Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_03-cv-06464/USCOURTS-caed-1_03-cv-06464-7/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 550
Nature of Suit: Prisoner - Civil Rights (U.S. defendant)
Cause of Action: 42:1983 Prisoner Civil Rights

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

ABRAHAM ROMERO,

Plaintiff,

v.

H. COFFEE, et al.,

Defendants.

 /

CASE NO. 1:03-CV-6464-REC-SMS-P

ORDER DENYING PLAINTIFF’S MOTION

TO FACILITATE WRITTEN DEPOSITIONS,

BUT NOTIFYING PLAINTIFF OF ATTEMPT

TO FACILITATE LIMITED

COMMUNICATION WITH INMATE

WITNESSES

(Doc. 43) 

Plaintiff Abraham Romero (“plaintiff”) is a state prisoner proceeding pro se and in forma

pauperis in this civil rights action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. On March 23, 2006, plaintiff filed

a motion seeking leave to depose two prisoners and for the issuance of an order altering the

requirements for taking written depositions. Defendants did not file a response.

Plaintiff seeks leave of court to depose inmates Alatorre and Lopez in written form. Fed. R.

Civ. P. 31(a)(2). Depositions by written question entail more than simply mailing the questions to

the deponent and opposing counsel. Plaintiff must arrange for an officer to take responses and

prepare the record. Fed. R. Civ. P. 31(a)(3), (b). Unless plaintiff is able to bear the costs of

arranging for depositions in compliance with the Federal Rules, the Court will not take steps to

facilitate the depositions. 

Inmates housed at separate institutions may correspond with one another if approval is

granted by the institution heads. Cal. Code Regs. tit 15, § 3139 (2006). By separate letter, the Court

will request that plaintiff be permitted to correspond in writing with inmates Alatorre and Lopez for

Case 1:03-cv-06464-SMS Document 45 Filed 05/09/06 Page 1 of 2
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 Plaintiff and defendants’ counsel will receive copies of the letter.

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the limited purpose of determining whether or not the inmate witnesses possess relevant information

and are willing to assist plaintiff.1 If they possess relevant information, plaintiff may secure a

declaration from each inmate, signed under penalty of perjury, for use as evidence. Plaintiff is

cautioned that statements in a declaration must be based on the inmate’s personal knowledge and

not merely on his belief.

 Based on the foregoing, plaintiff’s motion to facilitate written depositions, filed March 23,

2006, is DENIED, but the Court will attempt to facilitate limited written communication between

plaintiff and his witnesses.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: May 8, 2006 /s/ Sandra M. Snyder 

icido3 UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 1:03-cv-06464-SMS Document 45 Filed 05/09/06 Page 2 of 2