Baldwin v. McDonald

Filing 55

ORDER. Plaintiff's motion to compel depositions (Doc. 50) is DENIED as moot. Plaintiff's motion for an extension of time to complete discovery (Doc. 51) is GRANTED. The discovery deadline is extended until December 6, 2017, and the dead line for dispositive motions and Daubert motions is extended until January 6, 2018. The remaining case management deadlines shall be extended as follows: Motions in Limine due April 30, 2018; Responses due May 14, 2018; Pretrial Stipulation due May 14, 2018; and Final pretrial conference May 21, 2018 at 10:00 a.m. Jury trial set for trial term commencing on June 4, 2018 at 9:30 a.m.. Signed by Magistrate Judge Philip R. Lammens on 10/18/2017. (JWM)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
MIDDLE DISTRICT OF FLORIDA
OCALA DIVISION
RAYMOND B. BALDWIN,
Plaintiff,
v.

Case No: 5:15-cv-594-Oc-34PRL

SECRETARY OF VETERANS
AFFAIRS,
Defendant.

ORDER
In this action, pro se Plaintiff brings suit against the Secretary of Veterans Affairs under
The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 for back pay, front pay, and injunctive relief, alleging retaliation
and related claims. (Doc. 31). Plaintiff has moved to compel the depositions of two witnesses,
Patricia Covington and Dr. Paul Bessette (Doc. 50). Plaintiff also requests a 60 day extension of
the discovery deadline, which expired on October 2, 2017. (Doc. 51, 35).
Meanwhile, Defendant has responded and recites that he has no objection to the proposed
depositions or the requested extension which the parties agree will be for the purpose of scheduling
the depositions of Ms. Covington and Dr. Bessette. Defendant further clarified that the two
witnesses are former employees of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and Defendant is unaware
of whether they have been properly served.1 (Doc. 53). Defendant requests that if the discovery

1

In regard to properly serving the proposed witnesses and attempting to schedule their
depositions, Plaintiff is cautioned that despite proceeding pro se, he is required to comply with this
Court’s Local Rules, the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, and the Federal Rules of Evidence. Plaintiff
may obtain a copy of the Local Rules from the Court’s website (http://www.flmd.uscourts.gov) or by
visiting the Office of the Clerk of Court. Also, resources and information related to proceeding in court
without a lawyer, including a handbook entitled Guide for Proceeding Without a Lawyer, can be located

deadline is extended, that the dispositive motion deadline be extended until 30 days past the close
of discovery.
Accordingly, upon due consideration, Plaintiff’s motion to compel depositions (Doc. 50)
is DENIED as moot as the defendant has no opposition to them, though Plaintiff is reminded of
his obligation to properly set, notice, and serve subpoenas upon the proposed deponents. Plaintiff’s
motion for an extension of time to complete discovery (Doc. 51) is GRANTED. The discovery
deadline is extended until December 6, 2017, and the deadline for dispositive motions and Daubert
motions is extended until January 6, 2018. The remaining case management deadlines shall be
extended as follows: Motions in Limine due April 30, 2018; Responses due May 14, 2018; Pretrial
Stipulation due May 14, 2018; and Final pretrial conference May 21, 2018 at 10:00 a.m. Jury trial
set for trial term commencing on June 4, 2018 at 9:30 a.m.
DONE and ORDERED in Ocala, Florida on October 18, 2017.

Copies furnished to:
Counsel of Record
Unrepresented Parties

on the Court’s website (http://www.flmd.uscourts.gov/pro_se/default.htm). Plaintiff should also consult
the Middle District of Florida’s Discovery Handbook for a general discussion of this District’s discovery
practices (see http://www.flmd.uscourts.gov/forms/Civil/2015-Civil_Procedure_Handbook.pdf).
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