Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_11-cv-00318/USCOURTS-caed-1_11-cv-00318-1/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 

EUGENE E. FORTE,

Plaintiff,

v.

COUNTY OF MERCED, et al,,

Defendants.

 /

CASE NO. 1:11-cv-00318-AWI-SKO

INFORMATIONAL ORDER

This order highlights specific rules of which the parties should take particular note. Failure

to comply with the Local Rules, federal rules or a court order, including this order, will be

groundsfor dismissal, entry of default or other appropriate sanctions. SeeLocal Rule 110; Fed.

R. Civ. P. 41(b). In litigating this action, the parties must comply with the Federal Rules of Civil

Procedure, the Local Rules of the United States District Court, Eastern District of California ("Local

Rules"), and this order.

1. Documents intended to be filed with the Court must be mailed to the Clerk of the

Court. See Local Rule 134(a). All documents improperly mailed to a judge's chambers will be

stricken from the record. A document requesting a Court order must be styled as a motion. See 1

When a document is stricken, it becomes a nullity and is not considered by the Court for any purpose.

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Fed. R. Civ. P. 7.

2. Each document submitted for filing must include the original signature(s) of the filing

party or parties. Local Rule 131; Fed. R. Civ. P. 11(a). All documents submitted without the 2

required signature(s) will be stricken. Each separate document must be separately stapled. See

Local Rule 130. If a document is stapled behind another document, it will not be filed and will not

be entered on this Court's docket.

3. All documents filed with the Court must be submitted with an additional legible

conformed copy for the Court's use. See Local Rule 133(d)(2). A document submitted without

an extra copy for the Court's use will be stricken. If the filing party would like a file-stamped

copy, that party must include an additional copy for that purpose (i.e., submit an original and two

copies, one for the Court's use and one to be returned.) The Court cannot provide copy or mailing

service for a party, even for an indigent plaintiff proceeding in forma pauperis. Therefore, if the

filing party wishes a file-stamped copy returned, the party must also provide an envelope with

adequate postage pre-paid. Copies of documents from the Court file may be obtained at the cost of

50 cents per page.

4. After any defendants have appeared in an action by filing a pleading responsive to

the complaint (i.e., an answer or a motion to dismiss), all documents filed with the Court must

include a certificate of service stating that a copy of the document was served on the opposing party. 

See Fed. R. Civ. P. 5; Local Rule 135(c). A document submitted without the required proof of

service will be stricken. Where a party is represented, service on the party's attorney of record

constitutes effective service. 

5. All filings must bear the file number assigned to the action, followed by the initials

of the District Court Judge and the Magistrate Judge to whom the case is assigned. Where plaintiff

simultaneously pursues more than one action, he or she must file separate original documents and

the appropriate number of copies in each action to which the document pertains. Documents

submitted listing more than one case number in the caption will be stricken. 

Attorney signatures shall comply with Local Rule 131(c).

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6. The Court cannot serve as a repository for the parties' evidence. The parties may not

file evidence with the Court until the course of litigation brings the evidence into question (for

example, on a motion for summary judgment, at trial, or when requested by the Court). Evidence

improperly submitted to the Court will be stricken and returned to the party.

7. All Court deadlines will be strictly enforced. Requests for time extensions must state

the reason the extension is needed and must be filed with the Court before the deadline in question. 

See Local Rule 144. 

8. A plaintiff proceeding in propria persona has an affirmative duty to keep the Court

and opposing parties informed of his or her current address. If a plaintiff moves and fails to file a

notice of change of address, service of Court orders at plaintiff's prior address shall constitute

effective notice. See Local Rule 182(f). If mail directed to plaintiff is returned by the U.S. Postal

Service as undeliverable, the Court will not attempt to remail it. If the address is not updated

within 60 days of the returned mail, the action will be dismissed for failure to prosecute. See

Local Rule 183(b).

9. Due to the voluminous filings in this district, the Court cannot respond to individual

requests for the status of cases; any such requests will be denied. If the parties inform the Court of

any address changes in compliance with Local Rule 183(b), the Court will notify the parties of any

Court action taken in their case.

10. Defendants must respond to the complaint within the time provided by the applicable

provisions of Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(a).

11. Unless otherwise ordered, all motions to dismiss, motions for summary judgment,

motions concerning discovery, motions pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 7, 11, 12, 15, 41, 55, 56, 59 and

60, and motions pursuant to Local Rule 110 shall be briefed pursuant to Local Rule 230. Failure to

oppose such a motion timely may be deemed a waiver of opposition to the motion.

12. At some point in the litigation, one or more defendants may move for summary

judgment as to some or all of plaintiff's claims. Such a motion is a request for an order for judgment

on some or all of plaintiff's claims in favor of defendants without trial. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(b). 

Each defendant's motion will set forth the facts which that defendant contends are not reasonably

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subject to dispute and that entitle the defendant to judgment as a matter of law. See Fed. R. Civ. P.

56(c). Pursuant to Klingele v. Eikenberry, 849 F.2d 409 (9th Cir. 1988), plaintiff is advised of the

following requirements for opposing a motion for summary judgment made by defendants pursuant

to Fed. R. Civ. P. 56. 

Plaintiff has the right to oppose a motion for summary judgment. To oppose the

motion, plaintiff must show proof of his or her claims. Plaintiff may agree with the facts set forth

in a defendant's motion but argue that defendant is not entitled to judgment as a matter of law. 

Plaintiff may show a defendant's facts are disputed in one or more of the following ways: (1) plaintiff

may rely upon statements made under penalty of perjury in the complaint (a) if the complaint shows

that plaintiff has personal knowledge of the matters stated and (b) if plaintiff calls the Court's

attention to those portions of the complaint upon which plaintiff relies; (2) plaintiff may serve and

file affidavits or declarations setting forth the facts which plaintiff believes prove plaintiff's claims

(the persons who sign the affidavit or declaration must have personal knowledge of the facts stated);3

(3) plaintiff may rely upon written records, but plaintiff must prove that the records are what plaintiff

claims they are; (4) plaintiff may also rely upon all or any part of the transcript of one or more 4

depositions, answers to interrogatories, or admissions obtained in this proceeding. Should plaintiff

fail to contradict the defendant's motion with affidavits, declarations, or other evidence, defendant's

evidence will be taken as truth, and final judgment may be entered without a full trial. See Fed. R.

Civ. P. 56(e).

If there is some good reason why such facts are not available to plaintiff when

required to oppose such a motion, the Court will consider a request to postpone considering a

defendant's motion. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(d). If plaintiff does not serve and file a request to

postpone consideration of the defendant's motion or written opposition to the motion, the court may

An affidavit is a written declaration or statement of facts, made voluntarily, and confirmed by the oath or

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affirmation of the party making it, taken before an officer having authority to administer such oath. An unsworn

declaration has the same effect as an affidavit, provided that it is dated and signed under penalty of perjury, as

follows: "I declare under penalty of perjury that the foregoing is true and correct." 28 U.S.C. § 1746. Affidavits and

declarations must be made on personal knowledge and must set forth facts that would be admissible into evidence.

See Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(c)(4).

Sworn or certified copies of all papers referred to in an affidavit must be attached to the affidavit and

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served on the opposing party. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(c).

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consider plaintiff's failure to act as a waiver of opposition to the defendant's motion. Plaintiff's

waiver of opposition to the defendant's motion may result in the entry of summary judgment against

plaintiff.

13. A motion supported by affidavits or declarations that are unsigned will be stricken.

14. The failure of any party to comply with the order, the Federal Rules of Civil

Procedure, or the Local Rules of Court, may result in the imposition of sanctions including, but not

limited to, dismissal of the action or entry of default.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: May 24, 2011 /s/ Sheila K. Oberto 

ie14hj UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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