Free Response in Opposition to Motion - District Court of Arizona - Arizona

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

William W. Drury, Jr., #005238 J. Gordon Cook, #000586 James W. Barnhouse, #013749 RENAUD COOK DRURY MESAROS, P.A. One North Central, Suite 900 Phoenix, Arizona 85004-4418 (602) 307-9900 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Attorneys for Defendants Correctional Health Resources, Inc., Kenneth Faiver, Rosemary Faiver and Joseph E. Rich, M.D. Paul G. Ulrich, No. 001838 Melinda K. Cekander, No. 012085 131 E. El Caminito Drive Phoenix, Arizona 85020-3503 (602) 248-9465 [email protected] [email protected] Co-Counsel for Defendants Correctional Health Resources, Inc., Kenneth Faiver, Rosemary Faiver and Joseph E. Rich, M.D. UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT DISTRICT OF ARIZONA RUBECCA MIKKELSEN, surviving spouse of Kelly Mikkelsen, deceased, individually and on behalf of MILES MIKKELSEN, JERRET MIKKELSEN and ALLISON MIKKELSEN, the minor children of Kelly Mikkelsen, deceased, and on behalf of DENNIS MIKKELSEN, natural father of Kelly Mikkelsen, deceased; and on behalf of TAYLOR R. FOX, a minor, by her next friend and natural mother, TRACY FOXTANGA, Plaintiff, v. CORRECTIONAL HEALTH RESOURCES, INC., a foreign corporation; KENNETH L. FAIVER and JANE DOE FAIVER, husband and wife; JOSEPH EDWARD RICH, M.D. and JANE DOE RICH, husband wife; DOES I through V, inclusive, Defendants. No. CIV 02-2252-PHX-JAT

21 22 23 24 25 26
LAW OFFICES

CORRECTIONAL HEALTH RESOURCES, INC., ET AL., RESPONSE IN OPPOSITION TO PLAINTIFFS MIKKELSEN'S MOTION IN LIMINE NO. 1 TO PRECLUDE EVIDENCE OF THE BANKRUPTCY STATUS OF DEFENDANTS CHR AND/OR RICH (Oral Argument Requested)

RENAUD COOK DRURY MESAROS
ONE NORTH CENTRAL SUITE 900 PHOENIX, AZ 85004 TELEPHONE 602-307-9900 FACSIMILE 602-307-5853

(Page 1, CIV 02-2252-PHX-JAT)

Case 2:02-cv-02252-JAT

1004.0604

Document 272

@PFDesktop\::ODMA/MHODMA/imanage;RCD_PHX;315808;1 Filed 10/26/2005 Page 1 of 4

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26
LAW OFFICES

Defendants Correctional Health Resources, Inc., Kenneth and Rosemary Faiver, and Joseph Edward Rich, M.D. ("CHR defendants") respectfully oppose Plaintiffs Mikkelsen's Motion in Limine No. 1 to preclude evidence of the bankruptcy status of defendants CHR and/or Rich. This response is supported by the attached Memorandum of Points and Authorities and the Court's entire file in this matter, which are incorporated by this reference. MEMORANDUM OF POINTS AND AUTHORITIES Plaintiffs' conclusory motion asks this Court to exclude evidence that CHR and Dr. Rich filed petitions for bankruptcy, claiming such evidence would not be relevant and any relevance would be outweighed by the dangers of unfair prejudice, delay, confusion of the issues, misleading the jury and/or waste of time. Plaintiffs do not explain why they believe this evidence is irrelevant. Plaintiffs also do not explain why Fed.R.Evid. 403 applies. Evidence that CHR filed a petition for bankruptcy is relevant to Plaintiffs' claim for punitive damages. The Ninth Circuit holds a "punitive damages award is supposed to sting so as to deter a defendant's reprehensible conduct, and juries have traditionally been permitted to consider a defendant's assets in determining an award that will carry the right degree of sting." Bains LLC v. ARCO Products Co., 405 F.3d 764, 777 (9th Cir. 2005) (but holding the wealth of the defendant cannot justify an otherwise unconstitutional award of punitive damages). The evidence is not only relevant, CHR must be able to introduce the evidence. See

Bell v. Clackamas County, 341 F.3d 858, 868 (9th Cir. 2003). The court there held that if a defendant intends to argue a punitive damages award is grossly excessive "in violation of due process on the basis of the individual defendants' ability to pay," it may do so only based upon evidence in the record of the defendant's wealth. Id. Similarly, the district court may not reduce an award of punitive damages based upon the defendant's wealth unless the evidence is in the record. Id.

RENAUD COOK DRURY MESAROS
ONE NORTH CENTRAL SUITE 900 PHOENIX, AZ 85004 TELEPHONE 602-307-9900 FACSIMILE 602-307-5853

(Page 2, CIV 02-2252-PHX-JAT)

Case 2:02-cv-02252-JAT

1004.0604

Document 272

@PFDesktop\::ODMA/MHODMA/imanage;RCD_PHX;315808;1 Filed 10/26/2005 Page 2 of 4

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26
LAW OFFICES

CHR has a due process right to present this evidence to preserve its arguments regarding the size of any punitive damages award. admitted. Given CHR's due process rights to present this evidence (or risk waiving an argument), the relevance is not substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice, delay, confusion of the issues, misleading the jury and/or waste of time. introduction of this evidence raised by Plaintiffs should be overruled. Because Plaintiffs have not sought punitive damages against Dr. Rich (or Kenneth Faiver), evidence of Dr. Rich's bankruptcy petition is not relevant and Defendants have no intention of introducing such evidence. However, if Plaintiffs suddenly add a claim for punitive damages against Dr. Rich, Defendants preserve their right to present such evidence for all of the reasons set forth above with respect to CHR. Based upon the foregoing, CHR Defendants respectfully request this Court deny Plaintiffs Mikkelsen's Motion in Limine No. 1 to preclude evidence of the bankruptcy status of defendants CHR and/or Rich. RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED this 26th day of October, 2005. RENAUD COOK DRURY MESAROS, PA By: s/James W. Barnhouse William W. Drury, Jr. James W. Barnhouse Phelps Dodge Tower One North Central, Suite 900 Phoenix, AZ 85004-4418 Attorneys for Correctional Health Resources, Inc., Kenneth Faiver, Rosemary Faiver and Joseph E. Rich, M.D. Accordingly, all objections to Thus, the evidence is not only relevant ­ it must be

RENAUD COOK DRURY MESAROS
ONE NORTH CENTRAL SUITE 900 PHOENIX, AZ 85004 TELEPHONE 602-307-9900 FACSIMILE 602-307-5853

(Page 3, CIV 02-2252-PHX-JAT)

Case 2:02-cv-02252-JAT

1004.0604

Document 272

@PFDesktop\::ODMA/MHODMA/imanage;RCD_PHX;315808;1 Filed 10/26/2005 Page 3 of 4

1 PAUL G. ULRICH, PC 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26
LAW OFFICES

By: s/Paul G. Ulrich Paul G. Ulrich Melinda K. Cekander 131 East El Caminito Drive Phoenix, Arizona 85020-3503 Attorneys for Correctional Health Resources, Inc., Kenneth Faiver, Rosemary Faiver and Joseph E. Rich, M.D.

E-Filed with the U.S. District Court this 26th day of October, 2005; and COPY of the foregoing delivered this 26th day of October, 2005, to: Hon. James A. Teilborg U.S. District Court 401 West Washington Street Suite 523, SPC 51 Phoenix, Arizona 85003-0001

s/Bobby Doisher

RENAUD COOK DRURY MESAROS
ONE NORTH CENTRAL SUITE 900 PHOENIX, AZ 85004 TELEPHONE 602-307-9900 FACSIMILE 602-307-5853

(Page 4, CIV 02-2252-PHX-JAT)

Case 2:02-cv-02252-JAT

1004.0604

Document 272

@PFDesktop\::ODMA/MHODMA/imanage;RCD_PHX;315808;1 Filed 10/26/2005 Page 4 of 4