Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-azd-2_12-cv-02583/USCOURTS-azd-2_12-cv-02583-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 362
Nature of Suit: Medical Malpractice
Cause of Action: 28:1346 Tort Claim

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

DISTRICT OF ARIZONA

Jacob Amrani, )

)

Plaintiff, ) 2:12-cv-2583 JWS

)

vs. ) ORDER AND OPINION

)

United States of America, ) [Re: Motion at docket 185] 

)

Defendant. )

)

I. MOTION PRESENTED

At docket 185 plaintiff Jacob Amrani (“Dr. Amrani”) asks that defendant “be

precluded from asserting a defense of assumption of risk.”1

 Defendant United States of

America (“United States”) opposes at docket 191. No reply has been filed. Oral

argument would not assist the court.

II. DISCUSSION

Motions in limine are motions which seek to exclude evidence. As the United

States points out in its briefing, the Supreme Court has said that motions in limine are

motions “whether made before or during trial, to exclude anticipated prejudicial

1Doc. 185 at p. 1.

Case 2:12-cv-02583-JWS Document 210 Filed 12/09/14 Page 1 of 2
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evidence before the evidence is actually offered.”2

 The motion at docket 185 does not

ask the court to exclude evidence that Dr. Amrani assumed a risk relating to the surgery

performed on him by explaining why particular evidence (such as that discussed in the

United States’ response at docket 191) should be excluded. Instead, the motion asks

the court to rule that regardless of what evidence might be offered at trial, the defense

of assumption of risk may not be asserted. In other words, the motion at docket 185 is

actually a motion for partial summary judgment asking the court to rule that as a matter

of law, the defense fails. However, the time for filing summary judgment motions ran on

August 22, 2014.3 The motion at docket 185 was not filed until October 23, 2014.

The court will deny the motion at docket 185, because it is an untimely motion for

summary judgment. Of course, that is not to say that the court will permit the United

States to introduce any particular evidence at trial. What evidence, if any, will be

admitted relating to the assumption of risk defense pled by the United States will be

taken up at trial and resolved using the customary objection and offer of proof process.

III. CONCLUSION

For the reasons above, the motion at docket 185 is DENIED.

DATED this 9th day of December 2014.

 

/s/ JOHN W. SEDWICK

SENIOR UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

2Doc. 191 at pp. 1-2 (quoting Luce v. United States, 469 U.S. 38, 40 n.2 (1984)).

3Order at docket 142.

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Case 2:12-cv-02583-JWS Document 210 Filed 12/09/14 Page 2 of 2