider issues raised in the Final Pretrial Conference Statement, motions in limine and discuss 25 the procedures for trial of the case. 26 27 28 4 1 2 Lodging Witness Lists and Exhibit Lists 5. At the Final Pretrial Conference, the parties shall lodge with Chambers the joint list 3 of witnesses, and a joint list of exhibits. Unless otherwise ordered, all exhibits shall be in a format 4 compatible with either the video or digital evidence presentation system utilized by the Court. The 5 proffering party shall retain custody of all exhibits, schedules, summaries, diagrams or charts to be 6 used at the trial. 7 6. To accommodate consideration of electronic exhibits, as the trial progresses, the parties will load images of the admitted exhibits onto a stand alone hard drive or CD or DVD in 9 “pdf” format. The parties shall ensure that, apart from whatever technical material is necessary to 10 United States District Court For the Northern District of California 8 operate the system, the CD, DVD or hard drive contains only the items specified in this order and 11 nothing else. The images will be placed in a folder labeled “Admitted Exhibits” that shall contain 12 all trial exhibits received into evidence. In addition to the exhibits, themselves, the folder shall 13 contain a file labeled “List of Admitted Exhibits by Exhibit Number.” The “List” shall list in 14 numerical order by Trial Exhibit Number, each admitted exhibit, along with the date of the 15 document (where available), and a brief description of the exhibit. To the extent practicable, the 16 “List” shall be text searchable and hyperlinked to the Exhibits, themselves. The folder shall contain 17 a second filed labeled “List of Admitted Exhibits by Date.” This second “List” shall contain the 18 same information, except that the exhibits will be listed in chronological order, according to the date 19 the document was prepared. The external stand alone hard drive or CD or DVD and a printed copy 20 of the exhibit lists will be marked as exhibits and placed in evidence as demonstrative exhibits. 21 7. Before the case is submitted for decision, each party will be deemed to have had an 22 opportunity to review the material described in the previous paragraph to ensure their accuracy. 23 Unless a party objects before the case is submitted for decision to the judge or jury, the party will be 24 deemed to have waived any and all objections to the submitted materials. 25 8. To accommodate review of electronic exhibits, the parties will jointly provide the 26 jury with the following equipment: a laptop computer, the external stand alone hard drive, CD or 27 DVD, a printer (and, if practicable, an LCD projector). 28 5 1 9. During its closing instructions, the Court will advise the jury of the form in which 2 exhibits will be submitted to them. The jury will also be instructed that, unless impracticable, upon 3 a juror’s written request, a printed copy of any exhibit received in evidence will be provided to the 4 jury. Before the jury retires to deliberate, the parties will provide a tutorial to the jurors on how to 5 operate the equipment, how to view the exhibits, and how to print the exhibits if the jury wishes to 6 do so. A written set of instructions on operations of the equipment will be sent into the jury room. 7 10. When the jury is deliberating, at least one lawyer for each side shall remain in close proximity to the courtroom. In the event of any technical problem, or if the jurors have questions 9 about how to operate the equipment, the jurors shall pass a note to the clerk, just as with any other 10 United States District Court For the Northern District of California 8 questions they may have. The Court will read the note to the lawyers. Those lawyers shall consult 11 with each other and with their respective technicians, and propose to the Court how they wish to 12 address the technical problem. 13 11. The parties shall maintain a backup laptop computer and a backup hard drive with 14 identical images and data at the courthouse such that, in the event of a technical problem that cannot 15 be quickly and easily remedied, the equipment can be replaced. 16 12. Unless the Court orders otherwise for good cause shown, the expense of the 17 equipment and the costs of preparation of the Lists and Exhibits will be shared equally among the 18 parties. 19 20 21 22 23 13. This Standing Order also applies to cases tried to the Court sitting without a jury, except that paragraphs 8-11 do not apply. 14. The parties are ordered to meet and confer in advance of trial to establish a procedure for complying with this Order with respect to electronic exhibits. 15. Upon request, in non-complex cases the Court will excuse the parties from using 24 electronic formatted documents. In that event on the first day of trial, the parties shall submit 25 exhibits as follows: 26 a. A copy for the trial judge; 27 b. A copy for the witness stand. 28 6 1 c. No duplicates of a document shall be submitted, unless the duplicate copy has 2 independent evidentiary value to prove some disputed issue of material fact 3 (e.g., date stamp to prove receipt on a particular date, where date of receipt is 4 a disputed issue of a material fact). 5 6 Jury Trial Schedule 16. The time allowed for trial shall be divided equally between the plaintiff’s side and the 7 defendant’s side. Co-parties are ordered to meet, confer and agree to an allocation among 8 themselves. A party may spend its allocated time presenting its own case or on cross-examination of 9 witnesses called by other parties or for presentation of a counterclaim. When a party's allocated time United States District Court For the Northern District of California 10 period has expired, unless otherwise ordered for good cause shown, no further time will be allowed 11 to that party if it would interfere with the ability of the opposing party to present its case. 12 13 14 15 16 Trial Procedure 17. In opening statements, counsel shall not express personal knowledge or opinion concerning any matter in issue. 18. Counsel must question witnesses from the podium, using the microphone. Without requesting permission, counsel may approach witnesses for any proper purposes. 17 19. Address all remarks to the Court, not to opposing counsel. 18 20. Refer to all persons, including witnesses, other counsel and the parties by their 19 20 21 surnames and not by their first or given names. 21. In examining a witness, counsel shall not repeat or echo the answer given by the witness. 22 22. Counsel must stand when making an objection. 23 23. Conferences at the bench or sidebar are not favored by the Court. Any sidebar 24 conferences which are allowed will be off the record. If any counsel wishes to place matters on the 25 record, he or she may so request, and the Court will make a responsive order. 26 27 28 7 1 24. Counsel have full responsibility to arrange for the appearance of witnesses during the 2 presentation of their case so as to eliminate delay caused by waiting for witnesses who have been 3 placed on call by counsel. 4 25. Unless an agreement to the contrary is entered into by opposing counsel, all nonparty 5 or nonexpert witnesses will be excluded from the courtroom when not testifying. When a witness 6 has completed his or her testimony, the witness is excused unless counsel indicates that he or she 7 wishes the witness to remain subject to being recalled. Any witness who has been excused from 8 further testimony may remain as a spectator. It will be the responsibility of counsel to make an 9 announcement at the time the witness steps down that he or she should remain in the environs of the United States District Court For the Northern District of California 10 Court for a reasonable time to permit such counsel an opportunity to secure and serve a subpoena 11 upon the witness and assume responsibility for his or her per diem and other expenses as provided 12 by governing rule or statute. 13 26. Counsel shall admonish all persons at counsel table that gestures, facial expressions, 14 audible comments, or the like, as manifestations of approval or disapproval during the testimony of 15 witnesses, or at any other time, are prohibited. 16 27. Witness examination shall consist of direct examination, cross-examination and re- 17 direct examination. No recross-examination will be allowed without prior approval of the Court 18 specifically indicating the area for recross-examination. When there are multiple defense counsel, 19 they are directed to confer and designate to the Court the sequence in which they wish to be 20 recognized during trial for purposes of presenting opening statements and conducting cross- 21 examination of witnesses. If one counsel conducts the direct examination of a witness, that same 22 counsel must make objections when the witness is cross-examined. Counsel who will conduct the 23 cross-examination should object while the witness is on direct. 24 28. After the commencement of trial testimony, upon request of co-parties, any objection, 25 motion or other application for relief made by any co-party, orally or in writing, shall be deemed to 26 be adopted and joined in by every other co-party, without announcement by counsel to that effect, 27 and the rulings of the Court shall be deemed applicable to each party unless otherwise stated at the 28 8 1 time the ruling is made. Accordingly, it shall be regarded as unnecessary and improper for counsel 2 to rise to "join in" an objection or motion. Rather, counsel should rise to be heard only for the 3 purpose of expressly opting out of an objection or motion if that is his or her position. 4 5 6 29. Counsel are directed to deliver to opposing counsel at the end of each trial day (if not earlier) a list of witnesses counsel anticipates calling the next trial day. 30. Counsel calling a non-client witness to testify should have no further discussions with 7 that witness concerning the case or any aspect of his or her testimony after the witness has been 8 tendered for cross-examination and until such time as the witness has been tendered back for redirect 9 examination. At all other times, within the bounds of governing ethics and the law, counsel may United States District Court For the Northern District of California 10 11 engage in discussions with witnesses during trial. 31. Any time taken away from presentation of evidence to the trier of fact due to, for 12 example, lengthy legal motions made during the time allocated to the presentation of evidence, or 13 delays in the commencement of proceedings due to circumstances within the control of counsel, will 14 be deducted from the time allocated for the presentation of evidence. Upon timely application based 15 upon good cause, the Court may relieve a party of its stipulation to the agreed schedule. 16 32. It is the practice of the Court periodically to inform counsel of the Court's record of 17 how much time each side has remaining for the presentation of evidence based upon the stipulated 18 trial schedule. 19 20 Dated: June 15, 2011 JAMES WARE United States District Chief Judge 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 9 1 THIS IS TO CERTIFY THAT COPIES OF THIS ORDER HAVE BEEN DELIVERED TO: 2 David Emilio Mastagni davidm@mastagni.com David Philip Mastagni dmastagni@mastagni.com Isaac Sean Stevens istevens@mastagni.com James Byron Carr jcarr@mastagni.com William K. Rentz rentzb@co.monterey.ca.us 3 4 5 Dated: June 15, 2011 Richard W. Wieking, Clerk 6 By: 7 8 9 United States District Court For the Northern District of California 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 10 /s/ JW Chambers Susan Imbriani Courtroom Deputy

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