Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_10-cv-02427/USCOURTS-caed-2_10-cv-02427-29/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 

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 

DENNIS GERALD CLAIBORNE, 

Plaintiff, 

v. 

J. BLAUSER, et al., 

Defendants. 

No. 2:10-cv-2427 JAM EFB P 

ORDER 

 Plaintiff is a state prisoner proceeding without counsel in an action brought under 42 

U.S.C. § 1983. The pretrial order in this action issued on March 21, 2014. ECF No. 114. That 

order informed plaintiff that to obtain the presence at trial of any unincarcerated witness, plaintiff 

must tender the daily witness fee and the witness’ travel expenses. Id. at 10. The order instructed 

that “even a plaintiff proceeding in forma pauperis must tender the fees” because “[n]o statute 

authorizes the use of public funds” to cover these costs. Id. 

 Despite this admonition, plaintiff now requests an order for the U.S. Marshal to serve 

subpoenas on his unincarcerated witnesses and to “advance the witness fees.” ECF No. 154. The 

Ninth Circuit has held that the in forma pauperis statute, 28 U.S.C. § 1915, does not authorize the 

expenditure of public funds to pay for witness fees and expenses. Tedder v. Odel, 890 F.2d 210, 

211-12 (9th Cir. 1989); see also Dixon v. Ylst, 990 F.2d 478, 480 (9th Cir. 1993). Accordingly, 

plaintiff’s motion is denied. If plaintiff wishes to obtain the presence at trial of an unincarcerated 

Case 2:10-cv-02427-VAP Document 156 Filed 05/21/15 Page 1 of 2
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witness, he must follow the instructions provided in the pretrial order, including tendering 

through the U.S. Marshal a money order payable to the witness in the amount of the daily witness 

fee ($40.00) plus the witness’ travel expenses. 

 So ordered. 

DATED: May 21, 2015. 

 

 

 

Case 2:10-cv-02427-VAP Document 156 Filed 05/21/15 Page 2 of 2