Fernandez et al v. HR Parking Inc et al

Filing 108

ORDER: Pretrial materials as specified in the Order are due December 20, 2019. In order to provide the described materials by the above due date, the parties must cooperate in the preparation of these materials and their preparation must begin well in advance of the due date. The parties are directed to contact each other immediately on receipt of this Order to set up a schedule to exchange materials and otherwise comply with this Order. (Signed by Magistrate Judge Gabriel W. Gorenstein on 11/20/2019) (rch)

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK

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BRYAN FERNANDEZ, et al.,
TRIAL ORDER-JURY

Plaintiffs,
-v.-

16 Civ. 2762 (GWG)
HR PARKING INC., et al.,
Defendants.

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GABRIEL W. GORENSTEIN, UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
Discovery having concluded in this matter, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the
following procedures shall govern the trial in this matter:
Prior to Trial
l .(a). The parties shall file a proposed joint pretrial order in compliance with paragraph
3.B. of this Court's Individual Practices on or before December 20, 2019.
The Court's Individual Practices are available from the Clerk's Office and via the
internet at: https ://nysd. uscourts.gov/hon-gabriel-w-gorenstein
(b). In addition, the parties must prepare jointly and file with the Court on or before
December 20, 2019, three separate documents: (1) a list of any voir dire questions that the
parties request to be asked of prospective jurors; (2) requests to charge; and (3) a proposed
verdict sheet. To the extent a party objects to another party's requested voir dire questions,
requests to charge or proposed verdict sheet questions, that party should ( 1) set forth the grounds
for that objection (or refer to the trial memorandum of law for a full discussion of the objection)
and (2) propose an alternative. All requests to charge, all objections and all alternative proposals
must include citation to authority. If the filed copy on ECF is not in text searchable format,
these materials must also be submitted on disk, CD-ROM, or via e-mail, either in WordPerfect
or Word format. (Counsel should contact the Court's Deputy Clerk, Ms. Chambers, for theemail address).
(c). Each party must also file a Trial Memorandum of Law on the same date addressed to
any issue of law that the party expects to arise at or before trial. Should a party's memorandum
oflaw or other filings raise an issue that is not addressed in the opposing party's trial
memorandum, the opposing party may submit a second trial memorandum of law in response
within 10 days.

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(d). On or before December 20, 2019, the parties shall deliver to the Court (with a copy
to their adversary) a looseleaf binder or binders containing: (1) a listing of that party's proposed
exhibits (by number or letter) and, following each listed exhibit, a short description of the
exhibit, followed by a notation indicating whether the other party has made objection to such
exhibit and on what basis (as reflected in the portion of the pre-trial order responding to
paragraph 3.B.x of the Court's Individual Practices); (2) a copy of each of the party's proposed
exhibits ordered sequentially; (3) following the exhibits, a copy of any deposition testimony the
party intends to offer in its case in chief (i.e. not for impeachment); and (4) copies of any charts
or other demonstrative evidence, if available. If a document is too bulky to be placed into the
looseleaf binder, it may be submitted separately in an unsealed envelope or redweld marked with
the exhibit number, or on a disk.
The parties shall add page numbers to any exhibit of more than 5 pages that does not
already contain page numbers.
No exhibit is in evidence unless it is offered at trial and admitted into evidence by the
Court. Parties should bring to the trial the originals of exhibits already bearing a sticker or other
marking reflecting the exhibit number or letter.
Motions in limine not contained in the Trial Memorandum discussed in paragraph 1(c)
above may be served without leave of the court. Such motions shall be made as soon as
practicable and, barring extraordinary circumstances, not later than 21 days before the trial date.
Any response shall be made by memorandum of law or by letter within 7 days thereafter.
Summary of filing procedures:
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The following documents shall be filed on ECF with a courtesy copy sent (by mail or
hand delivery to the Mailroom) to Chambers: (1) the proposed Joint Pretrial Order; (2)
the proposed voir dire questions; (3) the requests to charge, accompanied by a proposed
verdict sheet; (4) the Trial Memorandum of Law (if any); and (5) any motion in limine. 1

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The looseleaf binder that includes the exhibit list and exhibits shall be sent (by mail or
hand delivery to the Mailroom) to Chambers and not filed.

2. In order to provide the described materials by the above due date, the parties
must cooperate in the preparation of these materials and their preparation must begin well
in advance of the due date. The parties are directed to contact each other immediately on
receipt of this Order to set up a schedule to exchange materials and otherwise comply with this
Order. In the rare event that a lack of cooperation makes a joint submission impossible, each
party is required to submit its own proposals separately on the due date. The Court will

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,If items (2) and (3) are not filed in a text searchable format on ECF, they must be
submitted to Chambers in such a format (such as WordPerfect or Word) on a CD-ROM, or via email. (Counsel should contact Ms. Chambers for the e-mail address).
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thereafter issue an appropriate sanction to the party or parties that it determines failed to
cooperate.
Extensions of the due dates are granted only upon a showing of good cause, and only
where a request is made well in advance of the deadline or there has been an unforeseeable
emergency. The parties are warned that their failure to comply with this order may result in
sanctions, including but not limited to dismissal, judgment by default, a monetary sanction
and/or contempt.
3. Following receipt of the above materials, the Court will schedule a conference with the
parties, at which the Court will set a firm trial date.
Conduct of Trial
4. On the first day of trial, counsel must arrive at 9:30 a.m. to Courtroom 6-B. Plaintiffs
first witness on the first trial day must be ready to testify at noon. On all subsequent days,
counsel must arrive at or before 9:00 a.m., unless the Court directs otherwise. Testimony will
generally be taken between 9:15 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. from Monday through Friday. There will be
a lunch break generally beginning at about 1 p.m. and lasting until 2 p.m. Counsel must return
to the Courtroom by 2 p.m. unless otherwise directed by the Court. If at any time during trial an
emergency prevents counsel's prompt attendance, counsel should immediately call the
courtroom at [phone] or chambers at [phone].
If counsel are aware or become aware of any reason why they will be unable to comply
with the above schedule for the duration of the trial, they must notify the Court immediately by
letter.

5. When a party's case commences, that party is expected to have witnesses available to
fill the trial day as described in the preceding paragraph. Counsel are warned that if they do not
have a witness available to testify at any point during the trial day, the Court may deem the party
to have rested. Any requests to schedule a witness out of order and/or for a particular day must
be made by a letter application that states the opposing party's position and that is sent (1) prior
to trial and (2) as soon as counsel is aware (or should have been aware) of the limited availability
of that witness. Untimely applications will be denied. Counsel are expected to be diligent in
inquiring as to the availability of all witnesses (including expert witnesses) to ensure compliance
with this paragraph.
6. Opening statements must be devoid of argument or discussions of the law. Each
party's opening statement is limited to 15 minutes unless application is made in advance to the
Court to increase this time based on the complexity of the case. The requirement of
contemporaneous objection applies to opening statements.
7. Speaking objections are prohibited. Counsel shall say the word "objection" followed
by a word or brief phrase to indicate the nature of the objection (for example, "objection,
hearsay"; "objection, Rule 403"). The Court will not normally conduct a sidebar during the trial.
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Counsel are expected to anticipate any problems that might require a ruling from the Court and
to raise those issues with the Court outside the presence of the jury and in advance of the time
that the jury will be hearing the evidence. In the alternative, such issues must be raised at the
next break in the trial and outside the presence of the jury. In the rare event that an immediate
ruling is required to avoid prejudice, counsel may request a sidebar. No argument shall take
place in front of the jury.
8. Only one counsel may question a particular witness or address the Court with respect
to that witness, including making objections to opposing counsel's examination of that witness.
Counsel shall question the witness either from the lectern or counsel table. If it is necessary to
approach the witness or the bench, counsel shall request permission from the Court to do so. No
witness (or other party) shall be referred to by first name unless that witness or party is a minor.
Questions to witnesses shall not summarize or repeat the witness's prior testimony.
9. Persons at the counsel tables shall not make gestures, facial expressions or audible
comments at any time during trial. Counsel are responsible for informing all persons at their
table of this rule.
10. Unless counsel request otherwise prior to trial, depositions offered in lieu of live
testimony will not be read to the jury. Instead, counsel should make sufficient copies of those
depositions or sections of depositions so that each juror has a complete set. If the volume of
such transcripts warrants it, the transcripts should be place in a binder. The jury will be given
time to read the depositions at home, or if appropriate, in the courthouse.
11. If counsel intend to distribute copies of documentary exhibits to the jury, a separate
copy must be supplied for each juror.
12. Defendant's counsel will give a closing argument first, followed by plaintiffs
counsel. No rebuttal is allowed unless plaintiffs counsel makes an argument that defendant's
counsel could not reasonably have anticipated. The requirement of contemporaneous objection
applies to closing arguments.
13. Counsel should make certain that they have custody of all their original exhibits
during the trial, At the start of deliberations, all exhibits admitted into evidence will be
automatically sent into the jury room. Counsel should regain custody of the exhibits following
the verdict as the Clerk is not responsible for them. See Local Civil Rule 39. l(a).
14. Counsel and the parties should stand when the jury enters and exits the courtroom.
Counsel must stand when addressing the Court or questioning a witness. Counsel or parties with
disabilities will be excused from this requirement.
15. If a witness needs an interpreter, the party calling such witness must arrange for the
presence of a certified simultaneous interpreter (a consecutive interpreter is not acceptable).
Similarly, a party needing an interpreter must arrange for the presence of a such an interpreter.

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Experienced simultaneous interpreters are readily available in the commercial marketplace.
Counsel should call chambers if there is any difficulty in securing an interpreter.
16. Post-verdict motions must be made within the time permitted by the applicable rules.

17. The attention of counsel is directed to Local Civil Rule 4 7 .1, which provides that the
Court may assess the parties or counsel with the cost of one day's attendance of the jurors
(approximately $1000.00) if a case is settled after the jury has been summoned or during trial. A
civil jury is considered summoned for a trial as of noon of the business day prior to the
designated date of the trial. The Court has typically assessed such costs.

SO ORDERED
Dated: November 20, 2019
New York, New York

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