Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-4_18-cv-01404/USCOURTS-cand-4_18-cv-01404-3/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 442
Nature of Suit: Civil Rights Employment
Cause of Action: 42:2000e Job Discrimination (Employment)

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United States District Court

Northern District of California

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

GEORGETTE G. PURNELL,

Plaintiff,

v.

RUDOLPH AND SLETTEN INC.,

Defendant.

Case No. 18-cv-01402-PJH (KAW)

ORDER REGARDING DISCOVERY 

LETTER

Re: Dkt. No. 59

GEORGETTE G. PURNELL,

Plaintiff,

v.

SERVICE WEST INC.,

Defendant.

Case No. 18-cv-01404-PJH (KAW)

ORDER REGARDING DISCOVERY 

LETTER

Re: Dkt. No. 59

On March 2, 2018, Plaintiff Georgette G. Purnell filed these cases against Defendant 

Rudolph and Sletten, Inc. and Service West, Inc., alleging discrimination on the basis of race, sex, 

and national origin. (R&S Compl. ¶ 5, R&S Dkt. No. 1; SW Compl. ¶ 5, SW Dkt. No. 1.1) On 

November 29, 2018, Defendants filed separate but identical discovery letters regarding Plaintiff's 

refusal to respond to Requests for Production ("RFPs") or to provide responsive documents, as 

well as Plaintiff's failure to provide initial disclosures to Defendant Rudolph and Sletten. (R&S 

Letter, R&S Dkt. No. 56; SW Letter, SW Dkt. No. 55.)

On December 11, 2018, the undersigned ordered Plaintiff to respond to the RFPs and to 

provide initial disclosures, explaining that "Plaintiff is not entitled to refuse to respond to the RFPs 

 

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"R&S Dkt." refers to the docket in Case No. 18-cv-1402-PJH, while "SW Dkt." refers to the 

docket in Case No. 18-cv-1404-PJH. 

Case 4:18-cv-01404-PJH Document 61 Filed 12/19/18 Page 1 of 2
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United States District Court

Northern District of California

or to provide initial disclosures." (R&S Dkt. No. 58 at 3; SW Dkt. No. 58 at 3.) The Court 

warned Plaintiff that failure to cooperate in discovery could lead to sanctions, including monetary, 

evidentiary, or terminating sanctions. (R&S Dkt. No. 58 at 4; SW Dkt. No. 58 at 4.)

On December 17, 2018, Plaintiff filed identical letters -- dated December 2, 2018 --

responding to Defendants' discovery letters. (R&S Dkt. No. 59; SW Dkt. No. 59.) Plaintiff 

asserted that she had addressed Defendants' discovery concerns in a June 3, 2018 correspondence. 

(R&S Dkt. No. 59 at 2; SW Dkt. No. 59 at 2.) Further, because "the facts of the matter remaining 

the same as presented in the complaint and the case management statements offered by 

plaintiff . . . no further orders regarding plaintiff to produce any documents would be necessary." 

(Id.) Plaintiff also attached the June 3, 2018 correspondence, which stated that the discovery she 

intended to provide was located in the complaint and the case management statement. (R&S Dkt. 

No. 59 at 5; SW Dkt. No. 59 at 5.) 

This is not a sufficient reason to not produce documents. It is not enough to state that the 

facts of the case are the same as in the complaint and the case management statements; Plaintiff 

must still prove her case with actual evidence, and provide that evidence to Defendants to the 

extent it has been requested. Plaintiff cannot rely on allegations in her complaint or filings to 

prosecute the case; she must substantiate her claims. 

For those reasons, the Court ORDERS Plaintiff to respond to Defendants' RFPs and to 

provide initial disclosures, as previously ordered in the Court's December 11, 2018 order. (See 

R&S Dkt. No. 58 at 4; SW Dkt. No. 58 at 4.) Plaintiff's responses remain due by December 26, 

2018.2

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: December 19, 2018

__________________________________

KANDIS A. WESTMORE

United States Magistrate Judge

 

2 The Court gave Plaintiff fourteen days from December 11, 2018 to provide discovery responses. 

As fourteen days from December 11, 2018 is December 25, 2018, a holiday, Plaintiff's response is 

due on the next business day.

Case 4:18-cv-01404-PJH Document 61 Filed 12/19/18 Page 2 of 2