Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_04-cv-05924/USCOURTS-caed-1_04-cv-05924-15/pdf.json

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

---

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

____________________________

Request for Leave of Court to File Brief 

in Excess of Twenty-Five Pages

James D. Weakley, Esq. Bar No. 082853

Michael R. Linden, Esq. Bar No. 192485

THE LAW FIRM OF

WEAKLEY, RATLIFF,

ARENDT & McGUIRE, LLP

1630 East Shaw Avenue, Suite 176

Fresno, California 93710

Telephone: (559) 221-5256

Facsimile: (559) 221-5262

Attorneys for Defendants, DETECTIVE CYNTHIA KNIGHT, SHERIFF RICHARD PIERCE,

DETECTIVE MARK CHAPMAN, SERGEANT NEIL DADIAN, DETECTIVE EARL

RICHARDSON, DETECTIVE JANICE RASMUSSEN, DETECTIVE KEN BOWDEN,

DEPUTY DALE BAUMAN, DEPUTY MIKE SEVERSON, DEPUTY PATRICK HANSON,

and DEPUTY JUAN ESPINOZA

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA, FRESNO

SHARON SAUNDERS,

Plaintiff,

 v.

FRESNO COUNTY SHERIFFS

DETECTIVE CYNTHIA KNIGHT;

FRESNO COUNTY SHERIFF RICHARD

PIERCE; FRESNO COUNTY SHERIFFS

DETECTIVE MARK CHAPMAN; FRESNO

COUNTY SHERIFF DEPT. SGT. DADIAN;

FRESNO COUNTY SHERIFF DETECTIVE

EARL RICHARDSON; FRESNO COUNTY

SHERIFF DETECTIVE JANICE

RASMUSSEN; FRESNO COUNTY

SHERIFF DETECTIVE KEN BOWDEN;

FRESNO COUNTY SHERIFF DEPUTY

DALE BAUMAN; FRESNO COUNTY

SHERIFF DEPUTY MIKE SEVERSON;

FRESNO COUNTY SHERIFF DEPUTY

PATRICK HANSON; FRESNO COUNTY

SHERIFF DEPUTY JAUN ESPINOZA,

Defendants.

____________________________________

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

CASE NO. CIV-F-04-5924 LJO WMW

DEFENDANTS’ REQUEST FOR LEAVE OF

COURT TO FILE BRIEF IN EXCESS OF

TWENTY-FIVE PAGES IN LENGTH 

Defendants DETECTIVE CYNTHIA KNIGHT, SHERIFF RICHARD PIERCE,

DETECTIVE MARK CHAPMAN, SERGEANT NEIL DADIAN, DETECTIVE EARL 

Case 1:04-cv-05924-LJO-GSA Document 139 Filed 08/15/07 Page 1 of 3
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

____________________________

Request for Leave of Court to File Brief 

in Excess of Twenty-Five Pages 2

RICHARDSON, DETECTIVE JANICE RASMUSSEN, DETECTIVE KEN BOWDEN, DEPUTY

DALE BAUMAN, DEPUTY MIKE SEVERSON, DEPUTY PATRICK HANSON, and DEPUTY

JUAN ESPINOZA (hereinafter “Defendants”) respectfully request leave of court to file a brief in

excess of twenty-five (25) pages in length. It is Defendants’ understanding that the Court has a

Standing Order, whereby any memorandum of points and authorities in support of a noticed motion

is not to exceed 25 pages in length. 

Defendants intend to file a motion for summary judgment, or alternatively, summary

adjudication (hereinafter “MSJ”) as to the claims of plaintiff SHARON SAUNDERS (hereinafter

“Plaintiff”). The instant action stems from an investigation that was performed by members of the

Fresno County Sheriff’s Department into an “endless chain” scheme, within the meaning of Penal

Code § 327. Plaintiff was one of several persons arrested pursuant to this investigation. Plaintiff

has brought suit against eleven individual defendants for alleged violations of her First, Fourth,

Fifth, and Fourteenth Amendment rights.

Pursuant to the operative scheduling order, pre-trial motions are to be filed by August 17,

2007. The facts in this case are lengthy and complex, and there are numerous legal issues that will

be subject Defendants’ anticipated motion. It is the belief of the undersigned that it would be very

difficult for COUNTY defendants’ to provide the Court with the relevant background and

adequately brief all of the legal issues, in a brief limited to 25 pages, especially given the fact that

there are claims against eleven different individuals. Accordingly, Defendants request leave of

court to file a memorandum of points and authorities (as well as a separate statement of undisputed

material facts) that exceeds 25 pages. Defendants believe that limit of thirty-five (35) pages would

be reasonable in this situation. Defendants would not oppose a similar accommodation for

Plaintiff’s anticipated opposition.

Dated: August 13, 2007 WEAKLEY, RATLIFF, ARENDT & McGUIRE, LLP

By: _/s/ Michael R. Linden____________________

James D. Weakley

Michael R. Linden

Counsel for Defendants

Case 1:04-cv-05924-LJO-GSA Document 139 Filed 08/15/07 Page 2 of 3
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

____________________________

Request for Leave of Court to File Brief 

in Excess of Twenty-Five Pages 3

ORDER

This Court GRANTS defendants’ request to file a brief up to 35 pages and

ADMONISHES defense counsel to prepare well-organized, focused and succinct papers. 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: August 15, 2007 /s/ Lawrence J. O'Neill 

66h44d UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

Case 1:04-cv-05924-LJO-GSA Document 139 Filed 08/15/07 Page 3 of 3