Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-casd-3_08-cv-02345/USCOURTS-casd-3_08-cv-02345-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 440
Nature of Suit: Other Civil Rights
Cause of Action: 42:1983 Civil Rights Act

---

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

JEFFREY GORMAN,

Plaintiff,

CASE NO. 08-cv-2345 - IEG (RBB)

ORDER DENYING PLAINTIFF’S

MOTION FOR A NEW TRIAL

[Doc. No. 107]

vs.

CITY OF SAN DIEGO, SAN DIEGO

POLICE DEPARTMENT, WILLIAM

LANSDOWNE, as an individual and Chief

of Police of City of San Diego, MICHAEL

AGUIRRE, as City Attorney of San Diego,

and as an individual, OFFICER JAMES

ZIRPOLOG #4310, OFFICER D. SPITZER

#4665, OFFICER G. MACPHEE #4940,

SERGEANT B. DARE #2438, individually

and as peace officers, and DOES 1-15,

inclusive,

Defendants.

Presently before the Court is Plaintiff Jeffrey Gorman (“Plaintiff”)’s motion for a new trial

pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 59. [Doc. No. 107.] For the reasons set forth below,

the Court DENIES the motion.

BACKGROUND

Plaintiff, a paraplegic, was arrested for driving under the influence (“DUI”) by San Diego

Police Department officers on December 19, 2006 as a result of a traffic stop. [Doc. No. 40 at 2.] 

Plaintiff contended that during the course of his arrest, he was subjected to excessive force on

three separate occasions. First, that his transportation in the backseat of a patrol car instead of a

- 1 - 08cv2345

Case 3:08-cv-02345-IEG-RBB Document 121 Filed 05/21/12 Page 1 of 14
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

wheelchair accessible vehicle while Officer James Zirpolo drove at excessive speeds constituted

excessive force. [Doc. No. 38 at 2-3.] Second, that the officers pulling him out of the patrol car,

laying him on the ground of the police department sally port, and conducting a forced blood draw

constituted excessive force. [Id.] Third, that Officer Zirpolo yanking him out of the car and

dropping him on the ground at the jail constituted excessive force. [Id.]

On December 18, 2008, Plaintiff filed a civil rights action against Defendants City of San

Diego, the San Diego Police Department (“SDPD”), Chief of Police William Lansdowne (“Chief

Lansdowne”), Michael Aguirre (“Aguirre”), Officer James Zirpolo (“Officer Zirpolo”), Officer D.

Spitzer (“Officer Spitzer”), Officer G. Macphee (“Officer Macphee”), Sergeant B. Dare (“Sgt.

Dare”) alleging causes of action for (1) violation of his right to be free from excessive force and

false arrest under the Fourth Amendment pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983; (2) municipal liability

pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983 for the unlawful policy, custom, or habit of permitting or condoning

excessive force by police officers; and (3) violation of California Civil Code §§ 51, 51.7, 52(b),

and 52.1(b). [Doc. No. 1, Compl.] Prior to the pre-trial conference, Plaintiff dismissed Defendant

Aguirre and abandoned his claims for false arrest and violation of California Civil Code §§ 51,

51.7, 52(b), and 52.1(b). [Doc. No. 38 at 4.]

The Court held an eight-day jury trial in this matter beginning on February 7, 2012. [Doc.

No. 86.] At the conclusion of Plaintiff’s case in chief, on February 10, 2012, the Court granted

Defendant’s oral Rule 50(a) motion and dismissed Defendants City of San Diego, SDPD, and

Chief Lansdowne. [Doc. Nos. 89, 100.] The trial proceeded with the remaining Defendants. On

February 16, 2012, the jury returned a special verdict finding that none of the Defendants’ actions

constituted unreasonable or excessive force. [Doc. No. 99.] On February 22, 2012, the Court

entered judgment in favor of Defendants and against Plaintiff. [Doc. No. 101.]

By the present motion, Plaintiff moves for a new trial pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil

Procedure 59. [Doc. No. 107.] Plaintiff moves for a new trial on eleven different grounds. [See

id.] The Court addresses each of these grounds below.

///

///

- 2 - 08cv2345

Case 3:08-cv-02345-IEG-RBB Document 121 Filed 05/21/12 Page 2 of 14
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

DISCUSSION

I. Legal Standard for a Motion for New Trial

Under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 59(a)(1), the Court may grant a new trial “on all or

some of the issues . . . (A) after a jury trial, for any reason for which a new trial has heretofore

been granted in an action at law in federal court.” Because “Rule 59 does not specify the grounds

on which a motion for a new trial may be granted,” district courts are “bound by those grounds

that have been historically recognized.” Zhang v. Am. Gem Seafoods, Inc., 339 F.3d 1020, 1035

(9th Cir. 2003). Those grounds include (1) a verdict that is contrary to the weight of the evidence,

(2) a verdict that is based on false or perjurious evidence, (3) that damages are excessive, or (4) to

prevent a miscarriage of justice. Molski v. M .J. Cable, Inc., 481 F.3d 724, 729 (9th Cir. 2007). 

Erroneous evidentiary rulings and errors in jury instructions are also grounds for a new trial. See

Ruvalcaba v. City of Los Angeles, 64 F.3d 1323, 1328 (9th Cir. 1995); Murphy v. City of Long

Beach, 914 F.2d 183, 187 (9th Cir. 1990).

“The grant of a new trial is ‘confided almost entirely to the exercise of discretion on the

part of the trial court.’” Murphy, 914 F.2d at 186. In addition, due to the inherently fact-specific

nature of the Rule 59(a) inquiry, a district court’s order denying a motion for a new trial will

generally stand on appeal provided there is some reasonable basis for the jury’s verdict. Molski,

481 F.3d at 729. It is reversible error, however, for a district court to deny a Rule 59(a) motion for

new trial where there is an “absolute absence of evidence to support the jury’s verdict.” Id.

II. Analysis

A. Defendants’ Failure to Provide Plaintiff With A Reasonable Accommodation

Plaintiff argues that a new trial is justified because the Defendants were required as a

matter of law to provide him with a reasonable accommodation when transporting him. [Doc. No.

107-1 at 2-5.] Specifically, Plaintiff argues that it is undisputed that he was transported from the

scene of his arrest by a patrol car rather than a wheelchair accessible vehicle, and therefore, he was

subjected to excessive force as a matter of law. [Id.] In response, Defendants argue that Plaintiff

did not bring any claims for violation of the ADA at trial and whether the ADA was violated does

not further the determination of whether the Defendants used excessive force. [Doc. No. 108 at 3-

- 3 - 08cv2345

Case 3:08-cv-02345-IEG-RBB Document 121 Filed 05/21/12 Page 3 of 14
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

5.]

In support of his argument, Plaintiff cites to the American with Disabilities Act (“ADA”)

and cases dealing with ADA claims. [Doc. No. 107-1 at 2-4.] The Americans with Disabilities

Act was enacted “to provide clear, strong, consistent, enforceable standards addressing

discrimination against individuals with disabilities.” 42 U.S.C. § 12101(b)(2). Title II of the ADA

provides: “No qualified individual with a disability shall, by reason of such disability, be excluded

from participation in or be denied the benefits of the services, programs, or activities of a public

entity, or be subjected to discrimination by any such entity.” 42 U.S.C. § 12132. “Public entities”

under Title II include law enforcement officers. See Lee v. City of Los Angeles, 250 F.3d 668,

691 (9th Cir. 2001). “Generally, public entities must ‘make reasonable modifications in policies,

practices, or procedures when the modifications are necessary to avoid discrimination on the basis

of disability, unless the public entity can demonstrate that making the modifications would

fundamentally alter the nature of the service, program, or activity.’” Pierce v. County of Orange,

526 F.3d 1190, 1215 (9th Cir. 2008) (quoting 28 C.F.R. § 35.130(b)(7)).

However, Plaintiff did not bring any claims against the Defendants for violation of the

ADA nor did Plaintiff attempt to amend his complaint to bring a claim for violation of the ADA. 

[See generally Compl.; Doc. No. 38; Doc. No. 40.] Plaintiff only brought claims at trial for

violation of his Fourth Amendment right to be free from unreasonable search and seizure,

specifically the right to be free from excessive force. [See Doc. No. 40 at 4 (“The following issues

of law and no other remain to be litigation [sic] upon trial: 1. Whether or not the Defendants

used excessive force upon Plaintiff in violation of the Fourth Amendment. . . . 3. Whether the

City of San Diego, through its Police Department, has customs, policies, or practices that condone

or permit excessive force”).] 

Claims for excessive force are analyzed under the Fourth Amendment’s prohibition against

unreasonable seizures using the framework articulated in Graham v. Connor, 490 U.S. 386 (1989). 

The reasonableness of a seizure turns on “whether the officers’ actions are ‘objectively reasonable’

in light of the facts and circumstances confronting them,” id. at 397, which is determined by

balancing “the nature and quality of the intrusion on the individual’s Fourth Amendment interests

- 4 - 08cv2345

Case 3:08-cv-02345-IEG-RBB Document 121 Filed 05/21/12 Page 4 of 14
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

against the countervailing governmental interests at stake.” Id. at 396 (quoting Tennessee v.

Garner, 471 U.S. 1, 8 (1985)) (internal quotation marks omitted). Stated another way, it is

determined by balancing “the amount of force applied against the need for that force.” Meredith v.

Erath, 342 F.3d 1057, 1061 (9th Cir. 2003).

Plaintiff has not provided the Court with any authority holding that a violation of the ADA

necessarily also constitutes a violation of the right to be free from excessive force under the Fourth

Amendment. To the contrary, case law holds that a violation of a state or federal law is not

necessarily a violation of the constitution. See Lone Star Sec. & Video, Inc. v. City of L.A., 584

F.3d 1232, 1236-37 (9th Cir. 2010). In addition, it is “the Ninth Circuit’s position that a § 1983

claim cannot be used to enforce rights created by the ADA, a statutory scheme that already

includes comprehensive remedial measures.” Gallagher v. San Diego Unified Port Dist., 2009

U.S. Dist. LEXIS 30060, at *6 n.3 (S.D. Cal., Apr. 6, 2009) (citing Vinson v. Thomas, 288 F.3d

1145, 1155-1156 (9th Cir. 2002)). Therefore, even assuming Plaintiff is correct and the evidence

at trial showed that the Defendants violated the ADA as a matter of law by failing to provide him

with a reasonable accommodation, this is still insufficient to show that the Defendants were liable

for excessive force. In addition, Plaintiff has not provided the Court with any authority holding

that the failure to transport a paraplegic in a wheelchair accessible vehicle necessarily constitutes

excessive force. Accordingly, the Court declines to grant Plaintiff a new trial on this ground.

B. The Exclusion of Reference to the ADA

Plaintiff argues that the Court erred in granting Defendants’ motion to preclude Plaintiff

from making any reference to the ADA at trial. [Doc. No. 107-1 at 5-6.] As explained in the prior

section, Plaintiff did not bring any claims for violation of the ADA. In addition, a violation of the

ADA is not necessarily a violation of the Constitution. See Lone Star Sec. & Video, 584 F.3d at

1236-37. Therefore, whether Defendants violated the ADA was not relevant to Plaintiff’s claims

for violation of his Fourth Amendment right to be free from excessive force. 

In addition, even if evidence that the Defendants’ conduct violated the ADA was probative

of the excessive force inquiry, any probative value it might have would be substantially

outweighed by the danger of confusing the issues and misleading the jury into possibly thinking

- 5 - 08cv2345

Case 3:08-cv-02345-IEG-RBB Document 121 Filed 05/21/12 Page 5 of 14
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

that violation of the ADA necessarily also constitutes a violation of the Fourth Amendment. 

Therefore, the evidence was also properly excluded under Federal Rule of Evidence 403. [Doc.

No. 115 at 21:19-22:11.] Accordingly, the Court did not err in precluding Plaintiff from

referencing the ADA during the trial, and the Court declines to grant Plaintiff a new trial on this

ground.

C. The Dismissal of the City of San Diego and Chief Lansdowne

Plaintiff argues that the Court erred in dismissing Defendants the City of San Diego and

Chief Lansdowne. [Doc. No. 107-1 at 8-9.] Plaintiff argues that he should have been allowed to

proceed on his Monell claim against them because there was evidence that the City of San Diego

did not have a policy that complied with ADA standards. [Id.] Defendants argue that there was no

evidence presented at trial showing that the City of San Diego or Chief Lansdowne had a policy of

condoning excessive force. [Doc. No. 108 at 7-8.] 

There is no respondeat superior liability under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Monell v. Dep’t of Soc.

Servs., 436 U.S. 658, 692 (1978). Instead, a government entity can only be held liable under

section 1983, if “a policy, practice, or custom of the entity can be shown to be a moving force

behind a violation of constitutional rights.” Dougherty v. City of Covina, 654 F.3d 892, 900 (9th

Cir. 2011). In order to establish liability for governmental entities under Monell, a plaintiff must

prove “(1) that [the plaintiff] possessed a constitutional right of which [s]he was deprived; (2) that

the municipality had a policy; (3) that this policy amounts to deliberate indifference to the

plaintiff’s constitutional right; and, (4) that the policy is the moving force behind the constitutional

violation.” Plumeau v. Sch. Dist. No. 40 Cnty. of Yamhill, 130 F.3d 432, 438 (9th Cir. 1997)

(internal quotation marks omitted). 

Again, Plaintiff must understand that there is a difference between an ADA claim, which

he did not bring, and an excessive force claim, which he did bring. Even assuming Plaintiff is

correct that there was evidence presented at trial showing that the City of San Diego had a policy

in place that failed to comply with ADA standards, this is insufficient to show the policy deprived

Plaintiff of his right to be free from excessive force. See supra section II.A. The only evidence

related to excessive force that was presented during Plaintiff’s case-in-chief was the circumstances

- 6 - 08cv2345

Case 3:08-cv-02345-IEG-RBB Document 121 Filed 05/21/12 Page 6 of 14
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

surrounding Plaintiff’s arrest and transportation on December 19, 2006. The actions of non-policy

making police officers on one day are insufficient to establish a custom, policy, practice or

procedure. See, e.g., Dietrich v. John Ascuaga’s Nugget, 548 F.3d 892, 900 (9th Cir. 2008). 

Therefore, the Court properly dismissed Plaintiff’s Monell claims against the City of San Diego

and Chief Lansdowne after the close of Plaintiff’s case.

Moreover, even if the Court incorrectly dismissed the City of San Diego and Chief

Lansdowne prior to juror deliberations, these two Defendants still would have been dismissed once

the jury rendered its verdict. The jury found that none of the officers were liable for excessive

force. [Doc. No. 99.] A public entity cannot be found liable under Monell when a jury has

concluded that none of its officers inflicted constitutional harm. See Los Angeles v. Heller, 475

U.S. 796, 799 (1986). Accordingly, the Court declines to grant Plaintiff a new trial on this ground.

D. The Reasonableness of the Blood Draw

Plaintiff argues that the blood draw performed on him was objectively unreasonable under

the Fourth Amendment as a matter of law. [Doc. No. 107-1 at 6-7.] Plaintiff argues it was

undisputed that the officers placed Defendant on the garage floor of the station to perform the

blood draw in violation of department procedure, Plaintiff was stuck with needles for 10 minutes

in order to extract sufficient blood, and the nurse that performed the blood draw did not wash her

hands prior to the blood draw although she wore gloves. [Id.] In response, Defendants argue that

the jury’s verdict was supported by substantial evidence. [Doc. No. 108.]

A forced blood draw can violate a person’s Fourth Amendment rights if it was

unreasonable under the circumstances. See Schmerber v. California, 384 U.S. 757, 771-72 (1966). 

Specifically, the blood draw must not be “conducted in an unnecessarily cruel, painful, or

dangerous manner,” Thompson v. City of Los Angeles, 885 F.2d 1439, 1447 n.7 (9th Cir. 1989),

overruled on other grounds by Bull v. City & County of San Francisco, 595 F.3d 964, 981 (9th

Cir. 2010) (en banc), and it must “be taken by trained medical personnel in accordance with

accepted practices.” United States v. Chapel, 55 F.3d 1416, 1418 (9th Cir. 1995) (en banc)

(quoting the original panel opinion); see also Schmerber, 384 U.S. at 771 (finding no Fourth

Amendment violation where the blood draw “was taken by a physician in a hospital environment

- 7 - 08cv2345

Case 3:08-cv-02345-IEG-RBB Document 121 Filed 05/21/12 Page 7 of 14
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

according to accepted medical practices”).

At the trial, the jury heard testimony from the police officers and Defendant’s expert

stating that placing someone on the ground to perform a blood draw is a practice that is used by

the San Diego Police Department and other agencies such as the California Highway Patrol. The

jury was also presented with evidence showing that Ms. Solomon, the medical technician who

performed the blood draw, was a foreign medical surgeon with 13 years of experience, was a

contract phlebotomist, and used medical hand sanitizer prior to performing the procedure. Ms.

Solomon testified that she cleansed Plaintiff’s arm appropriately and never touched it to the

ground, and placing Plaintiff on the ground was for his safety and the safety of the officers. 

Therefore, the jury’s verdict was supported by substantial evidence, and it was not contrary to the

clear weight of the evidence. Accordingly, the Court declines to grant Plaintiff a new trial on this

ground. See Molski, 481 F.3d at 729.

E. The Exclusion of the “Shocks the Conscience” Standard From the Jury Instructions

Plaintiff argues that the Court erred in declining to include the “Shocks the Conscience”

standard from Rochin v. California, 342 U.S. 165 (1952) when instructing the jury regarding the

blood draw. [Doc. No. 107-1 at 7-8.] In response, Defendants argue that the “Shocks the

Conscience” jury instruction was unnecessary. [Doc. No. 108 at 6-7.]

At the trial with respect to the forced blood draw, the Court gave the following special jury

instruction:

Under the Fourth Amendment, the procedures used to forcibly extract blood from

an arrested person must be reasonable. The blood draw must not be conducted in

an unnecessarily cruel, painful, or dangerous manner. The blood draw must be

taken by trained medical personnel in accordance with accepted practices. 

[Doc. No. 95, Instruction No. 18.]1 This jury instruction was based on Supreme Court and Ninth

Circuit precedent regarding when a forced blood draw can violate a person’s right to be free from

unreasonable search and seizure under the Fourth Amendment. See Schmerber, 384 U.S. at 771-

72; Chapel, 55 F.3d at 1418; Thompson, 885 F.2d at 1447 n.7. 

Plaintiff argues that the Court should have included the “Shocks the Conscience” standard

1

 In addition, the Court gave Ninth Circuit Model Civil Jury Instruction 9.22 on excessive

force. [Doc. No. 95, Instruction No. 16.]

- 8 - 08cv2345

Case 3:08-cv-02345-IEG-RBB Document 121 Filed 05/21/12 Page 8 of 14
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

from Rochin in addition to this instruction. [Doc. No. 107-1 at 7.] The “Shocks the Conscience”

standard from Rochin is used in determining whether government conduct violates the Due

Process clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. See, e.g., Crowe v. County of San Diego, 608 F.3d

406, 431 (9th Cir. 2010) (“The Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment protects against

any government conduct that ‘shocks the conscience.’” (quoting Rochin, 342 U.S. at 172)); United

States v. Zimmerman, 514 F.3d 851, 855 (9th Cir. 2007) (stating that “even a compelled blood

draw doesn’t ‘shock[ ] the conscience,’ so as to violate the Due Process Clause” (quoting Rochin,

342 U.S. at 172)). However, Plaintiff did not bring any claims against the Defendants for violation

of his due process rights under the Fourteenth Amendment. [See generally Compl.; Doc. No. 38;

Doc. No. 40.] Plaintiff only brought claims at trial for violation of his Fourth Amendment right to

be free from unreasonable search and seizure, specifically the right to be free from excessive force. 

[See Doc. No. 40 at 4 (“The following issues of law and no other remain to be litigation [sic] upon

trial: 1. Whether or not the Defendants used excessive force upon Plaintiff in violation of

the Fourth Amendment. . . . 3. Whether the City of San Diego, through its Police

Department, has customs, policies, or practices that condone or permit excessive force”).] 

Therefore, the Court instructed the jury with the proper standard, and it would have been error for

the Court to include an instruction containing the “Shocks the Conscience” standard. Accordingly,

the Court declines to grant Plaintiff a new trial on this ground.

F. Evidence of Plaintiff’s Arrest for DUI

Plaintiff argues that the defense spent an inordinate amount of time covering Plaintiff’s

arrest for a DUI, his blood alcohol level, his delay in entering a plea in his criminal prosecution,

and the argument that Plaintiff did not take responsibility for his crime. [Doc. No. 107-1 at 9-10.] 

Plaintiff argues that this constituted a re-prosecution of Plaintiff’s DUI case and served no purpose

other than to inflame the jury. [Id.] In response, Defendants argue that the verdict was properly

supported by the evidence and testimony presented at trial. [Doc. No. 108 at 8-9.]

Evidence of a plaintiff’s intoxication is relevant in an excessive force case. See Boyd v.

City & Cnty. of San Francisco, 576 F.3d 938, 944 (9th Cir. 2009); Lopez v. Aitken, 2011 U.S.

Dist. LEXIS 16396, at *3-5 (S.D. Cal. Feb. 18, 2011); T.D.W. v. Riverside Cnty., 2010 U.S. Dist.

- 9 - 08cv2345

Case 3:08-cv-02345-IEG-RBB Document 121 Filed 05/21/12 Page 9 of 14
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

LEXIS 35821, at *8-11 (C.D. Cal. Mar. 11, 2010). In addition, it is also relevant to Plaintiff’s

credibility. See, e.g., Rheaume v. Patterson, 289 F.2d 611, 614 (2d Cir. 1961) (stating that

evidence of a witness drinking during the time of the events was relevant to his credibility). 

Therefore, Defendants could properly present evidence of Plaintiff’s intoxication and his DUI

arrest to the jury, and it was not presented simply to inflame the jury. The evidence of Plaintiff’s

delay in entering a plea was permissible as impeachment evidence in response to Plaintiff’s

testimony that he took responsibility for his crime. In addition, Plaintiff has presented the Court

with no evidence showing that the jury’s verdict was based solely on his conviction for DUI and

not based on all the other evidence that was presented at trial. Accordingly, the Court declines to

grant Plaintiff a new trial on this ground.

G. The Exclusion of Missouri DUI Law

Plaintiff argues that the Court erred in granting Defendants’ motion in limine to exclude

Plaintiff from referencing that Missouri law allows a person to refuse a blood test. [Doc. No.

107-1 at 10-11.] Defendants argue that whether Plaintiff believed he had a right to refuse a blood

draw under Missouri law is irrelevant to the jury’s determination of whether the officers used

excessive force. [Doc. No. 108 at 9-10.]

However, the Court did not grant Defendants’ motion in limine. The Court denied it and

allowed Plaintiff to testify that at the time of the incident, he thought he had a right to refuse the

blood draw because he has that right under Missouri law. [Doc. No. 70; Doc. No. 115 at 27:15-

27:17.] The Court explained that if Plaintiff presented this testimony then the defense would be

allowed to ask him how he knew he had that right under Missouri law.2

 [Doc. No. 115 at 27:17-

28:15; Doc. No. 116 at 51:17-22.] Plaintiff apparently did not want to have the defense ask this

question, so Plaintiff made a tactical decision and did not present this testimony at trial. [Doc. No.

116 at 51:23.]

Plaintiff argues that this was fundamentally unfair because there was no need to cross

examine him about how he knew Missouri law because all people are presumed to know the law. 

2

 Plaintiff knew that he had that right under Missouri law because he was previously arrested

for driving under the influence of narcotics in Missouri. [Doc. No. 115 at 27:11-12; Doc. No. 116 at

51:15-16.]

- 10 - 08cv2345

Case 3:08-cv-02345-IEG-RBB Document 121 Filed 05/21/12 Page 10 of 14
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

[Doc. No. 107-1 at 10-11.] In support of this argument, Plaintiff cites to cases holding that

ignorance of law is not a defense to a criminal prosecution. [Id.] This argument has no merit. 

Plaintiff wanted to testify that he had actual knowledge of Missouri law not that he should be

presumed to know Missouri law. Therefore, it would have been proper to allow the defense to ask

him how he obtained this actual knowledge. Accordingly, the Court declines to grant Plaintiff a

new trial on this ground.

H. The Exclusion of Testimony from Mara Gordon

Plaintiff argues that the Court erred in excluding the testimony of Mara Gordon. [Doc. No.

107-1 at 11-12.] Specifically, Plaintiff argues that he should have been allowed to present

testimony from Ms. Gordon stating that in 1999, Defendant Zirpolo arrested her, disregarded her

physical disability, and drove her to the police station in a frightening manner. [Id.; Doc. No. 110

at 13.] In response, Defendants argue that Ms. Gordon’s testimony was properly excluded under

Federal Rules of Evidence 404(b) and 403. [Doc. No. 108 at 10-11.]

The Court excluded the testimony pursuant to Federal Rule of Evidence 403. [Doc. No.

93; Doc. No. 117 at 23:18-24:21.] Rule 403 provides: “Although relevant, evidence may be

excluded if its probative value is substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice,

confusion of the issues, or misleading the jury, or by considerations of undue delay, waste of time,

or needless presentation of cumulative evidence.” Fed. R. Evid. 403. The decision to admit or

exclude potentially prejudicial evidence under Rule 403 is committed to the sound discretion of

the trial court. Boyd v. City & County of San Francisco, 576 F.3d 938, 948 (9th Cir. 2009).

The Court found that the testimony had little probative value given that it occurred eight

years prior to the incident at issue in this case. [Doc. No. 117 at 21:23-23:4.] The Court also

found that there was a great danger that the testimony would be unfairly prejudicial to the

Defendants and would cause jury confusion because admission of the testimony would lead to a

trial within a trial. [Id. at 23:18-24:15.] Therefore, the Court properly excluded the testimony

under Rule 403. See Fed. R. Evid. 403; Duran v. City of Maywood, 221 F.3d 1127, 1133 (9th Cir.

2000); Tennison v. Circus Circus Enters., Inc., 244 F.3d 684, 690 (9th Cir. 2001). Accordingly,

the Court declines to grant Plaintiff a new trial on this ground.

- 11 - 08cv2345

Case 3:08-cv-02345-IEG-RBB Document 121 Filed 05/21/12 Page 11 of 14
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

I. The Exclusion of Testimony from Mary Prevost

Plaintiff argues that the Court erred in excluding the testimony of Mary Prevost, Plaintiff’s

attorney during his DUI prosecution. [Doc. No. 107-1 at 12.] Plaintiff argues Ms. Prevost’s

testimony would have explained why there was a long delay in time before Plaintiff pleaded guilty

to his DUI. [Id.] In response, Defendants argue that the testimony was properly excluded because

the parties stipulated that Plaintiff could testify, which he did, about the same facts regarding the

delay. [Doc. No. 108 at 11-12.] In his reply, Plaintiff concedes that he was allowed to testify

about the delay, but argues that the testimony from Ms. Prevost would have been more effective. 

[Doc. No. 110 at 13-14.] 

The testimony of Ms. Prevost would have been cumulative of the testimony Plaintiff

presented at trial. Therefore, the Court properly exercised its discretion and excluded Ms.

Prevost’s testimony. See Fed. R. Evid. 403. Moreover, “[a] new trial is only warranted when an

erroneous evidentiary ruling ‘substantially prejudiced’ a party.” Ruvalcaba, 64 F.3d at 1328. 

Because Ms. Prevost’s testimony would have been cumulative of other testimony, Plaintiff cannot

show that he was “substantially prejudice” by the exclusion of her testimony. Accordingly, the

Court declines to grant Plaintiff a new trial on this ground.

J. Failure to Strike Two Jurors for Cause

Plaintiff argues that the Court erred in failing to strike two jurors for cause, who repeatedly

stated that they would favor the police and could not be fair. [Doc. No. 107-1 at 12.] In response,

Defendants argue that both jurors stated that they could be fair and impartial.3

 [Doc. No. 108 at

12.]

The Supreme Court has held that every litigant is entitled to a fair–but not perfect–trial. 

See McDonough Power Equip. v. Greenwood, 464 U.S. 548, 553 (1984). “One touchstone of a

fair trial is an impartial trier of fact – ‘a jury capable and willing to decide the case solely on the

evidence before it.’” Id. at 554. Even if only one juror is unduly biased or prejudiced, a litigant is

denied this constitutional guarantee. United States v. Mitchell, 568 F.3d 1147, 1150 (9th Cir.

3

 Defendant also argues that Plaintiff did not move to strike either of these jurors for cause. 

[Doc. No. 108 at 12.] However, Defendant is incorrect. Plaintiff did move to strike the two jurors for

cause during the voir dire proceedings. [Doc. No. 116 at 82:5-17.]

- 12 - 08cv2345

Case 3:08-cv-02345-IEG-RBB Document 121 Filed 05/21/12 Page 12 of 14
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

2009).

The Ninth Circuit has explained that juror bias can be analyzed under two theories, actual

bias or implied bias. Actual bias is found where “a prospective juror states that he can not be

impartial, or expresses a view adverse to one party’s position and responds equivocally as to

whether he could be fair and impartial despite that view.” Fields v. Brown, 503 F.3d 755, 767 (9th

Cir. 2007) (en banc). Giving undue weight to the testimony of a law enforcement officer could

constitute actual bias. See Darbin v. Nourse, 664 F.2d 1109, 1114-15 (9th Cir. 1981). Implied

bias is found “where the relationship between a prospective juror and some aspect of the litigation

is such that it is highly unlikely that the average person could remain impartial in his deliberations

under the circumstances.” Tinsley v. Borg, 895 F.2d 520, 527 (9th Cir. 1990). However, the

Ninth Circuit has cautioned that implied bias only occurs in “extreme” or “extraordinary” cases. 

Id. To succeed on a claim that a litigant’s right to an impartial jury was denied because a juror

was biased, the movant bears the burden of demonstrating that the challenged juror was biased,

and that the district court erred in failing to strike her from the jury. Mitchell, 568 F.3d at 1151. 

Plaintiff argues in a conclusory manner that the jurors stated they could not be fair. 

However, Plaintiff does not support his argument with any citation to the record or quotation of

what was actually said at voir dire or even indicate the names of the two jurors that should have

been stricken. The Court assumes Plaintiff is referring to jurors number four and five. Although

both of these jurors stated that they respected law enforcement officers, both jurors stated in open

court that they would be able to set aside any initial bias they might have, consider all the

evidence, and be fair and impartial in deciding the case. [Doc. No. 116 at 55:23-56:1, 66:13-

68:25, 78:19-81:12.] Therefore, Plaintiff has failed to meet his burden of showing that the two

challenged jurors were biased. See Mitchell, 568 F.3d at 1151. Accordingly, the Court declines to

grant Plaintiff a new trial on this ground.

///

///

///

///

- 13 - 08cv2345

Case 3:08-cv-02345-IEG-RBB Document 121 Filed 05/21/12 Page 13 of 14
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

CONCLUSION

For the above reasons, the Court DENIES Plaintiff’s motion for a new trial.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

DATED: May 18, 2012 ________________________________

IRMA E. GONZALEZ

United States District Judge

- 14 - 08cv2345

Case 3:08-cv-02345-IEG-RBB Document 121 Filed 05/21/12 Page 14 of 14