Michael Devin Floyd v. Saber Fitness Hegenberger, LLC

N.D. Cal.11/13/2025
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1                                                                         
2                                                                         
3                                                                         
4                      UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT                       
5                     NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA                     
6                                                                         
7    MICHAEL DEVIN FLOYD,             Case No.  24-cv-01278-TSH           

8              Plaintiff,                                                 
                                      ORDER RE:  PLAINTIFF’S MOTIONS      
9          v.                         IN LIMINE                           

10    SABER FITNESS HEGENBERGER, LLC,  Re: Dkt. No. 149                    
11              Defendant.                                                 

12                                                                         
13                            I.  INTRODUCTION                             
14        Plaintiff Michael Devin Floyd, proceeding pro se, filed a complaint for civil rights 
15   violations and contract claims against Defendant Saber Fitness Hegenberger, LLC (“Saber”), 
16   alleging that Saber improperly terminated Floyd’s gym membership.  ECF No. 52 (Third 
17   Amended Complaint).  The case is set to proceed to a bench trial on January 12, 2026.  ECF No. 
18   135.  Pending before the Court are fourteen motions in limine from Floyd.  ECF No. 149.  The 
19   Court heard oral argument at the parties’ pretrial conference on November 13, 2025.  Having 
20   considered the parties’ arguments, the Court rules as follows.1       
21                            II.  BACKGROUND                              
22        The facts of this case are well known to the parties, and the Court has previously 
23   summarized this case’s background in its summary judgment order.  ECF No. 119; see Floyd v. 
24   Saber Fitness Hegenberger, LLC, No. 24-cv-01278-TSH,
2025 WL 2173413
(N.D. Cal. July 31, 
25   2025).  The Court incorporates by reference the factual background set forth therein.   
26        Five claims will proceed to a bench trial on January 12, 2026.  ECF Nos. 135, 151, 155.  In 
27                                                                         
1   preparation for the upcoming trial, Floyd filed fourteen motions in limine on October 23, 2025.  
2   ECF No. 149 (“Mot.”).  On October 30, 2025, Saber filed an Opposition.  ECF No. 161 (“Opp.”).    
3                          III.  LEGAL STANDARD                           
4   A.   Motions In Limine                                                
5        Motions in limine are a “procedural mechanism to limit in advance testimony or evidence 
6   in a particular area.”  United States v. Heller,
551 F.3d 1108, 1111
(9th Cir. 2009).  Like other 
7   pretrial motions, motions in limine are “useful tools to resolve issues which would otherwise 
8   clutter up the trial.”  City of Pomona v. SQM N. Am. Corp.,
866 F.3d 1060, 1070
(9th Cir. 2017).  
9   Accordingly, “a ruling on a motion in limine is essentially a preliminary opinion that falls entirely 
10   within the discretion of the district court.”  Id.; see Luce v. United States,
469 U.S. 38
, 41 n.4 
11   (1984) (explaining that a court may rule in limine “pursuant to the district court’s inherent 
12   authority to manage the course of trials”).  However, “[a] motion in limine is not the proper 
13   vehicle for seeking a dispositive ruling on a claim, particularly after the deadline for filing such 
14   motions has passed.”  Hana Fin., Inc. v. Hana Bank,
735 F.3d 1158
, 1162 n.4 (9th Cir. 2013). 
15        In many instances, rulings “should be deferred until trial, so that questions of foundation, 
16   relevancy, and potential prejudice may be resolved in proper context.”  United States v. Pac. Gas 
17   & Elec. Co.,
178 F. Supp. 3d 927, 941
(N.D. Cal. 2016).  For example, in order to exclude 
18   evidence on a motion in limine, “the evidence must be inadmissible on all potential grounds.”  
19   McConnell v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.,
995 F. Supp. 2d 1164, 1167
(D. Nev. 2014).  Thus, denial of 
20   a motion in limine to exclude certain evidence does not mean that all evidence contemplated by 
21   the motion will be admitted, only that the court is unable to make a comprehensive ruling in 
22   advance of trial.
Id.
Moreover, even if a district court does rule in limine, the court may “change 
23   its ruling at trial because testimony may bring facts to the district court’s attention that it did not 
24   anticipate at the time of its initial ruling.”  City of Pomona,
866 F.3d at 1070
; see also Ohler v. 
25   United States,
529 U.S. 753
, 758 n.3 (2000) (“[I]n limine rulings are not binding on the trial judge, 
26   and the judge may always change his mind during the course of a trial.”). 
27                             IV.  DISCUSSION                             
1   and witnesses’ testimony that Saber plans to present at trial.  See generally Mot.   
2        As a threshold matter, the Court finds that Floyd’s numerous arguments under Federal 
3   Rules of Evidence 403 are “inapplicable here because this action will be tried in a bench trial.”  
4   United States v. De Anda, No. 18-cr-00538-TSH,
2019 WL 2863602
, at *4 (N.D. Cal. July 2, 
5   2019) (citing E.E.O.C. v. Farmer Bros. Co.,
31 F.3d 891, 898
(9th Cir. 1994) (risk that a verdict 
6   will be affected unfairly and substantially by the admission of evidence is far less in a bench 
7   trial)); see Houston v. Country Coach, Inc., No. C-07-00859-HRL,
2008 WL 926595
, at *2–3 
8   (N.D. Cal. Apr. 1, 2008) (denying Rule 403 objection because “given the narrow scope and the 
9   fact that the case [is] proceeding as a bench trial, the concerns of undue prejudice are not 
10   warranted”).  Therefore, the Court does not address Floyd’s Rule 403 arguments below.2   
11   A.   Motion In Limine No. 1                                           
12        Floyd argues that the Court should exclude the testimony of Cecilia Newman at trial on the 
13   grounds that it is not relevant, is improper character evidence, is hearsay, lacks foundation, and is 
14   unfairly prejudicial.  Mot. at 1:17–3:6.  Saber contends that Newman’s testimony is relevant, not 
15   hearsay, and admissible under Rule 403.3  Opp. at 2:1–3:11.           
16        Here, the Court finds that Newman’s proposed testimony concerning her and her 
17   franchise’s experiences with Floyd is conditionally relevant if Saber can show that it was aware of 
18   this information prior to the time it terminated Floyd’s gym membership.  See Fed. R. Evid. 
19   104(b).  Saber states that its “decision to terminate [Floyd’s] gym membership at Saber Fitness 
20   Hegenberger was based in part on information obtained from Newman.”  Opp. at 2:7–17.  If that is 
21   true, then evidence that Newman had knowledge “concerning her and her franchise’s experiences 
22   with [Floyd]” makes it more probable that Saber terminated Floyd’s membership based on 
23   Newman’s information, and thus it is relevant.  Fed. R. Evid. 401.  The Court is not admitting this 
24                                                                         

25                                                                         
    2 This order assumes that the January trial will be a bench trial because the parties seemed to 
    assume that as well in ECF No. 58.  Because Floyd demanded a jury trial, and the parties have not 
26                                                                         
    yet stipulated to a nonjury trial, the Court directed them to file such a stipulation if they want to 
    have a bench trial.  ECF No. 163.                                     
27                                                                         
1   testimony as evidence of Floyd’s character, i.e., that if he behaved poorly in a previous gym 
2   membership, then it is likely he behaved poorly in this gym membership.  Rather, Floyd’s first 
3   claim for relief is for unlawful discrimination, which means that Saber’s reasons for terminating 
4   his gym membership are relevant – indeed, they are essentially the core of the claim – so what 
5   Saber knew about Floyd’s prior conduct matters.  This evidence is admissible for the non-hearsay 
6   purpose of its effect on the listener.                                
7        Further, the Court agrees with Saber that “Newman’s testimony is relevant to [Floyd’s] 
8   claim of damages.”  Opp. at 2:18–21.  Saber asserts that “Newman’s testimony will illustrate that 
9   in the same year, [Floyd] was terminated from another gym, which could have contributed to any 
10   alleged emotional distress.”
Id.
Floyd also seeks damages for the cost and inconvenience of 
11   going to another gym, so his termination from another gym is relevant to whether his claimed 
12   damages are caused by Saber’s actions.                                
13        Saber also asserts that it will use the “Custodian of Records of Planet Fitness West” to 
14   “establish the proper foundation for the admissibility of Newman’s prior statements.”
Id.
The 
15   Court expresses no view on that argument here but will wait to see what foundation is laid at trial.4 
16        Accordingly, the Court DENIES Floyd’s Motion in Limine No. 1.      
17   B.   Motion In Limine No. 2                                           
18        Floyd argues that the Court should exclude all communications regarding Cecilia 
19   Newman, including those in Exhibit 2, on the grounds that they are not relevant, are improper 
20   character evidence, are hearsay, and are unfairly prejudicial.  Mot. at 3:7–4:4.  The document 
21   referred to as “Exhibit 2” by Floyd corresponds to Saber’s Trial Exhibit A; it is an email dated 
22   September 9, 2021, from Newman.  See Saber’s Pretrial Statement at 7; Floyd’s Objections at 6; 
23   Floyd’s Ex. 2 (ECF No. 150-2) (the “Newman Email”).  Saber contends this evidence is “relevant, 
24   admissible as non-hearsay and as exceptions to the hearsay rule, and not subject to exclusion under 
25                                                                         

26                                                                         
    4 At the Pretrial Conference, Saber asked the Court to defer ruling on whether Newman’s 
    testimony and the Newman Email (discussed below) can be considered for their truth as Saber 
27                                                                         
    plans on establishing a foundation at trial through a Custodian of Records.  As discussed at the 
1   FRE 403.”  Opp. at 3:12–18.                                           
2        Here, the Court confines its discussion to Saber’s Trial Exhibit A (Newman Email) as that 
3   is what the parties focus on in their papers.  The Newman Email states: 

4             The below member, Michael Floyd needs to be canceled right away!! 
              I have tried to get in contact with th [sic] local group with no help.  
5             No Manager at the club, the area Director Katie Huff passed me along 
              to a Jake Saltzman but still haven’t heard back from him.  I reached 
6             out again this morning with no luck again.  This member has now 
              been kicked out of both our Fremont and Hayward locations for not 
7             wearing  a  mask,  sexual  harrasing  [sic]  female  members  and 
              employees, causing issues with male members, yelling and causing a 
8             sceen [sic] on the gym floor, staying for hours on end and having to 
              be asked to leave at closing time.  I dealt with him persoannly [sic] 
9             last Thursday in Fremont and told him his behavior was not Ok and 
              that it would not be tolerated in our gyms.  He came back over the 
10             weekend and the staff had the same issue.  Security was called and 
              was unable to get him out of the club and they had to call the local 
11             PD, who after several hours were able to get him to leave.  Then he 
              made his way to our Hayward club and caused the same issues.  This 
12             man is very aggressive and needs to be canceled by his home club 
              ASAP so he can’t keep getting access to other locations with only a 
13             ‘Welcome’ note on his home screen.  I have included Lauren from the 
              Saber Group to alert her but not sure who we can contact now for the 
14             local Corporate loactions [sic] as Francisco is gone.  That contact 
              would be very helpful since we are sharing so many areas now and 
15             need to have contact with someone in charge of those clubs.  This is 
              becoming a very large issues [sic] and I really think things need to be 
16             changed with the recepricol [sic] access members so notes can be seen 
              that were made the home club.  As well as us being able to note if we 
17             have issues with the member.  This needs to be addressses [sic] at the 
              Corporate level right away.                                 
18                                                                         

19   Newman Email (emphasis in original).                                  
20        For the reasons discussed in Motion in Limine No. 1, the Court finds that the Newman 
21   Email is conditionally relevant to Saber’s reasons for terminating Floyd’s gym membership, 
22   provided Saber can show it was aware of the email.                    
23        Accordingly, the Court DENIES Floyd’s Motion in Limine No. 2 with respect to the 
24   Newman Email (Saber’s Tr. Ex. A).                                     
25   C.   Motion In Limine No. 3                                           
26        Floyd argues that the Court should exclude the testimony of Majenta Maldonado at trial 
27   under the “missing witness rule.”  Mot. at 4:5–5:14.  Saber contends that Maldonado’s testimony 
1   [Floyd’s] membership,” and that Floyd’s objection regarding the “missing witness rule” “is not 
2   legally cognizable.”  Opp. at 3:19–4:9.                               
3        “The term, ‘missing witness instruction,’ refers to an instruction that permits a jury to draw 
4   an adverse inference from a party’s failure to call a witness.”  United States v. Crawford,
142 F. 
5
App’x 295, 296 (9th Cir. 2005).  To obtain such an instruction, a party must first establish “that 
6   the missing witness was peculiarly within the adversary’s power to produce” by “showing either 
7   that the witness is physically available only to the opponent or that the witness has the type of 
8   relationship with the opposing party that pragmatically renders his testimony unavailable to the 
9   opposing party.”  Apple, Inc. v. Samsung Elecs. Co., No. 11-cv-01846-LHK,
2012 WL 3536797
, 
10   at *1 (N.D. Cal. Aug. 13, 2012) (cleaned up).  “A missing witness instruction is proper only if 
11   from all the circumstances an inference of unfavorable testimony from an absent witness is a 
12   natural and reasonable one.”  United States v. Bramble,
680 F.2d 590, 592
(9th Cir. 1982) (cleaned 
13   up).                                                                  
14        Here, the Court agrees with Saber that the missing witness is inapplicable to Maldonado.  
15   Opp. at 3:26–28.  Saber has not failed to call Maldonado as a witness; to the contrary, Saber lists 
16   Maldonado as a witness for trial.  Saber’s Pretrial Statement at 4.  Therefore, because Maldonado 
17   does not constitute an “absent witness,” the missing witness rule does not apply.  Bramble, 680 
18   F.2d at 592.                                                          
19        Floyd contends that Maldonado should be barred from testifying essentially as a sanction 
20   for Saber not identifying in discovery the witness Maldonado said Floyd was harassing, which 
21   witness Floyd believes would impeach Maldonado’s anticipated testimony.  However, Floyd has 
22   not shown that this information was available to Saber in discovery, or that the failure to provide it 
23   was somehow a breach of Saber’s discovery obligations.                
24        Floyd further argues that the Court should exclude Maldonado’s testimony because she 
25   wrote account notes on days that do not show “recorded check-ins” for Floyd and “she would have 
26   been influenced by [Saber’s] affiliate Romero’s ulterior motive.”  Mot. at 5:1–14.  But issues of 
27   witness memory, truthfulness, and bias are matters for cross-examination, not grounds to exclude 
1   and important function of cross-examination to test the witnesses’ motivation in testifying.”); 
2   Gibbs v. Covello,
996 F.3d 596
, 601 (9th Cir. 2021) (explaining cross-examination may be used 
3   “to delve into the witness’ story to test the witness’ perceptions and memory”) (cleaned up); Fed. 
4   R. Evid. 607 (“Any party, including the party that called the witness, may attack the witness’s 
5   credibility.”).                                                       
6        Accordingly, the Court DENIES Floyd’s Motion in Limine No. 3.      
7   D.   Motion In Limine No. 4                                           
8        Floyd argues that the Court should exclude “all evidence and witness [sic] not disclosed or 
9   produced during discovery” because it “presents an unfairness to [Floyd], as he would not have 
10   any time to counter that evidence or obtain further evidence with respect to the possible late 
11   disclosure.”  Mot. at 5:15–19.  Saber responds that it “is not aware of any documents or evidence 
12   that has been produced after the close of fact discovery, not otherwise allowed by the Court, that 
13   [Saber] intends to use at trial.”  Opp. at 4:10–14.  The Court sees nothing to address at this time.  
14   The Court therefore DENIES Floyd’s Motion in Limine No. 4 without prejudice to Floyd 
15   renewing this objection as to a specific piece of evidence or witness at trial. 
16   E.   Motion In Limine No. 5                                           
17        Floyd argues that the Court should exclude “the mentioning or using claims in other 
18   lawsuits [Floyd] has filed, which are not affiliated with [Saber]” on the grounds that it is improper 
19   character evidence and is unfairly prejudicial.  Mot. at 6:1–7:2.  Saber contends that the evidence 
20   “is relevant to the issues of [Floyd’s] damages and impeachment.”  Opp. at 4:15–28.    
21        Here, the Court agrees with Saber that evidence showing Floyd’s memberships at other 
22   gyms were terminated is relevant because it “cuts against [Floyd’s] contention that [his] economic 
23   and non-economic damages are solely attributable to [Saber].”
Id.
at 4:20–24.  However, there is a 
24   difference between evidence showing that a gym membership was terminated and evidence 
25   showing misconduct leading to such termination.  Saber states that “evidence of [Floyd’s] 
26   proclivity for engaging in misconduct at fitness gyms, getting his gym membership cancelled, and 
27   suing gyms on unmeritorious grounds, are relevant as impeachment evidence that illustrate a 
1   exactly what Rule 404 prohibits—Saber cannot use evidence of Floyd’s prior purported 
2   misconduct at and litigation against other gyms to show that he had a tendency toward improper 
3   conduct at gyms.  Fed. R. Evid. 404(b)(1).                            
4        Accordingly, the Court GRANTS Floyd’s Motion in Limine No. 5 with the caveat that 
5   Saber may introduce evidence that Floyd had other gym memberships that were terminated as it 
6   relates to Floyd’s claim for damages.                                 
7   F.   Motion In Limine No. 6                                           
8        Floyd argues that the Court should exclude Exhibit 7 on the grounds that it is not relevant, 
9   is improper character evidence, is hearsay, and is unfairly prejudicial.  Mot. at 7:3–8:6.  The 
10   document referred to as “Exhibit 7” by Floyd corresponds to Saber’s Trial Exhibit C; it is a 
11   summary of account notes for Floyd’s gym membership with Jax Three gym.  See Floyd’s 
12   Objections at 6; Saber’s Pretrial Statement at 7; Floyd’s Ex. 7 (ECF No. 150-7) (the “Jax Three 
13   Notes”).  Saber contends that the evidence is “relevant as the notes illustrate [Floyd’s] 
14   inappropriate conduct.”  Opp. at 5:1–8.                               
15        Here, the Court finds that the Jax Three Notes are conditionally relevant and admissible for 
16   a non-hearsay purpose if Saber can show it was aware of them by the time it terminated his gym 
17   membership.  If Saber was aware of repeated complaints about Floyd’s behavior in prior gym 
18   memberships, it is less likely that the true reason for terminating his Saber membership was race 
19   discrimination.                                                       
20        Accordingly, the Court DENIES Floyd’s Motion in Limine No. 6 to exclude the Jax Three 
21   Notes (Saber’s Tr. Ex. C).                                            
22   G.   Motion In Limine No. 7                                           
23        Floyd argues that the Court should exclude “all mentioning of disputes within gym 
24   memberships prior to [Saber’s] membership,” on the grounds that it is not relevant, is improper 
25   character evidence, is hearsay, and is unfairly prejudicial.  Mot. at 8:7–13.  Saber contends that the 
26   evidence is relevant because “(1) [Saber] relied on [Floyd’s] conduct at other gyms when it made 
27   the decision to terminate [Floyd’s] membership; and (2) [Floyd’s] disputes with past gyms impact 
1        As discussed above, evidence of policy infractions during prior gym memberships is 
2   conditionally relevant and non-hearsay if Saber can show it was aware of those incidents by the 
3   time it terminated Floyd’s gym membership.  Further, evidence showing Floyd’s memberships at 
4   other gyms were terminated is relevant to his claim for damages.  Opp. at 5:10–16; Fed. R.  

5   Evid. 401.                                                            
6        Accordingly, the Court DENIES Floyd’s Motion in Limine No. 7.        
7   H.   Motion In Limine No. 8                                           
8        Floyd argues that the Court should exclude “[a]ll mentioning of disputes within gym 
9   memberships after [Saber’s] membership” on the grounds that it is not relevant, is improper 
10   character evidence, and is unfairly prejudicial.  Mot. at 8:14–9:13.  Saber contends that this 
11   evidence is “relevant to [Floyd’s] damages,” and that “these disputes are essential for [Saber’s] 
12   defense to [Floyd’s] damages.”  Opp. at 5:17–27.                      
13        Here, as discussed above, the Court agrees with Saber that that evidence showing Floyd’s 
14   memberships at other gyms were terminated is relevant to Floyd’s claim for damages.  Opp. at 
15   5:17–27; Fed. R. Evid. 401.  Having said that, it’s just the gym membership terminations that are 
16   relevant.  Evidence of what lead to those terminations is not relevant, as Saber had no knowledge 
17   of those events at the time it terminated Floyd’s gym membership. 5   
18        Accordingly, the Court DENIES Floyd’s Motion in Limine No. 8 with the guidance 
19   expressed above.                                                      
20   I.   Motion In Limine No. 9                                           
21        Floyd argues that the Court should exclude the testimony of Sabrina Fernandez at trial 
22   under the “missing witness rule.”  Mot. at 9:14–10:19.  Saber contends that Fernandez’s testimony 
23                                                                         

24                                                                         
    5 At the Pretrial Conference, Saber argued that the reasons leading up to Floyd’s termination at 
    other gyms—post Floyd’s termination at Saber’s gym—are relevant to Floyd’s claim for 
25                                                                         
    emotional distress because the treatment he received at other gyms could be an alternative source 
    of his emotional distress.  As discussed at the Conference, for terminations occurring after Saber’s 
26                                                                         
    termination, Saber may only introduce evidence of the fact of these terminations.  However, if 
    Floyd opens the door at trial by testifying about his emotional distress in a way that broadly 
27                                                                         
    implicates, or could implicate, his experiences being expelled from other gyms, that could justify 
1   is relevant and that Floyd’s objection under the “missing witness rule” is “not legally cognizable.”  
2   Opp. at 6:1–11.                                                       
3        Here, the Court agrees with Saber that the missing witness rule is inapplicable to 
4   Fernandez.
Id.
at 6:8–11.  As discussed above, because Saber plans to call Fernandez as a witness 
5   at trial, she does not constitute an “absent witness,” and the missing witness rule does not apply.  
6   Saber’s Pretrial Statement at 5; see Bramble,
680 F.2d at 592
.  Further, Floyd has failed to 
7   demonstrate that Saber committed discovery misconduct that would justify excluding Fernandez’s 
8   testimony as a sanction.                                              
9        Accordingly, the Court DENIES Floyd’s Motion in Limine No. 9.      
10   J.   Motion In Limine No. 10                                          
11        Floyd argues that the Court should exclude the testimony of Brian Boucher at trial on the 
12   grounds that it is not relevant, is improper character evidence, is hearsay, lacks foundation, and is 
13   unfairly prejudicial.  Mot. at 10:20–12:9.  Saber contends that Boucher’s testimony is relevant, not 
14   hearsay, and admissible under Rule 403.  Opp. at 6:13–7:9.  However, it seems to the Court that 
15   this dispute is moot, as Saber does not list Boucher as a trial witness.  See generally Saber’s 
16   Pretrial Statement.                                                   
17        Accordingly, the Court DENIES Floyd’s Motion in Limine No. 10.      
18   K.   Motion In Limine No. 11                                          
19        Floyd argues that the Court should exclude all communications regarding Brian Boucher, 
20   including those in Exhibit 2, on the grounds that they are not relevant, are improper character 
21   evidence, are hearsay, lack foundation, and are unfairly prejudicial.  Mot. at 12:11–13:8.  The 
22   document referred to as “Exhibit 2” by Floyd corresponds to Saber’s Trial Exhibit A; it is an email 
23   dated September 9, 2021, from Boucher.  See Saber’s Pretrial Statement at 7; Floyd’s Objections 
24   at 6; Floyd’s Ex. 2 (ECF No. 150-2) (the “Boucher Email”).  Saber contends this evidence is 
25   “relevant, admissible as non-hearsay and as exceptions to the hearsay rule, and not subject to 
26   exclusion under FRE 403.”  Opp. at 7:10–16.                           
27        Here, because Saber does not list Boucher as a trial witness, the Court is concerned that 
1   602; see generally Saber’s Pretrial Statement.  At the Pretrial Conference, Saber acknowledged 
2   that it will not call Boucher as a trial witness but argued that it can lay a foundation for the 
3   Boucher Email through a Custodian of Records.  The Court expresses no view on that argument 
4   here but will wait to see what foundation is laid at trial.           
5        Accordingly, the Court DENIES Floyd’s Motion in Limine No. 11 to exclude the Boucher 
6   Email (Saber’s Tr. Ex. A).                                            
7   L.   Motion In Limine No. 12                                          
8        Floyd argues that the Court should exclude “[t]he notes within [Saber’s] system, where no 
9   alleged victim was disclosed,” in Exhibit 4 because the evidence was “altered” and “manipulated.”  
10   Mot. at 13:9–14:20.  The document referred to as “Exhibit 4” by Floyd corresponds to Saber’s 
11   Trial Exhibit B; it is a summary of account notes for Floyd’s gym membership with Saber.  See 
12   Floyd’s Objections at 6; Saber’s Pretrial Statement at 7; Floyd’s Ex. 4 (ECF No. 150-4) (Saber 
13   Account Notes).  Saber contends that Floyd’s “objection is not legally cognizable” and that the 
14   “account notes are relevant as they illustrate [Floyd’s] inappropriate conduct.”  Opp. at 7:17–26.    
15        Here, the Court finds that the Saber Account Notes are conditionally relevant and non-
16   hearsay if Saber can show it was aware of them by the time it terminated Floyd’s gym 
17   membership.  Floyd has also failed to show that Saber committed discovery misconduct that 
18   warrants excluding this evidence.                                     
19        Accordingly, the Court DENIES Floyd’s Motion in Limine No. 12 to exclude the Saber 
20   Account Notes (Saber’s Tr. Ex. B).                                    
21   M.   Motion In Limine No. 13                                          
22        Floyd argues that the Court should exclude “any mentioning of the notes within [Saber’s] 
23   system, where no alleged victim was disclosed” because the evidence was “altered” and 
24   “manipulated.”  Mot. at 15:1–6.  Saber responds that this request should be denied “for the same 
25   reasons outlined in [Saber’s] Opposition to [Floyd’s] Motion in Limine Number 12.”  Opp. at 8:1–
26   5.                                                                    
27        Here, as discussed in Motion in Limine No. 12, the Court finds that the Saber Account 
    1    altered. 
    2          Accordingly, the Court DENIES Floyd’s Motion in Limine No. 13. 
    3  || N.     Motion In Limine No. 14 
    4          Floyd argues that the Court should exclude “[a]ll correspondence and requests for 
    5    cancellation concerning gym memberships before/after [Saber’s] membership” in Exhibit 2 on the 
    6  || grounds that it is irrelevant, is improper character evidence, and is unfairly prejudicial.  Mot. at 
    7    15:7—16:3.  Saber contends that the evidence is relevant because “the correspondences directly 
    8  || relate to the reason [Saber] terminated [Floyd’s] membership and [Floyd’s] alleged damages.” 
    9    Opp. at 8:6—-14. 
   10          Here, as stated, any gym membership cancellations after the one at issue in this case are 
   11    relevant to Floyd’s damages.  And again, the conduct leading up to those cancellations is not 
    12  ||  relevant if Saber wasn’t aware of it at the time of its termination of his membership. 
5    13          Accordingly, the Court DENIES Floyd’s Motion in Limine No. 14. 
     14                                   Vv.   CONCLUSION 
      15          For the reasons stated above, the Court GRANTS IN PART and DENIES IN PART 
a    16  || Floyd’s Motions in Limine. 
           IT IS SO ORDERED. 
   18 
   19    Dated: November 13, 2025 

                                                         THOMAS S. HIXSON 
                                                        United States Magistrate Judge 
   22 
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   26 
   27 
   28

Case Information

Court
N.D. Cal.
Decision Date
November 13, 2025
Status
Precedential