Williams et al v. San Diego, County of et al
Filing
79
ORDER Overruling 58 Plaintiff Katy Williams' Objections to Magistrate Judge's October 15, 2018 Order. The Court finds Judge Burkhardt's 10/15/2018 order was neither clearly erroneous nor contrary to law. Accordingly, the Court overrules Williams' objections. Signed by Judge Michael M. Anello on 12/21/2018.(rmc)
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
9
10
11
12
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
KATY WILLIAMS; GARY EVANS; and
Minor Plaintiffs A.C., Am.E. and Aa.E.,
by and through their Guardian Ad Litem,
JOHN GARTER,
13
Case No.: 17cv815-MMA (JLB)
ORDER OVERRULING PLAINTIFF
KATY WILLIAMS’ OBJECTIONS
TO MAGISTRATE JUDGE’S
OCTOBER 15, 2018 ORDER
Plaintiffs,
14
v.
15
COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO; and
COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO HEALTH
AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY,
16
17
[Doc. No. 58]
Defendants.
18
19
20
Plaintiffs Katy Williams, Gary Evans, and minor plaintiffs A.C., Am.E., and Aa.E.,
21
by and through their Guardian ad Litem, John Garter (collectively “Plaintiffs”) filed this
22
action against Defendant County of San Diego1 (“Defendant” or “County”) alleging
23
claims for: (1) Monell liability based upon violations of Plaintiffs’ Fourth and Fourteenth
24
Amendment rights pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983; and (2) injunctive relief. See FAC. On
25
October 15, 2018, Magistrate Judge Jill L. Burkhardt issued an order denying Plaintiff
26
Katy Williams’ (“Williams”) motion to compel further response from Defendant to
27
28
1
The County was also erroneously sued as “San Diego Health and Human Services Agency.”
-1-
17cv815-MMA (JLB)
1
Interrogatories, Set One, and Request for Production of Documents, Set One. See Doc.
2
No. 49.
3
On October 29, 2018, Williams filed objections to the magistrate judge’s order
4
pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 72(a). See Doc. No. 58. Defendant filed an
5
opposition to Williams’ objections, to which Williams replied. See Doc. Nos. 65, 69.
6
The Court found the matter suitable for determination on the papers and without oral
7
argument pursuant to Civil Local Rule 7.1.d.1. See Doc. No. 70. For the reasons set
8
forth below, the Court OVERRULES Williams’ objections to the magistrate judge’s
9
October 15, 2018 order.
10
FACTUAL BACKGROUND
11
Williams is the natural mother of A.C., Am.E., and Aa.E (“Minor Plaintiffs”).
12
FAC ¶ 8. Williams has another minor child, D.C., who is not a plaintiff in this action.
13
Id. Plaintiff Gary Evans (“Evans”) is the natural father of Am.E. and Aa.E. Id. ¶ 9.
14
Williams and Evans share custody of Am.E. and Aa.E, and Williams has sole custody of
15
A.C. Id. ¶¶ 10-11. On April 24, 2017, the Court appointed Mr. John Garter as Guardian
16
ad Litem for Minor Plaintiffs. See Doc. No. 4.
17
In 2013, Defendant first became acquainted with Williams and her children after
18
an incident involving D.C.’s father, Jason Clark (“Clark”). Id. ¶ 12. Clark became
19
violent with Williams and threatened to kill her. Id. As a result, Williams obtained a
20
restraining order against Clark. Id.
21
In June 2014, County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency
22
(“HHSA”) filed a petition on D.C.’s behalf alleging D.C. sustained bruises to his head,
23
“which would not ordinarily be sustained except as a result of the unreasonable acts of
24
D.C.’s father[.]” Id. ¶ 13. Juvenile dependency proceedings commenced shortly
25
thereafter. See id. D.C. lived with Williams during this time, and Clark was no longer
26
able to have unsupervised visits with his son. See id. Clark, angry about the supervised
27
visits with D.C., began making “false allegations against Williams and [Evans.]” Id. ¶¶
28
14-15.
-2-
17cv815-MMA (JLB)
1
In January 2016, Clark reported a bruise near D.C.’s eye to HHSA. See id. ¶ 18.
2
D.C. “hit his left eye on a corner of a kitchen island while playing with Minor Plaintiff
3
Aa.E.” Id. ¶ 18. Social worker Daniel Bernal (“Bernal”) inspected the bruise on January
4
8, 2016. See id. ¶ 18. During Bernal’s investigation, Bernal informed Williams that he
5
wished to interview minor plaintiff Aa.E. alone, but Williams did not consent to such an
6
interview. See id. ¶ 19. On January 11, 2016, Evans and Williams’ attorney sent a letter
7
to the County, HHSA, and Bernal, indicating that “Minor Plaintiffs were represented by
8
counsel and that no interviews of Minor Plaintiffs A.C., Am.E. or Aa.E. should take place
9
without counsel present.” Id. ¶ 20.
10
On January 12, 2016, D.C. sustained additional injuries to his head when “he ran
11
into a doorknob at his home[.]” Id. ¶ 21. Williams took D.C. to the hospital, and the
12
doctor discharged D.C. indicating that D.C. “sustained a ‘normal childhood injury.’” Id.
13
Clark, once again, reported the incident to the HHSA hotline. See id.
14
On January 19, 2016, Bernal went to A.C.’s middle school, instructed staff to
15
remove her from her classroom, and “detained her against her will” without court order,
16
parental consent, knowledge, or presence. Id. ¶ 22. That same day, Bernal also visited
17
Am.E. and Aa.E.’s elementary school, instructed staff to remove them from their
18
classrooms, and “detained them against their will” without court order, parental consent,
19
knowledge, or presence. Id. ¶ 23. Once the children were removed from their
20
classrooms, Bernal, social worker Janet Barragan (“Barragan”), and social worker
21
Miriam Partida (“Partida”) “interrogated” the children, despite the fact that Bernal, the
22
County, and HHSA “were informed in writing” that Evans and Williams “did not want
23
their minor children to be interviewed by social workers with the County and HHSA
24
without a parent and/or attorney being present at that interview.” Id. ¶ 24. Notably, there
25
were not, nor have there ever been, any allegations that Minor Plaintiffs were abused or
26
neglected by their parents, or any other individuals. See id.
27
During the interviews, the social workers inquired about Minor Plaintiffs’ safety at
28
home, how their parents disciplined them, and whether D.C. “was an active child.” Id. ¶
-3-
17cv815-MMA (JLB)
1
25. The social workers did not inform the Minor Plaintiffs that they could decline to be
2
interviewed, nor were they given a choice about being interviewed “once they were
3
detained and confronted by the County workers.” Id. ¶ 26. Further, the Minor Plaintiffs
4
“were not informed that they could have a parent and/or an attorney present for the
5
interviews.” Id. At the time of the interviews, the social workers “did not have exigency,
6
Court Order, parental consent, knowledge or presence, or even reasonable suspicion that
7
the Minor Plaintiffs were the subject of abuse or neglect.” Id. ¶ 27.
8
9
Clark “continues to make false allegations” and on December 29, 2017, social
worker Lisette Alvarez (“Alvarez”) contacted Williams to inquire about conducting an
10
in-person interview regarding disciplinary issues involving Williams’ children. See id. ¶
11
28. On January 11, 2018, Alvarez “reiterated her intent” to interview Williams and her
12
children. See id. ¶ 29. Williams indicated that she agreed for a meeting with herself,
13
D.C., and her counsel, but that she would not agree to interviews of her other children.
14
See id. Alvarez, however, “refused to agree not to go to the schools” of the Minor
15
Plaintiffs pursuant to Defendant’s “policies that allowed her to conduct such
16
interviews[.]” Id. (emphasis in original). Based on these allegations, Plaintiffs
17
commenced the instant action.
18
PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
19
On July 16, 2018, the parties requested the magistrate judge’s assistance with a
20
discovery dispute. See Doc. No. 42. Judge Burkhardt held a telephonic Discovery
21
Conference the following day, but the parties were unable to resolve their dispute. See
22
Doc. No. 43. Judge Burkhardt ordered briefing on the issue and set a briefing schedule.
23
See Doc. No. 44. Williams filed a motion to compel on September 25, 2018. See Doc.
24
No. 45. Defendant filed an opposition on September 28, 2018, to which Williams
25
replied. See Doc. Nos. 46, 47. On October 15, 2018, Judge Burkhardt issued an order
26
denying Williams’ motion. See Doc. No. 49. Williams filed the instant objections to
27
Judge Burkhardt’s order on October 29, 2018. See Doc. No. 58.
28
///
-4-
17cv815-MMA (JLB)
1
LEGAL STANDARD
2
A party may object to a non-dispositive pretrial order of a magistrate judge within
3
fourteen days after service of the order. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 72(a). The magistrate
4
judge’s order will be upheld unless “it has been shown that the magistrate [judge]’s order
5
is clearly erroneous or contrary to law.” 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(A). “The ‘clearly
6
erroneous’ standard applies to factual findings and discretionary decisions made in
7
connection with non-dispositive pretrial discovery matters.” Obesity Research Inst., LLC
8
v. Fiber Research Int’l, LLC, No. 15-cv-595-BAS (MDD), 2017 WL 3335736, at *1
9
(S.D. Cal. Aug. 4, 2017) (quoting F.D.I.C. v. Fid. & Deposit Co. of Md., 196 F.R.D. 375,
10
378 (S.D. Cal. 2000)).
11
“Under Rule 72(a), [a] finding is clearly erroneous when, although there is
12
evidence to support it, the reviewing court on the entire evidence is left with the definite
13
and firm conviction that a mistake has been committed.” Waterfall Homeowners Ass’n v.
14
Viega, Inc., 283 F.R.D. 571, 575 (D. Nev. 2012) (internal quotation marks and citation
15
omitted). “An order is contrary to law when it fails to apply or misapplies relevant
16
statutes, case law or rules of procedure.” Id. (citation omitted).
17
“When reviewing discovery disputes, however, the Magistrate is afforded broad
18
discretion, which will be overruled only if abused.” Columbia Pictures, Inc. v. Bunnell,
19
245 F.R.D. 443, 446 (C.D. Cal. 2007) (internal citations and quotation omitted).
20
DISCUSSION
21
Williams objects to the magistrate judge’s order on two grounds, “both of which
22
are based on the [judge’s] legal conclusions.” Doc. No. 58 at 10. Specifically, Williams
23
asserts that Judge Burkhardt erred: (1) in determining that the Interrogatories and Request
24
for Production seek information covered by the work product doctrine; and (2) in
25
sanctioning Plaintiffs for violating the Civil Local Rules and her order regarding the
26
Early Neutral Evaluation Conference. See id. at 10-11, 13. The Court addresses
27
Williams’ objections in turn.
28
///
-5-
17cv815-MMA (JLB)
1
1.
Motion to Compel
2
First, Williams objects to the magistrate judge’s order denying her motion to
3
compel, including the magistrate judge’s determination that the Interrogatories and
4
Request for Production seek information covered by the attorney work product doctrine.
5
Doc. No. 58 at 10-11.
6
In her Interrogatories, Williams asks the following:
7
1.
Have YOU reviewed any documents in conjunction with the
litigation filed in this case, other than those documents produced to YOU by
Plaintiffs on May 18, 2018, since the litigation was filed in this matter on
April 24, 2017?
8
9
10
11
2.
If YOUR answer to Interrogatory No. 1. is “yes,” please
identify each and every document that you have reviewed, other than
documents produced to YOU by Plaintiffs on April 24, 2017.
12
13
14
Doc. No. 50-3 at 3.
15
The terms “YOU” and “YOUR” are defined as “Defendant COUNTY OF SAN
16
DIEGO, including its Health and Human Services Agency,” and includes “past and
17
present attorneys, agents, employees, representatives, agencies, organizations, entities or
18
any of them, and any PERSON and ENTITY acting through or on YOUR behalf.” Id. at
19
1.
20
Williams’ Request for Production similarly provides, “[p]lease produce each and
21
every DOCUMENT that YOU have identified in YOUR Responses to Plaintiff Katy
22
Williams’ Interrogatories Propounded to Defendant County of San Diego, Set One.”
23
Doc. No. 50-4 at 5.
24
In her objections, Williams focuses exclusively on the Juvenile Case File
25
documents. In describing the information sought in the Interrogatories and Request for
26
Production, Williams notes that she “clarified that the requests were seeking only
27
information and documents from the Juvenile Case Files.” Doc. No. 58 at 7 n.2
28
(emphasis in original). Thus, “contrary to Defendant’s assertions and the Magistrate
-6-
17cv815-MMA (JLB)
1
[Judge]’s order, this Interrogatory . . . is asking whether the County received documents
2
obtained from the confidential Juvenile Case Files of the Plaintiff minors after the
3
litigation was filed.” Doc. No. 69 at 3; see also Doc. No. 58-1 (hereinafter “Nahama
4
Decl.”) ¶ 19.
5
However, as noted by Judge Burkhardt, Williams “did not request the production
6
of Juvenile Case File documents in the possession of Defendant. Rather, she requested
7
identification of, and production of, documents reviewed by Defendant and/or counsel
8
‘in conjunction with’ this litigation.” Doc. No. 49 at 9 (emphasis in original). Thus, in
9
examining the express language of the Interrogatories and Request for Production, it is
10
clear that the request encompasses more than just the Juvenile Case File documents.
11
Moreover, in considering the parties’ arguments, Judge Burkhardt noted that Defendant
12
claimed that responding to the Interrogatories and Request for Production “would force
13
defense counsel to divulge its strategies, impressions, and theories of the case[.]” Doc.
14
No. 49 at 10 (quoting Doc. No. 51 at 6). Judge Burkhardt explained that the court “has
15
no reason to question these assertions” and determined that the Interrogatories and
16
Request for Production are “shielded from disclosure.” Id. Thus, after citing relevant
17
and binding authority, Judge Burkhardt concluded that “the manner in which Williams is
18
attempting to obtain the requested documents is improper.” Id. The Court agrees. Upon
19
review of the record and the parties’ arguments, the Court finds that Williams has not
20
demonstrated that the magistrate judge’s determination that the Interrogatories and
21
Request for Production seek information covered by the work product doctrine was
22
clearly erroneous or contrary to law.
23
Additionally, the cases cited by Williams in support of her argument are inapposite
24
to the case at bar. Williams primarily relies on OCI Wyoming, L.P. v. Pacificorp, No. 3-
25
cv-259-B, 2005 WL 8155452 (D. Wyo. Jan. 21, 2005). In OCI Wyoming, the district
26
court held that documents “collected by counsel in the course of preparation for possible
27
litigation, but [that] were not created by counsel or at the behest of counsel do not fall
28
under the protection of the work product doctrine.” 2005 WL 8155452, at *3 (internal
-7-
17cv815-MMA (JLB)
1
quotation marks omitted). However, the plaintiff in OCI Wyoming did not request
2
defense counsel to identify and produce documents reviewed in conjunction with the
3
litigation. Moreover, Williams continues to focuses exclusively on the Juvenile Case File
4
documents, despite the fact that the express language of her requests encompass
5
additional documents. See Doc. No. 50-3 at 3. Williams contends that the Juvenile Case
6
File documents “were not prepared by or at the behest of Defendant’s counsel.” Doc. No.
7
58 at 11. While that may be true, OCI Wyoming does not support Williams’ argument
8
because she did not solely request the production of Juvenile Case File documents in
9
Defendant’s possession.
10
Further, Williams relies on In re San Juan Dupont Plaza Hotel Fire Litigation, a
11
case from the First Circuit, in support of her argument that the Juvenile Case File
12
documents are not protected by the attorney work product doctrine. 859 F.2d 1007 (1st
13
Cir. 1988). In San Juan, the court explained that “[t]he key factor distinguishing such
14
materials from protected opinion work product is that, even absent compelled disclosure,
15
the information will probably come to light during the course of trial, if not before.” Id.
16
at 1016. However, “[t]he rules do not compel disclosure of matters which would likely
17
remain inviolate in the bosom of the lodge; they merely accelerate disclosure of matters
18
that would probably be revealed in due course.” Id. Williams claims she “is simply
19
attempting to ‘accelerate disclosure of matters’ that will ultimately be revealed in due
20
course (albeit very lengthy due course).” Doc. No. 58 at 13 (quoting San Juan, 859 F.2d
21
at 1016). However, as noted above, the Interrogatories and Request for Production
22
request the County, including its attorneys, to identify and produce every document
23
reviewed “in conjunction with the litigation filed in this case[.]” Doc. No. 50-3 at 3.
24
Thus, Williams’ request is much broader than she admits. Unlike San Juan, Defendant
25
notes that “[b]ecause defense counsel’s mental impressions are not at issue in this case, it
26
is unlikely they will ever come to light.” Doc. No. 65 at 8. As such, Williams’ reliance
27
on San Juan is misplaced.
28
Accordingly, the Court finds that Judge Burkhardt did not clearly err or act
-8-
17cv815-MMA (JLB)
1
contrary to law in finding that “the Interrogatories and Request for Production seek
2
information covered by the work product doctrine.” Doc. No. 49 at 9. Thus, the Court
3
OVERRULES Williams’ objection.
4
2.
Sanctions
5
Williams next “objects to the Magistrate’s finding that Plaintiff’s counsel violated
6
both the Local Civil Rules and this Court’s Order regarding the Early Neutral Evaluation
7
Conference, and it is therefore appropriate to order Plaintiff to pay Defendant the
8
reasonable expenses, including attorney’s fees, which it incurred in opposing Williams’
9
motion to compel [pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 37(a)(5)].” 2 Doc. No. 58
10
at 13-14.
11
The Court finds that Judge Burkhardt correctly concluded that Williams’ counsel
12
violated both the Civil Local Rules and the court’s order regarding the Early Neutral
13
Evaluation Conference. In her order, Judge Burkhardt explained that Defendant is the
14
prevailing party on the discovery motion. See Doc. No. 49 at 11. However, Judge
15
Burkhardt indicated that she is “deeply concerned with Williams’ violation of her
16
obligation to respect the confidentiality of statements made at the Early Neutral
17
Evaluation Conference,” as Williams cited numerous representations allegedly made by
18
defense counsel at the conference in her motion to compel. Id.; see also Doc. Nos. 50-1
19
at 4, 50-2 at 1, 52 at 2-3. The magistrate judge explained that “any unauthorized
20
disclosure has served as a basis for sanctions against the violating attorney.” Doc. No. 49
21
at 12.
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
Pursuant to Civil Local Rule 16.1(c)(1)(b), cited by Judge Burkhardt, “[t]he ENE
conference will be informal, off the record, privileged, and confidential.” CivLR
2
Pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 37(a)(5), the Court “must, after giving an
opportunity to be heard, require the movant, the attorney filing the motion, or both to pay the party or
deponent who opposed the motion its reasonable expenses incurred in opposing the motion, including
attorney’s fees,” unless the court finds that the “motion was substantially justified or other
circumstances make an award of expenses unjust.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 37(a)(5)(B).
-9-
17cv815-MMA (JLB)
1
16.1(c)(1)(b). Moreover, Judge Burkhardt’s order setting the Early Neutral Evaluation
2
states, “[a]ll ENE Conference discussions will be informal, off the record, privileged and
3
confidential.” Doc. No. 31 at 1. Additionally, Local Rule 83.1 provides that “[f]ailure of
4
counsel or of any party to comply with these rules, with the Federal Rules of Civil or
5
Criminal Procedure, or with any order of the court may be grounds for imposition by the
6
court of any and all sanctions” including “imposition of monetary sanctions or attorneys’
7
fees and costs.” CivLR 83.1(a).
8
Williams argues that “[t]he disclosure of these statements . . . in these proceedings
9
was made to prevent ‘manifest injustice’ to Plaintiff, and certainly not intended to violate
10
the confidentiality of the ENE Conference proceedings.” Doc. No. 58 at 16. Williams
11
relies on Jones v. Metropolitan Life Insurance Co., a case from the Northern District of
12
California, wherein the magistrate judge explained that ADR Local Rule 6-12 outlines
13
limited circumstances in which the need for disclosure outweighs the importance of
14
protecting the confidentiality of mediation, including “the need to prevent manifest
15
injustice.” No. C-8-03971-JW (DMR), 2010 WL 4055928, at *8 (N.D. Cal. Oct. 15,
16
2010). The Jones court, however, did not analyze Civil Local Rule 16.1, and ADR Local
17
Rule 6-12 does not apply to the Southern District of California. Moreover, unlike ADR
18
6-12, neither the Civil Local Rules nor Judge Burkhardt’s order setting the Early Neutral
19
Evaluation Conference contain an exception to the privileged and confidential nature of
20
discussions at the Early Neutral Evaluation Conference. As such, Williams has not
21
shown that Judge Burkhardt’s conclusion was clearly erroneous or contrary to law.
22
Accordingly, the Court OVERRULES Williams’ objection.
23
Finally, Williams appears to object to the imposition of sanctions, claiming her
24
motion to compel was substantially justified. See Doc. No. 58 at 14. However, the
25
October 15, 2018 order states that “the Court tentatively finds, subject to an opportunity
26
to be heard, that it is appropriate to order Plaintiff to pay Defendant the reasonable
27
expenses, including attorney’s fees, which it incurred in opposing Williams’ motion to
28
compel.” Doc. No. 49 at 12 (emphasis added). On October 30, 2018, Defense counsel
-10-
17cv815-MMA (JLB)
1
submitted a declaration in support of the expenses, including attorney’s fees, incurred in
2
opposing the motion to compel. See Doc. No. 60. On November 30, 2018, Williams
3
filed a response in opposition to defense counsel’s declaration. See Doc. No. 68. Judge
4
Burkhardt has not yet issued an order making a final determination on the issue. As such,
5
the Court OVERRULES AS PREMATURE Williams’ objection to the tentative finding
6
that she be required to pay Defendant the reasonable expenses incurred in opposing her
7
motion to compel. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 72(a) (noting a party may object to a magistrate
8
judge’s “written order stating the decision.”).
9
10
CONCLUSION
Based on the foregoing, the Court finds Judge Burkhardt’s October 15, 2018 order
11
was neither clearly erroneous nor contrary to law. Accordingly, the Court
12
OVERRULES Williams’ objections.
13
14
IT IS SO ORDERED.
15
16
17
18
19
Dated: December 21, 2018
_____________________________
HON. MICHAEL M. ANELLO
United States District Judge
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
-11-
17cv815-MMA (JLB)
Disclaimer: Justia Dockets & Filings provides public litigation records from the federal appellate and district courts. These filings and docket sheets should not be considered findings of fact or liability, nor do they necessarily reflect the view of Justia.
Why Is My Information Online?