Fetzer v. Zangh, et al.

Filing 17

DISCOVERY and SCHEDULING ORDER, signed by Magistrate Judge Dennis L. Beck on 1/7/15: Intitial Disclosures due 2/23/2015, Motions based on Exhaustion due 4/7/2015, Deadline to Amend Pleadings due 5/7/2015, Discovery due 6/8/2015, Dispositive Motion due 8/5/2015. (Hellings, J)

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

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EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

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CHRISTOPHER J. FETZER,

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Plaintiff,

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vs.

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DR. W. ZHANG,

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Defendant.

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Case No.:1:14-cv-00357 LJO DLB
DISCOVERY AND
SCHEDULING ORDER
Initial Disclosures: February 23, 2015
Motions based on Exhaustion: April 7, 2015
Deadline to Amend Pleadings: May 7, 2015
Discovery Cut-Off: June 8, 2015
Dispositive Motion Deadline: August 5, 2015

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To expedite the fair disposition of this action and to discourage wasteful pretrial

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activities, the Court directs that the attorneys or parties, if appearing pro se, comply with the

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following procedures:

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I.

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INITIAL DISCLOSURES
Notwithstanding Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 26(a)(1)(B), the parties are HEREBY

ORDERED to provide Initial Disclosures as follows:
No later than February 23, 2015:
A. Plaintiff’s Disclosures:

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Plaintiff shall provide Defendant with the name and, if known, the location or other
identifying information (such as inmate number, job classification or assignment) of each
individual likely to have information about the events described in his complaint or his claims of

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injury or damage. In addition, Plaintiff shall describe, generally, the information each individual

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so identified is believed to possess.

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Plaintiff shall also provide copies of, or a list describing (by category and location), all
documents or other tangible things in his possession, custody or control1 which he may use to
support the allegation(s) in his complaint, or his claims or injury of damage.

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B. Defendant(s) Initial Disclosures:
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Defendant(s) shall provide Plaintiff with the name and, if known, the location or other

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identifying information (such as inmate number, job classification or institutional assignment) of
each individual likely to have information about Defendant(s)’ claims or defenses, or who will

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be used to support Defendant(s)’ version of the events described in the complaint. In addition,

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Defendant(s) shall describe, generally, the information each individual so identified is believed

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to possess.

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Defendant(s) shall provide to Plaintiff copies of all documents and other materials in the

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care, custody, or control of any Defendant(s) or the California Department of Corrections and

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Rehabilitation (“CDCR”) related to the claims and defenses in the case.

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Such documents and materials shall include, but are not limited to, (a) documents and
materials upon which Defendant(s) rely in support of their defense of the action, (b) grievances
and appeals thereof, determinations of grievances and appeals, and (c) reports of completed
investigations by CDCR or others. If Defendants intend on filing a motion relating to Plaintiff’s

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failure to exhaust, initial disclosures must include related grievances and appeals, and all
responses. Simultaneous with disclosure to Plaintiff, Defense counsel shall file with the Court
either a copy of any cover letter (without attachments) or a statement that the disclosures
required herein have been completed.

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Property is deemed within a party’s possession, custody or control if the party has actual possession, custody or
control thereof, or the legal right to obtain the property on demand. Allen v. Woodford, 2007 WL 309945, *2 (E.D.
Cal. 2007).

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Defendants do not need to provide copies of documents that are available to Plaintiff
upon request, such as documents in Plaintiff’s Central File or Medical File. For such documents,
Defendants need only describe them in the disclosure with particularity, and note that Plaintiff
may obtain the document upon request from the prisoner/CDCR. In lieu of a description,
Defendants may provide copies.

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Pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 26(e), the parties must supplement or correct
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the disclosures in a timely manner, and failure to do so may result in the inability to present such
evidence in support of a motion, or at trial. Fed. R. Civ. P. 37(c).
II.

DEPOSITIONS
Defendant(s) are granted leave to take the deposition of Plaintiff, or any other

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incarcerated witness, pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 30(a)(2)(B). Defense counsel

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shall provide Plaintiff with notice of the date of the deposition by mailing such notice to Plaintiff

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at least fifteen (15) days prior to the scheduled deposition date. The deposition may not

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commence until at least ten (10) days after Defense counsel has filed their proof of compliance

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as required in subparagraph (B) above. PLAINTIFF SHALL TAKE NOTICE that disagreement

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with any directive of security staff at the correctional facility at which the deposition is
scheduled is not a ground on which Plaintiff may refuse to answer appropriate questions, and the
failure of Plaintiff to attend, be sworn, and answer appropriate questions may result in sanctions.

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Such sanctions may include dismissal of the action pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure
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37. Objections made in good faith in accordance with governing rules are permissible.
III.

SCHEDULE AND DEADLINES
A.

The issue of exhaustion must be raised by either (1) a procedurally proper motion

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for summary judgment; or (2) a motion to dismiss pursuant to Rule 12(b)(6) if the failure to

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exhaust is clear on the face of the complaint. If the parties believe that discovery related to

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exhaustion is necessary, they may request such discovery pursuant to Rule 56(d). Requests for

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limited discovery must be made within thirty (30) days of the date of service of any motion for

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summary judgment related to exhaustion. Motions relating to exhaustion must be filed on or

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before April 7, 2015.

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B.
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The deadline for amending pleadings is May 7, 2015.
All discovery shall be completed on or before June 8, 2015. Motions to compel

must also be filed by this date.

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D.

Dispositive motions must be filed on or before August 5, 2015.

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IV.

A.

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DISCOVERY ISSUES
Written discovery must be served at least thirty (30) days prior to the close of

discovery. Responses must be served thirty (30) days after service of the discovery request.

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Fed. R. Civ. P. 33(b)(2), 34(b)(2)(A). In objecting to discovery requests, Defendant(s) should

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state their objections in plain language that a pro se party will likely understand.
B.

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As stated above, motions to compel must be filed on or before June 8, 2015. The

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meet and confer requirement set forth in Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 37(a)(1) and Local

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Rule 251(b) is waived. Voluntary compliance is encouraged, however.

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V.

EXTENSIONS OF TIME
Requests for extensions of the deadlines set forth in this Discovery and Scheduling Order

must be filed on or before the expiration of the date in question. These deadlines are firm
and will not be extended by the Court except upon a showing of good cause. Fed. R. Civ. P.

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16(b)(4).
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IT IS SO ORDERED.

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Dated:

/s/ Dennis

January 7, 2015

L. Beck

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
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