(PC) Gradford v. Velasco et al
Filing
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ORDER DENYING 21 Motion for Leave to File Reply to Defendants' Answer signed by Magistrate Judge Erica P. Grosjean on 11/17/2020. (Jessen, A)
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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
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FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
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WILLIAM J. GRADFORD,
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Plaintiff,
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v.
F. VELASCO and T. WEBSTER,
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No. 1:20-cv-00543-NONE-EPG (PC)
ORDER DENYING MOTION FOR LEAVE
TO FILE REPLY TO DEFENDANTS’
ANSWER
(ECF No. 21)
Defendants.
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On October 30, 2020, Defendants F. Velasco and T. Webster filed an answer to Plaintiff
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William J. Gradford’s complaint. On November 12, 2020, Plaintiff filed a “Request to File
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Plaintiff’s Reply Brief to Answerring [sic] Defendants in this Case” (ECF No. 21), which the
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Court will treat as a motion for leave to file a reply brief, and a corresponding reply brief (ECF
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No. 22).
In his motion, Plaintiff discusses his attempts to serve a reply brief to Defendants’ answer
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“before the deadline.” (ECF No. 21 at 1). However, there is no deadline to file a response to the
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answer. Currently, the pending deadlines for Plaintiff are to exchange initial disclosures and file a
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scheduling conference statement. (See ECF No. 20). There is no need to file a reply to
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Defendants’ answer. Therefore, the Court will deny Plaintiff’s motion. He may raise any
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arguments in his reply brief again at an appropriate time.
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///
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In addition, Plaintiff goes into some detail about his attempts to serve Defendants’
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attorney with a copy of his motion. He does not need to serve Defendants’ attorney with anything
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he files with the Court. As set forth in the Court’s First Informational Order, filing a document
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with the Court is sufficient service of a motion:
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Once an attorney for a defendant appears in a pro se plaintiff's civil rights action
(by filing an answer, a motion to dismiss, a motion for summary judgment, etc.),
that attorney's office will receive notice of all filings through the Court's
electronic filing system (ECM/ECF). A pro se plaintiff need not serve documents
on counsel for a defendant; the date of the electronic Notice from ECM/ECF is
the date of service. Local Rule 135(a). However, for purposes of application of
the “Mailbox Rule,” see Douglas v. Noelle, 567 F.3d 1103, 1107 (9th Cir. 2009),
on all documents filed with the Court, the pro se plaintiff must attach a Proof of
Service, indicating the date on which the filing was turned over to prison
authorities. A document submitted without proof of service may be
stricken/returned or if filed after the deadline, deemed not timely filed.
(ECF No. 3 at 4).
Accordingly, Plaintiff’s motion for leave to file a reply brief (ECF No. 21) is HEREBY
DENIED.
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IT IS SO ORDERED.
Dated:
November 17, 2020
/s/
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
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