Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_06-cv-00414/USCOURTS-caed-2_06-cv-00414-6/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 440
Nature of Suit: Other Civil Rights
Cause of Action: 28:1983 Civil Rights

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

MANUEL ALYALA ALVAREZ,

Plaintiff, No. CIV S-06-0414 FCD EFB PS

vs.

DEPUTY ROBINSON, et al.,, ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE

Defendants. 

 /

This case, in which plaintiff is proceeding in propria persona, was referred to the

undersigned under Local Rule 72-302(c)(21), pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1). It was before

the undersigned on August 29, 2007, for hearing on defendants’ motion to compel plaintiff’s

Rule 26(a) initial disclosures and for an award of sanctions. Jesse M. Rivera appeared on behalf

of defendants. Plaintiff filed no opposition to the defendants’ motion and failed to appear at the

hearing. 

On May 23, 2007, this court issued a scheduling order setting discovery cut-off for

October 17, 2007. Despite this impending deadline and defendants’ efforts to communicate with

him, plaintiff has failed to produce initial disclosures pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(a)(1). 

Accordingly, defendants moved pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 37(a)(2)(A), for an order compelling

plaintiff to produce his initial disclosures and sanctioning plaintiff for his failure to do so or

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otherwise respond to defendants. 

Rule 26(a) requires parties to disclose, without awaiting a discovery request, information

about witnesses, documents, damages, and other relevant information fourteen days before the

Rule 26(f) conference of the parties. Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(a). The Rule 26(f) conference is to

occur at least twenty-one days before a scheduling conference is held or a scheduling order is

due. Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(f). Pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 37(c)(1), substantial penalties may be

applied to “a party that without substantial justification fails to disclose information required by

Rule 26(a).” 

However, pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(a)(1)(E), certain proceedings are exempted from

the initial disclosure requirements, including actions brought by persons without counsel and in

custody. Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(a)(1)(E)(iv). At the hearing, defense counsel represented that

plaintiff may be in custody, but that he did not know for certain. The court has reviewed its

records, which show that plaintiff’s address of record is a post office box in Sacramento, which

is not determinative of whether or not plaintiff is in custody. The Local Rules of this court

require all parties, including those appearing in propria persona, to keep the court apprised of

their address. E.D. Cal. L.R. 83-183(b). 

Given plaintiff’s failure to participate in the discovery process and respond to defendants’

motion, the court is inclined to grant defendants’ motion and award appropriate sanctions. 

However, the court is troubled by defense counsel’s intimation that plaintiff may be in custody. 

Accordingly, the court will delay its ruling on defendants’ motion pending some verification

regarding plaintiff’s status. 

In accordance with the foregoing, plaintiff shall show cause within fifteen days from the

date of service of this order why defendants’ motion should not be granted and sanctions

awarded. Plaintiff shall provide a verified statement regarding whether or not he is presently in

custody, or whether he has been in custody at any time during the pendency of this action. 

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Failure to timely respond to this order may result in sanctions, including a recommendation that

this action be dismissed. E.D. Cal. L.R. 11-110. 

SO ORDERED. 

DATED: August 31, 2007.

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