Gray v. Johnson et al
Filing
268
ORDER DENYING Defendant Rebel's 241 Motion to Strike signed by Magistrate Judge Gary S. Austin on 9/11/2017. (Sant Agata, S)
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
9
EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
10
11
DANA GRAY,
12
Plaintiff,
13
14
vs.
1:13-cv-01473-DAD-GSA-PC
ORDER DENYING DEFENDANT
REBEL’S MOTION TO STRIKE
(ECF No. 241.)
ROMERO, et al.,
15
Defendants.
16
17
18
I.
Dana Gray (“Plaintiff”) is a state prisoner proceeding pro se in this civil rights action
19
20
BACKGROUND
pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. This case was filed on September 12, 2013. (ECF No. 1.)
On August 8, 2017, defendant Rebel (“Defendant”) filed a motion to strike. (ECF No.
21
22
241.) Plaintiff has not filed an opposition.
23
II.
MOTION TO STRIKE
24
“It is well established that ‘[d]istrict courts have inherent power to control their
25
docket.’” Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Ry. v. Hercules, Inc., 146 F.3d 1071, 1074 (9th Cir.
26
1998) (alteration in original) (quoting Hernandez v. City of El Monte, 138 F.3d 393, 398 (9th
27
Cir. 1998)); accord Ready Transp., Inc. v. AAR Mfg., Inc., 627 F.3d 402, 404 (9th Cir. 2010).
28
This includes the power to strike items from the docket as a sanction for litigation conduct.
1
1
Ibrahim v. U.S. Dep’t of Homeland Sec., 835 F.3d 1048, 1065 (9th Cir. 2016) (citing Ready
2
Transp., Inc., 627 F.3d at 404 (9th Cir. 2010); see, e.g., Lazy Y Ranch Ltd. v. Behrens, 546
3
F.3d 580, 586–87, 588 (9th Cir. 2008) (discussing, but declining to rule on, the ability of a
4
district court to strike documents submitted as exhibits to a motion); Hambleton Bros. Lumber
5
Co. v. Balkin Enters., Inc., 397 F.3d 1217, 1224–26 (9th Cir. 2005) (upholding a district court’s
6
grant of a motion to strike deposition corrections and a declaration as a sanction when a party
7
had violated Fed. R. Civ. P. 30(e)); cf. Carrigan v. Cal. State Legislature, 263 F.2d 560, 564
8
(9th Cir. 1959) (discussing an appellate court’s inherent power to strike briefs and pleadings
9
“as either scandalous, impertinent, scurrilous, and/or without relevancy”).
10
Defendant Rebel brings a motion to strike Plaintiff’s declaration filed on August 7,
11
2017, on the ground that the evidence in the declaration is not relevant under the California
12
Evidence Code. Defendant cites California Evidence Code §§ 210 & 350 which provide that
13
“[r]elevant evidence means evidence, including evidence relevant to the credibility of a witness
14
or hearsay declarant, having any tendency in reason to prove or disprove any disputed fact that
15
is of consequence to the determination of the action,” and “[n]o evidence is admissible except
16
relevant evidence.” Defendant argues that Plaintiff’s declaration concerns Plaintiff’s pain and
17
its impact on her life, but Plaintiff has not stated the reason for submission of evidence at this
18
time, nor has she identified any motion which this evidence is intended to support. Defendant
19
objects to this evidence on the grounds that it “does not have any tendency in reason to prove or
20
disprove any disputed fact that is presently before the court.” (ECF No. 241.)
21
The court relies on Rules 401 & 402 of the Federal Rules of Evidence, which provide
22
that “[e]vidence is relevant if (a) it has any tendency to make a fact more or less probable than
23
it would be without the evidence; and (b) the fact is of consequence in determining the action,”
24
Fed. R. Evid. 401, and “[i]rrelevant evidence is not admissible,” Fed. R. Evid. 402.
25
In her declaration, Plaintiff describes her pain, suffering, and mental anguish related to
26
her medical condition. To the extent that Plaintiff offers the declaration as evidence in support
27
of her complaint, the declaration is moot because there is presently no complaint at issue in this
28
case.
Moreover, Plaintiff may not add information piecemeal to a complaint after the
2
1
complaint has been filed. Local Rule 220.1 However, Defendant has not shown good cause for
2
the court to strike the declaration from the record as moot, nor as a sanction for litigation
3
conduct. Defendant fails to show any possible prejudice which would result from allowing
4
Plaintiff’s declaration to remain on the docket. There are better contexts in which to test the
5
relevance and admissibility of evidence, such as on summary judgment or at trial.
6
Accordingly, the court shall deny Defendant’s motion to strike.
7
III.
8
9
CONCLUSION
Based on the foregoing, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that defendant Rebel’s motion to
strike, filed on August 8, 2017, is DENIED.
10
11
12
IT IS SO ORDERED.
Dated:
September 11, 2017
/s/ Gary S. Austin
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
1
26
Unless prior approval to the contrary is obtained from the Court, every pleading to
which an amendment or supplement is permitted as a matter of right or has been allowed by
court order shall be retyped and filed so that it is complete in itself without reference to the prior
or superseded pleading. No pleading shall be deemed amended or supplemented until this Rule
has been complied with. All changed pleadings shall contain copies of all exhibits referred to in
the changed pleading.
27
28
Local Rule 220 provides, in part:
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?