Kons v. Longoria et al

Filing 49

ORDER Denying Motions 44 , 46 , signed by Magistrate Judge Sheila K. Oberto on 6/4/2010. (Verduzco, M)

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1 2 3 4 5 6 7 EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 Plaintiff Michael Kons ("Plaintiff") is a state prisoner proceeding pro se and in forma pauperis in this civil rights action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Before the Court are two motions from Plaintiff. I. Discussion A. Plaintiff's Pitchess Motion v. S. LONGORIA, et al., Defendants. / MICHAEL KONS, Plaintiff, CASE NO. 1:07-cv-00918-SKO PC ORDER RE MOTIONS (Docs. 44, 46) UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT On February 17, 2010, Plaintiff filed a "Notice of Motion and Motion (Pitchess) for Discovery Concerning Correctional Officers)." (Doc. #44.) Plaintiff's motion sets forth a number of discovery requests directed at Defendants S. Longoria and B. Syra. Plaintiff seeks information contained within Defendants' personnel files regarding any complaints filed against Longoria and Syra that accuse them of misconduct. Defendants filed an opposition to Plaintiff's motion on March 3, 2010. (Doc. #46.) Defendants argue that Plaintiff's motion, styled as a "Pitchess Motion," has no applicability in a federal civil lawsuit. Defendants also argue that they do not have possession, custody, or control of /// 1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 some of the documents Plaintiff requests and that the information in Defendants' personnel files is privileged. Plaintiff filed a reply to Defendants' opposition on March 23, 2010. (Doc. #47.) Plaintiff argues that he was unaware that a Pitchess motion has no applicability in a federal civil lawsuit and argues that Plaintiff is entitled to the information known to Defendants. Plaintiff's motion is denied. The Court advises Plaintiff that the proper mechanism for compelling discovery responses from Defendants is a motion to compel.1 The motion presently before the Court cannot be construed as a motion to compel. Plaintiff does not clearly describe his attempts to obtain the relevant documents directly from Defendants through a proper discovery request and does not present any arguments that demonstrate how Defendants' objections to Plaintiff's requests were unjustified. Plaintiff is advised that discovery is generally a self-executing process. Plaintiff does not make discovery requests through the Court. Local Rules 250.2(c), 250.3(c), and 250.4(c). Plaintiff must directly serve Defendants with discovery requests, such as document production requests that request relevant documents contained in Defendants' personnel files. Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 26, 34. Defendants are then required to respond to Plaintiff's discovery request by furnishing the requested documents or by raising objections to Plaintiff's requests. Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 34(b)(2). If the parties are unable to resolve the discovery disputes, Plaintiff may re-file a motion to compel. Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 37(a). Plaintiff is cautioned that filing a motion to compel that is not substantially justified may result in an order requiring Plaintiff to pay Defendants for the reasonable expenses incurred in opposing Plaintiff's motion, including attorney's fees. Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 37(a)(5)(B). If Plaintiff chooses to file a motion to compel, Plaintiff is advised that such motion must individually address each request made by Plaintiff. Plaintiff may not file a motion to compel that 1 B y contrast, a Pitchess motion is a device by which a California criminal defendant may seek disclosure of a peace officer's personnel records. See City of Santa Cruz v. Municipal Court, 49 Cal. 3d 74, 81-82 (1989); P itc h e s s v. Superior Court, 11 Cal. 3d 531, 537 (1974). The basis for the motion has been codified into California P e n a l Code §§ 832.7, 832.8 and California Evidence Code §§ 1043-1045. 2 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 generally and vaguely argues that all of Defendants' responses are unjustified. Plaintiff must address each request individually by reciting the original request made by Plaintiff and reciting the response or objections raised by the Defendants to that request. For each request and response being challenged, Plaintiff must present persuasive arguments that demonstrate how each objection made by Defendants is not justified. Plaintiff must also attach a copy of his original discovery requests and a copy of Defendants' responses to his motion to compel. B. Plaintiff's Motion to Acquire Verified Affidavits On March 23, 2010, Plaintiff filed a "Formal Request to Acquire Verified Affidavits from Inmate Witnesses Jack Loney, Joseph Williams, and Carlos Gabarette." (Doc. #46.) Plaintiff requests the Court's assistance in obtaining affidavits from inmates who witnessed the use of the excessive force alleged in this lawsuit. Plaintiff alleges that he cannot obtain the affidavits on his own because the inmates are housed in separate institutions and Plaintiff is not allowed to communicate with inmates housed in other institutions. The Court will deny Plaintiff's request. As an initial matter, it is not clear why Plaintiff needs the affidavits at this stage in litigation. There are no motions for summary judgment pending and a trial date has not yet been scheduled. If and when this case is scheduled to go to trial, the Court will address Plaintiff's request to summon incarcerated witnesses to testify on his behalf. Further, the Court notes that the California Code of Regulations set forth the proper procedure for Plaintiff to request to communicate with other incarcerated inmates. Plaintiff may obtain written authorization from the warden or other prison official to communicate with other inmates by initiating a request with Plaintiff's Correctional Counselor I. Cal. Code Regs. tit. 15, § 3139 (2010). Plaintiff has not described any attempts that he has made to obtain such authorization. Plaintiff is further advised to contact the prison's litigation coordinator to coordinate communications with other inmate witnesses before seeking the Court's intervention. II. Conclusion and Order Accordingly, it is HEREBY ORDERED that: 1. /// 3 Plaintiff's Pitchess motion, filed on February 17, 2010, is DENIED; and 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 2. Plaintiff's motion requesting the Court to assist Plaintiff in obtaining affidavits from other inmate witnesses is DENIED. IT IS SO ORDERED. Dated: ie14hj June 4, 2010 /s/ Sheila K. Oberto UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE 4

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