Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-4_08-cv-04075/USCOURTS-cand-4_08-cv-04075-20/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 440
Nature of Suit: Other Civil Rights
Cause of Action: 28:1331 Federal Question: Other Civil Rights

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

JONATHAN MEAS,

Plaintiff(s), No. C 08-4075 PJH 

v. FINAL PRETRIAL ORDER

AND NEW TRIAL DATE

JESSE SERNA, ERIC VALENTINI, and

SCOTT KORTE

Defendant(s).

___________________________________/

Pursuant to Rule 16(e) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, this final pretrial

order is hereby entered and shall control the course of the trial unless modified by a

subsequent order. The joint pretrial statement of the parties is incorporated herein except

as modified by the court's ruling on the pretrial motions and objections.

A. MOTIONS IN LIMINE

Plaintiff’s Motions:

1. Motion to exclude evidence of plaintiff’s prior arrest and conviction is DENIED,

except that the evidence will be admitted solely on the issue of plaintiff’s

damages. The parties shall prepare and submit an appropriate limiting

instruction. Evidence regarding the nature and circumstances of the contact

will be admitted, but not the facts surrounding the underlying criminal conduct.

Case 4:08-cv-04075-PJH Document 112 Filed 04/23/10 Page 1 of 4
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2. Motion to exclude reference to the court’s prior determination that the arrest

was lawful and supported by probable cause is DENIED.

3. Motion to exclude video or photographic evidence of the scene on nights

other than the night of the incident is GRANTED.

4. Motion to exclude or limit the testimony of defendants’ expert psychiatrist is

DENIED.

Defendants’ Motions:

1. Motion to exclude evidence and argument about OCC complaints, other

lawsuits, and other incidents involving defendant officers is GRANTED.

2. Motion to exclude evidence and argument disputing legality of plaintiff’s arrest

is GRANTED.

3. Motion to exclude argument that any contact between the police car and

plaintiff amounted to excessive force is DENIED as to any argument about

the clipping of plaintiff by Serna and GRANTED as to any argument about the

door opening on plaintiff by Moriyama.

4. Motion to exclude evidence and argument about the fact that Serna did not

make an entry into the “use of force” log is DENIED.

5. Motion to exclude evidence and argument about other instances of police

misconduct is DENIED, except that plaintiff’s counsel may not mention other

cases by name.

6. Motion to exclude evidence or argument about any purported policy training

or disciplinary shortcomings by the City is GRANTED.

7. Motion to exclude evidence and argument about the absence of photographs,

interviews, or other arrests on the night of the incident is DENIED.

8. Motion to exclude improper opinions and assertions by plaintiff’s police

practices expert is GRANTED, and in addition, the police practices expert for

either party may not testify as to whether the use of force by defendants was

or was not excessive.

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9. Motion to exclude all evidence and argument about Serna’s current

assignment is DENIED, except that there shall be no evidence or argument

that the current assignment of any defendant is a result of their conduct with

respect to the subject incident.

10. Motion to preclude expert testimony about the cause of plaintiff’s injuries is

DENIED.

B. VOIR DIRE

Should the parties wish to use a case-specific questionnaire, it must be jointly

prepared, contain no more than 30 questions, including those contained in the court’s

routine questionnaire, and be submitted 14 days in advance of the commencement of trial.

C. JURY INSTRUCTIONS

The parties joint set of instructions will be used in addition to the standard pattern 

instructions routinely used by the court. A blind set of the joint instructions must be

submitted. In addition the parties shall prepare a joint instruction setting forth the claims

and defenses of the parties. With respect to the separately submitted instructions, the

court indicated its inclination on the record, but will rule definitively on these instructions at

the charge conference before the conclusion of the trial. Defendant’s additional instruction

regarding jury research (docket number 110) will also be given. All additional instructions

required by this order shall be submitted 14 days in advance of trial. 

D. VERDICT FORMS

For the reasons stated on the record, neither parties’ proffered verdict form is

accurate. The parties shall prepare a joint form of verdict and submit it 14 days in advance

of the trial.

E. TRIAL SCHEDULE AND TIME LIMITS

Given defendants’ stated need for at least 10 trial days, the trial will commence on 

Thursday June 3, 2010, at 8:30 a.m. (counsel shall be present no later than 8:00 a.m.), for

10 court days. Court will be in session on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursday and Fridays from

8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. with two 15-minute breaks. Each side will have 18 hours for opening

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statements, direct and cross examinations. Counsel will be required to comply with this

court’s Trial Rules and Procedures filed on April 22, 2010.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: April 23, 2010

________________________________

PHYLLIS J. HAMILTON

United States District Judge

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