Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-3_10-cv-00647/USCOURTS-cand-3_10-cv-00647-1/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 362
Nature of Suit: Medical Malpractice
Cause of Action: 28:1346 Tort Claim

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United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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CASE MANAGEMENT AND PRETRIAL ORDER

C 10-0647

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

Oakland Division

JAMES ELLIS JOHNSON,

Plaintiff,

v.

UNITED STATES,

Defendant.

___________________________________/

No. C 10-0647 LB

CASE MANAGEMENT AND

PRETRIAL ORDER (NON-JURY)

Following the Case Management Conference held on June 17, 2010, the Court HEREBY 

ORDERS the following:

I. GENERALLY APPLICABLE RULES

Parties shall comply with the procedures in the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, the local rules,

the general orders, Judge Beeler's standing order, and the Northern District’s general standing order

for civil cases titled “Contents of Joint Case Management Statement.” Local rules, general orders,

general standing orders, and a summary of the general orders’ electronic filing requirements

(including the procedures for emailing proposed orders to chambers) are available at

http://www.cand.uscourts.gov (click “Rules” or “ECF-PACER”).

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II. CASE MANAGEMENT AND TRIAL DATES

All hearings shall be held in Courtroom 4, 3rd Floor, U.S. District Court, 1301 Clay Street,

Oakland, California. The Court adjusted the expert disclosure dates discussed in court slightly. The

following are the disclosure, filing, and hearing dates for the case:

Case Event

Filing Date/Disclosure

Deadline/Hearing Date

Date to seek leave to add new parties or amend the pleadings 7/19/2010

Updated Joint Case Management Conference Statement 11/10/2010

Further Case Management Conference 11/18/2010 at 1:30 p.m.

ADR completion date 9/17/2010

Non-expert discovery completion date 11/8/2010

Expert disclosures required by Federal Rules of Civil

Procedure

12/10/2010

ADR completion date: settlement conference 1/31/2011

Rebuttal expert disclosures 1/31/2011

Expert discovery completion date 2/14/2011

Last hearing date for dispositive motions 3/17/2011, at 11:00 a.m.

Meet and confer re pretrial filings 5/10/2011

Pre-trial filings due 5/19/2011

Oppositions, Objections, Exhibits, and Depo Designations due 5/26/2011

Final Pretrial Conference 6/9/2011 at 1:30 p.m.

Trial 7/11/2011 at 8:30 a.m.

Length of Trial 4 days

II. ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION

The parties agree to participate in mediation with the Court’s Alternative Dispute Resolution

program in the next 60 to 90 days. If mediation does not resolve this matter, the parties also agree to

participate in a settlement conference with another magistrate judge of this court in January 2011,

which is a date before dispositive motions and after most discovery. The settlement conference

judge will contact the parties with a date and time for the settlement conference. The parties shall

notify the Court promptly if the case resolves.

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III. DISCOVERY PROCEDURES

A. The parties shall comply with the procedures regarding discovery and discovery disputes in

Judge Beeler's standing order. 

B. Each side shall be limited to ten depositions and twenty-five interrogatories, as provided by

Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 30 and 33, absent a further court order. 

C. If the ADR specified in the previous section is being conducted before the discovery cut-off

deadline, counsel must meet and confer in person or by telephone no later than 21 days before the

ADR and before preparing any exchanged or confidential settlement statements required by the

ADR process. The purpose of the meeting is to identify and exchange whatever discovery is needed

for all sides to evaluate the case for settlement. Counsel shall cooperate in providing discovery

informally and expeditiously before ADR. 

IV. MOTIONS

The parties shall file any motions, oppositions, and reply briefs on the schedule set forth in Civil

L. R. 7. The parties also shall file the procedures in Judge Beeler's standing order regarding

statements of fact in summary judgment motions. 

V. PRETRIAL FILINGS AND PROCEDURES

A. 21 Days Before Final Pretrial Conference. The exact date is in the chart above. The

parties shall file the following: 

1. Joint Proposed Final Pretrial Order (in lieu of a joint pretrial conference statement). 

The order must contain the following: 

(a) a brief description of the claims and defenses to be decided; 

(b) a statement of the relief sought; 

(c) all undisputed facts; 

(d) all disputed fact issues organized by count; 

(e) each disputed legal issue with citations but without extended argument; 

(f) the parties' stipulations; 

(g) the parties' estimates of total trial time; and 

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(h) the status of settlement negotiations and whether further negotiations might be productive. 

The parties should append the following to the proposed order: (a) the parties' specific, signed

stipulations in a form that can be introduced as evidence at trial; (b) a joint exhibit list with columns

for exhibit number, offered into evidence, admitted into evidence, sponsoring witness, limits on use,

and description and bates range (see section V.C regarding numbering and organization of exhibits);

and (c) each party's separate witness list for case-in-chief witnesses (including those appearing by

deposition) summarizing their testimony, specifying separately their non-cumulative testimony, and

providing an hour-and-minute time estimate. Experts and witnesses not included in the witness list

may not be used in a party's case-in-chief.

2. Motions In Limine. Each motion shall be in a separate memorandum entitled

"[Party's Name]'s Motion in Limine [#] to Exclude [Subject]," be limited to circumstances requiring

advance ruling, and be no longer than seven pages absent leave of court. Usually five motions in

limine are sufficient.

3. Joint Proposed Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law and Each Side's Separate

Disputed Proposed Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law. Conclusions of law that rely on

substantive law instructions from the Ninth Circuit Manual of Model Civil Jury Instructions (2007)

(available at http://www.ce9.uscourts.gov), California Civil Jury Instructions (CACI), or other

applicable instructions should cite those instructions and clearly identify any modifications to the

instructions. All conclusions of law -- disputed or undisputed -- shall be supported by citation

(including pin cites) in the format used by the Ninth Circuit Manual. 

4. Separate Memoranda on Conclusions of Law. Each party should file a memorandum

of law regarding disputed conclusions of law. 

5. Trial Briefs On Any Issues of Law.

6. Copies of Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 26(a)(3) Disclosures. See Section V.D

for procedures regarding designation of depositions. By designating an exhibit, a party generally

waives any objection to it if offered by the other side absent clearly available objections (such as

objections under Rules 402 and 403 or admissions by party opponents that would be inadmissible

hearsay if offered by the party opponent). 

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7. Wordperfect or Word Versions Emailed To Chambers. In addition to e-filing and

lodging paper copies of all filings, see Judge Beeler's standing order, counsel shall email the joint

proposed order and the proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law in Wordperfect or Word to

lbpo@cand.uscourts.gov. 

B. 14 Days Before Pretrial Conference. The exact date is in the chart above. The parties

shall file the following: 

1. Oppositions to Motions In Limine. Each opposition shall be in a separate

memorandum entitled "[Party's Name]'s Opposition to Motion in Limine [#] to Exclude [Subject],"

link electronically to the prior e-filed motion in limine, and be no longer than seven pages absent

leave of court. 

2. Objections to Exhibits and Use of Depositions as set forth in Federal Rule of Civil

Procedure 26(a)(3)(B). Objections not raised are waived.

3. Lodge Joint Set of Trial Exhibits with Deputy Clerk. The parties must prepare a

joint, single set of all trial exhibits. See V.C (regarding exhibit numbering and organization). The

exhibits shall be in three-ring binders, and each exhibit must be tagged and separated by a label

divider identifying the exhibit number. Spine labels should identify the exhibits in a particular

binder. The exhibit binders should be marked ""Original" and will be the official record both at trial

with the witnesses and on appeal. Lodge the exhibits with the deputy clerk, Lashanda Scott. 

4. Lodge Second "Chambers Copy" of Joint Set of Trial Exhibits. The parties shall

lodge (not file) a second "chambers copy" of the binders of trial exhibits referenced in the preceding

paragraph. Those binders should be marked "Chambers Copy." 

5. Copies of Deposition Designations For Witnesses Appearing Only By Designation.

See V.D (transcript designation procedures and process for filing copy with the Court).

6. Copies of Designation of Interrogatories and Admissions. See V.E (procedures and

process for filing copy with the Court).

C. Exhibit Numbering and Organization

1. Meet and Confer Re Exhibit Numbers. Before submitting exhibit lists and binders,

counsel must meet and confer to establish usable numbering conventions and eliminate duplicate

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

TRIAL EXHIBIT 100

Case No. ________________

Date Entered _____________

By______________________

Deputy Clerk

exhibits. Use numbers only, not letters, and if possible, exhibit numbers should be the same

numbers used in depositions. Otherwise, the deposition transcript must be conformed to the new

exhibit number to avoid confusion and to ensure that every exhibit has a unique number. Blocks of

numbers should be assigned to fit the needs of the case: e.g., Plaintiff has 1 to 99, Defendant A has

100 to 199, Defendant B has 200 to 299, et cetera. All exhibits should be marked "Trial Exhibit

No. __," not Plaintiff's Exhibit or Defendant's Exhibit. 

2. Exhibit Tags and Binders. The exhibit tag shall be in the following form:

The tag should be on or near the lower right-hand corner if possible and on the back if it is not.

Counsel should fill in the tag but leave the last two spaces blank. 

D. Deposition Designation For Witnesses Appearing By Deposition. These procedures

apply only to deposition designation for witnesses who appear by deposition and do not apply to

reading depositions of live witnesses into the record while the witnesses are testifying. 

1. Designating Counsel. To designate deposition testimony, counsel shall photocopy the

cover page, the page where the witness is sworn, and each page with any proffered testimony (with

lines through testimony not proffered). Counsel shall put lines through objections or colloquy unless

they are needed to understand the question. Any corrections (including conforming exhibit numbers

to trial exhibit numbers) shall be done by hand. The finished packet should be the script that allows

smooth presentation of the witness, the oath, and the testimony. The packet must be provided to the

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other parties at least 30 days before the pretrial conference. For voluminous designations, the Court

requires advance notice by designating counsel because more lead time is required. Counsel must be

reasonable.

2. Reviewing Counsel. Reviewing parties must promptly review the packet and highlight

in yellow any passages objected to and write in the margin the legal basis for the objections. If a

completeness objection is made, the objecting party must insert the additional passages needed to

cure the completeness objection. A completeness objection generally should be made only if a few

extra lines will cure the problem. Such additions shall be highlighted in blue, and an explanation for

the inclusion shall be legibly handwritten in the margin. Counsel must line out any irrelevant

portions of the additional pages. Reviewing counsel must return the packets to the proffering party

to consider whether to accept the adjustments.

3. Counsel To Meet And Confer Re Adjustments. Counsel must meet and confer to

address reviewing counsel's comments and any other issues.

4. Designating Counsel To Assemble Final Packet. Counsel for the proffering party

must collate and assemble a final packet that covers all remaining issues and provide it to the Court

14 days before the pretrial conference (as required by section V.B.5). Any objections must be

highlighted and annotated as described in the preceding paragraphs. If exhibits are needed to

resolve the objections, designating counsel should include copies, with the relevant passages

highlighted and tagged. The Court will read the packet and make its rulings in the margins in a

distinctive manner. 

5. Counter-Designations. The reviewing party must make any counter-designations by

providing a packet with the counter-designated passages to the original designating counsel at the

same time as the reviewing party returns its objections to designating counsel. The original

designating counsel must supply any objections in the manner described in this section. 

6. Video Depositions. The parties shall follow the same procedures to facilitate ruling on

objections. The videos should omit dead time and objections and colloquy not necessary to

understand the answers.

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E. Requests For Admissions And Interrogatories. Please designate responses to requests for

admissions and interrogatory answers in the same manner and under the same timetable as

deposition designations.

VI. PRETRIAL CONFERENCE

Lead counsel for each party shall attend.

VII. PRE-TRIAL ARRANGEMENTS 

A. Daily or Real-Time Reporting. Please make arrangements ten days before the trial date

with Odile Hansen, Supervisor of the Court Reporting Services, at 510-637-3534

B. Electronic Presentation of Evidence. The Court provides no equipment other than an

easel. If counsel will use electronic equipment such as computers, projectors, and screens, the

parties should share equipment to the extent possible. Extension cords should be taped to the carpet

for safety. The United States Marshal requires a court order to allow equipment into the

courthouse. Please work with Lashanda Scott (510-637-3525) on all courtroom layout issues.

VIII. TRIAL AND TRIAL PROCEDURES

A. Schedule. The trial day is 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. (or slightly longer to finish a witness)

with two fifteen-minute breaks, Monday through Friday. 

B. Time Limits. Ordinarily, the Court sets time limits for opening statements, witness

examinations (direct, cross, or re-direct), and closing arguments at the final pretrial conference. All

of your examination time for all witnesses must fit within your witness time limits. The time taken

at a side bar or on objections will be charged to the examining party unless otherwise ordered.

C. Opening Statements. Counsel must meet and confer about, and exchange, any visuals,

graphics, or exhibits to be used in the opening statements, allowing for time to work out objections

and any reasonable revisions. 

D. Advance Notice of Witness Order of Proof. By 2 p.m., counsel must give written notice

of the order of witnesses for the next court day and the exhibits (including merely illustrative

exhibits) to be used on direct examination (other than for true impeachment of a witness). The Court

encourages two days' notice. If two days' notice is given, then by 2 p.m. on the calendar day

immediately preceding the testimony, opposing counsel must provide any objections to the exhibits

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and shall provide a list of all exhibits to be used with the same witness on cross-examination (other

than for impeachment). 

E. Witness Examinations. Generally there should be only one examining lawyer per witness

per party, and the examining lawyer must make any objections to the opposing counsel's

examination. The parties shall have witnesses ready to testify so that trial gaps are avoided. Gaps

may be construed as resting one's case. In cases with multiple parties, counsel must coordinate

cross-examination to avoid duplication of testimony. When multiple parties are on one side, only

one counsel may cover a subject matter. 

F. Expert Testimony. Direct expert testimony is limited to matters disclosed in the expert's

reports. Omitted material ordinarily may not be added on direct examination. Illustrative

animations, diagrams, charts, and models may be used on direct examination only if they were

part of the expert report, except that an expert may use simple drawings (such as those drawn by the

witness at trial) that plainly illustrate a report's contents. If cross-examination fairly opens the door,

however, an expert may go beyond the written report on cross-examination and/or re-direct

examination. By written stipulation, all parties may relax these requirements. As to damages

studies, the cut-off for past damages is the date of the expert report (or an earlier date selected or

used by the expert). Experts may project future damages after this cut-off date if they can meet

substantive standards for future damages. With timely leave of Court or by written stipulation, the

experts may update their reports (or provide supplemental reports) to a date closer to the time of

trial.

G. Use of Depositions To Impeach A Trial Witness. The following procedures apply. 

1. On the first day of trial, counsel shall bring the original and clean copies of the

depositions to be used at trial. If counsel might use a deposition against a witness, counsel shall

provide the Court with a copy at the outset of the examination. Opposing counsel should have

copies of witness depositions immediately available. 

2. Counsel should seek permission from the Court before reading a passage into the

record. For example, counsel should state, "I wish to read page 210, lines 1 to 10, from the witness's

deposition.” Counsel should pause briefly to allow any objection. 

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3. The first time counsel reads a deposition, counsel should state the deponent's name, the

name of the lawyer asking the question, and whether the deposition was a Federal Rule of Civil

Procedure 30(b)(6) deposition. 

4. When reading the passage, counsel shall employ the following technique. Counsel shall

state,“question” and then read the question exactly, and then state, “answer” and read the answer

exactly. This will allow the Court and the court reporter to follow who said what at the deposition. 

Opposing counsel may ask to read additional testimony necessary to complete the context. It is not

necessary to ask, "didn't you say XYZ in your deposition" to lay a foundation. 

H. Use of Depositions of Party-Deponents. Subject to Rule 403, a party's depositions may be

used for "any purpose" and may be read into the record whether or not they contradict (and

regardless of who is on the stand). For example, a short party deposition excerpt may be used as

foundation for questions for a different witness on the stand. 

I. Use of Depositions For Witnesses Appearing Only By Deposition. When the packet (see

V.D for procedures to assemble deposition packets) is read in court, the examiner shall read the

questions (and any relevant colloquy) from the lectern while a colleague sits in the witness stand and

reads the answers. While reading the deposition, the reader and “witness” shall refrain from undue

emphasis or dramatization. If a read-in is short, a single attorney can read it all, being careful to say

"question" and "answer" so the record is clear. Exhibits may be projected onto the screen as they are

referenced. Court reporters do not transcribe video excerpts so counsel must file an exact copy of

what was shown.

J. Exhibits. At the end of each day, counsel must confer with each other and with the deputy

clerk to confirm what exhibits are in evidence and any limitations on their use. Counsel should

bring any differences to the Court's attention. Similarly, before closing argument, counsel must

confer with each other and the deputy clerk to finalize the exhibits and prepare any final exhibit list. 

That list may include a brief non-argumentative description of the exhibit to help the Court access

the exhibits. 

K. Stipulations. Counsel must read all stipulations for them to be part of the record.

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L. Objections. Counsel shall stand when making objections, give only the legal basis

("objection, calls for speculation" or "objection, hearsay"), and refrain from making speeches. 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: July 6, 2010 __________________________

LAUREL BEELER

United States Magistrate Judge

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