Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_04-cv-01304/USCOURTS-caed-2_04-cv-01304-15/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 550
Nature of Suit: Prisoner - Civil Rights (U.S. defendant)
Cause of Action: 42:1983 Prisoner Civil Rights

---

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

1

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

VAHAN JALADIAN, No. CIV S-04-1304-LKK-CMK-P

Plaintiff, 

vs. ORDER VACATING FINDINGS AND

RECOMMENDATIONS

CRIBBS,

Defendant.

 /

Plaintiff, a state prisoner proceeding pro se, brings this civil rights action pursuant

to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Trial in this matter is currently set for June 10, 2008. Pursuant to this

court’s March 12, 2008 order (Doc. 68), plaintiff intends to call two inmates as witnesses during

his trial, inmates McKellar and Loving. Defendant was ordered to provide to the court

information regarding these inmates’ current location. Defendant filed a notice with the court

indicating the location of inmate Loving, but notifying the court that inmate McKellar has been

paroled and does not currently have suitable housing and therefore his current location is

unknown. 

Plaintiff indicated in his pretrial statement that these witnesses are willing to

testify. Accordingly, pursuant to a separate order, inmate Loving’s personal appearance at trial

Case 2:04-cv-01304-LKK -CMK Document 71 Filed 03/27/08 Page 1 of 3
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

2

has been requested. However, defendant has indicated that witness McKellar is no longer

incarcerated and his current whereabouts is unknown. The court is unable to obtain the

attendance of witness McKellar if he is no longer incarcerated and his location is unknown. It is

plaintiff’s responsibility to secure an unincarcerated witness’ voluntary attendance at the trial. If

witness McKellar is no longer willing to testify voluntarily, plaintiff is responsible to prepare and

submit a subpoena to compel the witness’ attendance. (See Doc. 48). 

If plaintiff is able to locate witness McKellar, and if witness McKellar is present

at the trial, he will be allowed to testify. If witness McKellar is no longer willing to testify, and

plaintiff needs to subpoena the witness in order to obtain his attendance at trial, plaintiff is

required to discover his current location, prepare and submit to the United States Marshal a

subpoena for service by the Marshal, and tender an appropriate sum of money to the witness

through the United States Marshal. (See Doc. 48). The appropriate sum of money is the daily

witness fee of $40.00, plus the witness’ travel expenses. Witness fees and travel expenses are

required even though plaintiff was granted leave to proceed in forma pauperis, because no statute

authorizes the use of public funds for these expenses in civil cases. 

The court will also request the defendant to notify the court if the location of

witness McKellar becomes known.

Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that:

1. If plaintiff wishes to compel the attendance of witness McKellar at trial, he

is required to:

a. provide sufficient information to the court regarding witness

McKellar’s location;

b. prepare and submit to the United States Marshal a subpoena for

service by the Marshal no later than May 23, 2008; and

c. tender an appropriate sum of money to the witness through the

United States Marshal; 

/ / /

/ / /

Case 2:04-cv-01304-LKK -CMK Document 71 Filed 03/27/08 Page 2 of 3
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

3

2. The Clerk of the Court is directed to provide plaintiff with a copy of a

subpoena for use in a civil case; 

3. The defendant shall notify the court if he becomes aware of the current

location of witness McKellar; and

4. If witness McKellar is voluntarily present at the trial, he will be allowed to

testify.

DATED: March 26, 2008

______________________________________

CRAIG M. KELLISON

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 2:04-cv-01304-LKK -CMK Document 71 Filed 03/27/08 Page 3 of 3