Guzman v. USA

Filing 12

ORDER directing petr to respond within 14 days to Mot/Sum Jgmt, Set/Reset Deadlines as to 9 MOTION for Summary Judgment .(Responses due by 11/26/2013). Signed by District Judge Richard Voorhees on 11/12/2013. (Pro se litigant served by US Mail.)(cbb)

IN THE DISTRICT COURT OF THE UNITED STATES
FOR THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF NORTH CAROLINA
STATESVILLE DIVISION
CIVIL NO. 5:11CV191-RLV
(5:08CR10-RLV-DSC-6)
RUBEN SANCHEZ-GUZMAN,

)
)
Petitioner,
)
)
vs.
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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
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Respondent. )
___________________________________ )

ORDER

THIS MATTER is before the Court on its own motion following the filing of
Respondent’s Motion for Summary Judgment, (Doc. No. 9).1
In accordance with Roseboro v. Garrison, 528 F.2d 309 (4th Cir. 1975), the Court advises
Petitioner, who is proceeding pro se, of the heavy burden that he carries in responding to
Respondent’s Motion for Summary Judgment.
Summary judgment shall be granted “if the movant shows that there is no genuine dispute
as to any material fact and the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.” FED. R. CIV. P.
56(a). A factual dispute is genuine “if the evidence is such that a reasonable jury could return a
verdict for the nonmoving party.” Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 248 (1986).
A fact is material only if it might affect the outcome of the suit under governing law. Id.
The movant has the “initial responsibility of informing the district court of the basis for
its motion, and identifying those portions of the pleadings, depositions, answers to
1

Petitioner filed a Response to the summary judgment motion on August 23, 2012, but did not attach any affidavits
or evidence in support. Thus, this Order serves to notify Petitioner of his right to submit such evidence in
responding the summary judgment motion.

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interrogatories, and admissions on file, together with the affidavits, if any, which it believes
demonstrate the absence of a genuine issue of material fact.” Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S.
317, 323 (1986) (internal citations omitted).
Once this initial burden is met, the burden shifts to the nonmoving party. The nonmoving
party “must set forth specific facts showing that there is a genuine issue for trial.” Id. at 322 n.3.
The nonmoving party may not rely upon mere allegations or denials of allegations in his
pleadings to defeat a motion for summary judgment. Id. at 324. The nonmoving party must
present sufficient evidence from which “a reasonable jury could return a verdict for the
nonmoving party.” Anderson, 477 U.S. at 248; accord Sylvia Dev. Corp. v. Calvert County,
Md., 48 F.3d 810, 818 (4th Cir. 1995).
If Petitioner has any evidence to offer to show that there is a genuine issue for trial, he
must now present it to this Court in a form which would otherwise be admissible at trial, i.e., in
the form of affidavits or unsworn declarations. Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 56(c) provides
that:
(1) Supporting Factual Positions. A party asserting that a fact cannot be or is
genuinely disputed must support the assertion by:
(A) citing to particular parts of materials in the record, including depositions,
documents, electronically stored information, affidavits or declarations,
stipulations (including those made for purposes of the motion only), admissions,
interrogatory answers, or other materials; or
(B) showing that the materials cited do not establish the absence or presence of a
genuine dispute, or that an adverse party cannot produce admissible evidence to
support the fact.
(2) Objection That a Fact Is Not Supported by Admissible Evidence. A party
may object that the material cited to support or dispute a fact cannot be presented
in a form that would be admissible in evidence.
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(3) Materials Not Cited. The court need consider only the cited materials, but it
may consider other materials in the record.
(4) Affidavits or Declarations. An affidavit or declaration used to support or
oppose a motion must be made on personal knowledge, set out facts that would be
admissible in evidence, and show that the affiant or declarant is competent to
testify on the matters stated.
An affidavit is a written statement under oath; that is, a statement prepared in writing and
sworn before a notary public. An unsworn statement, made and signed under the penalty of
perjury, may also be submitted. Affidavits or statements must be presented by Petitioner to this
Court no later than fourteen (14) days from the date of this Order, and must be filed in duplicate.
Petitioner’s failure to respond may result in Respondent being granted the relief it seeks
by way of summary judgment, that is, the dismissal of the Complaint with prejudice.

Signed: November 12, 2013
2013

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