Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_08-cv-01031/USCOURTS-caed-1_08-cv-01031-9/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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08cv1031

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

FRESNO DIVISION

CHARLES AUSTIN PARKS,

CDCR #K-72151,

Plaintiff,

v. 

R. TAIT, et al.,

Defendants.

 

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Case No. 08-CV-1031-H (JMA)

ORDER DENYING AS MOOT

PLAINTIFF’S MOTION TO COMPEL

RESPONSES TO INTERROGATORIES

AND REQUEST FOR SANCTIONS

[Doc. 52] AND PLAINTIFF’S MOTION

TO COMPEL PRODUCTION OF A

NEW SET OF REDACTED

DOCUMENTS [Doc. 53]; ORDER

REQUIRING PRODUCTION OF

DISCOVERY RESPONSES BY APRIL

2, 2010; ORDER RESCHEDULING

MANDATORY SETTLEMENT

CONFERENCE

This matter comes before the Court on a motion to compel responses to

interrogatories and request for sanctions [Doc. 52] and a motion to compel production of

a new set of redacted documents [Doc. 53] filed by Plaintiff Charles Austin Parks. For

the reasons set forth below, Plaintiff’s motions are DENIED. 

I. Motion to compel responses to interrogatories and request for sanctions

On or about November 6, 8, 9, and 20, 2009, Plaintiff served interrogatories on

Defendants Tait, Huff, Davis, and Berry, respectively. Parks Aff., ¶ 3. Defendants did

not respond to the interrogatories. Id. at ¶ 6. Defendants’ counsel states that

Case 1:08-cv-01031-MLH -JMA Document 60 Filed 03/25/10 Page 1 of 4
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The Amended Scheduling Order issued on October 13, 2009 provides in relevant part: 

Counsel are required to promptly meet and confer during the 30-

day period following the event giving rise to the discovery dispute

prior to contacting the Court. The Court expects strict compliance

with the meet and confer requirement, as it is the experience of the

Court that the vast majority of discovery disputes can be resolved

by means of that process. Counsel shall make every effort to

resolve any discovery dispute without the necessity of court

intervention. 

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responses were not provided due to inadvertent error, but that Defendants will promptly

supply the responses, without objections. Steele Decl., ¶ 3; Defs.’ Opp’n at 2. Plaintiff

requests that the Court issue an order compelling Defendants to respond to the

interrogatories without objection and that the Court issue sanctions against Defendants.

As Defendants observe, Plaintiff failed to comply with the Court’s requirement

that parties meet and confer prior to bringing any discovery matter to the Court’s

attention.1 Additionally, given that Defendants are willing to respond to the

interrogatories without objection, Plaintiff’s motion is moot. Therefore, although

Plaintiff’s motion to compel responses to interrogatories and request for sanctions is

DENIED, Defendants shall serve their interrogatory responses without objection by no

later than April 2, 2010.

II. Motion to compel production of a new set of redacted documents

On December 7, 2009, this Court ordered Defendants to “produce all documents

concerning complaints or discipline against [the defendants] relating to similar acts of

misconduct between the period from November 8, 2006 to November 8, 2008" to

Plaintiff. Dec. 7, 2009 Order at 9. The Court stated further, “Defendants may redact

from the documents any portions which reflect their personal information.” Id. Plaintiff

contends that Defendants’ names were redacted from the documents, making it

impossible for him to use the documents to support his claims. Pl.’s Mot. at 2-3.

Defendants concede that Plaintiff’s contention is “partially meritorious” and that they will

produce another set of redacted documents that does not redact the defendants’

names. Defs.’ Opp’n at 2. 

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Statements under 20 pages in length, including attachments and exhibits, may be

delivered directly to chambers, e-mailed to efile_adler@casd.uscourts.gov, or faxed to (619)

702-9939. Statements exceeding 20 pages in length, including attachments and exhibits, must

be delivered directly to chambers.

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As with the above issue, Plaintiff failed to comply with the Court’s requirement

that parties meet and confer prior to bringing any discovery matter to the Court’s

attention. Additionally, given that Defendants are willing to produce a new set of

redacted documents, Plaintiff’s motion is moot. Therefore, although Plaintiff’s motion to

compel a new set of redacted documents is DENIED, Defendants shall serve a new set

of redacted documents by no later than April 2, 2010.

III. Mandatory Settlement Conference

The Mandatory Settlement Conference scheduled for May 7, 2010 is

rescheduled for May 20, 2010 at 10:00 a.m. before Magistrate Judge Adler. The

conference will be held telephonically. The parties shall submit settlement statements

directly to Magistrate Judge Adler's chambers no later than May 17, 2010.

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 The parties

may either submit confidential settlement statements or may exchange their settlement

statements. Each party's settlement statement shall set forth the party's statement of

the case, identify controlling legal issues, concisely set out issues of liability and

damages, and shall set forth the party's settlement position, including the last offer or

demand made by that party, and a separate statement of the offer or demand the party

is prepared to make at the settlement conference. The settlement conference briefs

shall not be filed with the Clerk of the Court. 

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Counsel for Defendants shall be responsible for making all arrangements in

advance for Plaintiff to appear telephonically, and shall contact Plaintiff on the day of the

conference and initiate a joint call to the undersigned's chambers at (619) 557-5585. 

Counsel for Defendants shall arrange to have a representative of the California

Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation on telephone standby at the time of the

conference. 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

DATED: March 23, 2010

Jan M. Adler

U.S. Magistrate Judge

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