Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_19-cv-00307/USCOURTS-caed-2_19-cv-00307-34/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 550
Nature of Suit: Prisoner - Civil Rights (U.S. defendant)
Cause of Action: 42:1983 Prisoner Civil Rights

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

SHELDON RAY NEWSOME,

Plaintiff,

v.

M. LOTERZSTAIN, et al.,

Defendants.

Case No. 2:19-cv-00307-DAD-JDP (PC)

ORDER

DENYING PLAINTIFF’S MOTION FOR 

APPOINTMENT OF AN EXPERT WITNESS

ECF No. 160

Plaintiff is a state prisoner proceeding pro se in an action brought under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. 

Plaintiff moves for the appointment of expert witness to give an opinion on his damages and to 

rebut defendants’ medical experts. ECF No. 160 at 1. Plaintiff cannot obtain appointment of an 

expert witness for his own benefit. Rule 706(a) permits the court to appoint only neutral expert 

witnesses. See Students of Cal. School for the Blind v. Honig, 736 F.2d 538, 549 (9th Cir. 1984). 

Moreover, “28 U.S.C. § 1915 . . . does not authorize the court to appoint an expert for plaintiff’s 

benefit to be paid by the court.” Gorton v. Todd, 793 F. Supp. 2d at 1171, 1184 n.11 (E.D. Cal. 

2011). If the court were ever to appoint an expert witness, the expert would be appointed to assist 

the trier of fact, and not to collect and interpret evidence or respond to defenses brought by 

defendants. See Lopez v. Scribner, No. CVF045595 OWW-DLB P, 2007 WL 1215420, at *1 

(E.D. Cal. Apr. 24, 2007) (“The function of an expert witness is to testify at trial to assist the trier 

of fact in understanding the evidence.”). 

Case 2:19-cv-00307-DAD-JDP Document 161 Filed 04/05/24 Page 1 of 2
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Accordingly, it is hereby ORDERED that plaintiff’s motion for the appoint of expert 

witnesses, ECF No. 160, is denied.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: April 5, 2024 

JEREMY D. PETERSON

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 2:19-cv-00307-DAD-JDP Document 161 Filed 04/05/24 Page 2 of 2