Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-4_17-cv-05554/USCOURTS-cand-4_17-cv-05554-12/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 375
Nature of Suit: False Claims Act
Cause of Action: 31:3729 False Claims Act

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United States District Court

Northern District of California

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

ELLEN HARDIN,

Plaintiff,

v.

MENDOCINO COAST DISTRICT 

HOSPITAL, et al.,

Defendants.

Case No. 17-cv-05554-JST (TSH)

DISCOVERY ORDER

Re: Dkt. Nos. 107, 108, 109

The parties have filed discovery letter briefs at ECF Nos. 107, 108 and 109. Plaintiff’s 

letter argues that (1) Defendants’ counsel has engaged in inappropriate conduct, (2) the 

appointment of a discovery referee is unnecessary, and (3) Defendants are improperly using the 

Brown Act as a basis to instruct witnesses not to answer and to refuse to answer interrogatories or 

produce documents. The Court assumes that the deposition excerpts attached to the letter address 

issue #1. The Court also assumes the deposition excerpts address issue #3 insofar as it relates to 

deposition testimony because excerpts of Sturgeon’s and Edwards’ depositions are attached. It is 

obvious that the excerpts do not address issue #3 to the extent it relates to interrogatories or 

document requests because none of those are attached. The Court ORDERS Plaintiff to submit 

the referenced requests for production and interrogatories, and Defendants’ responses, by April 17, 

2019.

Defendants’ letter brief addresses issues #1 and #2. The Court ORDERS Defendant to file 

a letter brief not to exceed two and a half pages on issue #3 no later than April 17, 2019.

The Court schedules oral argument on these letter briefs for April 25, 2019 at 10:00 a.m. in 

Courtroom A.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: April 12, 2019

THOMAS S. HIXSON

United States Magistrate Judge

Case 4:17-cv-05554-JST Document 111 Filed 04/12/19 Page 1 of 1