Please E-mail suggested additions, comments and/or corrections to Kent@MoreLaw.Com.

Help support the publication of case reports on MoreLaw

Date: 04-07-2022

Case Style:

Cheryl Rousseau and Peter Rousseau v. John Boyd Coates, III

Case Number: 2:18-cv-00205-wks

Judge: William K. Sessions, III

Court: United States District Court for the District of Vermont (Chittenden County)

Plaintiff's Attorney: Celest Laramie and Jerry O'Neill

Defendant's Attorney: Curtis L.S. Carpenter, Elizabeth B. Yoquinto, Peter B. Joslin

Description: Burlington, Vermont personal injury lawyers represented Plaintiffs, who sued Defendant on medical malpractice theories claiming to have suffered more than $75,000 in damages and/or injuries as a direct result of substandard medical care provided by Dr. John Boyd Coates, M.D.

The Plaintiffs claimed that DNA evidence showed that Dr. Coates used his own sperm to impregnate Cheryl Rousseau.

Docket Entries:

03/21/2022 164 MOTION in Limine to Preclude Evidence Relating to the Rousseaus' Daughter filed by Cheryl Rousseau, Peter Rousseau. (Attachments: # 1 Certificate of Service)(Laramie, Celeste) (Entered: 03/21/2022)
03/21/2022 165 MOTION in Limine to Preclude Evidence Relating to Shirley Brown's Daughter filed by Cheryl Rousseau, Peter Rousseau. (Attachments: # 1 Certificate of Service)(Laramie, Celeste) (Entered: 03/21/2022)
03/21/2022 166 MOTION in Limine to Preclude Evidence Relating to the Status of Dr. Coates' Medical License filed by Cheryl Rousseau, Peter Rousseau. (Attachments: # 1 Certificate of Service)(Laramie, Celeste) (Entered: 03/21/2022)
03/21/2022 167 PROPOSED VOIR DIRE by Cheryl Rousseau, Peter Rousseau.. (Attachments: # 1 Certificate of Service)(Laramie, Celeste) (Entered: 03/21/2022)
03/21/2022 168 PROPOSED JURY INSTRUCTIONS by Cheryl Rousseau, Peter Rousseau. (Attachments: # 1 Certificate of Service)(Laramie, Celeste) (Entered: 03/21/2022)
03/21/2022 169 EXHIBIT LIST for Trial by Cheryl Rousseau, Peter Rousseau.. (Attachments: # 1 Certificate of Service)(Laramie, Celeste) (Entered: 03/21/2022)
03/22/2022 170 EXHIBIT LIST by John Boyd Coates, III.. (Joslin, Peter) (Entered: 03/22/2022)
03/22/2022 171 PROPOSED JURY INSTRUCTIONS by John Boyd Coates, III. (Joslin, Peter) (Entered: 03/22/2022)
03/22/2022 172 PROPOSED VOIR DIRE by John Boyd Coates, III.. (Joslin, Peter) (Entered: 03/22/2022)
03/22/2022 173 MOTIONS in Limine filed by John Boyd Coates, III.(Joslin, Peter) (Additional attachment(s) added on 3/23/2022: # 1 Deposition of Cheryl Rousseau) (law). (Entered: 03/22/2022)
03/22/2022 174 PROPOSED VOIR DIRE by John Boyd Coates, III.. (Joslin, Peter) (Entered: 03/22/2022)
03/22/2022 175 Entry removed from the docket. (Entered: 03/22/2022)
03/22/2022 176 AMENDED EXHIBIT LIST by John Boyd Coates, III.. (Joslin, Peter) (Entered: 03/22/2022)
03/23/2022 177 NOTICE OF DOCKET ENTRY REMOVAL Document 175 has been removed from the docket, see 176 for corrected filing. (law) (Entered: 03/23/2022)
03/23/2022 178 MOTION in Limine to Preclude Defendant's Exhibit J filed by Cheryl Rousseau, Peter Rousseau. (Attachments: # 1 Certificate of Service)(Laramie, Celeste) (Entered: 03/23/2022)
03/23/2022 179 NOTICE OF DOCKET ENTRY CORRECTION re: 173 MOTIONS in Limine filed by John Boyd Coates, III. The Deposition of Cheryl Rousseau was not uploaded at the time of filing. It is now attached to 173 and this entry. (law) (Entered: 03/23/2022)
03/24/2022 180 RESPONSE in Opposition re 164 MOTION in Limine to Preclude Evidence Relating to the Rousseaus' Daughter filed by John Boyd Coates, III. (Joslin, Peter) (Entered: 03/24/2022)
03/25/2022 181 NOTICE of Hearing re: 165 MOTION in Limine to Preclude Evidence Relating to Shirley Brown's Daughter, 164 MOTION in Limine to Preclude Evidence Relating to the Rousseaus' Daughter, 173 MOTIONS in Limine , 166 MOTION in Limine to Preclude Evidence Relating to the Status of Dr. Coates' Medical License, 178 MOTION in Limine to Preclude Defendant's Exhibit J. Motion Hearing set for 3/28/2022 at 09:00 AM in Burlington Courtroom 410 before Judge William K. Sessions III.(law) (Entered: 03/25/2022)
03/28/2022 182 MINUTE ENTRY for proceedings held before Judge William K. Sessions III: Motion Hearing held on 3/28/2022 re 165 MOTION in Limine to Preclude Evidence Relating to Shirley Brown's Daughter; 164 MOTION in Limine to Preclude Evidence Relating to the Rousseaus' Daughter; 173 MOTIONS in Limine; 166 MOTION in Limine to Preclude Evidence Relating to the Status of Dr. Coates' Medical License; 178 MOTION in Limine to Preclude Defendant's Exhibit J. Statements by counsel. ORDERED: motions granted in part, denied in part and written order to follow. (Court Reporter: Anne Pierce) (law) (Entered: 03/28/2022)
03/28/2022 183 MINUTE ENTRY for proceedings held before Judge William K. Sessions III: Jury Selection and Jury Trial held on 3/28/2022. Celeste Laramie, Esq. and Jerome O'Neill, Esq. present for plaintiffs. Plaintiffs present by video. Peter Joslin, Esq. and Elizabeth Yoquinto, Esq. present with deft. Voir Dire and jury selection held; jury of 8 chosen by 12:38 pm and jury excused. Counsel return at 1:32 pm and court addresses plaintiffs participation by video. Jury returns at 1:40 pm; jury sworn and court reads Preliminary Jury Instructions. Opening statements by counsel. Plaintiffs evidence begins; clerk swears John Boyd Coates as witness for plaintiff. Jury excused at 2:52pm. Jury returns at 3:11 pm. Clerk swears Shirley Brown (by video) as witness for plaintiff. Jury excused at 4:25 pm to return on 3/29/2022 at 9:00 am. Meeting with counsel in chambers. Counsel excused at 4:50 pm. (Court Reporter: Anne Pierce) (law) (Entered: 03/28/2022)
03/28/2022 184 JURY Seating Arrangement. (document is sealed)(law) (Entered: 03/28/2022)
03/29/2022 185 MINUTE ENTRY for proceedings held before Judge William K. Sessions III: Jury Trial (Day 2) held on 3/29/2022. Celeste Laramie, Esq. and Jerome O'Neill, Esq. present for plaintiffs. Plaintiffs present by video. Peter Joslin, Esq. and Elizabeth Yoquinto, Esq. present with deft. Charge conference held in chambers. Jury present at 9:25 am to resume trial. Plaintiff's evidence continues; clerk swears in John Robert Sussman, Peter Rousseau and Cheryl Rousseau (all appear by video) as witnesses for plaintiffs. Both sides rest. Jury excused at 11:52 am. Deft moves for judgment; plaintiff cross-motions for judgment. Motions denied. ORDERED: all claims of Peter Rousseau are dismissed. Jury returns at 1:35 pm. Closing arguments held. Court reads Jury Charge and appoints foreperson. Jury deliberations begin at 3:31 pm. Notes #1 + #2 received by court. Court meets in chambers with counsel at 4:10 pm. Court provides written responses to Notes #1 + #2. Court receives Note #3. Court meets in chambers with counsel at 4:40 pm. Court receives Note #4. Jury returns at 4:53 pm. Court responds to Notes #3 + #4. Court receives Note #5. Jury returns and Court address Note #5; jury is excused at 5:13 pm to return at 9:00 am on 3/30/2022. (Court Reporter: Anne Pierce) (law) Modified on 4/6/2022 (law). (Entered: 03/29/2022)
03/30/2022 186 MINUTE ENTRY for proceedings held before Judge William K. Sessions III: Jury Trial completed on 3/30/2022. Celeste Laramie, Esq. and Jerome O'Neill, Esq. present for plaintiffs. Plaintiffs present by video. Peter Joslin, Esq. and Elizabeth Yoquinto, Esq. present with deft. Jury resumes deliberations 9:02 am. Jury returns with verdict at 10:56. Clerk reads verdict. Jury excused. Court inquires re: post-judgment motions. ORDERED: Post-Trial Motions due within 30 days. (Court Reporter: Anne Pierce) (law) (Entered: 03/30/2022)

Outcome: 04/06/2022 191 MOTION for Judgment Pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 58 re 187 Jury Verdict filed by Cheryl Rousseau. (Attachments: # 1 Certificate of Service)(Laramie, Celeste) Event/text clarified on 4/6/2022 (law). (Entered: 04/06/2022)

Plaintiffs' verdict for $5.25 million.

Plaintiff's Experts:

Defendant's Experts:

Comments:



Find a Lawyer

Subject:
City:
State:
 

Find a Case

Subject:
County:
State: