Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_21-cv-01461/USCOURTS-caed-1_21-cv-01461-17/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

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

ADAM JAY STONE,

Plaintiff,

v.

C. PFEIFFER, et al.,

Defendants.

Case No. 1:21-cv-01461-ADA-SAB (PC)

ORDER REGARDING PLAINTIFF’S 

REQUEST FOR DISCOVERY 

INFORMATION

(ECF No. 66)

Plaintiff Adam Jay Stone is proceeding pro se in this civil rights action filed pursuant to 

42 U.S.C. § 1983.

Currently before the Court is Plaintiff’s request for discovery information, filed 

December 12, 2022. Plaintiff submits that he would like to depose several witnesses and he 

requests to be provided with the costs of a court reporter to record the depositions. 

Plaintiff is advised that permission is not required to depose witnesses in this matter. 

Therefore, Plaintiff’s present motion to depose Defendants is not necessary. However, Plaintiff 

must follow the applicable rule and bear the costs for any depositions he seeks to take in this 

matter, as described above. His in forma pauperis status does not entitle him to free services 

from the court, such as scheduling, conducting, or recording the deposition, or to utilize 

defendants’ resources for the deposition. See, e.g., Brooks v. Tate, No 1:11–cv–01503–AWI–

DLB PC, 2013 WL 4049053, *1 (E.D. Cal. Aug. 7, 2013) (indigent prisoner not entitled to take 

the depositions of defendant and non-party witnesses during his own deposition).

Case 1:21-cv-01461-SAB Document 67 Filed 12/15/22 Page 1 of 3
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To the extent Plaintiff wishes to take depositions by written questions pursuant to Federal 

Rule of Civil Procedure 31, such deposition basically would work as follows: The prisoner 

would send out a notice of deposition that identifies (a) the deponent (i.e., the witness), (b) the 

officer taking the deposition, (c) a list of the exact questions to be asked of the witness, and (d) 

the date and time for the deposition to occur. The defendant would have time to send to the 

prisoner written cross-examination questions for the witness, the prisoner would then have time 

to send to defendant written re-direct questions for the witness, and the defendant would have 

time to send to the prisoner written re-cross-examination questions for the witness[.] Harrell v. 

Jail, 2015 WL 8539037, *1–2 (E.D. Cal. Dec. 11, 2015) (quoting Brady v. Fishback, 2008 WL 

1925242, at *1–2 (E.D. Cal. Apr. 30, 2008)). Federal Rule of Civil Procedure

31(a)(2)(A)(i) requires a party to obtain leave of court to take more than ten depositions by 

written question. In addition, Plaintiff must identify the officer taking the depositions and the 

date and time for the depositions.

Plaintiff must also show that he can pay the costs associated with written depositions, 

including fees for a deposition officer and court reporter, the costs of transcribing the deposition, 

and witness fees and mileage under Rule 45(b)(1). The deposition officer may be Plaintiff's in 

forma pauperis status also does not entitle him to a waiver of any of the costs associated with this 

form of deposition; instead, he must pay the necessary deposition officer fee, court reporter fee, 

and costs for a transcript. Harrell v. Jail, 2015 WL 8539037, *1–2 (E.D. Cal. Dec. 11, 2015)

(quoting Brady v. Fishback, 2008 WL 1925242, at *1–2 (E.D. Cal. Apr. 30, 2008)). Plaintiff has 

failed to make the required showing to conduct depositions by written questions and his motion 

shall be denied. If Plaintiff wishes to conduct oral or written depositions he must review Rules

28, 30, 31, and 45 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and if, after reviewing the rules, he 

believes he is able to conduct depositions in compliance with the rules, Plaintiff shall notify the 

Court and make a showing that he is able and willing to retain an officer to take responses and 

prepare the record. The Court notes that Plaintiff appears to be attempting to gather evidence for 

purposes of trial. Plaintiff is advised that he need not take depositions in order to obtain 

statements from witnesses. If this case proceeds to trial, Plaintiff may seek to have witnesses 

Case 1:21-cv-01461-SAB Document 67 Filed 12/15/22 Page 2 of 3
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attend. In support of his motion to have witnesses attend trial, Plaintiff may provide the court 

with either a sworn affidavit from the witnesses or his own sworn affidavit showing that the 

witnesses have actual knowledge of relevant facts. However, those motions would be appropriate 

at a later time. Because trial has not been scheduled in this matter, any motions for the 

attendance of witnesses at trial would be premature. 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: December 14, 2022 

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 1:21-cv-01461-SAB Document 67 Filed 12/15/22 Page 3 of 3