Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_01-cv-05058/USCOURTS-caed-1_01-cv-05058-3/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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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

FRANK E. SISNEROZ, )

)

Plaintiff, )

)

v. )

)

BILL WHITMAN, et al., )

)

Defendant. )

____________________________________)

CV 01-5058 AWI DLB

ORDER VACATING

JUDGMENT PURSUANT TO

F.R.C.P. # 59 AND

SCHEDULING FURTHER

STATUS CONFERENCE

[Document # 94]

In this action for damages and injunctive relief by plaintiff Frank E. Sisneroz

(“Plaintiff”) against defendant Bill Whitman, et al. (“Defendants”), the court’s order filed

August 23, 2005, directed Defendants to show cause why the jury verdict in favor of

Defendants rendered on March 25, 2004, should not be vacated and a new trial ordered. The

court’s order of August 23, 2005 (the “August 25 Order”) specifically directed Defendants to

address the issue of whether instructions given to the jury pertaining to the burden of proof

on Plaintiff’s fifth claim for relief, which were determined to have been erroneous, were

nonetheless harmless. On September 23, 2005, Defendants submitted their response to the

court’s August 25 Order, in which they conceded the instructional error was not harmless.

The court therefore adopts both the reasoning and conclusion set forth in the August 25 Order

and concludes Plaintiff’s jury was erroneously instructed as to the burden of proof regarding

Plaintiff’s fifth claim for relief and that the error constitutes prejudicial, reversible error.

Case 1:01-cv-05058-AWI -TAG Document 117 Filed 11/08/05 Page 1 of 2
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THEREFORE, for the reasons set forth in the August 25 Order, it is ORDERED that

the jury verdict of March 25, 2004, in favor of Defendants on Plaintiff’s claim for relief is

hereby VACATED pursuant to Rule 59 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. The parties

shall appear telephonically at a further status conference to be held at 3:30 p.m. on Monday,

November 14, 2005. Defendants shall arrange contact with Plaintiff and shall institute the

call to chambers poly-com telephone line at (559) 498-7486. 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: November 7, 2005 /s/ Anthony W. Ishii 

h2ehf UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

Case 1:01-cv-05058-AWI -TAG Document 117 Filed 11/08/05 Page 2 of 2