-RSB Johnson v. O'Brien, et al, No. 7:2009cv00165 - Document 253 (W.D. Va. 2012)
Court Description: MEMORANDUM OPINION. Signed by Judge James C. Turk on 1/12/2012. (tvt)
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CL ERKSOFFi U,. t7.7 ' CE s D1 (O1F7 ! C V E, . AT RQANOV VA . FI LED I TH E UN I N TED STATES D I STR I T C O U RT C FOR THE W ESTERN DI STRI OF VI CT RGI A NI R OAN O KE D I VISI ON LA W R ENC E JO H N SO N , Pl n if aitf, ) ) ) J 12 2 1 AN 22 JULI C A LDUD ,CL ERK BY:. ,/ /, ' DEPU k ER Case N o.7: cv-165 09M EM O M N DU M O PI IO N N V. TERR Y O ' I , al BR EN et . By: Jam e C.Tur s k Seni U ni e St e D i t i tJudge or t d at s s r c Dee f ndan s t. A j r til sh l i t smatro No e e 1 a d 1 , 1i teBi S o eGa u y ra wa ed n hi te n v mb r 7 n 8 201 n h g t n p dvso Th is e h v n be ntid tej r r tme v r it i fv ro De e d nsW il m iiin. e su s a i g e re ,h u y eu d edcs n a o f f n a t la i W ec a dDe e d n Ti t yTa lr trtej r rtn i v r it, anifJ h s n lh n fn a t moh yo .Afe h u y eu wd t ed cs Plitf o n o s r ne dhi e rirmotonf J e we s ale i or udgme asaMatrofLa ( No.231.TheCo t nt te w ECF ) ur dim is d t sa pr ma ur a i c t d t t pa te t t y ha 1 da t fl a pos-ra s s e hi s e t e nd ndia e o he ri s hat he d 5 ys o ie ny tti l motonsi wrtng. Pl i ifs eque l tld amoton t e e tm e whih t Cour i n ii antf ubs nty ie i o xt nd i , c he t g a t d.Them at ri now be or t Cour on Pli ifsM o i f J r ne te s f e he t antf ton or udgme a aM at rof nt s te La ori t Ale tvef aNe Tral( No. .Fort r as saedbeow,t w n he tmai or w i ECF 250) he e ons tt l he Pl i if' m oton i DEN I . a ntf s i s ED 1 . FA CTU A L A N D PRO CED UR AL BA CK G RO UN D Pli ifLa e eJ antf wr nc ohns n i a i t i t c t y oft Fe r lBur au ofPrs . o s n nma e n he usod he de a e ions H e br hta Bi nsac i i M a 2009 a i ta nu b ofe pl e ofU nied St t oug ve ton n y ga ns m er m oye s t a es Pe tnir Le (t Lee'.TheCo t tmaey dimis t camsa i tmos nie ta y e C USP ' ) ur uli tl s sed he li gans t de e nt . The e e s ve f c c ai s a i tt de e nt ,Co r tona Of i rTi o hy f nda s xc s i or e l m ga ns wo f nda s r ec i l fce m t Tayl a Core tonalOfierW ila W elh,s vve a we e s f ti l Thec u of or nd r c i fc lim c ur i d nd r et or ra . rx t e c a m sw ast f l w i t ke f om t Cou tse r i Opi on on t Def nt ' hos l i he olo ng, a n ' r he r ' a ler ni he enda s M oton t Di m i i o s ss: On Se e pt mber27,2007,whieJ l ohns wa i t non- ont c viiai b0 h wih hi on s n he c a t st ton 0t t s wie, tce Ta orope t doora wa c d t f a f Ofi r yl ned he nd t he hem or bout30 s ondsbef r ec oe de mi t tt i vii wa tr i t d.J on aleg hewal t t t l t cl ng ha her st s e m na e ohns l es ked o he oiet o ur na e,a Ta orgr bbe hi be nd hi ne k a s de , am m i i he t i e i t nd yl a d m hi s c nd houl r r ng s ad w c ag ns t c r t w al. yl a O fi e W e c t n be n s rki J hns i t ai t he onc e e l Ta or nd f c r l h he ga ti ng o on n he ba a rbst t wha f l lkecos d fss'Ta o t n a l edl pl edcufson ck nd i t h wi t et i l e it. yl r he leg y ac ' f J ohns swrt s tg l t thi rghtha beg n t s l a he c dnotf e hi on' is o ihty ha s i nd a o we l nd oul el s fng s i er . M e .Op.J n.3,2011 ECF No.61 at3.Tra wa hel i t Bi St Ga di son on m ,a , , i l s d n he g one p vii Nove mber1 a 1 2011.ThePl i ifwaspe m itd t c l tze f de ali aesas 7 nd 8, antf r te o al lr e e r nm t wine s s whot sii d vi a o a orvi o c e e e.Aspa tofhi c e-n- hi ,Pl i if t se , e tfe a udi nd/ de onf r nc r s as i c ef antf alo c le t De enda s aswela Def a s wines Li t nantBr n La t r ashosie s al d he f nt, l s end nt ' t s eu e ya se , tl wine s s Att cl eoft Pl i ifsca e, heDe e nt moved f rJ m e asa M at rof t s e . he os he antf s t f nda s o udg nt te La , hi h w asde ed. A fe t D e e nt pu on t i c s -n- hi f t Pl i tf puto a w w c ni t r he f nda s t he r a e i c e , he a n if n r buta c s . The Pl i ifa D e e e tl a e a ntf nd f ndan st n m a c os - otonsf J t he de r s m i or udgm e a a M a t rof nt s te La whc weeb t d n e b teCo r.Ahe co i a g me t,h Co r c ag dtej r w, ih r o h e id y h u t r lsng ru n s t e u t h z e h u y a ie trdd lb rto s Le sta 20miu e ltrt ej r rt r e u a i usv r it i nd t n ee eieain . s h n n t s ae,h u y eu n d n nmo edcs n f vorofD e e ntTayl a D e e ntW e c a f nda or nd f nda l h. ll. STA ND A RD S O F R EVIEW Th Co r ma g a t u g n a ama tro lw wh r i lidsta ar a o a l j r e u t y rn j d me t s te f a ee tt n h t e s n be u y f woul notha a l ga l s tc e bas s' o fnd f rt no m o ng pa t Fe R.Ci P. d ve e ly ufi i nt i ' t i o he n- vi r y. d. v. 5 a)1. l or rt grntarne dM otonf J mentasaM atrofLa atrtilt 0( () n de o a e we i or udg te w fe ra,he Co t us tnd,t iho w e ghi t e de e orc i rng t c e biiy oft w ines e , ur m t i i t ut i ng he vi nc w ons de i he r di lt he t s s t a s b tn ile ie c d e n ts p o th u y sfn i s' S At. d. s po Te n. P. h t u sa ta vd n e o s o u p r tej r ' idng . . lLt P'hi f n L. ' v.Ris ,28 F.d 51 532( hCi. e e 4 3 8, 4t r 2002) Morove,$() t defnda i ar oft mil . e r ;if he e nt n un- -he- l cvl a emo e frEu g n a amatro lwj a e o t lc o pr o o amaeil a t i ic s v s o jd me t s te f a b sd n he a k f o f f tra fc, tej d emu ta khms l n t eh r tikstee i e c u mitk byfv r o esd o h u g s s i ef o wh te he hn h v d n e n sa a l a o s n ie r teo h rb t t e afi- n e myc udrtm av r it o t panifo t ee i e c h t e u wheh r armid dj o l eu ed c f r he li tf n h v d n e prs ntd. Ande s v. be t Lo I , U. 242,252( 986) Thesa r i ee e ' ' ron Li ry bby.nc.477 S. 1 . tndad s dif r nton a m oton f a ne t i l w hi h i gove ne by Rul 59. The Fourh Cic tha hel fe e i or w ra , c s r d e t r ui s d t tt Cour mus grntane tili i fel t t$ 1 t ver c i a i tt cla weihtof ha he t t a w ra f t e s ha t ) he dit s gans he e r g ( t e de e,o ( i bas dupone denc whihi fle or( wilrs ti amic rigeof he vi nc r 2) s e vi e c s as, 3) l e ul n s ara j tc , v nto ht eema b s b tnil v d n ewhc wo l p e n t edr cinof usie e e h ug h r y e u sa ta e i e c ih ud rve t h ie to a v r it' Cl ,1 4F.d a 3 ( u tn Ata Fo dS s & Se v .I . . a eNa 'Ve d r, edc. i 4 3 t 01 q oi g ls o y . r s.nc v Crn tl n o s ' ne I ,99F. 58 594( h Ci.1 ) nc. 3d 7, 4t r 996). 11 1. D I U SSI N SC O Plitf sM oinma e tef l wigc ne to sa t wh h i e t ldt j d me t an if to k s h ol n o tn in s o y e s ni e o u g n o t a amat roflw .The De e nt admit d t usng f r ea ns hi ;t f c wa s te a f nda s te o i o c gai t m he or e s um wce s r Pl ntf a s r s ques i ast t ve a iy oft D ef nt 't tm ony as s a y. ai i f l o aies tons o he r c t he enda s es i wel st a o Ofie W a eO' i n P anif d to al camsta tej r sv r itwa l a h t f fc r d Qu n . litf a di n ly li h th u y' edc s i a i tt wei toft e de e.Fi l Pli ifa gue t thei e il d t ane til gans he gh he vi nc naly, antf r s ha s ntte o w ra bec us t Cour i o l e ude t tmony by De erusHil The Cour a es e ea h a e he t mpr pery xcl d esi m ti l. t ddr s s c oft s c e i s pa a e y. he e ont ntons e r t l A . M oton f Judgm entasa M at er ofLaw i or t Pl i ifi core tt tt De e n sadmitd t usng f c a ns hi a til antf s r c ha he f nda t te o i or e gai t m t ra . How e r t ove a c ng f c ua i r a t i lw asnotwhe he t D e enda s us f r e ve , he r r hi a t l nquiy t ra t r he f nt ed o c a an t h Plitf' ah r i wa wh t e te usde c s ie o c a an thm a da td g i s t e anif rt e ,t s eh r h y e x e sv f r e g is i n ce , malc o l ors ditc l t c us ha ii usy a sialy o a e nn. Conr r t Pli ifsas e ton t tno r s ta y o antf s ri ha ea onabl e fnde off c c d f nd a ns hi , he Cour fndst tt r w a s t i e de e i r a t oul i gai t m t t i ha he e s ubsantal vi nc p e e tdt s p o th j r ' v r it h ti fv rof h De e d n s l s m a ds b tn e r sne o u p r t e u y s e dc t a n a o t e fn a t. n u n u sa c , Pl ntf t tfedt thewasas a t d by t De e nt f no r as whiehewa a tmptng ai if esii ha s ule he f nda s or e on l s te i t us t r too . The Def nda st siid,i s a s t nc t tt Pl ntf diobe o e he esr m e nt e tfe n um nd ubsa e, ha he ai if s yed a or ra t y us d onl t a o off r ne es a y t r t e o de a dicplnewihi n de nd he e y he m unt o ce c s r o esor r r nd s i i t n t i tt i TheDe enda s ve son ofe nt wa co r a e by t t tmony of he nsiuton. f nt ' r i ve s s robor t d he esi Core tona OfierW adeO' nn, wa pr e f pa t t e nt t tunf de Nure r ci l fc Qui who s esnt or r of he ve s ha ol d. s Ama d Ruh ro dtsiida t t ePlitf slc o ij r fo t ei ie t Liue tn n a te fr e t e s o h an if a k f nu y r m h ncd n. e tna t f Br n La t rt sii d t the c ya se e tfe ha onduce a i e nali si a i i o t i i nta f td n ntr nve tg ton nt he nc de nd ound no m ic s onduc by t D e e nt . Fi ly,Da d W is t tfe ast t pr o t be f l e t he f nda s na l vi l on esii d o he ot col o olow d b c r c i lofi e sa USP Le Tot e e t tt Pl ntf cha lngest ve a t oft y ore tona fc r t e. he xt nt ha he ai if le he r ciy he wine s sa e nt , ha i no wihi t pr nc oft Cour t de de. J t s es tt me s t t s t t n he ovi e he t o ci udgmen sof t ce iii aewi i t ep we of h fn e o fc.l ti c s ,ta p a st a t ej r r rdb ly r t n h o r t e id r f a t n h s a e i p e r h t h u o s t h beleve t D e e i d he f ndan s've s on ofe t a di bele d t Pl i if s ve son ofe nt . O r t ri ven s nd s i ve he a ntf ri ve s , m o e pr c s l t y f r e i e y, he ound t tt Pl i tf ha notpr s nt d e ha he a n if d e e e nough e denc t pr ve hi c s vi e o o s ae by apr po a e oft evi nce On t s f c s a ha ngobs r d t ti , heCour e nder nc he de . he e a t , nd vi e ve he ralt t c n o fn ta t ejly' vedc wa i o sse t t ta o ara o a l f e- ffc.Th n n t id h t h t s r it s nc n itn wi h t f e s n be i ro -a t e r h nd Pl itf sM oton f aJ an if i or udgme a aM at rofLa mus t r f e bede e nt s te w t he e or ni d. 4 B . M oton f Ne Tr al i or w i 1. W ei oft Evi ght he dence A ssa e a t t d bove,heCour wilor rane tili i f e st ve diti a ns t weght t t l de w ra f t e l he r c s gai t he i oft e de e. I i c e rt tt si nott c ehe e Theti lpr e e a cas i û s i he vi nc t s l a ha hi s he as r . ra es nt d l sc t adhe te s i 't r :i t j l ha b le e J l o , n ds eiv dteo fc r,tlk l wo l h y ad'so y f he u' d eiv d oms n a d ib le e h fie s i iey ud y h v rt me v r it i J l o ' fv r I a p ast a tej r r beiv dt eDee d n s t e a e eu d ed cs n oms n s a o . t p e r h t h u o s l e h fn a t;h e Cour wilno dit b t sdec so TheDef nda spr de s bsa i levi ncei f vorof t l t sur hi ii n. e nt ovi d u t nta de n a t i poston, nd t ve di sw e e nota i tt cl a w e g oft e de e. he r ii a he r d r ga ns he e r i ht he vi nc 2. H ilTe tm ony l si J l o n w o j cst teCo r' e cu ino De tisHilstsi n M r Hi oms n o b e t o h u ts x lso f meru l' e tmo y. . l l wasnotpr e durng t us off c i que ton,a i f c wasnota USP Leea t s me es nt i he e or e n si nd n a t t t he a tm ea t Pl ntf .Hilwa a he /sePli ifwho ha fl d s tagans De e i s he ai if l s not rpr antf d ie ui i t f ndant Ta lra da t e c re to a o fc r A j r f u di fv ro Dee d n Ta lr Plitf yo n noh r or cin l fie . u y o n n a o f fn a t y o . anif pr f e t tH ilwasgoi t t tf a t t de al ofhi o as a tby De e ntTa or ofer d ha l ng o esiy s o he t is s wn s ul f nda yl . The Cour e l d H ilst tm ony a t i l r s ng t ti was ir l ntt t e nt a t xc ude l ' esi t r a , ea oni ha t r e eva o he ve s t ha nd. J ms a gue t thei e il d t ane ti lbe a et Cour i pr ry e l ol on r s ha s ntte o w ra c us he tm ope l xcuded Hilst tmony.J ms a z t aguet tHilst tmonywoul s ( )Tayl usd l' esi ol on ppeas o r ha l' esi d how 1 or e fr ea i tHil ( Ta o t dHilt thea sule J l ona ma J ondooklkea o c gans l; 2) ylr ol l ha sa td oms nd de ohns c i l uni n.' H il st tm ony ast w het Tayl ass t hi w as ir evantt whet Tayl cor ' l' es i o her or auled m r el o her or asa tdJ hns SeeFed.R.Evi 401 (i tngrl nte de t t twhi Gsof sule o on. d. -02 lmii eeva vi nce o ha ch û i co e ncet t de e m i ton oft a ton' a dec a i i r l va t e de t be ns que o he t r na i he c i ' nd l rng r e e n vi nce o es he i he l s t ns i a misbe . Hilwasnotpr entatt tm eoft aleged as aul agai tJohnson, n rwa n d sil)1 1 o s hee ni t s mei tt in. Morove ,sti a i t f tt ta her ur ha prvi l ve n he a nsiuto e r etng sde he ac ha not j y s e ousy f undTa ornott bela e o Hilscai ,2e de e ofprorba a t i notad isbl C o o yl o i bl n l' l ms vi nc i d cs s m si e t t pr t c a t rofa pe s n i or rt s ove he har c e r o n de o how a ton i c or iy t e ih. Fe R.Evi c i n onf m t her w t ' d. ' d. 40 b) J o arue t tt fc t tTa orbr da uta s uli hi wa e de eo 4( . ohns n g s ha he a t ha yl agge bo s a tng m s vi nc f Ta l rssaeo mi , n t ee yflswi i a e c pint Rue4 4( . Ho v r h y o ' tt f nd a d h r b al t n n x e to o l 0 b) h we e, e ne e ma eti s cfco j cina til Mo e v r a tilJ h o s ug tt ito u eHils v r d h s pe ii b e to t ra. ro e, t ra, o ns n o h o nr d c l' t tmonyfrexa tyt pur esba by40 b) J hns s ug t i r eHils esi o cl he pos nned 4( . o on o ht o ntoduc l' t si o t s e tm ny o how t tTayl wast t ofpe s who as a t d pr s r f no good ha or he ype r on s ule i one s or r a on. Thi a gum en i w iho m e i . es s r t s t ut rt O n t ot rha H ils t s i ony a t Ta ort lng hi t the as a t d J he he nd, l' e tm s o yl eli m ha s ule ohns on whieJ on wa i ha ufswoul c e ry ha bee r l n .J l ohns s n ndc f d l a l ve n eeva t ohns n ma a g t tt o y r ue ha he Cour m a ha e r d i di a l w i H ilst s i ony on t s poi be a e he w a s eki t t y ve r e n s lo ng l' e tm hi nt c us s e ng o ir ntoduc t a i son ofapa t oppone , hi h i a e m pton t t he r a r e Fe R. e he dm s i ry nt w c s n xe i o he a s y ul . d. Evd 8 ()2 .W hl thedsrc c u tsf lye o r dt rv rei e i e tayr l g i. 01d( ) i ' itit o r i u l mp wee o e e s t v d nir ui s et s n pos-ra a t r c i t te de ese f c ont ti ,' ttil nd o e onsder ha vi nc ' fe t he ral'Conne v.Sc a rBrdc por r hr de - i e t l '.l .227F. 1 ( h Ci. ntlsnc, 3d 79 4t r 2000)t Cour ne dnotr onsde isde iinheebe aus ,he t e ec i r t cso r c e e i i d d e ri di alow i M r Hil st tm ony, he e us o washar l s . ven f t i r n s l ng . l' esi t xcl i n m es t e s u tc r q ie ohe wie n e rri a mi i o e cu i e ie c ' t s j sie e ur s t r s , o ro n d t ng r x ldng vd n e' unl t c n t ue g o n sf rga t an w til rstiga ieaj r v r it Fe R. v. 61 o si t s r u d o r ni t ng e ra o et sd u y ed c. d. Ci P. . n 1The Rul ofEvi es dence wer r nty amended efectve De e ece l f i cember15 20l15 butt changesappe t be he ar o l gel s a i Nonet ess sncet ti i t smaterwashel prort t amendm ent t Cour ar y em ntc. hel , i he ral n hi t d i o he s, he t bas isa ysi on t pr es t nal s he e amendm e r es. nt ul 2SeeJ y Ver cti Fa ofDef Ti ty Ta orECFNo.1 , lv. Bre ,No. -v 28 ( . ur di n vor . moh yl , 65 Hil O' in 08c - 3 W D. Va) .. He e,l ng a a1t cic sa e s rou ng t sca e,i i cla t excuso ofHils r ooki t 1 he r um t nc s u r ndi hi s t s e r he l i n l' t tm ony a t Tayl ' a i son t he a s uled J es i so or s dm s i hat s a t ohns n w hie J hns w a i ha uf s di o l o on s n ndc f d nota f tJ ms n' s t nta rgh s Thee de woul ha be n c fec ol o s ubsa i l i t . vi nce d ve e umul tve l hns ha ai - o on d ar a t tfe t t s m ee f t SeeVa c v. kwelI ' Com .242 F. 693,701 2 le dy esii d o he a fec . r a Roc l ntl , 3d -0 ( t Ci. 0 )($ p an if s p o eta t ee ie c iwa p e ld dfo o frngwa 6h r 2 01 $A) litf mu t r v h t h v d n e t s r cu e r m fei ( s mor t nc ai ....';He eronv. S. deiy& Guaa y Co.695F. 1 11 e ha umultve ' nd s ) U. Fi lt rnt , 2d 09, 2 ( hCi.1 3)(xcl i ofcl ai e de edoe no r quier ra) Mor ve ,Hilwa 5t r 98 e uson tmultve vi nc s t e r eves l. eo r l s ac ce f on whohad pr vi usy br onvit d el e o l oughts tag ns Ta or heha a sr ng i e i t ui ai t yl d to nc ntve o le a t ss ey woul ha be n br i , nd hi ur l d ve e oughtouto c os -xa nai n ha hebe a l n r se mi to d en lowedt o ki nt cc 1 he i c m t nc s ur oundi t s c s , t Cour c ng hi a e he t tf 3 Ta ng i o a ounta1 t c r u s a e s r es iy. t anno t c ude t tany e r i nota l i H ilt t s iy a f c e J oncl ha r or n low ng l o e tf f e t d ohns s s t nta rght . on' ubs a i l i s Ra he ,a e r w a har l s . t r ny r or s m e s 3. Sum m ar y The ve diti t sc ei nota i tt ce rweghtoft e de . M or r t r i r c n hi as s gans he la i he vi nce eove , he e s not ng t i c t t tt ve diti ba ed u n f s evi nc orwilr ul i amicara of hi o ndi ae ha he r c s s po ale de e l es t n s rige j sie Ac o dn l t Plitf sM oinfraNe Tra mus as bed n e . u tc . c r igy,he anif to o w il t lo e id 3ThePer ved c edi lt ofany pa tcul w ines doesnotbearon whehert Cour fndshi cei r biiy ri ar t s t he ti s t si ya misbeo ia s i e.Crdi lt deemi to aers r e f t ur Ho ve,fr etmon d s il r n dmisbl e bii tr nains r e ev d or hej y. we r o y t ep r os sofd tr nigwhehe apa t s fe e s bsa ta p eu c ,heCo t saduyt h u p e ee mi n t r ry u fr d u tn il rj die t ur ha t o e mielh p oc e n i t i e tr t ' Ko ta sv. td Sae ,3 U. 750 7 2 ( 9 ) Se xa n ç e r e digs n her niey. te ko Unie tts 28 S. , 6 1 46 . e t ' aloPee s nv. ma S. Cor .29 F. p. l ( D. .1 9)(To temos pat.. t ha s tro Cal r S. p, 6 sup 8, 1 E. Pa 96 t r h t r .he nn whih hasr t fom any pari a e r c beass s pr l onl by a exam i i oft f t c esuled r tculr r or an es ed opery y n naton he ac s ofteidi d lc s ' . h n viua a e' ) I V. CONCLUSI ON Fo t f eg ng r as ,t Pl ntf' M oton f rJ r he or oi e ons he ai ifs i o udgme a aM at rofLaw,ori nt s te n t eAl r aie f raNe Tra ( No. 5 )i DENI Ana p o raeOr e s lt i d y h t n tv , o e w il ECF 2 0 s ED. p r p it d r hal hs a I W. SSI ' K ENTER: s /R da ofJ nuar 201 Thi z y a y, 2. ' orU nie St t s Di t tJ t d a e sr udge
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