Lopez v. Cook, et al

Filing 217

ORDER signed by Magistrate Judge Dale A. Drozd on 06/17/10 ordering defendants counsel shall may any inquiries that might be helpful in expediting Mr. Bishop's access to his client. Plaintiff's motion for a limited re-opening of discovery shall be filed and serve on or before 07/16/10; defendants' opposition to the motion shall be filed and served on or before 07/30/10; plaintiff's reply, if any, shall be filed and served on or before 08/06/10; and plaintiff's motion fo r a limited re-opening of discovery will be heard before the undersigned on 08/13/10 at 10:00 a.m. in courtroom 27. Plaintiff's 04/08/10 motion requesting appointment of counsel 212 and other requests are denied as moot due to the appointment of counsel. Plaintiff's 04/16/10 objections to the court's 03/31/10 order 213 is disregarded since the objections were filed after the appointment of counsel. The court will disregard any further motions or documents that are not filed by counsel on plaintiff's behalf.. (Plummer, M)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 Plaintiff's first cause of action contains many sub-claims. However, this action is proceeding only on the sub-claim concerning the alleged retaliatory placement and retention of plaintiff in administrative segregation by defendants Cook and Garate. See Findings and Recommendations, filed Sept. 29, 2008 at 15-16; Order filed Jan. 16, 2009. 1
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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA ANDREW R. LOPEZ, Plaintiff, vs. S. COOK, et al., Defendants. / This matter came before the court on June 4, 2010, for a status conference. William Daley Bishop, Jr. appeared on behalf of plaintiff Andrew Lopez, and Christopher James Becker appeared on behalf of defendants. The following matters were heard. I. Remaining Claims and Defendants It appears that this action is currently proceeding on plaintiff's first1, second, eighth, ninth, and tenth causes of action. The parties are advised to consider whether this action should proceed on plaintiff's eighth and ninth causes of action. In this regard, the court has previously determined that plaintiff had failed to present any evidence of a retaliatory motive on ORDER No. CIV S-03-1605 GEB DAD P

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the part of defendants McKean and Bartos when they issued rules violation reports based on plaintiff's violation of regulations. See Findings and Recommendations, filed Sept. 29, 2008 at 27-28. Accordingly, summary judgment was granted in favor of defendants with respect to those retaliation claims. See Order filed Jan. 16, 2009. The parties agree that there are seventeen defendants remaining.2 II. Counsel's Access to his Client Due to plaintiff's custody status and housing, Mr. Bishop has had difficulties meeting with plaintiff since his appointment. The court requested that defendants' counsel make any inquiries that might be helpful in expediting Mr. Bishop's access to his client. III. Request to Re-open Discovery Plaintiff's counsel requested leave to file a motion to re-open discovery with respect to plaintiff's retaliation claims. The request was granted and the following dates were set: plaintiff's motion for a limited re-opening of discovery shall be filed and served on or before July 16, 2010; defendants' opposition to the motion shall be filed and served on or before July 30, 2010; plaintiff's reply, if any, shall be filed and served on or before August 6, 2010; and plaintiff's motion for a limited re-opening of discovery will be heard before the undersigned on August 13, 2010 at 10:00 a.m. in Courtroom 27. IV. Settlement Conference Although defendants' counsel has indicated that a settlement conference would be potentially beneficial at this time, no settlement conference will be scheduled until plaintiff's counsel has had the opportunity to meet with the client to determine whether they agree that a settlement conference would be appropriate at this time. The court informed the parties that at The court questions whether this action should proceed against all the named defendants, not previously dismissed, with respect to plaintiff's fifteenth cause of action. Plaintiff's counsel is directed to re-consider the role and involvement of each of the remaining defendants in connection with plaintiff's procedural due process claim involving his placement and retention in administrative segregation and gang validation process. See Findings and Recommendations, filed Sept. 29, 2008 at 39-40; Order filed Jan. 16, 2009. 2
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the hearing on the motion for a limited re-opening of discovery, they should be prepared to discuss whether a settlement conference should be scheduled at that time, whether they would prefer to have the settlement conference before the undersigned and waive any disqualification stemming therefrom, or to have another magistrate judge assigned to conduct the settlement conference, as well as possible dates for that settlement conference. V. Other Matters On April 8, 2010, defendants filed a response to the court's March 31, 2010 order concerning the inclusion of defendants Hansen, Singletary and Farris on defendants' list of trial witnesses. The court is satisfied with defendants' response and no further order will issue in that regard. On April 8, 2010, plaintiff filed a document styled, "Notice Of Obstructions To Ability To Prepare For Trial. Request For Extension To Submit Documents And Subpeona's [sic]. Second Request For An Order Requiring Clerk To Provide Mileage Determinations. And, Request For Subpoena's And For Counsel." On April 16, 2010, plaintiff filed a document styled, "Objections To Magistrate Judges [sic] Order At Docket Number 208." Plaintiff's motion and requests will be denied as moot due to the appointment of counsel. VI. Conclusion In accordance with the above, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that: 1. Defendants' counsel shall make any inquiries that might be helpful in expediting Mr. Bishop's access to his client; 2. Plaintiff's motion for a limited re-opening of discovery shall be filed and served on or before July 16, 2010; defendants' opposition to the motion shall be filed and served on or before July 30, 2010; plaintiff's reply, if any, shall be filed and served on or before August 6, 2010; and plaintiff's motion for a limited re-opening of discovery will be heard before the undersigned on August 13, 2010 at 10:00 a.m. in Courtroom 27. ///// 3

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DAD:4 lope1605.oah

3. Plaintiff's April 8, 2010 motion requesting appointment of counsel (Doc. No. 212) and other requests are denied as moot due to the appointment of counsel; and 4. Plaintiff's April 16, 2010 objections to the court's March 31, 2010 order (Doc. No. 213), is disregarded since the objections were filed after the appointment of counsel. The court will disregard any further motions or documents that are not filed by counsel on plaintiff's behalf. DATED: June 17, 2010.

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