Smith v. Crones et al

Filing 88

ORDER signed by Senior Judge Arthur L. Alarcon on 8/28/09: Warden McDonald is ORDERED to produce any and all documents responsive to the attached subpoena directly to the Court for in camera review by the Court, on or before September 4, 2009. Any re sponsive documents should not be filed on the CM/ECF system, but should be delivered to the Court "UNDER SEAL." Failure to comply with this Court's order may result in sanctions. The Clerk of this Court is ordered to send a copy of thi s order, along with the attached subpoena duces tecum to: Mike McDonald, Warden. The Clerk of this Court is ordered to forward all copies of these sealed documents, upon receipt from Warden McDonald, to the Chamber of Judge Alarcn for in camera review. (Attachments: # 1 Subpoena)(Kaminski, H)

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 vs. LEANN CRONES, et al., Defendants. / On August 28, 2009, Plaintiff filed a reply (doc. 85) to Warden Mike McDonald's response to this Court's subpoena duces tecum served on Warden Mike McDonald. (Doc 70.) The subpoena demanded that Warden McDonald produce "All documents from personnel files of Officers Edward Simmerson and Scott Norton that concern or relate to: the alleged Jan.12, 2006 assault on Inmate Jarmaal Smith, as documented in CDC 602 inmate grievance log no. HDSP3-06-248; any investigation into this alleged assault; any adverse action taken against either officer for excessive use of force" by mailing them to Plaintiff by August 10, 2009. In his reply, Plaintiff argues that documents relating to the grievance he filed indicate that an investigation was conducted into the alleged January 12, 2006 assault on Plaintiff. Attached as Plaintiff's Exhibit A to Palintiff's reply is a memorandum dated March 1, 2006 concerning Plaintiff's Appeal Log #HDSP-Z-06-00248, First Level Response, wherein Associate Warden R. ORDER IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA JARMAAL LARONDE SMITH, Plaintiff, Case No. 2:07-cv-00964 ALA (P)

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K. Wong indicated that Plaintiff's "request to have [his] allegations investigated is granted." (Doc. 85, Exh. A). Also attached is a memorandum dated May 3, 2006, signed by "Warden/CDW/HCM (Second Level) AW/Med. Mgr. (First Level) [signature illegible], indicating that an investigation was conducted into Plaintiff's grievance concerning the alleged assault that is the subject of this lawsuit and that four correctional officers, including Officers Norton and Simmerson, were interviewed as part of that investigation. Id. Plaintiff's appeal was partially granted and that "results of any inquiry/investigation will not be shared with staff, members of the public, or inmates." Id. Also attached is a memorandum entitled Director's Level Appeal Decision, dated September 14, 2006 and signed by Inmate Appeals Branch Chief, N. Grannis. It states as follows: III. Director's Level Decision: Appeal is denied. A. Findings: Upon review of the documentation submitted, it is determined that the appellant's allegations have been reviewed and evaluated by administrative staff, and an appeals inquiry has been completed. The appellant has been transferred to the California State Prison, Sacramento (SAC) since filing this appeal. The finding of the staff complaint inquiry is confidential and will not be disclosed. There is no avenue in the inmate appeals process to award monetary compensation.

Id. Thus, Plaintiff argues, "[d]ocumentation of an investigation into this matter exist somewhere within High Desert State Prison even if the documentation is not located within officers Norton and Simmerson's personnel files." Id. This Court tends to agree. The attached subpoena duces tecum requests "All documents that concern or relate to any investigation into the alleged January 12, 2006 assault on Inmate Jarmaal Smith, as documented in CDC 602 inmate grievance log no. HDSP3-06-248 and related appeals, including any adverse action that was taken against either officer for excessive use of force, regardless of where such documents are located." Warden McDonald is ORDERED to produce any and all documents responsive to the attached subpoena directly to the Court for in camera review by the Court, on or before September 4, 2009. Any responsive documents should not be filed on the CM/ECF
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system, but should be delivered to the Court "UNDER SEAL." Failure to comply with this Court's order may result in sanctions. The Clerk of this Court is ordered to send a copy of this order, along with the attached subpoena duces tecum to: Mike McDonald, Warden High Desert State Prison P.O. Box 750 Susanville, CA 96127-0750 The Clerk of this Court is ordered to forward all copies of these sealed documents, upon receipt from Warden McDonald, to the Chamber of Judge Alarcón for in camera review. ///// DATED: August 28, 2009 /s/ Arthur L. Alarcón UNITED STATES CIRCUIT JUDGE Sitting by Designation

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