Crain v. Gaston County Schools

Filing 17

ORDER pursuant to Pretrial Conference held 1/6/2016, setting discovery proportional to the needs of this case. Both parties are ordered to complete the required disclosures within 30 days, no later than February 5, 2016. Signed by Senior Judge Graham Mullen on 1/6/2016. (jde)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF NORTH CAROLINA
CHARLOTTE DIVISION
CIVIL ACTION NO. 3:15-CV-00188-GCM
JOHN MATTHEW CRAIN,
Plaintiffs,
v.
GASTON COUNTY BOARD OF
EDUCATION,
Defendants.

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ORDER

THIS MATTER is before the Court on its own motion. Pursuant to discussions at the
Pretrial Conference held on January 6, 2016, the Proposed Discovery Plan filed on November 23,
2015 is stricken and the parties are ordered not to serve additional discovery requests without
obtaining Court approval. The Court finds that at this time, the discovery set out in this order is
proportional to the needs of this case pursuant to Rule 26(b)(1) of the Federal Rules of Civil
Procedure. The Court has considered the importance of the issues at stake, the amount in
controversy, the parties’ relative access to relevant information, the parties’ resources, the
importance of discovery to resolved these issues, and the burden and expense of the requested
discovery compared to its likely benefit. Id.
Defendant Gaston County Board of Education is hereby ordered to disclose to Plaintiff
John Matthew Crain any documents that are relevant to his employment, including his personnel
record, any correspondence regarding his employment, and any internal memoranda referencing
him, regardless of whether Defendant believes such documents are relevant to Plaintiff’s claims.
Defendant is also ordered to disclose any records related to the hiring process during which
Plaintiff alleges that he experienced unlawful discrimination.

Plaintiff is ordered to disclose to Defendant all medical records dating back to the start of
employment in the school district. Plaintiff is also ordered to disclose all records related to his
applications for employment with other schools, including application materials and any
correspondence between Plaintiff and prospective employers. Finally, Plaintiff is ordered to
disclose any communications between himself and Defendant, or its employees, about his
disability and any requested accommodations.
At the Pretrial Conference, the Court authorized a total of 6 depositions. The Court did not
authorize the exchange of interrogatories. After the parties complete the required disclosures, they
are instructed to notify the Court if additional depositions or other discovery is necessary.
Both parties are ordered to complete the required disclosures within 30 days, no later than
February 5, 2016.
SO ORDERED.
Signed: January 6, 2016