UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
DERECK G. WILLIAMS,
Plaintiff
v. Civil Action No. 12-1659 (CKK)
RYAN DEVLIN, et al.,
Defendants
MEMORANDUM OPINION and ORDER
(October 22, 2015)
On May 1, 2015, the Court held a Pretrial Conference in this case, at which the Court
made several rulings as to the evidentiary issues raised. See Order dated May 5, 2015,
ECF No. 55. The Court also ordered additional briefing as to several issues that could not
be resolved on the basis of the information that had been provided to the Court at that
time. The parties subsequently filed additional briefing, and the Court now resolves
evidentiary issues that remain with respect to Defendants’ [44] Motion in Limine and
with respect to each party’s objections to the Pretrial Statement.
With respect to several of the issues discussed below, the Court will have a further
discussion at the October 23, 2015, Pretrial Conference. In addition to the presence of
counsel, the Court expects Plaintiff himself to be present at the Pretrial Conference in
order to facilitate those discussions.
Plaintiff’s Jacket
It is undisputed that Plaintiff did not disclose his jacket during discovery. Because it
was not disclosed during discovery, the parties appear to agree that the only possible
basis for admitting this evidence is the exception to the disclosure provisions of Rule
26(a) for evidence used “solely for impeachment.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(a)(1)(A)(ii); see
also Standley v. Edmonds-Leach, 783 F.3d 1276, 1281 (D.C. Cir. 2015) (“In other words,
a party need not disclose a witness pursuant to Rule 26(a) if the evidence will be used
‘solely for impeachment,’ and the witness may testify at trial even if not disclosed
beforehand.”). Plaintiff now seeks to introduce the jacket for what he claims is “solely for
impeachment.” Specifically, Plaintiff represents that the jacket contains boot-prints that
directly contradict the testimony that Defendants will give (that they did not kick
Plaintiff). Defendants argue that that jacket does not qualify for the “solely impeachment”
exception.
The Court will consider the admissibility of the jacket after it has an opportunity to
examine the jacket at the October 23, 2015, Pretrial Conference. However, the Court
notes the prejudice raised by Defendants from Plaintiff’s failure to disclose the jacket in
discovery—and from Plaintiff’s failure to produce the jacket even at this point of the
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proceedings. In addition, the Court notes that, as Defendants have stated, Plaintiffs have
not provided any details about the chain of custody or how the jacket’s condition has
been preserved since Plaintiff’s arrest. Plaintiff seeks to present testimony from Kalafat
“as to his chain of custody related to possession of Plaintiff’s jacket.” Pretrial Statement,
ECF No. 45, at 9. But Plaintiff has never provided any additional specifics regarding the
custody and preservation of the jacket in the four years since the underlying incident
occurred.
Plaintiff’s counsel shall bring the jacket to the October 23, 2015, Pretrial
Conference as previously ordered by the Court. Plaintiff shall be prepared to make a
proffer as to the chain of custody and preservation of the jacket. The Court will resolve
the questions regarding its admissibility after that point.
Testimony of Attorney Jason Kalafat
Plaintiff seeks to introduce testimony of attorney Jason Kalafat regarding the amount
of attorneys’ fees at the associated criminal trial and about the custody of the jacket that
Plaintiff seeks to introduce as an exhibit. Defendant seeks to preclude this testimony
because this witness was disclosed only after the close of discovery. As an initial matter,
the Court previously concluded that Kalafat’s proposed testimony regarding the cost of
Plaintiff’s legal fees for the underlying criminal action is relevant to Plaintiff’s malicious
prosecution claim insofar as Plaintiff is seeking compensatory damages for that claim that
would include his legal fees. See Memorandum Opinion, dated April 23, 2015, ECF No.
49, at 3-4. The Court also concluded that, because of the limits to Kalafat’s proposed
testimony as to legal fees, any concern about prejudice caused to Defendants by virtue of
the substance of the testimony is misplaced. See id. at 4. Subsequently, pursuant to the
Court’s order, Defendants clarified that they are contesting the amount of legal fees to be
included in damages with respect to the malicious prosecution claim.
There is no dispute that Plaintiff disclosed Kalafat as a witness on June 4, 2014, when
Plaintiff supplemented his discovery responses. That date was two months after the close
of discovery. Plaintiff claims that, even though this disclosure was two months after the
close of discovery, the testimony should be allowed because Defendants’ failed to reopen
discovery in connection with this witness, even though they requested the reopening of
discovery regarding the wage evidence. In response to these contentions, the Court
required Plaintiff to explain why he did not identify Kalafat’s testimony during discovery
and required Defendants to explain why they did not seek to reopen discovery as to
Kalafat’s testimony. The Court also required Defendants to provide the Court with certain
specified interrogatories in order to determine whether Plaintiff disregarded Defendants’
discovery requests in failing to identify Kalafat.
After considering Defendants’ Interrogatories Numbers 10, 21, 23, and 24, the Court
concludes that Plaintiff should have identified Kalafat explicitly. In that light, the Court
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concludes that Plaintiff’s explanation of why Kalafat was not identified is inadequate.
Plaintiff states: “Plaintiff’s counsel did not decide to use Mr. Kalafat as a witness until
after analyzing the evidence as a whole that was presented in discovery and after learning
of Plaintiff’s jacket in which Plaintiff counsel learned of after discovery closed.” Pl.’s
Notice at 2-3, ECF No. 51. However, Plaintiff does not explain why he failed to identify
Kalafat explicitly in response to the interrogatories with respect to the damages sought.
Nor does Plaintiff have any justification for failing to “learn of” Plaintiff’s jacket until
after discovery given that the jacket belonged to Plaintiff. If the Court subsequently
determines that the jacket is inadmissible, the testimony regarding the custody of the
jacket would be immaterial, further supporting the conclusion that Kalafat’s testimony is
inadmissible.
By contrast, the Court concludes that Defendants’ explanation of why they did not
seek to reopen discovery is adequate. Defendants explain that, in addition to their
position that the late-disclosed witness would be barred because there was no adequate
explanation for the late disclosure, they did not seek to reopen discovery because “Mr.
Kalafat’s only arguably relevant testimony would pertain to his legal fees, which Plaintiff
totally failed to produce during discovery or even after.” Defs.’ Notice, ECF No. 50, at 2.
Although contested by Defendants, Plaintiff states that he disclosed the fact that he
incurred legal fees from Kalafat during discovery and that he revealed the total amount of
those fees during his first deposition, which occurred during the discovery period.
Plaintiff acknowledges that he did not produce any bills—or any other supporting details
or documentation—during discovery. See Pls.’ Notice, ECF No. 51, at 2. The Court
concludes that this was insufficient to put Defendants on notice that it would be proper to
reopen discovery with respect to the prior legal bills.
In addition, Plaintiff has failed to comply with the Court’s May 5, 2015, Order
requiring Plaintiff to file a supplemental briefing regarding the testimony of Kalafat.
Specifically, the Court required Plaintiff to submit briefing regarding the following
matters:
Plaintiff shall file a supplemental brief indicating how much Plaintiff paid
in attorney’s fees for the underlying criminal action and how Plaintiff paid
those fees (e.g., in cash, by check), including whether he received a bill for
the fees charged. Plaintiff shall also indicate where in the interrogatories
and where in Plaintiff’s deposition testimony Plaintiff discussed the
amount of attorney’s fees he paid for his underlying criminal trial. Plaintiff
shall cite to and attach the specific page(s) where the attorney’s fees are
discussed in the interrogatories and/or deposition.
Order, dated May 5, 2015, ECF No. 55, at 2. In Plaintiff’s [60] Supplemental Trial Brief,
Plaintiff completely failed to respond to any of these questions. Plaintiff merely responds
that the responsibility for failing to reopen discovery lies at Defendants’ doorstep, and
claims that Defendants’ strategically failed to reopen discovery in order preclude
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Kalafat’s testimony. As of this date, Plaintiff still has not provided any basis for Kalafat’s
testimony regarding attorney’s fees. Plaintiff has never provided bills, evidence of
payment, a retainer agreement, a fee agreement, or itemized timesheets. Nor has Plaintiff
provided any details regarding Plaintiff’s payment arrangements with Kalafat, whether
they entailed a fixed fee, an hourly rate, or other arrangements. It is wholly unclear what
testimony Kalafat would give as to the payment arrangements or his receipt of any
payment from Plaintiff if he were allowed to testify. Now, as the Court holds the second
Pretrial Conference in this case and as the Court prepares to set a trial date, it is too late
for Plaintiff to remedy the failure to respond to the Court’s order and too late to provide
materials that might create a basis for Kalafat’s testimony.
In sum, Defendants have adequately explained why they did not seek to reopen
discovery as to the testimony of Kalafat, but Plaintiff has failed to explain why he did not
identify the testimony of Kalafat during discovery and, more importantly, Plaintiff has
failed to show that he disclosed an adequate basis for the attorney’s fees testimony during
discovery. Therefore, testimony by attorney Jason Kalafat is precluded as to attorney’s
fees.
Testimony of Plaintiff Regarding Attorney’s Fees for Criminal Proceedings
In addition to the testimony of attorney Jason Kalafat, Plaintiff seeks to introduce
testimony of Plaintiff about his payment of attorney’s fees to Kalafat. At the May 1,
2015, Pretrial Conference, Plaintiff stated to his attorney, and through his attorney to the
Court, that he paid Kalafat $10,000 in cash. He did not provide any more details
regarding the payments or payment arrangements. At the hearing, and in the Order the
Court issued following the hearing, the Court required Plaintiff to supplement the
information regarding payment(s) to Kalafat and the payment arrangements. As stated
above, the Court required the following information:
Plaintiff shall file a supplemental brief indicating how much Plaintiff paid
in attorney’s fees for the underlying criminal action and how Plaintiff paid
those fees (e.g., in cash, by check), including whether he received a bill for
the fees charged. Plaintiff shall also indicate where in the interrogatories
and where in Plaintiff’s deposition testimony Plaintiff discussed the
amount of attorney’s fees he paid for his underlying criminal trial. Plaintiff
shall cite to and attach the specific page(s) where the attorney’s fees are
discussed in the interrogatories and/or deposition.
Order, dated May 5, 2015, ECF No. 55, at 2. Plaintiff has failed to do so.
In light of Plaintiff’s failure to provide this information, both parties shall bring the
interrogatories and the deposition of Plaintiff that are relevant to this question to the
October 23, 2015, Pretrial Conference. Plaintiff shall come prepared to identify where
in the deposition and/or in the interrogatory responses Plaintiff indicated the amount
of the attorney’s fees and provided any information about payments or payment
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arrangements. Defendants shall come prepared to show where, as they argue, Plaintiff
should have indicated information about payments or payment information, but failed
to do so. If Plaintiff cannot identity information in the discovery materials that indicate
what Plaintiff’s testimony would be on these issues at trial, Plaintiff must come to the
hearing with a proffer as to precisely what Plaintiff’s testimony will be at trial
pertaining to any payments of attorney’s fees and any payment arrangements
regarding attorney’s fees.
References to Disposition of Criminal Charges
The Court previously determined that, because the parties do not dispute that the
assault on a police officer charge terminated favorably for Plaintiff, it would instruct the
jury that the “favorable termination” element of the malicious prosecution claim was
satisfied as to this charge. See Order, dated May 5, 2015, ECF No. 55, at 4. The Court
requested additional briefing regarding the factual context of the dismissal of the DUI
charge against Plaintiff. In response, Defendant reported that a jury trial was set to
commence on October 25, 2012, on one count of Operating While Impaired and one
count of Driving under the Influence–First Offense. Defs.’ Supp. Brief, ECF no. 56, at 3-
4. Defendant further reported that, on the day the trial was set to begin, the defense
moved to dismiss for want of prosecution and the court dismissed the case, including
both counts, without prejudice. Defendants finally report that the public docket for that
case includes a note that the “government was not ready.” Plaintiff argues that a jury
should decide the question of “favorable termination” regarding this charge and asserts
that “the case was dismissed because the government did not want to proceed in light of
Defendants [sic] incredible testimony which was based on the merits of his trial.” 1
However, Plaintiff does not indicate any support for this bald assertion. Nor does Plaintiff
identify any factual disputes regarding the disposition of this charge that remain for a jury
to resolve.
To prevail on a claim for malicious prosecution under District of Columbia law, a
Plaintiff must show termination of the underlying suit in the Plaintiff’s favor. Harris v.
D.C., 696 F. Supp. 2d 123, 134 (D.D.C. 2010). Furthermore, “the termination must reflect
1
It is not clear to the Court what Plaintiff means to suggest by describing the disposition
of the charges as follows: “although the docket ‘may’ contain the note that it was
dismissed for want of prosecution … ” Pl.’s Response to Def.’s Supp. Trial Brief, ECF
No.63, at 4. Plaintiff does not dispute that the public docket, in fact, contains such a note.
Indeed, the Court’s own review of the public docket confirms Defendants’
representations regarding the disposition of the criminal trial. Moreover, Plaintiff’s
suggestion that Defendants initially sought to bar mention of only the criminal trial on the
assault on the police officer claim—as opposed to the operating under the influence
charges—is without any basis. Defendants’ [44] Motion In Limine self-evidently applies
to any mention of all the criminal charges brought against Plaintiff.
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on the merits of the underlying action.” Brown v. Carr, 503 A.2d 1241, 1245 (D.C. 1986).
In Brown, the District of Columbia Court of Appeals adopted the approach of the
California courts to malicious prosecution claims. Harris, 696 F. Supp. 2d at 134.
Accordingly, “ ‘[i]f [the termination] is of such a nature as to indicate the innocence of
the accused, it is a favorable termination sufficient to satisfy the requirement. If, however,
the dismissal is on technical grounds, for procedural reasons, ... it does not constitute
favorable termination.’ ” Id. (quoting Brown, 503 A.2d at 1245). “[D]ismissal for failure
to prosecute has been held to be a favorable termination where the facts of the case
indicate that such a disposition reflects on the innocence of the defendant in the
underlying suit.” Brown, 503 A.2d at 1245 (emphasis added).
Here, the operating under the influence charges were dismissed without prejudice.
The public docket contains a note stating that they were dismissed because the
“government was not ready.” “[A] dismissal without prejudice ‘renders the proceedings a
nullity and leave[s] the parties as if the action had never been brought.’ ” Thoubboron v.
Ford Motor Company, 809 A.2d 1204, 1210 (D.C. 2002) (quoting Bonneville Assocs. Ltd.
v. Barram, 165 F.3d 1360, 1364 (Fed. Cir. 1999) (citations omitted)). Plaintiff has failed
to identify any facts that, if proven, “would demonstrate that termination was on the
merits.” Harris, 696 F. Supp. 2d at 134. Therefore, the Court concludes that there is
nothing for a jury to resolve regarding the favorable termination on the operating under
the influence charges. For that same reason, the Court concludes that Plaintiff cannot
prevail on the malicious prosecution with respect to the operating under the influence
charges. 2
Because there is nothing left for a jury to resolve regarding the question of favorable
termination of the operating under the influence charges that are the basis for the
malicious prosecution claim, in light of the notices and responses filed by the parties after
the first Pretrial Conference in this case, the Court grants Defendants’ [44] Motion in
Limine with respect to testimony regarding those underlying criminal prosecutions. The
Court precludes any testimony or evidence regarding those underlying criminal actions
(i.e., Driving under the Influence–First Offense, Operating While Impaired, and Assault
on a Police Officer).
2
The Court notes that Defendants’ proposed jury instructions regarding the malicious
prosecution claim includes language stating that the jury must determine whether the
voluntary dismissal of the operating under the influence charges “should be considered a
favorable termination.” However, this statement contradicts Defendants’ arguments
elsewhere that this matter is for the Court to decide and that there is no basis to consider
this dismissal a favorable termination. Because the parties have identified no factual
disputes that are necessary to the resolution of the question of favorable termination, the
Court concludes that, as a matter of law, the Plaintiff cannot prevail on the favorable
termination element of the malicious prosecution claim with respect to the operating
under the influence charges that were dismissed for failure to prosecute.
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Citation/Tickets and Collection Notices
Plaintiff seeks to introduce two citations (tickets) for traffic infractions—for passing a
stop sign—and two collection notices with respect to those citations. In the Court’s May
5, 2015, Order, the Court required Plaintiff to indicate, in supplemental briefing, whether
he would be withdrawing these exhibits and, if not, to indicate the relevance of these
exhibits to his malicious prosecution claim. Plaintiff only agreed to do withdraw the
exhibits if Defendants agreed to a stipulation regarding the criminal charges; Defendants
have not agreed to such a stipulation. Regarding the purpose of this proposed exhibit,
Plaintiff only states that “the purpose … is to identify/corroborate Plaintiff’s criminal
charges, and show that Defendants are responsibility [sic] for Plaintiff’s charges.” Pl.’s
Supp. Brief, ECF No. 60, at 2-3. However, Plaintiff does not indicate what this evidence
corroborates given that the malicious prosecution claim is based on the operating under
the influence charges and the assault on a police officer charge—not based on passing a
stop sign, which is the basis for this exhibit. Moreover, as the Court explained previously,
the Court will instruct the jury regarding the favorable termination of the assault on the
police office claim, and the Court concludes that the malicious prosecution cannot stand
on the operating under the influence charges. Therefore, further corroboration as to the
charges has no relevance to the claims in this case. The Court precludes Plaintiff from
introducing the citation, tickets, and collection notice.
MPD Use of Force Report and PD 119 Witness Statement from Officer Devlin
Defendants continue to seek to introduce the MPD Use of Force Report and the PD
119 Witness Statement from Officer Devlin in order to corroborate the testimony that will
be given by the officers at trial. 3 Plaintiff objects to the introduction of these reports,
arguing that the reports in their entirety are inadmissible hearsay. Defendants respond that
the reports are admissible as business records pursuant to Federal Rule of Evidence
803(6) and that statements by the officers recorded within these documents are
admissible as present sense impressions pursuant to Federal Rule of Evidence 803(1).
Plaintiff is correct that the Court must examine first whether the documents
themselves are barred by the hearsay rule and then examine whether any specific
statements within those documents are barred by the hearsay rule. However, before
turning to the applicability of the hearsay exceptions, the Court notes that corroboration is
not an improper purpose for introduction of business records as Plaintiff suggests; if the
hearsay rule does not bar their admission, they are admissible as direct evidence, whether
to corroborate other evidence or otherwise. See United States v. Warren, 42 F.3d 647, 656
(D.C. Cir. 1994) (statements in police reports admissible as direct evidence); see also
Jones v. United States, 934 F. Supp. 2d 284, 289 (D.D.C. 2013) (police report admissible
3
Defendants have withdrawn the MPD Evidence Report as an exhibit.
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as direct evidence under business record exception to hearsay rule); Brown v. Wilhelm,
923 F. Supp. 2d 314, 318 (D.D.C. 2013) (same).
The Court now turns to the applicability of hearsay exceptions to these police reports
and their contents: first, as to whether the documents, as a whole, are barred by the
hearsay rule and then as to whether any portions of the content of the documents are
inadmissible hearsay.
With respect to the documents as a whole, the Court concludes that two exhibits are
admissible as business records pursuant to Rule 803(6) on the condition that they are
properly authenticated. Defendants’ representation that the records were made by the
arresting officers supports the conclusion that “the record was made at or near the time by
… someone with knowledge.” Fed. R. Evid. 803(6).
While Plaintiff claims that Defendants are wrongly trying to admit these documents
as prior consistent statements, Defendants have explicitly disclaimed that they are
seeking to admit the statements as prior consistent statements pursuant to Rule
801(d)(1)(B). Because the records meet the criteria for the business records exception to
the hearsay bar—an exception to the hearsay rule that is wholly independent of the prior
consistent statement provision—whether they satisfy the criteria for prior consistent
statements is simply immaterial. 4 Similarly, unless statements within the record are
themselves barred by the application of the hearsay rule, the Court need not determine the
applicability of the present sense impression exception to the hearsay rule. See Fed. R.
4
Statements are admissible as prior consistent statements, pursuant to Rule 801(d)(1),
when a “declarant testifies and is subject to cross-examination about a prior statement,
and the statement … is consistent with the declarant’s testimony and is offered … (i) to
rebut an express or implied charge that the declarant recently fabricated it or acted from a
recent improper influence or motive in so testifying; or (ii) to rehabilitate the declarant’s
credibility as a witness when attacked on another ground.” Fed. R. Evid. 801(d)(1)(B).
Defendants are not seeking to introduce the statements in the report “to rebut an express
or implied charge” of fabrication or improper motive to “rehabilitate the declarant’s
credibility.” They are seeking to admit the statements as direct evidence under the
business record exception to the hearsay rule. As the Court stated above, introducing
these business records for the purpose of direct evidence is not improper. See United
States v. Warren, 42 F.3d at 656. It is immaterial whether the records might, in certain
circumstances, be admissible as prior consistent statements, and it is similarly immaterial
that Plaintiff claims that, in these circumstances, the reports would not be admissible as
prior consistent statements. Defendants do not seek to admit the statements on this basis,
and the Court has determined that they are admissible under the business records
exception to the hearsay. Accordingly, it is not necessary to conduct further analysis to
determine whether the statements would be admissible as prior consistent statements.
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Evid. 803(1). The reports themselves are admissible even without applying that
exception.
The Court now turns to the content of the two business records—the Use of Force
Report and the PD 119 Witness Statement. It appears that the information in the report
was either within the personal knowledges of the officer who gave the statement or
statements by Plaintiff. Statements within those reports that were within the personal
knowledges of the officer creating the report are not barred by the hearsay rule. See
United States v. Gurr, 471 F.3d 144, 151 (D.C. Cir. 2006) (citing United States v. Smith,
521 F.2d 957, 964 (D.C. Cir. 1975)). In addition, statements by Plaintiff within the
narrative portions of the reports are admissible as statements of a party opponent. See
Fed. R. Evid. 801(d)(2). At the May 1, 2015, Pretrial Conference, Plaintiff’s counsel
stated that she had not yet gone through the several reports line by line to determine
whether she had any objections to specific statements within the report itself on hearsay
or other grounds. The Court provided Plaintiff’s counsel an additional opportunity to
identify any hearsay within hearsay by filing a supplement after the hearing. While
Plaintiff did file a supplement, Plaintiff did not specifically identify any hearsay within
hearsay in the reports or other objections to statements in the reports. The Court will
provide Plaintiff one last opportunity to do so. If Plaintiff disagrees with the Court’s
assessment of the statements in the two reports and objects to the admissibility of any
specific statements within the reports, Plaintiff must be prepared to identify those
objections—to specific statements or phrases—at the October 23, 2015, Pretrial
Conference. If Plaintiff does not raise those specific objections at the Pretrial
Conference, the Court will consider those objections waived. No more opportunities to
object to such statements will be allowed.
In sum, the Court concludes that the two exhibits are not barred by the hearsay rule,
and it appears that the contents of the exhibits are not barred by the hearsay rule either.
Plaintiff must raise any objections to specific statements within the records at the October
23, 2015, Pretrial Conference or the Court will consider those objections waived.
Otherwise, these two exhibits are admissible if they are properly authenticated and if
testimony at trial supports the conclusion that the information within the exhibits was
either within the direct knowledge of Officer Devlin, who made the statement in the PD
119 Witness Statement and who prepared the Use of Force Report or consisted of
statements by Plaintiff.
Summary of Wage Information
Plaintiff’s counsel indicated at the May 1, 2015, Pretrial Conference that she intended
to introduce the summary of wage information as a business record and that someone
from SYSCO would testify to authenticate it, including testifying how the document was
put together during the normal course of business. Accordingly, on the condition that
such testimony is provided, the Court concludes that the summary of wage information
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will be admissible as a business record. 5 The Court notes that, although the Court
considers the underlying wage information to be useful in explaining the summary of
wage information submitted, as the Court stated at the May 1, 2015, Pretrial Conference
and in the Court’s [55] Order dated May 5, 2015, the inability of the parties to produce
the underlying wage information does not lead the Court to conclude that the wage
information is inadmissible. Accordingly, the Court denies Defendants’ [44] Motion in
Limine insofar as it seeks to preclude the introduction of the summary of wage
information.
Claims and Jury Instructions
While the Court will consider the proposed jury instructions separately, the Court
wants to ensure that there is no lack of clarity regarding the common law and federal
claims that Plaintiff is bringing in this action. To ensure that the jury instructions are
appropriate as to the claims brought, the Court enumerates here the claims that it appears
that Plaintiff is bringing in this action:
• False arrest claim pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983
• False imprisonment claim pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983
• Deprivation of civil rights claim (that is, excessive force) pursuant to 42
U.S.C. § 1983
• Common law malicious prosecution claim
• Common law assault and battery claim
The Court understands each claim to be brought against Officer Devlin and against
Officer O’Harran. The parties should be prepared to inform the Court, at the October
23, 2015, Pretrial Conference whether there are any disputes or lack of clarity
regarding the claims in this action.
Orders
It is hereby ORDERED that
• testimony by attorney Jason Kalafat is precluded as to attorney’s fees and is
held in abeyance regarding the jacket;
• testimony regarding the underlying criminal actions is precluded, but the
Court will instruct the jury regarding the favorable termination element of the
malicious prosecution charge as stated above;
5
There is, therefore, no need to consider further whether the information would be
admissible pursuant to Federal Rule of Evidence 1006 as a summary of voluminous
documents.
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• the admission of the citation, tickets, and collection notice is precluded;
• the MPD Use of Force Report and the PD 119 Witness Statement of Officer
Devlin are admissible on the conditions stated above; and
• the documentation of lost wages that has been submitted is admissible on the
conditions stated above.
As explained above, the Court will instruct the jury that the favorable termination
element of the malicious prosecution claim has been met only with respect to the assault
on the police officer claim. Accordingly, it is further ORDERED that Defendants’ [44]
Motion in Limine is GRANTED with respect to the introduction of evidence or testimony
about the prosecution of the underlying criminal charges (Assault on a Police Officer,
Operating while Impaired, and Driving under the Influence).
The Court previously determined that the treating physicians and Dr. Chester DiLallo
could provide expert testimony. Order dated May 5, 2015, ECF No. 55. Accordingly, it is
further ORDERED that Defendants’ [44] Motion in Limine is DENIED with respect to
the preclusion of testimony regarding the cause, prognosis, or permanency of Plaintiff’s
alleged injuries.
It is further ORDERED that Defendants’ [44] Motion in Limine is DENIED with
respect to the documentation of lost wages.
It is further ORDERED that Plaintiff counsel shall provide Plaintiff’s jacket at the
October 23, 2015, Pretrial Conference in order for the Court and the Defendants to
examine the jacket. Plaintiff shall be prepared to make a proffer as to the chain of custody
and preservation of the jacket. The Court will rule on the admissibility of the jacket after
the opportunity to examine the jacket.
It is further ORDERED that
• Plaintiff shall be present at the October 23, 2015, Pretrial Conference in order
to facilitate the discussions of the remaining issues.
• Both parties shall bring the interrogatories and the deposition of Plaintiff that
are relevant to payment of attorney’s fees and the payment arrangements with
respect to attorney’s fees to the October 23, 2015 Pretrial Conference. Plaintiff
shall come prepared to identify where in the deposition and/or in the
interrogatory responses Plaintiff indicated the amount of the attorney’s fees
and provided any information about payments or payment arrangements.
Defendants shall come prepared to show where, as they argue, Plaintiff should
have indicated information about payments or payment information, but failed
to do so. If Plaintiff cannot identity information in the discovery materials that
indicate what Plaintiff’s testimony would be on these issues at trial, Plaintiff
must come to the hearing with a proffer as to precisely what Plaintiff’s
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testimony will be at trial pertaining to any payments of attorney’s fees and any
payment arrangements regarding attorney’s fees.
• If Plaintiff continues to object to the admissibility of any specific statements
within the Use of Force Report and the PD 119 Witness Statement, Plaintiff
must be prepared to identify those objections—to specific statements or
phrases—at the October 23, 2015, Pretrial Conference. If Plaintiff does not
raise those specific objections at the Pretrial Conference, the Court will
consider those objections waived. No more opportunities to object to such
statements will be allowed.
• The parties should be prepared to inform the Court, at the October 23, 2015,
Pretrial Conference whether there are any disputes or lack of clarity regarding
the claims in this action as set out above.
SO ORDERED.
/s/
COLLEEN KOLLAR-KOTELLY
United States District Judge
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