Benyamini v. Manjuano et al
Filing
157
ORDER Granting Plaintiff's 145 Motion to Extend Discovery signed by Magistrate Judge Gary S. Austin on 01/24/2012. Discovery Cut-Off due by 3/23/2012; Dispositive Motions filed by 5/25/2012. (Flores, E)
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
9
EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
10
11
ROBERT BENYAMINI,
12
Plaintiff,
13
14
1:06-cv-01096-AWI-GSA PC
ORDER GRANTING PLAINTIFF’S MOTION
TO EXTEND DISCOVERY
(Docs. 144, 145.)
v.
DEBBIE MANJUANO, et al.,
15
ORDER EXTENDING DEADLINES FOR
ALL PARTIES TO THIS ACTION
Defendants.
New Discovery Cut-Off Date:
03/23/2012
16
New Dispositive Motions Deadline: 05/25/2012
17
/
18
19
I.
BACKGROUND
20
Robert Benyamini (“Plaintiff”) is a state prisoner proceeding pro se and in forma pauperis
21
in this civil rights action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Plaintiff filed this action on August 21, 2006.
22
(Doc. 1.) This action now proceeds on the Third Amended Complaint, filed on May 23, 2008,
23
against defendants Mandujano,1 Wilcox, Wilkerson, and O’Grady, on Plaintiff's Eighth Amendment
24
claims for adverse conditions of confinement (Doc. 35.)
25
///
26
27
28
1
In the Third Amended Complaint, Plaintiff spelled this defendants last name as Manjuano. (Doc. 35.)
Defendant spells her last name as Mandujano. (Doc. 79.) The Court uses defendant’s spelling. However, the case
title assigned at case opening shall not be changed.
1
1
On March 2, 2011, the Court issued a Discovery/Scheduling Order for this action,
2
establishing a deadline of November 2, 2011 for the parties to complete discovery, including motions
3
to compel, and a deadline of January 9, 2012, for filing pretrial dispositive motions. (Doc. 93.) On
4
November 2, 2011 and November 4, 2011, Plaintiff filed motions to extend the discovery deadline
5
in this action. (Docs. 144, 145.) Defendants have not filed an opposition.
6
II.
MOTION TO MODIFY SCHEDULING ORDER
7
A court may modify a scheduling order for good cause. Fed. R. Civ. P. 16(b)(4). This good
8
cause standard “primarily considers the diligence of the party seeking the amendment.” Johnson v.
9
Mammoth Recreations, Inc., 975 F.2d 604, 609 (9th Cir. 1992). “The district court may modify the
10
pretrial schedule ‘if it cannot reasonably be met despite the diligence of the party seeking the
11
extension.’” Id. To establish good cause, the party seeking the modification of a scheduling order
12
must generally show that even with the exercise of due diligence, they cannot meet the requirement
13
of the order. Johnson v. Mammoth Recreations, Inc., 975 F2d 604, 609 (9th Cir. 1992).
14
Plaintiff argues that the Court should modify the Scheduling Order to extend the discovery
15
deadline for sixty days, for the following reasons: Defendants have constantly objected to Plaintiff’s
16
discovery requests; Plaintiff received inadequate responses from Defendants “just a couple of days
17
ago,” which does not allow Plaintiff sufficient time to timely respond; Plaintiff requires more time
18
to find counsel and hire a private investigator; Plaintiff requires more time to obtain records from
19
the County; Plaintiff has not received responses from Defendants to some of his discovery requests;
20
Plaintiff does not have adequate access to the law library; and Plaintiff suffers from claustrophobia
21
which incapacitates him while confined to his cell.
22
The Court finds good cause to extend the discovery deadline for all parties to this action.
23
With respect to defendant Mandujano, the time for discovery ended prematurely. The record shows
24
that on October 18, 2011, the Court stayed Plaintiff’s action against defendant Mandujano pending
25
resolution of Plaintiff’s appeal at the Ninth Circuit. (Doc. 141.) Although Plaintiff’s appeal was
26
dismissed by the Ninth Circuit on November 15, 2011, the stay has not been lifted because the final
27
mandate has not been issued. (Doc. 146.) Thus, even with due diligence, Plaintiff and defendant
28
Mandujano were unable to conduct discovery after October 18, 2011. With respect to defendants
2
1
Wilcox, Wilkerson, and O’Grady, Plaintiff asserts that he received inadequate discovery responses
2
just before the discovery deadline expired, making it impossible for Plaintiff to prepare and file a
3
timely motion to compel. Based on the foregoing, the Court finds good cause to extend the
4
discovery deadline for all parties to this action. The deadline for filing pretrial dispositive motions
5
shall also be extended.
6
Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that:
7
1.
Plaintiff’s motion for extension of the discovery deadline is GRANTED;
8
2.
All discovery, including motions to compel, formerly to be completed by November
9
10
2, 2011, shall be completed by March 23, 2012; and
2.
11
The deadline for serving and filing pre-trial dispositive motions, formerly January 9,
2012, is extended to May 25, 2012.
12
13
14
IT IS SO ORDERED.
Dated:
6i0kij
January 24, 2012
/s/ Gary S. Austin
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
3
Disclaimer: Justia Dockets & Filings provides public litigation records from the federal appellate and district courts. These filings and docket sheets should not be considered findings of fact or liability, nor do they necessarily reflect the view of Justia.
Why Is My Information Online?