Dorman v. Clinton, Township of

Filing 175

ORDER Granting Defendant's Request to Exclude Punitive Damages. Signed by District Judge Matthew F. Leitman. (HRya)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF MICHIGAN
SOUTHERN DIVISION
MICHAEL DORMAN, et al.,
Plaintiffs,

Case No. 15-cv-12552
Hon. Matthew F. Leitman

v.
TOWNSHIP OF CLINTON,
Defendant.
__________________________________________________________________/
ORDER GRANTING DEFENDANT’S REQUEST
TO EXCLUDE PUNITIVE DAMAGES
Defendant Clinton Township has requested that the Court bar Plaintiffs from
seeking an award of punitive damages at trial under either 42 U.S.C. § 1983 or the
Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act. The parties thereafter filed
several supplemental briefs on this issue. (See Supp. Brs., ECF Nos. 163, 165, 167,
170, 171, 173, 174.) On July 11, 2022, the Court held an on-the-record status
conference to discuss the punitive damages issue. For the reasons explained on the
record during that conference, the Township’s request is GRANTED. Absent
further order of the Court, Plaintiffs shall not mention punitive damages at trial, and
they shall not be permitted to seek an award of punitive damages from the jury.
It is further ordered that for the reasons explained on the record during the
status conference, the July 12, 2022, trial in this matter is ADJOURNED.

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Finally, Plaintiffs may file a motion asking the Court to certify its punitive
damages ruling for an interlocutory appeal by no later than August 8, 2022. The
Township may file a response by no later than September 6, 2022.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
s/Matthew F. Leitman
MATTHEW F. LEITMAN
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
Dated: July 11, 2022
I hereby certify that a copy of the foregoing document was served upon the
parties and/or counsel of record on July 11, 2022, by electronic means and/or
ordinary mail.
s/Holly A. Ryan
Case Manager
[phone]

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