Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_14-cv-00363/USCOURTS-caed-2_14-cv-00363-20/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 550
Nature of Suit: Prisoner - Civil Rights (U.S. defendant)
Cause of Action: 42:1983 Prisoner Civil Rights

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

KEITH CANDLER,

Plaintiff,

v.

T. KITCH, L. LEE, M. MALLOT, K. 

PAVICH, and R. TORRES,

Defendants.

No. 2:14-cv-00363-GEB-KJN (PC)

SUPPLEMENT TO PRETRIAL ORDER

A trial confirmation hearing was held on November 6, 2015. Plaintiff appeared pro se, 

and Defendants appeared through counsel. At the hearing, the parties consented on the record to 

this action being reassigned to the Magistrate Judge for all purposes, including trial, and any 

appeal is directly to the Ninth Circuit. The trial was rescheduled to commence on January 11, 

2016, at 9:00 a.m., before the undersigned. 

1. The parties stipulated that Defendants acted under color of law, and that this 

issue need not be presented to the jury.

2. Plaintiff agreed to appear at trial seated at the counsel table with leg restraints 

that are shielded from the jury’s view; further, Plaintiff agreed to offer his testimony from the 

counsel table.

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Case 2:14-cv-00363-KJN Document 95 Filed 11/24/15 Page 1 of 4
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3. Seven (7) jurors will be selected by the method explained at the trial 

confirmation hearing.

4. It is anticipated that trial will last approximately three (3) days, but Plaintiff 

indicates he may need more time to present his case. 

5. The judge will conduct voir dire. During voir dire the judge will ask, “Does a 

party have additional questions?” If a party responds, “Yes,” that party shall give the Courtroom 

Deputy that party’s written question or questions.

6. The attached “Query re Excuse Potential Jurors” document and “Strike Sheet” 

were discussed at the trial confirmation hearing and may be used during jury selection.

7. The trial will be conducted in two phases: liability and punitive damages. If 

the jury finds punitive damages are recoverable in the liability phase, trial on the amount of 

punitive damages will immediately follow. During the first phase of the trial, the jury will be 

given a liability instruction on punitive damages along with the other closing instructions and a 

verdict form which will include the liability question on punitive damages. If the answer to the 

liability question on punitive damages is yes, then evidence pertinent to the amount of punitive 

damages will be presented in the second phase of the trial, following which the parties will 

present closing argument on that issue and a jury instruction will be given. The jury would then 

deliberate on the issue and fill in a punitive damages verdict form.

8. Each side’s opening statement may not exceed fifteen (15) minutes; each side’s 

closing argument for the liability and non punitive damages phase may not exceed twenty (20)

minutes.

9. If a second phase of trial is needed to determine an amount of punitive damages, 

each side is limited to ten (10) minutes for closing argument on this issue.

IT IS SO ORDERED. 

Dated: November 24, 2015

can363.fpto

Case 2:14-cv-00363-KJN Document 95 Filed 11/24/15 Page 2 of 4
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Query re Excuse Potential Juror

Do you Agree that Juror No. ____ should be excused for 

the reason stated by the juror or for any other reason? (Check 

applicable box below)

Plaintiff Defendants

RESPONSE: 

 Yes No Yes No

Case 2:14-cv-00363-KJN Document 95 Filed 11/24/15 Page 3 of 4
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Strike Sheet

Plaintiff 1 ____ Defendants 1 ____

2 ____ 2 ____

3 ____ 3 ____

Case 2:14-cv-00363-KJN Document 95 Filed 11/24/15 Page 4 of 4