Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_05-cv-00469/USCOURTS-caed-1_05-cv-00469-11/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 440
Nature of Suit: Other Civil Rights
Cause of Action: 42:1983 Civil Rights Act

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

LAVETTE SANDERS, individually and ) 

)

as guardian ad litem for the estate of ) 

Michael Sanders, )

 )

Plaintiff, )

)

v. )

)

THE CITY OF FRESNO a municipality, )

et. al., )

)

Defendants. )

)

____________________________________)

CIV F 05-0469 AWI SMS

ORDER VACATING 

HEARING OF DECEMBER 10,

2007, REQUIRING

ADDITIONAL BRIEFING,

AND RESETTING HEARING

TO JANUARY 7, 2008, ON

DEFENDANTS’S MOTION

FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT

(Doc. No. 108)

Currently pending before the Court is the City of Fresno Defendants’s motion for

summary judgment based on qualified immunity. Hearing on the motion is set for December 10,

2007. Trial in this matter is set for July 15, 2008. The parties are familiar with the factual

background. After reviewing the briefing of the parties and the evidence submitted, the Court

believes that additional briefing is necessary. Specifically, deposition testimony from Defendant

Herring suggests that he may have fired the first Taser darts at the Decedent at least in part

because Herring perceived that the Decedent was trying to grab or reach for Lavette Sanders. 

See, e.g., Herring Deposition (as found in McCoy Declaration Exhibit H) at pp. 205-206, 212-13. 

This aspect of Herring’s testimony is alluded to, but not significantly discussed by the parties. 

Because this case involves excessive force, the reason and circumstances behind the use of force,

Case 1:05-cv-00469-AWI -SMS Document 118 Filed 12/06/07 Page 1 of 2
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including the initial use of force by Herring, are at issue. Accordingly, the parties will submit

additional briefing, supported by evidence, regarding the circumstances behind Herring’s initial

“tazing” and/or use of force and in particular whether Decedent was reaching for or grabbing at

Lavette Sanders after Decedent and Lavette fell. In light of the additional briefing, the Court will

move the hearing date of the pending motion.

Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that:

1. The parties will submit additional briefing, including additional evidence if necessary,

regarding their respective positions concerning the circumstances surrounding Defendant

Herring’s initial “tazing” and/or use of force, and in particular, whether the Decedent was

reaching for or grabbing at Lavette Sanders following their fall;

2. The parties will submit their additional briefing on or by 12:00 p.m. (noon) on December

17, 2007; and

3. Hearing on the pending motion will now be January 7, 2008, at 1:30 p.m. in Courtroom

No. 2.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: December 6, 2007 /s/ Anthony W. Ishii 

0m8i78 UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

Case 1:05-cv-00469-AWI -SMS Document 118 Filed 12/06/07 Page 2 of 2