Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_19-cv-00529/USCOURTS-caed-1_19-cv-00529-37/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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Order

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

ETUATE SEKONA,

Plaintiff,

v.

M. FRANCIS,

Defendant.

Case No. 1:19-cv-00529-KES-HBK (PC)

ORDER DIRECTING PLAINTIFF TO 

SUBMIT FEES FOR NONINCARCERATED 

WITNESSES

Witness Fees Due: July 15, 2024

Plaintiff Etuate Sekona (“Plaintiff”) is a state prisoner proceeding pro se and in forma 

pauperis in this civil rights action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. A Final Pretrial Conference was 

held in this case on June 17, 2024. (Doc. No. 126). A jury trial is scheduled to commence on 

September 10, 2024 at 9:00 a.m. in Courtroom 6 before District Judge Kirk E. Sheriff (Doc. No. 

127). 

In his pretrial statement, and as discussed at the first December 12, 2022 Pretrial 

Conference Plaintiff Etuate Sekona identifies potential nonincarcerated witnesses for trial. (Doc. 

No. 59 at 8; Doc. No. 64 at 10). On February 3, 2023, Plaintiff submitted witness fees for four 

nonincarcerated witnesses: Correctional Officers Tabia, Hernandez, and Commagay, and 

Licensed Vocational Nurse Melinda Cook. (See docket). On June 22, 2023, the Court directed

service of subpoenas on the four witnesses. (Doc. Nos. 84-87). However, the U.S. Marshals 

Case 1:19-cv-00529-KES-HBK Document 128 Filed 06/18/24 Page 1 of 5
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Service was unable to identify and serve witnesses Hernandez and Tabia, and the witness fees for 

Hernandez and Tabia were ultimately returned to a third party of Plaintiff’s choice. (See Doc. 

Nos. 91, 92, 111). 

The witness fees for Commagay and Cook remain in the Court’s possession. The Court 

will reissue subpoenas to Cook and Commagay at the previous address unless Plaintiff provides 

updated addresses for these witnesses. The previous addresses provided to the Court by Plaintiff

for Cook and Commagay were: (1) LVN Melinda Cook Kern Valley State Prison P.O. Box 3130, 

Delano, CA 93216-6000; and (2) Correctional Officer Commagay Kern Valley State Prison P.O. 

Box 3130, Delano, CA 93216-6000. Additionally, due to revised reimbursement rates in effect as 

of January 1, 2024, the Court will order Plaintiff to supplement his prior payments to witnesses 

Cook and Commagay as set forth below by sending the Clerk a money order in the amount of 

$12.00 for each Cook and Commagay.

To the extent Plaintiff wishes to call any other nonincarcerated witnesses who will not 

testify voluntarily, he must do so in accordance with the instructions contained in this Order. 

Plaintiff’s witnesses shall be those listed in Attachment A to the Court’s Order. If Plaintiff 

intends to have the Marshals Service serve any nonincarcerated witnesses who refuse to testify 

voluntarily, Plaintiff must submit a separate money order for each witness no later than July 15, 

2024. The estimated cost for each witness using the addresses previously provided by Plaintiff is 

listed below:

Name Daily Witness Fee Travel Cost1 Total

Officer Tabia2$40.00 $109.00 $149.00

Officer Villa $40.00 $109.0 $149.00

Officer Commagay $40.00 $109.00 $149.00

Officer Hernandez $40.00 $109.00 $149.00

LVN Cook $40.00 $109.00 $149.00

LVN Raman Kaur $40.00 $109.00 $149.00

1 Travel costs are based on round-trip mileage at the current reimbursement rate. 28 U.S.C. § 1821. As of 

January 1, 2024, the mileage reimbursement rate for a privately owned vehicle is $0.67 per mile. U.S. 

General Services Administration, Privately Owned Vehicle (POV) Mileage Reimbursement Rates, 

https://www.gsa.gov/travel/plan-book/transportation-airfare-pov-etc/privately-owned-vehicle-mileagerates (last visited June 18, 2024). 

2 To the extent Plaintiff seeks to re-attempt service of Officers Tabia and Hernandez, the Court lists them 

here.

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Dr. Zepp $40.00 $109.00 $149.00

Dr. Hori $40.00 $197.00 $237.00

The Court does not allow undisclosed witnesses to be called for any purpose, including 

impeachment or rebuttal, unless they meet the criteria set forth in the Court’s December 13, 2022 

Tentative Pretrial Order. (See Doc. No. 64 at 10-11)

Accordingly, it is hereby ORDERED:

1. No later than July 15, 2024, Plaintiff shall:

a. Deliver to the Court the appropriate witness fees, identified in this Order, for 

any nonincarcerated witnesses he intends to call at trial. Plaintiff is advised the 

Court cannot accept cash, and money orders should not be made payable to the 

Court but be made payable to the individual witness in that witness’s name.

b. To the extent any addresses have changed for any of the proposed witnesses,

Plaintiff must include with his money order, a current address for the witness. 

c. Submit to the Court additional money orders for witnesses Commagay and 

Cook, each for $12.00, in light of increased mileage reimbursement rates 

adopted by the U.S. District Court in effect as of January 1, 2024.

2. If Plaintiff fails to comply with any provision of this order he may be subject to 

sanctions at the Court’s discretion.

Dated: June 18, 2024 

HELENA M. BARCH-KUCHTA

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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ATTACHMENT A: Plaintiff’s Witnesses

Individual Fact v. Expert Contact Information

1. Correctional Officer Tabia Fact c/o Kern Valley State Prison

2. Correctional Officer Hernandez Fact c/o Kern Valley State Prison

3. Correctional Officer Commagay Fact c/o Kern Valley State Prison

4. Correctional Officer Villa Fact c/o Kern Valley State Prison

5. Gene Hori, M.D. Fact

4251 S. Higuera St., San 

Luis Obispo, CA 93401

6. Dr. Zepp Fact c/o Kern Valley State Prison

7. Melinda Cook, LVN Fact c/o Kern Valley State Prison

8. Raman Kaur, LVN Fact c/o Kern Valley State Prison

Case 1:19-cv-00529-KES-HBK Document 128 Filed 06/18/24 Page 5 of 5