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CAUSE NO. DC-22-04065
CHRISTOPHER SALES, g IN THE DISTRICT COURT
INDIVIDUALLY AND AS_ NEXT
FRIEND OF C.S., JR., M.S., AND C.S., §
MINORS §
iV; § 116™ JUDICIAL DISTRICT
§
VLADISLAV EVENSEN AND §
JEANETTE SILVA § DALLAS COUNTY, TEXAS
ORDER ON DEFENDANT VLADISLAV EVENSEN’S MOTION IN LIMINE
ON THIS DAY, the Court considered the Motion in Limine filed by Defendant, Vladislav
Evensen, in the above-numbered and -styled cause, and after reviewing the pleadings on file and
the arguments of counsel, the Court makes the following rulings:
Order on Defendant Evensen’s Motion in Limine
1. Motion in Limine #1:
Insurance Coverag
The fact that this Defendant is covered by some form of liability insurance with
respect to the incident in question, for the reason that such fact is entirely immaterial
to any issue in this cause, and any mention or inference thereof, directly or
indirectly, would be extremely harmful and prejudicial to this Defendant. Page v.
Thomas, 123 Tex. 368, 71 S.W.2d 234 (1934); Texas Co. v. Betterton, 126 Tex.
359, 88 S.W.2d 1039 (1936); Rule 411, TEX. R. Civ. Evip.
Further, now that attention has been called to this matter in advance by Defendant's
Motion in Limine, if any such reference is made, it can only be made for the
improper purpose of informing the jury of the existence of liability insurance.
COURT’S RULING: GRANTED DENIED AGREED
2. Motion in Limine #2:
Connection With Insurance Industry
From inquiring of any member of the venire as to any connection with the insurance
industry, and in this connection would point out to the Court that if Plaintiff's
counsel is sincerely interested in determining whether or not there is any such
ORDER ON DEFENDANT’S MOTION IN LIMINE - PAGE 1
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connection for purposes of exercising jury strikes, he can do so by asking each
individual juror their occupation, past occupations and that of those in their
household, which will provide relevant information and at the same time, avoid
harming this Defendant by interjecting insurance into the case. Brockett v. Tice,
445 S.W.2d 20 (Tex. Civ. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 1969, writ ref'd n.r.e.); 4. J.
Miller Trucking Co. v. Wood, 474 S.W.2d 763 (Tex. Civ. App.—Tyler 1971, writ
ref'd n.r.e.); Green v. Ligon, 190 S.W.2d 742 (Tex. Civ. App.—Fort Worth 1945,
writ ref'd n.r.e.).
COURT?’S RULING: GRANTED DENIED. AGREED
3. Motion in Limine #3:
Answer Damage Issue ''Regardless of Who Pays"
From interrogating any member of the venire as to whether they would answer an
issue on damages in accordance with the evidence, regardless of who pays the
damages or when they will be paid, or whether they will ever be paid, or any similar
version of such inquiry, for the reason that the same improperly injects the
implication of insurance and wealth into the suit, and this Defendant further moves
the Court instruct all other counsel not to make any such reference in jury argument
of similar import. Griffith v. Castell, 313 S.W.2d 149 (Tex. Civ. App.—Houston
1958, writ ref'd n.r.e.); Hurley v. McMillan, 268 S.W.2d 229 (Tex. Civ. App.—
Galveston 1954, writ refd n.t.e.); Ulmer v. Mackey, 242 S.W.2d 679 (Tex. Civ.
App.—Fort Worth 1951, writ ref'd n.r.e.).
COURT’S RULING: GRANTED DENIED. AGREED.
4. Motion in Limine #4:
Defendant's Responsibility to Pay Judgment
From making any statement or inference that Defendant would not be financially
responsible for the Judgment in the event of an adverse verdict.
COURT’S RULING: GRANTED. DENIED. AGREED.
5. Motion in Limine #5:
Settlement Offers
Any compromise and/or settlement offers, negotiations or final settlements between
any of the parties. Brannan v. Texas Employers’ Ins. Ass'n, 151 Tex. 210, 248
S.W.2d 118 (1952); 29 AM. JR. 2D 681 Evidence § 629.
COURT’S RULING: GRANTED DENIED. AGREED
ORDER ON DEFENDANT’S MOTION IN LIMINE - PAGE 2
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6. Motion in Limine #6:
Prior Claims or Lawsuits
From making any reference whatsoever to whether the Defendant has been a
defendant in lawsuits or been involved in claims in the past, that any such incidents
have settled or been tried, or been the subject of any type of reprimand or corrective
action, or that any other incidents, near incidents or other events have occurred at
the same or similar location, whether before or after the filing of this lawsuit.
Missouri Pac. R. Co. v. Cooper, 563 S.W.2d 233 (Tex. 1978); Dallas Ry. &
Terminal Co. v. Farnsworth, 227 §.W.2d 1017, 148 Tex. 584 (1950); Nevauex v.
Park Place Hosp., Inc., 656 S.W.2d 923, 926 (Tex. App.—Beaumont 1983, writ
tef'd n.r.e.).
COURT’S RULING: GRANTED DENIED. AGREED
7. Motion in Limine #7:
Failure to Call Equally Available Witnesses
That Defendant has not called to testify any witness equally available to either party
in this cause. In this connection, Defendant moves that Plaintiff's counsel further
be instructed not to tender, read from or refer to any ex parte statement or report,
not previously admitted in evidence by the Court, of any person not then and there
present in Court to testify and to be cross-examined by counsel for Defendant, and
that Plaintiff's counsel be instructed not to suggest to the jury, by argument or
otherwise, that would have been the testimony of any witness not actually called.
Texas Power & Light Co. v. Walker, 559 S.W.2d 403 (Tex. Civ. App.—Texarkana
1977, no writ); Sanders y. St. Paul Fire & Marine Ins. Co., 429 S.W.2d 516 (Tex.
Civ. App.—Texarkana 1968, writ ref'd n.r.e.).
COURT’S RULING: GRANTED. DENIED. AGREED
8. Motion in Limine #8:
Testimony of Absent Witness
Any reference, mention, or statement to the jury of the probable testimony of a
witness who is absent, unavailable, or not called to testify in this cause. Texas
Power & Light Co. v. Walker, supra; Sanders v. St. Paul Fire & Marine Ins. Co.,
supra.
COURT’S RULING: GRANTED. DENIED. AGREED.
ORDER ON DEFENDANT’S MOTION IN LIMINE - PAGE 3
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9. Motion in Limine #9:
Testimony of Expert Not Previously Identified
The operation of any expert testimony of any kind or character of any expert
witness who has not been properly designated in accordance with the TEXAS RULES
OF CIVIL PROCEDURE. Further, any attempt to elicit any testimony from any person
not properly disclosed or designated by the Plaintiff. TEx. R. Civ. Evip. 401-403
(1984); TEX. R. CIv. P. 166a, (1984); TEX. R. CIV. P. 168; TEX. R. CIv. P. 215.
COURT’S RULING: GRANTED. DENIED. AGREED
10. Motion in Limine #10:
Prior Claims or Lawsuits Against Defendant's Experts or Other Witnesse:
Any reference to prior lawsuits or claims filed against any expert witness or othe
witness called by Defendant to testify at the trial of this case. TEX. R. Civ. EvID.
401-403 (1984); Irwin v. Parc-Oil Well Servicing Co., 349 S.W.2d 277, 278 (Tex.
Civ. App.—Texarkana 1961, writ ref'd n.r.e.). See also French v. Brodsky, 521
S.W.2d 670 (Tex. Civ. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 1975, writ ref'd n.r.e.), rev'd on
other grounds, 551 S.W.2d 33 (Tex. 1977).
COURT’S RULING: GRANTED DENIED. AGREED
11. Motion in Limine #11:
Financial, Accounting or Income Information of Defendant's Expert Witnesses
Any questions or references to the financial, accounting or income information,
sources and records, of any expert witness called to testify on behalf of Defendant
at the trial of this case, other than any income received for expert consultation
services in this or other litigation or claims. TEX. R. Civ. EviD. 401-403 (1984);
TEX. R. Civ. P. 202; Russell v. Young, 452 S.W.2d 434 (Tex. 1970).
COURT’S RULING: GRANTED. DENIED. AGREED.
12. Motion in Limine #12:
Comment on Discovery
Any reference to the fact that Defendant or Defendant's attorneys sought to prevent
discovery of evidence during the pre-trial discovery, or after the trial began, through
the assertion of objections, instructions from counsel or privileges. TEX. R. Civ.
EvIp. 401-403 (1984); TEX. R. Crv. P. 166b.
COURT?’S RULING: GRANTED DENIED. AGREED
ORDER ON DEFENDANT’S MOTION IN LIMINE - PAGE 4
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13. Motion in Limine #13:
Demand Items from Attorneys' Files
That the Plaintiff and Plaintiff's attorneys be instructed not to make demands or
requests before the jury for matters found or contained in the files of Defendant or
Defendant's attorneys which would include statements, pleadings or photographs
and other documents or tangible things. Such matters are privileged or potentially
privileged from disclosure to Plaintiff under TEX. R. Civ. P. Rule 166b; TEX. R.
Civ. Evi. 401-403, 503 (1984); TEX. R. CIV. P. 166b.
COURT’S RULING: GRANTED DENIED. AGREED
14. Motion in Limine #14:
Request for Stipulation in Jury Presence
Requesting Defendant or Defendant's attorneys to stipulate to either the
admissibility of any evidence or stipulate to any facts or matters in front of the jury.
TEX. R. Cv. Evip. 401-403 (1984).
COURT’S RULING: GRANTED. DENIED. AGREED.
15. Motion in Limine #15:
Relationship Between Defendant and Defendant's Attorney:
Any statement, reference, comment, or question pertaining to the relationship
between Defendant and the attorneys representing Defendant's cause of action, or
to the relationship between the attorneys representing Defendant's cause of action
and any insurance company.
COURT’S RULING: GRANTED. DENIED. AGREED
16. Motion in Limine #16:
Lawyer-Client Privileg
Any matters or communications that have transacted between the Defendant's
attorneys, both past and present, and the Defendant, including but not limited to,
the terms and conditions of any and all employment contracts and all transactions
connected thereto. In this connection, Defendant claims the lawyer-client privilege
under TEX. R. Crv. EviD. 503. TEX. R. Civ. EvID. 503 (1984); Holman v. Herscher,
16 S.W. 984 (Tex. 1891); Foster v. Buchele, 213 S.W.2d 738 (Tex. Civ. App.—
Fort Worth 1948, writ ref'd n.re.).
COURT?’S RULING: GRANTED DENIED. AGREED
ORDER ON DEFENDANT’S MOTION IN LIMINE - PAGE 5
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17. Motion in Limine #17:
Questioning Defendant's Attorneys
Asking questions to Defendant's counsel in front of the jury. TEX. R. Civ. Evip
401-403 (1984).
COURT’S RULING: GRANTED DENIED. AGREED
18. Motion in Limine #18:
Attorneys' Comments in Deposition
Any reading or reference to comments or statements, other than questions to
witnesses, contained in any deposition taken in this case because such constitutes
unsworn testimony or statements. TEX. R. Civ. EviD. 401-403 (1984); TEX. R. Civ.
Evip. 801 Hearsay - Definitions; TEX. R. Civ. EviD. 802 - Hearsay Rule.
COURT’S RULING: GRANTED. DENIED. AGREED
19. Motion in Limine #19:
Reference to Deposition Questions Not Answered
Any reference to questions asked in depositions to which the Court sustained
objections, since such matters are irrelevant, immaterial, or privileged, and it would
be prejudicial to Defendant to refer to such questions and objections in the presence
of the jury. TEx. R. Cry. Evip. 401-403 (1984).
COURT’S RULING: GRANTED DENIED. AGREED
20. Motion in Limine #20:
Effect of Answers to Questions in Court's Charge to Jury
Any statement by Plaintiff's attorneys calculated to inform the Jury of the effect of
their answer to the Instructions and Questions contained in the Court's Charge to
the Jury.
COURT’S RULING: GRANTED DENIED. AGREED
21. Motion in Limine #21:
Use of Photographs or Motion Pictures
That should Plaintiff wish to introduce any photographs, videotapes, or motion
picture film into evidence, the same be tendered to the Court and opposing counsel
ORDER ON DEFENDANT’S MOTION IN LIMINE - PAGE 6
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outside the presence of the jury and shown or exhibited to determine its relevance
and suitability for introduction into evidence prior to and before informing the Jury
as to its existence or its tender into evidence. Such videotape would be inadmissible
under Rule 403, TEX. R. Civ. EVID., because its probative value is substantially
outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice. Further, such evidence is needlessly
cumulative. Finally, such evidence is hearsay. The matters depicted in such
photographs, videotapes or motion picture film would be offered for the truth of the
matters depicted and would therefore constitute hearsay.
COURT’S RULING: GRANTED DENIED. AGREED
22. Motion in Limine #22:
Referring to Motion in Limin
Reference to the filing of this Motion in Limine or to any ruling by the Court in
response to this Motion, since references are inherently prejudicial and that they
suggest or infer that the movement has sought to prohibit proof or that the Court
has excluded proof of matters damaging to movant's case. TEX. R. CIv. EVID. 401-
403 (1984); Texas Employers’ Ins. Ass'n v. Phillips, 255 S.W.2d 364 (Tex. Civ.
App.—Eastland, 1953, writ ref'd n.r.e.); Burdick v. York Oil Co., 364 S.W.2d 766,
769-770 (Tex. Civ. App.—San Antonio, 1963, writ ref'd n.r.e.).
COURT’S RULING: GRANTED DENIED. AGREED
23. Motion in Limine #23:
Identity of Insurance Carrier
From inquiring about the identity of the liability insurance carrier for Defendant or
any expert witness called by Defendant, and whether they have any feeling or belief
that an adverse verdict against the Defendant would affect their insurance rates. In
Mendoza v. Varon, 563 S.W.2d 646 (Tex. Civ. App.—Dallas 1978, writ refd
n.r.e.), the court refused to permit plaintiffs counsel to make this inquiry.
Distinguishing the case from Barton Plumbing Co. v. Johnson, 285 S.W.2d 780
(Tex. Civ. App.—Galveston 1955, writ ref'd) where an expert medical witness was
a stockholder and director of defendant's automobile liability insurance carrier, the
court in Mendoza stated that:
In the present case, however, the witness had no direct interest in the
outcome of the litigation, as would an agent, owner, or employee of
the defendant's insurer. While it is true that a large judgment against
any doctor will probably affect the insurance rates of other
physicians, this interest is remote and any proof of bias based upon
the interest is outweighed by the prejudice by informing the jury of
the defendant's insurance protection.
ORDER ON DEFENDANT’S MOTION IN LIMINE - PAGE 7
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Any inquiry by Plaintiffs counsel about liability insurance would be highly
prejudicial to this Defendant. Mendoza, supra; TEX. R. Civ. Evip. 403.
COURT’S RULING: GRANTED DENIED. AGREED
24. Motion in Limine #24:
Nature of Defendant's Counsel's Practice
From referring to defense counsel, or any member of their firm, as one who
regularly represents defendants in personal injury lawsuits or medical malpractice
actions.
COURT’S RULING: GRANTED DENIED. AGREED.
25. Motion in Limine #25:
Size or Locale of Defendant's Counsel's Practice
From referring to the number of attorneys who worked on the case at bar, the size
of defense counsel's law firm, the proximity in which it practices, the number of
branch offices, or that its principal office location.
COURT’S RULING: GRANTED DENIED AGREED
26. Motion in Limine #26:
Employment of Defense Counsel
Any reference to when or how Defendant employed defense counsel.
COURT?’S RULING: GRANTED DENIED. AGREED
27. Motion in Limine #27:
Subsequent Remedial Measur:
That Defendant or any employee or representative of Defendant, after the date of
the alleged incident made the basis of this suit, took any steps that might be
interpreted as safety measures or changes to preclude the occurrence of other
incidents, at or near the same location, whether by way of physical changes or
instructions to employees or otherwise. Said evidence would not be admissible as
a matter of public policy in the State of Texas.
COURT?’S RULING: GRANTED DENIED. AGREED
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28. Motion in Limine #28:
Medical Treatises, Journals or Authority
That Plaintiff's counsel not refer to, display in the presence of the jury, or read from
any medical textbook, journal or article of any kind without first having established
the same as a reliable authority pursuant to Rule 803(18), TEX. R. CIv. EvID.
COURT’S RULING: GRANTED DENIED. AGREED
29. Motion in Limine #29:
Hypothetical Question:
That Plaintiff's counsel refrain from asking a fact witness hypothetical questions or
opinions.
COURT’S RULING: GRANTED DENIED. AGREED
30. Motion in Limine #30:
Misconduct or Criminal Activity
That Defendant has been accused of, or in fact found guilty of, any misconduct or
criminal activity. Defendant would show the Court that Defendant has never been
convicted of any crime involving moral turpitude which conviction would be
admissible in impeachment of Defendant's credibility, or that any such conviction
occurred at a time too remote from the present to be relevant to Defendant's
credibility as a witness in the trial of this cause.
COURT’S RULING: GRANTED DENIED. AGREED.
31. Motion in Limine #31:
Lost Wages or Loss of Earning Capacity
Any reference to damages resulting from a loss of wages, present or future, in that
said damages have not been properly or timely supplemented in response to
Interrogatories directed to Plaintiff. Plaintiff should be precluded from any
evidence of lost wages or loss of earning capacity.
COURT’S RULING: GRANTED DENIED AGREED
ORDER ON DEFENDANT’S MOTION IN LIMINE - PAGE 9
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32. Motion in Limine #32:
Traffic Citation
Any reference to a traffic citation which may or may not have been received by the
defendant related to the subject accident (DeLeon v Louder, 743 S.W.2d 357
(Tex.App.-Amarillo 1987) den. per curiam 754 S.W.2d 148 (Tex. 1988).
Additionally, no evidence shall be presented regarding the payment of a traffic
citation unless plaintiff can show that payment was pursuant to a plea in open court.
(Texas Rules Of Evidence 410) (Cox_v Bohman, 683 S.W.2d 757 (Tex.App.-
Corpus Christi, ref. n.r.e.)
COURT’S RULING: GRANTED DENIED. AGREED.
33. Motion in Limine #33:
Medical and Billing Records
Any reference, mention, or statement to the jury regarding Plaintiff's medical or
billing records which have not been properly proven up pursuant to Texas Rules of
Civil Procedure and Evidence. (Texas Rules of Evidence 803) (Texas Civil
Practices & Remedies Code, §§18.001 and 18.002).
COURT’S RULING: GRANTED DENIED. AGREED
34. Motion in Limine #34:
Cell Phone Use and/or Cell Phone Records
Any reference, mention, or statement to the jury regarding Defendant’s cell phone use
and/or cell phone records before or until a proper foundation has been laid and the records
properly proven up pursuant to the Texas Rules of Evidence.
COURT?’S RULING: GRANTED DENIED AGREED
IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED, ADJUDGED AND DECREED that Plaintiffs,
Defendant, and all counsel shall not mention, refer to, interrogate about, or attempt to convey to
the jury in any manner, either directly or indirectly, any of these matters without first obtaining the
permission of the Court outside the presence and hearing of the jury, and further instruct Plaintiffs,
Defendant, and all counsel to warn and caution each of their witnesses to follow the same
instructions of the evidence.
ORDER ON DEFENDANT’S MOTION IN LIMINE - PAGE 10
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All relief not granted herein with respect to the Defendant’s Motion in Limine is HEREBY
DENIED.
Signed on the day of , 2024.
JUDGE PRESIDING
ORDER ON DEFENDANT’S MOTION IN LIMINE - PAGE 11
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