Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_11-cv-03119/USCOURTS-caed-2_11-cv-03119-17/pdf.json

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

1

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

DAVID FLORENCE,

Plaintiff,

v.

A.W. NANGALAMA, et al.,

Defendants.

No. 2:11-cv-3119 GEB KJN P

ORDER

Plaintiff is a state prisoner, proceeding pro se, with a civil rights action pursuant to 42 

U.S.C. § 1983. Plaintiff filed a request for extension of time to file his opposition to the pending 

motion for summary judgment, and a separate motion for additional discovery under Rule 56(d) 

of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. Defendants did not file a response, but pursuant to prior 

orders, defendants have addressed plaintiff’s various requests concerning belated discovery 

responses, and argue no further discovery should be permitted. (ECF No. 68, 80.) 

As set forth below, plaintiff’s motion for additional Rule 56(d) discovery is partially 

granted, and plaintiff is granted an extension of time in which to oppose the pending motion for 

summary judgment.

I. Rule 56(d) Motion

Discovery closed on December 29, 2014. By order filed April 16, 2015, plaintiff was 

advised that to support a Rule 56(d) motion, he must demonstrate his need for specific facts to be 

Case 2:11-cv-03119-TLN-KJN Document 84 Filed 06/24/15 Page 1 of 5
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

obtained in discovery that would preclude summary judgment. (ECF No. 77 at 4.) Accordingly, 

the undersigned addresses the specific requests contained in plaintiff’s recent motion.

First, plaintiff claims that he “never” requested video footage of the incident on February 

28, 2011. (ECF No. 81 at 3.) However, in his motion for enlargement of time, signed March 9, 

2015, and filed March 12, 2015, plaintiff requested an order allowing him to propound one more 

request for production of documents “regarding video footage of the incident on 2/28/11. . . .” 

(ECF No. 72 at 10.) Defendants have confirmed no video of the February 28, 2011 incident 

exists. Thus, plaintiff’s request is denied.

Second, plaintiff now claims that there are cameras outside of the medical clinic directed 

at the Facility B-yard pedestrian sallyport gate where plaintiff and defendants Lopez and Colter 

were standing on March 23, 2011, as well as cameras inside the pedestrian sallyport gate. 

Plaintiff alleges that video footage from these various cameras would show that defendants left

plaintiff outside of the gate on March 23, 2011, and would show that defendant Colter’s 

declaration that he had plaintiff wait at the gate with defendant Lopez because correctional 

officers were escorting inmates through the sallyport on March 23, 2011, is false. (ECF No. 81 at 

3-4.) Plaintiff claims that he asked prison officials to hold the video footage. (ECF No. 81 at 4.) 

It is unclear whether plaintiff previously sought such video through discovery, but based on its 

relevance to plaintiff’s claims, defendants are directed to confirm whether any video footage of 

the March 23, 2011 incidents exists, and if such video footage does exist, what arrangements 

defendants have made for plaintiff to view the footage.

Third, plaintiff claims that defendants failed to produce the inmate medical movement 

sheet for March 10, 2010, and February 14, 2011. (ECF No. 81 at 4.) Plaintiff claims that 

defendants referred plaintiff to defendant Baidar’s response to the second request for production 

of documents, but plaintiff alleges the information was not there. Plaintiff’s own efforts to obtain 

such information have failed, and plaintiff argues this information is important because defendant 

Baidar declares that there is no record of plaintiff seeing Baidar on February 14, 2011, which 

would permit Baidar to “escape liability.” (ECF No. 81 at 4.) Plaintiff does not explain the 

relevance of the information for March 10, 2010.

Case 2:11-cv-03119-TLN-KJN Document 84 Filed 06/24/15 Page 2 of 5
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

3

In his third amended complaint, plaintiff alleges that he went to see defendant Baidar on 

April 14, 2011, because plaintiff did not receive his medication. Baidar allegedly called the 

pharmacy and was told they had sent the full amount. (ECF No. 17 at 34.) Plaintiff asked Baidar 

for the name of the pharmacy contact because plaintiff was going to file an appeal. Plaintiff 

alleges Baidar became angry and went to Dr. Nangalama and told the doctor to take plaintiff off 

his pain medications, allegedly in retaliation for plaintiff filing an appeal. (ECF No. 17 at 34.) 

There are no allegations against defendant Baidar in connection with a March 10, 2010 date. 

(ECF No. 17.) Due to the relevance of this information, defendants are directed to produce the 

inmate medical movement sheet for February 14, 2011, that would include plaintiff’s housing unit 

for the shift defendant Baidar was working. Plaintiff’s request for production of the movement 

sheet for March 10, 2010 is denied as unsupported.

Fourth, plaintiff claims defendants have not provided him with “numerous appeals,” or 

with plaintiff’s “whole medical file.” (ECF No. 81 at 4.) Plaintiff fails to identify the appeals, or 

to explain what relevant facts would be obtained from such appeals. Moreover, plaintiff may 

personally obtain copies of his own appeals. Similarly, defendants are not required to provide 

plaintiff with a copy of his entire medical file. As plaintiff was previously informed, he may 

personally review his medical file by following prison procedures. The undersigned will not 

order defendants to produce documents that are equally accessible to plaintiff in his prison central

or medical files. See, e.g., Quezada v. Lindsey, 2014 WL 5500800 at *3 (E.D. Cal. Oct. 30, 

2014) (“Since any ordinances and laws governing health and safety are public documents, which 

are equally available to Plaintiff, Defendants cannot be compelled to produce them.”); Ford v. Wi 

ldey, 2014 WL 4354600 at * 4 (E.D. Cal. Sept. 2, 2014) (“Defendant indicates that any such 

documents are located in his central file for which Plaintiff has equal access. This response 

complies with Rule 34 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. . . .”); Valenzuela v. Smith, 2006 

WL 403842 at *2 (E.D. Cal. Feb.16, 2006) (defendants will not be compelled to produce 

documents that are “equally available to plaintiff in his prison medical file or in the prison law 

library.”).

////

Case 2:11-cv-03119-TLN-KJN Document 84 Filed 06/24/15 Page 3 of 5
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

4

Fifth, plaintiff claims that he has sent to defendants’ counsel inmate appeals filed by other 

inmates concerning retaliation and deliberate indifference against defendants Nangalama, 

Bakewell, Sarver, and Baidar, but alleges that when he asked defendants to produce “these types 

of appeals,” they claim there were none. (ECF No. 81 at 4.) Plaintiff again fails to explain the 

relevance of such appeals or to identify specific facts that such documents might elicit. Claims 

alleging retaliation and deliberate indifference require specific culpable mental states pertinent to 

the filing of plaintiff’s own inmate appeals and his personal medical care. Plaintiff’s request is 

too broad to suggest relevance here.

Sixth, plaintiff states he asked defendants Colter and Lopez for their “post orders as 

medical escorts.” (ECF No. 81 at 4.) However, plaintiff fails to identify specific facts that such 

documents would elicit, and also fails to limit the request by specific date. Thus, the relevance of 

such documents is unclear. No production is ordered. 

 Finally, plaintiff seeks an order requiring defendants to provide “documents concerning 

adverse action being taken against them or letter of instructions given to them by their 

supervisors.” (ECF No. 81 at 5.) Plaintiff claims that defendants claim that there are none, but 

objects that they produced no paperwork from their confidential personnel files confirming such 

response, and contends this information is “critical because it would show the conduct.” (ECF 

No. 81 at 5.) Defendants are not required to produce documents that do not exist. 

With regard to plaintiff’s other general complaints that defendants failed to respond to 

discovery requests, plaintiff’s motion to compel discovery responses was denied as untimely. 

(ECF No. 78.) Thus, no further order concerning discovery responses will issue.

II. Request for Extension

During the pendency of the instant motions, plaintiff filed a 171-page opposition to the 

motion for summary judgment on May 12, 2015. (ECF No. 82.) It is unclear whether, in light of 

the above order, plaintiff still seeks additional time to file his opposition. Thus, plaintiff may 

choose to stand on his previously-filed opposition to the motion, or he may file, within sixty days, 

a revised and complete opposition that includes all of his arguments and evidence. If plaintiff 

chooses to stand on his prior opposition, he shall file a notice confirming such choice. 

Case 2:11-cv-03119-TLN-KJN Document 84 Filed 06/24/15 Page 4 of 5
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

5

Defendants’ reply shall be filed fourteen days after plaintiff files his revised opposition or 

confirmation he chooses to stand on his May 12, 2015 opposition. 

Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that:

1. Plaintiff’s motion for Rule 56(d) discovery is granted in part, as follows:

a. Within fourteen days from the date of this order, defendants shall confirm 

whether video footage of the incidents on March 23, 2011 exists, and if such video footage does 

exist, what arrangements defendants have made for plaintiff to view the footage; and

b. Defendants shall produce to plaintiff, within fourteen days from the date of this 

order, the inmate medical movement sheet for February 14, 2011, that would include plaintiff’s 

housing unit for the shift defendant Baidar was working on February 14, 2011. In all other 

respects, plaintiff’s request for additional Rule 56(d) discovery is denied; 

2. Plaintiff’s request for extension of time to file an opposition to the motion for summary 

judgment (ECF No. 79) is granted;

3. Plaintiff’s request to stay ruling on defendant’s motion for summary judgment (ECF 

No. 81) is partially granted; and

4. Within sixty days from the date of this order, plaintiff shall file either (a) a revised and 

complete opposition to the motion for summary judgment, or (b) a notice confirming his choice to 

stand on his May 12, 2015 opposition. Fourteen days thereafter, defendants shall file a reply.

Dated: June 24, 2015

/flor3119.56d

Case 2:11-cv-03119-TLN-KJN Document 84 Filed 06/24/15 Page 5 of 5