Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_11-cv-00341/USCOURTS-caed-1_11-cv-00341-1/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 362
Nature of Suit: Medical Malpractice
Cause of Action: 28:1402 Medical Malpractice

---

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

27

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

KEITH MACHART,

Plaintiff,

v.

ARVIN COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER,

et al., 

Defendants.

 /

CASE NO. 1:11-cv-341-AWI-MJS

INFORMATIONAL ORDER

Parties to this litigation shall take note of the following requirements:

In litigating this action, the parties must comply with the Federal Rules of Civil

Procedure and the Local Rules of the United States District Court, Eastern District of

California (“Local Rules”). This Order highlights specific rules of which the parties should

take particular note. Failure to comply with the Local Rules, federal rules, or a court

order, including this order, will be grounds for dismissal, entry of default, or other

appropriate sanctions. See Local Rule 110; Fed. R. Civ. P. 41(b).

1. Documents intended to be filed with the Court must be mailed to the Clerk

of the Court. See Local Rule 134(a). All documents improperly mailed to a judge’s

Case 1:11-cv-00341-AWI-MJS Document 5 Filed 03/09/11 Page 1 of 6
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

27

chambers will be stricken from the record. A document requesting a Court order must 1

be styled as a motion. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 7.

2. Each document submitted for filing must include the original signature of the

filing party or parties. Local Rule 131; Fed. R. Civ. P. 11(a). All documents submitted

without the required signature(s) will be stricken. Each separate document must be

separately stapled. See Local Rule 130. If a document is stapled behind another

document, it will not be filed and will not be entered on this Court’s docket.

3. All documents filed with the Court must be submitted with an additional

legible conformed copy for the Court’s use. See Local Rule 133(d)(2). A document

submitted without an extra copy for the Court’s use will be stricken. If the filing party

wishes the Court to return a file-stamped copy, he or she must include yet another copy

for that purpose (i.e., submit an original and two copies, one for the Court’s use and one

to be returned). The Court cannot provide copy or mailing service for a party, even

for an indigent plaintiff proceeding in forma pauperis. Therefore, if the filing party wishes

a file-stamped copy returned, the party must provide an envelope with adequate postage

pre-paid. Copies of documents from the Court file may be obtained at the cost of 50 cents

per page.

4. Once any defendant has appeared in an action by filing an answer, a motion

to dismiss, or other pleading responsive to the complaint, all documents filed with the Court

must include a certificate of service stating that a copy of the document was served on the

opposing party. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 5; Local Rule 135(c). A document submitted

without the required proof of service will be stricken. Where a party is represented,

W hen a document is stricken, it becomes a nullity and is not considered by the Court for any

1

purposes.

Case 1:11-cv-00341-AWI-MJS Document 5 Filed 03/09/11 Page 2 of 6
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

27

service on the party’s attorney of record constitutes effective service. (A sample of a

proper proof of service is attached here.)

5. All filings must bear the file number assigned to the action, followed by the

initials of the District Court Judge and the Magistrate Judge to whom the case is assigned.

Where a plaintiff simultaneously pursues more than one action, he or she must file

separate original documents and the appropriate number of copies in each action to which

the document pertains. Documents listing more than one case number in the caption

will be stricken.

6. The Court cannot serve as a repository for the parties’ evidence. The parties

may not file evidence with the Court until the course of litigation brings the evidence into

question (for example, on a motion for summary judgment, at trial, or when requested by

the Court). Evidence improperly submitted to the Court will be stricken and returned

to the party.

7. All Court deadlines will be strictly enforced. Requests for time extensions

must state the reason the extension is needed and must be filed with the Court before the

deadline in question. See Local Rule 144.

8. A plaintiff proceeding in propria persona has a duty to keep the Court and

opposing parties informed of his or her current address. If a plaintiff moves and fails to file

a notice of change of address, service of Court orders at plaintiff’s prior address shall

constitute effective notice. See Local Rule 182(f). If mail directed to plaintiff is returned

by the U.S. Postal Service as undeliverable, the Court will not attempt to remail it. If the

address is not updated within 63 days of the mail being returned, the action will be

dismissed for failure to prosecute. See Local Rule 183(b).

Case 1:11-cv-00341-AWI-MJS Document 5 Filed 03/09/11 Page 3 of 6
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

27

9. Due to the press of business, the Court cannot respond to individual

questions about the status of cases. Any such requests will be denied. So long as the

parties inform the Court of all address changes in compliance with Local Rule 183(b), the

Court will notify the parties of any Court action taken in their case. 

10. Defendants must reply to the complaint within the time provided by the

applicable provisions of Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(a).

11. Unless otherwise ordered, all motions to dismiss, motions for summary

judgment, motions concerning discovery, motions pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 7, 11, 12, 15,

41, 55, 56, 59 and 60, and motions pursuant to Local Rule 110 shall be briefed pursuant

to Local Rule 230. Failure to oppose such a motion timely may be deemed a waiver of

opposition to the motion. 

12. At some point in the litigation, one or more Defendants may move for

summary judgment as to some or all of Plaintiff’s claims. Pursuant to Klingele v.

Eikenberry, 849 F.2d 409 (9th Cir. 1988), Plaintiff is advised of the following requirements

for opposing a motion for summary judgment made by Defendants pursuant to Fed. R. Civ.

P. 56: such a motion is Defendant’s request for judgment against Plaintiff, without trial, on

some or all of Plaintiff’s claims. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(b). Defendant(s)’ motion will set

forth facts which Defendant(s) contend are not reasonably disputed and that entitle

Defendant(s) to judgment as a matter of law. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(c). 

Plaintiff has the right to oppose a motion for summary judgment. To oppose the

motion, Plaintiff must show proof of his or her claims. Plaintiff may agree with the facts set

forth in Defendant(s)’ motion but argue that Defendant(s) are not entitled to judgment as

a matter of law. On the other hand, Plaintiff may show Defendant(s)’ facts are disputed in

Case 1:11-cv-00341-AWI-MJS Document 5 Filed 03/09/11 Page 4 of 6
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

27

one or more of the following ways: (1) Plaintiff may rely upon statements made under

penalty of perjury in the complaint if the complaint shows that Plaintiff has personal

knowledge of the matters stated and if Plaintiff calls to the Court’s attention those parts of

the complaint upon which Plaintiff relies; (2) Plaintiff may also serve and file affidavits or

declarations setting forth the facts which Plaintiff believes prove Plaintiff’s claims (the 2

person who signs the affidavit or declaration must have personal knowledge of the facts

stated); (3) Plaintiff may also rely upon written records, but Plaintiff must prove that the

records are what Plaintiff claims they are; (4) Plaintiff may also rely upon all or any part 3

of the transcript of one or more depositions, answers to interrogatories, or admissions

obtained in this proceeding. Should Plaintiff fail to contradict Defendant(s)’ motion with

affidavits, declarations, or other evidence, Defendant(s)’ evidence will be taken as truth,

and final judgment may be entered without a full trial. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(e).

If there is some good reason why such facts are not available to Plaintiff when

required to oppose such a motion, the Court will consider a request to postpone

considering Defendant(s)’ motion. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(f). If Plaintiff does not serve and

file a request to postpone consideration of Defendant(s)’ motion or serve and file a written

opposition to the motion, the Court may consider Plaintiff’s failure to act as a waiver of

opposition to Defendant(s)’ motion. Plaintiff’s waiver of opposition to Defendant(s)’ motion

may result in the entry of summary judgment against Plaintiff.

An affidavit is a written declaration or statement of facts, made voluntarily, and confirmed by the

2

oath or affirmation of the party making it, taken before an officer having authority to administer such oath.

An unsworn declaration has the same effect as an affidavit, provided that it is dated and signed under

penalty of perjury, as follows: “I declare under penalty of perjury that the foregoing is true and correct.” 28

U.S.C. § 1746. Affidavits and declarations must be made on personal knowledge and must set forth facts

as would be admissible in evidence. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(e).

Sworn or certified copies of all papers referred to in an affidavit must be attached to the affidavit

3

and served on the opposing party. Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(e).

Case 1:11-cv-00341-AWI-MJS Document 5 Filed 03/09/11 Page 5 of 6
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

27

13. A motion supported by unsigned and/or unsworn affidavits or declarations will

be stricken.

14. The failure of any party to comply with this order, the Federal Rules of Civil

Procedure, or the Local Rules of Court, may result in the imposition of sanctions including,

but not limited to, dismissal of the action or entry of default.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: March 9, 2011 /s/Michael J. Seng 

ci4d6 UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 1:11-cv-00341-AWI-MJS Document 5 Filed 03/09/11 Page 6 of 6