Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_03-cv-06118/USCOURTS-caed-1_03-cv-06118-1/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

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

STEVEN WARD LITTLE, )

)

)

)

Plaintiff, )

)

v. )

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SHANDRA THOMAS KINSEY, et al., )

)

)

)

Defendants. )

 )

1:03cv6118 OWW DLB

ORDER GRANTING DEFENDANTS’

MOTION TO COMPEL AND 

REQUEST FOR SANCTIONS

(Document 51)

Defendants Shandra Thomas Kensey, Todd Curtis, Gary Keller, Luis Lara and Seth

Jennings (“Defendants”) filed the instant motion to compel responses to special interrogatories

and request for sanctions on July 1, 2005. The Court deemed the matter suitable for decision

without oral argument and took the motion under submission on July 29, 2005. Plaintiff has not

filed an opposition to the motion. 

BACKGROUND

Plaintiff filed the instant action on August 18, 2003 alleging that officials of the

California Highway Patrol and the County of Merced violated his civil rights under 42 U.S.C. §

1983 by using excessive force in arresting and detaining Plaintiff. Plaintiff also claims that his 

first attorney committed legal malpractice.

On January 27, 2005, the Court granted Plaintiff’s counsel’s motion for withdrawal. The

motion was based on counsel’s inability to communicate with Plaintiff. Plaintiff is now

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appearing pro se. The case has not been scheduled.

On July 1, 2005, Defendants filed the instant motion to compel responses to special

interrogatories and request for sanctions. Plaintiff has not filed an opposition or otherwise

contacted the Court.

DISCUSSION

Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 37 (a)(2)(B) provides that if a party fails to answer an

interrogatory submitted under Rule 33, the discovering party may move for an order compelling

an answer. If the motion is granted, the Court shall award the reasonable expenses incurred in

making the motion, including attorney’s fees, to the moving party. Fed.R.Civ.Proc. 37(a)(4)(A). 

On March 8, 2004, Defendants served Plaintiff’s former counsel, Terri Cipponeri with the

first set of interrogatories. Defendants’ counsel met and conferred with Plaintiff’s counsel and

Plaintiff’s counsel requested extensions of time to respond to the interrogatories. Plaintiff’s

counsel was granted leave to withdrawal as counsel of record on January 26, 2005. Defendants

represent that on February 10, 2005, Plaintiff’s former counsel notified Plaintiff that he was to

respond to Defendants’ discovery no later than February 23, 2005. On March 16, 2005,

Defendants sent a letter to Plaintiff requesting responses to the interrogatories. Receiving no

response, Defendants’ counsel sent a second letter to Plaintiff on June 15, 2005, requesting

responses and advising that Defendants were going to file a motion to compel responses to the

discovery and a request for sanctions. To date, Plaintiff has not provided responses to the 

special interrogatories or responded in any manner to counsel’s correspondence. Defendants

seek an order compelling responses to the special interrogatories, without objections, within 10

days and awarding sanctions to Defendants in the amount of $1,390.00. As Plaintiff has not

responded to the discovery or provided an explanation for his failure to respond, Defendants’

motion to compel is GRANTED. 

Defendants submit the declaration of attorney Robert L. Collins in support of their motion

for sanctions. Mr. Collins states that his hourly rate for this client is $139.00 per hour and he has

spent a total of three (3) hours preparing this motion. Declaration of Robert L. Collins (“Collins

Dec.”), ¶ 12. Mr. Collins anticipated spending an additional seven (7) hours traveling to and

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from and attending the hearing on the motion for a total request of $1,390.00. Id. Because

Plaintiff did not file an opposition to the motion and the Court took the hearing off calender,

Defendants are entitled to compensation for the three (3) hours spent preparing this motion.

ORDER

Defendants’ motion to compel is GRANTED. Plaintiff is ORDERED to provide

responses to Defendants’ special interrogatories within ten (10) days of the date of service of this

order. 

Defendants’ request for sanctions is also GRANTED. Plaintiff SHALL PAY

SANCTIONS to Defendants’ counsel in the amount of $417.00. This amount shall be paid on or

before August 31, 2005. Failure to comply with this order will result in further sanctions which

may include evidentiary sanctions or dismissal of this action.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: July 29, 2005 /s/ Dennis L. Beck 

3b142a

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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