Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_11-cv-00101/USCOURTS-caed-1_11-cv-00101-3/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

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

TIMOTHY HOWARD,

Plaintiff,

v.

D. L. DeAZEVEDO, et al.,

Defendants.

 /

CASE NO. 1:11-cv-00101-AWI-SKO PC 

ORDER DENYING MOTION FOR ISSUANCE

OF SUBPOENA DUCES TECUM AS

PREMATURE

(Doc. 19)

Plaintiff TimothyHoward, a state prisoner proceeding pro se and in forma pauperis, filed this

civil rights action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983 on January 20, 2011. On May 3, 2012, Plaintiff filed

a motion seeking the issuance of a subpoena duces tecum to non-party Kathleen Allison.

The discovery phase of this litigation is not yet open. Therefore, Plaintiff’s motion is

premature and it shall be denied. Plaintiff is directed to paragraph 8 of the First Informational Order,

filed on January 20, 2011.

Once discovery is open, Plaintiff is informed of the following requirements. Plaintiff may

be entitled to the issuance of a subpoena commanding the production of documents from a non-party,

Fed. R. Civ. P. 45, and to service of the subpoena by the United States Marshal, 28 U.S.C. 1915(d). 

However, the Court will consider granting such a request only if the documents sought from the nonparty are not equally available to Plaintiff and are not obtainable from Defendant through a request

for the production of documents. Fed. R. Civ. P. 34. If Plaintiff wishes to make a request for the

issuance of a records subpoena, he may file a motion requesting the issuance of a subpoena duces

tecum that (1) identifies with specificity the documents sought and from whom, and (2) makes a

showing in the motion that the records are only obtainable through that third party.

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As set forth above, Plaintiff’s motion for the issuance of a subpoena duces tecum is

premature and it is HEREBY DENIED on that ground.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: May 10, 2012 /s/ Sheila K. Oberto 

ie14hj UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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