Motions in Limine Don t Miss Categories and Authorities

8/9/2019 Motions in Limine Don t Miss Categories and Authorities

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Motions in Limine Dont Miss Categories and AuthoritiesBy Jeremy Pasternak and Shaana Rahman

CAOC "Forum" - October 2005

"You cant unr!n the be##$" %&ery tr!a# #a'yer kno's th!s$ (n)ortunate#y* too o)ten the #o!ca# )o##o' u+* that !s* br!n!n a mot!on !n #!m!ne to be su

not ha++en$ ,he )o##o'!n are some "dont m!ss" cateor!es )or mot!ons !n #!m!ne* and a d!scuss!on o) not on#y 'hat mot!ons you m!ht 'ant to br!n

'h!ch to do so* but a#so ho' to +re+are your case dur!n #!t!at!on so as to best +rotect your mot!ons !n #!m!ne or e&en ob&!ate the need )or them !n

$ PRO,%C,./ YO(R C%.,S 1A. ,3%R 4A/%

.ear#y e&ery +#a!nt!)) !s attacked +ersona##y at tr!a#$ ,h!s can be as s!m+#e as the standard "reedy +#a!nt!))" !nnuendo* or !t can be )ar more d!rect$ ,

!&e you some too#s to +rotect your c#!ent 1and your case$

A. Preparing for Your Motions While Still in Litigation

Protect!n your c#!ents +r!&acy r!hts !n d!sco&ery !s not the )ocus o) th!s art!c#e* but !t bears ment!on!n here$ ,he enera# ru#e !s that the sco+e o) d

sco+e o) adm!ss!b!#!ty$ Based on that ru#e* attorneys o)ten say to themse#&es* "6e##* th!s may #ook bad* but ## 7ust e8c#ude !t at tr!a#$" ,ak!n th!s +othe enera# ru#e !s not rea##y the ru#e$ 6hen !t comes to a +#a!nt!))s +r!&acy r!hts* the rea# ru#e !s that the sco+e o) d!sco&ery !s narro'er then the sc

'ords* dur!n d!sco&ery* there are 'ays you can +rotect your c#!ent )rom the other s!de d!sco&er!n "bad" !n)ormat!on$ And ob&!ous#y* !) they dont

dont ha&e to 'orry about e8c#ud!n !t '!th a mot!on !n #!m!ne9

:$ ,he e)endant 4ust Sho' a Com+e##!n .eed )or !sco&ery Be)ore Pr!&acy R!hts Are n&aded

,he const!tut!ona# r!ht o) +r!&acy !s "not abso#ute"; !t may be abr!ded 'hen* but on#y 'hen* there !s a "com+e##!n" and o++os!n state !nterest$ 1B

Court 1:d 5:?* 52@ address!n +r!&acy r!hts !n the conte8t o) +ersonne# documents$ See a#so* 3ard!n a'son Assoc!ates &$ Su

Ca#$A++$@th * :0$ ",he court there noted that Ca#!)orn!a courts ha&e enera##y conc#uded that the +ub#!c !nterest !n +reser&!n con)!dent!a# !n)orm

+r!&ate #!t!ant !n obta!n!n the con)!dent!a# !n)ormat!on$" C!t!n Board o) ,rustees* su+ra$ See a#so* Sha))er &$ Su+er!or Court 1: Ca#$A++$@

Court 1:=* c!t!n Br!tt &$ Su+er!or Court 1:d =@@* =52-=5>$ ,he 3unter ,y#o court a#so ru#

at !ssue* the d!sco&ery souht must be "d!rect#y re#e&ant to the #!t!at!on$" 1d$ at +$:>=$

Other &ery stron cases estab#!sh!n the "Catch-22" Brenda $ &$ Su+er!or Court 1:


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Huest!ons at tr!a#$

,he arument to make !s s!m+#y th!s enera##y s+eak!n* adm!ss!b!#!ty !s broader than d!sco&ery* and !) th!s stu)) !snt d!sco&erab#e* then !t sure !sn

B. Character !idence "eeping #t $ut

Perha+s the most common attack on the +#a!nt!)) !s "character e&!dence*" such as +r!or su!ts* +r!or acc!dents* and the #!ke$

Ca#!)orn!a %&!dence Code sect!on ::0:* "%&!dence o) character to +ro&e conduct" states

1a %8ce+t as +ro&!ded !n th!s sect!on and !n Sect!ons ::02* ::0>* ::0=* and ::0252 a++#!es to e&!dence 'h!ch un!Hue#y tends to e&oke an emot!ona# b!as aa!nst de)endant as

&ery #!tt#e e))ect on the !ssues$ n a++#y!n sect!on >52* "+re7ud!c!a#" !s not synonymous '!th "dama!n$" 1d$ at +$ :::


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that the e&!dence !s s!n!)!cant$

,here)ore* th!s mot!on must a#'ays start )!rst '!th an arument as to 'hy the !n)ormat!on !s !rre#e&ant 1or* at best* o) #!m!ted re#e&ance* that !s* o)

On#y then shou#d the mot!on arue the +re7ud!ce* and then +art!cu#ar#y as to 'hy the +re7ud!ce !s un)a!r or emot!ona##y-based$

. $ther Bad Stuff When the $ther Side (ides )heir "no*ledge Behind Pri!ilege

FreHuent#y* the other s!de 'ants to h!de 'hat they kno' about your c#!ent beh!nd +r!&!#ee$ For e8am+#e* they o)ten choose not to d!sc#ose 'hat the

!s ood author!ty )or th!s$ n .acht I e'!s Arch!tects &$ Su+er!or Ct$ 1:


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the court '!th the est!mated t!me !t '!## take the +ros+ect!&e 7urors to com+#ete the Huest!onna!re and the t!me !t '!## take the court and counse# to

Huest!onna!res &ersus the t!me !t 'ou#d take to e#!c!t the !n)ormat!on conta!ned !n the Huest!onna!res ora##y$ dea##y* you shou#d reHuest that both c

Huest!onna!res o&ern!ht$ As a )urther !ncent!&e to use the Huest!onna!re* you may suest !n your mot!on !n #!m!ne that the Huest!onna!res be com

+ane# dur!n arument on mot!ons !n #!m!ne or adm!n!stered by the 7ury comm!ss!oner at a con&en!ent t!me$

t !s !m+ortant to note to the court that Huest!onna!re ans'ers '!## enab#e counse# and the court to Hu!ck#y !dent!)y those +ersons 'ho may ha&e to b

hardsh!+ so that &o!r d!re o) those 7urors can occur +r!or to enera# &o!r d!re$ ,h!s '!## m!n!m!De the t!me +ersons 'ho shou#d be e8cused )or cause m

a&o!d 7urors #earn!n )rom each other "acce+tab#e" hardsh!+ res+onses* and enera##y m!n!m!De t!me-consum!n hardsh!+ &o!r d!re$

F!na##y* a 7uror Huest!onna!re shou#d be des!ned to )erret out +ros+ect!&e 7urors '!th b!as or +re7ud!ce$ Jurors 'ho m!ht be !nh!b!ted to e8+ress b

m!ht )ee# )reer to d!sc#ose such b!as or +re7ud!ce by +r!&ate#y res+ond!n to 'r!tten Huest!ons$ ,he Huest!onna!re a##o's +ros+ect!&e 7urors to be ca

+re7ud!ces '!thout "+o##ut!n" the m!nds or )ee#!ns o) other 7urors$

,h!s !s es+ec!a##y !m+ortant !n the current +o#!t!ca# c#!mate 'here there has been e8tens!&e med!a co&erae on the to+!cs o) ")r!&o#ous #a'su!ts*""e8c

taret!n "ca+s" on damae a'ards* and other "tort re)orm" +ro+osa#s$ A s!n!)!cant +ro+ort!on o) the &en!re has been e8+osed to such med!a +ub#!

'!des+read b!as aa!nst c!&!# #!t!at!on* +art!cu#ar#y +ersona# !n7ury #!t!at!on$ ,he 'r!tten 7uror Huest!onna!re enab#es counse# to assess 7urors o+!n

+re7ud!ces on these and other to+!cs '!thout )urther "contam!nat!n" other +ros+ect!&e 7urors$ Such a Huest!onna!re a#so a##o's the court and coun

+ros+ect!&e 7urors need to be !nd!&!dua##y &o!r d!red out o) the +resence o) the other 7urors$

$ %(CA,./ ,3% CO(R, O. COA,%RA SO(RC% SS(%S

A current trend !s )or de)endants to attem+t to +rec#ude +#a!nt!)) )rom b#ack board!n the actua# amount o) any s+ec!a# damaes* !nstead #!m!t!n d

been +a!d by !nsurance$ 3o'e&er* the co##atera# source ru#e !s st!## a++#!cab#e !n such c!rcumstances and shou#d be asserted +r!or to tr!a#$ ,hus* !t !s

#!m!ne to e8c#ude such e&!dence o) co##atera# source +ayments !n )ront o) the 7ury as !t 'ou#d +#ay to a 7urys b!ases and +re7ud!ces rather than to !ts

shou#d be e8c#uded +ursuant to Ca#!)orn!a %&!dence Code sect!on >52$

t has been he#d that a de)endant may not m!t!ate damaes )rom co##atera# +ayments 'here the +#a!nt!)) has been com+ensated by an !nde+endent

+ens!on* cont!nued 'aes or d!sab!#!ty +ayments$ 13e#)end &$ Southern Ca#$ Ra+!d ,rans!t !st$ 1:d :* :-:=$

,he +r!nc!+#e es+oused !n the 3e#)end dec!s!on* kno'n as the "co##atera# source ru#e*" !s 'e##-recon!Ded by the courts o) th!s state$ 1See 3rn7ak &$ /

25* 2=-2< +re7ud!c!a# error to a##o' e&!dence o) +#a!nt!))s rece!+t o) com+ensat!on under med!ca# +ayments sect!on o) automob!#e #!ab!#!ty +o#!cy

Ca#$A++$2d ?@:* ?@


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M$ 4,./ ,3% %F%.A.,S AFFR4A,M% %F%.S%S A, ,RA

) you ha&e taken the t!me to +ro+ound Form nterroator!es .os$ :5$: and :$: 1'!th a ReHuest )or Adm!ss!on and !n res+onse rece!&ed +ro )orma

you can use the de)endants !ns!ncere res+onses to your ad&antae !n a mot!on !n #!m!ne to #!m!t the de)endants a))!rmat!&e de)enses and other e&!d

reHuests the )o##o'!n

FOR4 .,%RRO/A,ORY :5$:

dent!)y each den!a# o) a mater!a# a##eat!on and each s+ec!a# or a))!rmat!&e de)ense !n your +#ead!ns and )or each state;

1a state a## )acts u+on 'h!ch you base the den!a# or the s+ec!a# or a))!rmat!&e de)ense;

1b state the names* AR%SS%S* and te#e+hone numbers o) a## P%RSO.S 'ho ha&e kno'#ede o) those )acts; and

1c !dent!)y a## OC(4%.,S and other tan!b#e th!ns that su++ort your den!a# or s+ec!a# or a))!rmat!&e de)ense* and state the name* AR%SS* a

P%RSO. 'ho has each OC(4%.,$

S!m!#ar#y* Form nterroatory :$:* ser&ed !n con7unct!on '!th ReHuests )or Adm!ss!on* reHu!res that a +arty +ro&!de a## )acts* '!tnesses and docum

'as based$ O)tent!mes a de)endant '!## res+ond '!th a enera# den!a#* )a!#!n to +ut )orth any s+ec!)!c )acts* '!tnesses or documents$ ) the de)enda

)acts* '!tnesses and documents to estab#!sh a))!rmat!&e de)enses !n the case* a mot!on !n #!m!ne can +rec#ude adm!ss!on o) such e&!dence$

) a de)endant )a!#s to +ro&!de substant!&e res+onses to :5$: and :$:* a mot!on !n #!m!ne can be brouht +ursuant to Code o) C!&!# Procedure sect!on

e&!dent!ary +rec#us!on$ Sect!ons 202>$0>01b and 1c +ro&!de the )o##o'!n

1b ,he court may !m+ose an !ssue sanct!on order!n that des!nated )acts sha## be taken as estab#!shed !n the act!on !n accordance '!th the c#a!m o

the m!suse o) the d!sco&ery +rocess$ ,he court may a#so !m+ose an !ssue sanct!on by an order +roh!b!t!n any +arty ena!n !n the m!suse o) the d

or o++os!n des!nated c#a!ms or de)enses$

1c ,he court may !m+ose an e&!dence sanct!on by an order +roh!b!t!n any +arty ena!n !n the m!suse o) the d!sco&ery +rocess )rom !ntroduc!n

Absent some unusua# e8tenuat!n c!rcumstances* the a++ro+r!ate sanct!on 'hen a +arty )a!#s to +ro&!de certa!n e&!dence to the o++os!n +arty as r

+rec#us!on o) that e&!dence )rom the tr!a# E e&en !) such a sanct!on +ro&es determ!nat!&e !n term!nat!n the de)endants case$ 1JuareD &$ Boy Scouts

Ca#$A++$@th >$ ,he tr!a# court does not abuse !ts d!scret!on 'hen !t +re&ents a +arty )rom !ntroduc!n e&!dence '!thout cons!der!n #ess drast!c s

some #esser sanct!on 'ou#d +erm!t the o))end!n +arty to bene)!t )rom the!r sta##!n tact!cs$ 1o t (rse#) 4o&!n I Storae nc$ &$ Bro'n* e!)er* S#

Ca#$A++$@th 2$ ,he !sco&ery Act essent!a##y mandates that +art!es res+ond '!th the "truth* the 'ho#e truth* and noth!n but the truth" and +#a!n

de)endant d!d* !n )act* res+ond ")u##y and truth)u##y" and that the de)endant has no e&!dence to su++ort any o) !ts a))!rmat!&e de)enses$ 1Sche!d!n*

c!t!n (n!on Bank &$ Su+er!or Court 1:* 5$

n any such mot!on !n #!m!ne* !t !s !m+ortant to assert that the ru#es o) d!sco&ery 'ou#d be rendered a nu##!ty by &!rtue o) a ru#!n +erm!tt!n de)end

+#a!nt!)) '!th the e&!dence dur!n tr!a#$ ,he de)endant !s s!m+#y not a##o'ed to kee+ +#a!nt!)) !n sus+ense unt!# the t!me o) tr!a# '!th res+ect to the de

,he Su+er!or Court o) Sacramento County 1F!de#!ty 1: 2:= Ca#$A++$2d @?0* @?5$ "e)endants +ers!stent re)usa# to share '!th +#a!nt!)) the )acts under#y!n the!r den!a# o

a))!rmat!&e de)enses" 'arrants an !m+os!t!on o) a sanct!on str!k!n de)endants ans'er to the com+#a!nt$ 1See* Co##!s!on I Ga+#an &$ 3artun!an 1:


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M$ BOCG./ ,3% O,3%R S%S %P%R,S

F!na##y* 'e '!## address us!n mot!ons !n #!m!ne to b#ock the test!mony o) the other s!des e8+erts* e!ther !n the!r ent!rety* or at #east !n +art$ For a d

Conta!nment*" +#ease see Chr!s o#ans art!c#e on th!s sub7ect !n the Se+t 200@ ed!t!on o) Forum* on 'h!ch th!s sect!on o) our art!c#e !s #are#y based

A. )he Designation

,h!s !s the start!n +o!nt )or your e8+ert mot!ons !n #!m!ne$ Ca#!)orn!a Code o) C!&!# Procedure sect!on 20>@$>00 states

On ob7ect!on o) any +arty 'ho has made a com+#ete and t!me#y com+#!ance '!th Sect!on 20>@$2?0* the tr!a# court sha## e8c#ude )rom e&!dence the

that !s o))ered by any +arty 'ho has unreasonab#y )a!#ed to do any o) the )o##o'!n

1a !st that '!tness as an e8+ert under Sect!on 20>@$2?0$

1b Subm!t an e8+ert '!tness dec#arat!on$

1c Produce re+orts and 'r!t!ns o) e8+ert '!tnesses under Sect!on 20>@$20$

1d 4ake that e8+ert a&a!#ab#e )or a de+os!t!on under Art!c#e > 1commenc!n '!th Sect!on 20>@$@:0$

) the other s!de has )a!#ed to com+#y !n any 'ay* that )act +ro&!des the bas!s )or your )!rst e8+ert mot!on !n #!m!ne$

B. )he /pert Deposition

3o' you br!n mot!ons !n #!m!ne shou#d a#so !n)orm ho' you take an e8+erts de+os!t!on$ o not 7ust s+end a## your t!me ett!n a## o) the e8+erts

t!me "c#os!n the door*" '!th Huest!ons #!ke* "So you ha&e not as o) th!s date )ormed an o+!n!on as to $" Some common areas on 'h!ch e8

the reasonab#eness o) med!ca# e8+enses* the !ssue o) causat!on* +ronos!s* )uture care* and the #!ke$ ook )or these areas and others #!ke them to ask

the e8+erts test!mony$

%&ery t!me you et a "yes" to one o) these Huest!ons* turn to the court re+orter* and say "4$" ,hat '!## make !t easy )or you to )!nd these sect!ons #

your 4ot!on !n !m!ne to %8c#ude S+ec!)!c Areas o) ,est!mony on 6h!ch e)endants %8+ert r$ 3as Stated 3e 3as .o O+!n!on$"

C. /perts 0ot Properl, Designated

Ca#!)orn!a Code o) C!&!# Procedure sect!on 20>@$2:0 et seH$ mandates )u## and t!me#y d!sc#osure concern!n e8+ert '!tnesses$ 13unt#ey &$ Foster 1:?; 6e##s ,ruck'ays &$ Cebr!an

Burch &$ Ma##ey 4otor !nes 1:@; Ma##e7o I .$R$ Co$ &$ Reed Ochard Co$ 1:

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Motions in Limine Don t Miss Categories and Authorities