Judge: Rafael A. Ongkeko, Case: 20STCV21515, Date: 2023-04-03 Tentative Ruling

Note:
The court's tentative rulings, as posted, will not have the same formatting "look" as the court's original Word version.
A pdf version of the latter will be available in court to those appearing in person or by email upon request made to the clerk before the hearing for those appearing remotely. 
Dept. D contact information:
Email: samdeptd@lacourt.org.
Phone: (310) 255-2483


Case Number: 20STCV21515    Hearing Date: April 3, 2023    Dept: D

4/3/23

Dept. D

Rafael Ongkeko, Judge presiding

 

TRIAL:  Nastassia Campbell v. Rick Reed and LBUSD (20STCV21515)

TENTATIVE RULINGS RE MILs (for posting)

All rulings subject to reconsideration if door is opened.

 

P’s MILs:

 

P’s MILs 1, 2, AND 4:

MIL #1:  TO EXCLUDE ANY ARGUMENT, REFERENCE OR EVIDENCE THAT PLAINTIFF RECEIVED TREATMENT ON A LIEN

Tentative ruling:  MIL #1: DENY.

PLAINTIFF’S MIL #2:  TO EXCLUDE ANY TESTIMONY, ARGUMENT, OR REFERENCE TO INSURANCE REIMBURSEMENT RATES FOR MEDICAL SERVICES (e.g. Medi-Cal, Medicaid, Blue Cross, etc.)

Tentative ruling:  MIL #2:  DEFER. What is Deft. proffer re reasonable value?  Establish relevance to Plaintiff and proper foundation.  O/W defer?

PLAINTIFF’s MIL # 4: TO EXCLUDE ANY AND ALL REFERENCE TO AND EVIDENCE OF PLAINTIFF’S ATTORNEY REFERRALS TO DOCTORS

Tentative ruling:  MIL #4: DENY.

PLAINTIFF’S MIL #3:  EXCLUDE ANY ARGUMENT OR REFERENCE THAT PLAINTIFF DID NOT CALL ALL TREATING EXPERTS TO TESTIFY AT TRIAL.

Tentative ruling:  DENY as premature, without prejudice to a trial objection.

PLAINTIFF’s MIL #5:  EXCLUDE ANY AND ALL REFERENCE TO AND EVIDENCE OF SUB ROSA MATERIALS TO PLAINTIFF

Tentative ruling: 

GRANT/DENY in part. 

GRANT exclusion of any subrosas that existed up until close of discovery (date  __?_   ). 

DENY as to subrosas obtained thereafter subject to a 402 of videographer/editor/etc. regarding authentication, foundation, relevance, and 352 issues based on proffer and actual content to establish close-of-discovery argument and possibly any privacy issues.  Initially, there will be no required disclosure of all footage; all issues regarding selective taping are still subject to cross but are not preconditions to publication and admissibility.  However, in rebuttal, Ps must then establish that the selected clips shown are somehow misleading or need to be shown to comply with EC 356’s completeness doctrine and to explain why the clips are taken out of context or misleading. 

 

Plaintiff’s MILs 8, 10, 22, and 26:

Plaintiff’s MIL #8 TO EXCLUDE REFERENCE TO OR EVIDENCE OF PLAINTIFF’S DRIVING RECORDS AND OTHER VEHICLE COLLISIONS INVOLVING PLAINTIFF

Tentative ruling:  As to subsequent accident, likely DENY.  Goes to weight. As to “driving records and other collisions,” likely GRANT, without prejudice to a 402.

Plaintiff’s MIL #10:  EXCLUDE ANY OPINIONS ON CAUSATION UNLESS THEY MEET THE LEGAL STANDARD

Tentative ruling:  Deny as non-specific; w/o prejudice to a trial objection.

Plaintiff’s MIL #22 TO PRECLUDE ANY ARGUMENT, TESTIMONY OR EVIDENCE THAT PLAINTIFF HAS ANOTHER PERSONAL INJURY CASE IN LITIGATION.

Tentative ruling: 

1.      Can’t sanitize that she has an open claim re the 2nd accident WITH OVERLAPPING INJURIES that remains to be resolved. So long as we do not try the 2nd case, DENY in light of rulings on the other related MILs, without prejudice to trial objections re 352 issues.

Plaintiff’s MIL #26 TO PRECLUDE ANY ARGUMENT, TESTIMONY, OR EVIDENCE THAT PLAINTIFF HAS BEEN IN OTHER MOTOR VEHICLE COLLISIONS

Tentative ruling:  GRANT as to prior accidents, without prejudice to a 402.

 


 

Plaintiff’s MILs 16, 17, 20, 21, 23, 24:

Plaintiff’s MIL #16 TO PRECLUDE ANY ARGUMENT, TESTIMONY OR EVIDENCE THAT PLAINTIFF NEVER LEFT TRAINING PHASE AT AMAZON FULFILLMENT CENTER

Tentative ruling:  Withdraw as MOOT?  No LOE claimed?  O/w: Deny as non-specific without prejudice to a trial objection.

Plaintiff’s MIL #17 TO PRECLUDE ANY ARGUMENT, TESTIMONY, OR EVIDENCE THAT PLAINTIFF WAS ON SHORT TERM DISABILITY.

Tentative ruling:  Withdraw as moot?  No LOE claimed.

Plaintiff’s MIL #20 TO PRECLUDE ANY ARGUMENT THAT PLAINTIFF DROPPED OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL

Tentative ruling:  Withdraw as moot?  No LOE.

Plaintiff’s MIL #21 TO PRECLUDE ANY ARGUMENT, TESTIMONY, OR EVIDENCE THAT PLAINTIFF HAS AN EMPLOYMENT CASE IN LITIGATION

Tentative ruling:  Withdraw as moot?  No LOE.

Plaintiff’s MIL #23 TO PRECLUDE ANY STATEMENTS THAT PLAINTIFF IS UNEMPLOYABLE

Tentative ruling:  Withdraw as moot?  No LOE.

Plaintiff’s MIL #24 TO PRECLUDE ANY EVIDENCE OR TESTIMONY THAT PLAINTIFF WAS FIRED FROM AND/OR SET UP TO BE FIRED FROM PELICAN HILLS

Tentative ruling:  Withdraw as moot?  No LOE.


 

Plaintiff’s MIL #25 TO PRECLUDE ANY ARGUMENT, TESTIMONY, OR EVIDENCE THAT PLAINTIFF LITIGATED A SLIP AND FALL CASE AGAINST STATER BROTHERS.

Tentative ruling:  Unopposed. Grant.

Plaintiff MIL #27: TO PRECLUDE ANY ARGUMENT, TESTIMONY, OR EVIDENCE THAT PLAINTIFF’S COUSIN IS HOMELESS

Tentative ruling:  Unopposed. Grant.

Plaintiff MIL #29:  TO PRECLUDE ANY ARGUMENT, TESTIMONY, OR EVIDENCE THAT PLAINTIFF DID NOT HAVE AUTO INSURANCE

Tentative ruling:  Unopposed. Grant.

Plaintiff MIL #30: TO PRECLUDE ANY ARGUMENT, TESTIMONY, OR EVIDENCE THAT PLAINTIFF DID NOT HAVE A DRIVERS’ LICENSE

Tentative ruling:  Unopposed.  Grant.

Plaintiff MIL #32;  TO PRECLUDE ANY ARGUMENT, TESTIMONY, OR EVIDENCE THAT PLAINTIFF’S BOYFRIEND DROVE BEHIND HER AND TOOK SOMETHING FROM HER TRUNK

Tentative ruling:  DEFER to trial.

Plaintiff MIL #33:  TO EXCLUDE ANY EVIDENCE THAT PLAINTIFF LIVED AT HER MOTHER’S HOUSE

Tentative ruling:  Unopposed.  Grant without prejudice to a 402.

Plaintiff MIL #34:  TO EXCLUDE STATEMENTS THAT STUDENTS OR TEACHERS WILL BE HARMED BY A JUDGMENT.

Tentative ruling:  Unopposed.  Grant.


 

DEFENDANTS’ MILs 1-4.

Hear 1 and 2 together:

Defendants’ MIL #1:  TO EXCLUDE ANY EVIDENCE, ARGUMENT OR REFERENCE THAT CONSTITUTE “REPTILE TACTICS”

Tentative Ruling: 

1.      DENY in part.  MIL is too vague.  Denial is without prejudice to raising an objection to specific argument made by Plaintiff that arguably replaces an applicable legal standard in this case.  If more closely aligned to Golden Rule/community or self-interest argument, OR PRECONDITIONING during voir dire, the court will sustain a timely objection from the defense.

2.      GRANT in part as to “golden rule.”

Ds’ MIL#2:  TO EXCLUDE preconditioning VOIR DIRE QUESTIONS REFERRING A SPECIFIC DOLLAR FIGURE FOR DAMAGESTENTATIVE RULING:

 

Tentative ruling:

 

GRANT, no specific dollar figure during voir dire or opening statement.

Suggest alternatives:  Any caps/upper limit, no matter the evidence?  “substantial”, 7 figures - are permissible.

Ds’ MIL #3:  TO EXCLUDE EVIDENCE REGARDING RICK REED’S FACEBOOK POSTS

Tentative ruling:  GRANT.  Insufficient proffer by Plaintiff; and 352- substantially more prejudicial than probative.

Ds’ MIL #4:  TO EXCLUDE EVIDENCE AND CLAIMS PLAINTIFF SUSTAINED A T.B.I.

Tentative ruling:  Unopposed.  GRANT.