Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_16-cv-01214/USCOURTS-caed-1_16-cv-01214-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 448
Nature of Suit: Civil Rights - Education
Cause of Action: 20:1401 Education: Handicapped Child Act

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

On November 15, 2016, the Court held the scheduling conference. Rather than scheduling the 

case, the Court verified the parties wished to be referred to the Court’s Voluntary Dispute Resolution 

program. 

To facilitate the possible success of the case in the VDRP, the Court discussed with counsel the 

discovery needs before the VDRP mediation could occur. The defendant expressed that it had no need 

for discovery before the mediation. However, because this case, at its core, is one only for attorney’s 

fees expended in the administrative process, the plaintiffs seek information about the time records of 

counsel for the defendants. The plaintiffs expressed that they wished to be able to perform a 

comparison of the work expended by each side in order to counter the expected claims that their 

attorneys’ fees are unreasonable. Thus, the Court ORDERS:

1. No later than December 15, 2016, counsel for the defendant SHALL identify to counsel 

for the plaintiffs (via e-mail) the items on the plaintiffs’ attorney billing records that the defendant 

BUDDY WRIGHT, et al.,

 Plaintiffs,

v.

TEHACHAPI UNIFIED SCHOOL 

DISTRICT,

Defendants.

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Case No.: 1:15-cv-01328 JLT

ORDER RE: INFORMAL DISCOVERY

ORDER REFERRING THE MATTER TO VDRP

Case 1:16-cv-01214-JLT Document 9 Filed 11/15/16 Page 1 of 2
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contends are unreasonable;

2. As to any item of attorney billing records identified, no later than December 15, 2016,

the defendant SHALL produce (via email) the time records for its attorney to complete the 

corresponding work1, if there was any corresponding work;

3. The matter is REFERRED to the VDRP. The process of selecting the neutral SHALL

not begin until December 16, 2016, to allow the informal discovery, described above, to be completed.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: November 15, 2016 /s/ Jennifer L. Thurston 

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

 

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For example, if the defendant contends that the time spent by the plaintiffs’ lawyer on a particular motion was 

unreasonable and the defendant filed an opposition to the same motion, the defendant must produce the time records 

detailing its attorney’s work opposing the motion. If any records are withheld based upon privilege, the defendant 

SHALL provide a thorough privilege log.

Case 1:16-cv-01214-JLT Document 9 Filed 11/15/16 Page 2 of 2