Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_15-cv-01148/USCOURTS-caed-2_15-cv-01148-28/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 

ERIC ZACHARY ANDERSON, 

Plaintiff, 

v. 

TIM VIRGA, et al, 

Defendants. 

No. 2:15-cv-1148-KJM-EFB P 

ORDER 

Plaintiff is a state prisoner proceeding without counsel in an action brought under 42 

U.S.C. § 1983. A trial confirmation hearing is set for February 7, 2020, and a jury trial is 

scheduled to begin on March 20, 2020. ECF No. 129 at 10. On January 5, 2020, defendant 

moved to continue both dates due to the recent unavailability of his liability expert – Benjamin 

Tisa – caused by a medical emergency. ECF No. 131. Plaintiff filed an opposition, arguing that 

this expert had not previously been identified, and thus, would not be permitted to testify at trial. 

ECF No. 132 at 1. Plaintiff also expressed his preference “to get to trial as soon as possible.” Id. 

at 2. Defendant filed a reply. ECF No. 133. For the reasons stated below, defendant’s motion to 

continue the trial and trial confirmation hearing dates is granted. 

In the Pretrial Order, dated December 27, 2019, the court granted defendant additional 

time to promptly identify his expert witnesses. ECF No. 129 at 6. Defendant did so by way of 

his motion to continue, filed within nine days of the Pretrial Order. Plaintiff’s contention that Mr. 

Tisa would not be permitted to testify at trial, therefore, lacks merit. Further, the court notes that 

Case 2:15-cv-01148-KJM-JDP Document 134 Filed 01/23/20 Page 1 of 2
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this case began nearly five years ago (ECF No. 1), but the docket reveals no intentional delay of 

the proceedings by any party. Given the sudden and serious health condition of defendant’s 

expert, defendant’s motion is well-founded and there is good cause to continue both the trial and 

trial confirmation hearing dates. 

 Accordingly, IT IS ORDERED that: 

1. Defendant’s Motion to Continue Trial and Trial Confirmation Hearing Dates (ECF 

No. 131) is GRANTED. 

2. The trial confirmation hearing set before the district judge on February 7, 2020 is 

VACATED and the Order and Writ of Habeas Corpus ad Testificandum issued on 

December 27, 2019 for plaintiff’s attendance at the trial confirmation hearing (ECF 

No. 130) is WITHDRAWN. 

3. The Clerk is directed to serve a copy of this order (1) by mail to the Warden, 

California Medical Facility, and (2) by fax to the Litigation Coordinator, California 

Medical Facility. 

4. The jury trial set before the district judge on March 20, 2020 is VACATED. 

5. The dates are continued as follows: 

a. A trial confirmation hearing is set before the district judge on September 4, 

2020, at 10:00 a.m. in Courtroom No. 3, 15th Floor. 

b. Jury trial is scheduled to begin on October 26, 2020, at 1:30 p.m. in Courtroom 

No. 3, 15th Floor, before United States District Judge Kimberly J. Mueller. 

6. Writs of habeas corpus ad testificandum to provide for plaintiff’s appearance at the 

trial confirmation hearing and jury trial will issue at a later date. 

DATED: January 23, 2020. 

Case 2:15-cv-01148-KJM-JDP Document 134 Filed 01/23/20 Page 2 of 2