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Trial Preparation

Trial Preparation. Washington & Lee School of Law October 19, 2006. MOTIONS IN LIMINE. SAMPLE USING CHARACTER PROBLEMS AND BAD ACTS. 1. Prior Business Conduct (404(b), 406) 2. Prior Conviction/Bad Act (404(b), 609) 3. Prior Drug Use (403, 404(b))

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Trial Preparation

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  1. Trial Preparation Washington & Lee School of Law October 19, 2006

  2. MOTIONS IN LIMINE SAMPLE USING CHARACTER PROBLEMS AND BAD ACTS

  3. 1. Prior Business Conduct (404(b), 406) 2. Prior Conviction/Bad Act (404(b), 609) 3. Prior Drug Use (403, 404(b)) 4. Prior Sexual Misconduct (404(b), 415, 609) 5. Untruthfulness (608) FIVE IMPORTANT AREAS FOR MOTIONS IN LIMINE

  4. Start with 406 - Regular response, almost automatic. Careful scrutiny by court before admission. Examples: Medical history questionnaires in medical malpractice; Interview questions in discrimination cases or ADA cases; Traffic collision investigations; product inspection procedures. Prior Business Conduct (406, 404(b))

  5. Witness or Accused? In civil case distinction not relevant; both use 403 balancing test. “Only the accused in a criminal case is protected by the undue prejudice prong of Fed. R. Evid. 609" Green v. Bock Laundry Mach. Co. 109 S.Ct. 1981 (1986) Not a conviction: can you use 404(b)? Prior Conviction/Bad Act (609, 404(b))

  6. Probative value must be substantially outweighed by danger of undue prejudice. As character: prior drug use almost always excluded because of prejudicial impact. Proper to admit if providing another basis under 404(b), such as another explanation for plaintiff’s emotional turmoil. Prior Drug Use (403, 404(b))

  7. 404(b) useful in gender discrimination, sexual harassment, hostile workplace. 415 use if the civil case involves sexual assault or child molestation. Motion in Limine issue will often be whether the prior conduct qualifies as “offense of sexual assault” 609 use if prior misconduct resulted in a sentence of one year or greater. Prior Sexual Misconduct (404(b), 415, 609)

  8. Untruthful character admitted in the form of opinion or reputation testimony. Example: trial court abused it’s discretion when it excluded expert testimony that the plaintiff had an antisocial behavior disorder and hence a character for untruthfulness. Prior shoplifting not evidence of untruthfulness. No extrinsic evidence of conduct. Untruthfulness (608)

  9. Flush out arguments/evidence. Prepares the judge for the importance of issue when objection is made during trial. Presents the judge with greater evidence than judge would hear during trial (105). Concern by judge or conditional ruling may require opposing side to alter presentation of evidence. Other Benefits of Motions in Limine Even When You Do Not Win

  10. 1. Start motions when you take the case. 2. Be Clear, Brief and Accurate. 3. Always address 403 balancing test. 4. Present a proposed court order and instructions to the jury. 5. Protect or defeat the ruling by careful use of evidence and witnesses during trial. Steps to a Successful Motion Make It Easy For The Judge To Rule In Your Favor

  11. OPENING STATEMENT

  12. IT MUST BE INTERESTING --- OR

  13. IT WILL PUT EVERYONE TO SLEEP

  14. Rule # 2: THEME/THEORY OF YOUR CASE Rule #3: THEME/THEORY OF YOUR CASE NUMBER ONE RULE: THEME/THEORY OF YOUR CASE

  15. 1.REMEMBER THE WHOLE PICTURE 2.STATEMENTS CAN BE BINDING 3.PLAN USE OF DEMONSTRATIVE OR ACTUAL EXHIBITS 4.KEEP IT SIMPLE 5.KEEP IT ORGANIZED 6.KEEP IT INTERESTING PREPARATION AND ORGANIZATION:

  16. 1.PRIMACY/RECENCY 2.CHRONOLOGICAL OR, 3.OTHER SELF RELEVANT ORDER OR, 4.STORY ORDER OR; 5.CREDIBILITY ** IT MUST INTERESTING ** IT MUST BE ORGANIZED ** IT MUST BE SIMPLE ORDER OF OPENING STATEMENT

  17. THE STRENGTH OF AN OPENING RELIES ON ITS USE OF FACTS Not on Argument!

  18. THEME ORDER OF THREES PRIMACY/RECENCY BFBC’S IN MIDDLE WITH EXPLANATION OR SURROUNDED BY GOOD FACTS DESIGN OPENING FOR REPETITION OF IMPORTANT FACTS.

  19. 1.LACK OF A THEME AND THEORY OF THE CASE 2.LACK OF ORGANIZATION 3.FAILURE TO USE FACTS CREATIVELY 3.BEING DULL 4.LACK OF CONVICTION 5.LACK OF PREPARATION OPENING STATEMENT PITFALLS

  20. DIRECT EXAMINATION

  21. IT CAN BE INTERESTING — ORCONFUSING AND POINTLESS!

  22. IMPORTANT GOAL: CREDIBILITY

  23. KEEP AN OPEN MIND TO YOUR CLIENT TESTIFYING NEVER COMMIT TO YOUR CLIENT TESTIFYING UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE NEVER PUT A POORLY PREPARED CLIENT ON THE STAND PRETRIAL PREPARATION ASSESSING YOUR CLIENT

  24. Keep it Straight and Simple REMEMBER THE WHOLE PICTURE PLAN WITNESSES WITH EXHIBITS KEEP IT INTERESTING LEGALLY COMPLETE; IF YOU HAVE AN AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE YOU MUST PROVE ALL THE NECESSARY ELEMENTS! (SELF-DEFENSE) PREPARATION AND ORGANIZATION:

  25. HOW TO BE PREPARED: PREPARE A SUMMARY FOR EACH WITNESS Name: Mack the Knife Exhibits: 2, 3, and 6 Key Testimony: Witness at scene, saw assault and told police suspect was white 6’3” light build Importance: High: client is medium build and 5’9”

  26. PRIMACY/RECENCY CHRONOLOGICAL OR, OTHER SELF RELEVANT ORDER OR, STORY ORDER OR; CREDIBILITY Make sure it is consistent with your Opening! ORDER OF DIRECT EXAMINATION:

  27. OPEN QUESTIONS WHO WHAT WHEN WHERE WHY HOW HAVE THE WITNESS USE VISUALS WHEN POSSIBLE METHOD OF DIRECT EXAMINATION:

  28. FRE 611(c) LEADING QUESTIONS SHOULD NOT BE USED ON THE DIRECT EXAMINATION OF A WITNESS EXCEPT AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO DEVELOP THE WITNESS’ TESTIMONY: FOUNDATION TRANSITION TRACK REPAIR LEADING QUESTIONS:

  29. FIRST - GET THE ANSWER FROM YOUR WITNESS. SECOND - LOOP IT INTO THE NEXT QUESTIONS. THIRD - IMPLANT IT INTO THE JURIES MIND. DESIGN QUESTIONS FOR REPETITION OF IMPORTANT FACTS:

  30. LACK OF PREPARATION LACK OF A THEME FAILURE TO INCORPORATE THEORY FAILURE TO LAY PROPER FOUNDATION FAILURE TO ANTICIPATE/AVOID OBJECTIONS LACK OF ORGANIZATION NOT LISTENING TO THE ANSWER BEING INFLEXIBLE LACK OF PREPARATION DIRECT EXAMINATION PITFALLS:

  31. THE FEDERAL RULES OF EVIDENCESome Key Points RULES 401-405, 607-609, 801-803

  32. ■Rule 401 Definition ■evidence having any tendency to make the existence of any fact that is of consequence to the determination of the action more probable or less probable than it would be without the evidence. RULES 401 - 405 Relevancy and Its Limits

  33. Rule 402 Relevant Evidence Generally Admissible; Irrelevant Evidence Inadmissible

  34. ■Probative value is substantially outweighed by the danger of ..... Rule 403 Exclusion of Relevant Evidence on Grounds of Prejudice, Confusion, or Waste of Time

  35. ■(a) Character of evidence generally ■(1) Character of accused ■(2) Character of victim ■(3) Character of witness ■(b) Other crimes, wrongs or acts Rule 404 Character Evidence not Admissible to Prove Conduct, Exceptions; Other Crimes

  36. 404(b) Other crimes, wrongs, or acts. Evidence of other crimes, wrongs, or acts is not admissible to prove the character of a person in order to show action in conformity therewith. It may, however, be admissible for other purposes, such as proof of motive, opportunity, intent, preparation, plan, knowledge, identity, or absence of mistake or accident, …

  37. 404(b) Provided that upon request by the accused, the prosecution in a criminal case shall provide reasonable notice in advance of trial, or during trial if the court excuses pretrial notice on good cause shown, of the general nature of any such evidence it intends to introduce at trial.

  38. SIMILAR ACTS – SPECIFIC INSTANCES OF CONDUCT ARE ADMISSIBLE TO PROVE INTENT, MOTIVE, PLAN, DESIGN, OR ANY PURPOSE OTHER THAN CHARACTER, SO LONG AS THE PROBATIVE VALUE OF THE EVIDENCE, AS TO ITS NOT-FOR-CHARACTER PURPOSE, IS NOT SUBSTANTIALLY OUTWEIGHED BY THE RISK OF PREJUDICE, CONFUSION AND UNDUE DELAY.

  39. One Suggested Test (1) the evidence must be offered for a proper [not-for-character] purpose; (2) the evidence must be relevant [for that purpose]; (3) the trial court must make a Rule 403 determination of whether the probative value of the [bad] acts is substantially outweighed by its potential for unfair prejudice; and (4) pursuant to Fed.R.Evid. 105, the trial court shall, upon request, instruct the jury that the evidence of similar acts is to be considered only for the proper purpose for which it was admitted.

  40. ■(a) Reputation or opinion ■(b) Specific instances of conduct Rule 405 Methods of Proving Character

  41. RULE 609

  42. a(1) ANYONE BUT AN ACCUSED EXCESS OF ONE YEAR OR DEATH (USUALLY FELONY).

  43. a(1) ACCUSED ANY CRIME IF COURT DETERMINES PROBATIVE VALUE OUTWEIGHS PREJUDICIAL EFFECT

  44. a(3) ANYONE IF DISHONESTY OR FALSE STATEMENT REGARDLESS OF PUNISHMENT

  45. (b) TIME TEN YEARS SINCE CONVICTION OR RELEASE,

  46. LIMITED DETAILS: THE FACT, NATURE, AND DATE. USUALLY LIMITED BEYOND THAT.

  47. Rule 901. Requirement of Authentication or Identification (a) General provision. The requirement of authentication or identification as a condition precedent to admissibility is satisfied by evidence sufficient to support a finding that the matter in question is what its proponent claims.(b) Illustrations. By way of illustration only, and not by way of limitation, the following are examples of authentication or identification conforming with the requirements of this rule:(1) Testimony of witness with knowledge. Testimony that a matter is what it is claimed to be.

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