LANEEKA BARKSDALE V BERT'S MARKETPLACE
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STATE OF MICHIGAN
COURT OF APPEALS
LANEEKA BARKSDALE,
FOR PUBLICATION
August 31, 2010
9:15 a.m.
Plaintiff-Appellant,
v
No. 290329
Wayne Circuit Court
LC No. 07-717732-CD
BERT’S MARKETPLACE and JAI-LEE
DEARING,
Defendants-Appellees.
Before: MARKEY, P.J., and ZAHRA and GLEICHER, JJ.
PER CURIAM.
In this action alleging sexual harassment, MCL 37.2201(i), MCL 37.2202(1)(a), and
retaliation, MCL 37.2701, plaintiff Laneeka Barksdale appeals as of right from the trial court’s
entry of a no cause of action judgment effectuating a jury verdict. We reverse and remand for a
new trial.
Plaintiff worked as a waitress and bartender at defendant Bert’s Marketplace from May
10, 2007 until she resigned approximately two months later. During this brief period of
employment, plaintiff also worked at Bert’s on Broadway. Bert Dearing owned both
establishments. His son, defendant Jai-Lee Dearing, managed Bert’s Marketplace. Plaintiff
alleged that Jai-Lee Dearing sexually harassed her by touching her inappropriately, commenting
on her legs, and propositioning her “as if she were a prostitute.” Plaintiff claimed that after she
reported Jai-Lee Dearing’s conduct to Bert Dearing, defendants retaliated by not scheduling her
for work.
Trial commenced on December 10, 2008, with jury selection and arguments relating to
several motions in limine. According to the court reporter’s notes, these preliminary events
consumed one hour and 13 minutes of the court’s time. On the second day of trial, counsel gave
brief opening statements during an abbreviated morning session.1 Plaintiff testified as the first
trial witness. Her direct and cross-examinations encompassed less than 100 transcript pages.
1
Opening statements began at 11:49 a.m. The transcript does not reflect the times of the lunch
(continued…)
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When trial resumed at 11:24 a.m. the next day, plaintiff called Bert Dearing for
examination. On the twenty-fourth transcript page of Dearing’s examination, the trial court
announced, “It’s [defense counsel’s], turn, go ahead. . . . Time’s up.” Plaintiff’s counsel
protested, “Let me put on the record that I’m not finished with this witness and if you would like
for me to stop now even though I haven’t done all of the testimony I need, I would like to place
that objection on the record so that on appeal—” The trial court interrupted, advising plaintiff’s
counsel, “Each side gets a half hour with this witness.” After defense counsel examined
Dearing, plaintiff’s counsel requested an opportunity to ask redirect questions, which prompted
the following colloquy:
Plaintiff’s counsel: Well, I’ve got kind of a couple questions. I don’t get
a redirect?
The Court: No, no. The rule is I announce the time and when the time’s
up, the questions stop.
Plaintiff’s counsel: Okay.
I just wanted to ask if I can make an offer of proof on the record?
The Court: No.
You’ve made an objection, that’s sufficient for appeal. I’ve been taken up
on appeal on this issue many, many times. You’ve made an objection, that’s all
you have to do.
Plaintiff then sought to introduce deposition testimony of Roy Lawhorn, who provided
security for Bert’s Marketplace. The trial court ruled that Lawhorn’s prior testimony about
plaintiff’s out-of-court statements constituted inadmissible hearsay, and plaintiff opted not to
read the deposition. The defense called no witnesses. The jury found that defendants had not
sexually harassed or retaliated against plaintiff.
Plaintiff first challenges as improper the trial court’s limitation of the total time for Bert
Dearing’s examinations. Plaintiff further asserts that the trial court erred in a related fashion by
denying her an opportunity to make an offer of proof describing the testimony that counsel
would have elicited had the court permitted more time. We review for an abuse of discretion a
trial court’s exercise of its power to control the interrogation of witnesses. Alpha Capital Mgt,
Inc v Rentenbach, ___ Mich App ___; ___ NW2d ___ (Docket No. 287280, issued 3/23/10), slip
op at 14-15. To the extent that our inquiry requires an examination of the Michigan Rules of
Evidence, we consider de novo the legal issues presented. Id.
(…continued)
recess that day, but plaintiff’s brief identifies that the court recessed for lunch at 12:41 p.m. and
resumed proceedings at 2:16 p.m. The transcript also does not state at what time the proceedings
concluded that day.
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Pursuant to MRE 611(a), “The court shall exercise reasonable control over the mode and
order of interrogating witnesses and presenting evidence so as to (1) make the interrogation and
presentation effective for the ascertainment of the truth, (2) avoid needless consumption of time,
and (3) protect witnesses from harassment or undue embarrassment.” In Hartland Twp v
Kucykowicz, 189 Mich App 591, 595; 474 NW2d 306 (1991), this Court emphasized that “[t]he
mode and order of admitting proofs and interrogating witnesses rests within the discretion of the
trial court.” The trial court in Hartland, on the fifth day of a trial, limited witness examinations
to one hour each for direct and cross-examinations, but later amended its ruling to permit defense
counsel more time with one expert witness. Id. at 596. On appeal, this Court held, “The record
shows that the trial court properly exercised its discretion in limiting the time for examination of
witnesses.” Id.
We again upheld a trial court’s decision to limit witness examination in Alpha Capital
Mgt. There, the trial court permitted the plaintiff’s counsel around 4-1/2 hours for the direct
examination of a plaintiff. Id., slip op at 15. After the plaintiff’s testimony concluded, the court
“limited the entire time for additional witness examinations to 1.5 hours, 45 minutes for each
side.” Id. We explained in Alpha Capital Mgt, id., slip op at 16, that, “[u]nder the specific
circumstances presented,” the trial court’s decision to limit the examination of two witnesses did
not amount to an abuse of discretion. Our decision rested on the following dispositive findings:
The record reveals that counsel had adequate time to develop the facts and
issues at the center of the parties’ dispute. Moreover, the trial court permitted
ACM more than three hours for its examination of Burrell on the basis of
counsel’s pledge that he could complete the rest of the witness examinations in a
half hour.12
________________________________________________________________
12
We emphasize our disapproval of utterly arbitrary time limitations unrelated to
the nature and complexity of a case or the length of time consumed by other
witnesses. Here, however, because the trial court selected a time limitation
suggested by ACM’s counsel, the period permitted did not qualify as arbitrary.
And even if the time period selected could be fairly characterized as arbitrary, by
proposing .5 hours for all witnesses other than Burrell, plaintiff’s counsel waived
any possible error. [Id., slip op at 16 n 12.]
We find this case readily distinguishable from Alpha Capital Mgt. Here, the record
reveals that counsel wasted no time in picking a jury or delivering opening statements.
Plaintiff’s counsel conducted her examination of plaintiff expeditiously, without repetitive or
irrelevant questions. Given this record, we discern no reasonable basis for the trial court’s
determination that limiting witness examinations to 30 minutes for each side advanced the trial
management goals set forth in MRE 611(a). The record lacks any indication that curtailing
counsel’s time for witness examinations was necessary to “avoid needless consumption of time,”
or to “protect witnesses from harassment or undue embarrassment.” MRE 611(a)(2), (3).
Moreover, the trial court entirely failed to explain how the severely restrictive time parameter it
selected “ma[d]e the interrogation and presentation [of witnesses] effective for the ascertainment
of the truth.” MRE 611(a)(1). Accordingly, we find that the trial court abused its discretion by
imposing an “utterly arbitrary” time limit “unrelated to the nature and complexity of [the] case or
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the length of time consumed by other witnesses.” Alpha Capital Mgt, slip op at 16 n 12. Stated
differently, by imposing an utterly arbitrary time limit for witness examinations, the trial court
selected an outcome falling outside the range of reasonable and principled outcomes. Taylor v
Kent Radiology, PC, 286 Mich App 490, 524; 780 NW2d 900 (2009).
The trial court further abused its discretion by ignoring or misapplying MRE 103(a)(2),
when it precluded plaintiff’s counsel from presenting an offer of proof. “The trial court’s need to
complete witness testimony, however . . . urgent, does not absolve it from its obligation to permit
an offer of proof in accordance with MRE 103(a)(2).” Alpha Capital Mgt, slip op at 17. The
arbitrary 30-minute time limit prevented plaintiff’s counsel from completing her examination of
Bert Dearing and deprived her of any opportunity for reexamination. The trial court’s preclusion
of plaintiff from offering any proof concerning potential additional areas of inquiry further
prejudiced plaintiff’s substantial rights. MCR 2.613(A). Consequently, we cannot deem these
errors harmless.
Plaintiff lastly challenges the trial court’s decision to exclude the portions of Lawhorn’s
deposition testimony relating to plaintiff’s statements that Jai-Lee Dearing had sexually harassed
her. Although we need not reach this issue given our reversal of the no cause judgment, we note
for purposes of guidance on remand that we detect no error in the trial court’s conclusion that
Lawhorn’s challenged statements fall within the category of inadmissible hearsay.
Reversed and remanded for a new trial. We do not retain jurisdiction.
/s/ Jane E. Markey
/s/ Brian K. Zahra
/s/ Elizabeth L. Gleicher
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