Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-3_03-cv-02506/USCOURTS-cand-3_03-cv-02506-2/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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States District C

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For the Northern District of California

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

DONALD N. GALBRAITH, Executor of the

ESTATE OF NELSON GALBRAITH,

Plaintiff,

 v.

COUNTY OF SANTA CLARA; ANGELO

OZOA, M.D., individually and as an agent of

Santa Clara County,

Defendants.

 /

No. C 03-2506 JSW

ORDER RE DISCOVERY

DISPUTE

The Court has received the parties’ joint letter brief outlining their discovery dispute

regarding the scope of Massoud Vameghi, M.D.’s deposition. Having reviewed the parties’

positions, the Court has determined that a hearing on this dispute is unnecessary.

“Parties may obtain discovery regarding any matter, not privileged, that is relevant to the

claim or defense of any party.” Fed. R. Civ.P. 26(b)(1). “Relevant information for purposes of

discovery is information reasonably calculated to lead to the discovery of admissible evidence.”

Surfvivor Media, Inc. v. Survivor Productions, 406 F.3d 625, 635 (9th Cir. 2005) (internal

quotes and citation omitted). The parties dispute whether evidence regarding an autopsy

performed two and a half years after the autopsy at issue in the above-captioned case is relevant

to Plaintiff’s civil rights claim against the County in demonstrating an official County policy or

custom. The Ninth Circuit has held that “‘post-event evidence’ may be used to prove the

existence of a municipal policy in effect” at the time of the event. Henry v. County of Shasta,

132 F.3d 512, 518 (9th Cir. 1997). Thus, the Court concludes that deposing Dr. Vameghi 

Case 3:03-cv-02506-JSW Document 203 Filed 09/14/05 Page 1 of 2
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regarding a post-event autopsy is “reasonably calculated to lead to the discovery of admissible

evidence.” See Surfvivor Media, 406 F.3d at 635. Accordingly, the Court HEREBY ORDERS

that Dr. Vameghi shall answer such questions at his deposition.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: September 13, 2005 

JEFFREY S. WHITE

(by Phyllis J. Hamilton)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

Case 3:03-cv-02506-JSW Document 203 Filed 09/14/05 Page 2 of 2