IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS

TEXARKANA DIVISION

JERRAL J. JONES §

§

V. § CIVIL NO. 5:23cv32

§ 

ALEXANDRA DAVIS, et al §

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MINUTES FOR MOTIONS HEARING AND PRETRIAL CONFERENCE

HELD BEFORE JUDGE ROBERT W. SCHROEDER III

JULY 2, 2024

OPEN: 10:20 a.m. ADJOURN: 4:52 p.m.

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ATTORNEYS FOR PLAINTIFF Charles Babcock, Edwin Buffmire, David Folsom

and Cody Martinez

ATTORNEYS FOR DEFENDANTS: Jay Gray, Matt Keil, Erin Keil, Hailee Amox,

Andrew Bergman and Kris Hayes

LAW CLERK: Jordan Cowger

COURTROOM DEPUTY: Betty Schroeder

COURT REPORTER: Shelly Holmes

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______________________________________________________________________________

10:20 a.m. Case called, parties introduce themselves and announce ready, Court welcomes

everyone and gives preliminary comments

10:23 a.m. Court proceeds with information regarding jury selection and trial matters;

Plaintiff will receive 30 minutes for voir dire with each Defendant receiving 20

minutes each; for opening and closing, Plaintiff will receive 30 minutes and each

Defendant will receive 20 minutes; and for trial, Plaintiff will receive l0 hours and

each Defendant will receive 6 hours; jury panel of 75 with morning and afternoon

panels; Court explains voir dire process with two panels; each party will receive

three peremptory strikes; Mr. Babcock disagrees with each defendant getting three

peremptory strikes; Mr. Gray responds; Ms. Hayes responds; Court responds;

Defendants are to be addressed by first and last names; questionnaires can be

picked up Thursday, the 18th, at noon; Court discusses the jury instructions and

Case 5:23-cv-00032-RWS Document 193 Filed 07/02/24 Page 1 of 4 PageID #: 3824
verdict form; parties are to meet and confer and file joint instructions and verdict

form by July 17; Court gives daily trial schedule; trial disputes to be placed on

docket by 10:00 p.m. with responses filed by midnight; Court discusses procedure

regarding exhibits; Court discusses sealing of courtroom, use of juror notebooks

and questions from the jury

11:03 a.m. Recess

11:12 a.m. Mr. Gray invokes the rule; no objection from Mr. Gray regarding Plaintiff’s expert

remaining in the courtroom

11:13 a.m. Mr. Babcock argues Motion for Sanctions (dkt. #120)

11:38 a.m. Court questions Mr. Babcock; Mr. Babcock responds

11:48 a.m. Court questions Mr. Babcock; Mr. Babcock responds

12:03 p.m. Mr. Gray responds to argument

12:11 p.m. Court questions Mr. Gray; Mr. Gray responds

12:17 p.m. Court questions Mr. Gray; Mr. Gray responds

12:25 p.m. Mr. Gray calls Alexandra Davis; witness sworn in

12:26 p.m. Mr. Gray begins direct examination of Ms. A. Davis

12:41 p.m. Mr. Babcock begins cross examination of Ms. A. Davis

1:16 p.m. Mr. Gray begins redirect examination of Ms. A. Davis

1:19 p.m. Ms. Hayes questions Ms. A. Davis

1:24 p.m. Objection by Mr. Babcock

1:25 p.m. Mr. Babcock begins recross examination of Ms. A. Davis

1:33 p.m. Recess

2:38 p.m. Mr. Gray gives final comments regarding objections to Motion for Sanctions

2;41 p.m. Mr. Babcock gives final comments regarding Motion for Sanctions in reference to

Ms. Alexandra Davis

2:44 p.m. Ms. Hayes responds to Motion for Sanctions on behalf of Ms. Cynthia Davis

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2:46 p.m. Court questions Ms. Hayes; Ms. Hayes responds

2:52 p.m. Court questions Ms. Hayes; Ms. Hayes responds

3:04 p.m. Mr. Babcock replies

3:11 p.m. Ms. Hayes responds

3:12 p.m. Court questions Ms. Hayes; Ms. Hayes responds

3:15 p.m. Ms. Hayes argues Motion to Exclude Evidence (dkt. #174)

3:19 p.m. Court questions Ms. Hayes; Ms. Hayes responds

3:24 p.m. Mr. Babcock replies

3:25 p.m. Mr. Gray argues Motion for Summary Judgment (dkt. #101)

3:28 p.m. Court questions Mr. Gray; Mr. Gray responds

3:35 p.m. Court questions Mr. Gray; Mr. Gray responds

3:46 p.m. Court questions Mr. Gray; Mr. Gray responds

3:55 p.m. Court questions Mr. Gray; Mr. Gray responds

3:58 p.m. Mr. Buffmire responds to argument

4:07 p.m. Court questions Mr. Buffmire; Mr. Buffmire responds

4:12 p.m. Mr. Gray replies

4:12 p.m. Mr. Buffmire responds

4:13 p.m. Court questions Mr. Buffmire; Mr. Buffmire responds

4:16 p.m. Ms. Hayes argues Motion for Summary Judgment (dkt. #103)

4:20 p.m. Mr. Buffmire responds to argument

4:21 p.m. Court questions Mr. Buffmire; Mr. Buffmire responds

4:23 p.m. Ms. Hayes replies

4:25 p.m. Court discusses remainder of hearing

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4:26 p.m. Recess

4:39 p.m. Mr. Gray questions the Court; Court responds

4:40 p.m. Mr. Buffmire advises the Court the parties agree to Plaintiff’s MIL#1; Court

grants motion

4:43 p.m. Mr. Gray argues Defendants’ MIL #1, 9 and 14; Court questions Mr. Gray; Mr.

Gray responds; Mr. Babcock responds to argument; Court responds

4:49 p.m. Mr. Babcock discusses demonstratives used in today’s hearing

4:50 p.m. Court gives final comments

4:52 p.m. Recess

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