Alberto Ruiz v. Officer Jennifer Wing ( 2021 )

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[PUBLISH]
IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE ELEVENTH CIRCUIT
________________________
No. 18-10912
________________________
D.C. Docket No. 1:15-cv-22618-UU
ALBERTO RUIZ,
Plaintiff - Appellant,
versus
OFFICER JENNIFER WING,
#7741,
OFFICER DANNY FALLS,
#1833,
Defendants - Appellees,
UNKNOWN OFFICER,
City of Miami Police, et al.,
Defendants.
________________________
Appeal from the United States District Court
for the Southern District of Florida
________________________
(February 4, 2021)
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Before MARTIN, GRANT, and LAGOA, Circuit Judges.
LAGOA, Circuit Judge:
This appeal asks us to determine whether a pro se motion for a new trial that
is stricken because the movant is represented by counsel tolls the time for filing a
notice of appeal of the judgment under Federal Rule of Appellate Procedure
4(a)(4)(A). We conclude that it does.
Alberto Ruiz brought an action against Officers Jennifer Wing and Danny
Fals 1 under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, alleging that the Officers used excessive force when
apprehending him. Following a jury trial, the jury returned a verdict for the Officers,
and, on January 11, 2018, the district court entered final judgment in favor of the
Officers and against Ruiz. Although represented by counsel, Ruiz, acting pro se,
filed a motion for new trial pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 59 on
January 26, 2018. The district court struck Ruiz’s motion as an unauthorized pro se
filing by a represented party on February 27, 2018, and subsequently denied a
motion for reconsideration filed by Ruiz’s counsel. Ruiz filed his notice of appeal
on March 6, 2018, and now appeals the entry of final judgment against him and the
district court’s order striking his motion for a new trial. The Officers moved to
dismiss this appeal for lack of jurisdiction, arguing that Ruiz’s notice of appeal was
1
In the record below, the Officer’s last name is spelled interchangeably as “Falls” or
“Fals.” For purposes of this appeal, we refer to him as Officer Danny Fals, as the Officer spelled
his last name as Fals and that spelling was used in the district court’s entry of final judgment.
2
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untimely. For the reasons discussed below, we conclude that Ruiz’s Rule 59 motion
for a new trial tolled the time for him to file a notice of appeal, that his notice of
appeal was therefore timely, and that we have jurisdiction over Ruiz’s appeal. But
because none of Ruiz’s claims have merit, we affirm.
I. FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY
On the morning of September 24, 2014, Ruiz stole a Sports Utility Vehicle
(“SUV”) from the valet area of a Miami hotel. During the carjacking, Ruiz scuffled
with the valet staff and, in his attempt to drive away, crashed the SUV into parked
cars and hotel employees, knocking over luggage carts and injuring many of the
hotel employees in the valet area. Ruiz then fled the scene with the SUV. The
hotel’s security cameras captured all of Ruiz’s actions on video (the “Hotel Video”).
After stealing the SUV, Ruiz sold the personal property inside of the SUV, including
valuable electronics, to a person known by Ruiz to purchase stolen goods.
Later that day, City of Miami police officers located Ruiz by tracking his
cellphone to a motel, although his exact location within the motel was unknown.
Officers Wing and Fals, members of a tactical City of Miami Police Department unit
focused on robbery, were called to assist with the arrest. Although the Officers knew
the nature of the crimes for which Ruiz was to be arrested—carjacking, attempted
murder, and robbery—they had not viewed the Hotel Video prior to arriving at the
motel.
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Ruiz was eventually subdued and arrested in his motel room. By the end of
the arrest, Ruiz suffered a broken jaw and fractured ribs. The Miami-Dade County
State Attorney’s Office charged Ruiz with several felonies based on his theft of the
SUV, and Ruiz ultimately pled guilty to those charges in state court and was
sentenced to a twenty-year prison sentence.
Ruiz subsequently filed a pro se complaint in federal district court against the
Officers pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983, alleging that the Officers used excessive force
when apprehending him. About six months before trial commenced, Ruiz obtained
pro bono trial counsel through a volunteer program administered by the Southern
District of Florida, and Ruiz’s counsel filed a notice of appearance on behalf of Ruiz
as “counsel of record.” 2 The notice of appearance did not reflect any understanding
between Ruiz and his counsel that their attorney-client relationship would conclude
immediately following the trial or that counsel’s engagement was limited solely to
the trial itself.
Prior to trial, Ruiz, through counsel, filed a motion in limine to exclude,
among other things, certain facts relating to Ruiz’s arrest. The motion in limine did
not reference the Hotel Video or any specific facts or evidence, but instead sought
to exclude all facts relating to Ruiz’s crimes as irrelevant and unfairly prejudicial.
2
Until Ruiz’s pro se motion for new trial, Ruiz’s counsel filed all of the papers with the
district court and made all of the presentations before the district court and the jury on Ruiz’s
behalf.
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[Id.] The district court denied the motion, finding that the information relating to
Ruiz’s underlying crimes would be relevant at trial to the severity of the crimes for
which Ruiz was arrested, which is a factor when considering the reasonableness of
the Officers’ use of force during Ruiz’s arrest. The district court further noted that,
given the physical altercations during the commission of Ruiz’s crimes, information
surrounding the crimes would be relevant as to causation of Ruiz’s injuries.
At a pretrial conference, Ruiz noted his intent to play the Hotel Video for the
jury during his opening statement. Ruiz and the Officers later agreed to jointly play
the Hotel Video to the jury as a court exhibit before opening statements. The case
proceeded to trial, and, pursuant to the parties’ agreement, the district court began
the trial by playing the Hotel Video. Ruiz did not object to the presentation of the
Hotel Video. Indeed, he referred to the Hotel Video throughout trial.
During trial, Ruiz and the Officers presented conflicting testimony regarding
the events immediately prior to Ruiz’s arrest. Ruiz testified that he was in his motel
room when he heard a commotion outside of the door. He testified that he opened
the door and complied with the Officers’ demands to lay on the floor. Ruiz explained
that, after he laid down, Officer Fals kicked him in the face and ribs and directed
Officer Wing to taser Ruiz while both Officers interrogated him about the stolen
property from the SUV. Ruiz further testified that he believed the Officers stole the
money that he had received from selling the stolen property, along with Ruiz’s gold
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chain. In contrast, Officer Fals testified that he spotted Ruiz in the motel courtyard,
and that Ruiz attempted to flee. Officer Fals explained that he pursued Ruiz and
tackled him into furniture as Ruiz tried to run into his motel room and shut the door.
Similarly, Officer Wing testified that she saw Officer Fals chasing Ruiz through the
motel courtyard to a motel room. She further testified when she arrived at the room,
she saw Officer Fals wrestling with Ruiz on the ground as he resisted and fought
back. Both Officers testified that Ruiz violently resisted arrest, which caused Officer
Fals to strike Ruiz with closed fists and Officer Wing to use her taser on Ruiz.
Of relevance to this appeal, counsel for the Officers made certain comments
and arguments during opening statement, closing argument, and direct examinations
that Ruiz now characterizes as improper and based on facts outside of the evidence
presented. These include comments (1) regarding how and when the police tracked
Ruiz’s phone, (2) implying that Ruiz’s crimes were covered by the media, (3)
implying that Ruiz had smoked crack cocaine on the day of his arrest and that a crack
pipe was found in Ruiz’s motel room, (4) discussing Ruiz’s other crimes and his
danger to the community, (5) bolstering the Officers’ credibility, including calling
them “heroes,” and (6) using words and phrases that Ruiz contends are inflammatory
or exaggerated. Ruiz, however, objected to only some of these statements.
Additionally, following Ruiz’s first objection, he stated that he “ha[d] a motion,” but
did not explicitly raise this “motion” as a motion for mistrial. After making a second
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objection, Ruiz asked to renew this “motion” later in the proceedings. But Ruiz
again did not specify the nature of this “motion” nor ever raise the motion later in
the proceedings.
Also of relevance to this appeal, the district court interrupted questioning
during the examination of Ruiz to clarify and ensure responsive answers. For
example, when Ruiz’s counsel described the person who purchased Ruiz’s stolen
goods as a “pawn shop,” the district court interjected to clarify that the person was a
“fence” who deals in stolen goods and not a pawn shop. Throughout trial, the district
court also directed Ruiz’s counsel to refrain from argumentative questioning, to
proceed expeditiously, and to not seek duplicative or otherwise improper testimony.
During the jury’s deliberations, the jury requested to see the Hotel Video
again. No party objected, and the district court allowed the jury to see the video.
The jury then returned a verdict for the Officers. On January 11, 2018, the district
court entered final judgment in favor of the Officers and against Ruiz.
On January 26, 2018, Ruiz—acting pro se—filed a motion for a new trial
pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 59. In that motion, Ruiz argued that the
district court should not have allowed the Hotel Video to be presented to the jury
during the trial. Ruiz attached to his motion a notice to the clerk advising that Ruiz’s
trial attorney “is believed that he will not be representing me on any other issues of
the case.” The Officers opposed Ruiz’s motion for a new trial, arguing that the pro
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se filing should be stricken because Ruiz was represented by counsel. The Officers
additionally argued that Ruiz waived any objection to admission of the Hotel Video
and that admission of the Hotel Video was not erroneous or a basis for a new trial.
Ruiz’s trial counsel then filed a notice adopting Ruiz’s pro se motion for a new trial
and advising that counsel was “re-appear[ing] as pro bono counsel [for Ruiz] for
purposes of the post-trial phase(s) of this case.”
On February 27, 2018, the district court struck Ruiz’s motion for a new trial
as an unauthorized pro se filing by a represented party. Ruiz, through counsel,
moved for reconsideration of the order striking the motion. On March 6, 2018, the
district court denied Ruiz’s motion for reconsideration, noting that Ruiz had been
continuously represented by counsel since his counsel’s initial notice of appearance.
That same day, Ruiz filed his notice of appeal, and this appeal ensued.
II. STANDARDS OF REVIEW
Generally, we review a district court’s evidentiary rulings for abuse of
discretion. Lamonica v. Safe Hurricane Shutters, Inc., 711 F.3d 1299, 1317 (11th
Cir. 2013). However, on issues that a plaintiff fails to object to at trial, we review
only for plain error. See ML Healthcare Servs., LLC v. Publix Super Mkts., Inc., 881
F.3d 1293, 1305 (11th Cir. 2018).
Additionally, we review the district court’s disposition of a motion for a new
trial and a motion for mistrial for abuse of discretion. Ard v. Sw. Forest Indus., 849
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F.2d 517, 520 (11th Cir. 1988) (explaining review standard for disposition of a
motion for new trial); Frederick v. Kirby Tankships, Inc., 205 F.3d 1277, 1285 (11th
Cir. 2000) (explaining review standard for disposition of a motion for mistrial).
III. ANALYSIS
On appeal, Ruiz argues that the final judgment in favor of the Officers should
be vacated and that this Court should remand this case for a new trial. Specifically,
Ruiz argues that the district court erred by (1) allowing the Hotel Video to be shown
to the jury; (2) allowing and not correcting comments made by the Officers’ counsel
during opening statement, closing argument, and examination of the witnesses; (3)
not considering Ruiz’s intended motion for mistrial made during the Officers’
opening statement; and (4) directly questioning Ruiz and instructing Ruiz’s counsel
on their questioning and trial management. Ruiz also argues that the district court
erred in striking his pro se motion for a new trial. In response, the Officers contend
that we lack jurisdiction to consider Ruiz’s appeal because his notice of appeal was
untimely. We first address the jurisdictional issue before turning to the merits of the
appeal.
A. Jurisdiction
Federal Rule of Appellate Procedure 4(a)(1)(A) requires a party in a civil
action to file its notice of appeal “within 30 days after entry of the judgment or order
appealed from.” The time for filing an appeal is tolled, however, when a party timely
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files one of the motions enumerated in Rule 4(a)(4), including a motion “for a new
trial under [Federal Rule of Civil Procedure] 59.” Fed. R. App. P. 4(a)(4)(v). “[T]he
timely filing of a notice of appeal in a civil case is a jurisdictional requirement.”
Green v. DEA, 606 F.3d 1296, 1300 (11th Cir. 2010) (alteration in original) (quoting
Bowles v. Russell, 551 U.S. 205, 214 (2007)). Therefore, when an appellant fails to
file a notice of appeal within thirty days “after entry of the judgment or order
appealed from,” or within thirty days of “the entry of the order disposing” of an
appropriate post-trial motion, we lack jurisdiction to consider the appeal. Fed. R.
App. P. 4(a)(1)(A), (a)(4)(A); see Green, 606 F.3d at 1301–03. Additionally,
“[u]ntimely motions under Rules 59 and 60 will not toll the time for filing an
appeal.” Green, 606 F.3d at 1300 (quoting Advanced Estimating Sys., Inc. v. Riney,
77 F.3d 1322, 1323 (11th Cir. 1996)).
Here, the district court entered final judgment on January 11, 2018, and Ruiz
filed his notice of appeal on March 6, 2018—more than thirty days later. Although
Ruiz filed his notice of appeal more than thirty days after entry of final judgment, it
was filed within thirty days of the district court’s order striking his January 26, 2018,
pro se motion for a new trial.3 And the Officers do not dispute that Ruiz filed his
3
Ruiz’s motion for reconsideration of the district court’s denial of his Rule 59 motion for
new trial did not toll the time for filing his notice of appeal. See Wright v. Preferred Rsch., Inc.,
891 F.2d 886, 889 (11th Cir. 1990) (explaining that “the language and purpose of Rule 4(a)(4)
indicate that the time for appeal is postponed only by an original motion of the type specified” and
that, generally, “a motion to reconsider an order disposing of such a motion will not further
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pro se motion for a new trial under Rule 59 within the time permitted by that rule.
See Fed. R. Civ. P. 59(b) (“A motion for a new trial must be filed no later than 28
days after the entry of judgment.”).
The Officers, however, argue in their motion to dismiss 4 that Ruiz’s pro se
motion, which the district court struck as an unauthorized pro se filing by a
represented party, was not “file[d]” for purposes of Rule 4(a) and should be treated
as a nullity that did not toll Rule 4’s deadline for filing the notice of appeal. As such,
the Officers contend that Ruiz’s notice of appeal is untimely as to any appeal from
the final judgment and that we lack jurisdiction to review his appeal as to the final
judgment. We reject this argument as inconsistent with the plain language of Rule
4.
We construe rules of procedure like any other statutory scheme, i.e., by
determining the rule’s plain meaning. Burns v. Lawther, 53 F.3d 1237, 1240 (11th
Cir. 1995). Thus, we begin our analysis by looking at the language of the rule, and,
absent a definition of a term contained in the rule, we look to the common usage of
postpone the time to appeal” (emphasis in original) (quoting 9 Moore’s Federal Practice
¶ 204.121[1])).
4
The Officers moved to dismiss all issues on appeal for lack of jurisdiction, i.e., issues
arising from the final judgment as well as issues arising from denial of the motion for new trial.
In an August 23, 2018, order, this Court denied the Officers’ motion as to the orders disposing of
Ruiz’s pro se motion for a new trial, as Ruiz appealed from those orders within thirty days of their
entry, and further ordered that the issue regarding Ruiz’s appeal from the entry of final judgment
be carried with the case. We therefore only address our jurisdiction to review the issues raised as
to the final judgment.
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words for their meaning. See People for Ethical Treatment of Animals, Inc. v. Miami
Seaquarium, 879 F.3d 1142, 1146 (11th Cir. 2018); In re Hood, 727 F.3d 1360, 1364
(11th Cir. 2013). “Dictionary definitions speak to common usage,” and the plain
meaning of a word must be viewed in the context of the entire text. Miami
Seaquarium, 879 F.3d at 1146–47. Indeed, “[t]he ordinary-meaning rule is the most
fundamental semantic rule of interpretation. It governs constitutions, statutes, rules,
and private instruments.” Antonin Scalia & Bryan A. Garner, Reading Law 69
(2012) (footnote omitted). While most words carry more than one dictionary
definition, “[o]ne should assume the contextually appropriate ordinary meaning
unless there is reason to think otherwise.” Id. at 70.
Federal Rule of Appellate Procedure 4(a)(4)(A) provides, in relevant part:
If a party files in the district court any of the following motions under
the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure—and does so within the time
allowed by those rules—the time to file an appeal runs for all parties
from the entry of the order disposing of the last such remaining motion:
...
(v) for a new trial under Rule 59 . . .
(emphasis added). Black’s Law Dictionary defines the verb “file” as “[t]o deliver a
legal document to the court clerk or record custodian for placement into the official
record.” File, Black’s Law Dictionary (11th ed. 2019). In order to toll the time to
file a notice of appeal, Rule 4(a)(4)(A) simply requires that a party file one of the
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motions enumerated in the rule and that the filing be timely. The rule requires
nothing more.
While the Officers contend that the order striking Ruiz’s pro se motion as an
authorized pro se filing rendered the motion a nullity, nothing in Rule 4(a)(4)
conditions the tolling of time to file a notice of appeal on a merits denial of the
relevant motion. Rule 4(a)(4) also does not contain any language permitting a court
to find that a timely filed motion is void ab initio in some way. Indeed, Rule 4(a)(4)
tolls the time to file a notice of appeal based on “entry of the order disposing of” the
“last such remaining motion.” (emphasis added). The term “dispose” in this context
means “to settle a matter finally or definitively [or] . . . to treat or handle (something)
with the result of finishing or finishing with.” Dispose, Webster’s Third New Int’l
Dictionary (2002); see also Dispose, The American Heritage Dictionary of the
English Language (3d ed. 1996) (defining “dispose” as, among other things, “[t]o
settle or decide a matter [and] [t]o get rid of; throw out”). By entering an order
striking Ruiz’s pro se motion for a new trial pursuant to Rule 59, the district court
denied the relief sought and decided the motion on procedural grounds. The district
court’s order striking the motion thus constitutes “disposing of” the motion as
contemplated by the plain meaning of Rule 4(a)(4)(A), and the Officers concede that
Ruiz filed his notice of appeal within thirty days of that order.
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Finally, Rule 4(a)(4)(A)’s language does not require that an enumerated
motion be filed by an attorney or authorized by the district court, nor are we
permitted to add words to the rule. See Friends of Everglades v. S. Fla. Water Mgmt.
Dist., 570 F.3d 1210, 1224 (11th Cir. 2009). As discussed below, while it was within
the district court’s discretion to strike Ruiz’s pro se motion, the motion was
nonetheless timely filed for purposes of Rule 4(a)(4)(A). Accordingly, Ruiz’s notice
of appeal, which was filed within thirty days of the district court’s order striking the
motion for new trial, is timely, and we have jurisdiction over his appeal. 5 We now
turn to the merits of the appeal.
B. Whether the Hotel Video’s admission was erroneous
Ruiz challenges the district court’s admission of the Hotel Video, which
depicts violent actions by Ruiz that were not observed by the Officers prior to the
arrest and that occurred hours before, and miles away from, the arrest. Ruiz argues
that the Hotel Video is irrelevant to his claims against the Officers and unfairly
prejudicial because it is inflammatory. In response, the Officers contend that the
Hotel Video is relevant because it shows the severity of the crimes for which Ruiz
was arrested—a factor in determining the reasonableness of force used in an arrest—
5
We note that our conclusion is consistent with that of two other Circuits facing similar
facts. See Fontanillas-Lopez v. Morell Bauzá Cartagena & Dapena, LLC, 832 F.3d 50, 58–59 (1st
Cir. 2016); Carlson v. CSX Transp., Inc., 758 F.3d 819, 824–26 (7th Cir. 2014). And although
another Circuit has reached a different conclusion, we respectfully disagree with its reasoning. See
Bunn v. Perdue, 966 F.3d 1094, 1098 (10th Cir. 2020).
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and because the physical altercation shown on the video is probative of the cause of
Ruiz’s injuries. The Officers also contend that Ruiz waived his objection to
admission of the Hotel Video because he agreed to play it to the jury as a joint exhibit
and failed to object to its admission at trial.
To preserve an evidentiary error for appeal, the aggrieved party must, on the
record, timely object at trial or file a motion to strike and state the specific grounds
for the purported error. See Fed. R. Evid. 103(a). “The overruling of a motion in
limine is not reversible error, only a proper objection at trial can preserve error for
appellate review.” United States v. Gari, 572 F.3d 1352, 1356 n.2 (11th Cir. 2009)
(quoting United States v. Rutkowski, 814 F.2d 594, 598 (11th Cir. 1987)); accord
Goulah v. Ford Motor Co., 118 F.3d 1478, 1483 (11th Cir. 1997) (“Absent some
good reason for failing to object at trial, . . . a motion [in limine] does not preserve
an error for appeal.”). Moreover, a party introducing evidence generally “cannot
complain on appeal that the evidence was erroneously admitted.” Ohler v. United
States, 529 U.S. 753, 755 (2000). This is true even when a party preemptively
introduces evidence that the party sought to exclude in a motion in limine as a
“tactical advantage.” See id. at 756–60 (concluding that “a defendant who
preemptively introduces evidence of a prior conviction on direct examination may
not on appeal claim that the admission of such evidence was error”).
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Based on our review of the record, we conclude that Ruiz waived his objection
to the admissibility of the Hotel Video by preemptively playing the video and not
objecting to its admission at trial. Here, Ruiz moved in limine for a blanket exclusion
of all facts relating to his underlying crimes, which the district court denied. At trial,
rather than making a timely objection to the admission and presentation of the Hotel
Video, Ruiz instead agreed to play the video at the outset of the trial as a joint exhibit
and referred to the video throughout trial. While Ruiz now claims that this
arrangement was meant to minimize the prejudice from presentation of the Hotel
Video to the jury, Ruiz’s strategic trial decision waived his right to now contest the
admissibility of the video. As expressed by the Supreme Court in Ohler, it would
be unfair to allow a party to preemptively introduce evidence to “remov[e] the sting,”
while preserving an objection to its admissibility for appellate review. See id. at
758. We therefore find that Ruiz waived his objection to the admissibility of the
Hotel Video.
Even assuming Ruiz had not waived the issue of the admissibility of the Hotel
Video, however, the district court did not commit plain error in admitting it and
permitting it to be played at trial.6 “[W]hen a party raises a claim of evidentiary
error for the first time on appeal, we review it for plain error only.” United States v.
6
While both parties address this issue under the abuse of discretion standard, our review
is limited to a plain error standard, as it is undisputed that Ruiz failed to raise an objection to the
Hotel Video at trial. See Smith, 459 F.3d at 1296.
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Smith, 459 F.3d 1276, 1296 (11th Cir. 2006) (alteration in original) (quoting United
States v. Baker, 432 F.3d 1189, 1202 (11th Cir. 2005)); see also Higgs v. Costa
Crociere S.P.A. Co., 969 F.3d 1295, 1307 n.2 (11th Cir. 2020) (“It is well established
that ‘the overruling of a motion in limine does not suffice” for preservation of an
objection on appeal.’ And where a party fails to renew its objection at trial, our
review is only for plain error.” (citations omitted) (quoting United States v. Brown,
665 F.3d 1239, 1247 (11th Cir. 2011))). “For there to be plain error, there must (1)
be error, (2) that is plain, (3) that affects the substantial rights of the party, and (4)
that seriously affects the fairness, integrity, or public reputation of a judicial
proceeding.” Brough v. Imperial Sterling Ltd., 297 F.3d 1172, 1179 (11th Cir.
2002). Indeed, “[f]or the admission of evidence to constitute plain error, the
evidence must have been so obviously inadmissible and prejudicial that, despite [the
opposing party’s] failure to object, the district court, sua sponte, should have
excluded the evidence.” ML Healthcare Servs., 881 F.3d at 1305 (second alteration
in original) (quoting United States v. Williams, 527 F.3d 1235, 1247 (11th Cir.
2008)).
Based on our review of the record, it was not plain error for the district court
to admit the Hotel Video into evidence, as the Hotel Video was relevant to the issues
at the heart of Ruiz’s claims and to Ruiz’s injuries. The Hotel Video showed hotel
employees attempting to forcibly remove Ruiz from the stolen SUV, Ruiz fighting
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them off, and then repeatedly crashing the vehicle into other cars and people with
the driver’s door open. Because the Hotel Video is not “so clearly prejudicial to
[Ruiz] that the district court erred in failing to sua sponte exclude or strike” the
video, Ruiz has failed to demonstrate plain error as the admission of the Hotel Video.
Id. at 1305.
C. Whether comments made by the Officers’ counsel during trial were
improper
Ruiz next argues that the Officers’ counsel made inappropriate comments
during trial that impaired the jury’s ability to consider Ruiz’s claims. While Ruiz
points to various instances of purportedly inappropriate commentary, Ruiz objected
to only a few of these remarks. Based on our review of the record, these comments,
even considered together, do not warrant a new trial.
A party must raise an objection to errors in the opposing party’s argument.
Oxford Furniture Cos. v. Drexel Heritage Furnishings, Inc., 984 F.2d 1118, 1128
(11th Cir. 1993). When a timely objection is made, we must determine whether the
inappropriate comment “impaired a substantial right of the objecting party.”
Newman v. A. E. Staley Mfg. Co., 648 F.2d 330, 335 (5th Cir. Unit B June 1981)7;
see also United States v. Azmat, 805 F.3d 1018, 1044 (11th Cir. 2015) (explaining
7
Decisions by the former Fifth Circuit issued before October 1, 1981, as well as decisions
by the Unit B panel of the former Fifth Circuit, are binding precedent on this Court. See Bonner
v. City of Prichard, 661 F.2d 1206, 1207 (11th Cir. 1981) (en banc); Stein v. Reynolds Sec., Inc.,
667 F.2d 33, 34 (11th Cir. 1982).
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that counsel’s “remarks, suggestions, insinuations, and assertions are improper when
they are calculated to mislead or inflame the jury’s passions”). We consider “the
entire argument, the context of the remarks, the objection raised, and the curative
instruction,” and inappropriate statements made by counsel will not justify a new
trial unless the “remarks were ‘such as to impair gravely the calm and dispassionate
consideration of the case by the jury.’” Vineyard v. County of Murray, 990 F.2d
1207, 1213 (11th Cir. 1993) (quoting Allstate Ins. Co. v. James, 845 F.2d 315, 318
(11th Cir. 1988)); accord Higgs, 969 F.3d at 1307.
When no objections are raised to the allegedly improper comments, however,
we review for plain error, “but a finding of plain error ‘is seldom justified in
reviewing argument of counsel in a civil case.’” Oxford Furniture, 984 F.2d at 1128(quoting Woods v. Burlington N. R.R. Co., 768 F.2d 1287, 1292 (11th Cir. 1985));
accord Higgs, 969 F.3d at 1307. As noted above, plain error requires a showing that
(1) an error occurred; (2) the error was plain; (3) it affected substantial rights; and
(4) “not correcting the error would seriously affect the fairness of the judicial
proceeding.” Farley v. Nationwide Mut. Ins. Co., 197 F.3d 1322, 1329 (11th Cir.
1999); accord Brough, 297 F.3d at 1179. When the complaining party objects to
some but not all allegedly improper statements, we apply these two differing
standards while considering the record as a whole. See Newman, 648 F.2d at 335.
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As to the objected-to comments, during opening statement, Ruiz objected to
the Officers’ counsel’s references to evidence regarding the media’s coverage of
Ruiz’s crimes and Officer Wing’s taser log. During closing argument, Ruiz objected
to the Officers’ counsel’s reference to the Officers as “heroes” and suggestion that
Ruiz used some of the proceeds of the stolen property to purchase crack cocaine.
We conclude that these objected-to comments did not impair Ruiz’s
substantial rights. The reference to the media coverage of the carjacking did not
serve to inflame and prejudice the jury, given the fact that the Hotel Video, which
captured the events surrounding the carjacking, was played to the jury with Ruiz’s
consent. We similarly fail to see how counsel’s reference to the amount of taser
attempts in Officer Wing’s taser log substantially prejudiced Ruiz’s rights, given that
Officer Wing testified as to the log. Regarding the reference to Ruiz’s usage of crack
cocaine, Ruiz admitted to using cocaine on the day of his arrest in his trial testimony,
minimizing any prejudicial effect that would impair Ruiz’s rights from the comment.
And while counsel referenced the Officers as “heroes” in closing argument, we
cannot say that this reference inflamed or provoked the jury when read in context of
the entire closing argument. See Vineyard, 990 F.2d at 1213. We also note that the
district court sustained Ruiz’s objection as to the “heroes” remark, and Ruiz did not
ask for a curative instruction.
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Ruiz did not object to the remaining allegedly improper remarks by the
Officers’ counsel, including comments (1) regarding how and when the police
tracked Ruiz’s phone and how Ruiz was unaware of that information until trial; (2)
implying that Ruiz had smoked crack cocaine prior to his arrest; (3) discussing other
crimes and Ruiz’s danger to the community; (4) bolstering the Officers’ credibility;
and (5) using loaded words such as “mayhem” and “tyranny,” alluding to God, and
disagreeing with Ruiz’s account of events. Reviewing the record and trial
transcripts, we conclude that Ruiz has failed to demonstrate plain error even
considering these unobjected-to comments as a whole. These comments were not
so inflammatory or unsubstantiated as to have provoked or confused the jury or to
have substantially prejudiced Ruiz’s rights and affected the fairness of the
proceedings. See Oxford Furniture, 984 F.2d at 1128–29; Brough, 297 F.3d at 1179.
Additionally, many of these comments could have been cured if Ruiz had objected
and made such a request, but he did not do so. Thus, Ruiz has not shown reversible
or plain error as to the allegedly improper comments by the Officers’ counsel.
D. Whether the district court’s questioning and comments to Ruiz and
his counsel were prejudicial
Ruiz also argues that the district court deprived him of a fair trial by directly
questioning him during his examination and by commenting on his counsel’s
questioning and trial efficiency. Ruiz claims the district court improperly questioned
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him on irrelevant and prejudicial topics and gave the jury the impression that Ruiz’s
counsel was inept.
Because Ruiz did not object to the district court’s allegedly improper
behavior, we may only order a new trial if we find plain error. See Newman, 648
F.2d at 334–35. In this context, plain error arises only if the district court’s
comments “were so prejudicial as to deny a party an opportunity for a fair and
impartial trial.” Id. at 335 (quoting Miley v. Delta Marine Drilling Co., 473 F.2d
856, 857–58 (5th Cir. 1973)). For example, in Newman, this Court’s predecessor
ordered a new jury trial because the district court made comments that could have
led the jury to conclude that the court favored the plaintiff’s position. See id. at 336.
After reviewing the district court’s questioning and comments in context of
the trial, we do not find impropriety by the district court that jeopardized the fairness
of the trial. Ruiz first points to the district court’s questioning as to the “fence” who
purchased the stolen goods from Ruiz. This questioning, however, was meant to
correct Ruiz’s counsel’s mischaracterization of that person as a “pawn shop,” which
is a legitimate business. And the district court did not, by eliciting more information
about the “fence,” introduce irrelevant or prejudicial evidence. Similarly, the district
court’s other interruptions during the questioning of Ruiz were in response to Ruiz’s
evasive and off-topic responses when Ruiz was questioned about his prison sentence
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and drug use on the day he was arrested. The district court simply asked pointed
questions to move the trial along.
As to the district court’s admonitions to Ruiz’s counsel, these were not
improper. Nor could they have been reasonably perceived by the jury as the district
court’s bias in favor of the Officers. The record shows the district court’s ongoing
attempts to have the trial proceed as efficiently as possible, without improper
questioning or discussion of irrelevant topics. The comments cited by Ruiz follow
prior warnings and instructions by the district court. As such, we find that they are
neither unreasonable nor hostile. Moreover, as the Officers correctly point out, the
district court also admonished the Officers’ counsel when they asked improper
questions and made inappropriate comments. For example, the district court
directed the Officers’ counsel to “calm down” at one point, interrupted the Officers’
counsel when making argumentative questions or questions calling for hearsay, and
repeatedly reminded the Officers’ counsel to not lead the witnesses. Because the
district court did not give the appearance that it favored the Officers over Ruiz nor
otherwise deprived Ruiz of a fair trial, Ruiz failed to show plain error in the district
court’s questioning and commentary.
E. Whether Ruiz’s motion for mistrial was erroneously not considered
or denied
During the Officers’ opening statement, Ruiz coupled his first two objections
with references to a “motion” but did not state the grounds or request any relief.
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Ruiz now claims that he intended to raise a motion for mistrial based on improper
comments, and the district court erred in refusing to consider it or, alternatively,
summarily denying it. We conclude that Ruiz failed to raise a cognizable motion for
mistrial, and, even if he had made such a motion, the district court’s summary denial
of such a motion would not constitute reversible error.
While a motion made at trial need not be made in writing, it must “state with
particularity the grounds for seeking the order” and “state the relief sought.” Fed.
R. Civ. P. 7(b); accord Davis v. Hill Eng’g, Inc., 549 F.2d 314, 325 (5th Cir. 1977)
(“[Federal Rule of Civil Procedure] 7(b)(1) requires that a motion state with
particularity the grounds on which it is based.”). As discussed above, to grant a
motion for mistrial based on counsel remarks, the remarks must be “such as to impair
gravely the calm and dispassionate consideration of the case by the jury.” See
Vineyard, 990 F.2d at 1213 (quoting Allstate, 845 F.2d at 318). And to find that the
district court erred in not considering or denying a motion for mistrial, we must find
that the allegedly improper commentary “impaired a substantial right of the
objecting party.” See Newman, 648 F.2d at 335.
Here, Ruiz first stated that he “[had] a motion,” to which the district court
responded, “I don’t see the problem. I’m not going to hear any of that.” After his
second objection, Ruiz stated, “We are renewing our motion when you have time.”
The district court then directed the Officers’ counsel to “[g]o on to something else.”
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Ruiz, however, never specified what type of “motion” he was seeking to make nor
did he raise his motion at a later point during the trial proceedings. Without any
indication in the record as to the substance of Ruiz’s motion, we find that Ruiz did
not assert a proper motion for mistrial under Rule 7(b).
But even if Ruiz had asserted a proper motion for mistrial, that motion only
covered several objected-to comments made by the Officers’ counsel during opening
statement. And as discussed above, those comments did not impair the jury’s ability
to consider Ruiz’s claims or impair a substantial right of Ruiz. See Vineyard, 990
F.2d at 1213; Newman, 648 F.2d at 335. Thus, even assuming that Ruiz properly
raised a motion for mistrial, the district court’s summary denial does not warrant a
new trial.
F. Whether the district court erred in striking Ruiz’s pro se motion
for new trial
Finally, Ruiz argues that the district court erred in striking his pro se motion
for a new trial as an unauthorized pro se filing. We find this argument without merit.
“It is the law of this circuit that the right to counsel and the right to proceed pro se
exist in the alternative and the decision to permit a defendant to proceed in a hybrid
fashion rests in the sound discretion of the trial court.” United States v. LaChance,
817 F.2d 1491, 1498 (11th Cir. 1987). We also give great deference to a district
court’s interpretation of its local rules. Clark v. Hous. Auth. of Alma, 971 F.2d 723,
727 (11th Cir. 1992).
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Here, Ruiz’s counsel filed a notice of appearance on behalf of Ruiz and did
not seek to withdraw from the case after trial. Ruiz nonetheless filed a pro se Rule
59 motion for new trial. The local rules in the Southern District of Florida prohibit
a represented party from appearing or acting on his or her own behalf unless the
district court first enters an order of substitution. S.D. Fla. L.R. 11.1(d)(4); see also
Fed. R. Civ. P. 11(a) (“Every pleading, written motion, and other paper must be
signed by at least one attorney of record in the attorney’s name—or by a party
personally if the party is unrepresented.” (emphasis added)).
Ruiz argues that he was not represented by counsel when he filed the pro se
motion because his attorneys had only agreed to represent Ruiz pro bono for the
trial. Even accepting this description of Ruiz’s arrangement with his attorney as
true—and that Ruiz’s counsel was simply slow to formally withdraw his
representation—Ruiz never sought an order of substitution from the district court
following trial or at the time he filed his pro se motion for new trial in violation of
the Southern District of Florida’s local rules. See S.D. Fla. L.R. 11.1(d)(4). Ruiz
further asserts that the local rules and LaChance should not apply to him based on
his attorneys’ pro bono participation through a volunteer program. We find this
argument without merit, as there exists no authority or support for Ruiz’s claimed
exception. Therefore, when the district court struck Ruiz’s pro se motion for a new
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trial, it acted within its discretion and based on a permissible interpretation of its
governing local rules.
Finally, Ruiz premised his motion for a new trial on the admission of the Hotel
Video at trial. As we have previously explained, that argument is without merit.
Thus, even considering the merits of Ruiz’s motion, the district court did not abuse
its discretion by striking Ruiz’s motion for a new trial.
IV. CONCLUSION
For the foregoing reasons, we have jurisdiction to hear this appeal. And
having examined each of Ruiz’s arguments, we conclude that no error has been
shown. Accordingly, we affirm both the district court’s entry of final judgment in
favor of the Officers and the district court’s order striking Ruiz’s pro se Rule 59
motion for new trial.
AFFIRMED.
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