R. STAN BAKER, Magistrate Judge.
This matter comes before the Court on several motions in limine. Specifically, Defendants filed a Motion containing eight in limine requests, (doc. 132), to which Plaintiff filed a Response, (doc. 146). In addition, Plaintiff filed a Motion containing eleven in limine requests, (doc. 137), to which Defendants filed a Response, (doc. 145). For the reasons and in the manner set forth below, the Court
Defendants move the Court for an order prohibiting Plaintiff from offering any argument or evidence on certain enumerated matters at trial. (Doc. 132, pp. 1-2.) In particular, Defendants list eight matters which they believe are inadmissible pursuant to the Federal Rules of Evidence. In his Response, Plaintiff contests only two of these matters in part. Accordingly, the Court's ruling on each of these matters is as follows:
Defendants argue that the Court should exclude any evidence or argument that Defendants have the ability to seek indemnification in the event of an adverse judgment. (
Defendants also aver that the Court should exclude any evidence or argument that law enforcement officers, in general, lie, conspire, or otherwise maintain a "code of silence" to protect fellow officers accused of wrongdoing. (Doc. 132, p. 3). In his Response, Plaintiff declares that he does not intend to introduce evidence of, or make arguments pertaining to, general law enforcement misconduct, except as that subject may arise during voir dire. Defendants' motion is
Defendants' motions in limine three (3) — five (5) are
Citing this Court's dismissal of Plaintiff's deliberate indifference claims against Defendants Pickett and Bowen on March 31, 2015, (doc. 77), Defendants aver that any evidence related to Plaintiff's deliberate indifference claim is irrelevant to his failure-to-intervene claim and should, therefore, be excluded from trial. (Doc. 132, pp. 15-16.) Plaintiff contends that he should be permitted to present evidence of the facts leading up to his attack because those facts also support his failure-to-intervene claim.
The general test for the admissibility of evidence is that relevant evidence is admissible unless a constitutional, statutory, or other rule specifically provides otherwise. Fed. R. Evid. 402. "Evidence is relevant if (a) it has any tendency to make a fact more or less probable than it would be without the evidence; and (b) the fact is of consequence in determining the action." Fed. R. Evid. 401. Because Plaintiff must also prove that he faced a substantial risk of harm and that Defendants had knowledge of that risk of harm, facts leading up to his attack remain relevant to his failure-to-intervene claim. Further, allowing such testimony will allow Plaintiff to create a clearer picture of the incident for the jury. In addition, the "probative value of allowing such `context' testimony" may often "outweigh[] any unfair prejudice to the Defendants."
Defendants contend that Plaintiff should be precluded from introducing evidence that their actions were motivated by racial bias, as well as any evidence of local or national law enforcement controversies arising out of racial tension. (Doc. 132, pp. 16-17.) Plaintiff agrees that he will not argue that Defendants' actions were racially motivated, provided Defendants do not present evidence which would support such an inference. (Doc. 146, p. 6.) Accordingly, this portion of Defendants' Motion is
Defendants contend that the Court should not permit Plaintiff to present evidence related to a purported defense that Defendants were "just following orders," as Defendants do not intend to present such a defense. (Doc. 132, p. 17.) Defendants aver that discussion of a defense which they do not assert at trial would confuse the issues and mislead the jury, contrary to Federal Rule of Evidence 403. (
In his Motion in Limine, Plaintiff lists eleven matters which he believes are inadmissible at trial. In their Response, Defendants contest only three of these matters in part. Accordingly, the Court's ruling on each of these matters is as follows:
In his in limine requests one (1) through three (3) Plaintiff argues that the Court should (1) exclude evidence of Plaintiff's convictions prior to the 1999 conviction leading to his present incarceration; (2) limit the scope of evidence of Plaintiff's 1999 conviction to the crime charged, the date of the charge, and the disposition of that charge, should Defendants use his 1999 conviction for impeachment purposes; and (3) exclude any references to Plaintiff's medical expenses or the payment of those expenses. (Doc. 137, pp. 1-3.) In their Response, Defendants state that they do not intend to present evidence as to Plaintiff's pre-1999 conviction, agree to limit the scope of any cross examination as to crimes for which Plaintiff is currently incarcerated, and do not intend to present evidence as to the payment of Plaintiff's medical expenses. (Doc. 145, pp. 1-2.) Thus, these portions of Plaintiff's Motion are
Plaintiff requests that the Court prohibit Defendants from introducing evidence of, or making reference to, attacks he suffered by other inmates in February and April 2012. (Doc. 137, p. 4.) Plaintiff admits that the injuries Plaintiff suffered as a result of these subsequent attacks present issues of medical causation regarding his measure of damages in this suit and, therefore, does not intend to claim damages past January 2012. (
"Extrinsic evidence of a witness's prior inconsistent statement is admissible [] if the witness is given an opportunity to explain or deny the statement. . . ." Fed. R. Evid. 613(b). While inadmissible evidence used to impeach a witness may not be admitted as substantive evidence, Plaintiff's prior inconsistent statements are admissible for impeachment purposes.
While Plaintiff presently represents that he is only seeking damages up to January 2012, Defendants contend he previously testified that he suffers from the attack to the present. (Doc. 145, p. 2.) Of course, at this time, the Court does not know how Plaintiff might testify at trial. Thus, it would be unfair to preemptively limit Defendants' ability to cross examine Plaintiff by prohibiting them from referring to any testimony or information regarding the subsequent attacks. Consequently, the Court
Plaintiff contends that the Court should exclude any reference to his voluntary dismissal of Defendant Wolfort as irrelevant under Federal Rule of Evidence 401. Defendants respond that the Court should permit them to present this evidence because "Plaintiffs' inconsistent positions regarding [Defendant Wolfort's actions] is an appropriate area for exploration at trial." (Doc. 145, p. 3.) In short, Defendants argue that Plaintiff's dismissal of Defendant Wolfort supports their interpretation of the Eighth Amendment and cuts against Plaintiff's interpretation. (
Defendants' argument is difficult to follow and without merit. Defendants do not plausibly explain how Plaintiff's decision to dismiss Defendant Wolfort touches on any of the issues the jury must decide in this case. Moreover, like any party, Plaintiff must consider numerous factors when deciding whether to bring claims and continue those claims against any defendant. Thus, Plaintiff did not admit that Wolfort complied with the Eighth Amendment when he dismissed his claims against him.
The court
It appears from Defendants' response to this portion of Plaintiff's Motion and Plaintiff's trial brief, (doc. 134), that the parties disagree about what the Eighth Amendment required of Defendants. However, the parties have not brought a Motion requiring the Court to rule on these arguments. Moreover, the parties' pleadings on these issues do not reflect categories of evidence (much less specific testimony or documents) to which these arguments plausibly pertain. Thus, the Court need not and cannot issue a ruling on these underdeveloped arguments at this time.
Defendants do not object to Plaintiff's in limine requests six (6), eight (8), nine (9), ten (10), and eleven (11). Therefore, these portions of Plaintiff's Motion in Limine, (doc. 137), are
Finally, Plaintiff requests that the Court prohibit Defendant from referencing public policies which are contrary to existing law in order to achieve jury nullification. (Doc. 137, p. 8.) Defendants contend that they do not intend to present evidence aimed toward jury nullification, but reserve the right to present evidence relating to public policies, such as those concerning institutional policies, officer safety, and training. (Doc. 145, p. 4.) The Court
For the reasons stated above, Defendants' Motion is