STANLEY A. BOONE, Magistrate Judge.
Plaintiff Jesse Adame is appearing pro se and in forma pauperis in this civil rights action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Both parties have consented to United States magistrate judge jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(c).
On May 12, 2016, the Court held a telephonic conference for purposes of setting the trial date. Plaintiff appeared pro se and Deputy Attorney General, Andrew Whisnand appeared on behalf of Defendants.
This action is proceeding against Defendants Vallejo and Mariscal for excessive force in violation of the Eighth Amendment. This matter was set for a telephonic hearing on September 2, 2016, at 11:00 a.m. for purposes of a pretrial confirmation hearing. The matter is now set for a 4 day jury trial beginning on November 1, 2016, at 8:30 a.m.
In preparation of trial, the parties are required to file Pretrial Statements in accordance with the schedule set forth herein. In addition to the matters already required to be addressed in the pretrial statement in accordance with Local Rule 281, Plaintiff will be required to make a particularized showing in order to obtain the attendance of witnesses. The procedures and requirements for making such a showing are outlined in detail below.
Pursuant to Local Rule 281, the parties shall file a Pretrial Statement. Plaintiff shall file his Pretrial Statement no later than August 12, 2016. Defendants shall file their Pretrial Statement no later than August 19, 2016. The Telephonic Pretrial Confirmation hearing will be held September 2, 2016, at 11:00 a.m. before the United States Magistrate Judge Stanley A. Boone in Courtroom 9.
The form and content of the Pretrial Statement must comply with Local Rule 281. Pursuant to Local Rule 281(b), the Pretrial Statement shall including the following matters, under the following captions, and in the following order:
(A) The date, place, and general nature of the incident; the particular acts, omissions, or conditions constituting the basis for liability; the particular acts, omissions or conditions constituting the basis of any defense; any statute, ordinance, or regulation violated by either party; the applicability of the doctrine of strict liability or res ipsa loquitur.
(B) Each plaintiff's age; injuries sustained; any prior injury or condition worsened; periods of hospitalization; medical expenses and estimated future medical expenses; the period of total and/or partial disability; annual, monthly, or weekly earnings before the incident; earnings loss to date and estimated diminution of future earnings power; property damage; general damages; punitive damages;
If either party desires to include expert witnesses at trial, they must comply with the disclosure and timelines requirements set forth in Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 26(2)(2) and (a)(2)(D).
The plaintiff must comply with certain procedures associated with introducing evidence and bringing witnesses to trial.
Plaintiff must be prepared to introduce evidence to prove each of the alleged facts that support the claims raised in the lawsuit. In general, there are two kinds of trial evidence: (1) exhibits and (2) the testimony of witnesses. It is Plaintiff's responsibility to produce all of the evidence to prove his case, whether that evidence is in the form of exhibits or witness testimony. If Plaintiff wants to call witnesses to testify, he must follow certain procedures to ensure that the witnesses will be at the trial and available to testify. Plaintiff is advised that failure to comply with the procedures set forth below may result in the preclusion of any and all witnesses named in his pretrial statement. Notwithstanding the requirements set forth herein, a motion for the attendance of incarcerated witnesses will only be granted by the Court if the moving party has shown the witnesses have relevant information and the Court determines the witnesses' presence will substantially further the resolution of the case.
The following procedures are required to ensure the attendance of Plaintiff's witnesses at trial. The witnesses may be incarcerated or unincarcerated and willing or unwilling to testify voluntarily.
An incarcerated witness who agrees voluntarily to attend trial to give testimony cannot come to court unless the Court orders the warden or other custodian to permit the witness to be transported to court. The Court will not issue such an order unless it is satisfied that the prospective witness has actual knowledge of relevant facts.
A party intending to introduce the testimony of incarcerated witnesses who have agreed voluntarily to attend the trial must serve and file a written motion for a court order requiring that such witnesses be brought to court at the time of trial. The motion must: (1) state the name, address, and prison identification number of each such witness; and (2) be accompanied by declarations showing that each witness is willing to testify and that each witness has actual knowledge of relevant facts. The motion should be entitled "Motion for Attendance of Incarcerated Witnesses."
The willingness of the prospective witness can be shown in one of two ways: (1) the party himself can swear by declaration under penalty of perjury that the prospective witness has informed the party that he or she is willing to testify voluntarily without being subpoenaed, in which declaration the party must state when and where the prospective witness informed the party of this willingness; or (2) the party can serve and file a declaration, signed under penalty of perjury by the prospective witness, in which the witness states that he or she is willing to testify without being subpoenaed.
The prospective witness's actual knowledge of relevant facts can be shown in one of two ways: (1) if the party has actual firsthand knowledge that the prospective witness was an eyewitness or an ear-witness to the relevant facts (e.g., if an incident occurred in Plaintiff's cell and, at the time, Plaintiff saw that a cellmate was present and observed the incident, Plaintiff may swear to the cellmate's ability to testify), the party himself can swear by declaration under penalty of perjury that the prospective witness has actual knowledge; or (2) the party can serve and file a declaration signed under penalty of perjury by the prospective witness in which the witness describes the relevant facts to which the prospective witness was an eye or ear witness. Whether the declaration is made by the party or by the prospective witness, it must be specific about the incident, when and where it occurred, who was present, and how the prospective witness happened to be in a position to see or to hear what occurred at the time it occurred.
The Court will review and rule on the motion for attendance of incarcerated witnesses, specifying which prospective witnesses must be brought to court. Subsequently, the Court will issue the order necessary to cause the witness's custodian to bring the witness to court.
If a party seeks to obtain the attendance of incarcerated witnesses who refuse to testify voluntarily, the party must submit a motion for the attendance of such witnesses. An incarcerated witness cannot come to court unless the Court orders the warden or other custodian to permit the witness to be transported to court. The Court will not issue an order unless it is satisfied that the prospective witness has actual knowledge of relevant facts. In addition, the party must indicate in the motion that the incarcerated witnesses are not willing to testify voluntarily.
The motion must: (1) state the name, address, and prison identification number of each such witness; and (2) be accompanied by a showing that each witness has actual knowledge of relevant facts. The motion should be entitled "Motion for Attendance of Incarcerated Witnesses."
The prospective witness's actual knowledge of relevant facts can be shown in one of two ways: (1) if the party has actual firsthand knowledge that the prospective witness was an eyewitness or an ear-witness to the relevant facts (e.g., if an incident occurred in Plaintiff's cell and, at the time, Plaintiff saw that a cellmate was present and observed the incident, Plaintiff may swear to the cellmate's ability to testify), the party himself can swear by declaration under penalty of perjury that the prospective witness has actual knowledge; or (2) the party can serve and file a declaration signed under penalty of perjury by the prospective witness in which the witness describes the relevant facts to which the prospective witness was an eye or ear witness. Whether the declaration is made by the party or by the prospective witness, it must be specific about the incident, when and where it occurred, who was present, and how the prospective witness happened to be in a position to see or to hear what occurred at the time it occurred.
The Court will review and rule on the motion for attendance of incarcerated witnesses, specifying which prospective witnesses must be brought to court. Subsequently, the Court will issue the order necessary to cause the witness's custodian to bring the witness to court.
It is the responsibility of the party who has secured an unincarcerated witness's voluntary attendance to notify the witness of the time and date of trial. No action need be sought or obtained from the Court. However, the parties are advised that if a witness subsequently refuses to testify prior to trial, the Court will not continue the trial date to allow the party to compel the attendance of the witness at trial, absent a showing of extraordinary circumstances.
If a prospective witness is not incarcerated, and he or she refuses to testify voluntarily, the witness must be served with a subpoena.
If Plaintiff wishes to obtain the attendance of one or more unincarcerated witnesses who refuse to testify voluntarily, Plaintiff must first notify the Court in writing of the name and location of each unincarcerated witness. The Court will calculate the travel expense for each unincarcerated witness and notify Plaintiff of the amount(s). Plaintiff must then, for each witness, submit a money order made payable to the witness for the full amount of the witness's travel expenses plus the daily witness fee of $40.00.
Any party may file a motion
This Court further orders the parties to file motions
The parties shall not file separate motions
The deadline for service and filing of motions in limine is September 19, 2016. The deadline for service and filing of an opposition, if any, is October 3, 2016. A telephonic motions in limine hearing will be held on October 17, 2016, at 10:00 a.m. in Courtroom 9, before the undersigned. Counsel for defendants is directed to arrange for telephone contact with Plaintiff and to contact the Courtroom Deputy, Mamie Hernandez, at (559) 499-5672, prior to the hearing date, to receive instructions regarding the conference call.
As noted below, no later than September 13, 2016, the parties shall exchange their final exhibit list and pre-marked exhibits, to be addressed at the October 17, 2016, motion in limine hearing.
All exhibits must be pre-marked with an exhibit sticker or other legible numbering/lettering. This requirement that exhibits be pre-marked applies both to evidence that will be formally admitted into evidence as well as any other exhibits that will be presented in any manner during trial, such as "demonstrative" evidence. Each individual "original" exhibit that will be submitted to the jury must be stapled/fastened so that the exhibit does not become separated. Further, exhibits submitted to the jury must be pre-marked on the front page
No later than September 13, 2016, the parties shall exchange their proposed exhibits to allow for the parties to file objections to be addressed at the motion in limine hearing on October 17, 2016. Further instructions on the submission and use of exhibits during trial will be provided in the pretrial order in this matter, to be filed after the pretrial hearing noted above.
Defendants are required to submit trial exhibits for both parties in binders. Counsel shall submit three
At the hearing, Plaintiff made an oral request for the appointment of counsel. Plaintiff's request was denied, without prejudice, as Plaintiff failed to articulate "exceptional circumstances" to justify the assistance of voluntary counsel in this case. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(1).
Plaintiff has previously filed two requests for the appointment of counsel and both requests were denied, without prejudice. (ECF Nos. 13, 15, 23, 24.) As Plaintiff is aware, there is no constitutional right to appointed counsel in this action,
Without a reasonable method of securing and compensating counsel, the court will seek volunteer counsel only in the most serious and exceptional cases. In determining whether "exceptional circumstances exist, the district court must evaluate both the likelihood of success on the merits [and] the ability of the [plaintiff] to articulate his claims pro se in light of the complexity of the legal issues involved."
In the present case, the Court does not find the required exceptional circumstances. Even if it assumed that Plaintiff is not well versed in the law and that he has made serious allegations which, if proved, would entitle him to relief, his case is not exceptional. Plaintiff alleges an Eighth Amendment claim for excessive force against Defendants Mariscal and Vallejo. The legal issues present in this action are not complex, and Plaintiff has thoroughly set forth his allegations in the complaint. Accordingly, Plaintiff's third request for the appointment of counsel is denied, without prejudice.
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that:
1. This matter is set for telephonic pretrial confirmation hearing before the Honorable Stanley A. Boone on
2. Motions in limine are due on or before September 19, 2016. Oppositions to the motions in limine are due on or before October 3, 2016. This matter is set for motion in limine hearing before the Honorable Stanley A. Boone on
3. This matter is set for jury trial before the Honorable Stanley A. Boone on
4. The parties are required to arrange for the participation in the telephonic trial confirmation hearing and motion in limine hearing and to contact Courtroom Deputy, Mamie Hernandez, at (559) 499-5672, prior to the hearing date, to receive instructions regarding the conference call;
5. Plaintiff shall serve and file a pretrial statement as described in this order on or before
6. Defendants shall serve and file a pretrial statement as described in this order on or before
7. In addition to electronically filing their pretrial statement, Defendants shall e-mail the pretrial statement to:
8. If Plaintiff intends to call incarcerated witnesses at time of trial, Plaintiff shall serve and file a motion for attendance of incarcerated witnesses as described in this order on or before
9. The opposition to the motion for the attendance of incarcerated witnesses, if any, shall be filed on or before
10. If Plaintiff wishes to obtain the attendance of unincarcerated witnesses who refuse to testify voluntarily, Plaintiff must notify the Court of their names and locations on or before
11. Plaintiff's oral request for the appointment of counsel is DENIED, without prejudice.
IT IS SO ORDERED.