Salinas v. Speedway LLC

Filing 31

OPINION AND ORDER granting in part and denying in part 16 Motion in Limine as set forth in order. Signed by Magistrate Judge Paul R Cherry on 3/31/15. (mc)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
NORTHERN DISTRICT OF INDIANA
HAMMOND DIVISION
ALFONSO SALINAS, SR.,
Plaintiff,
v.
SPEEDWAY, L.L.C.,
Defendant.

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Cause No. 2:13-CV-370-PRC

OPINION AND ORDER
This matter is before the Court on the Plaintiff’s Motion In Limine [DE 16] filed with the
Court on March 10, 2015; on Defendant’s Response in Opposition to Plaintiff’s Motion in Limine
filed with the Court on March 30, 2015; and on Plaintiff’s Reply to Defendant’s Response to
Plaintiff’s Motion in Limine filed with the Court on March 31, 2015.
In determination of these issues the Court FINDS, ORDERS, ADJUDGES, and
DECREES:
Federal Rule of Evidence 104 provides, in part: “Preliminary questions concerning . . .
admissibility of evidence shall be determined by the Court.” Motions in Limine to exclude evidence
prior to trial are subject to a rigorous standard of review. Courts may bar evidence in limine “only
when evidence is clearly inadmissible on all potential grounds.” Dartey v. Ford Motor Co., 104 F.
Supp. 2d 1017, 1020 (N.D. Ind. 2000) (quoting Hawthorne Partners v. AT&T Tech., 831 F. Supp.
1398, 1400 (N.D. Ill. 1993)). If evidence does not meet this standard, “the evidentiary rulings should
be deferred until trial so that questions of foundation, relevance and potential prejudice may be
resolved in proper context.” Id. (quoting Hawthorne, 831 F. Supp. at 1400).
A court’s rulings in limine are preliminary in nature and subject to change. In this Order the
Court is not making final determination on the admissibility of any evidence. The Court reserves the

right to change these rulings during the trial should the Court find that the evidence or arguments
at trial justify such change.

1.
RULING:

2.

Evidence of or argument about who pays the verdict if the jury awards damages.
The Plaintiff’s Motion In Limine is GRANTED in this regard.

Argument that Plaintiff Salinas failed to mitigate his damages unless the evidence
shows otherwise.

RULING:

3.

The Plaintiff’s Motion In Limine is GRANTED in this regard.

Argument that Plaintiff Salinas’ medical expenses and worker’s compensation
payments were paid by his employer without also arguing or presenting by evidence
that worker’s compensation payments must be reimbursed.

RULING:

4.

The Plaintiff’s Motion In Limine is GRANTED in this regard.

Evidence of or argument about prior unrelated medical conditions of, and unrelated
medications taken by, Plaintiff Salinas or any other trial witness.

RULING:

5.

The Plaintiff’s Motion In Limine is GRANTED in this regard.

Evidence of or argument about other accidents, unrelated injuries, or other lawsuits
suffered by, or filed by, Plaintiff Salinas.

RULING:

The Plaintiff’s Motion In Limine is GRANTED in this regard.

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6.

Evidence of or argument about physician Dr. Ralph W. Richter, Jr. stating that
Plaintiff Salinas has a zero impairment rating for worker’s compensation purposes.

RULING:

7.

The Plaintiff’s Motion In Limine is DENIED in this regard.

Evidence of or argument that no other invitee has been injured at the area on the
premises where Plaintiff Salinas fell.

RULING:

8.

The Plaintiff’s Motion In Limine is DENIED in this regard.

Argument that litigation is like trying to win a lottery or other similar argument or
comments.

RULING:

The Plaintiff’s Motion In Limine is GRANTED in this regard.

Wherefore, the Plaintiff’s Motions In Limine [DE 16] is GRANTED in part and DENIED
in part.
SO ORDERED this 31st day of March, 2015.

s/ Paul R. Cherry
MAGISTRATE JUDGE PAUL R. CHERRY
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

cc: All counsel of record

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