Uriarte v. Schwarzenegger, et al
Filing
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ORDER Granting in Part and Denying in Part 180 Motion to Compel Discovery. Signed by Judge Michael M. Anello on 9/29/2011. (All non-registered users served via U.S. Mail Service)(leh)(jrd)
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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
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SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
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FRANCISCO URIARTE,
CASE NO. 06cv1558-MMA (WMc)
Plaintiff,
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ORDER GRANTING IN PART
AND DENYING IN PART
PLAINTIFF’S MOTION TO
COMPEL DISCOVERY FILED
JANUARY 4, 2011
vs.
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ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER, et al.,
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[Doc. No. 180]
Defendants.
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On August 26, 2010, Francisco Uriarte (“Plaintiff”), a prisoner proceeding pro se and in
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forma pauperis (“IFP”) filed a second amended complaint (“SAC”) alleging civil rights claims
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under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. (Doc No. 146). On January 4, 2011, Plaintiff filed a “Motion to Compel
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Defendants’ for Production of Documents, Set One and Set Two.” (Doc. No. 180). Plaintiff’s
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motion encompasses two separate sets of requests for discovery. On January 18, 2011, Defendants
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filed an Opposition to the Motion to Compel. (Doc. No. 184). For the following reasons, the
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Court GRANTS IN PART and DENIES IN PART Plaintiff’s motion.1
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The disposition of this motion by the undersigned shall constitute an exclusive exception to
the general distribution of case-related matters set forth by Civil Local Rule 72.1(b) and statutorily
authorized by 28 U.S.C. §636(b)(1)(A). Accordingly, the assigned magistrate judge shall continue
to “determine any pretrial motions, including discovery motions, other than the dispositive motions
which are specified in 28 U.S.C. §636(b)(1)(A).” See Civ. L.R. 72.1(b).
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LEGAL STANDARD
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The Federal Rules of Civil Procedure generally allow for broad discovery, authorizing
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parties to obtain discovery regarding “any nonprivileged matter that is relevant to any party’s
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claim or defense.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(b)(1). Also, “[f]or good cause, the court may order
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discovery of any matter relevant to the subject matter involved in the action.” Id. Relevant
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information for discovery purposes includes any information “reasonably calculated to lead to the
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discovery of admissible evidence,” and need not be admissible at trial to be discoverable. Id.
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There is no requirement that the information sought directly relate to a particular issue in the case.
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Rather, relevance encompasses any matter that “bears on” or could reasonably lead to matter that
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could bear on, any issue that is or may be presented in the case. Oppenheimer Fund, Inc. v.
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Sanders, 437 U.S. 340, 354 (1978). District courts have broad discretion to determine relevancy
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for discovery purposes. See Hallett v. Morgan, 296 F.3d 732, 751 (9th Cir. 2002). Similarly,
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district courts have broad discretion to limit discovery where the discovery sought is
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“unreasonably cumulative or duplicative, or can be obtained from some other source that is more
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convenient, less burdensome, or less expensive.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(b)(2)(C). Limits also should
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be imposed where the burden or expense outweighs the likely benefits. Id.
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Similarly, a party may request the production of any document within the scope of Rule
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26(b). Fed. R. Civ. P. 34(a). “For each item or category, the response must either state that
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inspection and related activities will be permitted as requested or state an objection to the request,
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including the reasons.” Id. at 34(b). The responding party is responsible for all items in “the
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responding party’s possession, custody, or control.” Id. at 34(a)(1). Actual possession, custody or
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control is not required. Rather, “[a] party may be ordered to produce a document in the possession
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of a non-party entity if that party has a legal right to obtain the document or has control over the
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entity who is in possession of the document. Soto v. City of Concord, 162 F.R.D. 603, 620
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(N.D.Cal.1995).
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DISCUSSION
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At the outset, the Court notes that Defendants primarily object to Plaintiff’s requests
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because they are untimely. (Def. Opp. at 3). Discovery in this case has been piecemeal and is in
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need of strict management. A review of the discovery disputes in this case shows both parties
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allege improper conduct in the form of procedural irregularities against the other. Rather than
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address these allegations, the Court will focus its attention on the substantive discovery disputes to
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insure the case is ultimately resolved on the merits and not on procedural technicalities.
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A.
Plaintiff’s Request for Government Personnel Files
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Plaintiff’s Request Nos. (Set No. One) 1, 3, 8, 10, 11, 21, 23 seek information of prior
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misconduct that may be contained in the personnel records of Defendant Jenkins, Defendant
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Ritter, Defendant Camacho, Defendant Reed, Defendant Williams, Defendant Martinez, Defendant
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Spence, Defendant Hurm, Defendant Jones and Defendant Ramirez.
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Specifically, Plaintiff requests that Defendants provide Plaintiff with any and all grievances
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filed against Defendants Jenkins, Ritter, Camacho, Reed, William, Spence, Jones, Ramirez and
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Martinez. Defendants do not specifically address any of Plaintiff’s numbered requests for
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production but object on the grounds of untimeliness, relevance, and privilege. Each of these
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objections will be addressed in turn.
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(i)
Untimeliness
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As stated above, based upon the irregular discovery schedule to date, the Court declines to
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deny Plaintiff’s request for discovery as untimely. Therefore, Defendants’ objection to Plaintiff’s
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discovery request on this ground is OVERRULED.
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(ii)
Relevance
Plaintiff’s request is relevant. Prior misconduct by the Defendants may lead to admissible
evidence in support of Plaintiff’s claims.
(iii)
Privilege
Here, Plaintiff has alleged violation of the Eighth Amendment pursuant to 42 US.C. §
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1983. Assertions of privilege in federal question cases are governed by federal common law. Fed.
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R. Evid. 501. However, Defendants’ privilege objections are erroneously based on state privacy
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rights, as they cite only to state law and procedure. For the purposes of resolving the pending
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motion to compel, the Court construes Defendants’ privacy objections in accordance with the
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federally recognized privilege for official information. “Government personnel files are
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considered official information.” Sanchez v. City of Santa Ana, 936 F.2d 1027, 1033 (9th Cir.
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1990).
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It is well-settled that federal discovery rules 26 through 37 “have been interpreted liberally
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to allow maximum discovery.” Spell v. McDaniel, 591 F. Supp. 1090, 1114 (1984 E.D. N.C.)
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(citing Hickman v. Taylor, 329 U.S. 495 (1947). Therefore, after review of Plaintiff’s motion to
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compel, Defendants’ response, and other applicable pleadings, the Court ORDERS as follows:
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records for in camera review as set forth below;
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Defendants shall produce a privilege log, and a copy of the requested personnel
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Discovery shall be limited to only the personnel records of Defendants Jenkins,
Ritter, Camacho, Reed, Williams, Martinez, Spence, Hurm, Jones and Ramirez;
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Defendants shall lodge with Magistrate Judge McCurine’s chambers, no later than
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October 31, 2011: (a) a privilege log; and (b) a copy of the personnel records, for in camera
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review.
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4.
Discovery shall further be limited to information relating only to alleged Eighth
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Amendment violations in the context of excessive force and/or deliberate indifference to a serious
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medical need. In addition, discovery shall be limited in time from the date of the alleged incident,
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February 7, 2004, going back to January 1, 2000.
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B.
Plaintiff’s Remaining Discovery Requests
(i)
Request No. 24 (Set No. One)
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Plaintiff seeks disclosure of “any and all documents that pertain to the above named
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defendants that are relevant and material to the subject matter of the present action.” (P’s Mtn. to
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Compel at 13). Defendants object to the request on the grounds that it is overly broad and the
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information sought is privileged.
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Ruling: The Court agrees Plaintiff’s request is over broad, and DENIES Plaintiff’s motion
to compel the information sought by Request No. 24 (Set No. One).
(ii)
Request No. 41 (Set No. One)
Plaintiff seeks disclosure of any and all documents issued by the MAR committee with
regard to evaluations and the prescribed treatment of Plaintiff’s injuries that occurred on February
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7, 2004. Defendant contends that Plaintiff has already been provided the complete MAR file as
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issued by the MAR Committee.
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Ruling: Based upon Defendants’ representations, no further response is required and the
Court DENIES Plaintiff’s motion to compel with respect to Request No. 41 (Set No. One).
(iii)
Request No. 1 (Set No. 2)
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Plaintiff seeks disclosure of all grievances and complaints made against Defendant
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Martinez regarding the mistreatment of inmates. Defendants contend the request is vague,
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ambiguous, overbroad, compound, irrelevant, and not likely to lead to the discovery of admissible
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evidence. (P’s Exhibit G)
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Ruling: The information sought by this request is duplicative of Plaintiff’s request for
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production of the Defendants’ personnel files. Accordingly, the Court DENIES this request as
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MOOT. Information regarding grievances and complaints made against Defendant Martinez will
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be produced for in camera review in accordance with the guidelines set forth by the Court in
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response to Plaintiff’s Request Nos. (Set No. One) 1, 3, 8, 10, 11, 21, 23. See, supra, p.3:1-4:13.
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(iv)
Request No. 2 (Set No. Two)
Plaintiff seeks any policy, instructions or other directives regarding “proper” use of the cell
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doors installed December 3, 2003. Defendants object to this request on the grounds that it is
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vague, ambiguous as to time, overly broad, and seeks documents that may show subsequent
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remedial measures have been taken, which are not discoverable. However, Defendants agree to
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produce all non-privileged documents relevant to Plaintiff’s request that are not subject to any
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objection noted herein. (P’s Exhibit G).
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Ruling: Plaintiff’s request is DENIED. Whether Defendants were instructed on the proper
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use of the newly installed cell doors is not relevant to whether Defendants knowingly and
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deliberately violated Plaintiff’s Eighth Amendment rights.
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(v)
Requests No. 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 (Set No. Two)
In each of these requests, Plaintiff seeks disclosure of any written reports or other
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documentation regarding complaints against correctional officers who are not parties to this
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litigation that were brought by inmates who are not parties to this litigation. Defendants object on
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the grounds that these requests are vague, over broad, irrelevant, and not calculated to lead to the
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discovery of admissible evidence. (Exhibit G)
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Ruling: Plaintiff’s requests seeks non-relevant information and is therefore DENIED.
(vi)
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Request No. 10
Plaintiff seeks disclosure of any grievances filed against Defendant Martinez. Defendant
objects.
Ruling: This request is duplicative of two prior requests made by Plaintiff and is DENIED
as MOOT. See, supra, p.3:1-4:13, 4:27-5:7.
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CONCLUSION
For the reasons set forth above, Plaintiff’s motion to compel [Doc. No. 180] is GRANTED
IN PART and DENIED IN PART.
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IT IS SO ORDERED.
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DATED: September 29, 2011
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Hon. Michael M. Anello
United States District Judge
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