Reece v. Basi, et al

Filing 65

ORDER signed by Magistrate Judge Allison Claire on 06/05/14 ordering plaintiff's motion to compel discovery 52 is granted in part to the extent specified above regarding request for production Nos. 2-3, 7-10, 13 and 17, and is otherwise denied . Defendant Basi shall serve further responses and any responsive documents in accordance with this order within 14 days. Plaintiff's motion for reconsideration 51 is denied. Defendants Villote and Lahey's motion to withdraw admissions arising from failure to serve timely discovery responses 49 is granted and the deadline for moving defendants to serve responses to discovery requests is extended to 04/25/14, nunc pro tunc. Plaintiff's motion for a default judgment against defendants Villote and Lahey as a discovery sanction 57 is denied. Discovery is re-opened for the limited purpose of permitting plaintiff to bring a motion to compel discovery within 60 days of the date of this order, should he choose to, with res pect to the discovery responses provided by defendants Villote and Lahey. The dispositive motion deadline is hereby re-set for 10/16/14. Plaintiff will have until that date to supplement his motion for summary judgment 49 , should he so choose, an d defendants must file any cross-motion for summary judgment no later than 10/16/14. Oppositions by all parties will be due 30 days after the dispositive motion deadline and replies will be due within 21 days of the service of the parties' oppositions. (Plummer, M)

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

9

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

10
11

CHARLES G. REECE,

12
13
14

No. 2:11-cv-2712 TLN AC P

Plaintiff,
v.

ORDER

AMRICK BASI, et al.,

15

Defendants.

16
17

Plaintiff, a state prisoner proceeding pro se, seeks relief pursuant to 42 U.S. § 1983.

18

Pending before the court are: (1) plaintiff’s requests for a default judgment against defendants

19

Villote and Lahey, ECF Nos. 51, 57; (2) plaintiff’s motion to compel production of documents

20

from defendant Basi, ECF No. 52; and (3) defendants Villote’s and Lahey’s motion to withdraw

21

admissions arising from failure to serve timely responses and for a nunc pro tunc extension of

22

time to respond to plaintiff’s discovery requests, ECF No. 58. The motions have been fully

23

briefed.

24
25

BACKGROUND
This matter proceeds on plaintiff’s claims for money damages against defendants Dr.

26

Amrik Basi and Nurses Lahey and Villote, on grounds that they provided him with inadequate

27

medical care in violation of the Eighth Amendment at California State Prison-Solano (CSP)-

28

1

Solano.1 Plaintiff alleges that defendant Basi prescribed a medication called Terazosin for

2

plaintiff’s enlarged prostate, without advising plaintiff of the medication’s risks or explaining the

3

surgical alternatives. As a side-effect of the Terazosin, plaintiff developed a blood clot that

4

caused blindness in his left eye. Defendants Basi, Lahey and Villote failed to treat the blindness,

5

which therefore become permanent. See ECF Nos. 1, 31 at 2.

6

PLAINTIFF’S MOTION TO COMPEL

7

Background

8

Plaintiff moves to compel production of documents from defendant Basi. Motion to

9

Compel (“MTC”), ECF No. 52. He appends the eighteen requests that were contained in his

10

requests for production of documents (RFPs), Set One, and contends that defendant has objected

11

to each and failed to produce any responsive documents. The court construes the motion as

12

seeking compelled responses to each of the eighteen requests. Plaintiff has not provided

13

defendant’s objections to the requests, but defendant has submitted his responses. Opposition

14

(“Opp.”), ECF No. 56.

15

The court’s review of this dispute is complicated by the fact that each of plaintiff’s

16

requests for production begins with a reference to a concurrently served request for admission,

17

e.g., “If your response to Request for Admission No. 1, served concurrently with these

18

interrogatories, is anything other than an unqualified admission, please produce all documents

19

that support your [contrary] contentions. . .” RFP No. 1, ECF No. 52, at 14. Plaintiff has not

20

provided the requests for admissions that correlate with his requests for production, however.

21

The court has attempted to discern the subject matter at issue in each request for production,

22

based on the parties’ submissions related to the motion. As the moving party, however, plaintiff

23

must bear the consequences if his motion to compel inadequately described the information he

24

seeks.

25

Standards Governing Motion

26

The scope of discovery under Fed.R.Civ.P. 26(b)(1) is broad. Discovery may be obtained

27
28

1

Defendants Naku and Traquina have been dismissed. ECF Nos., 31, 36.
2

1

as to “any nonprivileged matter that is relevant to any party’s claim or defense -- including the

2

existence, description, nature, custody, condition and location of any documents or other tangible

3

things and the identity and location of persons who know of any discoverable matter.” Id.

4

Discovery may extend to relevant information not admissible at trial “if the discovery appears

5

reasonably calculated to lead to the discovery of admissible evidence.” Id.; see also Oppenheimer

6

Fund v. Sanders, 437 U.S. 340, 351 (1978). “Relevance for purposes of discovery is defined very

7

broadly.” Garneau v. City of Seattle, 147 F.3d 802, 812 (9th Cir.1998).

8

The court, however, may limit discovery if it is “unreasonably cumulative or duplicative,”

9

or can be obtained from another source “that is more convenient, less burdensome, or less

10

expensive”; or if the party who seeks discovery “has had ample opportunity to obtain the

11

information by discovery”; or if the proposed discovery is overly burdensome. Fed.R.Civ.P.

12

26(b)(2)(C)(I), (ii) and (iii).

13

“The party seeking to compel discovery has the burden of establishing that its request

14

satisfies the relevancy requirements of Rule 26(b)(1). The party opposing discovery then has the

15

burden of showing that the discovery should be prohibited, and the burden of clarifying,

16

explaining or supporting its objections.” Bryant v. Ochoa, 2009 WL 1390794 at * 1 (S.D.Cal.

17

May 14, 2009). The part opposing discovery is “required to carry a heavy burden of showing”

18

why discovery should be denied. Blankenship v. Hearst Corp., 519 F.2d 418, 429 (9th Cir.1975).

19

Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 34(a) permits each party to serve the opposing party with

20

document requests within the scope of Rule 26(b) that are “relevant to the subject matter involved

21

in the action.” Fed.R.Civ.P. 26(b). In responding to Rule 34 requests, “the response must either

22

state that inspection and related activities will be permitted as requested or state an objection to

23

the request, including the reasons.” Fed.R.Civ.P. 34(b)(2)(B). Under Rule 37(a)(3)(B)(iv), “[a]

24

party seeking discovery may move for an order compelling an answer, designation, production, or

25

inspection” if “a party fails to respond that inspection will be permitted—or fails to permit

26

inspection—as requested under Rule 34.” Fed.R.Civ.P. 37(a)(3)(B)(iv).

27

////

28

////
3

1

The Requests for Production of Documents

2

Request for Production No. 1

3

RFP No. 1: If your response to Request for Admission No. 1,
served concurrently with these interrogatories, is anything other
than an unqualified admission, please produce all documents that
support your contentions that you Amrick [sic] Basi and the second
unknown doctor did not work on 2-14, 15-2007 in the four yard
annex clinic.

4
5
6
7

MTC, ECF No. 52, at 14.

8

Response to Request for Production No. 1

9

Response: Objection. This Request lacks foundation and is vague
and ambiguous in its entirety, as defendant is not making any such
contention. Discovery continues.

10
11

Opp., ECF No. 56, at 5.

12

Discussion

13

It is unclear from the documents plaintiff has provided whether the defendant has denied

14

working in the specified area on the specified dates, with or without another unidentified doctor.

15

Defendant’s response indicates that he has not. Accordingly, no further response can be ordered.

16

Plaintiff’s motion is denied as to RFP No. 1.

17

Request for Production No. 2

18

RFP No. 2: If your response to Request for Admission No. 1,
served concurrently with these interrogatories, is anything other
than an unqualified admission, please produce all documents with
the name of the unknown second doctor who worked with you on
Feb. 14, 15, 2007, in the four yard annex clinic.

19
20
21

MTC at 14.

22

Response to Request for Production No. 2

23

Response: Objection. This request lacks foundation, calls for speculation and is
vague and ambiguous in its entirety, as defendant is not making any such
contention. Discovery continues.

24
25
26
27
28

Opp. at 5.
Discussion
Plaintiff is plainly seeking the identity of another doctor who was involved in his care (or
lack of care) on February 14 and 15, 2007. An interrogatory would have been a more efficient
4

1

way of seeking the information, which is discoverable. Defendant Basi is ordered to produce any

2

documentation within his possession, custody or control identifying any other doctor who worked

3

on the four yard annex clinic at any time on February 14 and/or 15 of 2007.

4

Request for Production No. 3

5

RFP No. 3: If your response to Request for Admission No. 2, served concurrently
with these interrogatories, is anything other than an unqualified admission, please
produce all documents that support your contention that you were not the Plaintiff
[sic] primary care provider on 12-26-2006, and that you Amrick [sic] Basi did not
prescribed [sic] (Terazosin) to the Plaintiff and any document that proves you fully
explained the serious side effects of taking Terazosin to Plaintiff.

6
7
8
9

MTC at 14.

10

Response to Request for Production No. 3

11

Response: Objection. This Request is improperly compound, lacks
foundation and is vague and ambiguous in its entirety, as defendant
is not making any such contention. Without waiving said objects,
and subject thereto, after conducting a diligent search and
reasonable inquiry, defendant does not have any such documents in
his possession. Discovery continues.

12
13
14
15
16

Opp. at 6.
Discussion

17

Because plaintiff has not provided his Requests for Admission or defendant’s responses,

18

the court cannot determine to what extent, if any, defendant Basi (1) has denied being plaintiff’s

19

primary care provider on December 26, 2006, (2) has denied prescribing plaintiff Terazosin, or

20

(3) has claimed that he did or did not explain potential serious side effects. The objections imply

21

that this defendant does not deny being plaintiff’s primary care provider or prescribing him

22

Terazosin. It is likely that plaintiff already has such documentation as exists regarding the

23

December 26, 2006, interaction. See, e.g., ECF No. 1-1 at 7, 18. In any case, despite his

24

objections, defendant Basi represents that he has conducted a diligent search and reasonable

25

inquiry and has no documents responsive to plaintiff’s request.

26

Nonetheless, to ensure that plaintiff is not denied necessary discovery because he has

27

inartfully crafted his requests, the court will order defendant Basi to produce any and all records

28

that document his prescription of Terazosin to the plaintiff in December of 2006 and/or in January
5

1

of 2007, and any document(s) that reflect discussion of side-effects and/or alternatives.

2

Defendant Basi must produce any such documents within his possession, custody or control,

3

regardless of whether plaintiff has or has had access to such records by other means. The motion

4

as to RFP No. 3, as modified herein, is granted.

5

Requests for Production Nos. 4 through 6

6

The following requests received the identical objection:

7

RFP No. 4: If your response to Request for Admission No. 3,
served concurrently with these interrogatories, is anything other
than an unqualified admission, please produce all documents that
support your contention that you Amrick [sic] Basi fully explained
the prostate surgery procedure to Plaintiff on 12-26-2006.

8
9
10

RFP No. 5: If your response to Request for Admission No. 4,
served concurrently with these interrogatories, is anything other
than an unqualified admission, please produce all documents that
support your contention that you Amrick [sic] Basi did not have a
constitutional duty to provide Plaintiff with prompt, proper, or any
medical treatment upon request by Plaintiff or other prisoners on 214,15, 2007.

11
12
13
14

RFP No. 6: If your response to Request for Admission No. 5,
served concurrently with these interrogatories, is anything other
than an unqualified admission, please produce all documents that
support your contention that you Amrick [sic] Basi did not take the
cheap way out by prescribing Terazosin on 12-26-2006 instead of
prescribing or recommending the prostate surgery.

15
16
17
18

MTC at 15.

19

Response to Requests for Production Nos. 4 through 6

20

Response to RFP Nos. 4-6: Objection. This Request is vague and
ambiguous in its entirety, as defendant is not making any such
contention.

21
22

Opp. at 6-7.

23

Discussion

24

Defendant Basi’s objection to these RFPs is reasonable in light of the argumentative

25

nature of the requests, the evidently unfounded assumptions on which they are based, and the

26

overall lack of clarity in the phrasing. The substance of RFP No. 4 has been addressed in relation

27

to RFP No. 3 No further response with respect to RFP Nos. 4-6 will be compelled.

28

////
6

1

Requests for Production Nos. 7 through 9

2

The following RFPs were received the same response (as set forth below):

3

RFP No. 7: If your response to Request for Admission No. 6,
served concurrently with these interrogatories, is anything other
than an unqualified admission, please produce all documents that
support your contention that you Amrick [sic] Basi, did care about
providing Plaintiff with prompt, proper medical care on 12-26-2006
and that your actions were not deliberate indifference to Plaintiff
[sic] most serious medical condition.

4
5
6
7

RFP No. 8: If your response to Request for Admission No. 7,
served concurrently with these interrogatories, is anything other
than an unqualified admission, please produce all documents that
support your contention that you Amrick [sic] Basi, did not refuse
to provide Plaintiff with medical treatment on 2-14, 15, 2007, and
the you did provide Plaintiff with medical treatment in 2-14, 152007.

8
9
10
11

RFP No. 9: If your response to Request for Admission No. 8,
served concurrently with these interrogatories, is anything other
than an unqualified admission, please produce all documents that
support your contention that you Amrick [sic] Basi, and the
unknown second doctor did not stand four feet away from Plaintiff
on 2-14, 15, 2007 listening to him explain his medical condition to
first LVN Mallari and then nurse Lahey then you and the unknown
second doctor refused to provide Plaintiff with any medical
treatment.

12
13
14
15
16

MTC at 16-17.

17

Response to Requests for Production Nos. 7 through 9

18

Response to RFP Nos. 7-9: After conducting a diligent search and
reasonable inquiry, defendant does not have any such documents in
his possession. Discovery continues.

19
20
21
22

Opp. at 7-8.
Discussion
If defendant Basi has possession, custody or control of any documentation demonstrating

23

that he did provide medical treatment to plaintiff on February 14-15, 2007 (rather than

24

documentation showing he did not), he must produce it to plaintiff. Defendant Basi must produce

25

such documents regardless of whether plaintiff has or has had access to such records by other

26

means. In all other respects, the motion as to these requests must be denied.

27

Request for Production No. 10

28

RFP No. 10: If your response to Request for Admission No. 9,
7

1

served concurrently with these interrogatories, is anything other
than an unqualified admission, please produce all documents that
support your contention that you Amrick [sic] Basi were not the
Plaintiff [sic] primary care provider on 2-14, 15, 2007.

2
3
4

MTC at 17.

5

Response to Request for Production No. 10

6

Response: Objection. This Request is incomplete and unintelligible in its entirety.
In addition, it is vague and ambiguous, as defendant is not making any such
contention.

7
8

Opp. at 8.

9
10

Discussion
As defendant Basi evidently does not contend that he was not plaintiff’s primary care

11

provider on February 14-15, 2007, he is unlikely to have documents proving that negative.

12

Further discovery cannot be compelled with respect to these requests as framed. However,

13

defendant Basi is ordered to produce any and all documents within his possession, custody or

14

control that demonstrate he was plaintiff’s primary care provider in February of 2007.

15

Request for Production No. 11

16

RFP No. 11: If your response to Request for Admission No. 10,
served concurrently with these interrogatories, is anything other
than an unqualified admission, please produce all documents that
support your contention that you Amrick [sic] Basi did your
constitutional duty and declared a medical emergency on either 214, 15, 2007 and sent Plaintiff to the prison primary clinic on 2-142007 where the prison ophthalmologist was working and who
would have examined Plaintiff left eye and sent plaintiff to U.C.
Davis Medical [C]enter in Sacramento, that the outcome would
have been the same, Plaintiff lost [sic] of his vision.

17
18
19
20
21
22

MTC at 17.

23

Response to Request for Production No. 11

24

Response: Objection. This Request is vague and ambiguous in its
entirety, as defendant is not making that contention at this time.
Discovery continues.

25
26
27
28

Opp. at 9.
Discussion
Since defendant Basi does not contend that he took any of the action specified in this
8

1

request, documentation showing that he did is unlikely to exist. The motion as to this request is

2

denied.

3

Request for Production No.12

4

RFP No. 12: If your response to Request for Admission No. 11,
served concurrently with these interrogatories, is anything other
than an unqualified admission, please produce all documents that
support your contention that because of your inaction in not
providing Plaintiff with any medical treatment on 2-14, 15, 2007
Plaintiff injuries associated with his eye condition from 2-14, 15,
2007 onward [sic].

5
6
7
8

MTC at 17-18.

9

Response to Request for Production No. 12

10
11

Response: Objection. This Request is unintelligible in its entirety.
Opp. at 9.

12

Discussion

13
14

Defendant is correct that this request is unintelligible. Accordingly, the motion as to RFP
No. 12 is denied.

15

Request for Production No.13

16

RFP No. 13: If your response to Request for Admission No. 12,
served concurrently with these interrogatories, is anything other
than an unqualified admission, please produce all documents that
support your contention that you Amrick [sic] Basi did not have
two opportunities on 2-14, 15, 2007 to provide Plaintiff with
prompt, proper medical treatment for his serious left eye condition.
That you did not refuse Plaintiff medical treatment and therefore
you are not responsible for his blindness.

17
18
19
20
21

MTC at 18.

22

Response to Request for Production No. 13

23

Response: Objection. This Request is vague and ambiguous, as
defendant is not making any such contention. After conducting a
diligent search and reasonable inquiry, defendant does not have
documents in his possession that support his contention that he did
not refuse to provide medical treatment to plaintiff at any time.
Discovery continues.

24
25
26
27

Opp. at 9.

28

////
9

1
2

Discussion
Defendant Basi has responded that he does not have any responsive documents. However,

3

to ensure that plaintiff is not denied necessary discovery because he has inartfully crafted his

4

requests, the court will order defendant Basi to produce any documentation in his possession,

5

custody or control that demonstrates any medical treatment he did provide to plaintiff related to

6

plaintiff’s prostate or eye, including documentation of the dates, times and nature of the medical

7

treatment provided. The motion as to this request, as modified, is granted.

8

Requests for Production No.14 through 16, and Responses

9

RFP No. 14: If your response to Request for Admission No. 13,
served concurrently with these interrogatories, is anything other
than an unqualified admission, please produce all documents that
support your contention that there were no register[ed] nurse [sic]
working in the four yard annex clinic on 2-14-2007 with you and
the unknown second doctor.

10
11
12
13

MTC at 18.

14

Response: This Request is vague and ambiguous in its entirety, as
defendant is not making any such contention. Discovery continues.

15
16

Opp. at 10.

17

RFP No. 15: If your response to Request for Admission No. 14,
served concurrently with these interrogatories, is anything other
than an unqualified admission, please produce all documents that
support your contention that you Amrick [sic] Basi did not refuse
to provide Plaintiff with medical treatment on 2-15-2007 while
Plaintiff and [N]urse Lahey discussed his medical condition while
you and the second unknown doctor stood four feet away and did
nothing to help Lahey and the you did not refuse Plaintiff medical
treatment two days in a row, 2-14, 15-2007.

18
19
20
21
22

MTC at 18-19.

23

Response: This Request is vague and ambiguous, as defendant is
not making any such contention. After conducting a diligent search
and reasonable inquiry, defendant does not have documents in his
possession that support his contention that he did not refuse to
provide medical treatment to plaintiff at any time. Discovery
continues.

24
25
26
Opp. at 10.
27
28

RFP No. 16: If your response to Request for Admission No. 15,
served concurrently with these interrogatories, is anything other
10

1

than an unqualified admission, please produce all documents that
support your contention that Plaintiff did not have a Constitutional
right to know all of the serious side effects to the medication
(TERAZOSIN) you prescribed nor to be fully informed about the
procedure concerning prostate surgery and that it was not your job
to provide Plaintiff with such information.

2
3
4
5

MTC at 19.

6

Response: Objection. This Request is vague and ambiguous in its
entirety, as defendant is not making any such contention.
Discovery continues.

7
8

Opp. at 11.
Discussion

9
10

No further responses can be compelled to the very awkwardly framed RFP Nos. 14-16.

11

Requests for Production No 17 and 18, and Responses

12

RFP No. 17: If your response to Request for Admission No. 13,
served concurrently with these interrogatories, is anything other
than an unqualified admission, please produce all documents with
the name of the unknown nurse who worked in the four yard annex
clinic on 2-14-2007.

13
14
15

MTC at 19.

16

Response: After conducting a diligent search and reasonable
inquiry, defendant does not have any such documents in his
possession referencing the names of the nurses that cared for
plaintiff on any date, other than plaintiff’s medical records which
are equally available to plaintiff.

17
18
19

Opp. at 11.

20

RFP No. 18: Produce any and all documents containing the names
of the unknown doctor and unknown nurse who worked on 2-142007 (Nurse) and 2-14, 15-2007 (Doctor).

21
22
23

MTC at 20.

25

Response: After conducting a diligent search and reasonable
inquiry, defendant does not have any such documents in his
possession referencing the names of the physicians that treated
plaintiff on any date, other than plaintiff’s medical records which
are equally available to plaintiff.

26

Discussion

24

27
28

Defendant Basi contends in response to RFP Nos. 17 and 18 that documents identifying
other medical personnel who worked at the clinic on Febuary14 and 15, 2007, are equally
11

1

available to plaintiff. Defendant has already been instructed, however, to produce any such

2

documentation in his possession, custody or control with respect to other physicians. See

3

discussion re RFP No. 2. In the interests of consistency and completeness, Defendant Basi is also

4

ordered to produce any documents containing the names of any nurses working at that clinic on

5

February 14, 2007. The motion as to RFP No. 17 is granted to that extent. The motion as to RFP

6

No. 18 is denied as duplicative of RFP Nos. 2 and 17.

7

PLAINTIFF’S REQUEST FOR RECONSIDERATION

8
9

On February 13, 2014, plaintiff filed an affidavit requesting entry of default as to
defendants Lahey and Villote. ECF No. 47. The Clerk declined to enter default, as the

10

defendants had answered. ECF No. 48. Plaintiff seeks reconsideration of the Clerk’s action.

11

ECF No. 51.

12

Rule 55(a) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure instructs the Clerk to enter a party’s

13

default “[w]hen a party against whom a judgment for affirmative relief is sought has failed to

14

plead or otherwise defend, and that failure is shown by affidavit, or otherwise . . . .” Defendants

15

Lahey and Villote filed an answer on November 20, 2013. Docket Entry No. 42. The answer

16

was a pleading that demonstrated the defendants’ intention to defend the lawsuit. Because the

17

defendants had appeared and responded to the complaint, an entry of default was unavailable.

18

See Direct Mail Specialists v. Eclat Computerized Technologies, Inc., 840 F.2d 685, 689 (9th Cir.

19

1988). Accordingly, the Clerk acted correctly and the request for reconsideration must be denied.

20

It appears from plaintiff’s motion for reconsideration and briefing of the discovery

21

disputes that he has misunderstood the difference between a request for entry of default, which is

22

governed by Rule 55, and a motion for terminating sanctions under Rule 37(b)(2). Plaintiff seeks

23

a default judgment (not entry of default) on grounds that defendants failed to respond to discovery

24

requests. Because the relief plaintiff seeks is properly understood as a discovery sanction, the

25

court will return to the issue after addressing defendants’ motion for withdrawal of admissions

26

and for an extension of time to respond to plaintiff’s discovery requests.

27

////

28
12

1

DEFENDANTS’ REQUEST TO WITHDRAW ADMISSIONS

2

Background

3

Plaintiff served his interrogatories, requests for admission (RFA), and requests for

4

production of documents (RFP) on defendants Villote and Lahey on December 9, 2013. Pursuant

5

to an extension of time granted by the undersigned, respondents were to serve their responses no

6

later than February 26, 2014. ECF No. 50. The responses were not served until April 25, 2014.

7

ECF No. 58, Jamison Dec. ¶ 10 & Exhibits A, C. Defendants move for a nunc pro tunc extension

8

of time that would render the responses timely, and to withdraw admissions effected by operation

9

of Rule 36(a)(3).

10

Standards

11

Fed. R. Civ. P. 36 provides in relevant part as follows:

12
13
14
15

[(a)](3) A matter is admitted unless, within 30 days after being
served, the party to whom the request is directed serves on the
requesting party a written answer or objection addressed to the
matter and signed by the party or its attorney. A shorter or longer
time for responding may be stipulated to under Rule 29 or be
ordered by the court.
...

16
17
18
19
20
21

(b) A matter admitted under this rule is conclusively established
unless the court, on motion, permits the admission to be withdrawn
or amended. Subject to Rule 16(e), the court may permit
withdrawal or amendment if it would promote the presentation of
the merits of the action and if the court is not persuaded that it
would prejudice the requesting party in maintaining or defending
the action on the merits. An admission under this rule is not an
admission for any other purpose and cannot be used against the
party in any other proceeding.

22

Fed. R. Civ. P. 6(b)(1) provides that when an act is to be done within a specific time, “the

23

court may, for good cause, extend the time: . . . (B) on motion made after the time has expired if

24

the party failed to act because of excusable neglect.” The U.S. Supreme Court has established a

25

four-part balancing test to determine “excusable neglect.” See Pioneer Investment Services Co.

26

v. Brunswick Associates Ltd. Partnership, 507 U.S. 380, 395 (1993). The Pioneer test applies to

27

all excusable neglect inquiries presented under the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. Pincay v.

28

Andrews, 389 F.3d 853, 855 (9th Cir. 2004) (en banc), cert. denied, 541 U.S. 961 (2005). The
13

1

Pioneer factors include: (1) the danger of prejudice to the non-moving party, (2) the length of

2

delay and its potential impact on judicial proceedings, (3) the reason for the delay, including

3

whether it was within the reasonable control of the movant, and (4) whether the moving party’s

4

conduct was in good faith. Id. The weighing of these factors is left to the discretion of the

5

district court. Id. at 860.

6

Discussion

7

Defendants have submitted a declaration of counsel which states that the discovery

8

responses were completed and signed on February 7, 2014 and provided to counsel’s secretary to

9

be served on or about February 10, 2014. ECF No. 58, Jamison Dec. ¶5. When counsel received

10

notice of plaintiff’s February 14, 2014 “affidavit for entry of default,” which alleged that plaintiff

11

had not received the discovery, counsel emailed his secretary and was assured that the responses

12

had been served on February 12, 2014. Id. ¶¶ 6-7 & Ex. B (email exchange). Counsel assumed

13

that plaintiff simply had not yet received the responses that had been served. Id. ¶ 7. When

14

counsel received and reviewed plaintiff’s second request for entry of default, which was filed on

15

April 21, 2014, he checked the file himself and was unable to locate any proofs of service. Id. ¶

16

9. Counsel’s further inquiries with his secretary revealed that the responses had not been served

17

after all, but inadvertently had been filed away with the case materials. Id. ¶¶ 8-9. The discovery

18

responses, which are indeed dated February 7, 2014, were then served by mail on April 25, 2014.

19

Id. ¶ 10 & Ex. A (discovery responses), Ex. C (proof of service).

20

These facts present a classic case of excusable neglect. In Pincay, supra, the Ninth Circuit

21

found excusable neglect where a paralegal responsible for calendaring filing deadlines misread

22

the applicable rule, accordingly miscalculated the deadline, and incorrectly told the attorney that a

23

notice of appeal did not need to be filed for sixty days. Pincay, 389 F.3d at 855. The Ninth

24

Circuit, sitting en banc, held that the lawyer’s delegation of the matter to a paralegal did not

25

constitute inexcusable neglect. The court went on to affirm the finding that the attorney’s error

26

was excusable because there had been no prejudice and only a small delay, the delay was caused

27

by carelessness, and there was no evidence of bad faith. Pincay, 389 F.3d at 855-56. This case

28

presents analogous facts. The delay in service of the discovery requests was caused by
14

1

carelessness and not by bad faith. The lawyer reasonably relied on his secretary to serve the

2

responses, and made reasonable inquiries to ensure that the discovery obligation had been met.

3

Counsel served the outstanding discovery promptly after discovering the error.

4

Any possible prejudice to plaintiff is cured by providing him an opportunity to challenge

5

the substantive sufficiency of the discovery responses and to supplement his pending motion for

6

summary judgment. Under the circumstances, the court finds good cause to modify the

7

scheduling order accordingly. The resulting delay, while unfortunate, is not atypical of prisoner

8

cases and will not have a negative impact on litigation of this case. For all these reasons, the

9

defendants have demonstrated excusable neglect within the meaning of Fed. R. Civ. P. 6(b).

10

Moreover, it would be unfair to defendants Villote and Lahey if their counsel’s error, which is

11

attributable to excusable neglect, resulted in admissions that relieved plaintiff of his burden of

12

proof. Withdrawal of the admissions will promote the presentation of the merits of the claims

13

and, in light of the lack of prejudice to plaintiff, is therefore appropriate under Fed. R. Civ. P.

14

36(b).

15
16
17
18

For all these reasons, defendants’ motion to withdraw admissions and for a nunc pro tunc
extension of time to served discovery responses is granted.
PLAINTIFF’S REQUEST FOR TERMINATING SANCTIONS
As noted above, plaintiff seeks default judgment against defendants Villote and Lahey for

19

non-compliance with the rules of discovery and the operative scheduling order. Fed. R. Civ. P.

20

37(d)(1)(A)(ii) provides that the court may impose sanctions on a party for failing to respond to

21

properly served discovery requests. Potential sanctions include “rendering a default judgment

22

against the disobedient party. . . .” Fed. R. Civ. P. 37(b)(2)(A)(vi). A motion for discovery

23

sanctions must be accompanied by certification that the movant has in good faith conferred or

24

attempted to confer with the party failing to act in an attempt to obtain the responses without

25

court action. Fed. R. Civ. P. 37(d)(1)(B). Plaintiff has not filed the required certification.

26

Default judgment is the harshest of the Rule 37(b) sanctions, and due process requires that

27

it may not be imposed unless noncompliance with discovery procedures is due to willfulness or

28

bad faith. Baker v. Limber, 647 F.2d 912, 918 (9th Cir. 1981). Because there is no indication of
15

1

willfulness or bad faith here, the court need not consider the other factors that must be considered

2

before declaring a default as a discovery sanction.2 The undersigned has already determined that

3

defendants’ failure to timely serve discovery responses was the product of excusable neglect.

4

Counsel did not willfully refuse to provide responses, he prepared and signed them and thought

5

they had been served. The error was cured as soon as it was discovered, and plaintiff has now

6

received responses to his discovery requests.

7

Plaintiff’s frustration with the defendants in this matter is understandable, but the only

8

prejudice he has suffered is some delay. Delay is an insufficient basis for imposition of default as

9

a discovery sanction. Adriana Int’l. Corp. v. Thoeren, 913 F.2d 1406, 1412 (9th Cir. 1990).

10

Plaintiff’s motion for a default judgment against defendants Villote and Lahey, construed as a

11

motion for sanctions under Rule 37, is therefore denied. Plaintiff will be granted additional time

12

to bring any motion to compel with respect to the discovery responses at issue.

13

Accordingly, IT IS ORDERED that:

14

1. Plaintiff’s motion to compel discovery, ECF No. 52, is granted in part to the extent

15

specified above regarding Requests for Production Nos. 2-3, 7-10, 13, and 17, and is otherwise

16

denied. Defendant Basi shall serve further responses and any responsive documents in

17

accordance with this order within fourteen (14) days;

18

2. Plaintiff’s motion for reconsideration, ECF No. 51, is denied;

19

3. Defendants Villote and Lahey’s motion to withdraw admissions arising from failure to

20

serve timely discovery responses, ECF No. 49, is granted and the deadline for moving defendants

21

to serve responses to discovery requests is extended to April 25, 2014, nunc pro tunc;

22
23

4. Plaintiff’s motion for a default judgment against defendants Villote and Lahey as a
discovery sanction, ECF No. 57, is denied;

24
25
26
27
28

2

The Ninth Circuit has set forth five factors a district court must consider before declaring a
default or ordering dismissal of a case: (1) the public’s interest in expeditious resolution of
litigation; (2) the court’s need to manage its docket; (3) the risk of prejudice to the other party; (4)
the public policy favoring the disposition of cases on their merits; and (5) the availability of less
drastic sanctions. Adriana Int’l. Corp. v. Thoeren, 913 F.2d 1406, 1412 (9th Cir. 1990) (citations
omitted).
16

1

5. Discovery is re-opened for the limited purpose of permitting plaintiff to bring a motion

2

to compel discovery within sixty days of the date of this order, should he choose to, with respect

3

to the discovery responses provided by defendants Villote and Lahey;

4

6. The dispositive motion deadline is hereby re-set for October 16, 2014. Plaintiff will

5

have until that date to supplement his motion for summary judgment at ECF No. 49, should he so

6

choose, and defendants must file any cross-motion for summary judgment no later than October

7

16, 2014. Oppositions by all parties will be due thirty days after the dispositive motion deadline

8

and replies will be due within twenty-one days of the service of the parties’ oppositions.

9

DATED: June 5, 2014

10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
17