Miller v. Najera, et. al.

Filing 71

MEMORANDUM DECISION AND ORDER DENYING REQUEST FOR DEPOSITION 65 , signed by Chief Judge Lawrence J. O'Neill on 9/6/2017. (Kusamura, W)

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1 2 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 3 FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 4 5 STEVEN R. MILLER, 6 7 8 9 1:12-cv-01288-LJO Plaintiff, MEMORANDUM DECISION AND ORDER DENYING REQUEST FOR DEPOSITION (Doc. 65) v. ALBERT NAJERA, et al., Defendants. 10 11 12 13 I. INTRODUCTION Pro se Plaintiff Steven Miller brings this case alleging failure to protect and deliberate 14 indifference under the Eighth and Fourteenth Amendments. Trial is scheduled for March 20, 2018, at 15 8:30 a.m. On August 23, 2017, Plaintiff filed the instant motion for leave to depose an incarcerated 16 witness. CM/ECF Document No. (“Doc.”) Doc. 65. Also on August 23, 2017, Defendants Margaret 17 Mims, Rick Hill, and the County of Fresno (collectively “Defendants”) filed an opposition. Doc. 66. 18 Plaintiff did not file a reply within the seven days provided under Local Rule 230(l). The motion is 19 deemed submitted. Because the discovery deadline in this case has already passed, and because Plaintiff 20 has not shown good cause to permit the requested deposition, Plaintiff’s request is DENIED. 21 22 II. ANALYSIS The Federal Rules of Civil Procedure govern the manner in which depositions may be taken, 23 either by oral or written questions. Rule 30 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure governs the 24 procedure by which depositions are taken by oral examination. “A party who wants to depose a person 25 by oral questions must give reasonable written notice to every other party.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 30(b)(1). 1 1 “The party who notices the deposition must state in the notice the method for recording the testimony.” 2 Fed. R. Civ. P. 30(b)(3)(A). The noticing party must also bear costs of recording the deposition. Id. In 3 addition, that party must arrange for an officer to conduct the depositions (absent a stipulation by all 4 parties otherwise). Fed. R. Civ. P. 30(b)(5)(A). 5 Depositions by written questions must be taken pursuant to the procedures set forth under 6 Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 31. Harrell v. Jail, No. 2:14-cv-1690-TLN-CKD P, 2015 WL 8539037, 7 *1-2 (E.D. Cal. Dec. 11, 2015). (quoting Brady v. Fishback, No. 1:06-cv-00136-ALA (P), 2008 WL 8 1925242, at *1-2 (E.D. Cal. April 30, 2008). In forma pauperis status does not entitle a party to a waiver 9 of any of the costs associated with this form of deposition; instead, the party must pay the necessary 10 deposition officer fee, court reporter fee, and costs for a transcript. Id. (citations omitted). 11 Discovery in this matter closed on July 1, 2017. Doc. 41. Plaintiff’s request to depose David 12 Zastrow is therefore untimely. Plaintiff has not shown that there were any special circumstances which 13 would constitute good cause for his failure to meet the discovery deadline, or to show that he has taken 14 any steps to complete the deposition in a timely manner. The Court therefore finds that Plaintiff has not 15 shown good cause to reopen discovery for Plaintiff to depose Mr. Zastrow. III. CONCLUSION AND ORDER 16 17 For the foregoing reasons, Plaintiff’s motion is DENIED. 18 IT IS SO ORDERED. 19 Dated: /s/ Lawrence J. O’Neill _____ September 6, 2017 UNITED STATES CHIEF DISTRICT JUDGE 20 21 22 23 24 25 2

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