Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_03-cv-05318/USCOURTS-caed-1_03-cv-05318-2/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 362
Nature of Suit: Medical Malpractice
Cause of Action: 28:1332 Diversity-Medical Malpractice

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 Page 1 CHOATE LAW FIRM

Black v. Memorial Hospitals Assn, et al. 424 N. Franklin Street

Case No.: CIV-F-03-5318 OWW DLB Juneau, AK 99801

Tel: (907) 586-4490

Fax: (907) 586-6633

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

FRESNO DIVISION

 LYNETTE BLACK and SCOTT BLACK, 

 Husband and Wife,

 Plaintiffs, 

vs.

MEMORIAL HOSPITALS ASSOCIATION

dba MEMORIAL HOSPITAL CENTER, a

Sutter Health Associate; MODESTO ARTS

MEDICAL GROUP, INC.; JOHN C.

PFEFFER, M.D.; JENNIE CURRIE, CNM;

and SHERILYN GIBBS, CNM,

Defendants.

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CASE NO. CIV-F-03-5318 OWW DLB

 ORDER re

 MOTIONS IN LIMINE

HEARING: November 1, 2005

The foregoing Motion in Limine by Plaintiffs has been presented to me. Upon all files and

proceedings herein, the separate paragraphs of the Motion are hereby granted, or denied as I

have indicated immediately below each of the paragraphs in the Motion.

The attorney(s) for the Defendant(s) is instructed:

a. Not to interrogate witnesses concerning the prohibited items, or to mention to the jury in

any manner those items, without Defendant’s attorney first obtaining permission outside the

presence and hearing of the jury; and

b. To personally admonish the Defendant and Defendant’s witnesses to refrain from

mentioning to the jury in any manner the prohibited items, without Defendant’s attorney first

obtaining permission outside the presence and hearing of the jury.

Case 1:03-cv-05318-OWW -DLB Document 99 Filed 11/09/05 Page 1 of 7
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 Page 2 CHOATE LAW FIRM

Black v. Memorial Hospitals Assn, et al. 424 N. Franklin Street

Case No.: CIV-F-03-5318 OWW DLB Juneau, AK 99801

Tel: (907) 586-4490

Fax: (907) 586-6633

1.

Any reference to the time or circumstances under which Plaintiff employed attorneys or any

reference to other attorneys employed by Plaintiff but not involved in this trial.

GRANTED

2.

Any reference to the qualifications or alleged expertise of any of the attorneys.

GRANTED

3.

Any reference to the extent to which the Plaintiff’s attorneys specialize in personal injury

cases, or to the fact that any medical services provider has provided services to other clients

represented by Plaintiff’s attorneys.

GRANTED in part; but denied as to the ability of either side’s attorneys to question

witnesses concerning their relationship with a party or an attorney, the extent and limits of

their compensation and any other issues that might be bear on the issue of bias.

4.

Any reference that the Plaintiff has not called to testify any witness equally available by

subpoena to both parties in this cause; and any reference or suggestion to the jury by argument or

otherwise what would have been the testimony of any witness not actually called.

RESERVED in part; but GRANTED in that no argument or questions will be allowed

that are not asked in good faith and based on evidence in the case.

5.

Unless the report is otherwise admitted into evidence as an exhibit (for example, as a

medical record), any reference to any expert report or opinion of any person not then and there

present in Court to testify and to be cross-examined.

DENIED without prejudice.

6.

Any demands or requests by Defendant’s counsel before the jury for matters found or

contained within files of the Plaintiff or of Plaintiff’s attorney (which would include papers of

the Plaintiff, letters, pleadings, photographs, and all other documents or tangible items.)

DENIED in the present form, without prejudice.

7.

Any reference to settlement negotiations which have been undertaken between Plaintiff and

Defendant.

GRANTED

Case 1:03-cv-05318-OWW -DLB Document 99 Filed 11/09/05 Page 2 of 7
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 Page 3 CHOATE LAW FIRM

Black v. Memorial Hospitals Assn, et al. 424 N. Franklin Street

Case No.: CIV-F-03-5318 OWW DLB Juneau, AK 99801

Tel: (907) 586-4490

Fax: (907) 586-6633

8.

Any reference by Defendant’s counsel to the fact that this motion has been filed, or any

ruling by the Court has been made in response to this motion, suggesting or inferring to the jury

that Plaintiff has moved to prohibit proof or that the Court has excluded proof on any particular

matter. 

GRANTED with reciprocity.

9.

Any request in front of the jury to Plaintiff’s attorneys to stipulate to the admissibility of

any evidence or stipulate to any facts or matters.

GRANTED

10.

Any reference to any alleged alcohol drinking or drug habits of the Plaintiff before the date

of injury which is the subject matter of the litigation. Such reference is improper. McCarty v.

Gappelberg, 273 S.W.2d 943 (Ft Worth 1954).

DENIED subject to material and relevance limitations.

11.

Any reference to use of alcohol or drugs by the plaintiff on the day of the injury in question.

DENIED without prejudice.

12.

Any reference that Plaintiff has received, has been entitled to receive, will receive, or will

become entitled to receive benefits of any kind or character from a collateral source.

DENIED

13.

Any reference that any recovery by the Plaintiff either would or would not be subject to

federal income tax or taxation. Katy Railroad v. Perrin, 291 S.W.2d 93.

GRANTED

14.

Any reference to the effect or results of a claim, suit, or judgment upon insurance rates,

premiums, or charges, either generally or as particularly applied to the parties in question as a

result of this or any other lawsuit.

GRANTED

Case 1:03-cv-05318-OWW -DLB Document 99 Filed 11/09/05 Page 3 of 7
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 Page 4 CHOATE LAW FIRM

Black v. Memorial Hospitals Assn, et al. 424 N. Franklin Street

Case No.: CIV-F-03-5318 OWW DLB Juneau, AK 99801

Tel: (907) 586-4490

Fax: (907) 586-6633

15.

Any reference to any prior injury, physical or mental condition or illness that may have

been suffered by Plaintiff, unless the Defendant can show outside of the presence of the injury

that the prior injury, physical or mental condition or illness contributed to the physical or mental

impairment of Plaintiff claimed by Plaintiff in this case.

Tentative decision to Deny.

16.

Any reference to Plaintiff having been involved in any other accidents prior to the accident

in litigation, or that he suffered other accidental injury prior to the accident in litigation.

GRANTED

17.

Any reference to any other claims or lawsuits (or to the settlements or judgments made

therein) in which Plaintiff or Plaintiff’s spouse has been involved, prior to or subsequent to the

incident made the basis of this lawsuit, whether the claim or suit arose out of this incident or

some other. 

GRANTED

18.

Any reference to any subsequent injury, physical or mental condition or illness that may

have been suffered by Plaintiff, unless the Defendant can show outside of the presence of the

injury that the subsequent injury, physical or mental condition or illness contributed to the

physical or mental impairment of Plaintiff claimed by Plaintiff in this case.

GRANTED

19.

Any reference that the Plaintiff has been accused of, or was found guilty of, any

misconduct, traffic offenses, or criminal conviction.

GRANTED

20.

Any video taped depositions, or deposition transcript, of witnesses not present in Court

unless and until: Defendant’s counsel outside the presence and hearing of the jury, has notified

the Court and the counsel for the Plaintiff of the specific deposition and portions thereof

intended to be placed into evidence. Plaintiff’s counsel shall then outside the presence and

hearing of the jury make any objections. If only portions of a deposition or video are to be used

by Defendant, then such notification is to be in sufficient time so that the Plaintiff’s counsel may

(1) view the edited video or transcript portions, and (2) make objections to those specific

portions which should be excised and not shown or read to the jury, and also (3) prepare those

portions of the depositions which Plaintiff wants to introduce for optional completeness.

GRANTED with reciprocity.

Case 1:03-cv-05318-OWW -DLB Document 99 Filed 11/09/05 Page 4 of 7
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 Page 5 CHOATE LAW FIRM

Black v. Memorial Hospitals Assn, et al. 424 N. Franklin Street

Case No.: CIV-F-03-5318 OWW DLB Juneau, AK 99801

Tel: (907) 586-4490

Fax: (907) 586-6633

21.

Defendant’s counsel shall be instructed not to call witnesses, either expert or lay witnesses,

other than those persons previously disclosed in answers to interrogatories or in mandatory

pretrial disclosures. The use of additional witnesses after the filing of this motion would

constitute unfair surprise, and the Plaintiff should not be allowed to call such witnesses. 

GRANTED

22.

Defendant’s experts shall not be allowed to testify as to any opinion on subjects not

previously expressed in their reports or in the deposition of such expert, if a deposition has been

taken. In that connection,.

GRANTED

23.

That employees of the Defendant who have not been designated as expert witnesses be

precluded from expressing any expert opinions including opinions regarding existence, or lack,

of care or negligence, operations of Defendant’s business, custom in the industry involved, or

medical opinions.

GRANTED

24.

Any use or reference to any documents, photographs, or any other tangible thing not

previously timely disclosed in response, or supplementary response, to Plaintiff’s interrogatories

or requests for production.

GRANTED

25.

Any reference to, or show to the jury of, any proposed exhibit, unless the same previously

has been exhibited to Plaintiff’s counsel to determine its relevancy and objections to

admissibility.

GRANTED

26.

Any reference to moving traffic violations, or lack of such, prior to the occurrence in

question; or any receipt or nonreceipt of a traffic ticket o citation involving the occurrence in

question.

GRANTED

27.

Any reference to prior marriages, to prior marital difficulties or to prior controversies

regarding children of the Plaintiff.

Tentative ruling is to Deny.

28.

Any reference or question in regard to:

Case 1:03-cv-05318-OWW -DLB Document 99 Filed 11/09/05 Page 5 of 7
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 Page 6 CHOATE LAW FIRM

Black v. Memorial Hospitals Assn, et al. 424 N. Franklin Street

Case No.: CIV-F-03-5318 OWW DLB Juneau, AK 99801

Tel: (907) 586-4490

Fax: (907) 586-6633

a. The witness’s or party’s past conduct or past marital status, or that the witness or party

has been accused of, or found guilty of any misconduct. GRANTED with reciprocity.

b. A witness’s personal experience in, or actions taken in, any similar accidents or

emergencies. DENIED.

c. On whose advice the witness or party saw any person to seek professional aid or services.

DENIED

d. Whether the witness or party would believe or not believe any other witness or party.

GRANTEDin part. No witness is to comment by opinion on the credibility of another

witness. A witness may state why that witness relies on the testimony of one witness as

opposed to another, stating the reasons, but shall not give any opinion on who is the more

truthful or believable.

29.

Any reference to contents of any pleading of Plaintiff which has been superseded by the

current pleading. 

WITHDRAWN

30

Any questions whether one witness would believe another witness, or any testimony by any

witnesses as to the credibility of any other witnesses, for the reason that it is not competent

evidence, is irrelevant and is prejudicial. United States v. Azure, 801 F.2d 336 (8th Cir. 1986).

GRANTED in part, subject to strictures described above.

31

Any reference or questions regarding plaintiff Lynette Black’s overusage of Stadol or other

narcotic drugs at any time.

GRANTED in part, but it will be as it was necessary and appropriate for medical

treatment and diagnosis, it is admissible.

32

Any reference or questions regarding plaintiffs’ complaints against Memorial Hospital

Center, its doctors and nurses which have been dismissed by agreement of the parties.

DENIED

33

Any reference or questions as to whether Memorial Hospital Center, its doctos and/or

nurses met the applicable standard of care beyond questions to plaintiff’s expert, Richard

Luciani, M.D.

DENIED

34

Any reference or questions that plaintiff Lynette Black was a “difficult” patient becaue of

her personality as opposed to her medical condition.

DENIED without prejudice.

Case 1:03-cv-05318-OWW -DLB Document 99 Filed 11/09/05 Page 6 of 7
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 Page 7 CHOATE LAW FIRM

Black v. Memorial Hospitals Assn, et al. 424 N. Franklin Street

Case No.: CIV-F-03-5318 OWW DLB Juneau, AK 99801

Tel: (907) 586-4490

Fax: (907) 586-6633

35

Any reference or questions as to whether plaintiff Scott Black may have participated in the

care or treatment of Lynette Black or may have caused or been a possible cause of her infection.

DENIED without prejudice.

36

Any reference or questions as to whether plaintiffs have generally failed to mitigate their

damages.

DENIED if not listed in the Pre-Trial Order. Reserved as to future issues.

37

Any reference or questions as to whether plaintiff Lynette Black has been noncompliant

with doctors/nurses’ instructions and orders.

DENIED

38

Any reference or question as to whether Lynette Black is failing to use best efforts in her

pain management or is in any fashion, not motivated to improve her pain management.

DENIED

Dated: 11/2/2005 

 /s/ OLIVER WANGER

 Oliver W. Wanger

 Judge U.S. District Court

Case 1:03-cv-05318-OWW -DLB Document 99 Filed 11/09/05 Page 7 of 7