Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-5_04-cv-03946/USCOURTS-cand-5_04-cv-03946-32/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 440
Nature of Suit: Other Civil Rights
Cause of Action: 42:1983 Civil Rights Act

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United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

SAN JOSE DIVISION

Darla Padgett, et al.,

Plaintiffs,

 v.

Brian Loventhal, et al.,

Defendants. /

NO. C 04-03946 JW 

ORDER RE: LETTER FROM CINDY

BRAIN

The Court is in receipt of a letter from Cindy Brain. (See Docket Item No. 480.) Mrs. Brain

is Plaintiffs’ neighbor and a witness in this action. A fence separates Plaintiffs’ property from the

Brains’ property. Defendants’ actions with regard to the height of that fence is at issue in Plaintiffs’

case.

A fence also separates the Brains’ property from the Hunters’ property. The Hunters are

Plaintiffs’ neighbor to the north. Defendants commenced a code enforcement action against the

Brains with regard to the Brain-Hunter fence. On April 25, 2007, the Court stayed Defendants’

enforcement action and ordered as follows: “No person shall alter the Brain-Hunter fence in any

way until the final judgment is entered in [Plaintiffs’] federal case. This stay does not affect the

rights of the Brains and the City to resolve their case. However, the Brain-Hunter fence shall not be

altered or removed.” (See Docket Item No. 333.) 

In her letter, Mrs. Brain represents to the Court that she is currently negotiating the sale of

her property. The potential buyers, Douglas and Rebecca Sayuk, have requested a letter from

Case 5:04-cv-03946-EJD Document 487 Filed 02/13/08 Page 1 of 3
United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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Defendants stating that upon purchase of the Brains’ property, no pre-stated penalties or violations

regarding the fence will transfer to the Sayuks. Defendants have refused. Mrs. Brain requests the

Court to issue a letter stating that the stay granted with regard to the action against the Brains will

transfer to the Sayuks.

Defendants have responded to Mrs. Brain’s letter. (See Docket Item No. 483.) Defendants

deny receiving any request from the Sayuks. However, Defendants represent that any penalties

accrued by the Brains will not apply to the Sayuks. Once the purchase of the Brains’ property and

Plaintiffs’ litigation is complete, the City will start new code enforcement proceedings against the

Sayuks to extent the fence remains in violation of City’s codes.

In light of Defendants’ representations, the Court declines to take further action at this time. 

The Court’s previous order prohibiting alteration of the Brain-Hunter fence and any enforcement

action in relation to that fence remains in effect.

Dated: February 13, 2008 

JAMES WARE

United States District Judge

Case 5:04-cv-03946-EJD Document 487 Filed 02/13/08 Page 2 of 3
United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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THIS IS TO CERTIFY THAT COPIES OF THIS ORDER HAVE BEEN DELIVERED TO:

Darla Kaye Padgett Actiontkr@aol.com

Joseph C. Howard jhoward@hrmrlaw.com

Thomas H R Denver tdenver@mediationmasters.com

Todd Holton Master tmaster@hrmrlaw.com

Cindy Brain

17951 Saratoga-Los Gatos Road

Monte Sereno, CA 95030

Dated: February 13, 2008 Richard W. Wieking, Clerk

By: /s/ JW Chambers 

Elizabeth Garcia

Courtroom Deputy

Case 5:04-cv-03946-EJD Document 487 Filed 02/13/08 Page 3 of 3