Hensley et al v. Bulk Transportation et al
Filing
120
ORDER granting Defendants' 114 Motion in Limine (Evidence Related to the Death of the Canine Officer); granting in part and denying in part Defendants' 115 Motion in Limine (Evidence or testimony regarding log books or alleged violations of FMCSR);and granting in part and denying in part Defendants' 116 Motion in Limine (Comprehensive). Signed by District Judge Keith Starrett on June 4, 2014 (dsl)
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF MISSISSIPPI
EASTERN DIVISION
CHRISTOPHER JAY HENSLEY and
LAURIN SUZANNE HENSLEY
V.
PLAINTIFFS
CIVIL ACTION NO. 2:13cv3-KS-MTP
BULK TRANSPORTATION and
TRACY G. MARBLES, INDIVIDUALLY
DEFENDANTS
OPINION AND ORDER
This matter is before the Court on three (3) Motions in Limine filed by the
Defendants Bulk Transportation and Tracy Marbles: 1- Motion in Limine (Evidence
Related to the Death of the Canine Officer) [114]; 2- Motion in Limine (Evidence or
testimony regarding log books or alleged violations of FMCSR) [115]; and 3- Motion in
Limine (Comprehensive) [116]. Having considered the submissions of the parties, the
record, and the applicable law, the Court finds as follows:
Relevant Background
On June 20, 2012, Plaintiff Christopher Hensley was injured in an automobile
accident on Interstate 59 near Hattiesburg, Mississippi. Hensley, a criminal interdiction
officer with the Hattiesburg Police Department, was driving a 2008 Chevrolet Tahoe in a
southern direction along the right shoulder of the northbound lanes of the interstate
when it collided with a northbound tractor-trailer operated by Defendant Tracy Marbles.
Hensley was approaching a stranded vehicle located on the shoulder of the interstate at
the time of the accident. Marbles was employed by Defendant Bulk Transportation at
the time of the collision and was operating the tractor-trailer in the course and scope of
his employment.
On January 10, 2013, Hensley and his wife, Laurin Hensley, filed suit against
Bulk Transportation and Marbles in this Court. (See Compl. [1].) Subject matter
jurisdiction is asserted on the basis of diversity of citizenship under Title 28 U.S.C. §
1332. The Complaint alleges the following state law claims: negligence, negligent
entrustment, outrage, and loss of consortium. On March 18, 2014, Plaintiffs’ claim for
negligent entrustment and request for punitive damages were dismissed with prejudice
via an Agreed Order Granting Defendants’ Motion for Partial Summary Judgment [113].
Standard of Review
The United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit has provided the
following guidance:
A motion in limine is a motion made prior to trial for the purpose of prohibiting
opposing counsel from mentioning the existence of, alluding to, or offering
evidence on matters so highly prejudicial to the moving party that a timely
motion to strike or an instruction by the court to the jury to disregard the
offending matter cannot overcome its prejudicial influence on the jurors'
minds.
O’Rear v. Fruehauf Corp., 554 F.2d 1304, 1306 n.1 (5th Cir. 1977) (citation omitted).
Further, numerous federal courts have found “that motions in limine may be used to
secure a pretrial ruling that certain evidence is admissible.” Bond Pharmacy, Inc. v.
AnazaoHealth Corp., No. 3:11cv58, 2012 WL 3052902, at *2 (S.D. Miss. July 25, 2012)
(citing cases).
Motion in Limine (Evidence Related to the Death of the Canine Officer) [114]
Nero, a Hattiesburg Police Department canine officer, was present in Hensley’s
vehicle at the time of the subject accident and died as a result of the accident.
Defendants request an order from the Court “prohibiting Plaintiffs, their attorneys, and
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witnesses from making any mention of, reference to, comment on, or in any other way
placing before the jury by reference, innuendo, comment, testing or other means,
evidence of any kind which relates to the death of the canine officer . . . .” (Mot. in
Limine [114] at p. 1.) Defendants argue that the death of Nero is irrelevant to any issue
remaining for trial, and that the probative value of the evidence, if any, is substantially
outweighed by the dangers of unfair prejudice and confusion of the issues.
Plaintiffs chiefly argue that Nero’s death is relevant to their claims for damages
for emotional distress and mental anguish. “The evidence of Nero’s death is directly
correlated to the damages suffered by this young family and makes those damages
more probable based on the loss of Christopher’s work partner, best friend, pet and
beloved family member, especially since the Hensleys do not yet have any children of
their own.” (Resp. to Mot. in Limine [117] at p. 4.) This relevance argument is not well
taken.
Plaintiffs fail to cite any court opinion supporting their recovery of emotional
distress damages based on the death of their pet, Nero. Further, the Court has not
identified any Mississippi authority1 providing that a claimant may recover damages for
emotional distress/mental anguish arising from an injury to his or her pet.2 The majority
1
The substantive law of Mississippi applies in this diversity action. See Erie R.R.
Co. v. Tompkins, 304 U.S. 64, 78, 58 S. Ct. 817, 82 L. Ed. 1188 (1938).
2
A Mississippi House Bill authorizing a pet owner to recover not more than
$5,000.00 for the loss of companionship and affection resulting from the negligent or
intentional killing of a domesticated animal has died in committee several times. See
H.B. 179, 2007 Reg. Sess.; H.B. 135, 2006 Reg. Sess.; H.B. 132, 2005 Reg. Sess.;
H.B. 109, 2004 Reg. Sess.; H.B. 84, 2003 Reg. Sess.; H.B. 220, 2002 Reg. Sess.; H.B.
312, 2001 Reg. Sess.
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of courts outside of Mississippi that have considered the issue have held that plaintiffs
are not entitled to such damages. See Strickland v. Medlen, 397 S.W.3d 184, 191-92
(Tex. 2013) (citing the Restatement of the Law of Torts and court opinions from the
majority of states in holding that “we reject emotion-based liability and prohibit recovery
for loss of the human-animal bond”).3 The rationale behind several opinions applying
the majority rule is that pets are considered personal property, and sentimental or
emotional loss is not a legally cognizable component of a property damage award. See,
e.g., Scheele v. Dustin, 188 Vt. 36, 998 A.2d 697, 700 (¶ 9) (Vt. 2010) (“[O]ur case law
is clear that noneconomic damages—as distinct from alternate means of valuing a pet’s
monetary worth—are not available in property actions.”); Carbasho v. Musulin, 217 W.
Va. 359, 618 S.E.2d 368, 371 (W. Va. 2005) (holding that dogs are personal property,
and damages for sentimental value, emotional distress, and mental suffering are
unavailable for the negligently inflicted death of a pet).
Damages for emotional distress arising from the negligent destruction of property
are generally unavailable in Mississippi. See Miss. Tank Co. v. Roan, 254 Miss. 671,
182 So. 2d 582, 584 (Miss. 1966) (finding the plaintiff’s testimony concerning mental
3
Some courts have found that a pet owner may recover for mental suffering
where an animal is intentionally or maliciously injured. See, e.g., Plotnik v. Meihaus,
146 Cal. Rptr. 3d 585, 603 (Cal. Ct. App. 2012) (“We have no doubt that in a proper
case a person’s intentional injuring or killing a pet will support recovery of damages for
intentional infliction of emotional distress.”); Le Porte v. Associated Independents, Inc.,
163 So. 2d 267, 267-68 (Fla. 1964) (garbage collector laughed after throwing a garbage
can that hit and injured the plaintiff’s miniature dachshund); Womack v. Von Rardon,
133 Wash App. 254, 135 P.3d 542, 543 (¶ 2) (Wash. Ct. App. 2006) (minor defendants
used gasoline to set the plaintiff’s cat on fire). The Court has not been apprised of any
claim or allegation that Marbles intentionally sought to kill or injure Nero in colliding with
Hensley’s vehicle.
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anguish due to the loss of his house to be incompetent). “In the early case of
Greenwald v. Yazoo & M. V. R. Co., 115 Miss. 598, 76 So. 557, the court held that the
market value of personal property destroyed [a blue-blooded hunting dog] was the
proper measure of damage.” Miss. Power Co. v. Harrison, 247 Miss. 400, 152 So. 2d
892, 903 (Miss. 1963). This Court has failed to identify any subsequent Mississippi
appellate decision classifying a dog in a different manner for purposes of calculating
damages. This Court has also recognized that emotional distress damages are
unavailable under Mississippi’s wrongful death statute,4 which obviously applies to
humans. See Riley v. Ford Motor Co., No. 2:09cv148, 2011 WL 2516595, at *2 (S.D.
Miss. June 23, 2011) (citing McGowan v. Estate of Wright, 524 So. 2d 308, 311 (Miss.
1988); Bridges v. Enter. Prods. Co., 551 F. Supp. 2d 549, 557 (S.D. Miss. 2008)). The
Court thus ventures an Erie guess and finds that Mississippi courts would follow the
majority rule and not authorize the recovery of emotional distress damages in
connection with the death of a pet, i.e., an animal. Cf. William A. Reppy, Jr., Punitive
Damage Awards in Pet-Death Cases: How Do the Ratio Rules of State Farm v.
Campbell Apply?, 1 J. Animal L. & Ethics 19, 34 (2006) (finding that Mississippi
precedent strongly suggests the tort remedy of intentional infliction of emotional distress
is unavailable in pet-death cases in the state). Accordingly, the death of Nero is
irrelevant to “Plaintiffs’ bereavement, emotional distress and mental anguish claims”
awaiting trial. (Resp. to Mot. in Limine [117] at p. 1.)
Plaintiffs make two additional relevance arguments in opposition to this Motion in
4
Miss. Code Ann. § 11-7-13.
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Limine: (1) the existence of Nero in Hensley’s vehicle explains why Hensley did not
utilize his blue lights at the time of the accident; and (2) Nero’s death substantiates the
high-velocity impact of the subject accident and Marbles’ failure to apply his brakes.
Hensley contends that “he was in tactical mode and could not use his blue lights as their
activation would cause Nero to become hyper, rowdy and start barking thus defeating
the purpose of the tactical mode to investigate the stranded vehicle to determine why it
was there, if there were occupants, etc.” (Resp. to Mot. in Limine [117] at p. 3.) The
Court fails to discern how the existence of a barking dog in a vehicle would defeat the
purpose of tactical mode, while the use of blue lights alone would not. It also appears
that the parties have access to many forms of evidence, other than the fact of Nero’s
death, that may be utilized to prove the circumstances surrounding the subject accident,
viz., the testimony of eye witnesses, the testimony of Marbles and Hensley, expert
witness testimony, the nature and severity of Hensley’s injuries, and the damages to the
vehicles involved. Thus, the probative value of evidence regarding Nero to the trial of
this action is marginal. Also, the dangers of unfair prejudice to the Defendants
(associated with a jury award including compensation for the Plaintiffs’ emotional losses
arising from Nero’s death) and jury confusion (associated with the jury hearing facts that
should not factor into its verdict) substantially outweigh the limited probative value of the
evidence. See Fed. R. Evid. 403.
The Court does not doubt the emotional impact of Nero’s death on the Plaintiffs.
However, the Court finds no basis under Mississippi law for the Plaintiffs to receive
compensation for that emotional loss. The introduction of evidence regarding Nero at
trial would thus distract from the Plaintiffs’ potentially compensable claims and the
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issues of liability central to those causes of action. Therefore, this Motion in Limine
[114] will be granted.
Motion in Limine (Evidence or testimony regarding log books or alleged
violations of FMCSR) [115]
Defendants seek an order precluding the jury from hearing or considering any
arguments, testimony, or evidence regarding Tracy Marbles’ log book entries or
purported violations of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (“FMCSR”). The
Court finds that this motion should be granted in part and denied in part. Evidence
concerning any log book entry made by Marbles more than three (3) days before or
after the date of the subject accident, June 20, 2012, or any alleged FMCSR violations
occurring outside this same time frame, will be excluded from the jury’s consideration.
Bulk Transportation’s (“Bulk”) vicarious liability for Marbles’ alleged acts or omissions is
not in dispute since Bulk has admitted that Marbles was acting in the course and scope
of his employment at the time of the accident. (See Doc. No. [109-3].) Moreover,
Plaintiffs’ negligent entrustment claim against Bulk has been dismissed with prejudice.
(See Agreed Order [113].) As a result, evidence geared toward proving that Bulk
negligently supervised Marbles or negligently entrusted the tractor-trailer to him, such
as Marbles’ involvement in other accidents or his commission of FMCSR violations
unrelated to the subject accident, is irrelevant to the claims pending trial. See Dinger v.
Am. Zurich Ins. Co., No. 3:13cv46, 2014 WL 580889, at *1 (N.D. Miss. Feb. 13, 2014)
(citing numerous cases for the position “that once an employer admits that it is liable for
the employee’s actions, evidence that pertains to issues of the employer’s own
negligence in hiring or supervision becomes redundant and possibly unfairly
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prejudicial”); Nehi Bottling Co. of Ellisville v. Jefferson, 226 Miss. 586, 84 So. 2d 684,
686 (Miss. 1956) (holding that the trial judge erred in allowing the jury to consider
evidence of other accidents since the defendant employer admitted that the defendant
driver was acting in the course and scope of his employment at the time of the subject
accident). Even if relevant, “such evidence would likely mislead and confuse a jury, and
could improperly suggest that what happened on previous occasions necessarily
happened during the accident in question.” Horridge v. Keystone Lines, No.
1:06cv1226, 2008 WL 4514310, at *1 (S.D. Miss. Oct. 1, 2008) (excluding evidence of
other accidents and traffic citations pursuant to Fed. R. Evid. 403); see also Utz v.
Running & Rolling Trucking, Inc., 32 So. 3d 450, 463 (¶¶ 31-32) (Miss. 2010) (affirming
the trial court’s exclusion of a FMCSR violation occurring prior to the accident in
question because it was too remote in time).
On the other hand, Marbles’ log book entries and purported FMCSR violations
occurring at or near the time of the accident may bear upon the ultimate issue of liability
in this case. The Mississippi Supreme Court has stated:
The principle that violation of a statute constitutes negligence per se
is so elementary that it does not require citation of authority. When a statute
is violated, the injured party is entitled to an instruction that the party violating
is guilty of negligence, and if that negligence proximately caused or
contributed to the injury, then the injured party is entitled to recover.
Thomas v. McDonald, 667 So. 2d 594, 596 (Miss. 1995) (quoting Bryant v. Alpha Entm’t
Corp., 508 So. 2d 1094, 1096 (Miss. 1987)). In accordance with this principle, the
Mississippi Supreme Court has approved of a trial court instructing the jury that the
defendants were negligent in failing to comply with the FMCSR. See Utz, 32 So. 3d at
476-77 (¶¶ 84-87). In Utz, the jury was further instructed that they must find that the
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defendants’ FMCSR violations proximately caused the accident in question for liability to
attach. Id. The jury was also permitted to hear “testimony from various witnesses that
the trailer had no reflective tape in violation of the FMCSRs.” Id. at 469 (¶ 56). Under
this precedent, Marbles or Bulk’s alleged FMCSR violations pertaining to the subject
accident could be highly relevant to the Plaintiffs’ negligence claim. Marbles’ log book
entries made close in time to the accident may also weigh upon this claim since it
appears that the falsification of a log book entry constitutes a FMCSR violation. (See
Doc. No. [118-1 at ECF p. 2].) Furthermore, the entries could shed light on the issue of
whether Marbles was fatigued at the time of the collision. Cf. Bridges v. Enter. Prods.
Co., No. 3:05cv786, 2007 WL 465738, at *4 (S.D. Miss. Feb. 8, 2007) (finding that the
plaintiff’s expert could not testify that the defendant driver, Toulmon, was fatigued at the
time of the accident (since the members of the jury could make this determination based
on their own common knowledge and life experiences), but could “testify regarding the
content of the FMCSRs and whether Toulmon was in violation of those Regulations
during the relevant time period”).
Defendants argue that allowing the jury to hear evidence of any log book entries
and alleged FMCSR violations would be extremely prejudicial since the jury could be led
“to believe that any such violation was a proximate cause of the collision.” (Mot. in
Limine [115] at ¶ VII.) The Court is unconvinced by this argument. Proper instruction of
the jury as to their duty to determine proximate cause notwithstanding any FMCSR
violation occurring at the time of the accident should negate any potential prejudice to
the Defendants. See Utz, 32 So. 3d at 476-77 (¶¶ 84-87). Therefore, the Defendants’
request for a pretrial ruling excluding all evidence of Marbles’ log book entries and
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alleged FMCSR violations will be denied without prejudice.
Motion in Limine (Comprehensive) [116]
This motion concerns each of the subjects of information addressed below.
1. Evidence of prior traffic violations of Tracy Marbles
The Plaintiffs’ Response [119] does not address this request for exclusion.
Therefore, this portion of the motion is granted as unopposed. The Plaintiffs are
prohibited from presenting arguments, statements, or evidence in front of the jury at trial
regarding any speeding tickets or traffic violations of Tracy Marbles predating the
subject accident.
2. Evidence of Marbles’ prior felony arrests
The Plaintiffs’ Response [119] does not address this request for exclusion.
Therefore, this portion of the motion is granted as unopposed. The Plaintiffs are
prohibited from presenting arguments, statements, or evidence in front of the jury at trial
regarding Tracy Marbles’ prior felony arrests.
3. Testimony of Laurin Hensley relative to Christopher Hensley’s medical
diagnosis, treatment, and injuries
Defendants assert that Laurin Hensley should be precluded from offering
testimony regarding her husband’s medical diagnosis, treatment, and injuries since she
has not been designated as an expert witness and since Christopher Hensley’s treating
physicians will testify at trial. Plaintiffs argue that Laurin Hensley will not be called to
offer expert medical testimony, but that she is a critical fact witness regarding
Christopher Hensley’s injuries, the treatment of those injuries, and how the injuries have
changed both of their lives. The Court finds that no undue prejudice will result from the
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Defendants being required to assert objections at trial to the testimony of Laurin
Hensley that they contend constitutes impermissible expert witness testimony under
Federal Rule of Evidence 702, and not permissible fact witness testimony relating to
Christopher Hensley’s damage claims and Laurin Hensley’s separate allegation of loss
of consortium. Thus, this portion of the motion is denied without prejudice to the
Defendants’ ability to assert specific objections at trial.
4. Reconstruction testimony of Joseph W. Seals
Defendants argue that Mississippi Highway Patrolman Joseph W. Seals should
be precluded from offering any testimony tantamount to opinions of an accident
reconstruction expert since he has not been tendered as an expert witness and since he
admitted at deposition that he did not perform any type of accident reconstruction
pertaining to the subject accident. According to the Defendants, Patrolman Seals is not
properly qualified to render expert testimony under Rule 702, and his opinions exceed
the permissible scope of lay witness testimony under Federal Rule of Evidence 701.
Plaintiffs counter with several assertions: (i) Patrolman Seals is a certified accident
reconstructionist; (ii) he investigated the accident scene as part of his official duties with
the Mississippi Highway Patrol; and (iii) he is a rebuttal witness that can rebut the
testimony of the law enforcement officer that prepared the official accident report.
There is presently insufficient information before the Court for it to determine
whether Patrolman Seals is qualified to offer expert witness testimony under Rule 702.
In addition, the Court has not been fairly apprised of the substance of Patrolman Seals’
expected testimony. Therefore, a determination cannot be made at the present time as
to whether Patrolman Seals’ opinions are “based on scientific, technical, or other
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specialized knowledge”, rendering them outside the permissible scope of lay witness
testimony under Rule 701. Fed. R. Evid. 701(c).
This Court has previously recognized that accident reconstruction opinion
testimony of law enforcement officers, “who are not competent to testify as accident
reconstructionists, violates the evidentiary standards of Rule 701 F.R.E.” Graves ex rel.
W.A.G. v. Toyota Motor Corp., No. 2:09cv169, 2011 WL 4590772, at *9 (S.D. Miss.
Sept. 30, 2011) (citing Duhon v. Marceaux, 33 Fed. App. 703, 2002 WL 432383 (5th Cir.
Feb. 25, 2002)). The Court has also taken note of the potential for prejudice associated
with a uniformed officer instructing the jury as to the cause of an accident based on
unsupported assumptions. See id. at *10 (holding that law enforcement officers could
testify regarding their personal observations of the accident scene, but could not offer
opinions or conclusions concerning the cause of the accident). Accordingly, the Court
will partially grant this request for exclusion. Plaintiffs may not reference or place before
the jury any opinion testimony from Patrolman Seals until the Court has heard a proffer
outside the presence of the jury and made a ruling as to whether the testimony is
admissible under Rule 701 or 702.
5. Evidence of insurance
The Plaintiffs’ Response [119] does not address this request for exclusion.
Therefore, this portion of the motion is granted as unopposed. The Plaintiffs are
prohibited from presenting arguments, statements, or evidence in front of the jury at trial
regarding liability insurance.
6. Evidence of other lawsuits
The Plaintiffs’ Response [119] does not address this request for exclusion.
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Therefore, this portion of the motion is granted as unopposed. The Plaintiffs are
prohibited from presenting arguments, statements, or evidence in front of the jury at trial
regarding other lawsuits or claims filed by any of the parties to this action.
7. Evidence or comments meant to inflame the jury
Defendants seek to prohibit Plaintiffs’ counsel from referencing facts or making
arguments intended to inflame the jury and induce a verdict based on passion and
prejudice. “Specifically, the Defendants move the Court to prohibit Plaintiffs’ counsel
from making several arguments including any reference to the Defendants’ size or
wealth or appeals to local prejudice against them.” (Mot. in Limine [116] at p. 4.)
Plaintiffs argue that this request is premature and that the matter can be resolved
through objections by the parties, jury instructions, and/or post-trial motions.
Conscience of the community arguments are disfavored in the Fifth Circuit.
“Arguments which invite a jury to act on behalf of a litigant become improper
‘conscience of the community’ arguments when the parties’ relative popular appeal,
identities, or geographical locations are invoked to prejudice the viewpoint of the jurors.”
Guar. Serv. Corp. v. Am. Employers’ Ins. Co., 893 F.2d 725, 729 (5th Cir. 1990). Usagainst-them pleas “can have no appeal other than to prejudice by pitting ‘the
community’ against a nonresident corporation. Such argument is an improper
distraction from the jury’s sworn duty to reach a fair, honest and just verdict according to
the facts and evidence presented at trial.” Westbrook v. Gen. Tire & Rubber Co., 754
F.2d 1233, 1238 (5th Cir. 1985). A district judge may order a new trial based on the
submission of “conscience of the community” remarks if he or she believes the remarks
infected the jury’s deliberations and conclusions. Guar. Serv. Corp., 893 F.2d at 729.
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The Court is not inclined to entertain post-trial motions resulting from the
submission of improper “conscience of the community” or “us-against-them” arguments.
Moreover, the Court sees no legitimate basis for waiting to correct the submission of
improper arguments to the jury through rulings on objections or jury instructions when
the issue can be resolved via a pretrial exclusionary ruling. See Landrum v. Conseco
Life Ins. Co., No. 1:12cv5, 2014 WL 28861, at *6 (S.D. Miss. Jan. 2, 2014) (granting the
defendant’s motion in limine with respect to any request for the jury to send a message
or serve as the conscience of the community); Riley v. Ford Motor Co., No. 2:09cv148,
2011 WL 3273592, at *4 (S.D. Miss. July 29, 2011) (same). Accordingly, the
Defendants’ specific request for the exclusion of arguments to the jury referencing the
Defendants’ size or wealth,5 or appeals to local prejudice against the Defendants is
granted.
On the other hand, Defendants’ general request for the exclusion of facts or
arguments meant to inflame the jury is denied without prejudice to the Defendants’
ability to assert specific objections at trial. This request is too broad and indefinite to
enable an exclusionary ruling at this time. Generally, the Court cannot assess evidence
or arguments that are not before it, and the Court declines to guess what specific
arguments the Plaintiffs may make that could induce a jury verdict based on passion
and prejudice.
Conclusion
IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED AND ADJUDGED that the Defendants’ Motion in
5
The Defendants’ size or wealth appears to be irrelevant to the trial of this action
given the dismissal of the Plaintiffs’ request for punitive damages.
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Limine (Evidence Related to the Death of the Canine Officer) [114] is granted. Plaintiffs
and their counsel are prohibited from presenting arguments, statements, or evidence in
front of the jury at trial regarding the death of Nero, or Nero’s presence in Christopher
Hensley’s vehicle at the time of the subject accident.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED AND ADJUDGED that the Defendants’ Motion in
Limine (Evidence or testimony regarding log books or alleged violations of FMCSR)
[115] is granted in part and denied in part. The motion is granted to the extent that
counsel for the Plaintiffs shall not mention nor attempt to place before the jury, through
witnesses or otherwise, any information about any log book entry made by Tracy
Marbles more than three (3) days before or after the date of the subject accident, June
20, 2012, or any alleged violations of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations
occurring outside this same time frame. The motion is otherwise denied without
prejudice.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED AND ADJUDGED that the Defendants’ Motion in
Limine (Comprehensive) [116] is granted in part and denied in part, as outlined above.
SO ORDERED AND ADJUDGED this the 4th day of June, 2014.
s/Keith Starrett
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
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