Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_04-cv-00702/USCOURTS-caed-2_04-cv-00702-4/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 

Darrel L. Smith,

Plaintiff, No. Civ. S 04-0702 MCE PAN P

vs. Order

King, et al.,

Defendants.

-oOoPlaintiff is a prisoner, without counsel, who claims his

civil rights were violated by defendant King’s deliberate

indifference to plaintiff’s safety by releasing confidential

information about plaintiff’s enemies. Plaintiff requests the

court enter defendant King’s default and award punitive damages

upon the ground that defendant King has failed to comply with an

order to answer any discovery request within 14 days.

A party may move for an order compelling discovery with 

respect to objections or other failure to respond to 

Case 2:04-cv-00702-MCE -EFB Document 66 Filed 08/17/05 Page 1 of 2
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interrogatories or requests to produce documents. Fed. R. Civ.

P. 37(a)(2)(B), 33(b)(5), 34(b). When a party disobeys an order

to provide or to permit discovery, the court may make such orders

as are just, including “rendering a judgment by default against

the disobedient party.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 37(b). The court may

render judgement of default against a party who fails to serve

“answers or objections to interrogatories under Rule 33" or “a

written request for inspection submitted under Rule 34,” provided

the interrogatories or request properly was served. Fed. R. Civ.

P. 37(d)(2), (3). 

The court has made no order compelling discovery. Insofar

as plaintiff believes paragraph three of the December 10, 2004,

order governing discovery creates a right to responses within 14

days, it does not. The order requires defendant to give 14 days’

notice to plaintiff or any other prisoner before examining him at

deposition. Plaintiff does not allege he properly served

interrogatories or a request for inspection and in any event,

absent an order or a written agreement between the parties, a

party has 30 days to respond to requests made pursuant to Rules

33 and 34. Fed. R. Civ. P. 33(b)(2), 34(b).

Accordingly, plaintiff’s January 18, 2005, motion is denied. 

So ordered.

Dated: August 17, 2005. 

 /s/ Peter A. Nowinski 

 PETER A. NOWINSKI

 Magistrate Judge

/smith0702.dny mtn.wpd

Case 2:04-cv-00702-MCE -EFB Document 66 Filed 08/17/05 Page 2 of 2