Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-5_08-cv-04771/USCOURTS-cand-5_08-cv-04771-12/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 555
Nature of Suit: Prisoner - Prison Condition
Cause of Action: 42:1983 Prisoner Civil Rights

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Order Addressing Pending Motions

P:\PRO-SE\SJ.Rmw\CR.08\Roberts771misc2.wpd

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

TROY ANTHONY ROBERTS,

Plaintiff,

 vs.

LT. PAULSON, et al.,

Defendants. 

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No. C 08-4771 RMW (PR)

ORDER ADDRESSING PENDING

MOTIONS

(Docket Nos. 42, 50, 54)

Plaintiff, a California prisoner proceeding pro se, filed the instant civil rights action

pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Pending before this court are plaintiff’s motion to compel

discovery, motion for case management order, and motion for the issuance of subpoenas. 

A. Motion to compel discovery

On December 16, 2009, plaintiff served discovery requests on defendants. When, by

January 22, 2010, defendants had not responded to plaintiff’s discovery requests, plaintiff filed

the instant motion to compel. Plaintiff may file a motion to compel discovery, however, only 

after he satisfies the “meet and confer” requirements of the discovery rules. See Fed. R. Civ. P.

37(a)(2)(A) (providing motion to compel must include certification that movant has in good faith

conferred or attempted to confer with non-disclosing party in effort to secure disclosure without 

court action); N.D. Cal. Civ. R. 37-1 (same). Because plaintiff is detained, however, he is not

required to meet and confer with defendants in person. Rather, if his discovery requests are

*E-FILED - 6/29/10*

Case 5:08-cv-04771-RMW Document 79 Filed 06/29/10 Page 1 of 3
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Order Addressing Pending Motions

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denied and he intends to seek a motion to compel he must send a letter to defendants to that

effect, offering them one last opportunity to provide him with the sought-after information. 

Unless and until plaintiff files the requisite certification demonstrating that he has conferred with 

defendants making known his intention to file a motion to compel, the court will not interfere

with discovery matters. However, defendants are encouraged to respond to plaintiff's discovery

requests, if appropriate, in a thorough and timely manner. At this time, the motion to compel

will be DENIED without prejudice as premature. In light of plaintiff’s incarcerated statuts,

plaintiff’s motion for a case management order is also DENIED.

B. Motion for subpoenas

On February 18, 2010, plaintiff filed a motion for issuance of subpoenas. Plaintiff asks

that the court send him a signed subpoena under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 45. Plaintiff is

reminded that the court cannot compel nonparties to provide plaintiff with information but can

order them to produce documents if properly requested. Plaintiff may compel a person who is

not a party to this action to produce documents for inspection and copying pursuant to a

subpoena duces tecum. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 34(c), 45(a). In order to do so, plaintiff must fill out

subpoena forms and ensure that each person is served with the subpoena by a non-party. 

Plaintiff must tender to each person “the fees for one day’s attendance and the mileage allowed

by law.” Fed R. Civ. P. 45(b)(1). The current requisite fee for each person is forty dollars per

day, see 28 U.S.C. § 1821(b), and cannot be waived for a plaintiff proceeding in forma pauperis. 

See Dixon v. Ylst, 990 F.2d 478, 480 (9th Cir. 1993). These requirements do not apply to a

request for production of documents from one party on any other party. See Fed. R. Civ. P.

34(a). 

As the court mentioned in its December 9, 2009 order, the court will consider ordering

the United States Marshal to serve a subpoena duces tecum on a non-party if plaintiff submits to

the court a completed subpoena form and the requisite fee. The form must describe the items to

be produced with reasonable particularity and designate a reasonable time, place and manner for

their production. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 34(b). The clerk is instructed to send plaintiff a blank

subpoena form along with this order. 

Case 5:08-cv-04771-RMW Document 79 Filed 06/29/10 Page 2 of 3
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Order Addressing Pending Motions

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CONCLUSION

Plaintiff’s motion for the court to compel discovery is DENIED. Plaintiff’s motion for a

case management order is DENIED. Plaintiff’s motion for subpoenas is GRANTED; the clerk

shall send plaintiff a blank subpoena form.

This order terminates docket numbers 42, 50, and 54.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

DATED: RONALD M. WHYTE

 United States District Judge

6/29/10

Case 5:08-cv-04771-RMW Document 79 Filed 06/29/10 Page 3 of 3