Finnie v. Lee County, Mississippi et al

Filing 99

ORDER granting in part, denying in part, deferring in part 88 Motion in Limine. Signed by District Judge Sharion Aycock on 7/13/2012. (kmc)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF MISSISSIPPI
EASTERN DIVISION

CRYSTAL N. FINNIE

PLAINTIFF
CIVIL ACTION NO. 1:10cv64-SA-DAS

v.
LEE COUNTY, MISSISSIPPI and
JIM H. JOHNSON, SHERIFF
OF LEE COUNTY, MISSISSIPPI,
In His Official Capacity

DEFENDANTS

ORDER
With regard to the motions in limine [88] presently pending in the above-entitled action,
the Court rules as follows:
1. Defendants’ first motion in limine to exclude religious references will be granted in part
and denied in part. The motion is granted to the extent counsel makes improper religious
references that “are [not] probative of an issue raised at trial” and/or that “indicate that
the jury should consider the teachings or beliefs of [a] diety or any religious references in
addition to or to the exclusion of law.” Whitfield v. Harris, 474 F. Supp. 2d 822, 825
(N.D. Miss. 2008).
2. Defendants’ second motion in limine seeks to exclude evidence of Plaintiff’s prior work
record. The Court does not know what information, if any, Plaintiff seeks to introduce at
trial, or for what purpose(s) such information would be used. The Court, therefore,
currently denies Defendants’ motion in limine. Yet, the Court notes that it will entertain
the issue upon a timely objection made by Defendants’ counsel at trial.

3. Defendants’ third motion in limine seeks a court instruction regarding Plaintiffs’ religious
discrimination claim. The Court defers ruling on this motion until trial, at which time the
Court will hear arguments on the issue from the parties.

So ordered on this, the _13th__ day of ___July______, 2012.

/s/ Sharion Aycock
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE