Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-ared-3_02-cv-00243/USCOURTS-ared-3_02-cv-00243-0/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
Colson Caster Corporation
Defendant
Bassey Udofot
Plaintiff

Document Text:

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS

JONESBORO DIVISION

BASSEY UDOFOT PLAINTIFF

v. No. 3:02CV00243 JLH

COLSON CASTER CORPORATION DEFENDANT

ORDER

For the reasons stated on the record, plaintiff’s motion in limine is GRANTED. Evidence

of prior discrimination complaints that Bassey Udofot has made will be excluded pursuant to Fed.

R. Evid. 403, 404, and 608. Even if that evidence is relevant, its probative value is substantially

outweighed by the danger of confusion of the issues and waste of time. 

Defendant’s motion in limine is DENIED. Plaintiff will be permitted to present evidence of

allegedly racially insensitive remarks made by Jim Blankenship to Billy Jenkins. Mr. Udofot is

expected to testify that Jim Blankenship told him that he was being fired because he did not keep his

mouth shut about alleged acts of discrimination as did Billy Jenkins. Given the fact that that

testimony will come into evidence, the jury should hear what allegedly was said to Billy Jenkins.

Otherwise, the jury would be left to speculate, and that speculation could be more harmful either to

the plaintiff or to the defendant than the actual testimony. Defense counsel stated that the comments

allegedly made by Mr. Blankenship were not racially insensitive or indicative of a hostile work

environment. If that characterization is correct, permitting the jury to hear that testimony would not

cause prejudice to the defense.

IT IS SO ORDERED this 1st day of July, 2005.

J. LEON HOLMES

UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

Case 3:02-cv-00243-JLH Document 81 Filed 07/01/05 Page 1 of 1