Pickett et al v. Nevada Board of Parole Commissioners et al
Filing
39
ORDER granting in part and denying in part 30 Motion to Compel. (See Order for details). FURTHER ORDERED that plaintiff's request for sanctions is GRANTED. Defendants shall pay plaintiff $1,000 in sanctions within 14 days from the entry of this order. THEREFORE ORDERED that 28 Motion to Compel is DENIED as moot. FURTHER ORDERED that 31 Motion to Extend Discovery Plan and Scheduling Order is GRANTED. Discovery is closed for defendants, and no dispositive motions may be filed. Proposed Joint Pretrial Order due by 7/2/2012. Signed by Magistrate Judge Cam Ferenbach on 4/19/12. (Copies have been distributed pursuant to the NEF - MMM)
1
2
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
3
DISTRICT OF NEVADA
4
CARY PICKETT,
5
Plaintiff,
6
v.
7
8
NEVADA BOARD OF PAROLE
COMMISSIONERS, et al.,
Defendant.
9
***
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
2:09-cv-01695-PMP -VCF
ORDER
10
Before the court are plaintiff Cary Pickett’s Motions To Compel (#28 and #30)1 and Motion To
11
Extend Discovery Plan and Scheduling Order (#31).
Defendants Nevada Board of Parole
12
Commissioners and Nevada Department of Public Safety Division of Parole and Probation filed an
13
Opposition to the Motion to Compel (#32), and plaintiff filed a Reply (#33). The court held a hearing
14
on April 19, 2012.
15
Background
16
Plaintiff Pickett filed his complaint on August 31, 2009, against defendants for alleged violations
17
of 42 U.S.C. § 1983 that occurred as a result of the Parole Board revoking plaintiff’s parole until
18
expiration. (#1). Plaintiff was arrested on July 14, 2006, and a probation “hold” was placed on him.
19
Id. Plaintiff attended a September 7, 2006, hearing to adjudicate the status of his parole. Id. Plaintiff
20
was found guilty on all charges, and the Parole Board reinstated plaintiff’s grant of parole with a four
21
month sanction. Id. Plaintiff was to be released on January 8, 2007. Id. On October 17, 2006, plaintiff
22
entered a guilty plea with respect to the charges related to the July 14, 2006, arrest, and plaintiff served
23
the four month sanction. Id.
24
25
26
1
Plaintiff filed his motion to compel (#28) and exhibits (#29) as two separate documents on February 10,
2012. On February 23, 2012, plaintiff filed essentially the same motion to compel, but attached the exhibits thereto.
(#30).
1
On January 8, 2007, plaintiff was released. Id. The Division of Parole and Probation allegedly
2
caused plaintiff to be booked into Clark County Detention Center, claiming plaintiff’s October 17, 2006,
3
“guilty plea for the July 14, 2006, arrest as the basis for a parole violation.” Id. Plaintiff alleges that
4
when he appeared before the Parole Board on March 29, 2007, the Parole Board addressed the “exact
5
same violation as was addressed at the September 7, 2006, Parole Board hearing” where plaintiff
6
received a four month sanction. Id. Plaintiff objected, asserting Double Jeopardy, violations of Nevada
7
law, and violations of Due Process rights. Id. The Parole Board continued with the hearing, and
8
revoked plaintiff’s parole until expiration, nine months later. Id. Plaintiff served this additional time,
9
and was released. Id. Plaintiff asserts that he was wrongfully imprisoned, that defendants had “no
10
legitimate purpose in depriving plaintiff of his liberty,” and that the defendants’ decision to revoke his
11
parole on March 29, 2007, was not only untimely, but was in violation of plaintiff’s right of protection
12
from Double Jeopardy. Id.
13
Motion To Compel
14
A.
Relevant Facts
15
On October 3, 2011, the court entered the parties’ Revised Joint Discovery Plan and Scheduling
16
Order (#25). Pursuant to the discovery plan, the parties’ initial disclosures were due on October 7,
17
2011, discovery cut-off date was February 29, 2012, and dispositive motion were due on March 30,
18
2012. Id. Plaintiff served defendants with his initial disclosures on October 5, 2011. (#30). To date,
19
defendants have not served plaintiff with their initial disclosures. Id. On November 16, 2011,
20
plaintiff’s counsel sent a letter to defense counsel regarding the failure to provide initial disclosures.
21
(#33-1). No response was received. (#30). On November 16, 2011, plaintiff served defendants with
22
requests for admissions, requests for production of documents, and interrogatories. Id. On December
23
19, 2011, defendants served plaintiff with their responses to the requests for admissions. Id. On
24
December 20, 2011, defendants requested an extension of time to respond to the production of
25
documents and interrogatories until January 3, 2012, which plaintiff granted. (#33-2). No responses
26
2
1
were received on January 3, 2012. (#30).
2
On January 24, 2012, plaintiff’s counsel sent a letter requesting that defendants serve their
3
responses no later than January 27, 2012. (#33-3). On January 27, 2012, defense counsel sent a letter
4
stating that they were “currently working on obtaining all the documents sought in [plaintiff’s] requests
5
for production and the information sought in [plaintiff’s] interrogatories.” (#33-4). Defense counsel
6
sought a seven-day extension. Id. Plaintiff’s counsel agreed to the seven-day extension, and stated that
7
“[g]iven the shortened period of time between your anticipated production and responses and the cut-off
8
date, we will need to file a motion with the court to extend the discovery schedule.” (#33-5). Plaintiff’s
9
counsel asked defense counsel if they would stipulate to extending discovery. Id. Plaintiff’s counsel
10
also indicated that if responses were not received by February 3, 2012, plaintiff would be moving to
11
compel and for sanctions. Id. To date, no discovery responses have been received. (#30). Plaintiff
12
filed his first motion to compel on February 10, 2012 (#28), and his second motion to compel on
13
February 23, 2012 (#30).
14
B.
Arguments
15
Plaintiff asserts that despite plaintiff’s cooperation, persistence, and willingness to grant multiple
16
extensions for defendants to respond to the discovery requests, defendants have failed to provide
17
plaintiff with any responses. (#30). Plaintiff argues that due to defendants’ failure to participate in
18
discovery, defendants have waived any objections to the requests, and must be compelled to provide
19
immediate complete responses. Id. Plaintiff also asserts that defendants should be sanctioned under
20
Rule 37 for their behavior. Id. Defendants oppose the motion, and assert that the plaintiff’s requests
21
“sought a wide breath of information,” and are “profoundly overbroad.” (#32). Defendants argue that
22
the “State cannot comply with a number of requests sought by [p]laintiff,” and that the State “has no
23
obligation, and in some instances [is] prohibited from, turning over parole files as well as documents
24
considered by the Parole Board in revoking [p]laintiff’s parole.” Id. Defendants state that they have
25
been “acting diligently in order to comply with the competing interests of civil discovery and
26
3
1
confidentiality of documents.” Id. The defendants ask this court to deny the motion to compel, and
2
assert that plaintiff failed to meet and confer with regard to the initial disclosures and the written
3
discovery requests as required by the local rules. Id.
4
In plaintiff’s reply, he asserts that it is “un-controverted by [d]efendants that they have failed and
5
refused to comply with their Rule 26 initial disclosure requirements for nearly five months, or their Rule
6
33 and 34 requirements to provide discovery responses for more than four months.” (#33). Plaintiff
7
also asserts that, as evidenced by the letters between plaintiff and defense counsel, plaintiff has “made
8
significant efforts to meet and confer over [d]efendants’ refusal to provide discovery.” Id. Plaintiff
9
argues that it “is unclear what further efforts [d]efendants contend should have been undertaken by
10
[p]laintiff given the [d]efendants’ utter failure and refusal to disclose a single witness, provide a single
11
document, or respond to a single interrogatory for months.” Id.
12
Plaintiff also argues that the defendants’ assertion that the discovery sought is overbroad is
13
irrelevant to their refusal to respond to any discovery. Id. As the correspondence demonstrates,
14
defendants did not object to the requests as overbroad until filing the opposition to the motion, and only
15
asserted during the communications that they were “still currently working on obtaining” documents
16
and information sought. Id. Defendants could have timely objected to the written discovery, but instead
17
they “completely failed to respond.” Id. Plaintiff asserts that defendants have waived any objections
18
to the written discovery. Id. Plaintiff also argues that the defendants’ “overbreath” argument is
19
completely irrelevant to the defendants’ failure to provide their initial disclosures as required by Rule
20
26. Id.
21
Plaintiff argues that sanctions are appropriate for defendants’ failure to adhere to the
22
requirements of the federal rules. Id. Plaintiff asserts that his counsel has spent four hours preparing
23
the motion, two hours preparing the reply, and two hours reviewing the opposition, at an hourly rate of
24
$350.00 per hour. Id. With the time spent attending the hearing on this matter, plaintiff’s attorney’s
25
fees as a result of defendants’ failure to provide discovery will be $2,800.00. Id. Plaintiff asks this
26
4
1
court to impose sanctions in this amount, and to order defendants to provide plaintiff with full and
2
complete responses and initial disclosures. Id.
3
4
C.
Relevant Law/Recommendation
1.
Meet and Confer Requirement
5
Pursuant to Local Rule 26-7(b), “[d]iscovery motions will not be considered unless a statement
6
of the movant is attached thereto certifying that, after personal consultation and sincere effort to do so,
7
the parties have been unable to resolve the matter without Court action.” Despite this requirement,
8
courts have held that “special circumstances” or a responding parties’ complete failure to respond can
9
obviate a requesting parties’ need to meet and confer. See Guillen v. Bank of America, 2011 WL
10
6779310 (N.D. Cal. Dec 27, 2011)(holding that a responding party that completely failed to serve
11
discovery responses cannot “shift responsibility” to the propounding party for not pursuing a meet and
12
confer, and that the propounding party’s continuous emails and telephone communications leading up
13
to the filing of a motion to compel amounted to a meet and confer.); Beckner v. El Cajon Police Dept.,
14
2008 WL 2033708 (S.D. Cal. May 9, 2008)(holding that “[t]hough Rule 37(a)(1) normally requires the
15
party moving to compel to have in good faith conferred or attempted to confer with the non-moving
16
party regarding the failure to produce discovery, special circumstances obviate that requirement in the
17
instant case,” and that based on the history of the communication between the parties, “it does not
18
appear that further communication between the parties would have been fruitful.” ).
19
Since the commencement of this litigation and the date the court signed the discovery plan,
20
defendants have failed to participate in discovery besides providing responses to requests for
21
admissions. (#30). Throughout the communications between counsel, defense counsel has either not
22
responded or sought an extension and not provided responses within the extended time-frame. (#33-1
23
through #33-6). Beginning in November 2011, plaintiff’s counsel stated that plaintiff would “have no
24
alternative but to bring this issue before the Court.” (#33-1). After being granted a two-week extension
25
by plaintiff, defendants did not serve responses on plaintiff, and plaintiff’s counsel was forced to send
26
5
1
a letter to defense counsel seeking responses. (#33-3). In this letter dated January 24, 2012, plaintiff’s
2
counsel again insisted that the plaintiff would be moving to compel and for sanctions, and that if defense
3
counsel had “any additional questions or concerns,” to contact plaintiff’s counsel. Id.
4
After granting another extension on January 30, 2012, plaintiff’s counsel stated in a letter that
5
“[a]s you are aware, we have conferred about this discovery issue a number of times,” and that if
6
plaintiff did not receive “adequate responses we will be moving to compel responses and for appropriate
7
sanctions without further notice.” (#33-5). Defendants did not provide any responses even though they
8
were given another extension, and did not even send another correspondence to plaintiff’s counsel after
9
the expiration of the deadline. Defendants did nothing.
10
The court finds that plaintiff’s continuous communications amount to a meet and confer, and
11
that in light of the fact that defendants did not provide a single response, there would have been nothing
12
for the parties to meet and confer regarding. See Guillen, 2011 WL 6779310. It is clear based on
13
defendants’ history regarding discovery in this action, that further communications from plaintiff’s
14
counsel would not have been fruitful. Beckner, 2008 WL 2033708. The formal meet and confer
15
requirement is obviated in these circumstances, and defendants cannot shift their responsibility for their
16
complete failure to respond onto plaintiff. Guillen, 2011 WL 6779310.
17
18
2.
Defendants’ Participation in Discovery
a. Initial Disclosures
19
Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 26(a)(1), “a party must, without awaiting a discovery request,
20
provide the other parties” with initial disclosures. Rule 37(a)(3)(A) provides that “[i]f a party fails to
21
make a disclosure required by Rule 26(a), any other party may move to compel disclosure and for
22
appropriate sanctions.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 37(a)(3)(A). Pursuant to the discovery plan, the parties’ initial
23
disclosures were due on October 7, 2011. (#25). Defendants admittedly have not provided plaintiff
24
with their initial disclosures. Defendants are ordered to provide plaintiff with their initial disclosures
25
by April 26, 2012. The court will also impose sanctions (see section C(3) below). Fed. R. Civ. P.
26
6
1
2
37(a)(3)(A).
b. Written Discovery Responses -Waived Objections
3
Fed. R. Civ. P. 34(a) permits each party to serve the opposing party with document requests
4
within the scope of Rule 26(b) that are “relevant to any party’s claim or defense...” or, for good cause
5
shown, “relevant to the subject matter involved in the action.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(b). “The party to
6
whom the request is directed must respond in writing within 30 days after being served,” and any
7
“objection to part of a request must specify the part and permit inspection of the rest.” Fed. R. Civ. P.
8
34(b)(2)(A) and (C). Rule 33 permits a party to “serve on any other party no more than 25 written
9
interrogatories,” and provides that the responding party “must serve its answers and any objections
10
within 30 days after being served with interrogatories.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 33(a) and (b)(2). “It is well
11
established that a failure to object to discovery requests within the time required constitutes a waiver
12
of any objection.” Richmark Corp. v. Timbler Falling Consultants, 959 F.2d 1468, 1473 (9th Cir.
13
1992)(citing Davis v. Fendler, 650 F.2d 1154, 1160 (9th Cir.1981)).
14
A party seeking discovery “may move for an order compelling an answer, designation,
15
production, or inspection” if “a party fails to answer an interrogatory submitted under Rule 33,” or “fails
16
to respond that inspection will be permitted–or fails to permit inspection–as requested under Rule 34.”
17
Fed. R. Civ. P. 37(a)(3)(B)(iii) and (iv).
18
It is undisputed that defendants, after being granted two extensions and after plaintiff filing the
19
instant motion, have not served plaintiff with responses to the requests for production of documents or
20
the interrogatories. Upon a review of the interrogatories served upon defendants, the court finds that
21
Interrogatory No. 7 is inappropriate. Defendants are ordered to provide plaintiff with responses to
22
requests and interrogatories, with the exception of Interrogatory No. 7, by May 3, 2012. Fed. R. Civ.
23
P. 37(a)(3)(B)(iii) and (iv). As defendants failed to object within thirty (30) days, defendants have
24
waived any objections, and are ordered to provide complete responses without objection. See Richmark
25
Corp, 959 F.2d at 1473.
26
7
1
3.
Sanctions
2
If a motion to compel is granted, “the court must, after giving an opportunity to be heard, require
3
the party or deponent whose conduct necessitated the motion, the party or attorney advising that
4
conduct, or both to pay the movant’s reasonable expenses incurred in making the motion, including
5
attorney’s fees.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 37(a)(5)(A). The court should not impose such sanctions if no meet
6
and confer was conducted, the responding party’s actions were substantially justified, or other
7
circumstances make an award unjust. Id.
8
As previously stated, the meet and confer requirement was satisfied by plaintiff’s continuous
9
correspondence, and the formal meet and confer requirement was obviated. Guillen, 2011 WL 6779310.
10
Defendants have not provided the court with any justification for their complete failure to respond to
11
written discovery or to provide plaintiff with their initial disclosures. (#32). Defendants attempt to shift
12
the responsibility, and only assert that they have been “acting diligently” and that the requests are
13
overbroad. Id. These purported “justifications” are insufficient, as defendants could have objected to
14
the alleged overbroad requests or interrogatories, and should have sought another extension from
15
plaintiff if they needed more time to comply. An award of fees would not be unjust, as defense counsel
16
is aware of the requirements under the local and federal rules, yet failed to comply with these rules with
17
regard to initial disclosures and written discovery, and only raised their objection of over breath in their
18
opposition to the motion to compel. Sanctions are therefore appropriate, and defendants are ordered
19
to pay plaintiff $1,000 in sanctions. Fed. R. Civ. P. 37 (a)(5)(A).
20
Motion For Extension
21
Pursuant to the discovery plan, the parties’ initial disclosures were due on October 7, 2011,
22
discovery cut-off date was February 29, 2012, dispositive motion were due on March 30, 2012, and the
23
joint pretrial order is due on April 27, 2012. (#25). Any extension of the discovery plan was to be
24
requested 20 days before February 29, 2012. Id.
25
26
Plaintiff asserts that based on the defendants’ failure to participate in discovery, a discovery
8
1
extension is necessary. (#31). Plaintiff asks this court for a discovery cut-off date of May 28, 2012,
2
dispositive motions deadline of June 28, 2012, and the joint pretrial order due on July 26, 2012. Id.
3
Plaintiff argues that he has been unable to proceed with any further written discovery or take
4
depositions, as “[p]laintiff is unaware of the identities of any [d]efendants’ witnesses or what evidence
5
upon which [d]efendants may rely.” Id. Plaintiff asserts that this motion was not filed less than 21 days
6
before the discovery deadline, because he “justifiably relied on [d]efendants’ assertion that their
7
discovery responses were forthcoming.” Id.
8
Local Rule 26-4 requires that applications to extend any date set by discovery must be
9
“supported by a showing of good cause for the extension,” and that a request made after 21 days before
10
the deadline will not be granted “unless the movant demonstrates that the failure to act was the result
11
of excusable neglect...” Based on defendants’ failure to participate in discovery which caused the delay
12
in discovery, good cause exists to grant plaintiff’s motion to extend discovery. LR 26-4. Plaintiff’s late
13
filing of the motion for extension is the result of excusable neglect, as plaintiff demonstrated that he
14
diligently tried to urge defendants to participate in discovery to no avail, and reasonably relied upon
15
defendants’ assertions that responses were forthcoming. Id.
16
As defendants have not participated in discovery, the court is not extending discovery for
17
defendants. The court will extend discovery as follows: Plaintiff is permitted to conduct a total of 6
18
depositions, which will result in fifteen (15) hours of total exam time, before June 1, 2012; Defendant
19
is permitted to exam each of plaintiff’s deponents for one (1) hour; Joint Pretrial Order is due on or
20
before July 2, 2012; No Dispositive Motions are permitted.
21
Accordingly, and for good cause shown,
22
IT IS ORDERED that plaintiff Cary Pickett’s Motion To Compel (#30) is GRANTED in part
23
and DENIED in part, as discussed above. Defendants shall serve plaintiff with initial disclosures
24
pursuant to Rule 26(a)(1) on or before April 26, 2012. Defendants shall serve plaintiff with complete
25
responses, without objection, to plaintiff’s requests for production of documents and interrogatories,
26
9
1
excluding Interrogatory No. 7., on or before May 3, 2012. Failure to timely serve initial disclosures or
2
discovery responses without objection will result in further sanctions.
3
4
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that plaintiff’s request for sanctions is GRANTED. Defendants
shall pay plaintiff $1,000 in sanctions within 14 days from the entry of this order.
5
IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that plaintiff’s Motion To Compel (#28) is DENIED as moot.
6
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that plaintiff’s Motion To Extend Discovery Plan and Scheduling
7
Order (#31) is GRANTED. Discovery is closed for defendants, and no dispositive motions may be
8
filed. The following discovery deadlines apply:
9
June 1, 2012
Deadline for plaintiff to conduct a total of six (6)
10
depositions; plaintiff’s time spent examining these
11
deponents shall not exceed fifteen (15) hours.
12
13
July 2, 2012
Deadline for filing Joint Pretrial Order
DATED this 19th day of April, 2012.
14
15
CAM FERENBACH
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
10
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?