Coleman, et al v. Schwarzenegger, et al

Filing 6784

ORDER signed by Chief District Judge Kimberly J. Mueller on 7/22/2020 ORDERING that, within 30 days from the date of this order, defendants shall deposit with the Clerk of the Court a 136th interim payment of costs in the amount of $3,000,000.00, which shall be invested in the interest-bearing account previously opened for this action. (cc: Financial Department) (Huang, H)

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

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EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

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RALPH COLEMAN, et al.,

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Plaintiffs,

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v.

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No. 2:90-cv-0520 KJM DB P

ORDER

GAVIN NEWSOM, et al.,

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Defendants.

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On December 11, 1995, the court entered an order referring this matter to a Special

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Master and directing that the Special Master’s fees and expenses be borne by the defendants as

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part of the costs of this action. A significant amount of work remains to be done by the Special

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Master and additional funds are required to pay his fees and expenses.
The court must take all steps necessary to ensure timely payment of the Special

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Master’s fees and expenses. On February 4, 2020 and June 5, 2020 the court increased the

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required deposits in light of the increase in both the Special Master’s workload and his staff. See

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ECF Nos. 6455,6703. Exigent circumstances presented by the novel coronavirus pandemic and

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ongoing outstanding remedial issues require an additional deposit of funds within the next thirty

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days.1

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In particular, payment of the May 2020 bill for services was recently ordered, ECF No. 6782,
and payment of the June 2020 bill for services will soon be due. The uncertainties regarding the
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Accordingly, good cause appearing, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that:

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1. Within thirty days from the date of this order, defendants shall deposit with the

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Clerk of the Court a one hundred and thirty-sixth interim payment of costs in the amount of

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$3,000,000.00, which amount shall be invested in the interest-bearing account previously opened

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for this action; and

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2. The Clerk of the Court is directed to serve a copy of this order on the Financial

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Department of this Court.

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DATED: July 22, 2020.

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remedial path of this action in view of the issues that remain outstanding, and the novel
coronavirus pandemic, which has required formation of a special task force supervised by the
Special Master, require a substantial increase in the deposit required by this order.
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