Caris Lynn McDougald v. Modesto Police Department et al

Filing 68

ORDER DENYING Plaintiff's 67 "Opposition Motion" Regarding Discovery signed by Magistrate Judge Dennis L. Beck on 12/18/2009. (Figueroa, O)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 8 CARIS LYNN MCDOUGALD 9 10 Plaintiff, 11 v. 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 1 Plaintiff Caris Lynn McDougald ("Plaintiff") is proceeding pro se and in forma pauperis in this civil rights action, filed on February 19, 2008. He alleges that Defendant Officers Ramar and Campbell violated his Fourth Amendment right to be free from excessive force. On October 1, 2009, Plaintiff filed a motion to compel production of documents from Defendants. The Court granted Plaintiff's motion to compel production of citizen complaints alleging excessive force and/or falsification of documents filed against Officers Ramar and Campbell. In so ruling, the Court rejected Defendants' arguments that Plaintiff's request for ALL citizen complaints was overbroad because Plaintiff had specifically narrowed the scope of his request. Plaintiff indicated in his October 13, 2009, reply that although his interrogatory requested ALL citizen complaints, he sought only complaints pertaining to excessive force and/or falsification of documents. Defendants. MODESTO POLICE DEPARTMENT OFFICERS RAMAR AND CAMPBELL, ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) 1:08cv238 AWI DLB ORDER DENYING PLAINTIFF'S "OPPOSITION MOTION" REGARDING DISCOVERY (Document 67)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

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On November 30, 2009, Plaintiff filed a document entitled "Opposition Motion in Regards to Defendants Response to Demand for Production of Documents and Modify Brief in Support of Opposition to Defendant's Response to Demand for Production of Documents." By this motion, Plaintiff seeks to withdraw his statement in his reply that he sought only complaints related to excessive force and/or falsification of documents. Plaintiff indicates that this statement was an "inadvertent mistake," and that he has repeatedly referenced his request for ALL citizen complaints. Motion, at 2. Even if this Court allowed Plaintiff to retract his statement, it would not alter the Court's decision because Plaintiff would not be entitled to ALL citizen complaints. Rather, Plaintiff is entitled to only those citizen complaints filed against Defendants that are factually similar to the allegations in the instant action. The Court previously granted Plaintiff's motion to compel production of citizen complaints involving excessive force and/or falsification of documents against Defendant Officers Ramas and Campbell. Complaints that do not involve excessive force and/or falsification of documents are not relevant to this action and are therefore not discoverable. Plaintiff's request is therefore DENIED. IT IS SO ORDERED. Dated: 3b142a

December 18, 2009

/s/ Dennis L. Beck UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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