Martinez v. Allison et al

Filing 65

ORDER Regarding Motion at Docket 52 , signed by Chief Judge Ralph R. Beistline on 12/10/14: Twenty-One (21) Day Deadline for Defendant J. Davis to comply with this order. (Hellings, J)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
RONALD F. MARTINEZ,
Case No. 1:11-cv-001749-RRB
Plaintiff,
vs.

ORDER REGARDING MOTION
AT DOCKET 52

KATHLEEN ALLISON, Warden, et al.,
Defendants.

I.

PENDING MOTION
At Docket 52 Defendant J. Davis has filed a Motion for Protective Order to Redact

Portions of Documents Produced Pursuant to October 15, 2014 Order entered at Docket
45.1 Plaintiff Ronald F. Martinez has opposed the motion,2 and Davis has replied.3
Defendant has submitted the unredacted documents to the Court for in camera review.
The Court has reviewed the unredacted documents in camera.
In screening the Complaint the Court permitted Plaintiff to proceed on his excessive
use of force claim against Defendant J. Davis. All other claims and defendants were

1

In that Order the Court directed Defendant to produce transcripts of the interviews
conducted by Internal Affairs of the Defendant, C/O J. Davis, and all percipient witnesses into the
allegations made by Plaintiff in his Complaint. Attached to the motion and served on the Plaintiff,
Ronald F. Martinez, were the redacted transcripts of the interviews of C/O J. Davis, C/O S.
Beasley, Sgt. D. Johnson, C/O Vasquez, and C/O T. Alcantar. Defendant also submitted the
declaration of the custodian of records that these documents consisted of the transcripts of all
recorded interviews of the Defendant and percipient witnesses. Docket 52-1.
2

Docket 63.

3

Docket 64.

dismissed.4 Thus, the sole issue before the Court is whether or not the acts of Davis
constituted a violation of Plaintiff’s rights under the Eighth Amendment—nothing more.
What is not before this Court is whether or not the actions of Davis violated the policy or
internal rules/regulations of the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation
(“CDCR”). That is, even if the actions of Davis violated CDCR internal policy/regulations,
that, standing alone, does not provide any support for Plaintiff’s claims in this Court.
Relevant to the outcome in this case is whether or not Davis’ actions rose to the level
sufficient to constitute the use of “excessive force,” in violation of the Eighth Amendment.
Also relevant to resolution of the motion before the Court is the purpose of the recorded
interviews. The transcripts at issue were of interviews made in connection with an internal
disciplinary investigation of an alleged violation of CDCR policy.
Addressing first the statements made by the four percipient witnesses: C/O S.
Beasley, Sgt. D. Johnson, C/O Vasquez, and C/O T. Alcantar. The only relevant testimony
that any of those four may give in this case is what they observed. After reviewing the
unredacted statements in camera, this Court has determined that the redacted statements
provided to Plaintiff fully discloses the observations of the witnesses. No part of the
redacted material would be admissible into evidence, nor could it even remotely lead to the
discovery of admissible evidence. Accordingly, Defendant’s motion for a protective order
to that extent will be granted.
The transcript of the interview of Defendant J. Davis stands on a different footing.
In the case of Davis, relevant to this case is what he did and why he did it, i.e., in response

4

Docket 11.

ORDER REGARDING MOTION AT DOCKET 52
Martinez v. Allison 1:11-cv-01749-RRB – 2

to what act of Plaintiff. The acts of Davis are then measured against the standards
applicable to an Eighth Amendment “excessive force” claim. As explained in this Court’s
order regarding Plaintiff’s Motion in Limine, “[t]he sole issues to be submitted to and
decided by the jury are: (1) whether in placing the restraints on Plaintiff, Defendant used
excessive force; and (2) if so, the extent, if any, of Plaintiff’s injuries as a result thereof, and
the amount of damages to be awarded therefore.”5
The Court having reviewed the transcript of the interview of Defendant Davis agrees
with Defendant that, for the most part, the redacted material would not be admissible into
evidence, nor could it even remotely lead to the discovery of admissible evidence.
Accordingly, Defendant’s motion for a protective order to that extent will be granted. On
the other hand, in three instances the redacted material has at least marginal relevance
to the potential issues in this case. Nor does it appear to the Court that, with respect to the
material involved, disclosure to Plaintiff could be detrimental to the safety or security of the
prison, its inmates or guards.

Accordingly, with respect to those three instances

Defendant’s motion for a protective order will be denied.
II.

ORDER
Within twenty-one (21) days of the date of entry of this Order Defendant J. Davis

must serve on Plaintiff a revised redacted copy of the interview of J. Davis in which the
following material is not redacted:
1.

Docket 60, page 3 – All redacted material;

2.

Docket 60, page 13 – All redacted material; and

5

Docket 62, p. 3.

ORDER REGARDING MOTION AT DOCKET 52
Martinez v. Allison 1:11-cv-01749-RRB – 3

3.

Docket 60, page 18 – All redacted material.
In all other respects, the Motion for Protective Order to Redact Portions of

Documents Produced Pursuant to October 15, 2014 Order entered at Docket 45, at
Docket 52 is GRANTED.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
Dated this 10th day of December, 2014
S/ RALPH R. BEISTLINE
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

ORDER REGARDING MOTION AT DOCKET 52
Martinez v. Allison 1:11-cv-01749-RRB – 4