CIVIL PRETRIAL INSTRUCTIONS
A. MEET AND CONFER
At least forty-two (42) days prior to the final pretrial conference, lead counsel who will
try the case shall meet and confer regarding the following:
. Preparation and content of the joint pretrial conference statement, see Part B, infra;
. Preparation and exchange of pretrial materials, see Part C, infra; and
. Settlement of the action.
B. JOINT PRETRIAL CONFERENCE STATEMENT
At least twenty-one (21) days prior to the final pretrial conference, the parties shall file a
joint pretrial conference statement. The statement shall contain the following information:
1. The Action.
a. Substance of the Action. A brief description of the substance of claims
and defenses which need to be decided.
b. Relief Prayed. A statement of all relief sought, particularly itemizing all
elements of damages claimed.
2. Factual Basis of the Action.
a. Undisputed Facts. A list of all stipulated facts, i.e., all facts parties to
which the parties will stipulate to for incorporation into the trial record
without the necessity of supporting testimony or exhibits.
b. Disputed Factual Issues. A list of all factual issues that remain to be tried,
stating the issues with the same generality/specificity as any contested
elements in the relevant jury instructions and organized by counts.
3. Disputed Legal Issues. Without extended legal argument, a concise statement of
each disputed point of law concerning liability or relief, citing supporting statutes
and decisions.
4. Estimate of Trial Time. An estimate of the number of hours needed for the
presentation of each party’s case.
5. Trial Alternatives and Options.
a. Settlement Discussion. A statement summarizing the status of settlement
negotiations and indicating whether further negotiations are likely to be
productive.
b. Consent to Trial Before a Magistrate Judge. A statement whether
reference of all or part of the action to a master or magistrate judge is
feasible, including whether the parties consent to a court or jury trial
before a magistrate judge, with appeal directly to the Ninth Circuit.
c. Amendments or Dismissals. A statement of requested or proposed
amendments to pleadings or dismissals of parties, claims, or defenses.
d. Bifurcation or Separate Trial of Issues. A statement of whether
bifurcation or a separate trial of specific issues is feasible and desired.
6. Witnesses. The following information should be provided as an appendix to the
joint pretrial conference statement. For each party, a list of all witnesses likely to
be called at trial, including those appearing by deposition. For each witness, there
should be a short statement of the substance of his or her testimony and an
estimate regarding the length of testimony (including direct and cross-
examination). If the witness is an expert witness, the short statement should
clearly state the expert’s theories and conclusions and the bases therefor; in
addition, the expert’s curriculum vitae and report (if any) should be attached. If
there are objections to a live witness’s testimony, whether in whole or in part, that
objection should be raised through a motion in limine. For objections to
deposition testimony, see Part B.8, infra.
7. Exhibits. The following information should be provided as an appendix to the
joint pretrial conference statement. A joint exhibit list in tabular form, with (a) a
column that briefly describes the exhibit; (b) a column that describes for what
purpose the party will offer the exhibit and identifies its sponsoring witness; (c) a
column that states any objections to the exhibit; (d) a column that briefly responds
to the objections; and (e) a blank column for the Court’s use. Before this list is
filed with the Court, the parties shall meet and confer, in person, to consider
exhibit numbers, to eliminate duplicate exhibits and confusion over exhibits, and
to make a good faith effort to stipulate to admissibility. If stipulation is not
possible, the parties shall make every effort to stipulate to authenticity and
foundation absent a legitimate (not tactical) objection. In addition to the above, a
joint statement in which each party identifies fifteen (15) of the opposing party’s
exhibits for which the identifying party seeks rulings on objections in advance of
trial. A party may identify, e.g., an exhibit that it believes is critical to the case (if
admitted or if not admitted) or an exhibit that it believes is representative of other
exhibits such that the identified exhibit will provide a bellwether as to how the
Court will rule on other exhibits.
8. Use of Discovery Responses. The following information should be provided as
an appendix to the joint pretrial conference statement. Excerpts of interrogatory
responses, responses to requests for admission, and deposition testimony (with
specific line references identified) that each party intends to present at trial. If
there are objections to the use of written responses, the parties should include a
joint memorandum that briefly states the objecting party’s objection and the
opposing party’s response. If there is an objection to the general subject matter of
a deponent’s testimony, the objection should be made through a motion in limine.
If specific objections were made during the deposition that are still in need of a
Court ruling, the parties should include a joint memorandum that identifies the
deposition testimony at issue and that briefly states the objecting party’s objection
(including any counter-designation) and the opposing party’s response (including
any counter-designation). The Court expects the parties to meet and confer in
good faith in the attempt to resolve those specific objections regarding deposition
testimony before any memorandum regarding objections are filed.
C. PRETRIAL MATERIALS
At least twenty-one (21) days prior to the final pretrial conference, the parties shall file
the following pretrial materials.
1. Motions in Limine. The following procedure should be used with respect to
motions in limine. At least thirty-two (32) days before the pretrial conference, serve – but do not
file – the moving papers. At least twenty-five (25) days before the conference, serve – but do not
file – the oppositions. When the oppositions are received, the moving party should collate the
motion and opposition together, back to back, and then file the paired sets (each set under
separate cover) at least twenty-one (21) days prior to the conference.
Each motion in limine should address a single topic and contain no more than seven
pages of briefing per side. Reply briefs are not permitted. Usually, each party or side should not
need to file more than five motions in limine. Each party shall number its motions in limine in
order of importance, the first being the most important.
2. Preliminary Statement to the Jury. In a jury trial, the parties shall provide a
simplified statement of the case to be read to the jury during voir dire and as a part of the
proposed jury instructions. Unless the case is extremely complex, this statement should not
exceed one paragraph.
3. Jury Instructions. In a jury trial, a joint set of proposed jury instructions on
substantive issues of law, arranged in a logical sequence.
If undisputed, an instruction shall be identified as “Stipulated Instruction No. ____ re
____________________,” with the blanks filled in as appropriate. Even if stipulated, the
instruction shall be supported by citation.
If disputed, each version of the instruction shall be inserted together, back to back, in
their logical place in the overall sequence. A disputed instruction shall be identified as
“Disputed Instruction No. ____ re ____________________ offered by __________,” with the
blanks filled in as appropriate. All disputed versions of the same basic instruction shall bear the
same number. If a party does not have a counter-version and simply contends that no such
instruction in any version should be given, then that party should so state on a separate page
inserted in lieu of an alternate version. Each party should support its version of a disputed
instruction, and/or oppose the version offered by the opposing party, with a brief argument and
citation to any relevant authority. The argument and citation should be provided immediately
following the disputed instructions. The parties are encouraged to keep disputed instructions to a
minimum.
Finally, absent objection, the Court shall give the following jury instructions from the
Ninth Circuit Manual of Model Civil Jury Instructions (2017 ed.): 1.3-1.5, 1.9-1.15, 1.17-1.18,
1.20-1.21, 3.1-3.3, 3.5.
4. Voir Dire. In a jury trial, the Court will conduct a voir dire based on the attached
(or a similar) questions/subjects. Counsel may also submit for the Court’s consideration an
agreed upon set of additional voir dire questions to be posed by the Court. Any voir dire
questions on which counsel cannot agree may be submitted separately. Counsel will be allowed
a brief (15 minutes) follow-up voir dire after the Court’s questioning.
5. Verdict Form. In a jury trial, the parties shall submit a joint proposed verdict
form. If the parties are unable to stipulate to a verdict form, then each party or side shall submit
a proposed verdict form.
6. Proposed Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law. In a bench trial, each
party or side shall submit proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law.
7. Exhibits. The parties shall submit two sets of all exhibits. Exhibits are not to be
filed but rather shall be submitted to chambers. Exhibits must be premarked. In addition, one set
of exhibits must be tagged. Exhibits shall be three-hole punched and shall be submitted in
binders. Sample tags may be obtained from the Courtroom Deputy and are attached as Exhibit A
hereto.
8. Trial Brief. Each party shall submit a trial brief not to exceed 15 pages absent
court order. A trial brief is most helpful to the Court when it: (1) summarizes the party’s theory
of the case, (2) identifies key evidence, and (3) provides summary briefing on any controlling
issues of law.
JUROR QUESTIONNAIRE
1. Name.
2. City of residence.
3. Occupational status.
4. Organizations.
5. Hobbies.
6. Marital status.
7. Spouse’s occupation.
8. Children (including ages).
9. If a juror on another case.
10. If ever a grand juror.
11. If ever in the military.
EXHIBIT A
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
NORTHERN DISTRICT OF NORTHERN DISTRICT OF NORTHERN DISTRICT OF
CALIFORNIA CALIFORNIA CALIFORNIA
Case Number: Case Number: Case Number:
PLTF / DEFT EXHIBIT PLTF / DEFT EXHIBIT PLTF / DEFT EXHIBIT
NO._____________ NO._____________ NO._____________
Date Date Date
Admitted:________________________ Admitted:________________________ Admitted:________________________
By:_______________________________ By:_______________________________ By:_______________________________
Angella Meuleman, Deputy Clerk Angella Meuleman, Deputy Clerk Angella Meuleman, Deputy Clerk
------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
NORTHERN DISTRICT OF NORTHERN DISTRICT OF NORTHERN DISTRICT OF
CALIFORNIA CALIFORNIA CALIFORNIA
Case Number: Case Number: Case Number:
PLTF / DEFT EXHIBIT PLTF / DEFT EXHIBIT PLTF / DEFT EXHIBIT
NO._____________ NO._____________ NO._____________
Date Date Date
Admitted:________________________ Admitted:________________________ Admitted:________________________
By:_______________________________ By:_______________________________ By:_______________________________
Angella Meuleman, Deputy Clerk Angella Meuleman, Deputy Clerk Angella Meuleman, Deputy Clerk
------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
NORTHERN DISTRICT OF NORTHERN DISTRICT OF NORTHERN DISTRICT OF
CALIFORNIA CALIFORNIA CALIFORNIA
Case Number: Case Number: Case Number:
PLTF / DEFT EXHIBIT PLTF / DEFT EXHIBIT PLTF / DEFT EXHIBIT
NO._____________ NO._____________ NO._____________
Date Date Date
Admitted:________________________ Admitted:________________________ Admitted:________________________
By:_______________________________ By:_______________________________ By:_______________________________
Angella Meuleman, Deputy Clerk Angella Meuleman, Deputy Clerk Angella Meuleman, Deputy Clerk
------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
NORTHERN DISTRICT OF NORTHERN DISTRICT OF NORTHERN DISTRICT OF
CALIFORNIA CALIFORNIA CALIFORNIA
Case Number: Case Number: Case Number:
PLTF / DEFT EXHIBIT PLTF / DEFT EXHIBIT PLTF / DEFT EXHIBIT
NO._____________ NO._____________ NO._____________
Date Date Date
Admitted:________________________ Admitted:________________________ Admitted:________________________
By:_______________________________ By:_______________________________ By:_______________________________
Angella Meuleman, Deputy Clerk Angella Meuleman, Deputy Clerk Angella Meuleman, Deputy Clerk
------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------
updated: 02/04/2019
