Hart v. City of Redwood City

Background

This pretrial order followed a conference held on September 19, 2025. The court confirmed that trial would proceed on October 6 through October 9 and October 20 through October 24, 2025, with jury selection on October 6.

The order established trial procedures, including eleven hours for each side to present its case; limits on witnesses and exhibits; rules for depositions, objections, jury questions, juror internet research, expert disclosures, and courtroom equipment; and procedures for punitive damages. It also stated that unidentified “Doe” defendants would be dismissed once the jury or the first witness was sworn, whichever occurred first.

Orders Concerning the City and Leila Velez

The court granted the defendant’s request to remove the City of Redwood City from the case caption. Plaintiffs confirmed that no independent cause of action was alleged against the City and that the City had been identified only for vicarious liability under the statute.

The parties submitted supplemental briefing on whether the remaining state-law claims against Leila Velez should be dismissed. Plaintiffs argued that their negligence and Bane Act claims should continue. Defendants argued that both claims failed as a matter of law.

Ruling

Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers held that a negligence claim cannot survive when the alleged breach did not cause the harm at issue. The court found that plaintiffs failed to show that Velez’s alleged “pre-shooting tactics and decisions” caused Hart’s death. The court therefore dismissed the negligence claim.

The court also dismissed the Bane Act claim, reasoning that the claim failed along with the negligence claim and that negligent conduct alone does not rise to the level of a Bane Act violation. The claims against Velez were dismissed with prejudice.

The order warned that failure to comply with its requirements could result in sanctions, including monetary fines or terminating sanctions.