Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-3_08-cv-02754/USCOURTS-cand-3_08-cv-02754-18/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 190
Nature of Suit: Other Contract Actions
Cause of Action: 28:1332 Diversity-Other Contract

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United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

LEGAL ADDITIONS LLC,

Plaintiff,

v.

JEROME KOWALKSI, et al.,

Defendants.

___________________________________/

No. C-08-2754 EMC

JURY INSTRUCTIONS

(July 1, 2010)

CIVIL JURY INSTRUCTIONS

Case 3:08-cv-02754-EMC Document 205 Filed 07/01/10 Page 1 of 53
United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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JURY INSTRUCTION NO. 1 – OUTLINE OF TRIAL

Trials proceed in the following way: First, each side may make an opening statement. An

opening statement is not evidence. It is simply an outline to help you understand what that party

expects the evidence will show. A party is not required to make an opening statement.

The plaintiff will then present evidence, and counsel for the defendant may cross-examine. 

Then the defendants may present evidence, and counsel for the plaintiff may cross-examine.

After the evidence has been presented, I will instruct you on the law that applies to the case

and the attorneys will make closing arguments.

After that, you will go to the jury room to deliberate on your verdict.

Authority: 9th Cir. Model Civil Jury Instruction No. 1.19.

Case 3:08-cv-02754-EMC Document 205 Filed 07/01/10 Page 2 of 53
United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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JURY INSTRUCTION NO. 2 – CLAIMS AND DEFENSES

To help you follow the evidence, I will give you a brief summary of the positions of the

parties:

Plaintiff Legal Additions LLC claims that it and defendant Jerome Kowalski & Co., Inc., a

New York corporation (the “Kowalski corporation”), entered into a written contract to work together

on a non-exclusive basis in attempting to make certain placements of attorneys in law firms or legal

departments and/or to arrange the merger of certain law firms. The plaintiff claims that the

Kowalski corporation breached this contract by failing to pay one-half the commissions earned from

the placement of attorneys with the Mitchell, Silberberg & Knupp law firm.

In addition to the above, the plaintiff claims that, during the performance of the above

contract, defendant Jerome Kowalski committed fraud by falsely representing that commissions

would be shared with respect to the placement of attorneys at the Mitchell, Silberberg & Knupp law

firm and concealing important information from the plaintiff.

The Kowalski corporation denies that the alleged written contract between the plaintiff and

itself governed a placement such as that involving Mitchell, Silberberg & Knupp, denies that it

breached any written agreement with the plaintiff with regard to such placement and the division of

commissions earned therefrom, and also claims that under no circumstance occurring in this case

was the plaintiff entitled to the fifty percent (50%) share of commissions which the plaintiff claims.

In addition, Jerome Kowalski denies that he made any false promises to or concealed

important information from the plaintiff.

Authority: 9th Cir. Model Civil Jury Instruction No. 1.2.

Case 3:08-cv-02754-EMC Document 205 Filed 07/01/10 Page 3 of 53
United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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JURY INSTRUCTION NO. 3 – BURDEN OF PROOF – PREPONDERANCE OF THE

EVIDENCE – MORE LIKELY TRUE THAN NOT TRUE

A party must persuade you, by the evidence presented in court, that what he or she is

required to prove is more likely to be true than not true. This is referred to as “the burden of proof.”

After weighing all of the evidence, if you cannot decide that something is more likely to be

true than not true, you must conclude that the party did not prove it. You should consider all the

evidence, no matter which party produced the evidence.

 In criminal trials, the prosecution must prove that the defendant is guilty beyond a reasonable

doubt. But in civil trials, such as this one, the party who is required to prove something need prove

only that it is more likely to be true than not true.

Authority: 1-200 CACI 200.

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United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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JURY INSTRUCTION NO. 4 – MORE LIKELY TRUE – 

CLEAR AND CONVINCING PROOF

Certain facts must be proved by clear and convincing evidence, which is a higher burden of

proof. This means the party must persuade you that it is highly probable that the fact is true. I will

tell you specifically which facts must be proved by clear and convincing evidence.

Authority: 1-200 CACI 201.

Case 3:08-cv-02754-EMC Document 205 Filed 07/01/10 Page 5 of 53
United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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JURY INSTRUCTION NO. 5 – TWO OR MORE PARTIES – 

DIFFERENT LEGAL RIGHTS

You should decide the case as to each defendant separately. Unless otherwise stated, the

instructions apply to all parties.

Authority: 9th Cir. Model Civil Jury Instruction No. 1.5.

Case 3:08-cv-02754-EMC Document 205 Filed 07/01/10 Page 6 of 53
United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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JURY INSTRUCTION NO. 6 – 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 into evidence; and

3. any facts to which the lawyers have agreed.

Authority: 9th Cir. Model Civil Jury Instruction No. 1.6.

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United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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JURY INSTRUCTION NO. 7 – 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 have said 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] [have given] 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.

Authority: 9th Cir. Model Civil Jury Instruction No. 1.7.

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United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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JURY INSTRUCTION NO. 8 – 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.

Authority: 9th Cir. Model Civil Jury Instruction No. 1.8.

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United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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JURY INSTRUCTION NO. 9 – DIRECT AND INDIRECT 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.

Authority: 9th Cir. Model Civil Jury Instruction No. 1.9.

Case 3:08-cv-02754-EMC Document 205 Filed 07/01/10 Page 10 of 53
United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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JURY INSTRUCTION NO. 10 – RULING ON OBJECTIONS

There are rules of evidence that control what can be received into evidence. When a lawyer

asks a question or offers an exhibit into evidence and a lawyer on the other side thinks that it is not

permitted by the rules of evidence, that lawyer may object. If I overrule the objection, the question

may be answered or the exhibit received. If I sustain the objection, the question cannot be answered,

and the exhibit cannot be received. Whenever I sustain an objection to a question, you must ignore

the question and must not guess what the answer might have been.

Sometimes I may order that evidence be stricken from the record and that you disregard or

ignore the evidence. That means that when you are deciding the case, you must not consider the

evidence that I told you to disregard.

Authority: 9th Cir. Model Civil Jury Instruction No. 1.10.

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United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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JURY INSTRUCTION NO. 11 – 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.

Authority: 9th Cir. Model Civil Jury Instruction No. 1.11.

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United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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JURY INSTRUCTION NO. 12 – STATEMENTS OF A PARTY OPPONENT

A party may offer into evidence any oral or written statement made by an opposing party

outside the courtroom.

When you evaluate evidence of such a statement, you must consider these questions: 

1. Do you believe that the party actually made the statement? If you do not believe that the 

party made the statement, you may not consider the statement at all.

2. If you believe that the statement was made, do you believe it was reported accurately?

You should view testimony about an oral statement made by a party outside the courtroom

with caution.

Authority: CACI 212.

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United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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JURY INSTRUCTION NO. 13 – OPINION TESTIMONY OF LAY WITNESS

A witness [who was not testifying as an expert] gave an opinion during the trial. You may,

but are not required to, accept that opinion. You may give the opinion whatever weight you think is

appropriate.

Consider the extent of the witness’s opportunity to perceive the matters on which the opinion

is based, the reasons the witness gave for the opinion, and the facts or information on which the

witness relied in forming that opinion. You must decide whether information on which the witness

relied was true and accurate. You may disregard all or any part of an opinion that you find

unbelievable, unreasonable, or unsupported by the evidence.”

Authority: CACI 223.

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For the Northern District of California

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JURY INSTRUCTION NO. 14 – NO TRANSCRIPT AVAILABLE TO JURY

During deliberations, you will have to make your decision based on what you recall of the

evidence. You will not have a transcript of the trial. I urge you to pay close attention to the

testimony as it is given.

If at any time you cannot hear or see the testimony, evidence, questions or arguments, let me

know so that I can correct the problem.

Authority: 9th Cir. Model Civil Jury Instruction No. 1.13.

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For the Northern District of California

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JURY INSTRUCTION NO. 15 – TAKING NOTES

If you wish, you may take notes to help you remember the evidence. If you do take notes,

please keep them to yourself until you and your fellow jurors go to the jury room to decide the case. 

Do not let note-taking distract you. When you leave, your notes should be left in the envelope in the

jury room. No one will read your notes. They will be destroyed at the conclusion of the case.

Whether or not you take 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.

Authority: 9th Cir. Model Civil Jury Instruction No. 1.14.

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For the Northern District of California

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JURY INSTRUCTION NO. 16 – BENCH CONFERENCES AND RECESSES

From time to time during the trial, it may become necessary for me to talk with the attorneys

out of the hearing of the jury, either by having a conference at the bench when the jury is present in

the courtroom, or by calling a recess. Please understand that while you are waiting, we are working. 

The purpose of these conferences is not to keep relevant information from you, but to decide how

certain evidence is to be treated under the rules of evidence and to avoid confusion and error.

Of course, we will do what we can to keep the number and length of these conferences to a

minimum. I may not always grant an attorney’s request for a conference. Do not consider my

granting or denying a request for a conference as any indication of my opinion of the case or of what

your verdict should be.

Authority: 9th Cir. Model Civil Jury Instruction No. 1.18.

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United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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JURY INSTRUCTION NO. 17 – DEPOSITION IN LIEU OF LIVE TESTIMONY

A deposition is the sworn testimony of a witness taken before trial. The witness is placed

under oath to tell the truth and lawyers for each party may ask questions. The questions and answers

are recorded.

You should consider deposition testimony, presented to you in court in lieu of live testimony,

insofar as possible, in the same way as if the witness had been present to testify.

Do not place any significance on the behavior or tone of voice of any person reading the

questions or answers.

Authority: 9th Cir. Model Civil Jury Instruction No. 2.4.

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United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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JURY INSTRUCTION NO. 18 – USE OF INTERROGATORIES OF A PARTY

Before trial, each party has the right to ask the other parties to answer written questions. 

These questions are called interrogatories. The answers are also in writing and are given under oath. 

You must consider the questions and answers that were read to you the same as if the questions and

answers had been given in court.

Authority: 1-200 CACI 209.

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United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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JURY INSTRUCTION NO. 19 – CONDUCT OF THE JURY

I will now say a few words about your conduct as jurors.

First, keep an open mind throughout the trial, and do not decide what the verdict should be

until you and your fellow jurors have completed your deliberations at the end of the case. 

Second, because you must decide this case based only on the evidence received in the case

and on my instructions as to the law that applies, you must not be exposed to any other information

about the case or to the issues it involves during the course of your jury duty. Thus, until the end of

the case or unless I tell you otherwise:

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 e-mail, text

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

communicating with your fellow jurors until I give you the case for deliberation, and it

applies to communicating with everyone else including your family members, your

employer, and the people involved in the trial, although you may notify your family and your

employer that you have been seated as a juror in the case. But, 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. 

Because you will receive all the evidence and legal instruction you properly may consider to

return a verdict: 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

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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.

Authority: 9th Cir. Model Jury Instruction No. 1.12.

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JURY INSTRUCTION NO. 20 – DUTY OF JURY (COURT READS AND PROVIDES

WRITTEN INSTRUCTIONS AT END OF CASE)

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

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

A copy of these instructions will be sent with you to the jury room when you deliberate.

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.

Authority: 9th Cir. Model Civil Jury Instruction No. 1.1C.

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For the Northern District of California

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JURY INSTRUCTION NO. 21 – LIABILITY OF CORPORATIONS

Under the law, a corporation such as Jerome Kowalski & Co. Inc. (the “Kowalski

corporation”) is considered to be a person. It can only act through its employees, agents, directors,

or officers. Therefore, a corporation is responsible for the acts of its employees, agents, directors,

and officers performed within the scope of authority.

Authority: 9th Cir. Model Civil Jury Instruction No. 4.2 (modified).

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For the Northern District of California

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JURY INSTRUCTION NO. 22 – LIABILITY OF CORPORATIONS – 

PRINCIPAL AND AGENT

Jerome Kowalski was the agent of the defendant the Kowalski corporation, and, therefore,

any act or omission of Jerome Kowalski was the act or omission of the Kowalski corporation.

Authority: 9th Cir. Model Civil Jury Instruction No. 4.8.

Case 3:08-cv-02754-EMC Document 205 Filed 07/01/10 Page 24 of 53
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For the Northern District of California

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JURY INSTRUCTION NO. 23 – CLAIMS ASSERTED BY THE PLAINTIFF

In this case, the plaintiff has asserted the following claims.

1. Breach of contract. This claim is asserted against only the defendant the Kowalski

corporation.

2. Fraud. This claim is asserted against only the defendant Jerome Kowalski.

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BREACH OF CONTRACT

JURY INSTRUCTION NO. 24 – BREACH OF CONTRACT – INTRODUCTION

Plaintiff Legal Additions LLC claims that it and defendant Jerome Kowalski & Co., Inc., a

New York corporation (the “Kowalski corporation”), entered into a written contract to work together

on a non-exclusive basis in attempting to make certain placements of attorneys in law firms or legal

departments and/or to arrange the merger of certain law firms.

The plaintiff claims that the Kowalski corporation breached this contract by failing to pay

one-half the commissions earned from the placement of attorneys with the Mitchell, Silberberg &

Knupp law firm – namely, one-half of $496,903, or $248,451.50.

The Kowalski corporation denies that the alleged written contract between plaintiff and itself

governed a placement such as that involving Mitchell, Silberberg & Knupp, denies that it breached

any written agreement with the plaintiff with regard to such placement and the division of

commissions earned therefrom, and also claims that under no circumstance occurring in this case

was the plaintiff entitled to the fifty percent (50%) share of commissions which the plaintiff claims.

Authority: 1-300 CACI 300 (modified).

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For the Northern District of California

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JURY INSTRUCTION NO. 25 – BREACH OF CONTRACT – 

CONTRACT FORMATION – ESSENTIAL FACTUAL ELEMENTS

The plaintiff claims that it entered into a contract with the defendant the Kowalski

corporation. To prove that a contract was created, the plaintiff must prove all of the following: 

1. That the contract terms were clear enough that the parties could understand what each was

required to do;

2. That the parties agreed to give each other something of value. A promise to do something or

not to do something may have value; and

3. That the parties agreed to the terms of the contract.

When you examine whether the parties agreed to the terms of the contract, ask yourself if,

under the circumstances, a reasonable person would conclude, from the words and conduct of each

party, that there was an agreement. You may not consider the parties’ hidden intentions.

If the plaintiff did not prove all of the above, then a contract was not created.

Authority: 1-300 CACI 302.

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For the Northern District of California

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JURY INSTRUCTION NO. 26 – BREACH OF CONTRACT – BREACH – 

ESSENTIAL FACTUAL ELEMENTS

To recover damages from the defendant Kowalski corporation for breach of contract, the

plaintiff must prove all of the following: 

1. That the plaintiff and the Kowalski corporation entered into a contract;

2. That the plaintiff did all, or substantially all, of the significant things that the contract

required it to do or that it was excused from doing those things;

3. That all conditions required by the contract for the Kowalski corporation’s performance had

occurred;

4. That the Kowalski corporation failed to do something that the contract required it to do; and

5. That the plaintiff was harmed by that failure.

Authority: 1-300 CACI 303.

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JURY INSTRUCTION NO. 27 – BREACH OF CONTRACT – 

CONTRACT FORMATION – OFFER

Both an offer and an acceptance are required to create a contract. The defendant the

Kowalski corporation contends that a contract was not created because there was never any offer. 

To overcome this contention, the plaintiff must prove all of the following: 

1. That the plaintiff communicated to the Kowalski corporation that it was willing to enter into

a contract with the Kowalski corporation;

2. That the communication contained specific terms; and

3. That, based on the communication, the Kowalski corporation could have reasonably

concluded that a contract with these terms would result if it accepted the offer.

If the plaintiff did not prove all of the above, then a contract was not created.

Authority: 1-300 CACI 307.

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JURY INSTRUCTION NO. 28 – BREACH OF CONTRACT – 

CONTRACT FORMATION – ACCEPTANCE

Both an offer and an acceptance are required to create a contract. The Kowalski corporation

contends that a contract was not created because the offer was never accepted. To overcome this

contention, the plaintiff must prove either 1 or 2 below: 

1. That the Kowalski corporation agreed to be bound by the terms of the offer and that the

Kowalski corporation communicated its agreement to the plaintiff. But if the Kowalski

corporation agreed to be bound only on certain conditions, or if it introduced a new term into

the bargain, then there was no acceptance.

or

2. That the Kowalski corporation performed the conditions of the proposal offered, accepted the

consideration offered with the proposal, or accepted the benefit of the transaction knowing of

the obligation arising from the transaction.

Authority: 1-300 CACI 309 (modified); Cal. Civ. Code §§ 1584, 1589.

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For the Northern District of California

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JURY INSTRUCTION NO. 29 – BREACH OF CONTRACT – 

SUBSTANTIAL PERFORMANCE

The defendant the Kowalski corporation contends that the plaintiff did not perform all of the

things that it was required to do under the contract, and therefore the Kowalski corporation did not

have to perform its obligations under the contract. To overcome this contention, the plaintiff must

prove both of the following: 

1. That the plaintiff made a good faith effort to comply with the contract; and

2. That the Kowalski corporation received essentially what the contract called for because the

plaintiff’s failures, if any, were so trivial or unimportant that they could have been easily

fixed or paid for.

Authority: 1-300 CACI 312.

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JURY INSTRUCTION NO. 30 – BREACH OF CONTRACT – 

INTERPRETATION – DISPUTED TERM

The plaintiff and the defendant the Kowalski corporation dispute the meaning of one or more

terms contained in the alleged written contract. The plaintiff must prove that its interpretation of the

term or terms in dispute is correct.

In deciding what the terms of a contract mean, you must decide what the parties intended at

the time the contract was created. You may consider the usual and ordinary meaning of the

language used in the contract as well as the circumstances surrounding the making of the contract.

The following instructions may also help you interpret the terms of the contract.

Authority: 1-300 CACI 314 (modified).

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JURY INSTRUCTION NO. 31 – BREACH OF CONTRACT – INTERPRETATION –

MEANING OF ORDINARY WORDS

You should assume that the parties intended the words in their contract to have their usual

and ordinary meaning unless you decide that the parties intended the words to have a special

meaning.

Authority: 1-300 CACI 315.

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JURY INSTRUCTION NO. 32 – BREACH OF CONTRACT – INTERPRETATION –

MEANING OF TECHNICAL WORDS

You should assume that the parties intended technical words used in the contract to have the

meaning that is usually given to them by people who work in that technical field, unless you decide

that the parties clearly used the words in a different sense.

Authority: 1-300 CACI 316.

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For the Northern District of California

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JURY INSTRUCTION NO. 33 – BREACH OF CONTRACT – INTERPRETATION –

CONSTRUCTION OF CONTRACT AS A WHOLE

In deciding what the words of a contract meant to the parties, you should consider the whole

contract, not just isolated parts. You should use each part to help you interpret the others, so that all

the parts make sense when taken together.

Authority: 1-300 CACI 317.

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JURY INSTRUCTION NO. 34 – BREACH OF CONTRACT – INTERPRETATION –

CONSTRUCTION BY CONDUCT

In deciding what the words in a contract meant to the parties, you may consider how the

parties acted after the contract was created but before any disagreement between the parties arose.

Authority: 1-300 CACI 318.

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JURY INSTRUCTION NO. 35 – BREACH OF CONTRACT – INTERPRETATION –

REASONABLE TIME

If a contract does not state a specific time in which the parties are to meet the requirements

of the contract, then the parties must meet them within a reasonable time. What is a reasonable time

depends on the facts of each case, including the subject matter of the contract, the reasons each party

entered into the contract, and the intentions of the parties at the time they entered the contract.

Authority: 1-300 CACI 319.

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JURY INSTRUCTION NO. 36 – BREACH OF CONTRACT – 

BREACH OF COVENANT OF GOOD FAITH AND FAIR DEALING – 

ESSENTIAL FACTUAL ELEMENTS

In every contract or agreement there is an implied promise of good faith and fair dealing. 

This means that each party will not do anything to unfairly interfere with the right of any other party

to receive the benefits of the contract; however, the implied promise of good faith and fair dealing

cannot create obligations that are inconsistent with the terms of the contract. The plaintiff claims

that the defendant Kowalski corporation violated the duty to act fairly and in good faith. To

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

1. That the plaintiff and the Kowalski corporation entered into a contract;

2. That the plaintiff did all, or substantially all of the significant things that the contract

required it to do;

3. That all conditions required for the Kowalski corporation’s performance had occurred;

4. That the Kowalski corporation unfairly interfered with the plaintiff’s right to receive the

benefits of the contract; and

5. That the plaintiff was harmed by the Kowalski corporation’s conduct.

Authority: 1-300 CACI 325.

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JURY INSTRUCTION NO. 37 – BREACH OF CONTRACT – 

INTRODUCTION TO CONTRACT DAMAGES

If you decide that the plaintiff has proved its claim against the defendant the Kowalski

corporation for breach of contract, you also must decide how much money will reasonably

compensate the plaintiff for the harm caused by the breach. This compensation is called “damages.” 

The purpose of such damages is to put the plaintiff in as good a position as it would have been if the

Kowalski corporation had performed as promised.

 To recover damages for any harm, the plaintiff must prove: 

1. That the harm was likely to arise in the ordinary course of events from the breach of the

contract; or

2. That when the contract was made, both parties could have reasonably foreseen the harm as

the probable result of the breach.

The plaintiff also must prove the amount of its damages according to the following

instructions. It does not have to prove the exact amount of damages. You must not speculate or

guess in awarding damages.

 The plaintiff claims as damages one half the commissions earned from the placement of

attorneys with the Mitchell, Silberberg & Knupp law firm – namely, one-half of $496,903, or

$248,451.50.

Authority: 1-300 CACI 350.

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JURY INSTRUCTION NO. 38 – BREACH OF CONTRACT – CONTRACT DAMAGES –

OBLIGATION TO PAY MONEY ONLY

To recover damages for the breach of a contract to pay money, the plaintiff must prove the

amount due under the contract.

Authority: 1-300 CACI 355.

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JURY INSTRUCTION NO. 39 – BREACH OF CONTRACT – DAMAGES – 

PLAINTIFF MAY NOT RECOVER DUPLICATE CONTRACT AND TORT DAMAGES

The plaintiff has made claims against the defendant Kowalski corporation for breach of

contract and against the defendant Jerome Kowalski for fraud. You must decide each claim against

each defendant. If you decide that the plaintiff has proved both the claim for breach of contract

against the Kowalski corporation and the claim for fraud against the defendant Jerome Kowalski, the

50% share of commissions earned from the placement of attorneys with the Mitchell, Silberberg &

Knupp law firm may be awarded only once.

Authority: 1-300 CACI 361 (modified).

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JURY INSTRUCTION NO. 40 – FRAUD – INTENTIONAL MISREPRESENTATION

The plaintiff claims it was harmed because the defendant Jerome Kowalski made a false

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

1. That Jerome Kowalski made a promise to the plaintiff;

2. That this promise was important to the transaction;

3. That Jerome Kowalski did not intend to perform this promise when he made it;

4. That Jerome Kowalski intended that the plaintiff rely on this promise;

5. That the plaintiff reasonably relied on Jerome Kowalski’s promise;

6. That Jerome Kowalski did not perform the promised act;

7. That the plaintiff was harmed; and

8. That the plaintiff’s reliance on Jerome Kowalski’s promise was a substantial factor in

causing its harm.

Authority: 1-1900 CACI 1902 (modified).

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JURY INSTRUCTION NO. 41 – FRAUD – CONCEALMENT

The plaintiff also claims that it was harmed because, during the performance of the contract

between the plaintiff and the Kowalski corporation, the defendant Jerome Kowalski concealed

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

1. That Jerome Kowalski intentionally failed to disclose an important fact to the plaintiff; or

that Jerome Kowalski disclosed some facts to the plaintiff but intentionally failed to disclose

other important facts, making the disclosure deceptive; or that Jerome Kowalski intentionally

failed to disclose an important fact that was known only to him and that the plaintiff could

not have discovered; or that Jerome Kowalski actively concealed an important fact from the

plaintiff or prevented it from discovering that fact;

2. That the plaintiff did not know of the concealed fact;

3. That Jerome Kowalski intended to deceive the plaintiff by concealing the fact;

4. That the plaintiff reasonably relied on Jerome Kowalski’s deception;

5. That the plaintiff was harmed; and

6. That Jerome Kowalski’s concealment was a substantial factor in causing the plaintiff’s harm.

Authority: 1-1900 CACI 1901 (modified).

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JURY INSTRUCTION NO. 42 – FRAUD – DEFINITION OF IMPORTANT

FACT/PROMISE

A fact/promise is important if it would influence a reasonable person’s judgment or conduct. 

A fact/promise is also important if the person who conceals/makes it knows that the person to whom

the fact/promise is made or from whom it is concealed is likely to be influenced by it even if a

reasonable person would not.

Authority: 1-1900 CACI 1905.

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JURY INSTRUCTION NO. 43 – FRAUD – MISREPRESENTATIONS MADE TO PERSONS

OTHER THAN THE PLAINTIFF

Jerome Kowalski is responsible for a representation that was not made directly to the

plaintiff if he made the representation to David Pauker who was working for and with the plaintiff,

intending or reasonably expecting that it would be repeated to the plaintiff.

Authority: 1-1900 CACI 1906.

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JURY INSTRUCTION NO. 44 – FRAUD – RELIANCE

To find the plaintiff relied on Jerome Kowalski’s misrepresentations and/or concealments,

you must find that the misrepresentations and/or concealments caused the plaintiff to refrain from

taking the necessary steps to protect and secure its share of the commissions related to the Mitchell,

Silberberg & Knupp placement. 

It is not necessary for a misrepresentation and/or concealment to be the only reason for the

plaintiff’s conduct. It is enough if a misrepresentation and/or concealment substantially influenced

the plaintiff’s choice, even if it was not the only reason for its conduct.

Authority: 1-1900 CACI 1907 (modified).

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JURY INSTRUCTION NO. 45 – FRAUD – INTRODUCTION TO TORT DAMAGES

If you decide that the plaintiff has proved its claim of fraud against the defendant Jerome

Kowalski, you also must decide how much money will reasonably compensate the plaintiff for the

harm. This compensation is called “damages.”

The amount of damages must include an award for each item of harm that was caused by

Jerome Kowalski’s wrongful conduct, even if the particular harm could not have been anticipated.

The plaintiff does not have to prove the exact amount of damages that will provide

reasonable compensation for the harm. However, you must not speculate or guess in awarding

damages.

The following are the specific items of damages claimed by the plaintiff.

Authority: 2-3900 CACI 3900.

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JURY INSTRUCTION NO. 46 – FRAUD – ITEMS OF ECONOMIC DAMAGE

The following are the specific items of economic damages claimed by the plaintiff:

One-half the commissions earned from the placement of attorneys with the Mitchell,

Silberberg & Knupp law firm – namely, one-half of $496,903, or $248,451.50.

Authority: 2-3900 CACI 3903 (modified).

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JURY INSTRUCTION NO. 47 – FRAUD – PUNITIVE DAMAGES

If, on the fraud claim against the defendant Jerome Kowalski, you decide that Jerome

Kowalski’s conduct caused the plaintiff harm, you must decide whether that conduct justifies an

award of punitive damages. The purposes of punitive damages are to punish a wrongdoer for the

conduct that harmed the plaintiff and to discourage similar conduct in the future.

You may award punitive damages only if the plaintiff proves by clear and convincing

evidence that Jerome Kowalski engaged in that conduct with fraud.

“Fraud” means that Jerome Kowalski intentionally misrepresented or concealed a material

fact and did so intending to harm the plaintiff.

 There is no fixed formula for determining the amount of punitive damages, and you are not

required to award any punitive damages. If you decide to award punitive damages, you should

consider all of the following factors in determining the amount: 

(a) How reprehensible was Jerome Kowalski’s conduct? In deciding how reprehensible Jerome

Kowalski’s conduct was, you may consider, among other factors: 

1. Whether Jerome Kowalski’s conduct involved a pattern or practice;

2. Whether Jerome Kowalski acted with trickery or deceit;

3. The duration of Jerome Kowalski’s conduct; and

4. Jerome Kowalski’s awareness.

(b) Whether there is a reasonable relationship between the punitive damages award and the harm

likely to result from Jerome Kowalski’s conduct as well as the harm that actually has

occurred; the profitability to Jerome Kowalski of his wrongful conduct and the desirability of

removing that profit and of having him also sustain a loss; and all the costs of litigation.

(c) In view of Jerome Kowalski’s financial condition, what amount is necessary to punish him

and discourage future wrongful conduct? You may not increase the punitive award above an

amount that is otherwise appropriate merely because Jerome Kowalski has substantial

financial resources. Any award you impose may not exceed Jerome Kowalski’s ability to

pay.

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Punitive damages may not be used to punish Jerome Kowalski for the impact of his alleged

misconduct on persons other than the plaintiff.

Authority: 2-3900 CACI 3940.

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JURY INSTRUCTION NO. 48 – 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.

Authority: 9th Cir. Model Civil Jury Instruction No. 3.1.

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JURY INSTRUCTION NO. 49 – INTRODUCTION TO SPECIAL-VERDICT FORM

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.

Authority: 9th Cir. Model Civil Jury Instruction No. 3.3.

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JURY INSTRUCTION NO. 50 – COMMUNICATION WITH COURT

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

note through the clerk, 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.

Authority: 9th Cir. Model Civil Jury Instruction No. 3.2.

Case 3:08-cv-02754-EMC Document 205 Filed 07/01/10 Page 53 of 53