Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-arwd-5_05-cv-05001/USCOURTS-arwd-5_05-cv-05001-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 440
Nature of Suit: Other Civil Rights
Cause of Action: 42:1983 Civil Rights Act

---

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

WESTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS

FAYETTEVILLE DIVISION

NANCY DUVALL PLAINTIFF

v. Civil No. 05-5001

CITY OF ROGERS, ARKANSAS DEFENDANT

O R D E R

Now on this 9th day of September, 2005, comes on for

consideration Plaintiff's Motion In Limine To Prevent Attorney

Testimonial (document #19), and from said motion, and the response

thereto, the Court finds and orders as follows:

1. Plaintiff claims that defendant, the City of Rogers,

owes her compensation for damaging a historic house she owned in

the City of Rogers. The conduct complained of is alleged to have

taken place after condemnation proceedings involving the City

Council. 

2. Plaintiff’s Motion In Limine points out that the

attorney representing defendant in this case would have been

involved in the condemnation proceedings, and asks that the Court

order, in limine, that defense counsel “not make any statements to

the jury that are testimonial in nature.”

3. The defendant objects, contending that the motion is

“overbroad and overreaching” and “would have the effect of

hamstringing” its attorney.

4. The Court is not persuaded either that the motion is

Case 5:05-cv-05001-JLH Document 21 Filed 09/09/05 Page 1 of 2 PageID #: <pageID>
-2-

overbroad, or that it would hamper defendant in the presentation

of its case. Rule 3.7 of the Arkansas Rules of Professional

Conduct prohibits a lawyer from acting as an advocate in a trial

in which he is likely to be a necessary witness, and to the extent

that defense counsel is not a necessary witness, he should have no

difficulty in avoiding statements that are testimonial in nature.

The motion will therefore be granted.

IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that Plaintiff's Motion In Limine To

Prevent Attorney Testimonial (document #19) is granted.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

 /s/ Jimm Larry Hendren 

JIMM LARRY HENDREN

UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

Case 5:05-cv-05001-JLH Document 21 Filed 09/09/05 Page 2 of 2 PageID #: <pageID>