Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-5_14-cv-00817/USCOURTS-cand-5_14-cv-00817-16/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 720
Nature of Suit: Labor Management Relations Act
Cause of Action: 29:185 Labor/Mgt. Relations (Contracts)

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Case No.14-CV-00817-LHK 

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

SAN JOSE DIVISION

CHARLES LOFT,

Plaintiff,

v.

STATIONARY ENGINEERS, LOCAL 39 

PTF, LLC,

Defendant.

Case No. 14-CV-00817-LHK 

FINAL JURY INSTRUCTIONS 

(ANNOTATED)

Dated: June 10, 2015 ________________________________

LUCY H. KOH

United States District Judge

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1. DUTY OF JURY

Members of the Jury: Now that you have heard all of the evidence and will hear the arguments of 

the attorneys, it is my duty to instruct you as to the law of the case.

Each of you has received a copy of these instructions that you may take with you to the jury room 

to consult during your deliberations.

You must not infer from these instructions or from anything I may say or do as indicating that I 

have an opinion regarding the evidence or what your verdict should be.

It is your duty to find the facts from all the evidence in the case. To those facts you will apply the 

law as I give it to you. You must follow the law as I give it to you whether you agree with it or 

not. And you must not be influenced by any personal likes or dislikes, opinions, prejudices, or 

sympathy. That means that you must decide the case solely on the evidence before you. You will 

recall that you took an oath to do so.

In following my instructions, you must follow all of them and not single out some and ignore 

others; they are all important.

Source: Ninth Circuit Model Civil Jury Instructions - 1.1C (2014 Edition).

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2. BURDEN OF PROOF—PREPONDERANCE OF THE EVIDENCE

When a party has the burden of proof on any claim by a preponderance of the evidence, it means 

you must be persuaded by the evidence that the claim is more probably true than not true.

You should base your decision on all of the evidence, regardless of which party presented it.

Source: Ninth Circuit Model Civil Jury Instructions - 1.3 (2014 Edition).

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3. WHAT IS EVIDENCE

The evidence you are to consider in deciding what the facts are consists of:

(1) the sworn testimony of any witness; 

(2) the exhibits which are received in evidence; and

(3) any facts to which the lawyers have agreed.

Source: Ninth Circuit Model Civil Jury Instructions - 1.6 (2014 Edition).

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4. WHAT IS NOT EVIDENCE

In reaching your verdict, you may consider only the testimony and exhibits received into evidence. 

Certain things are not evidence, and you may not consider them in deciding what the facts are. I 

will list them for you:

(1) Arguments and statements by lawyers are not evidence. The lawyers are not 

witnesses. What they will say in their opening statements, will say in their closing 

arguments, and at other times is intended to help you interpret the evidence, but it is 

not evidence. If the facts as you remember them differ from the way the lawyers 

have stated them, your memory of them controls.

(2) Questions and objections by lawyers are not evidence. Attorneys have a duty to 

their clients to object when they believe a question is improper under the rules of 

evidence. You should not be influenced by the objection or by the court’s ruling on 

it.

(3) Testimony that has been excluded or stricken, or that you have been instructed 

to disregard, is not evidence and must not be considered. In addition sometimes 

testimony and exhibits are received only for a limited purpose; when I give a 

limiting instruction, you must follow it.

(4) Anything you may have seen or heard when the court was not in session is not 

evidence. You are to decide the case solely on the evidence received at the trial.

Source: Ninth Circuit Model Civil Jury Instructions - 1.7 (2014 Edition).

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5. EVIDENCE FOR LIMITED PURPOSE

Some evidence may be admitted for a limited purpose only.

When I instruct you that an item of evidence has been admitted for a limited purpose, you must 

consider it only for that limited purpose and for no other.

Source: Ninth Circuit Model Civil Jury Instructions - 1.8 (2014 Edition).

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6. DIRECT OR CIRCUMSTANTIAL EVIDENCE

Evidence may be direct or circumstantial. Direct evidence is direct proof of a fact, such as 

testimony by a witness about what that witness personally saw or heard or did. Circumstantial 

evidence is proof of one or more facts from which you could find another fact. You should 

consider both kinds of evidence. The law makes no distinction between the weight to be given to 

either direct or circumstantial evidence. It is for you to decide how much weight to give to any 

evidence.

By way of example, if you wake up in the morning and see that the sidewalk is wet, you may find 

from that fact that it rained during the night. However, other evidence, such as a turned on garden 

hose, may provide a different explanation for the presence of water on the sidewalk. Therefore, 

before you decide that a fact has been proved by circumstantial evidence, you must consider all 

the evidence in the light of reason, experience, and common sense.

Source: Ninth Circuit Model Civil Jury Instructions - 1.9 (2014 Edition).

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7. CREDIBILITY OF WITNESSES

In deciding the facts in this case, you may have to decide which testimony to believe and which 

testimony not to believe. You may believe everything a witness says, or part of it, or none of it. 

Proof of a fact does not necessarily depend on the number of witnesses who testify about it.

In considering the testimony of any witness, you may take into account:

(1) the opportunity and ability of the witness to see or hear or know the things testified

to;

(2) the witness’s memory;

(3) the witness’s manner while testifying;

(4) the witness’s interest in the outcome of the case and any bias or prejudice;

(5) whether other evidence contradicted the witness’s testimony;

(6) the reasonableness of the witness’s testimony in light of all the evidence; and

(7) any other factors that bear on believability.

The weight of the evidence as to a fact does not necessarily depend on the number of witnesses 

who testify about it.

Source: Ninth Circuit Model Civil Jury Instructions - 1.11 (2014 Edition).

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8. STIPULATIONS OF FACT

The parties have agreed to certain facts that have been read to you. You should therefore treat 

these facts as having been proved.

Source: Ninth Circuit Model Jury Instructions – 2.2 (2014 Edition).

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9. IMPEACHMENT EVIDENCE – WITNESS

The evidence that a witness lied under oath on a prior occasion may be considered, along with all 

other evidence, in deciding whether or not to believe the witness and how much weight to give the 

testimony of the witness and for no other purpose.

Source: Ninth Circuit Model Civil Jury Instructions – 2.8 (2014 Edition).

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10. NOTES

Whether or not you took notes, you should rely on your own memory of the evidence. Notes are 

only to assist your memory. You should not be overly influenced by your notes or those of your 

fellow jurors.

Source: Ninth Circuit Model Civil Jury Instructions – 1.14 (2014 Edition).

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11. LABOR MANAGEMENT REPORTING AND DISCLOSURE ACT (“LMRDA”) CLAIM—

INTRODUCTORY INSTRUCTION

In order to prevail on the plaintiff’s claim against the defendant for violation of the Labor 

Management Reporting Disclosure Act, the plaintiff must prove by a preponderance of that 

evidence that:

(1) he was not served with written specific charges, or;

(2) he was not given a reasonable time to prepare his defense to the charges, or;

(3) he was not afforded a full and fair hearing.

Source: 29 U.S.C. § 411(a)(5); Proposed Special Instruction #1 (modified); Plaintiff’s Alternative 

Special Instruction #1 (modified).

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12. LMRDA CLAIM—SPECIFIC CHARGES

Specific charges means charges that notify the accused of the incidents that form the basis of each

charge so that the accused may prepare a defense.

Source: 29 U.S.C. § 411(a)(5); Johnson v. Nat’l Ass’n of Letter Carriers Branch 1100, 182 F.3d 

1071, 1075 (9th Cir. 1999) (“The level of detail required is that needed to notify the accused of the 

incidents that form the basis of the charge so that he or she may prepare a defense”); Plaintiff’s 

Alternative Special Instruction #1-A (modified).

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13. LMRDA CLAIM—FULL AND FAIR HEARING

The right to a “full and fair hearing” includes the right to an unbiased trier of fact, the right to 

cross examine witnesses against the accused, and the right to present witnesses and evidence.

If you find that the plaintiff was not provided with any of the following: an unbiased trier of fact, 

the right to cross examine witnesses against him, or the right to present witnesses and evidence in 

his favor, then you must find that the plaintiff was not provided a full and fair hearing.

Source: Holschen v. Int’l Union of Painters & Allied Trades/Painters Dist. Council #2, 598 F.3d 

454, 463-64 (8th Cir. 2010); Myers v. Affiliated Prop. Craftsmen Local No. 44 of Int’l Alliance of 

Theatrical Stage Emp. & Moving Picture Mach. Operators of U.S. & Canada, 667 F.2d 817, 819-

21 (9th Cir. 1982); Ritz v. O’Donnell, 566 F.2d 731, 735 (D.C. Cir. 1977); Proposed Special 

Instruction #2 (modified); Plaintiff’s Alternative Special Instruction #2 (modified).

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14. LMRDA CLAIM—BIASED TRIER OF FACT

A trier of fact is biased if that fact-finder has prejudged the accused, was a witness to the offense 

alleged, or any other reason that would establish bias or partiality on the part of the trier of fact.

Source: Myers v. Affiliated Prop. Craftsmen Local No. 44 of Int’l Alliance of Theatrical Stage 

Emp. & Moving Picture Mach. Operators of U.S. & Canada, 667 F.2d 817, 819-21 (9th Cir. 

1982); Plaintiff’s Alternative Special Instruction #2-A.

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15. BREACH OF CONTRACT – INTRODUCTORY INSTRUCTION

The plaintiff claims that the International Constitution is a contract between the International 

Union of Operating Engineers and the defendant.

The plaintiff claims that the defendant breached this contract through its conduct towards the 

plaintiff. 

The plaintiff also claims that the defendant’s breach of this contract caused harm to the plaintiff 

for which the defendant should pay.

Source: CACI 300 (2007 Edition) (modified).

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16. BREACH OF CONTRACT – THIRD-PARTY BENEFICIARY

The plaintiff is not a party to the contract. However, the plaintiff may be entitled to damages for 

breach of contract if the plaintiff proves that the International Union of Operating Engineers and 

the defendant intended for the plaintiff to benefit from their contract.

It is not necessary for the plaintiff to have been named in the contract. In deciding what the 

International Union of Operating Engineers and the defendant intended, you should consider the 

entire contract and the circumstances under which it was made.

Source: CACI 301 (2003 Edition) (modified).

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17. FAIR REPRESENTATION CLAIM—INTRODUCTORY INSTRUCTION

In order to prevail on his breach of the duty of fair representation claim, the plaintiff must prove

by a preponderance of the evidence that:

(1) Some action by his employer, Sequoia Hospital, violated the terms of the collective 

bargaining agreement between the defendant and Sequoia Hospital;

(2) The defendant failed to fairly represent the plaintiff’s best interests in attempting to

remedy the violation of the collective bargaining agreement; and

(3) The defendant was acting in bad faith or in an arbitrary or discriminatory manner when

it failed to represent the plaintiff’s best interests.

If you find that the plaintiff has proved each of the elements on which the plaintiff has the burden 

of proof, your verdict should be for the plaintiff. If, on the other hand, the plaintiff has failed to 

prove any of these elements, your verdict should be for the defendant.

A union has a duty under the law to represent fairly the interests of its members in protecting their 

rights under a collective bargaining agreement. However, an individual employee does not have 

an absolute right to require the employee’s union to pursue a grievance against the employer. A 

union has considerable discretion in controlling the grievance and arbitration procedure. The 

question is not whether the employee is satisfied with the union representation or whether that 

representation was perfect.

Breach of the duty of fair representation occurs only where a union acting in bad faith or in an 

arbitrary or discriminatory manner fails to process a meritorious grievance. So long as the union 

acts in good faith, it may exercise its discretion in determining whether to pursue or process an 

employee’s grievance against the employer. Even if an employee’s grievance has merit, the 

union’s mere negligence or its exercise of poor judgment does not constitute a breach of its duty of 

fair representation.

Source: Ninth Circuit Model Civil Jury Instructions – 13.1 (2014 Edition) (modified); Chauffeurs, 

Teamsters and Helpers Local 391 v. Terry, 494 U.S. 558, 563 (1990); Vaca v. Sipes, 386 U.S. 171, 

177 (1967); Slevira v. Western Sugar Co., 200 F.3d 1218, 1221 (9th Cir.2000); Proposed Special 

Instruction #3 (modified).

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18. FAIR REPRESENTATION CLAIM—ARBITRARY OR DISRCIMINATORY CONDUCT

To establish that the defendant acted in an arbitrary or discriminatory manner, the plaintiff must

prove that the defendant’s actions were irrational or amounted to an egregious disregard for the 

plaintiff’s rights as a union member.

Source: Ninth Circuit Model Civil Jury Instructions – 13.1 (2014 Edition) (comment); Air Line 

Pilots Assn. v. O’Neill, 499 U.S. 65, 67 (1991); Tenorio v. Nat’l Labor Relations Bd., 680 F.2d 

598, 601 (9th Cir. 1982) (egregious disregard); Proposed Special Instruction #4 (modified).

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19. INTENTIONAL INFLICTION OF EMTIONAL DISTRESS - ELEMENTS

The plaintiff claims that the defendant’s conduct caused the plaintiff to suffer severe emotional 

distress. To establish this claim, the plaintiff must prove all of the following:

1. That the defendant’s conduct was outrageous;

2. That the defendant intended to cause the plaintiff emotional distress, or that the

defendant acted with reckless disregard of the probability that the plaintiff would suffer 

emotional distress;

3. That the plaintiff suffered severe emotional distress; and

4. That the defendant’s conduct was a substantial factor in causing the plaintiff’s severe 

emotional distress.

Source: CACI 1600 (2003 Edition) (modified).

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20. INTENTIONAL INFLICTION OF EMTIONAL DISTRESS – OUTRAGEOUS CONDUCT

“Outrageous conduct” is conduct so extreme that it goes beyond all possible bounds of decency. 

Conduct is outrageous if a reasonable person would regard the conduct as intolerable in a civilized 

community. Outrageous conduct does not include trivialities such as indignities, annoyances, hurt 

feelings, or bad manners that a reasonable person is expected to endure.

In deciding whether the defendant’s conduct was outrageous, you may consider, among other 

factors, the following:

(a) Whether the defendant abused a position of authority or a relationship that gave the 

defendant real or apparent power to affect the plaintiff’s interests;

(b) Whether the defendant knew that the plaintiff was particularly vulnerable to emotional 

distress; and

(c) Whether the defendant knew that the defendant’s conduct would likely result in harm 

due to mental distress.

Source: CACI 1602 (2003 Edition) (modified).

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21. INTENTIONAL INFLICTION OF EMTIONAL DISTRESS – RECKLESS DISREGARD

The defendant acted with reckless disregard in causing the plaintiff emotional distress if:

1. The defendant knew that emotional distress would probably result from the defendant’s 

conduct; or

2. The defendant gave little or no thought to the probable effects of the defendant’s 

conduct.

Source: CACI 1603 (2003 Edition) (modified).

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22. INTENTIONAL INFLICTION OF EMTIONAL DISTRESS – SEVERE EMOTIONAL 

DISTRESS

Emotional distress includes suffering, anguish, fright, horror, nervousness, grief, anxiety, worry, 

shock, humiliation, and shame.

“Severe emotional distress” is not mild or brief; it must be so substantial or long lasting that no 

reasonable person in a civilized society should be expected to bear it. The plaintiff is not required 

to prove physical injury to recover damages for severe emotional distress.

Source: CACI 1604 (2003 Edition) (modified).

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23. DAMAGES—PROOF

It is the duty of the Court to instruct you about the measure of damages. By instructing you on 

damages, the Court does not mean to suggest for which party your verdict should be rendered.

If you find for the plaintiff on the plaintiff’s claims, you must determine the plaintiff’s damages. 

The plaintiff has the burden of proving damages by a preponderance of the evidence. Damages 

means the amount of money that will reasonably and fairly compensate the plaintiff for any injury 

you find was caused by the defendant. You should consider the following:

 The nature and extent of the injuries;

 The mental or emotional pain and suffering experienced and which with reasonable 

probability will be experienced in the future; and

 Any penalty levied against the plaintiff.

It is for you to determine what damages, if any, have been proved.

Your award must be based upon evidence and not upon speculation, guesswork or conjecture.

Source: Ninth Circuit Model Civil Jury Instructions – 5.1-5.2 (2014 Edition); Proposed Jury 

Instruction No. 8 (modified); Plaintiff’s Special Instruction #5 (modified).

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24. DAMAGES—LIMITATION ON DAMAGES FOR BREACH OF CONTRACT

If you find that the defendant breached the International Constitution, you may not award the 

plaintiff compensatory damages simply because he was angry, nervous, upset, or depressed in 

response to the defendant’s actions. Emotional distress, without any other form of injury, does not 

constitute a sufficient basis for the award of damages for a violation for breach of contract.

Source: Bise v. Int’l Brotherhood. of Elec. Workers, AFL-CIO Local 1969, 618 F.2d 1299, 1305 

(9th Cir. 1979); Int’l Brotherhood of Boilermakers v. Rafferty, 348 F.2d 307, 315 (9th Cir. 1965); 

Proposed Special Instruction #5 (modified).

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25. DAMAGES—MITIGATION

The plaintiff has a duty to use reasonable efforts to mitigate damages. To mitigate means to avoid 

or reduce damages.

The defendant has the burden of proving by a preponderance of the evidence:

1. that the plaintiff failed to use reasonable efforts to mitigate damages; and

2. the amount by which damages would have been mitigated.

Source: Ninth Circuit Model Civil Jury Instructions – 5.3 (2014 Edition).

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26. NOMINAL DAMAGES

The law which applies to this case authorizes an award of nominal damages for each cause of 

action. For any cause of action, if you find for the plaintiff on a cause of action but you find that 

the plaintiff has failed to prove damages as defined in these instructions, you must award nominal 

damages. Nominal damages for each cause of action may not exceed one dollar.

Source: Ninth Circuit Model Civil Jury Instructions – 5.6 (2014 Edition) (modified).

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27. DUTY TO DELIBERATE

When you begin your deliberations, you should elect one member of the jury as your presiding 

juror. That person will preside over the deliberations and speak for you here in court.

You will then discuss the case with your fellow jurors to reach agreement if you can do so. Your 

verdict must be unanimous.

Each of you must decide the case for yourself, but you should do so only after you have 

considered all of the evidence, discussed it fully with the other jurors, and listened to the views of 

your fellow jurors.

Do not hesitate to change your opinion if the discussion persuades you that you should. Do not 

come to a decision simply because other jurors think it is right.

It is important that you attempt to reach a unanimous verdict but, of course, only if each of you 

can do so after having made your own conscientious decision. Do not change an honest belief 

about the weight and effect of the evidence simply to reach a verdict.

Source: Ninth Circuit Model Civil Jury Instructions – 3.1 (2014 Edition).

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28. CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE—CONDUCT OF THE JURY

Because you must base your verdict only on the evidence received in the case and on these 

instructions, I remind you that you must not be exposed to any other information about the case or 

to the issues it involves. Except for discussing the case with your fellow jurors during your 

deliberations:

Do not communicate with anyone in any way and do not let anyone else communicate with 

you in any way about the merits of the case or anything to do with it. This includes 

discussing the case in person, in writing, by phone or electronic means, via email, text 

messaging, or any Internet chat room, blog, website or other feature. This applies to 

communicating with your family members, your employer, the media or press, and the 

people involved in the trial. If you are asked or approached in any way about your jury 

service or anything about this case, you must respond that you have been ordered not to 

discuss the matter and to report the contact to the court. 

Do not read, watch, or listen to any news or media accounts or commentary about the case 

or anything to do with it; do not do any research, such as consulting dictionaries, searching 

the Internet or using other reference materials; and do not make any investigation or in any 

other way try to learn about the case on your own. 

The law requires these restrictions to ensure the parties have a fair trial based on the same 

evidence that each party has had an opportunity to address. A juror who violates these restrictions 

jeopardizes the fairness of these proceedings, and a mistrial could result that would require the 

entire trial process to start over. If any juror is exposed to any outside information, please notify 

the court immediately.

Source: Ninth Circuit Model Civil Jury Instructions – 3.1A (2014 Edition).

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29. COMMUNICATION WITH THE COURT

If it becomes necessary during your deliberations to communicate with me, you may send a note 

through the bailiff, signed by your presiding juror or by one or more members of the jury. No 

member of the jury should ever attempt to communicate with me except by a signed writing; I will 

communicate with any member of the jury on anything concerning the case only in writing, or 

here in open court. If you send out a question, I will consult with the parties before answering it, 

which may take some time. You may continue your deliberations while waiting for the answer to 

any question. Remember that you are not to tell anyone—including me—how the jury stands, 

numerically or otherwise, until after you have reached a unanimous verdict or have been 

discharged. Do not disclose any vote count in any note to the court.

Source: Ninth Circuit Model Civil Jury Instructions – 3.2 (2014 Edition).

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30. RETURN OF VERDICT

A verdict form has been prepared for you. After you have reached unanimous agreement on a 

verdict, your presiding juror will fill in the form that has been given to you, sign and date it, and 

advise the court that you are ready to return to the courtroom.

Source: Ninth Circuit Model Civil Jury Instructions – 3.3 (2014 Edition).

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