Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-3_13-cv-02405/USCOURTS-cand-3_13-cv-02405-45/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 320
Nature of Suit: Assault, Libel, and Slander
Cause of Action: 28:1391 Personal Injury

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United States District Court

Northern District of California

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

JAMES ELLIS JOHNSON,

Plaintiff,

v.

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, et al,

Defendants.

Case No.13-cv-02405-JD 

ORDER RE BILL OF COSTS

Re: Dkt. Nos. 337, 339

Pro se plaintiff James Johnson takes issue with the Clerk’s entry of taxed costs in the 

amount of $2,753.91 against the United States. Dkt. Nos. 337, 339. The Court treats his filings as 

a motion for review under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 54(d)(1). The taxed sum of $2,753.91 

is correct, and several claimed costs were properly denied: 

(1) The Fees of the Clerk were appropriately reduced from $450 to $400, which is 

the filing fee actually paid. Civ. L.R. 54-3(a). 

(2) Johnson did not provide documentation for Fees for Service and Summons of 

Subpoena. The $250 request for those fees was properly denied. Civ. L.R. 

54-1(a). 

(3) Johnson requested $10,450 for the “cost for typing all court doc’s.” Dkt. No. 

331 at 6-7. Those expenses are not allowed under 28 U.S.C. § 1920 or Civil 

Local Rule 54-3(d).

(4) Expert witness fees are not allowed under Civil Local Rule 54-3(e). The fees 

for witnesses were properly reduced to $950, which represents compensable 

transportation and subsistence costs. 28 U.S.C. § 1821; Civ. L.R. 54-3(e). 

The $249.94 requested for Johnson’s travel to the deposition of his medical 

expert was properly excluded under Civil Local Rule 54-3(c). 

(5) Johnson requested $936.19 in postal fees and $951.25 in various office 

supplies, among other costs of reproducing and exemplifying documents. The 

Case 3:13-cv-02405-JD Document 340 Filed 02/09/17 Page 1 of 2
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United States District Court

Northern District of California

Clerk properly excluded these costs, leaving $1,403.91 for costs of 

reproducing documents as outlined in Civil Local Rule 54-3(d). 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: February 9, 2017 

JAMES DONATO

United States District Judge

Case 3:13-cv-02405-JD Document 340 Filed 02/09/17 Page 2 of 2