Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_06-cv-02858/USCOURTS-caed-2_06-cv-02858-3/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
Terri Dorothy Contreras
Plaintiff
Joseph David Ornelas
Defendant

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

TERRI DOROTHY CONTRERAS, )

individually and as Guardian ) 2:06-cv-02858-GEB-EFB

Ad Litem for Minor Plaintiff )

D.C., )

Plaintiffs ) FINAL PRETRIAL ORDER

v. )

)

JOSEPH DAVID ORNELAS, )

individually, )

)

 Defendant. )

)

A final pretrial conference was held on April 21, 2008. 

Counsels Ben Nisembaum and John Burris appeared on behalf of the

Plaintiffs; Counsel John Feser, Jr., appeared on behalf of the

Defendant.

After hearing, the Court makes the following Order.

I. JURY/NON-JURY

All issues shall be tried to a jury, except for the

ultimate question whether defendant is entitled to qualified

immunity from liability for Plaintiff Contreras’s Fourth Amendment

claim. But the jury shall decide disputed factual issues

applicable to this defense.

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II. UNDISPUTED FACTS

The undisputed facts will be as stated in section 3 of

the parties' Joint Pretrial Statement (“JPS”). 

III. DISPUTED EVIDENTIARY ISSUES

Any evidentiary dispute capable of being resolved in

limine shall be set forth in an in limine motion which shall be

filed no later than 4:30 p.m. on July 16, 2008. An opposition or a

non-opposition statement to any filed in limine motion shall be

filed no later than 4:30 p.m. on July 21, 2008. Failure to state a

basis for admissibility or non-admissibility of disputed evidence

constitutes a waiver or abandonment of that basis. The parties are

to meet and confer on contemplated in limine motions before the

filing deadline and have leave to file a document in which any

agreement reached on said motion are contained. 

IV. RELIEF SOUGHT

Defendant seeks a defense verdict, costs and attorney’s

fees for defense of this action.

Plaintiff Contreras seeks general damages according to

proof, punitive damages, attorneys’ fees and costs of suit. Minor

Plaintiff D.C. seeks recovery of general compensatory damages. 

V. LEGAL AND FACTUAL ISSUES

1. Plaintiff Terri Contreras alleges Defendant Ornelas

violated her Fourth Amendment right to be free from unreasonable

seizure by detaining and seizing her for violation of California

Vehicle Code section 12152(a). Defendant asserts a qualified

immunity defense against this claim.

2. Plaintiff Terri Contreras alleges the following

state claims: Assault and battery, false imprisonment, intentional

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This portion of the Order does not affect the parties’ 1

obligations to timely comply with witness disclosure requirements

provided in the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, the Local Rules,

or by Order of this Court.

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infliction of emotional distress, negligence and violation of

California Civil Code sections 51.7 and 52.1

3. Minor Plaintiff D.C. alleges a negligent infliction

of emotional distress claim against Defendant based upon Plaintiff

Terri Contreras’ false arrest.

VI. WITNESSES1

A. Plaintiffs and Defendant anticipate calling the

witnesses listed on pages 20 - 23 of the JPS.

B. No person, other than those named on these witness

lists, will be permitted to testify unless:

(1) The party offering the witness demonstrates that

the witness is for the purpose of rebutting evidence which could

not reasonably be anticipated at the pretrial conference; or

(2) The witness was discovered after the pretrial

conference and the proffering party makes the showing required in

"C", below.

C. If a witness is discovered after the pretrial

conference, counsel for the party offering the witness shall

promptly inform the Court and opposing parties of the existence of

the unlisted witness so that the Court may consider at trial

whether the witness shall be permitted to testify. The witness

will be not be permitted to testify unless:

(1) The witness could not reasonably have been

discovered prior to pretrial;

/ / /

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This portion of the Order does not affect the parties’ 2

obligations to timely comply with disclosure requirements provided

in the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, the Local Rules, or by

Order of this Court.

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(2) The Court and opposing counsel were promptly

notified upon discovery of the witness;

(3) If time permitted, counsel offered the witness

for deposition; and

(4) If time did not permit, a reasonable summary of

the witness' testimony was provided to opposing counsel.

VII. EXHIBITS2

A. Plaintiffs anticipates offering the exhibits listed

on pages 24 - 25 of the JPS.

B. Defendant anticipates offering the exhibits listed on

page 25 of the JPS.

C. No other exhibits will be permitted to be introduced

unless:

(1) The party seeking to use the unlisted exhibit

demonstrates that the exhibit is being used to rebut evidence which

could not reasonably have been anticipated at the pretrial

conference; or

(2) The unlisted exhibit was discovered after the

pretrial conference and the offering party makes the showing

required in paragraph "D", below.

D. Any party proposing to introduce an exhibit which was

discovered after the pretrial conference shall promptly notify the

Court and opposing counsel of the existence of such exhibit. The

Court will not permit any such exhibit to be introduced unless it

finds:

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procedure is designed for separate exhibits.

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(1) That the exhibit could not reasonably have been

discovered prior to the pretrial conference;

(2) The Court and counsel were promptly informed of

the exhibit's existence; and

(3) That the offering party has delivered a copy of

the exhibit to opposing counsel, or, if the exhibit may not be

copied, that the offering counsel has made the exhibit reasonably

available for inspection by opposing counsel. 

E. Plaintiffs’ exhibits shall be numbered and marked

with colored stickers provided by the Court while Defendant's

exhibits shall be designated by alphabetical letter also marked

with colored stickers provided by the Court. To obtain stickers,

parties should contact the Clerk of Court at (916) 930-4000.

The parties are directed to exchange with each other, at

least fifteen (15) court days prior to the date on which trial

commences, copies of all of their respective exhibits, marked with

exhibit stickers provided by the Court. Within five (5) court days

after receipt and examination of the exhibits, each party shall

file with the Court and serve upon opposing counsel objections, if

any, to the exhibits, referencing the exhibits as marked by exhibit

sticker and specifying the basis for each objection. Failure to 3

exchange exhibits as ordered could result in the exhibit not being

used at trial and/or the imposition of sanctions. The failure to

make objections in the manner prescribed by this section shall

constitute a waiver of objections. A party seeking to admit into

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 evidence an exhibit to which no objection was made must identify

said exhibit for the record and then move it into evidence. 

Counsel shall produce all exhibits to the Clerk's Office

no later than 4:00 p.m. on the Friday before the date on which

trial is scheduled to commence. At that time, the parties shall

also furnish the Court with a copy of each exhibit, unless the

exhibit is physically incapable of being reproduced. Failure to

produce exhibits as ordered could result in waiver of the right to

offer those exhibits. Each party submitting exhibits shall furnish

a list to the Court, the courtroom deputy and opposing counsel

itemizing the exhibits. 

VIII. FURTHER PREPARATION FOR USE OF DISCOVERY DOCUMENTS

A. It is the duty of counsel to ensure that any

depositions which are to be used at trial for any purpose shall

have been filed with the clerk, and counsel are cautioned that a

failure to discharge this duty may result in preclusion of the use

of the unfiled depositions or in the imposition of such other

sanctions as the Court deems appropriate.

B. No later than twenty (20) court days before the trial

commencement date, counsel for each party shall serve on the other

parties a statement designating all answers to interrogatories and

all portions of depositions (except for passages to be used solely

for refreshing recollection, impeachment or rebuttal). No later

than ten (10) court days before the trial commencement date,

counter-designations of other portions of these discovery documents

may be served. No later than five (5) court days before the trial

commencement date, the parties shall file and serve any preserved

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evidentiary objections to any designated discovery, or said

objections are waived.

IX. FURTHER DISCOVERY OR MOTIONS

Pursuant to the Court's Pretrial Scheduling Order, all

discovery and law and motion was to have been completed prior to

the date of the final pretrial conference. That order is

confirmed. The parties are, of course, free to conduct any

additional discovery they desire pursuant to informal agreement. 

However, any such agreement will not be enforceable in this Court.

X. SETTLEMENT NEGOTIATIONS

No settlement conference is scheduled in this matter. If

the parties believe that a settlement conference would be

productive and facilitate resolution of this case, the parties may

contact the Court. If the Court schedules a settlement conference

at the request of the parties, each party would be directed to have

a principal with authority to settle the case on any terms present

at the settlement conference. 

In addition, each party would have to submit a settlement

conference statement directly to the chambers of the settlement

judge, five (5) court days prior to the settlement conference. 

Such statements would not have to be filed with the clerk nor

served on opposing counsel. However, each would be required to

notify the other party or parties that the statement was submitted

to the judge's chambers.

XI. AGREED STATEMENT

The parties shall submit a short, jointly-prepared

statement concerning the nature of this case that can be read to

the jury at the commencement of trial. The statement shall be

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provided to the Court no later than ten (10) court days before the

trial commencement date. If the parties fail to do this, they may

be required to give their respective opening statements before voir

dire. Separate statements shall be submitted if agreement is not

reached.

XII. SEPARATE TRIAL OF ISSUES

The trial will be conducted in two phases: liability and

punitive damages. If the jury finds punitive damages are

recoverable in the liability phase, trial on the amount of punitive

damages will immediately occur. During the first phase of the

trial, the jury will be given a liability instruction on punitive

damages along with the other closing instructions and a verdict

form which will include the liability question on punitive damages. 

If the answer is yes, then evidence pertinent to the amount of

punitive damages would be presented in the second phase of the

trial, following which the parties would present closing argument

on that issue and a jury instruction would be given. The jury

would then deliberate on the issue and fill in a punitive damages

verdict form.

XIII. JURY INSTRUCTIONS, VOIR DIRE, AND VERDICT FORMS

A. Counsel are directed to confer and to attempt to

agree upon a joint set of jury instructions and verdict forms. 

B. All instructions, both general and specific, shall

be submitted in the exact numerical order counsel desires them

given to the jury and shall be tailored to the facts and issues in

suit.

The joint set of instructions and verdict forms shall be

filed fifteen (15) court days prior to the trial commencement date. 

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As to instructions on which there is dispute, the parties shall

adhere to the following procedure: 1) the party offering the

disputed instruction(s) shall submit the instruction(s) as its

proposed jury instructions, shall submit authority in support of

the proposed instruction(s) and shall number the disputed

instruction(s) in a manner that shows where each disputed

instruction should be placed in the tendered agreed upon

instructions. The contested instruction(s) and supporting

authority shall be filed with the joint set of instructions fifteen

(15) court days prior to the trial commencement date; 2) the party

opposed to the contested instruction(s) shall file opposing

authority ten (10) court days prior to the trial commencement date.

C. All instructions shall be, to the extent possible,

concise, understandable, and neutral statements of law. They shall

be prepared in accordance with Local Rule 51-163. Ninth Circuit

Pattern Instructions are preferred.

D. It is the parties’ responsibility to ensure that

jury instructions are submitted on all issues preserved for trial

in accordance with the schedule set forth above. Pursuant to Local

Rule 51-163, instructions not presented in accordance with this

Order will be refused unless it is shown either (1) that the

necessity for the request arose in the course of trial; the

instructions could not reasonably have been anticipated prior to

trial; 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 manifest

injustice under Rule 16(e). 

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E. Most of the examination of prospective jurors is

conducted by the Court. The parties are directed to meet and

confer and attempt to agree upon a joint set of proposed voir dire

questions. These questions shall include any voir dire questions

supplied by the Court that the parties believe are necessary. The

joint set of voir dire questions shall be filed with the Court

fifteen (15) court days prior to the trial commencement date. 

Parties may also submit proposed voir dire questions which are

disputed. Disputed voir dire questions shall be filed with the

Court fifteen (15) court days prior to the trial commencement date

and shall be accompanied by an explanation as to the need for the

question and supporting case authority when available. The

opposing party shall respond with reasons for the opposition and

any supporting case authority no later than ten (10) court days

prior to the trial commencement date. Each side is granted 30

minutes to conduct voir dire following the Court's examination of

prospective jurors.

F. The parties shall file a joint verdict form

concurrently with proposed jury instructions fifteen (15) court

days prior to the trial commencement date. See L.R. 51-163(e). A

special verdict or interrogatories shall be included for all

factual disputes submitted to the jury that must be resolved before

questions of law can be decided, and for any other issue on which

specific responses are desired. The verdict form shall be prepared

in accordance with Local Rule 51-163(e). At the same time, where

disagreements exist, the parties shall explain the disagreement and

submit points and authorities supporting their respective

positions.

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As explained in United States v. Blouin, 666 F.2d 796, 4

798 (2d Cir. 1981), "the goal of the 'struck jury' system is to

whittle down an initially selected group . . . [to the amount of

jurors] who will serve as the petit jury." The selected group

consists of the jurors who will hear the case, plus the number of

jurors required to enable the parties to use the combined number of

peremptory challenges allotted to both sides for striking jurors

from the group. Typically extra jurors are included in the select

group in the event the minimum amount of jurors required for the

"struck system" is reduced "for cause" or some other reason.

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At the time of electronically filing the jury

instructions and verdict forms, counsel shall also submit a copy of

the sanitized joint jury instructions, the sanitized disputed jury

instructions, and the joint verdict forms to the Court by email to

geborders@caed.uscourts.gov in accordance with L.R. 51-163(b)(1).

XIV. USE OF STRUCK JURY SELECTION SYSTEM

Seven (7) jurors will be impaneled. The "struck jury"

system will be used to select the jury. At the beginning of the 4

voir dire process, approximately eighteen prospective jurors,

randomly selected by the Jury Administrator, will be seated for

voir dire. The order of the jurors’ random selection is reflected

by the order in which they will be seated. The first randomly

selected juror will be in jury seat number one, which is at the

extreme right-hand side of the jury box in the top row as the jury

box is viewed from the well of the courtroom. The eighth juror

will be in the eighth seat. The ninth selected juror will occupy

the seat located at the extreme right-hand side of the jury box in

the bottom row. The fifteenth seat will be in the left-hand side

of that row. Three chairs will be placed in front of the jury box. 

The sixteenth juror will occupy the seat on the right and the

eighteenth juror will occupy the seat on the left. The first 7

jurors on a list, which shall be given to counsel, will constitute

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the petit jury unless one or more of those 7 is excused for some

reason. Assuming that the first and fifth jurors on the list are

excused, the second listed juror becomes the first, and the other

jurors’ numbers are changed accordingly, with the ninth juror on

the list becoming seventh on the list; however, the jurors continue

to be identified by their original numbers.

XV. ATTORNEYS’ FEES

The parties are referred to Local Rule 54-293 concerning

the post-trial procedure for seeking an award of attorney's fees. 

XVI. TRIAL DATE

Trial to a jury will commence on August 5, 2008. A trial

day will commence at 9:00 a.m. and will adjourn at approximately

4:30 p.m. At the first phase of the trial, each side has 20

minutes within which to make an opening statement to the jury and

45 minutes within which to make a closing argument. If trial

proceeds to the second phase, each side has 15 minutes within which

to make a closing argument on the punitive damage issue. Counsel

are to call Shani Furstenau, Courtroom Deputy, at (916) 930-4114,

one week prior to trial to ascertain the status of the trial date.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: April 28, 2008

 

GARLAND E. BURRELL, JR.

United States District Judge

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