Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_09-cv-00781/USCOURTS-caed-1_09-cv-00781-20/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 550
Nature of Suit: Prisoner - Civil Rights (U.S. defendant)
Cause of Action: 28:1331 Federal Question: Bivens Act

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

DONTE ROLANDO HARRIS,

Plaintiff,

v.

H.A. RIOS, et al., 

Defendants.

Case No. 1:09-cv-00781-MJS (PC)

ORDER EXTENDING PLAINTIFF’S TIME 

TO OPPOSE DEFENDANTS’ SUMMARY 

JUDGMENT MOTION 

(ECF No. 94)

TWENTY-ONE (21) DAY DEADLINE

NOTICE AND WARNING OF

REQUIREMENTS FOR OPPOSING

DEFENDANTS’ MOTION FOR SUMMARY 

JUDGMENT

Plaintiff Donte Rolando Harris is a federal prisoner proceeding pro se in this civil 

rights action filed pursuant to Bivens v. Six Unknown Named Agents of Federal Bureau of 

Narcotics, 403 U.S. 388 (1971). The matter proceeds on First and Fifth Amendment claims 

against Defendants Gonzaga, Cobb, Zaragoza, Valero, and Estrada.

On September 9, 2013, Defendants filed a motion for summary judgment. (ECF No. 

94.) Plaintiff filed opposition. (ECF Nos. 104 & 105.) Defendants replied. (ECF No. 106.)

Plaintiff’s opposition is facially inadequate. Plaintiff is hereby advised of the 

requirements for opposing a motion for summary judgment and of the consequences of 

failing to meet those requirements. Plaintiff shall be given twenty-one (21) days from the 

date of service of this order to supplement his response and ensure its compliance with the 

Case 1:09-cv-00781-MJS Document 109 Filed 01/15/14 Page 1 of 4
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requirements below. (Defendants shall then have seven days thereafter to serve and file a 

supplemental reply.)

Pursuant to Woods v. Carey, 684 F.3d 934 (9th Cir. 2012), Rand v. Rowland,

154 F.3d 952 (9th Cir. 1998), and Klingele v. Eikenberry, 849 F.2d 409 (9th Cir. 1988), the 

Court hereby notifies Plaintiff of the following rights and requirements for opposing the 

motion:

1. Unless otherwise ordered, all motions for summary judgment are briefed

pursuant to Local Rule 230(l).

2. Plaintiff is required to file an opposition or a statement of non-opposition

to Defendant’s motion for summary judgment. Local Rule 230(l). If Plaintiff fails to file

an opposition or a statement of non-opposition to the motion, this action may be

dismissed, with prejudice, for failure to prosecute. The supplemental opposition allowed 

hereunder must be filed not more twenty one (21) days from the date of service of this 

order. Id.

3. A motion for summary judgment is a request for judgment on some or all of 

Plaintiff’s claims in favor of Defendants without trial. Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(a). Defendants’

motion sets forth the facts which they contend are not reasonably subject to dispute and

that entitle them to judgment as a matter of law. Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(c). This is called the

statement of undisputed facts. Local Rule 260(a).

Plaintiff has the right to oppose the motion for summary judgment. To oppose the

motion, Plaintiff must show proof of his claims. Plaintiff may agree with the facts set

forth in Defendants’ motion but argue that Defendants are not entitled to judgment as a

matter of law. In the alternative, if Plaintiff does not agree with the facts set forth in

Defendants’ motion, he may show that Defendants’ facts are disputed in one or more of

the following ways: (1) Plaintiff may rely upon statements made under the penalty of

perjury in the complaint or the opposition if (a) the complaint or opposition shows that

Plaintiff has personal knowledge of the matters stated and (b) Plaintiff calls to the

Court’s attention those parts of the complaint or opposition upon which Plaintiff relies;

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(2) Plaintiff may serve and file declarations setting forth the facts which Plaintiff believes

prove his claims;1(3) Plaintiff may rely upon written records but Plaintiff must prove that the 

records are what he claims they are;2or (4) Plaintiff may rely upon all or any part of the 

transcript of one or more depositions, answers to interrogatories, or admissions obtained in 

this proceeding. Should Plaintiff fail to contradict Defendants’ motion with declarations or 

other evidence, Defendants’ evidence will be taken as truth, and final judgment may be 

entered without a full trial. Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(e).

In opposing Defendants’ motion for summary judgment, Local Rule 260(b) requires 

Plaintiff to reproduce Defendants’ itemized facts in the statements of undisputed facts and 

admit those facts which are undisputed and deny those which are disputed. If Plaintiff 

disputes (denies) a fact, Plaintiff must cite to the evidence used to support that denial (e.g., 

pleading, declaration, deposition, interrogatory answer, admission, or other document). 

Local Rule 260(b).

4. If discovery has not yet been opened or if discovery is still open and

Plaintiff is not yet able to present facts to justify the opposition to the motion, the Court will 

consider a request to postpone consideration of Defendants’ motion. Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(d). 

Any request to postpone consideration of Defendants’ motion for summary judgment must 

include the following: (1) a declaration setting forth the specific facts Plaintiff hopes to elicit 

from further discovery, (2) a showing that the facts exist, and (3) a showing that the facts 

are essential to opposing the motion for summary judgment. Blough v. Holland Realty, Inc., 

574 F.3d 1084, 1091 n.5 (9th Cir. 2009); Tatum v. City and County of San Francisco, 441 

F.3d 1090, 1100-01 (9th Cir. 2006); State of California v. Campbell, 138 F.3d 772, 779 (9th 

Cir. 1998). The request to postpone the motion for summary judgment must identify what 

information is sought and how it would preclude summary judgment. Blough, 574 F.3d at 

 

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 A declaration is a written statement setting forth facts (1) which are admissible in evidence, (2)

which are based on the personal knowledge of the person giving the statement, and (3) to which the

person giving the statement is competent to testify. 28 U.S.C. § 1746; Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(c)(4).A

declaration must be dated and signed under penalty of perjury as follows: “I declare (or certify, verify or

state) under penalty of perjury that the foregoing is true and correct. Executed on (date). (Signature).” 28

U.S.C. § 1746.

2 Sworn or certified copies of all papers referred to in the declaration must be included and served

on the opposing party. Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(e).

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1091 n.5; Tatum, 441 F.3d at 1100-01; Margolis v. Ryan, 140 F.3d 850, 853 (9th Cir. 1998); 

Local Rule 260(b).

5. Unsigned declarations will be stricken, and declarations not signed under

penalty of perjury have no evidentiary value.

6. The failure of any party to comply with this order, the Federal Rules of Civil 

Procedure, or the Local Rules of the Eastern District of California may result in the

imposition of sanctions including but not limited to dismissal of the action or entry of

default.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: January 15, 2014 /s/Michael J. Seng 

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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