Johnson v. United States of America et al

Filing 340

ORDER re Bill of Costs 337 339 . Signed by Judge James Donato on 2/9/2017. (jdlc1S, COURT STAFF) (Filed on 2/9/2017)

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

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NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

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JAMES ELLIS JOHNSON,
Plaintiff,

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United States District Court
Northern District of California

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Case No.13-cv-02405-JD
ORDER RE BILL OF COSTS

v.

Re: Dkt. Nos. 337, 339
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, et al,
Defendants.

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Pro se plaintiff James Johnson takes issue with the Clerk’s entry of taxed costs in the

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amount of $2,753.91 against the United States. Dkt. Nos. 337, 339. The Court treats his filings as

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a motion for review under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 54(d)(1). The taxed sum of $2,753.91

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is correct, and several claimed costs were properly denied:

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(1) The Fees of the Clerk were appropriately reduced from $450 to $400, which is
the filing fee actually paid. Civ. L.R. 54-3(a).
(2) Johnson did not provide documentation for Fees for Service and Summons of
Subpoena. The $250 request for those fees was properly denied. Civ. L.R.
54-1(a).

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(3) Johnson requested $10,450 for the “cost for typing all court doc’s.” Dkt. No.
331 at 6-7. Those expenses are not allowed under 28 U.S.C. § 1920 or Civil
Local Rule 54-3(d).
(4) Expert witness fees are not allowed under Civil Local Rule 54-3(e). The fees
for witnesses were properly reduced to $950, which represents compensable
transportation and subsistence costs. 28 U.S.C. § 1821; Civ. L.R. 54-3(e).
The $249.94 requested for Johnson’s travel to the deposition of his medical
expert was properly excluded under Civil Local Rule 54-3(c).
(5) Johnson requested $936.19 in postal fees and $951.25 in various office
supplies, among other costs of reproducing and exemplifying documents. The

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Clerk properly excluded these costs, leaving $1,403.91 for costs of
reproducing documents as outlined in Civil Local Rule 54-3(d).
IT IS SO ORDERED.
Dated: February 9, 2017

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JAMES DONATO
United States District Judge

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United States District Court
Northern District of California

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