Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-3_05-cv-04045/USCOURTS-cand-3_05-cv-04045-12/pdf.json

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

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United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

TORRY SMITH, et al.,

Plaintiffs,

v.

CITY OF OAKLAND, et al.,

Defendants.

___________________________________/

No. C-05-4045 EMC

PROPOSED JURY INSTRUCTIONS --

PART 2

(Given to counsel 11/27/2007)

PROPOSED CIVIL JURY INSTRUCTIONS

Case 3:05-cv-04045-EMC Document 108 Filed 11/28/07 Page 1 of 30
United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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NINTH CIRCUIT MODEL CIVIL JURY INSTRUCTION NO. 1.1C -- DUTY OF JURY

(COURT READS AND PROVIDES WRITTEN INSTRUCTIONS AT END OF CASE)

Members of the Jury: Now that you have heard all of the evidence and the arguments of the

attorneys, it is my duty to instruct you as to the law of the case.

A copy of these instructions will be sent with you to the jury room when you deliberate.

You must not infer from these instructions or from anything I may say or do as indicating

that I have an opinion regarding the evidence or what your verdict should be.

It is your duty to find the facts from all the evidence in the case. To those facts you will

apply the law as I give it to you. You must follow the law as I give it to you whether you agree with

it or not. And you must not be influenced by any personal likes or dislikes, opinions, prejudices, or

sympathy. That means that you must decide the case solely on the evidence before you. You will

recall that you took an oath to do so.

In following my instructions, you must follow all of them and not single out some and ignore

others; they are all important.

Case 3:05-cv-04045-EMC Document 108 Filed 11/28/07 Page 2 of 30
United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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NINTH CIRCUIT MODEL CIVIL JURY INSTRUCTION NO. 2.12 --

CHARTS AND SUMMARIES NOT RECEIVED IN EVIDENCE

Certain charts and summaries not received in evidence have been shown to you in order to

help explain the contents of books, records, documents, or other evidence in the case. They are not

themselves evidence or proof of any facts. If they do not correctly reflect the facts or figures shown

by the evidence in the case, you should disregard these charts and summaries and determine the facts

from the underlying evidence.

Case 3:05-cv-04045-EMC Document 108 Filed 11/28/07 Page 3 of 30
United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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NINTH CIRCUIT MODEL CIVIL JURY INSTRUCTION NO. 2.13 --

CHARTS AND SUMMARIES IN EVIDENCE

Certain charts and summaries have been received into evidence to illustrate information

brought out in the trial. Charts and summaries are only as good as the underlying evidence that

supports them. You should, therefore, give them only such weight as you think the underlying

evidence deserves.

Case 3:05-cv-04045-EMC Document 108 Filed 11/28/07 Page 4 of 30
United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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JURY INSTRUCTION NO. ____ -- FAILURE TO DENY

OR EXPLAIN ADVERSE EVIDENCE

You may consider whether a party failed to explain or deny some unfavorable evidence. 

Failure to explain or to deny unfavorable evidence may suggest that the evidence is true. 

Case 3:05-cv-04045-EMC Document 108 Filed 11/28/07 Page 5 of 30
United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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MODIFIED NINTH CIRCUIT MODEL CIVIL JURY INSTRUCTION NO. 9.1 --

SECTION 1983 CLAIM -- INTRODUCTORY INSTRUCTION

The Plaintiffs bring some of their claims under the federal statute, 42 U.S.C. § 1983, which

provides that any person or persons who, under color of law, deprives another of any rights,

privileges, or immunities secured by the Constitution or laws of the United States shall be liable to

the injured party.

Case 3:05-cv-04045-EMC Document 108 Filed 11/28/07 Page 6 of 30
United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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MODIFIED NINTH CIRCUIT MODEL CIVIL JURY INSTRUCTION NO. 9.2 --

SECTION 1983 CLAIM AGAINST DEFENDANT IN INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY --

ELEMENTS AND BURDEN OF PROOF

In order to prevail on the § 1983 claims against Defendants John Parkinson and Marcus

Midyett, the Plaintiffs must prove each of the following elements by a preponderance of the

evidence: 

1. the Defendants acted under color of law; and

2. the acts of one or more of the Defendants deprived one or both of the Plaintiffs of

their particular rights under the United States Constitution as explained in later

instructions.

A person acts “under color of law” when the person acts or purports to act in the

performance of official duties under any state, county, or municipal law, ordinance, or regulation. 

There is no dispute in this case that the Defendants acted under color of law at the time of the

incidents involving the Plaintiffs.

As to each Plaintiff, if you find that the Plaintiff has proved each of these elements, and if

you find that the Plaintiff has proved all the elements he or she is required to prove under the

instructions I give you, your verdict should be for the Plaintiff. If, on the other hand, the Plaintiff

has failed to prove any one or more of these elements, your verdict should be for the Defendants.

Case 3:05-cv-04045-EMC Document 108 Filed 11/28/07 Page 7 of 30
United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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NINTH CIRCUIT MODEL CIVIL JURY INSTRUCTION NO. 9.8 -- CAUSATION

In order to establish that the acts of the Defendant officers Parkinson or Midyett deprived the

Plaintiffs of their particular rights under the United States Constitution as explained in later

instructions, the Plaintiff must prove by a preponderance of the evidence that the acts were so

closely related to the deprivation of the Plaintiff’s rights as to be the moving force that caused the

ultimate injury.

Case 3:05-cv-04045-EMC Document 108 Filed 11/28/07 Page 8 of 30
United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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MODIFIED NINTH CIRCUIT MODEL CIVIL JURY INSTRUCTION NO. 9.11 --

PARTICULAR RIGHTS -- FOURTH AMENDMENT --

UNREASONABLE SEARCH -- GENERALLY

As previously explained, the Plaintiffs have the burden to prove that the acts of Defendant

officers Parkinson and Midyett deprived the Plaintiffs of particular rights under the United States

Constitution. In this case, each Plaintiff alleges the Defendants deprived them of their rights under

the Fourth Amendment to the Constitution when the officers entered their residence.

Under the Fourth Amendment, a person has the right to be free from an unreasonable search

of his residence. In this case, a condition of Plaintiff Torry Smith’s parole was that police officers

could enter and search his residence (subject to the next Instruction), without a warrant and without

suspicion of a crime, as long as the entry and/or search was not arbitrary or capricious, or done to

harass Torry Smith. 

In order to prove the Defendants deprived the Plaintiffs of this Fourth Amendment right, the

Plaintiffs must prove the following additional elements by a preponderance of the evidence:

1. Defendant officers Parkinson or Midyett entered the Plaintiffs’ residence;

2. in conducting the entry, Defendant officer Parkinson or Midyett acted intentionally;

and

3. the entry was arbitrary or capricious, or done to harass Plaintiffs.

A person acts “intentionally” when the person acts with a conscious objective to engage in

particular conduct. Thus, the Plaintiffs must prove the Defendants meant to enter the Plaintiffs’

residence. Although the Plaintiffs do not need to prove the Defendants intended to violate the

Plaintiffs’ Fourth Amendment rights, it is not enough if the Plaintiffs only prove the Defendant acted

negligently, accidentally or inadvertently in conducting the entry and/or search.

Case 3:05-cv-04045-EMC Document 108 Filed 11/28/07 Page 9 of 30
United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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JURY INSTRUCTION NO. ____ -- PARTICULAR RIGHTS -- FOURTH AMENDMENT --

UNREASONABLE SEARCH -- PAROLE SEARCH -- SHARED RESIDENCE

As noted above, a condition of Plaintiff Torry Smith’s parole was that police officers could

enter and search his residence, without a warrant and without suspicion of a crime, as long as the

entry and/or search was not arbitrary or capricious, or done to harass Torry Smith. If a parolee is

sharing living quarters with someone else, the parole entry and/or search may extend to all parts of

the premises to which the parolee has apparent joint control. The consent of other interested parties

is unnecessary as to such areas of the residence.

Case 3:05-cv-04045-EMC Document 108 Filed 11/28/07 Page 10 of 30
United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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NINTH CIRCUIT MODEL CIVIL JURY INSTRUCTION NO. 9.20 --

PARTICULAR RIGHTS -- FOURTH AMENDMENT --

UNREASONABLE SEIZURE OF PERSON -- PROBABLE CAUSE ARREST

In general, a seizure of a person by arrest without a warrant is reasonable if the arresting

officers had probable cause to believe the Plaintiff has committed or was committing a crime.

In order to prove the seizure in this case was unreasonable, Plaintiff Torry Smith must prove

by a preponderance of the evidence that he was arrested without probable cause.

“Probable cause” exists when, under all of the circumstances known to the officer[s] at the

time, an objectively reasonable police officer would conclude there is a fair probability that the

Plaintiff has committed or was committing a crime. 

Under state law, it is a crime to be on parole in possession of an assault weapon.

Case 3:05-cv-04045-EMC Document 108 Filed 11/28/07 Page 11 of 30
United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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MODIFIED BAJI 7.60 -- FALSE IMPRISONMENT/ARREST -- ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS

The Plaintiffs also seek to recover damages based upon a claim of false imprisonment and

false arrest under California state law. 

The essential elements of a claim for false imprisonment are:

1. The Defendant intentionally and unlawfully exercised force or the express or implied

threat of force, menace, fraud or deceit, or unreasonable duress to restrain, detain or

confine the Plaintiffs;

2. The restraint, detention or confinement compelled the Plaintiffs to stay or go

somewhere for some appreciable time, however short;

3. The Plaintiff did not consent to the restraint, detention or confinement; and

The essential elements of a claim for false arrest are:

1. The Plaintiff was unlawfully arrested and taken into custody; or the Plaintiff was

lawfully arrested but an unreasonable delay occurred before Plaintiff was released

from custody;

2. The restraint, detention, confinement, or arrest caused Plaintiff to suffer injury,

damage, loss or harm.

Case 3:05-cv-04045-EMC Document 108 Filed 11/28/07 Page 12 of 30
United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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BAJI 7.63 -- ARREST BY PEACE OFFICER WITHOUT WARRANT

A peace officer may, without a warrant, lawfully arrest a person:

1. Whenever the officer has probable cause to believe that the person to be arrested has

committed a public offense in the officer’s presence.

2. When a person arrested has committed a felony, although not in the officer’s

presence.

3. Whenever the officer has probable cause to believe that the person to be arrested has

committed a felony, whether or not a felony has in fact been committed.

Case 3:05-cv-04045-EMC Document 108 Filed 11/28/07 Page 13 of 30
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For the Northern District of California

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MODIFIED BAJI 7.90 -- CALIFORNIA CIVIL RIGHTS VIOLATION

The Plaintiffs also seek to recover damages for a violation of civil rights pursuant to

California Civil Code § 52.1.

The essential elements of this claim are:

1. The Defendant interfered or attempted to interfere by threats, intimidation, or

coercion with the exercise or enjoyment by Plaintiff of rights secured by the

Constitution, laws of the United States, or laws of California;

2. The interference, or attempted interference caused Plaintiffs to suffer injury, damage,

loss or harm.

Speech alone is not sufficient, unless the speech itself threatens violence against Plaintiff,

and Plaintiff reasonably fears that, because of the speech, violence will be committed against

Plaintiff’s person or property and that the Defendant had the apparent ability to carry out the threat.

Case 3:05-cv-04045-EMC Document 108 Filed 11/28/07 Page 14 of 30
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CACI 1600 -- INTENTIONAL INFLICTION OF EMOTIONAL DISTRESS -- ESSENTIAL

FACTUAL ELEMENTS

Plaintiffs claim that Defendant officers Parkinson and Midyett’s conduct caused him or her

to suffer severe emotional distress. To establish this claim against either or both Defendant, the

Plaintiff must prove all of the following: 

1. That Defendant’s conduct was outrageous;

2. That Defendant intended to cause Plaintiff emotional distress; or that Defendant acted

with reckless disregard of the probability that the Plaintiff would suffer emotional

distress, knowing that the Plaintiff was present when the conduct occurred;

3. That the Plaintiff suffered severe emotional distress; and

4. That the Defendant’s conduct was a substantial factor in causing the Plaintiff’s severe

emotional distress.

Case 3:05-cv-04045-EMC Document 108 Filed 11/28/07 Page 15 of 30
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BAJI 12.72 -- EMOTIONAL DISTRESS -- DEFINED

The term “emotional distress” means mental distress, mental suffering or mental anguish. It

includes all highly unpleasant mental reactions, such as fright, nervousness, grief, anxiety, worry,

mortification, shock, humiliation and indignity, as well as physical pain. 

Case 3:05-cv-04045-EMC Document 108 Filed 11/28/07 Page 16 of 30
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BAJI 12.73 -- SEVERE -- DEFINED

The word “severe,” in the phrase “severe emotional distress,” means substantial or enduring

as distinguished from trivial or transitory. Severe emotional distress is emotional distress of such

substantial quantity or enduring quality that no reasonable person in a civilized society should be

expected to endure it.

In determining the severity of emotional distress you should consider its intensity and

duration. 

Case 3:05-cv-04045-EMC Document 108 Filed 11/28/07 Page 17 of 30
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BAJI 12.74 -- EXTREME AND OUTRAGEOUS CONDUCT -- DEFINED

Extreme and outrageous conduct is conduct which goes beyond all possible bounds of

decency so as to be regarded as atrocious and utterly intolerable in a civilized community.

Extreme and outrageous conduct is not mere insults, indignities, threats, annoyances, petty

oppressions or other trivialities. All persons must necessarily be expected and required to be

hardened to a certain amount of rough language and to occasional acts that are definitely

inconsiderate and unkind.

Extreme and outrageous conduct, however, is conduct which would cause an average

member of the community to immediately react in outrage. 

Case 3:05-cv-04045-EMC Document 108 Filed 11/28/07 Page 18 of 30
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For the Northern District of California

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BAJI 12.75 -- EFFECT OF RELATIONSHIP OF PARTIES

The extreme and outrageous character of the conduct of a Defendant may arise from an abuse

of a position, or relationship to a Plaintiff, which gives a Defendant actual or apparent authority over

a Plaintiff, or power to affect a Plaintiff’s interests. 

Case 3:05-cv-04045-EMC Document 108 Filed 11/28/07 Page 19 of 30
United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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BAJI 12.77 -- INTENTIONAL AND RECKLESS -- DEFINED

A Defendant intended to inflict emotional distress if it is established that he desired to cause

emotional distress or knew that emotional distress was substantially certain to result from his

conduct.

A Defendant’s conduct is in reckless disregard of the probability of causing emotional

distress if he has knowledge of a high degree of probability that emotional distress will result and

acts with deliberate disregard of that probability or with a conscious disregard of the probable

results.

Case 3:05-cv-04045-EMC Document 108 Filed 11/28/07 Page 20 of 30
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For the Northern District of California

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MODIFIED BAJI 12.78 -- PRIVILEGE

Conduct, which under other conditions would be extreme and outrageous, may be privileged. 

If you find that Defendant in good faith believed that he was acting under a legal right, he shall be

considered as having been acting under such right even though, in fact, he had no such right.

Case 3:05-cv-04045-EMC Document 108 Filed 11/28/07 Page 21 of 30
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For the Northern District of California

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MODIFIED NINTH CIRCUIT MODEL CIVIL JURY INSTRUCTIONS NOS. 5.1 AND 5.2 --

DAMAGES -- PROOF AND MEASURES OF TYPES OF DAMAGES

It is the duty of the Court to instruct you about the measure of damages. By instructing you

on damages, the Court does not mean to suggest for which party your verdict should be rendered.

If you find for the Plaintiff Torry Smith on one of more of his claims, you must determine his

damages. The Plaintiff has the burden of proving damages by a preponderance of the evidence. 

Damages means the amount of money that will reasonably and fairly compensate the Plaintiff for

any injury you find was caused by the Defendant. You should consider the following:

(1) The nature and extent of the injuries;

(2) The disability and loss of enjoyment of life experienced and which with reasonable

probability will be experienced in the future;

(3) The mental, physical, and emotional pain and suffering experienced and which with

reasonable probability will be experienced in the future;

(4) The reasonable value of earning and business opportunities lost to the present time.

If you find for the Plaintiff Patricia Gray on one of more of her claims, you must determine

her damages. The Plaintiff has the burden of proving damages by a preponderance of the evidence. 

Damages means the amount of money that will reasonably and fairly compensate the Plaintiff for

any injury you find was caused by the Defendant. You should consider the following:

(1) The nature and extent of the injuries;

(2) The mental, physical, and emotional pain and suffering experienced and which with

reasonable probability will be experienced in the future.

It is for you to determine what damages, if any, have been proved.

Your award must be based upon evidence and not upon speculation, guesswork or

conjecture.

Case 3:05-cv-04045-EMC Document 108 Filed 11/28/07 Page 22 of 30
United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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NINTH CIRCUIT MODEL CIVIL JURY INSTRUCTION NO. 5.6 -- NOMINAL DAMAGES

The law which applies to this case authorizes an award of nominal damages. If you find for

the Plaintiff but you find that the Plaintiff has failed to prove damages as defined in these

instructions, you must award nominal damages. Nominal damages may not exceed one dollar.

Case 3:05-cv-04045-EMC Document 108 Filed 11/28/07 Page 23 of 30
United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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BAJI 12.88 -- DAMAGES -- EMOTIONAL DISTRESS

If you find that Plaintiff is entitled to a verdict against Defendant, you should then award

Plaintiff damages in an amount that will reasonably compensate Plaintiff for all loss or harm,

provided that you find it was or will be suffered by Plaintiff and was caused by the Defendant’s

conduct. The amount of your award should include:

Reasonable compensation for any fears, anxiety and other emotional distress suffered by the

Plaintiff and for similar suffering reasonably certain to be experienced in the future from the same

cause. This is a non-economic damage.

No definite standard or method of calculation is prescribed by law by which to fix reasonable

compensation for emotional distress. Nor is the opinion of any witness required as to the amount of

such reasonable compensation. Furthermore, the argument of counsel as to the amount of damages

is not evidence of reasonable compensation. In making an award for emotional distress, you shall

exercise your authority with calm and reasonable judgment, and the damages you fix shall be just

and reasonable in the light of the evidence.

Reasonable compensation for any financial loss suffered by the Plaintiff which was caused

by emotional distress. This is an economic damage.

Case 3:05-cv-04045-EMC Document 108 Filed 11/28/07 Page 24 of 30
United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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NINTH CIRCUIT MODEL CIVIL JURY INSTRUCTION NO. 5.4 -- DAMAGES ARISING

IN THE FUTURE -- DISCOUNT TO PRESENT CASH VALUE

Any award for future economic damages must be for the present cash value of those

damages.

Present cash value means the sum of money needed now, which, when invested at a

reasonable rate of return, will pay future damages at the times and in the amounts that you find the

damages will be incurred.

The rate of return to be applied in determining present cash value should be the interest that

can reasonably be expected from safe investments that can be made by a person of ordinary

prudence, who has ordinary financial experience and skill. You should also consider decreases in

the value of money which may be caused by future inflation.

Case 3:05-cv-04045-EMC Document 108 Filed 11/28/07 Page 25 of 30
United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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MODIFIED NINTH CIRCUIT MODEL CIVIL JURY INSTRUCTION NO. 5.5 --

PUNITIVE DAMAGES

If you find for the Plaintiff, you may, but are not required to, award punitive damages. The

purposes of punitive damages are not to compensate a Plaintiff, but to punish a Defendant and to

deter a Defendant and others from committing similar acts in the future.

The Plaintiff has the burden of proving that punitive damages should be awarded, and the

amount, by a preponderance of the evidence. You may award punitive damages only if you find that

the Defendant’s conduct was malicious, oppressive or in reckless disregard of the Plaintiff’s rights. 

Conduct is malicious if it is accompanied by ill will, or spite, or if it is for the purpose of

injuring another. Conduct is in reckless disregard of the Plaintiff’s rights if, under the

circumstances, it reflects complete indifference to the Plaintiff’s safety or rights, or the Defendant

acts in the face of a perceived risk that its actions will violate the Plaintiff’s rights under federal law. 

You may impose punitive damages against one or more of the Defendants and not others, and

may award different amounts against different Defendants.

Punitive damages may be awarded even if you award Plaintiff only nominal, and not

compensatory, damages.

Case 3:05-cv-04045-EMC Document 108 Filed 11/28/07 Page 26 of 30
United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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BAJI 7.94 -- PUNITIVE DAMAGES (CIVIL CODE § 52(a) AND (b))

In addition to any actual damages imposed upon Defendants for a violation of Civil Code §

52.1, you are permitted to award Plaintiffs:

1. Punitive damages, provided that you find by clear and convincing evidence that the

Defendant committed malice, oppression, or fraud in the conduct on which you base your finding of

liability.

“Oppression” means despicable conduct that subjects a person to cruel and unjust hardship in

conscious disregard of that person’s rights.

“Malice” means conduct which is intended by the Defendant to cause injury to the Plaintiff

or despicable conduct which is carried on by the Defendant with a willful and conscious disregard

for the rights or safety of others. A person acts with conscious disregard of the rights or safety or

others when he is aware of the probable consequences of his conduct and willfully and deliberately

fails to avoid those consequences.

“Despicable conduct” is conduct which is so vile, base, contemptible, or loathsome that it

would be looked down upon and despised by ordinary decent people.

“Fraud” means an intentional misrepresentation, deceit, or concealment of a material fact

known to the Defendant with the intention on the part of the Defendant of thereby depriving a

person of property or legal rights or otherwise causing injury.

Punitive damages are damages that a jury may impose to punish or for sake of example.

Whether punitive damages ought to be imposed is a matter left to your sound discretion.

2. A civil penalty in the amount of $25,000.00 to be awarded to the Plaintiff if you find

that the conduct upon which you base your finding of liability was willful. As used in this

instruction, the word “willful” means a purpose or willingness to commit the act or engage in the

conduct in question, and the conduct was not reasonable under all the circumstances then present or

was not undertaken in good faith. The word, willful, does not require any intent to violate the law.

The award of civil penalty, if any, must be set forth separately in your verdict.

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NINTH CIRCUIT MODEL CIVIL JURY INSTRUCTION NO. 3.1 --

DUTY TO DELIBERATE

When you begin your deliberations, you should elect one member of the jury as your

presiding juror. That person will preside over the deliberations and speak for you here in court.

You will then discuss the case with your fellow jurors to reach agreement if you can do so. 

Your verdict must be unanimous.

Each of you must decide the case for yourself, but you should do so only after you have

considered all of the evidence, discussed it fully with the other jurors, and listened to the views of

your fellow jurors.

Do not hesitate to change your opinion if the discussion persuades you that you should. Do

not come to a decision simply because other jurors think it is right.

It is important that you attempt to reach a unanimous verdict but, of course, only if each of

you can do so after having made your own conscientious decision. Do not change an honest belief

about the weight and effect of the evidence simply to reach a verdict.

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NINTH CIRCUIT MODEL CIVIL JURY INSTRUCTION NO. 3.2 --

COMMUNICATION WITH COURT

If it becomes necessary during your deliberations to communicate with me, you may send a

note through the clerk, signed by your presiding juror or by one or more members of the jury. No

member of the jury should ever attempt to communicate with me except by a signed writing; I will

communicate with any member of the jury on anything concerning the case only in writing, or here

in open court. If you send out a question, I will consult with the parties before answering it, which

may take some time. You may continue your deliberations while waiting for the answer to any

question. Remember that you are not to tell anyone -- including me -- how the jury stands,

numerically or otherwise, until after you have reached a unanimous verdict or have been discharged. 

Do not disclose any vote count in any note to the court.

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NINTH CIRCUIT MODEL CIVIL JURY INSTRUCTION NO. 3.3 --

RETURN OF VERDICT

A verdict form has been prepared for you. After you have reached unanimous agreement on

a verdict, your presiding juror will fill in the form that has been given to you, sign and date it, and

advise the court that you are ready to return to the courtroom.

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