Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-casd-3_06-cv-01236/USCOURTS-casd-3_06-cv-01236-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 362
Nature of Suit: Medical Malpractice
Cause of Action: 28:1402 Medical Malpractice

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

NELSON LEE TURNER, Civil No. 06-cv-1236-WQH (POR)

Plaintiff, ORDER DENYING WITHOUT

PREJUDICE PLAINTIFF’S MOTION

TO SUBPOENA STATEMENTS AND

MEDICAL RECORDS [Document 16]

v.

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA;

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS,

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

MEDICAL CENTER, SAN DIEGO,

Defendants.

The Court is in receipt of the pro se plaintiff’s Motion to Subpoena Statements and Medical

Records, filed with the Honorable William Q. Hayes on March 20, 2007. Plaintiff’s motion is

premature because the Defendants in this case have not yet filed an Answer to Plaintiff’s complaint,

and the Court has not yet held an Early Neutral Evaluation of this case. 

The Court directs Plaintiff to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 26(d), which states, “a party

may not seek discovery from any source before the parties have conferred as required by Rule

26(f).” The conference required by Rule 26(f), is a meeting between the parties to discuss arranging

for the disclosure of information that each party will seek from the other, as well as other issues. In

the Southern District of California that conference follows the Early Neutral Evaluation conference

prescribed by Local Rule 16.1(c), which is held by the magistrate judge presiding over each case.

When an Answer to Plaintiff’s Complaint is filed by the Defendants in this case, the

Honorable Louisa S. Porter, who is the presiding magistrate judge in this matter, will schedule an

Case 3:06-cv-01236-JLS-POR Document 17 Filed 04/04/07 Page 1 of 2
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Early Neutral Evaluation conference. At the Early Neutral Evaluation conference the parties will

discuss the claims and defenses of the case, and will attempt to resolve the case. If the case does not

settle at the Early Neutral Evaluation conference, the Court will discuss scheduling the Rule 26(f)

conference. After the Rule 26(f) conference occurs, Plaintiff will have the opportunity to request the

copies of medical records and statements of health workers that he seeks by his current Motion.

The Defendants in this case have not yet filed an Answer to Plaintiff’s complaint, an Early

Neutral Evaluation conference has not yet been held, and the Rule 26(f) conference between the

parties has not yet occurred. As Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 26(d) states “a party may not seek

discovery from any source before the parties have conferred as required by Rule 26(f),” Plaintiff’s

Motion to Subpoena Statements and Medical Records is DENIED without prejudice. Compliance

with subpoenas already sent by Plaintiff shall be stayed until further court order. To the extent that

compliance with those subpoenas does occur, the Court ORDERS that Plaintiff shall maintain any

documents produced in response to the subpoenas in a sealed envelope until further court order. 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

DATED: April 4, 2007

LOUISA S PORTER

United States Magistrate Judge

cc: The Honorable William Q. Hayes

all parties 

La Jolla V.A. Medical Center, Attention: Administration Department

3350 La Jolla Village Drive, San Diego, CA 92161

Department of Veteran Affairs, Mission Valley Regional Office

8810 Rio San Diego Drive, San Diego, CA 92108

Case 3:06-cv-01236-JLS-POR Document 17 Filed 04/04/07 Page 2 of 2