Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_00-cv-05817/USCOURTS-caed-1_00-cv-05817-23/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

27

28

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

JOSH THOMAS, )

)

Plaintiff, )

)

v. )

)

D.L. STEPHENS, et al., )

)

Defendants )

____________________________________)

CV F 00-5817 AWI SMS P

ORDER DENYING MOTION FOR

IMPEACHMENT

(Document #246)

This action proceeds on Plaintiff Josh Thomas’ First Amended Complaint filed on

October 30, 2000. Trial has been vacated. The court allowed the parties to depose Defendant

Caetana by written deposition because it appeared Defendant Caetana’s medical condition would

most likely prevent Defendant Caetana’s testimony at trial. Upon receiving Defendant

Caetana’s responses to the written deposition, on December 13, 2006, Plaintiff filed a motion for

impeachment. 

The basis of Plaintiff’s motion for impeachment is that Defendant Caetana responded to

deposition questions differently than Defendant Caetana had responded in earlier documents. 

Plaintiff is informed that a motion for impeachment is not a proper pretrial filing. The correct

place to impeach Defendant Caetana with alleged prior inconsistent statements is at trial. After

Defendant Caetana testifies, or after his deposition testimony is admitted because Defendant

Caetana is deemed unavailable, Plaintiff may move to admit inconsistent statements. It is up to

the trier of fact to determine if the inconsistencies are of such a nature that they decline to believe

Case 1:00-cv-05817-LJO-SMS Document 253 Filed 01/29/07 Page 1 of 2
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

28 2

all or part of Defendant Caetana’s testimony.

Accordingly, the court ORDERS that Plaintiff’s motion for impeachment is DENIED.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: January 29, 2007 /s/ Anthony W. Ishii 

0m8i78 UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

Case 1:00-cv-05817-LJO-SMS Document 253 Filed 01/29/07 Page 2 of 2