Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_05-cv-01766/USCOURTS-caed-2_05-cv-01766-7/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 365
Nature of Suit: Personal Injury - Product Liability
Cause of Action: 28:1332 Diversity-Personal Injury

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

----oo0oo----

TINA BRUCE, JAYME BRUCE, a

minor, by and through her

Guardian Ad Litem, Tina Bruce,

and JESSICA BRUCE, a minor, by

and through her Guardian Ad

Litem, Tina Bruce,

NO. CIV. S-05-01766

Plaintiffs, WBS KJM

v. PRETRIAL ORDER

CLARK EQUIPMENT COMPANY,

BOBCAT COMPANY, MELROE

COMPANY, INGERSOLL-RAND 

COMPANY, and DOES 1 through

50, 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. Gary

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Brickwood appeared as counsel on behalf of plaintiff; Susan Foe

appeared as counsel on behalf of defendant. After hearing, the

court now makes the following findings and orders:

I. Jurisdiction-Venue. 

The case was removed to Federal Court based on 28

U.S.C. 1441(b) (diversity). Plaintiffs are residents of this

District; Ingersoll Rand is a New Jersey corporation, Clark

Equipment Company is a Delaware corporation; and the amount in

question is over $75,000.00. Venue is undisputed and is hereby

found to be proper.

 II. Jury-Nonjury. 

Plaintiffs have entered a demand for 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

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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.

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

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oppositions, if any, to the motions in limine. 

VI. Disputed Factual Issues.

The sole remaining claims for trial are (1) all

plaintiffs’ wrongful death claim against defendant Clark

Equipment Company based upon strict product liability (design

defect); (2) all plaintiffs’ wrongful death claim against

defendant Clark Equipment Company based upon negligence; and (3)

the bystander claim of plaintiff Jayme Bruce against defendant

Clark Equipment Company based upon negligent infliction of

emotional distress.

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: 

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(1) all parties stipulate that the witness may

testify; 

(2) the party offering the witness demonstrates

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

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unless: 

(1) all parties stipulate that the exhibit may

be received in evidence;

(2) the party offering the exhibit demonstrates

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

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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

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. 

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 XI. Settlement Conference. 

This case is set for Settlement Conference before the

Honorable Morrison C. England, Jr., at 2:00 p.m. on September 6,

2007.9/6/07 at 2 p.m.

Each party is ordered to have a principal with full

settlement authority present at the conference or be fully

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

August 23, 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 jury trial at 9:00 a.m. on

September 18 , 2007 in Courtroom No. 5. The court estimates

that trial will last approximately 5 to 7 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

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objections or modifications are made, this Order will become

final without 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: August 1, 2007

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Exhibit “A”

 Witnesses: 

a. Tina Bruce, Redding

b. Jayme Bruce, Redding

c. Jessica Bruce, Redding

d. Gardner Dockum, Redding

e. Sam Wilds, Saratoga

f. Ray Breshears, Redding

g. Michael Booth, Redding

h. Mark Beldon, Redding

i. Thomas Ihringer, North Dakota 

j. Albert Ferrari, Expert, Oakland, California

k. Michael Haynes, Expert, Medford, Oregon

l. Gregory Reiber, M.D., Expert, Redding

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Exhibit “B”

List of Witnesses

Tina Bruce Percipient witness

12833 Encanto Way

Redding, CA 96003

Jayme Bruce Percipient witness

Same address

Jessica Bruce Percipient witness

Same Address

Deputy Coroner Michael L. Booth Percipient witness/non-retained

expert witness

4555 Veterans Lane

Redding, CA 96001

Chief Deputy Coroner Percipient witness

Harry Bishop

4555 Veterans Lane

Redding, CA 96001

Teri Veazey Percipient witness

Shasta County Coroner's Division

4555 Veterans Lane,

Redding, CA 96001

Gregory D. Reiber, M.D. Percipient witness, non-retained expert

witness

Forensic Medical Group, Inc.

1860 Pennsylvania Ave., Suite 150

Fairfield, CA 94533

Robert A. Middleberg, Ph.D. Percipient witness/non-retained

expert witness

National Medical Services

3701 Welsh Road

Willow Grove, PA 19090-0437

Raymond C. Kelly, Ph.D. Percipient witness/non-retained expert

witness

DABFT, Director

National Medical Services

1600 Harbor Bay Parkway

Suite 150

Alameda, CA 94502

Mark Beldon Percipient witness/non-retained expert witness

American Medical Response

4949 Mountain Lakes Blvd.

Redding, CA 96003

Dan Smith Percipient witness/non-retained expert witness

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American Medical Response

4949 Mountain Lakes Blvd.

Redding, CA 96003

Virginia Hanson Percipient witness/non-retained expert witness

American Medical Response

4949 Mountain Lakes Blvd.

Redding, CA 96003

Deputy Sheriff Ray Breshears Percipient witness/non-retained

expert witness

Shasta County Sheriff's Office

1525 Court Street

Redding, CA 96001

Gardner Charles Dockum Percipient witness

12823 Encanto Way

Redding CA 96003

Samuel Wilds Percipient witness/non-retained expert witness

P.O. Box 263

Saratoga, CA 95071

Thomas Ihringer Percipient witness/non-retained expert witness

Bobcat Company

250 East Beaton Drive

West Fargo, ND 58078-6000

Person Most Knowledgeable Percipient witness

Top Grade Construction, Inc.

324 Earhart Way

Livermore, CA 94550

Person Most Knowledgeable Percipient witness

Re-New Cement Works, Inc.

980 Ames Avenue

Milpitas, CA 95035

Person Most Knowledgeable Percipient witness

Granite Construction Company

P.O. Box 50085

Watsonville, CA 95077

Daryl Harless Percipient witness

570 Paynes Creek road

Red Bluff, CA 96080

Randy Galante Percipient witness

Galante Brothers

291 Barnard Avenue

San Jose, CA 95125

Alan D. Barbour, Ph.D. Expert witness

P.O. Box 14084

Fresno, CA 93650

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Carman Lynnes Expert witness

51224 Pelican Point Drive

Detroit Lakes, MN 56501

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Exhibit “C”

Exhibits - Schedules and Summaries: 

1. Photographs of the Bobcat and of the scene of the

incident.

2. A photograph of the decedent, Jerry Bruce, before his

death. 

3. Photographs of the family members illustrating the

family’s love and companionship with decedent, Jerry

Bruce. 

4. A summary or chart of the economic loss prepared by

expert witness Michael Haynes regarding his

calculation of such loss. 

5. Photographs and/or illustrations prepared by expert

Albert Ferrari regarding the design defect of the

Bobcat.

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Exhibit “D”

List of Exhibits

Complaint, filed January 19, 2005

First Amended Complaint, filed December 1, 2006

Deposition of Tina Bruce taken October 12, 2006

Deposition of Jayme Bruce taken October 12, 2006

Jayme Bruce's Central Valley High School records

Deposition of Deputy Coroner Michael Booth taken August 29, 2006

Shasta County, Office of the Coroner, Verdict of Death, with

attachments including Final Review,

Autopsy Report, Toxicology Report, General Information, and

Narrative

Income records of Jerry Bruce, 1997 - 2002, produced by

plaintiffs on May 16, 2006

Records of funeral and burial expenses, produced by plaintiffs on

May 16, 2006

Deposition of Samuel Hugh Wilds, taken May 18, 2006

Deposition of Gardner Charles Dockum, taken July 27, 2006

Deposition of Thomas Ihringer taken February 14, 2007

Deposition of Mark Beldon taken October 12, 2006

Deposition of Deputy Sheriff Ray Breshears taken August 29, 2006

Deposition of Michael Haynes taken June 28, 2007

Deposition of Al Ferrari taken July 24, 2007

Photographs taken by Deputy Coroner Booth on January 19, 2003

Photographs and video of subject Bobcat skid-steer loader taken

on May 2, 2006

Serial Number Detail # 562211730

Engineering drawings Nos. 6803925, 6670652, 6706966, 6664881,

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6666607, 6710539, 6710751,

6803925,

Complaint for Damages filed January 19, 2005

Bobcat Model 963 "C-Series" skid-steer loader serial # 562211730

(subject loader)

Bobcat Model 963 "C-Series" skid-steer loader (exemplar loader)

Bobcat History Card # 562211730

911337 invoice

963 Operation & Maintenance Manual 6900792 (11-98)

Bobcat Operator's Handbook for Bobcat Skid Steer Loaders

EMI Safety Manual

Bobcat Model 963 skid-steer loader decal set

Bobcat Model 963 skid-steer loader lift arm stop

Alan Barbour's curriculum vitae

Alan Barbour's report

Carman Lynnes' curriculum vitae

Carman Lynnes' report

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