(PC) Langley v. Garcia

District Court, E.D. California·Decided August 24, 2022·No. 1:16-cv-01299·Unknown

Opinion

RANDY LANGLEY, ) Case No.: 1:16-cv-01299-BAK (HBK) ) Plaintiff, ) PRETRIAL ORDER ) v. ) Deadlines: ) E. GARCIA, et al., ) Motions in Limine Filing: 10/14/2022 ) Oppositions to Motions in Limine: 10/21/2022 Defendants. ) Replies to Opposition: 10/31/2022 ) Hearing on Motions in Limine: 11/15/2022 ) Trial Submissions: 10/31/2022 ) ) Jury trial: November 15, 2022 at 8:30 a.m. ) Robert E. Coyle United States Courthouse, ) Courtroom 6; 2-3 days estimate

Plaintiff Randy Langley is a state prisoner proceeding pro se and in forma pauperis in this civil rights action brought pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983 against Defendants E. Garcia and G. Cook, asserting excessive force claims arising under the Eighth and Fourteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution, occurring while Plaintiff was a pretrial detainee. On May 12, 2022, the court conducted a final pretrial conference by telephone. Plaintiff Randy Langley appeared pro se; Amy I. Myers appeared as counsel for Defendants G. Cook and E. Garcia. Shortly thereafter, due to concerns regarding Plaintiff’s then-temporary housing at Wasco State Prison (see Doc. No. 90), the Court vacated the August 3, 2022, trial date and postponed issuance of the final pretrial order until Plaintiff’s placement in a permanent California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) facility. (Doc. No. 91). Counsel for Defendants was directed to file notice with the Court once Plaintiff was placed in permanent CDCR housing and a discovery packet was delivered to Plaintiff. (Id.). On June 27, 2022, Defendants filed a status report advising Plaintiff had been assigned to the California Rehabilitation Center (CRC) and defense counsel would arrange for delivery of a duplicate discovery packet through the litigation coordinator at CRC. (Doc. No. 92). On July 11, 2022, Plaintiff filed a Notice of Change of Address reflecting his current address at CRC. (Doc. No. 93). In that same filing, Plaintiff expressed an interest in participating in a settlement conference. (Id.). On July 28, 2022, the Court issued a minute order directing defense counsel to file a status report no later than August 5, 2022, concerning (1) whether a duplicate discovery packet was provided to Plaintiff; (2) available trial dates; and (3) whether Defendants believed scheduling a settlement conference would be productive. (Doc. No. 94). On August 5, 2022, Defendants filed a status report indicating a duplicate discovery packet was mailed to Plaintiff at CRC on August 1, 2022, and a disk containing facility videos was mailed to the litigation coordinator at CRC on August 2, 2022. (Doc. No. 95 at 1- 2). Further, Defendants provided the Court with possible trial dates in October 2022 through February 2023. (Id. at 2). Lastly, Defendants reported they did not believe a settlement conference would be productive. (Id. at 3.) Having considered the parties’ objections and positions, the Court issues this pretrial order. A. JURISDICTION/VENUE This Court has subject matter jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1331 and 1343. In addition, the events giving rise to this action occurred in Visalia, California. Accordingly, venue is proper in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of California. See 28 U.S.C. § 1391. The parties demanded a jury trial in this matter. (See Doc. No. 27 [Defendants’ Answer]; Doc. No. 71 [Defendants’ Pretrial Statement]; Doc. No. 77 [Plaintiff’s Pretrial Statement].) The jury will consist of eight jurors. Defendants assert the following facts are undisputed: 1. At the time of the events, Plaintiff was a pretrial detainee at the Tulare County Adult Pre- Trial Facility. 2. At the time of the events, Defendant E. Garcia and G. Cook were employed by the Tulare County Sheriff’s Department. 3. On October 15, 2015, Defendants Garcia and Cook responded to Plaintiff’s cell because Plaintiff refused to get ready for court. 4. Defendant Garcia instructed Plaintiff to come down from his bunk and get ready, but Plaintiff refused again. 5. After several commands, Plaintiff complied, and Defendant Garcia handcuffed him. 6. Defendant Garcia grabbed Plaintiff’s arm and assisted Plaintiff out of his cell door. 7. Defendant Garcia pushed Plaintiff to the wall. 8. Defendants Garcia and Cook took Plaintiff to the ground, with Defendant Cook using a leg sweep. 9. Defendants Garcia and Cook then assisted Plaintiff to his feet and walked him to the classification cell. 10. Plaintiff suffered swelling near his left eye and a cut on his bottom lip. (Doc. No. 71 at 3). Plaintiff did not identify any undisputed facts in his pretrial statement. (See Doc. No. 77). Defendants assert the following facts are disputed: 1. Whether there was a need for the use of some force against Plaintiff because he had become aggressive and disruptive during an escort. 2. Whether the amount of force used was reasonably related to the need for that force. 3. Whether the absence of any serious injury resulting from the incident indicates that the force was applied in a good-faith effort to maintain or restore discipline and was not applied maliciously and sadistically to cause harm. 4. Whether the threat perceived by the responsible correctional deputies was significant. 5. Whether Defendants tempered the force that they used. 6. The nature and extent of Plaintiff’s injury. 7. The amount of Plaintiff’s compensatory damages, if any. (Doc. No. 71 at 3-4). Plaintiff did not identify any facts he believes to be disputed. (See Doc. No. 77). Neither party identified any disputed legal issue. F. DISPUTED EVIDENTIARY ISSUES/ MOTIONS IN LIMINE The purpose of a motion in limine is to establish in advance of the trial that certain evidence should not be offered at trial. “Although the Federal Rules of Evidence do not explicitly authorize in limine rulings, the practice has developed pursuant to the district court’s inherent authority to manage the course of trials.” Luce v. United States, 469 U.S. 38, 40 n. 2 (1984); Jonasson v. Lutheran Child and Family Services, 115 F. 3d 436, 440 (7th Cir. 1997). The Court will grant a motion in limine, and thereby bar use of the evidence in question, only if the moving party establishes that the evidence clearly is not admissible for any valid purpose. Id. The Court does not encourage the filing of motions in limine unless they are addressed to issues that can realistically be resolved by the court prior to trial and without reference to the other evidence which will be introduced by the parties at trial. In advance of filing any motion in limine, counsel SHALL meet and confer to determine whether they can resolve any disputes and avoid filing motions in limine. Along with their motions in limine, the parties SHALL file a certification demonstrating counsel have in good faith met and conferred and attempted to resolve the dispute. Failure to provide the certification may result in the Court refusing to entertain the motion. Any motions in limine must be filed with the Court no later than October 14, 2022. The motion must clearly identify the nature of the evidence that the moving party seeks to prohibit the other side from offering at trial. Any opposition to the motion must be served on the other party, and filed with the Court no later than October 21, 2022, with any reply due no later than October 31, 2022. Upon receipt of any opposition briefs, the Court will notify the parties if it will hear argument on any motions in limine on the first day of trial. //// Plaintiff: Concer

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