Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-3_02-cv-02656/USCOURTS-cand-3_02-cv-02656-1/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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Case No. C 02-02656 JF

ORDER OF RECUSAL

NOT FOR CITATION

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

SAN JOSE DIVISION

DAVID M. TUTTELMAN,

 Plaintiff,

 v.

CITY OF SAN JOSE, et al.,

 Defendants.

Case Number C 02-02656 JF

ORDER OF RECUSAL

[re: docket no. 317]

On March 15, 2006, Plaintiff, an attorney representing himself in the above-entitled civil

rights action, submitted a document entitled, “Plaintiff’s Notice of Renewed Request to the

Honorable Jeremy Fogel for Recusal.” The document was accompanied by a declaration from

Plaintiff’s former counsel, who stated that he previously requested on the record that the Court

recuse itself at a case management conference in September or October of 2002.

The Court has reviewed the electronic docket and has determined that there is no record,

in the form of either a transcript or a minute entry, of any previous recusal request. The Court

ordinarily does not conduct case management conferences on the record, and its custom and

practice would have been to require that any recusal request made at a case management

conference, as well as the disposition of such request, be noted in the minutes. Moreover, the

Court’s independent recollection of its colloquy with Plaintiff’s former counsel is that while the 

Case 3:02-cv-02656-WHA Document 319 Filed 03/23/06 Page 1 of 3
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Case No. C 02-02656 JF

ORDER OF RECUSAL

Court’s prior acquaintance with Plaintiff during Plaintiff’s employment with the Santa Clara

Superior Court between 1987 and 1991 was discussed at the initial case management conference,

no actual request for recusal was made in light of the Court’s statement that it harbored no bias

toward Plaintiff. There is no record that Plaintiff has ever made a written request for recusal, as

required by 28 U.S.C. §144, prior to March 15, 2006.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Court has concluded that recusal is appropriate at the

present time. While Plaintiff’s suggestion that the Court’s rulings to date somehow have been

influenced by its limited interactions with Plaintiff almost fifteen years ago is wholly unfounded,

the Court must acknowledge that it has grown increasingly frustrated with Plaintiff’s conduct in

the instant litigation. The Court is concerned that its reasonable efforts to rein in Plaintiff’s

repetitive and burdensome motion practice will continue to be perceived (incorrectly) by Plaintiff

as emanating from a personal bias toward him, and that the effects of this perception on

Plaintiff’s part will result in significant inefficiency and unnecessary delay should the instant

matter proceed to trial. In light of the totality of the circumstances, including the fact that a

substantial portion of the motion practice has been concluded and the burden on a newlyassigned judge will be less than it otherwise would be, the Court will grant Plaintiff’s request. 

All hearing dates are hereby vacated. The above-entitled action is hereby referred to the

Assignment Committee for re-assignment. 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

DATED: March 23, 2006

________________________

JEREMY FOGEL

United States District Judge

Case 3:02-cv-02656-WHA Document 319 Filed 03/23/06 Page 2 of 3
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Case No. C 02-02656 JF

ORDER OF RECUSAL

This Order has been served upon the following persons:

Nora Valerie Frimann cao.main@sanjoseca.gov, Brande.Gex@sanjoseca.gov

Brian C. Hopper cao.main@sanjoseca.gov

Richard Doyle

Office of the City Attorney

City of San Jose

200 East Santa Clara Street

San Jose, CA 95113-1905

David M. Tuttelman

Post Office Box 6828

San Jose, CA 95150-6828

Case 3:02-cv-02656-WHA Document 319 Filed 03/23/06 Page 3 of 3