Howerton v. Blomquist

240 F.R.D. 378, 72 Fed. R. Serv. 404, 2007 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 7171, 2007 WL 405729
CourtDistrict Court, D. Michigan
DecidedFebruary 1, 2007
DocketNo. 05-71352
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 240 F.R.D. 378 (Howerton v. Blomquist) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, D. Michigan primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Howerton v. Blomquist, 240 F.R.D. 378, 72 Fed. R. Serv. 404, 2007 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 7171, 2007 WL 405729 (michd 2007).

Opinion

OPINION AND ORDER GRANTING: (1) DEFENDANT’S MOTION IN LIMINE (DOCK. NO. 57); AND (2) DEFENDANT’S MOTION TO EXCLUDE ANY WITNESSES NOT LISTED ON PLAINTIFF’S WITNESS LIST (DOCK. NO. 58)

BORMAN, District Judge.

Now before the Court are Defendant Sandra Blomquist’s (1) Motion in Limine; and (2) Motion to Exclude Any Witnesses Not Listed on Plaintiffs Witness List. The Court held a motion hearing on January 22, 2007. Having considered the entire record, and for the reasons that follow, the Court GRANTS Defendant Sandra Blomquist’s (1) Motion in Limine; and (2) Motion to Exclude Any Witnesses Not Listed on Plaintiffs Witness List.

I. FACTS

Plaintiff Kwanzel Howerton (“Plaintiff’) is a minor represented by his mother, Tina Howerton (“Ms.Howerton”). (Compl.111). At the time of the incident that forms the basis of this lawsuit, Plaintiff was in the seventh grade at Sashabaw Middle School (“Sashabaw”). (Pl.’s Resp. 1). Sashabaw is a public school under the administration of Defendant Clarkston Community Schools (“CCS” or the “District”). CCS is an educational municipal organization operating under the laws of Michigan. (Compl.f 4). Defendant Sandra Blomquist (“Blomquist”) was a teacher for CCS who worked at Sashabaw Middle School. (Compl.H 2).

This case revolves around events that took place on November 8, 2004. On that date, Plaintiff was walking down a school hallway with a female student while school was in session. (Pl.’s Resp. 2). Plaintiff tried grabbing the female student’s bag of Cheetos in an allegedly playful-type manner. (Id.). After witnessing Plaintiffs interaction with the female student, Blomquist allegedly grabbed Plaintiff in the hallway and pushed him into a locker. (Compl.H 7). It is also alleged that Blomquist verbally abused Plaintiff at this time. (Id.). Plaintiff then reported the incident to Brenda Bentley, the school social worker. (Pl.’s Resp. 8). At the time of the incident, Blomquist was engaged in her duties as a school teacher for CCS. (Id.). Blomquist denies placing her hands on Plaintiff. (Id.).

After the incident was reported, Principal Linda Foran took Plaintiffs statement, and statements of other students who witnessed the incident. (See Pi’s. Resp. Ex. M, Handwritten Student Statements). Plaintiff alleg[380]*380es that he suffered injuries to his back and arms from the incident. (Compl.H 9). On November 9, 2004, Plaintiff sought treatment from a family physician who prescribed pain-relievers and an MRI. (Pl.’s Resp. 8). Principal Foran and Assistant Principal Glenn Gualtieri viewed the bruises the same day that Plaintiff visited the doctor. (Id.).

On November 10, 2004, Blomquist was issued a formal reprimand for the incident by Principal Foran. (Pl.’s Resp. 8-9; see Pl.’s Resp. Ex. O, Nov. 10, 2004 Letter of Reprimand). Blomquist was then placed on administrative leave during an investigation of the incident. (Pl.’s Resp. 9). Subsequently, Blomquist resigned her teaching position. (Id.).

On April 7, 2005, Plaintiff filed a seven-count Complaint1 against CCS and Blomquist. Plaintiff brought the following claims against Blomquist: Assault, Battery, Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress, Gross Negligence/Qualified Immunity, and civil rights violations. Plaintiff brought the following claims against CCS: Gross Negligence, Respondeat Superior, Section 1983 Municipal Liability, and civil rights violations.

Defendant CCS filed a Motion for Summary Judgment on July 31, 2006, which this Court granted on September 8, 2006. See 2006 WL 2594476. Defendant Blomquist, the remaining defendant, filed the instant motions in limine.

DEFENDANT’S MOTION IN LIMINE (DOCK. NO. 57)

II. ANALYSIS

A. Standard

Federal Rule of Evidence 401 defines relevant evidence as “evidence having any tendency to make the existence of any fact that is of consequence to the determination of the action more probable or less probable than it would be without the evidence.” “Evidence that is not relevant is not admissible.” Fed. R.Evid. 402. Federal Rule of Evidence 403 states:

Although relevant, evidence may be excluded if its probative value is substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice, confusion of the issues, or misleading the jury, or by considerations of undue delay, waste of time, or needless presentation of cumulative evidence.

Under FRE 404, a person’s prior bad or wrongful acts are not admissible to prove the character of a person in order to show that the person acted in conformity with his or her alleged character. However, evidence of other crimes, wrongs, or acts may be admissible

for other purposes, such as proof of motive, opportunity, intent, preparation, plan, knowledge, identity, or absence of mistake or accident, provided that upon request by the accused, the prosecution in a criminal case shall provide reasonable notice in advance of trial, or during trial if the court excuses pretrial notice on good cause shown, of the general nature of any such evidence it intends to introduce at trial.

FRE 404(b). Therefore, FRE 404 does not completely bar evidence of prior bad acts. Federal Rule of Evidence 802 states that hearsay — a statement other than one made by the declarant while testifying at trial or a hearing, offered into evidence to prove the truth of the matter asserted — is generally inadmissible absent an exception.

B. Discussion

1. Defendant’s prior bad acts

Defendant argues that her alleged prior bad act of assaulting another student is inadmissible as character evidence because it is irrelevant to whether she committed the alleged assault upon Plaintiff. Plaintiff contends that the evidence meets the test of [381]*381FRE 404(b) and that the evidence is more probative than prejudicial under FRE 403.

Federal Rule of Evidence 404(b) “is actually a rule of inclusion rather than exclusion, since only one use is forbidden and several permissible uses of such evidence are identified.” United, States v. Blankenship, 775 F.2d 735, 739 (6th Cir.1985). The uses stated in the rule are not exclusive. Id. The Sixth Circuit, in United States v. Vincent, 681 F.2d 462

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Bluebook (online)
240 F.R.D. 378, 72 Fed. R. Serv. 404, 2007 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 7171, 2007 WL 405729, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/howerton-v-blomquist-michd-2007.