Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-3_03-cv-02506/USCOURTS-cand-3_03-cv-02506-12/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 440
Nature of Suit: Other Civil Rights
Cause of Action: 42:1983 Civil Rights Act

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States District C

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For the Northern District of California

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

DONALD N. GALBRAITH, Executor of the

ESTATE OF NELSON GALBRAITH,

Plaintiff,

 v.

COUNTY OF SANTA CLARA; ANGELO

OZOA, M.D., individually and as an agent of

Santa Clara County,

Defendants.

 /

No. C 03-2506 JSW

ORDER RE THIRD DISCOVERY

DISPUTE

The Court has received the parties’ joint letter brief outlining their discovery dispute

regarding Plaintiff’s request for autopsy photographs. Having reviewed the parties’ positions,

the Court has determined that a hearing on this dispute is unnecessary.

 Defendant argues that the photographs are not relevant to Plaintiff’s claims. “Parties

may obtain discovery regarding any matter, not privileged, that is relevant to the claim or

defense of any party.” Fed. R. Civ.P. 26(b)(1). “Relevant information for purposes of discovery

is information reasonably calculated to lead to the discovery of admissible evidence.” Surfvivor

Media, Inc. v. Survivor Productions, 406 F.3d 625, 635 (9th Cir. 2005) (internal quotes and

citation omitted). The Court disagrees with Defendant and concludes that the photographs are

relevant. 

Defendant further argues that California Code of Civil Procedure § 129 (“Section 129”)

restricts the County from producing these photographs. Regardless of whether Section 129 is

applicable, the Court concludes that Plaintiff has demonstrated good cause as required under 

Case 3:03-cv-02506-JSW Document 235 Filed 01/26/06 Page 1 of 2
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this section. Accordingly, Section 129 does not bar the production of these photographs. 

Therefore, the Court HEREBY ORDERS Defendant to produce the requested photographs

within ten days from the date of this Order. 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: January 26, 2006 

JEFFREY S. WHITE

(by Phyllis J. Hamilton)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

Case 3:03-cv-02506-JSW Document 235 Filed 01/26/06 Page 2 of 2