                                                                                                                           Opinions of the United
2005 Decisions                                                                                                             States Court of Appeals
                                                                                                                              for the Third Circuit


4-15-2005

Haeseker v. Reynolds
Precedential or Non-Precedential: Non-Precedential

Docket No. 04-2749




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Recommended Citation
"Haeseker v. Reynolds" (2005). 2005 Decisions. Paper 1350.
http://digitalcommons.law.villanova.edu/thirdcircuit_2005/1350


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                                                                 NOT PRECEDENTIAL

                     UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                          FOR THE THIRD CIRCUIT


                                     No. 04-2749


                             RICHARD C. HAESEKER,
                                          Appellant

                                           v.

                    MARTIN REYNOLDS; JOHN BOHRMAN;
                   POCONO MOUNTAIN REGIONAL POLICE;
                   MARK PAZCHANICH; MONROE COUNTY
                 DISTRICT ATTORNEY; ELLEN C. SCHURDAK;
                           ROBERT C. TRICHILO


                     Appeal from the United States District Court
                       for the Middle District of Pennsylvania
                             (D.C. Civil No. 02-cv-00724)
                     District Judge: Honorable John E. Jones, III


                     Submitted Under Third Circuit LAR 34.1(a)
                                 March 11, 2005

           Before: NYGAARD, McKEE and RENDELL, Circuit Judges.

                                (Filed: April 15, 2005)


                             OPINION OF THE COURT


RENDELL, Circuit Judge.

     Richard C. Haeseker appeals the denial of a motion for post-trial relief after an
unsuccessful jury trial. On appeal, Haeseker asserts the District Court erred in various

evidentiary rulings and for failing to admonish opposing counsel’s conduct. Because the

District Court did not abuse its discretion in its evidentiary ruling and we find persuasive

its analysis in denying Haeseker a new trial, we will affirm the denial of the motion.

       As the parties are familiar with the facts, we will recite only those necessary to our

determination. Haeseker brought a claim for a violation of 42 U.S.C. § 1983 alleging that

Pocono Mountain Regional Police Officer Martin Reynolds and John Bohrman violated

his First, Fourth and Fourteenth Amendment rights, as well as his rights under

Pennsylvania state law. During trial, testimony from Officer Kenneth Gaust concerning

an incident on March 26, 2000 was introduced into evidence.1 Also, videotaped

testimony of Kaylin Sanders, which was previously reviewed by both parties for

objectionable testimony, was introduced into evidence. During the presentation of the

video to the jury, Haeseker objected to a section to which he had not originally objected.

After an unsuccessful jury trial, Haeseker filed a motion for post-trial relief requesting

that the District Court vacate the jury’s verdict and grant him a new trial. The District




  1
   Initially, Haeseker objected to the introduction of the officer’s March 26, 2000
incident report during the Plaintiff’s case-in-chief on the grounds that the report had not
been provided during the course of discovery. The District Court sustained the objection.
The District Court did, however, allow Defense counsel to call Officer Gaust as a witness
during the Defendant’s case because Haeseker put at issue the effect that the March 26,
2000 incident has had on his feelings towards law enforcement. Haeseker had the report
several days prior to Officer Gaust testifying and had the opportunity to cross-examine
the witness.

                                              2
Court denied the motion. Haeseker now objects to the admission of Gaust’s testimony,

the playing of part of the videotape of Sanders, opposing counsel’s conduct and certain

aspects of the jury charge.

       The District Court had jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1331. This Court has

jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1291. We review evidentiary admissions of the trial

court and motions for a new trial for an abuse of discretion. See Threadgill v. Armstrong

World Industries, Inc., 928 F.2d 1366, 1370 (3d Cir. 1991); Williamson v. Conrail, 926

F.2d 1344, 1353 (3d Cir. 1991). However, where there is no objection to an evidentiary

ruling, we review only for plain error. See Abrams v. Lightolier Inc., 50 F.3d 1204, 1213

(3d Cir. 1995).

       Haeseker contends that the District Court erred in failing to admonish opposing

counsel for his conduct during his closing argument and in failing to give a cautionary

instruction to the jury regarding this conduct. Haeseker failed to raise any objection as to

opposing counsel’s conduct or to the absence of such jury charge, and we find no plain

error in the District Court’s conduct in this regard.

       With respect to the testimony of Gaust and Sanders, Haeseker contends on appeal

a new trial should have been granted because the testimony of Gaust and Sanders was

improper and prejudicial. However, with respect to Officer Gaust’s testimony,

Haeseker’s counsel admitted that he could testify to the incident stating, “I think he could

be asked about his--what he perceived on the date of the incident that he’s going to testify



                                              3
to, but I don’t believe that he should be referencing that portion of this document that’s

never been provided.” Thus, Haeseker admitted that Officer Gaust could testify about the

incident, he had an opportunity to cross-examine Gaust, and the issue of unfair surprise

was resolved by the fact that Haeseker had several days to review the report prior to

Gaust’s testimony. Haeseker objected to the incident report, but failed to object to

Gaust’s testimony. There was no plain error. The District Court was clearly within its

discretion to admit the testimony. Haeseker is not entitled to a new trial on these grounds.

         Haeseker’s next contention is that the District Court erred in allowing the

videotaped testimony of Kaylin Sanders. This argument is without merit. Prior to the

admission of her testimony, both parties reviewed the tape and transcript to excise

objectionable testimony. Counsel for both parties acknowledged that this had been

accomplished and agreed upon. Haeseker’s objection was made after the tape was

reviewed and while it was being played for the jury. The objection was to a section that

had not been marked for redaction and was untimely. Because the objection was

untimely and the testimony was not so prejudicial as to cause a miscarriage of justice, the

District Court did not abuse its discretion in permitting Kaylin Sanders’ testimony.

         Accordingly, we will AFFIRM the District Court’s denial of the motion for a new

trial.




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