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P R E S E N T E D B Y :

L A U R A M O E H R L E Q U I N L I V A N & H U G H E S

A N D

M A T T M O E H R L E

R A J K O W S K I H A N S M E I E R

GET OUT AND STAY OUT – Motions in Limine and Preserving

Issues on Appeal

Overview

�  Motions in Limine ¡  Common Motions ¡  Trending Topics

�  Appellate Practice ¡  Basics of Appealing Trial

Motions ¡  Preserving Issues for

Appeal during Trial

Motions in Limine – Practice Tips

�  Request Motion in Limine Deadlines from Court

¡  Particularly important in

large cases ¡  Gives Court advance

notice of complicated issues; removes doubt as to admissibility

¡  May encourage settlement

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�  Police Reports

¡  Citation Decisions ÷ Evidence of Ticket

Inadmissible ÷ Minn. Stat. § 169.94

¡  Use of Police Report ÷ Report Inadmissible ÷ Cannot use report as

substitute for own recollection

÷ White v. Lund No. C8-94-2640, 1995 WL 379063 (Minn. Ct. App. 1995).

Police Reports

Condition of Defendant

�  Use of Alcohol or Drugs

¡  Must be relevant to liability or damages

¡  Admissible only if shown

to be a proximate cause of injury

¡  See Mueller v. Sigmond,

486 N.W.2d 841 (Minn Ct. App. 1992)

Condition of Defendant

�  Bad Acts: ¡  Prior:

÷ Must be substantially similar to incident at issue

÷ Cannot be too remote in time

÷ Rule 404 (a) and (b) ÷ Ray v. Miller Meester

Advertisting ¡  Other Evidence of

Negligence ÷ No evidence of negligence

unless cause

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Condition of Defendant

�  Criminal History: ¡  Rule 609

÷ Generally Inadmissible ÷ Allowed for impeachment ÷ 10 year time limit ÷ No juvenile adjudications

Medical Care and Treatment

�  Plaintiff ¡  Exclude statements made

by health care provider to Plaintiff

¡  Exclude Future Medical based on Affordable Care Act

�  Defendant ¡  Physical condition

÷ Can assert a privilege to any inquiries

Experts

�  Qualifications of Expert ¡  Scope of expertise

�  Validity of Science ¡  Rule 702 ¡  Doe v. Archdiocese of St.

Paul �  Tests and

Demonstrations ¡  Conditions must be

“substantially similar”

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Experts

�  Testimony of “non-retained” expert ¡  Minn. R. Civ. P. 26.01(b) ¡  Retained v. non-retained ¡  Limited to matters

contained in medical records

¡  Testimony on causation – opinions need to be disclosed in a report

¡  Brooks v. Union Pacific Railroad Co., 620 F.3d 896 (8th Cir. 2010).

Regulations and Statutes

�  Failure to Obtain License or Permits

¡  Must be connection

between failure to obtain and accident

¡  Example:

÷ Drivers License ÷ Hagel v. Schoenbauer

Subsequent Remedial Measures

�  Rule 407 – Generally Inadmissible ¡  Repairs ¡  Precautions ¡  Modifications ¡  New Policies/Procedures

�  Public policy ¡  Encourage safety

consciousness ¡  Raises issue of awareness/

notice of hazard

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Motions in Limine: Win Some, Lose Some

�  Appeal from motion in limine loss: ¡  Can’t appeal order on motion

in limine directly ¡  Bring motion for new trial

after verdict ÷  Must specifically argue that

inclusion/exclusion of evidence at issue in motion in limine is grounds for new trial

÷  Sauter v. Wasemiller, 389 N.W.2d 200, 201-02 (Minn.1986) (new trial motion required); Kitchar v. Kitchar, 553 N.W.2d 97, 102 (Minn.App.1996) (to be appealed, alleged error must be argued in new trial motion).

Deadlines: Appeal of Post-Trial Motions

�  Rule 59 Motion for New Trial or Rule 50.02 Post-Trial Motion for JMOL ¡  Must serve notice of filing

of order on opposing parties

¡  Appeal must be within 60 days of service of such notice

¡  Minn. R. Civ. App. P. 104.01 subd. 1

Appeal Deadlines (cont.)

�  Compare: Appeal of Directed Verdict (now JMOL) ¡  Appeal deadline is 60 days from entry of judgment (not filing

of order). Minn. R. Civ. App. P. 104.01 subd. 1. ¡  Don’t need to serve notice of filing of order for directed verdict

to start 60-day appeal clock ¡  Practice Tip: Keep tabs on court staff to enter judgment

properly/timely: ÷ Signed/entered by Court Administrator; not Judge. Minn. R. Civ.

P. 58.01. ÷ Dismissal should say “with prejudice”, though not entirely

necessary if it’s clear dismissal was on merits. Unbank Co., LLP v. Merwin Drug Co., 677 N.W.2d 105, 109 (Minn. Ct. App. 2004).

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Practice Tips: Avoiding Disaster

�  Preserving Record for Appeal ¡  Make sure exhibits get

entered into evidence; ¡  File all pocket briefs –

don’t just hand deliver to judge;

¡  Print out and attach as exhibits copies of websites cited to as authorities in memoranda of law. Eischen v. Crystal Valley Co-op., 835 N.W.2d 629, 636 (Minn. Ct. App. 2013).

Practice Tips (cont.)

�  Preserving Record for Appeal ¡  Get all oral arguments on record:

÷ Motions in Limine ÷ Objections to proposed jury instructions or verdict form questions ÷ Bench conferences re: objections ÷ Directed Verdict/JMOL arguments ÷  If nothing else, go on record during jury breaks or after case goes to

jury

Standards of Review: Trial Motion Orders

�  Admissibility of Evidence: ¡  Evidentiary rulings are

within sound discretion of trial court; expert or other

¡  Abuse of Discretion standard on appeal

�  Directed Verdict/JMOL ¡  De novo review

�  May influence strategy of whether to bring motion in limine or deal with issue during trial

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Questions?