PAGE 1 – FINAL JURY INSTRUCTIONS

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE DISTRICT OF OREGON

CONSTANCE GEORGE,

Plaintiff,

v.

HOUSE OF HOPE RECOVERY and 

PATRICIA BARCROFT,

Defendants.

Case No. 3:15-cv-1277-SI

FINAL JURY INSTRUCTIONS

DATED this 18th day of April, 2017.

/s/ Michael H. Simon

Michael H. Simon

United States District Judge

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INDEX OF FINAL JURY INSTRUCTIONS

Instruction No. 1: Duty of Jury................................................................................................. 3

Instruction No. 2: Summary of Claims and Defenses............................................................... 4

Instruction No. 3: Burden of Proof—Preponderance of the Evidence ..................................... 5

Instruction No. 4: What Is Evidence......................................................................................... 6

Instruction No. 5: What Is Not Evidence.................................................................................. 6

Instruction No. 6: Direct and Circumstantial Evidence ............................................................ 7

Instruction No. 7: Ruling on Objections................................................................................... 7

Instruction No. 8: Credibility of Witnesses .............................................................................. 8

Instruction No. 9: Two Defendants........................................................................................... 9

Instruction No. 10: Fair Housing Act Claim............................................................................... 9

Instruction No. 11: Section 1981 Claim ................................................................................... 11

Instruction No. 12: Plaintiff’s Claim for Compensatory Damages........................................... 12

Instruction No. 13: Noneconomic Damages............................................................................. 13

Instruction No. 14: Economic Damages................................................................................... 13

Instruction No. 15: Nominal Damages ..................................................................................... 14

Instruction No. 16: Punitive Damages...................................................................................... 14

------------------------------ CLOSING ARGUMENTS ------------------------------....................... 15

Instruction No. 17: Duty to Deliberate ..................................................................................... 15

Instruction No. 18: Consideration of Evidence—Conduct of the Jury..................................... 16

Instruction No. 19: Communication with Court ....................................................................... 17

Instruction No. 20: Return of Verdict....................................................................................... 18

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Members of the Jury: 

Now that you have heard all of the evidence, it is my duty to instruct you as 

to the law of the case.

Instruction No. 1: Duty of Jury

Each of you has received a copy of these instructions, and you may take 

them with you to the jury room to consult during your deliberations. 

You must not take from these instructions or from anything I may have said 

or done during the trial that I have an opinion regarding the evidence or what your 

verdict should be. That is entirely up to you. When you deliberate, it will be your 

duty to weigh and evaluate all the evidence received in this trial and, in that 

process, to decide the facts. To the facts as you find them, you will apply the law 

as I give it to you. You must follow the law as I give it to you, whether you agree 

with it or not. You will recall that you took an oath to do so. In following my 

instructions, you must follow all of them and not single out some and ignore 

others; they are all important. In addition, you must decide the case solely on the 

evidence and the law before you. You must not be influenced by any personal likes 

or dislikes, opinions, prejudices, sympathy, or biases. This includes unconscious 

biases, which are stereotypes, attitudes, or preferences that people may consciously 

reject, but may be expressed without conscious awareness, control, or intention. 

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Like conscious bias, unconscious bias also can affect how we evaluate information 

and make decisions.

Instruction No. 2: Summary of Claims and Defenses

The Plaintiff in this case is Ms. Constance George. She is suing the 

Defendants, House of Hope Recovery and Ms. Patricia Barcroft. The Plaintiff, 

Ms. George, is an African-American woman. She previously was a resident at a 

residential recovery house operated by Defendant House of Hope. This residential 

recovery house provides transitional housing for women. Defendant Patricia 

Barcroft is the Executive Director of House of Hope.

The Plaintiff, Ms. George, claims that the Defendants, House of Hope and 

Patricia Barcroft, violated the “Fair Housing Act,” also referred to as the “FHA.” 

As relevant to this lawsuit, the Fair Housing Act, or FHA, prohibits landlords from 

imposing different terms and conditions on the rental of a dwelling to a tenant 

because of the tenant’s race. That law also prohibits landlords from making any 

statements with respect to the rental of a dwelling that indicate any preference, 

limitation, or discrimination based on race.

The Plaintiff also claims that Defendant House of Hope violated the federal 

civil rights law referred to as “42 U.S.C. § 1981,” also known simply as 

“Section 1981.” This claim is brought only against House of Hope and not against

Ms. Barcroft personally. As relevant to this lawsuit, Section 1981 guarantees that 

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all persons shall have the same rights to make, perform, modify, and terminate

contracts and shall enjoy all of the benefits, privileges, terms, and conditions of 

any contractual relationship, as are enjoyed by white citizens. 

The Plaintiff seeks an award of money for damages for the harm that she 

alleges was caused by the Defendants’ wrongful actions. The Defendants deny that 

they have violated the law, and they deny that the Plaintiff is entitled to any money 

damages. The Plaintiff also seeks an award of punitive damages. In addition to 

denying that they violated the Plaintiff’s rights, the Defendants deny that the 

Plaintiff is entitled to any punitive damages.

Instruction No. 3: Burden of Proof—Preponderance of the Evidence

A party must prove any claim or affirmative defense that party has made. 

This is called the burden of proof. In this case, the Plaintiff has the burden of 

proving her claim by a preponderance of the evidence. The Defendants have the 

burden of proving any affirmative defense by a preponderance of the evidence.

When a party has the burden of proof on any claim or affirmative defense by 

a preponderance of the evidence, it means you must be persuaded by the evidence 

that the claim or affirmative defense is more probably true than not true.

You should base your decision on all of the evidence, regardless of which 

party presented it.

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Instruction No. 4: What Is Evidence

The evidence you are to consider in deciding what the facts are consists of:

1. The sworn testimony of any witness;

2. The exhibits that are received into evidence; and

3. Any facts to which the lawyers have agreed, which are also called 

stipulations.

Instruction No. 5: What Is Not Evidence

In reaching your verdict, you may consider only the testimony and exhibits 

received into evidence. Certain things are not evidence, and you may not consider 

them in deciding what the facts are. I will list them for you:

1. Arguments and statements by lawyers are not evidence. The lawyers 

are not witnesses. What they have said in their opening statements, will say in their 

closing arguments, and at other times is intended to help you interpret the 

evidence, but it is not evidence. If the facts as you remember them differ from the 

way the lawyers have stated them, your memory of them controls.

2. Questions and objections by lawyers are not evidence. Attorneys have 

a duty to their clients to object when they believe a question is improper under the 

rules of evidence. You should not be influenced by the objection or by the court’s 

ruling on it.

3. Testimony that has been excluded or stricken, or that you have been 

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instructed to disregard, is not evidence and must not be considered. In addition, 

sometimes testimony and exhibits are received only for a limited purpose; when I 

have given a limiting instruction, you must follow it.

4. Anything you may have seen or heard when the court was not in 

session is not evidence. You are to decide the case solely on the evidence received 

at the trial.

Instruction No. 6: Direct and Circumstantial Evidence

Evidence may be direct or circumstantial. Direct evidence is direct proof of a 

fact, such as testimony by a witness about what that witness personally saw or heard 

or did. Circumstantial evidence is proof of one or more facts from which you could 

find another fact. You should consider both kinds of evidence. The law makes no 

distinction between the weight to be given to either direct or circumstantial 

evidence. It is for you to decide how much weight to give to any evidence.

Instruction No. 7: Ruling on Objections

There are rules of evidence that control what can be received into evidence. 

When a lawyer asks a question or offers an exhibit into evidence and a lawyer on 

the other side thinks that it is not permitted by the rules of evidence, that lawyer 

may object. If I overruled the objection, the question was answered or the exhibit 

was received. If I sustained the objection, the question cannot be answered or the 

exhibit cannot be received. Whenever I have sustained an objection to a question, 

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you must ignore the question and must not guess what the answer might have been.

If I have ordered that evidence be stricken from the record and that you 

disregard or ignore that evidence, then, when you are deciding the case, you must 

not consider the stricken evidence for any purpose.

Instruction No. 8: Credibility of Witnesses

In deciding the facts in this case, you may have to decide which testimony to 

believe and which testimony not to believe. You may believe everything a witness 

says, or part of it, or none of it. Proof of a fact does not necessarily depend on the 

number of witnesses who testify about it. 

In considering the testimony of any witness, you may take into account:

1. the opportunity and ability of the witness to see or hear or know the 

things testified to;

2. the witness’s memory;

3. the witness’s manner while testifying;

4. the witness’s interest in the outcome of the case, if any;

5. the witness’s bias or prejudice, if any;

6. whether other evidence contradicted the witness’s testimony;

7. the reasonableness of the witness’s testimony in light of all the 

evidence; and

8. any other factors that bear on believability.

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You must avoid bias, conscious or unconscious, based on any witness’s race, 

color, religious beliefs, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, or 

gender in your determination of credibility. 

The weight of the evidence as to a fact does not necessarily depend on the 

number of witnesses who testify about it.

Instruction No. 9: Two Defendants

As you know, there are two Defendants in this case. You should decide the 

case as to each Defendant separately. Unless otherwise stated, the instructions 

apply to all parties.

Instruction No. 10: Fair Housing Act Claim

The Plaintiff has brought a claim of housing discrimination against the 

Defendants under the federal Fair Housing Act, also known as the “FHA.” The 

Fair Housing Act prohibits landlords from imposing different terms and conditions 

on the rental of a dwelling to a tenant because of the tenant’s race. It also prohibits

landlords from making any statements with respect to the rental of a dwelling that 

indicates any preference, limitation, or discrimination based on race.

The Plaintiff claims that Defendants House of Hope and Ms. Barcroft

violated the Fair Housing Act by imposing different terms and conditions on the 

Plaintiff’s rental of a room at the House of Hope because of her race and by 

terminating her tenancy at House of Hope because of her race. The Plaintiff also 

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claims that the Defendants made a statement with respect to her rental of a room at 

House of Hope that indicated a preference, limitation, or discrimination based on 

race. The Defendants admit that they terminated the Plaintiff’s tenancy, but 

otherwise deny each of these allegations.

In order to prevail on this claim, the Plaintiff has the burden of proving both 

of the following elements by a preponderance of the evidence:

1. The Defendants terminated the Plaintiff’s tenancy at the House of 

Hope; subjected her tenancy to different terms or conditions; or made a statement 

with respect to the rental of a dwelling that indicated a preference, limitation, or 

discrimination based on race; and

2. The Plaintiff’s race was a motivating factor in the decision to 

terminate the Plaintiff’s tenancy; to subject her tenancy to different terms or 

conditions; or make a statement with respect to the rental of a dwelling that 

indicated a preference, limitation, or discrimination based on race.

A “motivating factor” is a factor that played a part in the decision to 

terminate the Plaintiff’s tenancy; to subject her tenancy to different terms or 

conditions; or to make a statement that indicated a preference, limitation, or 

discrimination based on race, even if the factor was not the only factor in that 

decision.

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A statement indicates a preference based on race in violation of the FHA if 

an ordinary listener would find that the statement indicates that tenants of a 

particular race are either preferred or disfavored for the housing in question. A 

landlord may advise prospective tenants that the landlord has a policy of 

non-discrimination, provided that landlord does not communicate its policy in a 

manner that in any way indicates that tenants of a particular race are either 

preferred or disfavored.

If you find that the Plaintiff has proven both of these elements, your verdict 

on the Fair Housing Act claim should be for the Plaintiff. If, on the other hand, the 

Plaintiff has failed to prove either of these elements, your verdict on this claim 

should be for the Defendants.

Instruction No. 11: Section 1981 Claim

The Plaintiff also has made a claim under 42 U.S.C. § 1981, also known as 

“Section 1981.” This law guarantees that all persons shall have the same rights to 

make, perform, modify, and terminate contracts and enjoy all of the benefits, 

privileges, terms, and conditions of the contractual relationship, as are enjoyed by 

white citizens. The Plaintiff claims that Defendant House of Hope violated her 

right to enjoy all the benefits and privileges of her lease contract by terminating her 

lease on the basis of her race. Defendant House of Hope denies that it 

discriminated against the Plaintiff in any way.

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In order to prevail on this claim, the Plaintiff has the burden of proving both 

of the following elements by a preponderance of the evidence:

1. Defendant House of Hope terminated the Plaintiff’s lease; and 

2. The Plaintiff’s race was a motivating factor in Defendant House of 

Hope’s decision to terminate the Plaintiff’s lease.

A “motivating factor” is a factor that played a part in Defendant House of 

Hope’s decision to terminate the Plaintiff’s lease, even if it was not the only factor 

in that decision.

If you find that the Plaintiff has proven both of these elements, your verdict 

on the Plaintiff’s Section 1981 claim should be for the Plaintiff. If, on the other 

hand, the Plaintiff has failed to prove either of these elements, your verdict on this 

claim should be for Defendant House of Hope.

Instruction No. 12: Plaintiff’s Claim for Compensatory Damages

It is the duty of the Court to instruct you about the measure of damages. By 

instructing you on damages, the Court does not mean to suggest for which party 

your verdict should be rendered.

If you find for the Plaintiff, you must determine the Plaintiff’s damages. The 

Plaintiff has the burden of proving damages by a preponderance of the evidence. 

Damages means the amount of money that will reasonably and fairly compensate 

the Plaintiff for any injury you find was caused by the Defendants. You should 

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consider the following:

1. Plaintiff’s noneconomic damages; and

2. Plaintiff’s economic damages.

It is for you to determine what damages, if any, have been proved. Your 

award must be based upon evidence and not upon speculation, guesswork, or 

conjecture.

Instruction No. 13: Noneconomic Damages

If you find for the Plaintiff on any of her claims, you must determine her 

noneconomic damages, if any. Noneconomic damages are the subjective, 

non-monetary losses that a plaintiff has sustained or probably will sustain in the 

future. The law does not furnish you with any fixed standard by which to measure 

the exact amount of noneconomic damages. The law requires, however, that all 

damages awarded be reasonable. You must apply your own considered judgment, 

therefore, to determine the amount of noneconomic damages. 

In determining the amount of noneconomic damages, if any, you should 

consider the mental, physical, and emotional pain and suffering experienced and 

which with reasonable probability will be experienced in the future.

Instruction No. 14: Economic Damages

If you find for the Plaintiff on any of her claims, you must also determine 

her economic damages, if any. Economic damages means the amount of money 

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that will reasonably and fairly compensate the Plaintiff for any increased housing 

costs, lost wages, and other expenses you find were caused by the unlawful acts of 

the Defendants. The Plaintiff has the burden of proving both the existence and the 

amount of her damages by a preponderance of the evidence.

Instruction No. 15: Nominal Damages

The law that applies to this case authorizes an award of nominal damages. If 

you find for the Plaintiff, but also find that the Plaintiff has failed to prove 

damages as defined in these instructions, you must award nominal damages. 

Nominal damages may not exceed one dollar.

Instruction No. 16: Punitive Damages

If you find for the Plaintiff, you may, but are not required to, award punitive 

damages. The purposes of punitive damages are to punish a Defendant and to deter 

similar acts in the future. Punitive damages may not be awarded to compensate a 

plaintiff.

The Plaintiff has the burden of proving by a preponderance of the evidence

that punitive damages should be awarded and, if so, the amount of any such 

damages.

You may award punitive damages only if you find that a Defendant’s 

conduct that harmed the Plaintiff was malicious, oppressive or in reckless 

disregard of the Plaintiff’s rights. Conduct is malicious if it is accompanied by ill 

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will, or spite, or if it is for the purpose of injuring the plaintiff. Conduct is in 

reckless disregard of the Plaintiff’s rights if, under the circumstances, it reflects 

complete indifference to the Plaintiff’s safety or rights, or if a Defendant acts in the 

face of a perceived risk that his, her, or its actions will violate the Plaintiff’s rights 

under federal law. An act or omission is oppressive if the Defendants injure or 

damage or otherwise violate the rights of the Plaintiff with unnecessary harshness 

or severity, such as by misusing or abusing authority or power or by taking 

advantage of some weakness or disability or misfortune of the Plaintiff.

If you find that punitive damages are appropriate, you must use reason in 

setting the amount. Punitive damages, if any, should be in an amount sufficient to 

fulfill their purposes but should not reflect bias, prejudice or sympathy toward any 

party. In considering the amount of any punitive damages, consider the degree of 

reprehensibility of the defendant’s conduct.

Punitive damages may be awarded even if you award the Plaintiff only 

nominal, and not compensatory, damages.

------------------------------ CLOSING ARGUMENTS ------------------------------

Instruction No. 17: Duty to Deliberate

When you begin your deliberations, you should elect one member of the jury 

as your presiding juror. That person will preside over the deliberations and speak 

for you here in court. You will then discuss the case with your fellow jurors to 

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reach agreement if you can do so. Your verdict must be unanimous. Each of you 

must decide the case for yourself, but you should do so only after you have 

considered all of the evidence, discussed it fully with the other jurors, and listened 

to the views of your fellow jurors.

Do not hesitate to change your opinion if the discussion persuades you that 

you should. Do not come to a decision simply because other jurors think it is right. 

It is important that you attempt to reach a unanimous verdict but, of course, only if 

each of you can do so after having made your own conscientious decision. Do not 

change an honest belief about the weight and effect of the evidence simply to reach 

a verdict.

Instruction No. 18: Consideration of Evidence—Conduct of the Jury

Because you must base your verdict only on the evidence received in the 

case and on these instructions, I remind you that you must not be exposed to any 

other information about the case or to the issues it involves. Except for discussing 

the case with your fellow jurors during your deliberations:

Do not communicate with anyone in any way and do not let anyone else 

communicate with you in any way about the merits of the case or anything to do 

with it. This includes discussing the case in person, in writing, by phone or 

electronic means, via email, text messaging, or any Internet chat room, blog, 

website or social media application. This applies to communicating with your 

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family members, your employer, the media or press, and the people involved in the 

trial. If you are asked or approached in any way about your jury service or 

anything about this case, you must respond that you have been ordered not to 

discuss the matter and to report the contact to the court. After the trial is over and I 

have discharged you as a jury, you may then discuss this case with anyone you 

choose, although whether to choose to do so at that time is entirely up to you.

Until you have been discharged as a jury, do not read, watch, or listen to any 

news or media accounts or commentary about the case or anything to do with it; do 

not do any research, such as consulting dictionaries, searching the Internet or using 

other reference materials; and do not make any investigation or in any other way 

try to learn about the case on your own.

The law requires these restrictions to ensure the parties have a fair trial based 

on the same evidence that each party has had an opportunity to address. A juror 

who violates these restrictions jeopardizes the fairness of these proceedings, and a 

mistrial could result that would require the entire trial process to start over. If any 

juror is exposed to any outside information, please notify the court immediately.

Instruction No. 19: Communication with Court

If it becomes necessary during your deliberations to communicate with me, 

you may send a note through our courtroom deputy, Mary Austad, signed by your 

presiding juror or by one or more members of the jury. No member of the jury 

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should ever attempt to communicate with me except by a signed writing; I will 

communicate with any member of the jury on anything concerning the case only in 

writing, or here in open court. If you send out a question, I will consult with the 

parties before answering it, which may take some time. You may continue your 

deliberations while waiting for the answer to any question.

Remember that you are not to tell anyone—including me—how the jury 

stands, numerically or otherwise, until after you have reached a unanimous verdict 

or have been discharged. Do not disclose any vote count in any note to the court.

Instruction No. 20: Return of Verdict

A verdict form has been prepared for you. After you have reached 

unanimous agreement on each applicable question on the verdict form, your 

presiding juror should fill in the verdict form, sign and date the verdict form, and 

advise the Court that you are ready to return to the courtroom.

Verdict form described.

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