Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-3_15-cv-02769/USCOURTS-cand-3_15-cv-02769-8/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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APPLICATION FOR ORDER RE DEPOSITION OF ABDUL LATIF; [PROPOSED] ORDER

Fitch v San Francisco Unified School District, U.S. District Court Case No.: 3:15-cv-02769-SI

Richard M. Rogers, #045843

Law Office of Richard M. Rogers

100 Bush Street, #1980

San Francisco, CA 94104

Telephone: 415/981-9788

Facsimile: 415/981-9798

Email: RogersRMR@yahoo.com

Attorneys for Plaintiff

Sylvia Fitch

Eugene B. Elliot, State Bar No. 111475

BERTRAND, FOX, ELLIOT, OSMAN & WENZEL

The Waterfront Building

2749 Hyde Street

San Francisco, California 94109

Telephone: (415) 353-0999

Facsimile: (415) 353-0990

Email: eelliot@bfesf.com

Attorneys for Defendant

SAN FRANCISCO UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

SYLVIA FITCH,

Plaintiff,

v.

SAN FRANCISCO UNIFIED SCHOOL 

DISTRICT, 

Defendants.

Case No. 3:15-cv-02769-SI

Case filed: 06/19/15

Case reassigned: 08/14/15, 09/11/15

Trial date: 03/13/17

APPLICATION FOR ORDER REGARDING

DEPOSITION OF ABDUL LATIF IN OCTOBER; 

[PROPOSED] ORDER

Hon. Susan Illston

The parties hereby apply to the Court for an order directing non-party Abdul Latif to appear for 

deposition on October 17, 25, 26 or 28, 2016. In orders filed on June 9, 2016 and June 29, 2016, the 

Court held Mr. Latif in contempt for his failure to obey two subpoenas to appear for deposition. Copies 

of the orders are attached as Exhibit A. 

Case 3:15-cv-02769-SI Document 70 Filed 07/29/16 Page 1 of 8
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APPLICATION FOR ORDER RE DEPOSITION OF ABDUL LATIF; [PROPOSED] ORDER

Fitch v San Francisco Unified School District, U.S. District Court Case No.: 3:15-cv-02769-SI

The June 29, 2016 order directed Mr. Latif to appear for deposition on June 29, 2016 and that if 

he failed to do so he would be subjected to further sanctions. Mr. Latif did not appear as directed.

On June 29, 2016, the Court held a status conference in this case and found it appropriate to order 

the U.S. Marshal to serve Mr. Latif with copies of the June 9, 2016 and June 29, 2016 orders. 

The June 29, 2016 order also directed Mr. Latif to appear for deposition on July 28, 2016 at 1:30 

p.m. The U.S. Marshal has been unable to effect service because it appears that Mr. Latif is evading 

service. 

Mr. Latif will return to work in August. Plaintiff’s counsel has requested that Mr. Latif’s 

deposition be set for a date in October. As Mr. Latif will be at work, the District can assist with service.

Because the District and plaintiff have been unable to successfully secure Mr. Latif’s appearance, it is

appropriate to order the United States Marshal Service to serve Mr. Latif with a copy of this order, as 

well as the June 9, 2016 and June 29, 2016 orders. One U.S. Marshal shall be sufficient to effectuate 

service. Plaintiff shall pay the U.S. Marshal Service the fees and costs for service, which is $65 per hour 

for the Marshal and $.54 per mile for mileage. 

Both plaintiff’s counsel and the District’s counsel are available on October 17, 25, 26 or 28. A 

status conference shall be set for the same date as the deposition to determine what sanctions may be 

warranted should Mr. Latif fail to appear. 

Dated: July 28, 2016 LAW OFFICE OF RICHARD M. ROGERS

 By: /s/ Richard Rogers

Richard M. Rogers

Attorney for Plaintiff

SYLVIA FITCH

Dated: July 28, 2016 BERTRAND, FOX, ELLIOT, OSMAN & WENZEL

 By: /s/ Eugene Elliot

Eugene B. Elliot

Attorney for Defendant

SAN FRANCISCO UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT

Case 3:15-cv-02769-SI Document 70 Filed 07/29/16 Page 2 of 8
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APPLICATION FOR ORDER RE DEPOSITION OF ABDUL LATIF; [PROPOSED] ORDER

Fitch v San Francisco Unified School District, U.S. District Court Case No.: 3:15-cv-02769-SI

ATTORNEY ATTESTATION

 I, EUGENE ELLIOT, am the ECF User whose ID and password are being used to file this 

APPLICATION FOR ORDER RE DEPOSITION OF ABDUL LATIF; [PROPOSED] ORDER. I have 

obtained concurrence in and authorization of the filing of this document from Richard M. Rogers, 

attorney for Plaintiff SYLVIA FITCH. I shall maintain records to support this concurrence for 

subsequent production for the Court if so ordered or for inspection upon request by a party.

Dated: July 28, 2016 BERTRAND, FOX, ELLIOT, OSMAN & WENZEL

 By: /s/ Eugene Elliot

Eugene B. Elliot

Attorney for Defendant

SAN FRANCISCO UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT

ORDER

Mr. Latif is hereby ORDERED to appear for his deposition on October , 2016 at : at 

Courtroom 1 on the 17th Floor, 450 Golden Gate Avenue, San Francisco. If Mr. Latif appears for 

his deposition, he will “purge” this finding of civil contempt. If Mr. Latif fails to appear for his 

deposition, the Court will hold a hearing on October , 2016 at : to determine what sanctions, 

including an order into custody and/or monetary sanctions, are warranted. The Court informs 

Mr. Latif that disobedience of a court order is a serious matter and that further contumacious 

conduct will have significant consequences. 

The Court finds it appropriate to order the United States Marshal Service to serve Mr. Latif with a 

copy of this order, as well as the June 9, 2016 and June 29, 2016 orders. The Court finds one U.S. 

Marshal shall be sufficient to effectuate service. Plaintiff shall pay the U.S. Marshal Service the fees and 

costs for service, which is $65 per hour for the Marshal and $.54 per mile for mileage. 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: By:

Susan Illston

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT JUDGE

Case 3:15-cv-02769-SI Document 70 Filed 07/29/16 Page 3 of 8
EXHIBIT A 

EXHIBIT A

 

Case 3:15-cv-02769-SI Document 70 Filed 07/29/16 Page 4 of 8
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United States District Court

Northern District of California

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

SYLVIA FITCH,

Plaintiff,

v.

SAN FRANCISCO UNIFIED SCHOOL 

DISTRICT,

Defendant.

Case No. 15-cv-02769-SI 

ORDER HOLDING ABDUL LATIF IN 

CIVIL CONTEMPT AND ORDERING 

MR. LATIF TO APPEAR FOR 

DEPOSITION ON JUNE 29, 2016 AT 10 

AM IN COURTROOM 1

On June 9, 2016, the Court held a hearing on plaintiff's motion for an order to show cause 

why non-party Abdul Latif should not be held in contempt for his failure to obey two subpoenas to 

appear for deposition. Mr. Latif is an employee of defendant San Francisco Unified School 

District. Counsel for plaintiff and defendant attended the hearing. Counsel for defendant stated 

that defendant had personally served Mr. Latif with the Court's orders setting the June 9, 2016 

hearing. Mr. Latif did not appear at the hearing, nor has Mr. Latif contacted the Court to provide 

any explanation for his failure to appear for deposition.

According to plaintiff's motion and supporting declaration, Mr. Latif failed to appear for 

deposition on April 18, 2016, despite having been personally served with a subpoena on March 9, 

2016, and after having avoided nine attempts for service at his place of employment in February, 

2016. The parties agreed that defendant would serve a new subpoena setting Mr. Latif’s 

deposition for May 18, 2016. Defense counsel confirmed on May 16, 2016, that Mr. Latif had 

been served. Mr. Latif again failed to appear for deposition on May 18, 2016.

Subpoenas issued by attorneys are issued on behalf of the court and are treated as court 

orders. See United States Sec. & Exh. Comm'n v. Hyatt, 621 F.3d 687, 693 (7th Cir. 2010). 

Case 3:15-cv-02769-SI Document 59 Filed 06/09/16 Page 1 of 2 Case 3:15-cv-02769-SI Document 70 Filed 07/29/16 Page 5 of 8
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United States District Court

Northern District of California

Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 45(g) allows a court to "hold in contempt a person who, having 

been served, fails without adequate excuse to obey the subpoena or an order related to it." "A civil 

contempt order must be accompanied by a 'purge' condition allowing the contemnor an 

opportunity to comply with the order before payment of a fine or other sanction becomes due." 

Martínez v. City of Pittsburg, No. C11–01017 SBA(LB), 2012 WL 699462, at *3 (N.D. Cal. Mar. 

1, 2012). 

To establish civil contempt, plaintiff must show by clear and convincing evidence that Mr. 

Latif violated a specific order of the court (here, the two subpoenas). The Court finds that plaintiff 

has made that showing. Mr. Latif has not provided any explanation for his failure to appear for his 

deposition. In response to the Court's question, counsel for defendant stated he was unaware of 

any explanation for Mr. Latif's failure to appear for deposition. 

Accordingly, upon this record the Court finds that Mr. Latif is in contempt of court. Mr. 

Latif is hereby ORDERED to appear for his deposition on June 29, 2016 at 10:00 a.m. at 

Courtroom 1 on the 17th floor, 450 Golden Gate Ave., San Francisco. If Mr. Latif appears 

for his deposition, he will "purge" this finding of civil contempt. If Mr. Latif fails to appear 

for his deposition, the Court will hold a hearing on June 29, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. to determine 

what sanctions, including an order into custody and/or monetary sanctions, are warranted. 

The Court informs Mr. Latif that disobedience of a court order is a serious matter and that 

further contumacious conduct will have significant consequences.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: June 9, 2016

______________________________________

SUSAN ILLSTON

United States District Judge

Case 3:15-cv-02769-SI Document 59 Filed 06/09/16 Page 2 of 2 Case 3:15-cv-02769-SI Document 70 Filed 07/29/16 Page 6 of 8
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United States District Court

Northern District of California

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

SYLVIA FITCH,

Plaintiff,

v.

SAN FRANCISCO UNIFIED SCHOOL 

DISTRICT,

Defendant.

Case No. 15-cv-02769-SI 

ORDER DIRECTING U.S. MARSHAL 

SERVICE TO SERVE CONTEMNOR

ABDUL LATIF AND ORDERING MR. 

LATIF TO APPEAR FOR DEPOSITION 

ON JULY 28, 2016 AT 1:30 PM IN 

COURTROOM 1

In an order filed on June 9, 2016, the Court held non-party Abdul Latif in contempt for his 

failure to obey two subpoenas to appear for deposition. That order also ordered Mr. Latif to 

appear for his deposition on June 29, 2016, and informed Mr. Latif that if he failed to do so he 

would be subject to further sanctions. A copy of the June 9, 2016 order is attached to this order. 

On June 29, 2016, the Court held a status conference in this case. Counsel for plaintiff and 

defendant appeared at the conference. Plaintiff's counsel informed the Court that the process 

server had been unable to serve the June 9, 2016 order on Mr. Latif because the person at the 

address provided for Mr. Latif is avoiding service. As plaintiff has made numerous unsuccessful 

attempts to serve Mr. Latif with the June 9, 2016 order, the Court finds it appropriate to order the 

United States Marshal Service to serve Mr. Latif with a copy of this order as well as the June 9, 

2016 order. The Court finds that one U.S. Marshal shall be sufficient to effectuate service. 

Plaintiff shall pay the U.S. Marshal Service the fees and costs for service, which is $65 per hour

for the Marshal and $.54 per mile for mileage.

Mr. Latif is hereby ORDERED to appear for his deposition on July 28, 2016 at 1:30 

p.m. at Courtroom 1 on the 17th floor, 450 Golden Gate Ave., San Francisco. If Mr. Latif 

Case 3:15-cv-02769-SI Document 65 Filed 06/29/16 Page 1 of 2 Case 3:15-cv-02769-SI Document 70 Filed 07/29/16 Page 7 of 8
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United States District Court

Northern District of California

appears for his deposition, he will "purge" this finding of civil contempt. If Mr. Latif fails to 

appear for his deposition, the Court will hold a hearing on July 28, 2016 at 1:30 p.m. to 

determine what sanctions, including an order into custody and/or monetary sanctions, are 

warranted. The Court informs Mr. Latif that disobedience of a court order is a serious 

matter and that further contumacious conduct will have significant consequences.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: June 29, 2016

______________________________________

SUSAN ILLSTON

United States District Judge

Case 3:15-cv-02769-SI Document 65 Filed 06/29/16 Page 2 of 2 Case 3:15-cv-02769-SI Document 70 Filed 07/29/16 Page 8 of 8