Taylor-Pace v. U.S. West ( 1996 )

UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
Filed 10/2/96
FOR THE TENTH CIRCUIT
VERNETTA TAYLOR-PACE,
Plaintiff-Appellant,
v. No. 95-1465
(D.C. No.93-WY-1791-WD)
U.S. WEST COMMUNICATIONS, (D. Colo)
INC.,
Defendant-Appellee.
ORDER AND JUDGMENT *
Before BRORBY, BARRETT, and EBEL, Circuit Judges.
After examining the briefs and appellate record, this panel has determined
unanimously that oral argument would not materially assist the determination of
this appeal. See Fed. R. App. P. 34(a); 10th Cir. R. 34.1.9. The case is therefore
ordered submitted without oral argument.
*
This order and judgment is not binding precedent, except under the
doctrines of law of the case, res judicata, and collateral estoppel. The court
generally disfavors the citation of orders and judgments; nevertheless, an order
and judgment may be cited under the terms and conditions of 10th Cir. R. 36.3.
In this appeal from the judgment entered for defendant on plaintiff’s
employment discrimination claims, the sole issue presented is whether the district
court abused its discretion in precluding plaintiff from introducing at trial
evidence concerning an employment grievance proceeding. See, e.g., Pandit v.
American Honda Motor Co., 82 F.3d 376, 379 (10th Cir. 1996)(appellate court
reviews evidentiary rulings for abuse of discretion). The district court excluded
evidence of the grievance proceeding under Fed. R. Evid. 401, 403, and 408.
While Rule 408 does not require the exclusion of evidence regarding the
settlement of a claim entirely different from the claim being litigated, see
Broadcort Capital Corp. v. Summa Medical Corp., 972 F.2d 1183, 1194 (10th Cir.
1992), as is the case here, admission of such evidence nonetheless implicates the
same concerns with prejudice and deterrence to settlements underlying Rule 408,
see Orth v. Emerson Elec. Co., 980 F.2d 632, 639 (10th Cir. 1992). In light of the
strong deference afforded the trial court in these matters, see, e.g., United States
v. Roberts, 88 F.3d 872, 880 (10th Cir. 1996)(addressing exclusion of evidence
under Rule 403), we cannot say the district court abused its discretion in
excluding this evidence under Rules 401 and 403. See Orth, 980 F.2d at 638-39.
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The judgment of the United States District Court for the District of
Colorado is AFFIRMED.
Entered for the Court
Wade Brorby
Circuit Judge
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