Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_18-cv-02177/USCOURTS-caed-2_18-cv-02177-5/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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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

STEPHEN STOWERS,

Plaintiff,

v.

HARBAKO,

Defendant.

No. 2:18-cv-2177 DB P

ORDER

Plaintiff is a state prisoner proceeding pro se. He alleges defendant was deliberately 

indifferent to his serious lip disease in violation of the Eighth Amendment. On September 5, 

2019, this court issued a discovery and scheduling order which set a deadline of December 27, 

2019 for all discovery and a deadline of March 20, 2020 for any pretrial motions. (ECF No. 28.) 

On December 2, 2019, defendant filed a motion for summary judgment on the grounds that 

plaintiff did not exhaust his administrative remedies prior to filing this lawsuit. (ECF No. 29.) 

Since then, this court granted plaintiff’s motions for continuances of the discovery and pretrial 

motions deadlines, for an extension of time to respond to defendant’s discovery requests, and for 

an extension of time to file an opposition to defendant’s motion for summary judgment. (ECF 

Nos. 31, 39.) In addition, this court granted defendant several extensions of time to respond to 

plaintiff’s discovery requests. (ECF Nos. 33, 35, 37.) Defendant has provided plaintiff with 

responses to plaintiff’s discovery requests. (See ECF No. 40-2.) 

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Currently before the court are defendant’s motion to stay discovery (ECF No. 40) and 

plaintiff’s motion for an extension of time to respond to defendant’s discovery requests (ECF No. 

41). In his motion to stay, defendant points to discovery disputes between the parties that will 

likely require resolution by the court. Those discovery disputes do not appear to involve the 

subject of defendant’s motion for summary judgment.1 Defendant argues that a stay of discovery 

will conserve both judicial resources and potentially unnecessary effort by both parties. Plaintiff 

has not filed an opposition to the motion. 

This court agrees there is good cause for a stay of discovery. If defendant’s motion for 

summary judgment is granted, further discovery will be unnecessary. If defendant’s motion for 

summary judgment is denied, this court will set new deadlines for the parties to complete 

discovery and file any further pretrial motions. 

Based on this court’s decision to stay discovery, plaintiff’s motion for an extension of 

time to respond to defendant’s discovery requests is moot. If defendant’s motion for summary 

judgment is denied, discovery may resume and this court will set a new deadline for plaintiff to 

respond to defendant’s discovery requests. In the meantime, plaintiff is reminded that his 

opposition to defendant’s motion for summary judgment is due on May 15, 2020. (See Jan. 8, 

2020 Order (ECF No. 31).) 

For the foregoing reasons, and good cause appearing, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED as 

follows:

1. Defendant’s motion to stay discovery (ECF No. 40) is granted. 

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1 However, if plaintiff has outstanding discovery issues that relate to the subject of defendant’s 

motion for summary judgment, the exhaustion of his administrative remedies, he should so notify 

the court. 

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2. Plaintiff’s motion for an extension of time to respond to defendant’s discovery requests 

(ECF No. 41) is denied as moot.

Dated: May 2, 2020

DLB:9

DB/prisoner-civil rights/stow2177.stay disco

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