Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_07-cv-00620/USCOURTS-caed-1_07-cv-00620-52/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 360
Nature of Suit: Other Personal Injury
Cause of Action: 42:1981 Civil Rights

---

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

Michael Ioane has filed a document entitled “Request to Magistrate Judge to Order Clerk 

to Issue Trial Subpoenas for Pro Per Plaintiff.” Doc. 348. In that document, he makes five

requests: (1) for the court to issue certain subpoenas (both ad testificantum and duces tecum) for 

trial; (2) for the appointment of a single individual from the Internal Revenue Service to accept 

service of process for all federal employee witnesses in this case; (3) for the US Marshal Service 

to serve the subpoenas on all other witnesses in this case; (4) for certain discovery from 

Defendants; and (5) for the US Attorney’s Office to prepare the trial binders. 

The first three items involve requests for the court’s help in issuing and serving subpoenas. 

He states that he can not do it himself “as a result of his imprisonment.” Doc. 348, 1:23-26. While 

Michael Ioane is incarcerated, he is not the only plaintiff in this case. Shelly Ioane is a full 

participant in this case and can arrange for issuance and service of subpoenas. With reference to 

the initial summons, Fed. R. Civ. Proc. 4(c)(3) provides that “At the plaintiff’s request, the court 

may order that service be made by a United States marshal or deputy marshal or by a person 

specially appointed by the court. The court must so order if the plaintiff is authorized to proceed 

in forma pauperis under 28 U.S.C. § 1915 or as a seaman under 28 U.S.C. § 1916.” Michael Ioane 

MICHAEL IOANE, et al,

Plaintiffs

v.

KENT SPJUTE, et al,

Defendants

CASE NO. 1:07-CV-0620 AWI GSA

ORDER RE: REQUEST TO 

MAGISTRATE JUDGE TO ORDER 

CLERK TO ISSUE TRIAL SUBPOENAS 

FOR PRO PER PLAINTIFF

(Doc. 348)

Case 1:07-cv-00620-AWI-EPG Document 352 Filed 08/28/15 Page 1 of 2
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

2

had filed an application to proceed in forma pauperis, but that request was denied. Doc. 11. Fed. 

R. Civ. Proc. 45 discusses the requirements of subpoenas more generally. “Because Rule 45(b) 

requires personal service of a subpoena, directing the United States Marshal’s Office to expend its 

resources serving a subpoena is not regularly granted by this Court.” Troupe v. Loomis, 2015 U.S. 

Dist. LEXIS 104747, *3 (W.D. Wash. Aug. 7, 2015). There is no special circumstance to justify 

Michael Ioane’s requests regarding subpoenas in this case. 

Michael Ioane requests that the US Attorney’s Office “prepare the Exhibit Books because 

Plaintiff is incarcerated and does not have access to 3 Ring Binders with tabs and the ability to 

place Exhibit tags on the exhibits.” Doc. 348, 4:14-18. Exhibits for trial will be discussed at the 

Pretrial Conference and the Pretrial Order will deal with how exhibit binders are to be prepared. 

The remaining discovery disputes raised by Michael Ioane are referred to Magistrate Judge 

Gary Austin. 

Michael Ioane’s request for special procedures regarding subpoenas is DENIED. 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: August 28, 2015 

 SENIOR DISTRICT JUDGE

Case 1:07-cv-00620-AWI-EPG Document 352 Filed 08/28/15 Page 2 of 2