Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_07-cv-01131/USCOURTS-caed-1_07-cv-01131-0/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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MCCORMICK, BARSTOW, 

SHEPPARD, WAYTE & 

CARRUTH LLP 

5 RIVER PARK PLACE EAST

FRESNO, CA 93720-1501 

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EX PARTE APPLICATION TO EXTEND TIME OR APPEAR OR OTHERWISE RESPOND TO COMPLAINT 

Michael G. Woods, # 058683-0 

McCormick, Barstow, Sheppard, 

Wayte & Carruth LLP 

P.O. Box 28912 

5 River Park Place East 

Fresno, CA 93720-1501 

Telephone: (559) 433-1300 

Facsimile: (559) 433-2300 

Attorneys for Defendants 

FORMER SHERIFF RICHARD PIERCE, LT. 

RICHARD KO, DEPUTY SHERIFF KEVIN WIENS, 

SGT. GEORGE BERTSCH, SGT. RICHARD 

GALLEGOS, and DEPUTY SHERIFF STEWART 

ASSELIN 

(SPACE BELOW FOR FILING STAMP ONLY) 

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

EASTERN DISTRICT 

MARTIN COLDWELL, individually and 

on behalf of Class of Persons similarly 

situated, and DOE 1, 

Plaintiffs, 

v. 

CITY OF FRESNO, FORMER SHERIFF 

RICHARD PIERCE, SGT. RICK KO, 

DEPUTY KEVIN WIENS, DET. 

BERTSCH, DET. GALLEGOS, DEPUTY 

ASSELIN and DOES 1 through 10, 

inclusive, 

Defendants. 

Case No. 1:07-CV-01131-LJO-SMS 

EX PARTE APPLICATION TO EXTEND 

TIME TO APPEAR OR OTHERWISE 

RESPOND TO COMPLAINT, AND ORDER 

THEREON

I, Michael G. Woods, declare, 

1. I am a member of the law firm of McCormick, Barstow, Sheppard, Wayte 

& Carruth LLP, attorneys for Defendants FORMER SHERIFF RICHARD PIERCE, LT. 

RICHARD KO, DEPUTY SHERIFF KEVIN WIENS, SGT. GEORGE BERTSCH, SGT. 

RICHARD GALLEGOS, and DEPUTY SHERIFF STEWART ASSELIN, and as such I am 

authorized to submit this Ex Parte Application to Extend Time to Appear or Otherwise Respond 

to Complaint. 

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Case 1:07-cv-01131-LJO -SMS Document 13 Filed 10/05/07 Page 1 of 3
MCCORMICK, BARSTOW, 

SHEPPARD, WAYTE & 

CARRUTH LLP 

5 RIVER PARK PLACE EAST

FRESNO, CA 93720-1501 

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EX PARTE APPLICATION TO EXTEND TIME OR APPEAR OR OTHERWISE RESPOND TO COMPLAINT 

2. By letter dated September 17, 2007 I was retained by the County of Fresno 

to represent the above-named Defendants in connection with the above-captioned cause. 

3. I have been provided with a copy of Plaintiff’s Class Action Complaint. 

4. I have not yet had an opportunity to meet with each of the defendants I 

have been asked to represent nor have I had the opportunity to review background information 

essential to preparation of an Answer or other response to Plaintiff’s complaint. It is my 

judgement that insufficient time remains to prepare an appropriate response to the complaint. 

5. My office has made two attempts to contact Plaintiff’s attorney to request 

an extension of fourteen days from the initial appearance date of October 4, 2007 to answer or 

otherwise respond to Plaintiff’s complaint. On October 2, 2007 at approximately 1:45 p.m. my 

secretary telephoned the office of Plaintiff’s counsel to make this request. Nobody answered the 

phone at Mr. Nickerson’s office and she left a message asking for a return phone call. No 

response was received. Not having heard back from Plaintiff’s attorney, on October 3, 2007, my 

secretary again called at approximately 9:05 a.m. and left another message asking for a return 

phone call as soon as possible. My office has not received a response from Mr. Nickerson’s 

office. 

6. Having been unable to reach Plaintiff’s counsel or obtain an extension of 

time to respond or otherwise plead to the complaint, I now am requesting an ex parte extension 

pursuant to Local Rule 6-144. 

7. I hereby request a two-week extension until October 18, 2007 to respond or 

otherwise plead to the complaint on behalf of defendants FORMER SHERIFF RICHARD 

PIERCE, LT. RICHARD KO, DEPUTY SHERIFF KEVIN WIENS, SGT. GEORGE BERTSCH, 

SGT. RICHARD GALLEGOS, and DEPUTY SHERIFF STEWART ASSELIN. 

This declaration was executed this 3 day of October, 2007, at Fresno, California. 

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Case 1:07-cv-01131-LJO -SMS Document 13 Filed 10/05/07 Page 2 of 3
MCCORMICK, BARSTOW, 

SHEPPARD, WAYTE & 

CARRUTH LLP 

5 RIVER PARK PLACE EAST

FRESNO, CA 93720-1501 

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EX PARTE APPLICATION TO EXTEND TIME OR APPEAR OR OTHERWISE RESPOND TO COMPLAINT 

I declare under penalty of perjury that the foregoing is true and correct and if 

called upon as a witness I could competently testify thereto of my own personal knowledge. 

By: /s/ MICHAEL G. WOODS 

 MICHAEL G. WOODS 

 Attorneys for Defendants 

FORMER SHERIFF RICHARD 

PIERCE, LT. RICHARD KO, 

DEPUTY SHERIFF KEVIN WIENS, 

SGT. GEORGE BERTSCH, SGT. 

RICHARD GALLEGOS, and 

DEPUTY SHERIFF STEWART 

ASSELIN 

ORDER 

Based upon the declaration of Michael G. Woods and good cause appearing 

therefor, 

 IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that Defendants FORMER SHERIFF RICHARD 

PIERCE, LT. RICHARD KO, DEPUTY SHERIFF KEVIN WIENS, SGT. GEORGE 

BERTSCH, SGT. RICHARD GALLEGOS, and DEPUTY SHERIFF STEWART ASSELIN 

shall be granted an extension through and including October 18, 2007 to respond or otherwise 

plead to the complaint. 

Dated: 10/3/2007

 /s/ Sandra M. Snyder 

 SANDRA M. SNYDER 

 U.S. MAGISTRATE JUDGE 

29253/00164-1145607.v1 

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