Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_05-cv-00342/USCOURTS-caed-1_05-cv-00342-37/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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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

ELROY W. BROWNING, 

)

)

Plaintiff, )

v. )

)

JEANNE WOODFORD, et al., )

)

Defendants )

____________________________________)

1: 05-CV-0342 AWI NEW (DLB) P

ORDER GRANTING IN PART

PLAINTIFF’S MOTION 

FOR THE ATTENDANCE 

OF INCARCERATED WITNESSES

(Document #106)

Plaintiff Elroy W. Browning (“Plaintiff”) is a state prisoner proceeding pro se and in

forma pauperis in this civil rights action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. This action is proceeding

on Plaintiff’s complaint, filed March 11, 2005. Plaintiff contends that Defendants violated the

Eighth Amendment when Plaintiff was sprayed with OC pepper spray in his cell on or about

April 9, 2004. 

On June 28, 2007, Plaintiff filed a motion for the attendance of incarcerated witnesses. 

In this motion, Plaintiff lists several incarcerated witnesses that he believes have information

relevant to this case. They include: Inmate Stephens #D-61914, Inmate Nall #P-25452, Inmate

Hook #T-08976, Inmate Taylor #-J-75560, Inmate Towery #P-10003, Inmate Blackwell #E72399, and Inmate Richard # C-27964. 

On September 24, 2007, the court held a telephonic trial confirmation hearing. At the

hearing, the court inquired into whether Plaintiff’s proposed incarcerated witnesses had ever

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expressed a willingness to testify in this action. Plaintiff stated that all had previously indicated

a willingness to testify for Plaintiff, but Plaintiff has not been in contact with these witnesses in

some time because of prison transfers. Based on Plaintiff’s representations to the court, the

court will find that these witnesses have indicated a willingness to testify.

At the hearing, the court also discussed the fact that several of Plaintiff’s incarcerated

witnesses would offer duplicative testify. It appears that several witnesses will give similar

testimony regarding their observations during the incident. After informing Plaintiff about the

duplicative nature of some of his witnesses, Plaintiff informed the court as to which inmates he

would like the court to transport to trial. Based on these discussions, the court stated it would

transport : Inmate Stephens #D-61914, Inmate Nall #P-25452, and Inmate Blackwell #E-72399

for trial. If any of these witnesses are unavailable, Plaintiff asked that Inmate Richard # C27964 be transferred. 

The court finds that the incarcerated witnesses listed below appear to be able to offer

relevant testimony concerning the events at issue in this action and are willing to testify. 

However, between the court’s research indicates that Inmate Nall, #P-25452 is no longer in

custody, the court will subpoena Inmate Richard # C-27964 instead.

All interested parties are informed that it is necessary to grant Plaintiff’s motion to allow

the transpiration of these incarcerated witnesses at this time. The CDC needs several weeks to

arrange for transportation. Plaintiff is advised that some or all of the testimony of his inmate

witnesses may be excluded pursuant to a possible motion in limine filed by Defendants. The

court will rule on any motions in limine the morning of trial. Thus, while the court will order

the incarcerated witnesses transported for trial, Plaintiff is not guaranteed that their testimony

will not be limited.

The court notes that it is not this court’s policy to transport an inmate witness unless the

inmate witness is currently willing to come to court to testify. For that reason, the court is

serving courtesy copies of this order on Plaintiff’s inmate witnesses. If any inmate witness is

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not willing to testify in this action, the inmate witness should contact the court indicating

the case name and case number of this action, state that the inmate witness does not wish to

be transported to trial, and ask any transportation order be vacated. Any request to stop

transportation should be filed as soon as possible to avoid any unnecessary transportation.

 Accordingly, the court orders that:

1. Plaintiff’s motion for the attendance of incarcerated witnesses Inmate Stephens

#D-61914, Inmate Blackwell #E-72399, and Inmate Richard # C-27964 is

GRANTED;

2. Plaintiff’s motion for the transportation of other incarcerated witnesses is

DENIED; and

3. The Clerk of the Court is DIRECTED to send courtesy copies of this order to:

Plaintiff- Elroy W. Browning, T-82234: 

Substance Abuse Treatment Facility

P.O. Box 5246 

Corcoran, CA 93212 

Ladall Stephens, # D-61914:

North Kern State Prison 

P.O. Box 567

Delano, CA 93216

Kelly Blackwell, # E-72399:

Salinas Valley State Prison

P.O. Box 1020

Soledad, CA 93960

Lewis Richard, # C-27962:

California State Prison, Corcoran

P.O. Box 8800

Corcoran, CA 93212

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: October 3, 2007 /s/ Anthony W. Ishii 

9h0d30 UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

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