United States of America v. $13,750.00 in United States Currency

Filing 30

ORDER - The plaintiff's Motion to Compel Discovery (Filing No. 28 ) is granted. Lynn Russell Slade, III, shall present himself for deposition to be rescheduled at the convenience of the parties and their counsel on or before June 30, 2011. Failure of Lynn Russell Slade, III, to appear will result in him being stricken from the witness list for trial and may further result in his claim being stricken in this matter. Ordered by Magistrate Judge Thomas D. Thalken. (GJG)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF NEBRASKA
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Plaintiff,
vs.
$13,750.00 IN UNITED STATES
CURRENCY,
Defendant,
LYNN RUSSELL SLADE, III,
Claimant.

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8:10CV243
ORDER

This matter is before the court on the plaintiff’s Motion to Compel Discovery (Filing
No. 28). The plaintiff filed an index of evidence (Filing No. 29) in support of the motion.
Specifically, the plaintiff seeks an order compelling the claimant, Lynn Russell Slade, III
(Slade), to appear for a deposition in this matter.
Depositions are governed by Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 30. Pursuant to
Rule 30: “A party may, by oral questions, depose any person, including a party, without
leave of court except as provided in Rule 30(a)(2).”

Fed. R. Civ. P. 30(a)(1) (the

exceptions, including the deponent having already been deposed in the case or the
deponent being confined in prison, are inapplicable in this instance). However, “[a] party
who wants to depose a person by oral questions must give reasonable written notice to
every other party.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 30(b)(1). Absent compliance with such reasonable
written notice, “a party may move for an order compelling disclosure or discovery. The
motion must include a certification that the movant has in good faith conferred or attempted
to confer with the person or party failing to make disclosure or discovery in an effort to
obtain it without court action.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 37(a)(1). “The court where the action is
pending may, on motion, order sanctions if: (i) a party . . . fails, after being served with
proper notice, to appear for that person’s deposition. . . .” Fed. R. Civ. P. 37(d)(1)(A).
Furthermore, “[i]f the court where the discovery is taken orders a deponent to be sworn or
to answer a question and the deponent fails to obey, the failure may be treated as

contempt of court.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 37(b)(1). Under these circumstances, the court may
order the non-compliant party’s pleadings stricken or default judgment entered. Fed. R.
Civ. P. 37(b)(2)(A).
In this case, the plaintiff’s counsel states that she negotiated with the claimant’s
counsel for an agreed-upon date and time for the claimant to appear in her office for the
deposition. See Filing No. 28 - Motion. Based upon the negotiation, the plaintiff filed a
Notice of Deposition Duces Tecum, giving the claimant reasonable written notice of the
scheduled deposition. See Filing No. 27. Additionally, the claimant’s counsel represented
he had informed Slade to appear at the deposition and to bring certain documents, but had
not heard from him on that date. See Filing No. 29 - Ex. A Transcript p. 3. Slade did not
appear at the scheduled deposition or contact his counsel. Id. at 3-4. The claimant’s
counsel did appear for the deposition. Id. Accordingly, the plaintiff seeks an order
compelling the claimant to appear for deposition.
The court finds the plaintiff gave the claimant reasonable written notice of the
deposition. The claimant failed to appear at the noticed deposition.

Additionally, it

appears the plaintiff’s counsel attempted to confer with the claimant’s counsel to secure
the claimant’s attendance at the deposition. The claimant’s counsel gave no information
about why the claimant failed to appear. Upon consideration,
IT IS ORDERED:
1.

The plaintiff’s Motion to Compel Discovery (Filing No. 28) is granted.

2.

Lynn Russell Slade, III, shall present himself for deposition to be rescheduled

at the convenience of the parties and their counsel on or before June 30, 2011.
3.

Failure of Lynn Russell Slade, III, to appear will result in him being stricken

from the witness list for trial and may further result in his claim being stricken in this matter.
Dated this 8th day of June, 2011.
BY THE COURT:
s/ Thalken D. Thalken
United States Magistrate Judge

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