Articles Tagged with motion in limine

Motions in Limine are designed to facilitate case management before trial starts because taking a case to trial is an extremely evidence intensive process. Understanding how you can use Motions in Limine to protect and strengthen your case before trial starts is an important step to preparing your strongest case. 

What is a Motion in Limine? 

Motions in Limine are pre-trial motions used to exclude evidence. (Ca. Motions in Limine § 1:1.) In English, “Motion in Limine” means “at the threshold” or “in the beginning.” Accordingly, Motions in Limine are used to decide difficult evidentiary issues, or exclude unduly prejudicial or irrelevant evidence, before trial starts. (Id.) Motions in Limine protect parties from evidence being presented to the jury which damages their case, without any rational need for the evidence in the present proceeding. This is a necessary protection because attempts to “unring the bell” after evidence has been presented to the jury are obviously ineffective. (Blanks v. Shaw (2009) 171 Cal.App.4th 336.)