Quinn v. Henry Ford Health System

Filing 72

ORDER Granting 57 Motion in Limine; Granting 58 Motion in Limine; Granting 59 Motion in Limine; Denying 60 Motion in Limine; Denying 61 Motion in Limine; Denying 62 Motion in Limine; and Grants in Part and Denying in Part 63 Motion in Limine. Signed by District Judge Victoria A. Roberts. (LVer)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE EASTERN DISTICT OF MICHIGAN
SOUTHERN DIVISION
QIANA QUINN,
Plaintiff,

Case No. 15-10653
Honorable Victoria A. Roberts

v.
HENRY FORD HEALTH SYSTEM,
Defendant.
______________________________/

ORDER REGARDING MOTIONS IN LIMINE [Docs. 57-63] and REQUIRING
COUNSEL TO MEET AND CONFER IN PERSON REGARDING THE JFPTO
On January 17, 2017, the Court held a hearing on the parties’ motions in limine,
at which Marla Linderman appeared for Plaintiff Qiana Quinn and Terrence Miglio and
Barbara Buchanan appeared for Defendant Henry Ford Health System (“HFHS”). Ms.
Buchanan has not filed a notice of appearance in this case; she must do so by January
25, 2017.
For the reasons stated on the record, the Court:
1. GRANTS HFHS’s motions to exclude evidence: (1) of Quinn’s EEOC
charges and EEOC determination letter [Doc. 57]; (2) of dismissed claims
[Doc. 58]; and (3) regarding Alecia Harris’s prior lawsuit [Doc. 59];
2. RESERVES RULING on whether Harris can testify as a rebuttal witness;
3. DENIES HFHS’s motions to exclude evidence of: (1) Quinn’s inflammatory
claim that she considered getting an abortion [Doc. 61]; and (2) secretly
recorded telephone calls [Doc. 60]. Whether the recorded phone call with
Wilma Ruffin is a complete and accurate recording is for the jury to decide;
4. DENIES Quinn’s motion to exclude evidence of her July 2013 medical
note [R. 62]; and

5. GRANTS IN PART and DENIES IN PART Quinn’s motion regarding
Plaintiff’s husband, Officer Mitchell Quinn [R. 63]. The Court bars
evidence regarding the alleged assault in 2008 and lawsuit in 2000. If
Quinn introduces evidence that she continued to suffer emotional distress
after April 27, 2015, as a result of not receiving the CSC II position, the
fact that Officer Quinn fatally shot a suspect on April 27, 2015, is
admissible for the limited purpose of showing the effect the ensuing media
scrutiny had on Quinn’s emotional state. The Court RESERVES RULING
on whether, and to what extent, HFHS can introduce evidence and/or
news articles regarding the media scrutiny Quinn and her family faced as
a result of the shooting. Evidence related to the underlying facts of the
shooting is inadmissible.
After the hearing, the Court conducted a final pretrial conference. Counsel for
the parties were unprepared for this conference, and their joint final pretrial order
(“JFPTO”) did not comply with this Court’s order and was far from complete. Their
neglect and failure to work in good faith with one another is unacceptable.
Due to their inexcusable failure to comply with the Court’s order regarding
JFPTO and final pretrial conference, Ms. Linderman and Mr. Miglio must meet and
confer in person regarding the JFPTO before January 27, 2017; they must finish the
incomplete portions of the JFPTO and attempt in good faith to resolve the disputes
related to jury instructions, voir dire, trial exhibits, and other objected-to issues.
By 5:00pm on January 27, 2017, counsel must file a joint statement with the
Court: (1) describing when, where, and for how long they met; and (2) setting forth any
unresolved issues related to the JFPTO and the reason those issues are unresolved.
After January 27, 2017, counsel must continue to work together on the JFPTO,
and the Court expects that the list of unresolved issues in their January 27 joint
statement will be narrowed. The parties must submit via email a revised JFPTO that
strictly complies with the Court’s orders by February 1, 2017, and must deliver two

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courtesy copies of the revised JFPTO to the Court by 5:00pm that day. Failure to
comply with this and/or previous orders regarding the JFPTO will result in sanctions.
IT IS ORDERED.
S/Victoria A. Roberts
Victoria A. Roberts
United States District Judge
Dated: January 18, 2017
The undersigned certifies that a copy of this
document was served on the attorneys of
record by electronic means or U.S. Mail on
January 18, 2017.
s/Linda Vertriest
Deputy Clerk

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