Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_03-cv-06636/USCOURTS-caed-1_03-cv-06636-18/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 550
Nature of Suit: Prisoner - Civil Rights (U.S. defendant)
Cause of Action: 42:1983 Prisoner Civil Rights

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

CHARLES CHATMAN,

Plaintiff,

v.

SERGEANT C. TYNER, et al.,

Defendants.

 /

CASE NO. 1:03-cv-06636-AWI-SMS PC

ORDER GRANTING PLAINTIFF’S MOTION

FOR PRESERVATION OF LOG BOOK,

SHOULD THE LOG BOOK BE LOCATED,

AND DENYING PLAINTIFF’S MOTION

SEEKING A REPORT EVERY SIXTY DAYS

AS TO EFFORTS TO LOCATE LOG BOOK

(Doc. 94)

I. Order on Motion for Preservation of Log Book and for Status Reports

Plaintiff Charles Chatman (“plaintiff”) is a state prisoner proceeding pro se and in forma

pauperis in this civil rights action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. On June 12, 2006, plaintiff filed

a motion to compel a response to his request for the production of a log book detailing his housing

arrangements and length of time spent in each from his arrival in administrative segregation to the

day of his transfer to High Desert State Prison. (Doc. 63.) Defendants contended they do not have

 possession, custody, or control of a log book for administrative segregation. Pursuant to the court’s

order of October 19, 2006, defendants were directed to contact the litigation coordinator and obtain

a declaration, signed under penalty of perjury, setting forth the reasonable efforts made to obtain the

log book, including what the search entailed and who conducted the search. (Doc. 75.) In the order,

the court stated, “If a search of the areas where such a log book would be kept in the ordinary course

of business is unsuccessful, absent evidence to the contrary, the court and plaintiff must accept that

no log book was found.” (Id., 4:24-26.) On October 26, 2006, defendants filed the declaration of

Case 1:03-cv-06636-OWW -SMS Document 96 Filed 10/25/07 Page 1 of 2
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S. Albritton, who attested that a search was conducted and the log book for 2002 was not located.

(Doc. 76.) 

Almost one year later, on September 13, 2007, plaintiff filed a motion seeking an order

directing defendants to preserve the log book from destruction while this action is pending, and

seeking an order requiring the Facility Litigation Coordinator and Staff Services Analysts to provide

a report every sixty days detailing their efforts to locate the log book. (Doc. 94.) Defendants did not

file a response.

Discovery is closed with the exception ofthe issue relating to plaintiff’s communication with

his inmate witnesses, and plaintiff may not raise new issues or seek to obtain new forms of relief

concerning discovery at this juncture. The 2002 log book was the subject of a timely discovery

request and if it is located, defendants are under an obligation to update their response to plaintiff’s

request for the production of the log book. Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(e)(2). To that extent, plaintiff’s

motion for the preservation of the log book is granted. However, defendants are not obligated to

conduct periodic searches for the log book and provide updates. Plaintiff’s motion is therefore

denied as to his request for a status report every sixty days.

Accordingly, plaintiff ’s motion forthe preservation of the log book is GRANTED as limited

herein, and plaintiff’s motion for a status report every sixty days as to efforts to locate the log book

is DENIED.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: October 24, 2007 /s/ Sandra M. Snyder 

icido3 UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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