Altman et al v. Doe
Filing
203
MEMORANDUM Opinion and Order. Signed by the Honorable Manish S. Shah on 10/6/2014: Plaintiffs' Motion for a New Trial, Dkt. 196 , is denied. Defendants' Motion for Judgment as a Matter of Law, Dkt. 189 , is terminated as moot. Terminate civil case. [For further detail see attached order.] Notices mailed by Judicial Staff. (psm, )
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS
EASTERN DIVISION
CHAZ ALTMAN and
GINA GAFFKE,
No. 10 CV 5619
Plaintiffs,
Judge Manish S. Shah
v.
P.O. KIRK HELGESEN, individually, and
the VILLAGE OF GURNEE,
Defendants.
MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER
A jury trial was held in this case from July 28 through July 30, 2014. The
jury returned a verdict in favor of defendant Kirk Helgesen and against plaintiffs
Chaz Altman and Gina Gaffke.1 Plaintiffs now move for a new trial under Federal
Rule of Civil Procedure 59. Dkt. 196. For the following reasons, plaintiffs’ motion is
denied.
I.
Legal Standard
Under Rule 59, the court may grant a new trial after a jury trial “for any
reason for which a new trial has heretofore been granted in an action at law in
federal court.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 59(a)(1)(A). A new trial should be granted “only when
the record shows that the jury’s verdict resulted in a miscarriage of justice or where
the verdict, on the record, cries out to be overturned or shocks [the court’s]
conscience.” Davis v. Wisconsin Department of Corrections, 445 F.3d 971, 979 (7th
The only claim against the Village of Gurnee was for the indemnification of defendant
Helgesen, so the jury was not asked to pass upon its liability.
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Cir. 2006). A jury’s verdict is “contrary to the manifest weight of the evidence only if
‘no rational jury’ could have rendered the verdict.” Moore v. Tuleja, 546 F.3d 423,
427 (7th Cir. 2008). When a motion for a new trial is predicated on a purported
error of law, the moving party must show that the error was substantial enough to
deny that party a fair trial. See Wilson v. Groaning, 25 F.3d 581, 584 (7th Cir.
1994); Perry v. Larson, 794 F.2d 279, 285 (7th Cir. 1986).
II.
Background
On August 22, 2010, defendant Officer Kirk Helgesen shot plaintiff Chaz
Altman three times while responding to a call at Altman’s home. Altman survived
the shooting but suffered serious injuries, including the loss of a leg. Altman sued
Helgesen, alleging the officer used excessive force without justification in violation
of 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Plaintiff Gina Gaffke, Altman’s wife, sued Helgesen for loss of
consortium. A jury trial was held from July 28 through July 30, 2014, and the jury
found in favor of the defendant.
III.
Analysis
Plaintiffs identify four categories of error requiring a new trial. They argue
that (1) I erred in admitting portions of the deposition testimony of Officer Ben
Munji, (2) Helgesen’s testimony presented a factual scenario against the manifest
weight of the evidence, (3) I erred in bifurcating liability and damages, and (4)
several rulings on the parties’ motions in limine deprived plaintiffs of a fair trial.
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A.
Testimony of Officer Ben Munji
Officer Ben Munji witnessed the events leading up to and including Altman’s
shooting. At the time of the trial, Munji lived more than 100 miles away, so his
testimony was given by deposition. Defendants designated the following portions of
Munji’s deposition transcript, which I admitted over plaintiffs’ objection:
Q.
At any point in time during this incident, were you on the verge
of shooting Mr. Altman?
A.
Yes, sir.
Q.
At what point in time?
A.
When he approached Officer Helgesen. The only reason that I
didn’t is that I actually had a cross fire with Officer Bertaud and
Pugliesi.
Q.
And why were you going to shoot?
A.
Because he was a direct threat to Officer Helgesen[.]
Q.
And just to spell it out for the record, how was he a threat to
Officer Helgesen?
A.
Well, the fact that he had a knife in his hand and that he was
approaching aggressively, I believe that direct action - - his next
direct action, if he had gotten any closer to Officer Helgesen, was
to harm him with that knife[.]
Munji Dep. 61:13-62:5; Dkt. 182. This testimony was presented to the jury by
plaintiffs’ counsel.
Plaintiffs argue it was an error to admit this testimony because it amounted
to irrelevant and prejudicial “expert opinion testimony regarding to [sic] the
reasonableness of Officer Helgesen’s actions,” and served to “‘rubber stamp’ the
shooting officer’s actions . . . .” Dkt. 196 at 3.
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I am not persuaded that my prior decision was in error. Munji’s observations
and decisions to act (or not act) in a certain way were relevant to the totality of the
circumstances that the jury had to consider. That Munji was on the verge of
shooting Altman and observed Altman to be a direct threat to Helgesen was not an
expert opinion—it was an observation from a percipient witness. Likewise, Munji’s
testimony that he “had a cross fire” was an observation relating to why he did not
shoot, and therefore relevant to the jury’s consideration of the events that actually
occurred as related by an eyewitness on the scene.2
Nevertheless, even if admitting this testimony was in error, plaintiffs fail to
demonstrate that the error was so substantial it denied them a fair trial. See Perry,
794 F.2d at 285. First, the jury was instructed that it had to decide whether
Helgesen’s use of force was reasonable based on what Helgesen and not anyone else
knew at the time. While plaintiffs question whether this instruction sufficed to
“cure the prejudice,” the law assumes that jurors do as instructed unless there is
substantial evidence to the contrary. United States v. Kibler, 279 F.3d 511, 515 (7th
Cir. 2002). “There is no reason here to believe that the jury did not heed that
instruction.” Id.
Second, any prejudice caused by Munji’s testimony was offset by Officer
David Bertaud’s countervailing testimony that the only person he perceived Altman
to threaten that night was Altman. I admitted this portion of Bertaud’s testimony
Tellingly, in the motion now under consideration, plaintiffs support their argument that
the jury’s verdict was against the manifest weight of the evidence by arguing: “Moreover, it
should not be lost in all of this that despite the fact that Altman was closer to a number of
other officers, no one else shot at him.” Dkt. 196 at 7-8.
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over defendants’ objection for the same reason I permitted Munji’s testimony. In
both cases, the officers were testifying not to what they believed, but merely to what
they perceived.
The admission of Munji’s testimony does not merit a new trial.
B.
Helgesen’s testimony
Plaintiffs argue Helgesen’s testimony was “clearly a fabrication and
therefore, there was no justifiable reason to use deadly force . . . and the jury’s
verdict is clearly contrary to the manifest weight of the evidence.” Dkt. 196 at 7.
Plaintiffs first find incredible Helgesen’s testimony that he waited two-to-three
seconds between his first and second shots, because other witnesses testified they
heard three shots in quick succession, and because three casings were found
together on the northeast edge of the property. Id. at 5-6. Second, plaintiffs argue
that if Helgesen had “truly advanced into the yard and then fired the first shot
shortly after backing into the driveway, then it certainly stands to reason that
either Officers Pugliesi or Bertaud would have seen him . . . .” Id. at 6. Third,
plaintiffs say Helgesen was not able to “account for the thorny issue of the bullet
that entered through Altman’s left wrist (the hand in which he was holding the
knife) at an angle, exited through his arm, and then entered his abdomen at a
similar angle,” which all amounted to “uncontested evidence that Altman’s left arm
was down (not up and at chest or shoulder level) when he was shot and also that
[Helgesen] shot Altman at an angle—not head-on as Helgesen testified at trial.”
Dkt. 196 at 6-7 (emphasis in original).
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These alleged problems with Helgesen’s testimony do not warrant a new
trial. First, the fact that some witnesses testified in a manner that was arguably
inconsistent with Helgesen’s testimony is an insufficient basis for concluding that
Helgesen’s testimony was necessarily incredible or that the case should be re-tried.
Whitehead v. Bond, 680 F.3d 919, 926 (7th Cir. 2012). The jury was free to disregard
the testimony of those witnesses who said Helgesen fired three quick shots, in favor
of Helgesen’s testimony that he paused between the first and second shots. See id.
Likewise, with regard to Bertaud and Pugliesi’s inability to recall seeing Helgesen
in the yard, both witnesses testified that they were focused solely on Altman. The
jury could have accepted that as an explanation for the officers’ failure to recall
seeing Helgesen.
The physical evidence was not so overwhelming as to preclude the jury from
rationally finding for Helgesen. For example, plaintiffs presented no evidence
regarding how the casings would have ejected from Helgesen’s firearm, or how the
casings would have behaved once they hit the ground. While plaintiffs’ counsel
argued during closing that the cluster of casings proved that Helgesen fired three
shots in quick succession from a single distance, such argument is not evidence and
no jury would be compelled to draw the inference suggested by counsel.
Similarly, plaintiffs presented no evidence that a single bullet passed through
Altman’s left wrist and entered his abdomen at a similar angle. All plaintiffs’
treating physician said was that (1) a bullet entered and exited Altman’s forearm,
(2) Altman had a gunshot wound to the right upper chest, and (3) Altman had a
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gunshot wound to the abdomen. When specifically asked where the bullet went
after passing through Altman’s forearm, Dr. Zaret replied that it was “hard to say.”
While that bullet could have continued into Altman’s abdomen, Dr. Zaret said the
abdomen wound also could have been caused by an “independent injury.” These
equivocal statements do not mandate the conclusion that Altman was in a defensive
position when he was shot.
The jury’s verdict was not clearly contrary to the manifest weight of the
evidence.
C.
Bifurcation
Plaintiffs argue that I erred in bifurcating liability and damages because
defendants “did not meet their burden in establishing why bifurcation was
necessary.” Dkt. 196 at 8. Plaintiffs contend they were prejudiced by this error
because (1) they were unnecessarily compelled to limit their number of damages
witnesses, and (2) they had to pay for the video deposition of a damages expert who
they were not able to use.
These arguments hold no weight in the current posture. A motion for a new
trial will be granted following a claimed legal error (such as bifurcation) only if the
error denied the moving party a fair trial. Perry, 794 F.2d at 285. In other words,
the movant must show that the error actually prejudiced them at trial. Plaintiffs’
arguments fail to do that, however, because they concern only the untried issue of
damages. Meanwhile, plaintiffs say nothing of how, if at all, bifurcation prejudiced
the trial that actually took place.
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Furthermore, for the reasons given in my prior order, see Dkt. 170, I find
defendants made a sufficient showing in support of bifurcation and that it was not
legal error to grant their motion.
D.
Motions in limine
1.
Plaintiffs’ No. 3 – Evidence of bad acts
Plaintiffs argue that several rulings permitting defendants to present “bad
acts” evidence were erroneous and that they deprived plaintiffs of a fair trial. Dkt.
196 at 11-12. The evidence at issue included evidence of: (1) “Altman’s illegal drug
and/or alcohol use prior and subsequent to the incidents complained of,” (2) “Cheryl
Palmer’s statements on a 911 call regarding the amount of cocaine allegedly
consumed by Altman that evening,” and (3) “notations in medical records regarding
Altman’s blood alcohol content after the shooting.” Id. at 11. Plaintiffs complain
that this evidence told the jury about Altman’s alcohol and cocaine consumption
without any supporting medical evidence regarding how consuming that amount
would have affected Altman’s actions that night. Id.
Plaintiffs’ objections are unfounded. The jury was presented with no evidence
of either (1) Altman’s drug or alcohol use before or after the day of the incident, or
(2) Altman’s blood alcohol content after the shooting. The jury never heard Cheryl
Palmer’s statement on the 911 call regarding the amount of cocaine Altman
consumed that night. Thus, this evidence played no role at trial and cannot provide
a basis to overturn the jury’s verdict. While the jury did hear the Gurnee Police
Dispatch say Altman “had done cocaine, possibly an 8 ball,” that statement was not
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admitted for the truth of the matter asserted, but—as the jury was instructed—for
the limited purpose of demonstrating “what defendant Helgesen understood at the
time.” Expert testimony about the underlying chemistry would therefore not have
been relevant.
To the extent plaintiffs complain that evidence of Altman’s use of drugs and
alcohol the day of the incident was problematic given the same lack of medical
evidence, those arguments also fail. While Altman testified on direct that the day of
the incident he had been drinking and using powder cocaine, he did not testify as to
how much he consumed of either substance. On cross-examination, Altman was
impeached with a statement from his response to defendants’ interrogatories in
which Altman admitted drinking six to eight ounces of rum and tequila. Gaffke
testified that Altman had been drinking that day, but she did not say how much,
and she further stated that her husband did not “seem drunk.” The jury was not
required to have medical testimony to use this evidence to understand how Altman
behaved, whether he truly recalled the events he testified about, and what Helgesen
encountered that night.3
Accordingly, these three complained-of rulings do not warrant a new trial.
2.
Plaintiffs’ No. 7 – Witness disclosed after discovery
Plaintiffs argue that it was prejudicial for defendants to use statements made
by Altman to Dr. William Lee, because Lee was not disclosed to plaintiffs until after
Plaintiffs never objected to the absence of medical testimony in connection with their
testimony about Altman’s intoxication, and they cite no authority now for the proposition
that additional testimony is legally required whenever a witness describes drug or alcohol
use. Moreover, they were free to argue to the jury that it should give no weight to the
evidence. The admission of this testimony was not a miscarriage of justice.
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the close of discovery. However, plaintiffs are mistaken—these statements were
never used at trial. Lee was never called as a witness nor were statements made to
Lee used to impeach Altman. Lee’s late disclosure therefore caused no prejudice at
trial.
3.
Plaintiffs’ No. 10 – Audio recordings
At trial, both parties played audio recordings of 911 calls and Gurnee Police
Department radio traffic for the jury. Plaintiffs now argue that it was error to play
the audio for the jury because the jury already had written transcripts of the same.
Dkt. 196 at 13 (“it was improper nonetheless for these statements to be presented to
the jury in any form beyond the written transcript”). Plaintiffs contend that the
“only conceivable purpose in playing the audio recording of a 911 call . . . would be
for the theatrical effect that hearing Altman and the officers’ voices while [sic]
would have on the jury.” Id.
As defendants point out, it was actually the audio that constituted admitted
evidence of what was said during those calls and transmissions. The transcripts, by
contrast, were given to the jury merely as a means of helping them understand this
evidence. The jury was specifically instructed on this point:
You have heard a recording that was received in evidence. This
recording is proper evidence and you may consider it just as any other
evidence. You were given a transcript to use as a guide to help you
follow as you listened to the recording. The transcript is not evidence of
what was actually said or who said it. It is up to you to decide whether
the transcript correctly reflects what was said and who said it. If you
notice any difference between what you heard on the recording and
what you read in the transcript, you must rely on what you heard, not
what you read.
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Thus, contrary to plaintiffs’ position, without the audio there would have been no
basis for publishing the written transcript to the jury.
4.
Plaintiffs’ No. 11 – Presenting the knife
Plaintiffs argue that it was “improper for Defendants’ counsel to be permitted
to present the knife recovered from the scene to the jury.” Dkt. 196 at 13. At trial,
defense counsel calmly presented the knife to the jury one time and only for a few
seconds. While being presented, the knife was securely contained inside a cardboard
box. Counsel was unable to hold the knife by its handle, or to point the tip at any of
the jurors. Defense counsel did not dwell on displaying the weapon, nor did she say
or do anything otherwise sensational while displaying it.
At the same time, the knife was unquestionably relevant to the question
before the jury, because it was the very weapon Altman was holding when Helgesen
shot him. The jury was entitled to see the knife in order to judge whether
Helgesen’s actions were reasonable in light of the totality of the circumstances. For
that same reason, it was appropriate to present the actual knife to the jury, rather
than just a photograph. Briefly and calmly displaying this extremely probative piece
of evidence was not so prejudicial as to require a new trial.
5.
Other damages evidence
In addition to the damages-related rulings discussed above concerning
plaintiffs’ motion in limine number 3, plaintiffs contest the damages-related rulings
on plaintiffs’ motion in limine number 14 and defendants’ motion in limine number
23. These arguments fail, however, because the damages evidence at issue in these
motions was never presented to the jury. As with other claimed errors concerning
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damages-related evidence, the jury’s verdict was not influenced in any way by these
rulings, and therefore, they cannot justify a new trial.
IV.
Conclusion
Plaintiffs’ motion for a new trial, Dkt. 196, is denied. Defendants’ motion for
judgment as a matter of law, Dkt. 189, is terminated as moot.
ENTER:
___________________________
Manish S. Shah
United States District Judge
Date: 10/6/14
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