Free Motion in Limine - District Court of Arizona - Arizona

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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 Attorneys for Defendants Correctional Health Resources, Inc., Kenneth Faiver and 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 and 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 DEFENDANTS' MOTION IN LIMINE TO PRECLUDE TESTIMONY OF ANY PROFESSIONAL, DOCTOR OR OTHER EXPERT AS TO WHAT CONSTITUTES "DELIBERATE INDIFFERENCE" IN A SECTION 1983 ACTION

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

(Page 1, No. CIV 02-2252-PHX-JAT)

Case 2:02-cv-02252-JAT

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Defendant Correctional Health Resources, Inc. ("defendant"), by and through counsel undersigned, moves in limine for an order precluding testimony of any professional, doctor or other expert as to what constitutes "deliberate indifference" in a section 1983 action. Plaintiffs cannot resort to expert testimony to determine what constitutes "deliberate indifference" because such testimony is not allowable because such is a question of law for the Court and not the subject matter of expert testimony. See Woods v. Lecureaux, 110 F.3d 1215 (6thCir. 1997), and Berry v. City of Detroit, 25 F.3d 1342 (6thCir. 1994). Woods relied upon Berry in writing, "Berry teaches that a district court abuses its discretion when it allows a witness to define legal terms, especially terms that carry a considerable amount of legal baggage." 110 F.3d at 1220. Berry, like Woods, was an opinion that did not permit an expert to opine what constituted deliberate indifference. Furthermore, the Court in Berry stated: "Deliberate Indifference" is a legal term as a questioning of [the witness] indicated. It is the responsibility of the Court, not testifying witnesses, to define legal terms. The expert testimony in this regard invaded the province of the court. 25 F.3d at 1353. Berry remanded for entry of judgment as a matter of law for defendant city. Because the Court, and not an expert, decides what constitutes "deliberate indifference," any and all testimony by any experts regarding what is "deliberate indifference" is not testimony properly before this Court and therefore must be precluded as a matter of law. ... ... ... ... ... RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED this 17th day of October, 2005.

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

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RENAUD COOK DRURY MESAROS, PA

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 Defendants Correctional Health Resources, Inc., Kenneth Faiver and Rosemary Faiver and Joseph E. Rich, M.D. PAUL G. ULRICH, PC

By:

S/ Paul G. Ulrich Paul G. Ulrich Melinda K. Cekander 131 East El Caminito Drive Phoenix, Arizona 85020-3503 Co-counsel for Defendants Correctional Health Resources, Inc, Kenneth Faiver and Rosemary Faiver and Joseph E. Rich, M.D. E-Filed with the U.S. District Court this 17th day of October, 2005; and COPY of the foregoing delivered this 17th day of October, 2005, to: Hon. James A. Teilborg U.S. District Court of Arizona 401 West Washington Suite 523 SPC 51 Phoenix, Arizona 85003-0001 S/ Karen M. Chenowth

By

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

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