Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-3_13-cv-00342/USCOURTS-cand-3_13-cv-00342-12/pdf.json

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

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United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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 “[E]xpert testimony concerning an ultimate issue is not per se improper,” but “an expert

witness cannot give an opinion as to her legal conclusion, i.e., an opinion on an ultimate issue of law.”

See Hangarter v. Provident Life & Acc. Ins. Co., 373 F.3d 998, 1016 (9th Cir. 2004)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

ANTHONY J. BANTA,

Plaintiff,

 v.

FOUR WALNUT CREEK POLICE OFFICERS,

Defendant. /

No. C13-342 CRB

ORDER DIRECTING OFFER OF PROOF

ON EXPERT TESTIMONY OF ROGER

CLARK

The Court held a pre-trial hearing in this case on August 30, 2016. See Minute Entry

(dkt. 109). All motions in limine save one were resolved on the record—Defendants’ Motion

in Limine Four. See Mot. (dkt 94). Defendants argue that Plaintiffs’ police procedures

expert, Roger Clark, lacks a proper basis for his opinions and that his testimony invades the

province of the jury.1

 See id.

In light of this dispute, the Court ORDERS Plaintiffs to submit a detailed offer of

proof, in the form of a declaration authored by Clark, setting forth his proposed testimony

with respect to liability on the individual claims against the Defendant Officers here—his

opinions related to Plaintiffs’ Monell claims have been excluded from this stage of the trial. 

The Court FURTHER ORDERS that Clark limit his declaration to the contents of the initial

expert report he filed in accordance with this Court’s Standing Order and FRCP 26. The

Case 3:13-cv-00342-CRB Document 110 Filed 08/31/16 Page 1 of 2
United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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declaration must be filed no later than the date on which Plaintiffs submit their offers of

proof for the witnesses they intend to call in their case in chief.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: August 31, 2016 

CHARLES R. BREYER

UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

Case 3:13-cv-00342-CRB Document 110 Filed 08/31/16 Page 2 of 2