Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_06-cv-01023/USCOURTS-caed-2_06-cv-01023-7/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 365
Nature of Suit: Personal Injury - Product Liability
Cause of Action: 28:1441 Petition for Removal- Product Liability

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

----oo0oo----

DON LAWRENCE and MICHELLE

KRUEGER,

NO. CIV. S-06-01023

Plaintiffs, WBS GGH

v. PRETRIAL ORDER

LOUISVILLE LADDER, INC. and

DOES 1-25, Inclusive,, 

Defendants.

_____________________________/

----oo0oo----

A Pretrial Conference was held in this matter,

pursuant to the provisions of Rule 16(d) of the Federal Rules of

Civil Procedure and Local Rule 16-282, on July 30, 2007. Paul

Wagstaffe appeared as counsel on behalf of plaintiff; Kenneth

Grossfeld appeared as counsel on behalf of defendant. After

hearing, the court now makes the following findings and orders:

I. Jurisdiction-Venue. 

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Jurisdiction is predicated upon 28 U.S.C. § 1332

(diversity). Plaintiffs are citizens of California; defendant

Louisville Ladder, Inc. is a Delaware corporation, and the sum

involved exceeds $75,000. Venue is undisputed and is hereby

found to be proper.

 II. Jury-Nonjury. 

Both parties have entered a demand for a jury trial. 

This case will be tried before a jury composed of not less than

six members nor more than twelve members. Fed. R. Civ. P. 48.

 III. Jury Instructions

No later than ten court days before the trial date,

counsel for plaintiff shall lodge and serve, pursuant to Local

Rule 51-163, copies of all jury instructions which plaintiff

requests be given. At that time, counsel for plaintiff shall

also file and serve a copy of a proposed form of verdict. 

No later than seven court days before the trial date,

counsel for defendant shall file and serve any objections to the

instructions proposed by plaintiff and shall at the same time

lodge and serve, pursuant to Local Rule 51-163, copies of any and

all jury instructions not already proposed by plaintiff which

defendant requests be given. At that time, counsel for defendant

shall also file and serve a copy of any proposed form of verdict

and shall also file any objections to plaintiff’s proposed form

of verdict.

 No later than four court days before the trial date,

counsel for plaintiff shall file and serve any objections to the

instructions proposed by defendant and to any proposed form of

verdict.

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Pursuant to Local Rule 51-163, any other instructions

thereafter presented will be refused unless it is shown either

(1) that the necessity for the request arose in the course of

trial; could not reasonably have been anticipated prior to trial

from the pleadings, discovery or nature of the action; and the

request for such additional instructions is presented to the

Court as promptly as possible; or (2) that the refusal to give

such instructions would constitute plain error.

Likewise, any objections to proposed instructions not

made in accordance with this order will be overruled as untimely

unless it is shown either (1) that the grounds therefor arose in

the course of trial and the intention to make such objections is 

communicated to the Court as promptly as possible, or (2) that

the giving of such instructions would constitute plain error. 

IV. Voir Dire Questions.

No later than fourteen days before the trial date,

counsel for each party shall submit all proposed jury voir dire

questions.

V. Trial Briefs. 

No later than fourteen days before the trial date,

counsel for each party shall file trial briefs, which shall

include any motions in limine, pursuant to Local Rule 16-285. No

later than seven days before trial, the parties may file

oppositions, if any, to the motions in limine. 

VI. Disputed Factual Issues.

The sole remaining claims for trial are (1) plaintiff

Don Lawrence’s claims against Louisville Ladder, Inc., for strict

product liability, based on both design defect and manufacturing

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defect; (2) plaintiff Don Lawrence’s claim against Louisville

Ladder, Inc., for failure to warn of known defect; (3) plaintiff

Don Lawrence’s claim against Louisville Ladder, Inc., for

negligence; plaintiff Don Lawrence’s claims against Louisville

Ladder, Inc., for breach of implied warranties of merchantability

and fitness for purpose; and (5) plaintiff Michelle Krueger’s

claim against Louisville Ladder, Inc., for loss of consortium.

With respect to these sole remaining causes of action,

and any affirmatively pled defenses thereto, all issues of

material fact remain in dispute, and are subject to proof at the

time of trial.

 VII. Witnesses. 

(A) Plaintiff anticipates calling the witnesses

identified at Exhibit “A” attached hereto.

(B) Defendant anticipates calling the witnesses

identified at Exhibit “B” attached hereto.

(C) Each party may call any witness designated by any

other party.

(D) At the election of the party calling the witness,

the direct testimony of any witness may be presented by

declaration, to be provided to the court and opposing counsel at 

least 24 hours before the witness is produced for crossexamination.

(E) No other witnesses will be permitted to testify

at trial unless: 

(1) all parties stipulate that the witness may

testify; 

(2) the party offering the witness demonstrates

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that the witness is for the purpose of rebutting evidence which

could not have been reasonably anticipated at the time of the

Pretrial Conference; or 

(3) the witness was discovered after the

Pretrial Conference.

(F) Testimony of a witness not designated in this

Order, which is offered under paragraph VII(E)(3), above, upon

the grounds that the witness was discovered after the Pretrial

Conference, will not be permitted unless: 

(1) the testimony of the witness could not

reasonably have been discovered prior to the Pretrial Conference;

(2) the court and opposing counsel were promptly

notified upon discovery of the testimony; and 

(3) counsel proffered the witness for deposition

if time permitted or provided all opposing counsel a reasonable

summary of the testimony if time did not permit a deposition.

VIII. Exhibits. 

(A) Plaintiff intends to offer the exhibits

identified at Exhibit “C” attached hereto. 

(B) Defendant anticipates offering the exhibits

identified at Exhibit “D” attached hereto.

(C) Each party may offer any exhibit designated by

any other party.

(D) No other exhibits will be received in evidence

unless: 

(1) all parties stipulate that the exhibit may

be received in evidence;

(2) the party offering the exhibit demonstrates

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that the exhibit is for the purpose of rebutting evidence which

could not have been reasonably anticipated at the time of the

Pretrial Conference; or 

(3) the exhibit was discovered after the

Pretrial Conference.

(E) An exhibit not designated in this Order, which is

offered under paragraph VIII(D)(3), above, upon the grounds that

the exhibit was discovered after the Pretrial Conference, will

not be received in evidence unless: 

(1) the exhibit could not reasonably have been

discovered prior to the Pretrial Conference; 

(2) the court and opposing counsel were promptly

notified upon discovery of the exhibit; and 

(3) counsel provided copies of the exhibit to

all opposing counsel if physically possible or made the exhibit

reasonably available for inspection by all opposing counsel if

copying was not physically possible.

(F) Each party shall exchange copies of all exhibits

identified in this Order, or make them reasonably available for

inspection by all other parties, not later than thirty days

before the trial date. Any and all objections to such exhibits

shall be filed and served not later than fourteen days before the

trial date. 

(G) The attorney for each party is directed to appear

before trial and present an original (and if physically possible

one copy) of each exhibit to Deputy Clerk Karen Kirksey Smith at

8:30 a.m. on the date of trial.

(H) Each exhibit which has been designated in this

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Order and presented on the morning of the date of trial will be

marked for identification. If no objection has been made to such

exhibit pursuant to paragraph VIII(F), above, such exhibit will

require no further foundation and will be received in evidence

upon the motion of any party at trial.

IX. Further Discovery and Motions. 

No further discovery will be permitted except by the

express stipulation of all parties or pursuant to prior court

order. Except for motions in limine, no further motions shall be

brought before trial except upon order of the court and for good

cause shown. 

X. Use of Depositions or Interrogatories. 

No later than thirty days before the trial date,

counsel for each party shall file and serve a statement

designating all answers to interrogatories and all portions of

depositions intended to be offered or read into evidence, with

the exception of portions to be used only for impeachment or

rebuttal. No later than twenty days before the trial date,

counsel for any other party may file and serve a counterdesignation of other portions of the same depositions intended to

be offered or read into evidence and may file evidentiary

objections to any other parties' designation. No later than ten

days before the trial date, the parties may file evidentiary

objections to any other parties’ counter-designation. 

 XI. Settlement Conference. 

A Settlement Conference is set before the Honorable

Morrison C. England, Jr, at 2:00 p.m. on August 30, 2007. 

Each party is ordered to have a principal with full

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settlement authority present at the conference or be fully

authorized to settle the matter on any terms. No later than

August 16, 2007, counsel for each party shall deliver to the

Settlement Judge a confidential Settlement Conference Statement

for review. 

XII. Date and Length of Trial. 

This case is set for trial at 9:00 a.m. on September

18, 2007 in Courtroom No. 5. The court estimates that trial will

last approximately 10 to 12 trial days.

XIII. Daubert Procedure

Any challenges based on Daubert v. Merrell Dow

Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 509 U.S. 579 (1993) and Kumho Tire Co. v.

Carmichael, 119 S. Ct. 1167 (1999) will be raised and resolved

outside the presence of the jury just prior to when the

challenged expert will be called to give testimony. Any

challenged expert shall be present for such a challenge, and

shall be available for questioning. 

XIV. Objections to Pretrial Order. 

Any objections or suggested modifications to this

Pretrial Order shall be filed and served within fifteen days from

the date of this Order. All references herein to the date of

this Order shall refer to the date the tentative order is filed

and not to the date any amended order is filed. If no objections

or modifications are made, this Order will become final without

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further order of the Court and shall control the 

subsequent course of the action, pursuant to Rule 16(e) of the

Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.

DATED: July 31, 2007

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Exhibit “A”

Don Lawrence, 108 Buckley Court, Roseville, CA

Michelle Krueger, same address

Chaz Lawrence, same address

Jennifer Krueger, same address

Jessica Krueger, same address

Meagan Krueger, same address

Kimberly Diane

Natalie Esparza-Young

Sylvia Hunter

Lisa Jones

Maureen Swanson

Margot Whitney

Jim Black (co-worker), 4240 Roseville Road, North Highlands, CA

Barry Moody (employer), same address

Mark Skvarla (employer), same address

Rose Hanke (percipient), Napolanito’s Restaurant, 56th and H

Streets, Sacramento,CA

Thomas L. Read, PhD (ladder expert), 1435 Fulton Road, Santa

Rosa, CA

Andrew Prints, MD (emergency room physician), Sutter Memorial

Hospital, 5151 F Street, Sacramento, CA

Rudolph Holguin, MD (occupational medicine physician, through

employer’s workers comp), Kaiser Roseville, 1001 Riverside

Avenue, Roseville, CA

Jeffrey Young, MD (occupational medicine physician, through

employer’s workers comp), 5525 Assembly Court, Suite A,

Sacramento, CA

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Alan Hirahara, MD (orthopedic surgeon), 2801 K Street,

Sacramento, CA

Matt Osechek, MA (speech pathologist), University of California

Davis Medical Center, 4860 Y Street, Sacramento, CA

Richard Wanlass, PhD (chief psychologist, physical medicine and

rehabilitation), University of California Davis Medical Center,

4860 Y Street, Sacramento, CA

John Yen, MD (neurosurgeon), Northern California Neurological

Surgeons 3939 J Street, Suite 380, Sacramento, CA

Gregory W. Sells (rehabilitation), 765 University Avenue, Suite

100, Sacramento, CA

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Exhibit “B”

Don Lawrence, plaintiff

Michelle Krueger, plaintiff

Mark Skvarla

Barry Moody

James Black

GPS Specialty Construction, Inc.

4240 Roseville Road

North Highlands, CA

Larry Spangler

Superintendent, MP Allen General Contractors

9807 Fair Oaks Blvd.

Carmichael, CA 95608

Expert Witnesses

Dr. Mack Quan

Quan, Smith & Associates

2174 Main Street, Suite 305

El Segundo, CA 90245

Robert R. Herrick, M.D.

Newton Medical Group

180 Grand Avenue, Suite 100

Oakland, CA 94612

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Gregory W. Sells

Sells & Associates, Inc.

765 University Avenue, Suite 100

Sacramento, CA 95825

Claude S. Munday, Ph.D.

Newton Medical Group

180 Grand Avenue, Suite 100

Oakland, CA 94612

John D. Tickle, President

Strongwell Corporation

400 Commonwealth Avenue

P.O. Box 580

Bristol, VA 24203

Don Gibson, Vice President of Engineering

or Lori J. Bremick, Safety Engineer

Louisville Ladder, Inc.

7765 National Turnpike, Unit 190

Louisville, KY 40214

Plaintiff’s treating physicians, as needed:

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Andrew Prints, M.D.

8977 Cape Windhanm

Orangevale, CA 95662

John K. H. Yen, M.D.

Northern California Neurological Surgeons

3939 J Street, Suite 380

Sacramento, CA 95819

Rudolph J. Holguin, M.D.

Kaiser Roseville

1001 Riverside Boulevard

Roseville, CA 95678

Jeffrey Young, M.D.

5525 Assembly Court, Ste. A

Sacramento, CA 95823

Alan M. Hirahara, M.D.

2801 K Street, Suite 330

Sacramento, CA 95816

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Exhibit “C”

The subject ladder

Photographs of the subject ladder as provided in discovery by

either party

The initial incident reports and first report of injury prepared

by Plaintiff’s employer GPS Construction

Records, reports, and data relating to the subject ladder as

provided in discovery by Defendant

Records, reports, and data from the testing of the ladder in this

case

Expert disclosure documents relating to Thomas Read, PhD, and Mac

Quan, PhD

Reports by Thomas Read, PhD, and Mac Quan, PhD

Underlying data prepared or utilized by Thomas Read, PhD, and Mac

Quan, PhD

Medical bills, records, and reports contained in the subpoenaed

records of Sutter Medical Center, Andrew Prints, MD, Rudolph

Holguin, MD, Jeffrey Young, MD, Alan Hirahara, MD, Matt Osechek,

MA, Richard Wanlass, PhD, and John Yen, MD

Plaintiff Don Lawrence’s federal tax returns for 2003, 2004, and

2005

Plaintiff Don Lawrence’s earnings statement from GPS Construction

for the pay period ending 11/12/05

Plaintiff Don Lawrence hiring agreement and hiring records from

GPS Construction

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Earnings record from Magoo’s Automotive Consultants, Inc.

The workers compensation file and all records and documents

contained therein

Records, reports, and data contained in the file of Gregory Sells

Summary of medical expenses and lost earnings

The following deposition transcripts, including the exhibits

attached thereto: Don Lawrence, Michelle Krueger, Jim Black,

Barry Moody, Mark Skvarla, Thomas Read, PhD, Andrew Prints, MD,

Rudolph Holguin, MD, Jeffrey Young, MD, Alan Hirahara,

MD, Matt Osechek, MA, Richard Wanlass, PhD, John Yen, MD, Mac

Quan, PhD, Robert Herrick, MD, Claude Munday, PhD, and Gregory

Sells.

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Exhibit “D”

Photographs (7) taken on November 3, 2005 by Barry Moody,

of GPS Specialty Construction, Inc., of accident ladder

and job site.

Application for employment completed by Don Lawrence for

GPS Specialty Construction, Inc.

Employment Agreement dated July 18,2005 between Don

Lawrence and GPS Specialty Construction, Inc.

Witness statement of co-employee James Black, dated

November 4, 2005.

Photograph taken November 3,2005 marked by James Black

during his deposition.

Records of attendance of Don Lawrence at ladder safety

meetings of GPS Specialty Construction, Inc.

Portion of safety manual of GPS Specialty Construction,

Inc. dealing with ladder safety, along with

acknowledgement of receipt by Don Lawrence on July 12,

2005.

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Drawing done by Don Lawrence during his deposition on

February 13, 2007.

Design documents for this model ladder.

Exemplars of labels on this model of ladder.

Exemplars of this model of ladder.

Records of manufacturer’s testing of this model ladder.

Records of testing of the fiberglass rails by Strongwell

Corporation.

Expert report of Gregory Sells, dated March 26, 2007.

Expert report of Claude S. Munday, Ph.D., dated March 14,

2007.

Expert report of Dr. Robert Herrick, dated December 11,

2006.

Supplemental expert report of Dr. Robert Herrick, dated

November 3, 2005.

Expert report of Dr. Mack Quan, dated March 19, 2005,

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with exhibits as follows:

Exemplar Ladders Used in Testing;

Video of March 23, 2007 Testing;

Video of June 1, 2007 Testing;

Photographs from March 23, 2007 Testing (72

photographs);

Photographs of Inspection on February 13, 2007 (71

photographs);

Photographs of Inspection on April 5, 2006 (257

photographs);

Photographs of Inspection on June 1, 2007 (135

photographs);

Computer generated document depicting accident

ladder;

Photographs of Post Accident Configuration – Site (2

photographs);

Photographs of Use of Foot Spikes (2 photographs);

Photograph of accident ladder showing “No Furrows...”;

Photograph of accident ladder showing rail damage;

Photograph of accident ladder showing movement of

feet;

Computer generated documents showing Accident Site

(3);

Computer generated documents showing Accident

Configuration (3);

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Computer generated document showing Loads on Ladder

– Accident Configuration;

Computer generated document showing Loads on Ladder

– Climbing Ladder on 4th Rung;

Photographs showing User Test (2);

Photographs showing Inclined Load Test (2);

Photographs showing Damaged Ladder Test (2);

Photographs showing Ladder Impact Test (2)

Photographs showing Ladder Impact Test – Damage

Comparison (4);

Computer generated document showing – Ladder Feet

Slip Rearward on Sloped Dirt or Loose Gravel;

Computer generated document showing – Ladder Feet

Slip Rearward, Top of Ladder Clears Awning Frame;

Computer generated document showing – Top of Ladder

Rotates Towards Building, Man Falling;

Computer generated document showing – Impact of

Ladder Near 5th Rung;

Computer generated document showing – Fall onto

Ladder Near 5th Rung;

Photographs of ladder rail manufacturing –

Pultrusion;

Title 8 – General Industry Safety Orders 3276 and

3277;

CAL/OSHA Article 25 – Sections 1675-1678;

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Subpart X – Stairways and Ladders §1926.1053 and

§1926.1060.

Supplemental expert report of Dr. Mack Quan, to be

provided after the ladder testing has been completed,

along with any photographs and exhibits.

Plaintiff’s medical records:

Records of Emergency Room examination and treatment

of Don Lawrence by Dr. Andrew Prints on November 3,

2005, including an addendum prepared by Dr. Prints;

Records of examination and treatment of Don

Lawrence by Dr. Rudolph Holguin, including a

patient’s pain diagram prepared on the initial

visit and reports of office visits on November 8,

2005; November 15, 2005; November 22, 2005;

December 13, 2005; January 10, 2006; and February

13, 2006;

Report of Dr. John Yen, dated December 28, 2005, to

Dr. Holguin.

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