HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016CV31096 - CITY OF FORT COLLINS, A COLORADO MUNICIPAL CORPORATION; AND POUDRE FIRE AUTHORITY, A COLORADO PUBLIC ENTITY V. KEITH GILMARTIN - 059 - PROPOSED TRIAL MANAGMENT ORDER2649890.2
DISTRICT COURT, LARIMER COUNTY, COLORADO
Larimer County Justice Center
201 La Porte Avenue
Suite 100
Fort Collins, CO 80521
970-494-3500
▲ COURT USE ONLY ▲
Plaintiffs:
CITY OF FORT COLLINS, a Colorado municipal
corporation; and POUDRE FIRE AUTHORITY, a Colorado
public entity,
v.
Defendant:
KEITH GILMARTIN, an individual.
Attorneys for Plaintiffs:
Kelley B. Duke, #35168
Benjamin J. Larson, #42540
IRELAND STAPLETON PRYOR & PASCOE, PC
717 17th St. Suite 2800
Denver, Colorado 80202
Telephone: (303) 623-2700
Fax No.: (303) 623-2062
E-mail: kduke@irelandstapleton.com
blarson@irelandstapleton.com
Case No.: 2016CV31096
Div.: Ctrm: 3C
[PROPOSED] STIPULATED TRIAL MANAGEMENT ORDER
Pursuant to C.R.C.P. 16(f), the Court enters the following Trial Management Order:1
I. STATEMENT OF CLAIMS AND DEFENSES
A. PLAINTIFFS' STATEMENT OF CLAIMS
Plaintiff Poudre Fire Authority (the "Authority") was formed in 1981 by an
Intergovernmental Agreement (as amended, the "2014 IGA") between the Plaintiff City of Fort
1 As of the time of filing, undersigned counsel has not received input from Mr. Gilmartin on this
Proposed Stipulated Trial Management Order. Accordingly, Defendant's sections are blank.
DATE FILED: July 19, 2017 4:16 PM
FILING ID: 72737BAE6DF13
CASE NUMBER: 2016CV31096
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Collins (the "City") and the Poudre Valley Fire Protection District. The Authority operates a
Training Center at 3400 West Vine Drive in Fort Collins, Colorado (the "Training Center"),
which is adjacent to property owned by Defendant Mr. Gilmartin.
In 1991, Mr. Gilmartin, along with his parents, granted the City a perpetual easement and
right-of-way across Mr. Gilmartin's property (the "Easement"), as described in the Deed of
Easement attached as Exhibit B to the Amended Complaint (the "Deed of Easement"). The plain
language of the Deed of Easement establishes that the Easement, which was granted to the City
and includes the right to install "public improvements" such as a "street," is a public easement
that extended the existing public street through the Gilmartin property to the Authority's training
center. The public has been able to, and has accessed, the Easement from West Vine Drive for
several years.
Since approximately 2010, Mr. Gilmartin has substantially and intentionally interfered
with Plaintiffs' peaceful use and enjoyment of the Easement as described in detail in the
Amended Complaint. Mr. Gilmartin's actions are not only contrary to Plaintiffs' rights under the
Deed of Easement, but also pose a safety threat to those persons using the Easement. Plaintiffs
assert claims for trespass and private nuisance against Mr. Gilmartin, and seek an Order from
this Court declaring the scope of the Easement and enjoining Mr. Gilmartin from interfering with
Plaintiffs' rights under the Easement.
B. DEFENDANT'S STATEMENT OF DEFENSES
II. PROPOSED STIPULATED FACTS2
The following facts are undisputed:
2 These are "Proposed" Stipulated Facts because Mr. Gilmartin has not provided Plaintiffs with
his position on the Stipulated Facts.
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1. The City is a municipal corporation organized under the laws of the State of
Colorado.
2. The Authority is a public entity formed in 1981 by an Intergovernmental
Agreement between the City and the Poudre Valley Fire Protection District to provide fire and
emergency services to the citizens and their property within Plaintiffs' jurisdictional boundaries.
The Intergovernmental Agreement was amended and restated on November 3, 1987, and again
on July 15, 2014 ("2014 IGA"). A copy of the 2014 IGA is attached as Exhibit A to the
Amended Complaint.
3. Mr. Gilmartin is an individual who resides at 3316 West Vine Drive, Fort Collins,
Colorado 80521 ("Gilmartin Property").
4. The Authority operates a Training Center located at 3400 West Vine Drive in Fort
Collins, Colorado ("Training Center").
5. On January 15, 1991, Mr. Gilmartin and his parents, in exchange for the sum of
$4,669.00, granted, sold, and conveyed to the City and its successors and assigns the Easement
as described in the Deed of Easement attached as Exhibit B to the Amended Complaint.
6. The property on which the Training Center sits is the property benefited by the
Easement.
7. In or about 1995, a concrete surface was installed on Easement connecting the end
of West Vine Drive to the Training Center grounds.
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III. PRETRIAL MOTIONS
A. PENDING MOTIONS
Plaintiffs' Motion for Partial Summary Judgment is pending.
B. ANTICIPATED MOTIONS
None at this time.
IV. TRIAL BRIEFS
The parties will not be filing pretrial briefs unless otherwise directed by the Court. The
parties anticipate submitting post-trial proposed written findings of fact and conclusions of law.3
V. ITEMIZATION OF DAMAGES OR OTHER RELIEF SOUGHT
A. PLAINTIFFS:
Plaintiffs are not seeking damages in this action. Plaintiffs seek an Order declaring that
(1) the Easement is a public easement for use by the public as authorized by the City; (2) that
Plaintiffs and their respective directors, officers, employees, volunteers, agents, guests, and
invitees may use the Easement free from interference from Mr. Gilmartin for all uses that a
public roadway may be used as authorized by the City, including but not limited to, ingress to
and egress from the Training Center and parking vehicles within the Easement; and (3) any
further interference by Mr. Gilmartin with Plaintiffs' rights under the Deed of Easement will
constitute trespass and private nuisance. Plaintiffs further ask the Court to permanently enjoin
Mr. Gilmartin, at all times on all days, from interfering with Plaintiffs' rights under the Deed of
Easement, including but not limited to, enjoining Mr. Gilmartin from: (1) interfering with any
person using the Easement; (2) placing anything whatsoever within the Easement; (3) placing
3 This is Plaintiffs' position. Mr. Gilmartin has not provided his position on this section.
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any sign, barrier or other object that interferes with the use and enjoyment of the Easement; (4)
engaging in threatening, intimidating or harassing behavior directed at people using the
Easement, such as shouting, cursing or making threatening gestures; and (5) encouraging,
inciting, or securing other persons to interfere with Plaintiffs' rights under the Deed of Easement;
B. DEFENDANT:
VI. IDENTIFICATION OF WITNESSES AND EXHIBITS4
A. WITNESSES:
i. Plaintiffs: See Exhibit 1 attached hereto.
ii. Defendant:
B. EXHIBITS:
i. Plaintiffs: See Exhibit 2 attached hereto.
ii. Defendant:
C. JUROR NOTEBOOKS
Not applicable.
D. DEPOSITION AND OTHER PRESERVED TESTIMONY
The parties have not designated any deposition or other preserved testimony, but
expressly reserve and stipulate to the use of any deposition testimony for impeachment purposes
at trial.
4 As of the time of filing, Mr. Gilmartin has not provided undersigned counsel his witness and
exhibit lists.
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VII. TRIAL EFFICIENCIES
This matter has been set for a two-day trial to the Court. Plaintiffs continue to believe
that two days is appropriate. The parties have considered ways in which the use of technology
can simplify the case and make it more understandable.
Respectfully submitted this 19th day of July, 2017.
IRELAND STAPLETON PRYOR & PASCOE, PC
Signed original on file at the office of
Ireland Stapleton Pryor & Pascoe, PC
/s/ Kelley B. Duke
Kelley B. Duke, #35168
Benjamin J. Larson, #42540
Attorneys for City of Fort Collins and
Poudre Fire Authority
APPROVED this _______ day of July, 2017
_____________________________________
District Court Judge
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CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
I hereby certify that on this 19th day of July, 2017, a true and correct copy of the
foregoing [PROPOSED] TRIAL MANAGEMENT ORDER was served via U.S. Postal
Service, first class mail, postage prepaid and addressed as follows:
Keith Gilmartin
3316 W. Vine Drive
Fort Collins, CO 80521
And served via email to:
keithgil2@gmail.com
SIGNED ORIGINAL ON FILE AT THE OFFICE OF
IRELAND STAPLETON PRYOR & PASCOE, PC
/s/ Barbara Biondolillo
Barbara Biondolillo