SHARION AYCOCK, District Judge.
Defendant Troy Industries, Inc., has filed three motions in limine seeking a ruling on the admissibility of certain evidence prior to trial. After reviewing the motions, responses, rules, and authorities, the Court finds as follows:
Defendant seeks to prohibit Plaintiffs or their attorneys, witnesses or experts from mentioning or offering any evidence relating to a restraining order filed against Gary Morin in 1992 or 1993. Plaintiffs failed to respond to this motion.
The Court finds that the motion is well-taken and shall be GRANTED, not only because Plaintiff failed to object to its exclusion, but also because the probative value of this evidence is substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice. FED. R. EVID. 403.
Troy next seeks to exclude any evidence of any subsequent remedial measures undertaken by that defendant after the alleged incident. Troy admits that upon notification of Lance Phillips' injuries, it changed its instructions and warning labels that accompany its products at the point of sale. In particular, Troy changed its packaging, which stated, "Warning, observe safe firearm handling practices at all times. Make sure the firearm is unloaded and safety is engaged before starting installation," to the following:
Troy contends that pursuant to Federal Rule of Evidence 407, this evidence is not admissible. Federal Rule of Evidence 407 provides that
However, that Rule also provides some exceptions under which the evidence of a subsequent remedial measure would be admissible, namely, impeachment, "or — if disputed — proving ownership, control, or the feasibility of precautionary measures." FED. R. EVID. 407. Plaintiffs contend that two exceptions apply in this instance, impeachment and proving the feasibility of the precautionary measures. Defendant argues that the feasibility of the further warnings is not disputed, and therefore, evidence that Troy later provided additional warnings is not relevant.
Plaintiff cites the deposition testimony given by Lisa Blanchard, Gary Morin, Dave Hughes, and Charles Yow to show a dispute as to the feasibility of providing the further warnings and the impeachment value of the subsequent remedial measure. A review of the cited portions reveals no dispute as to the feasibility of providing the subsequent warnings. Indeed, Plaintiffs' own summary suggests that the cited testimony shows that the witnesses believed the original warnings to be enough and that no other warnings were needed, not that further warnings were not feasible.
The impeachment value of the subsequent remedial measures is not readily apparent prior to trial. If Plaintiffs wish to use the subsequent remedial measures for impeachment purposes during the trial, Plaintiffs are directed that a request under Rule 407 may be made outside the presence of the jury. Therefore, the Defendant's Second Motion in Limine is GRANTED IN PART and DENIED IN PART.
Troy seeks to prohibit Lance Phillips from offering evidence regarding his recollection of conversations with Dr. Dax Eckard concerning his injured eye and whether he is "legally blind." Phillips testified that Dr. Eckard told him that he was considered legally blind in his right eye. Defendant submits that contention is inadmissible hearsay that falls outside any exception.
Federal Rule of Evidence 801(c) defines hearsay as a statement that "the declarant does not make while testifying at the current trial or hearing; and [] a party offers in evidence to prove the truth of the matter asserted in the statement." Plaintiffs argue that such statement would not be offered to prove the truth of the matter asserted in the statement, i.e., that he is legally blind in one eye, but as evidence of which he has personal knowledge. Moreover, Plaintiffs assert that the statement falls within a hearsay exception as a statement made for medical diagnosis or treatment.
Federal Rule of Evidence 803 excludes from the rule against hearsay statements that are made for medical diagnosis and treatment and "describes medical history; past or present symptoms or sensations, their inception, or their general cause." FED. R. EVID. 803(4). Other Circuits have held that Rule 803(4) does not, however, cover statements by a doctor or other medical personnel to the patient.
The rationale behind the exception that statements made for medical diagnosis or treatment is the enhanced reliability of the statements because the declarant has a strong motive to tell the truth in order to receive proper care.
Accordingly, the Court finds Rule 803(4) to be inapplicable. Lance Phillips' recitation of the statement allegedly made by Dr. Dax Eckard that Phillips is legally blind is inadmissible. The Defendant's Third Motion in Limine is GRANTED.