Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_03-cv-05294/USCOURTS-caed-1_03-cv-05294-1/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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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

PATRICK FRANCIS CUMMINGS, 1: 03 CV F 5294 REC DLB P

Plaintiff, SECOND SCHEDULING ORDER

vs. Trial Date: September 27, 2005 at 9:00 a.m.

in Courtroom 1 before the

A.ADAMS, et.al., Honorable Robert E. Coyle

Defendants. Hearing Date: August 12, 2005 at 2:00 pm.

in Courtroom 5 before the

Honorable Dennis L. Beck 

 /

Plaintiff Patrick Cummings (“Plaintiff”) is a state prisoner proceeding pro se in a civil rights

action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. This action is proceeding against defendants Adams, Barbiero,

Duvall, Villalobus, Ruff, Hegge, Cote, Jaramillo and Gabaldon (“defendants”) on the second, third and

fourth claims in Plaintiff’s complaint, filed March 11, 2003. Pursuant to Rule 16(b) of the Federal Rules

of Civil Procedure, the court will, by this order, set a further schedule for this litigation.

The parties are required to file pre-trial statements in accordance with the schedule set forth

herein. In addition to the matters already required to be addressed in the pre-trial statement in

accordance with Local Rule 16-281, Plaintiff will be required to make a particularized showing in order

to obtain the attendance of witnesses. The procedures and requirements for making such a showing are

outlined in detail below. Plaintiff is advised that failure to comply with the procedures set forth below

may result in the preclusion of any and all witnesses named in his pre-trial statement. 

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At the trial of this case, Plaintiff must be prepared to introduce evidence to prove each of the

alleged facts that support the claims raised in the lawsuit. In general, there are two kinds of trial

evidence: (1) exhibits and (2) the testimony of witnesses. It is Plaintiff's responsibility to produce all

of the evidence to prove his case, whether that evidence is in the form of exhibits or witness testimony.

If Plaintiff wants to call witnesses to testify, he must follow certain procedures to ensure that the

witnesses will be at the trial and available to testify.

1. Procedures for Obtaining Attendance of Incarcerated Witnesses Who Agree to Testify

Voluntarily – An incarcerated witness who agrees voluntarily to attend trial to give testimony cannot

come to court unless this court orders the warden or other custodian to permit the witness to be

transported to court. This court will not issue such an order unless it is satisfied that: (a) the prospective

witness is willing to attend; and (b) the prospective witness has actual knowledge of relevant facts.

A party intending to introduce the testimony of incarcerated witnesses who have agreed

voluntarily to attend the trial must serve and file concurrent with the pre-trial statement a written motion

for a court order requiring that such witnesses be brought to court at the time of trial. The motion must:

(1) state the name and address of each such witness; and (2) be accompanied by affidavits showing that

each witness is willing to testify and that each witness has actual knowledge of relevant facts. The

motion should be entitled “Motion for Attendance of Incarcerated Witnesses.”

The willingness of the prospective witness can be shown in one of two ways: (1) the party

himself can swear by affidavit that the prospective witness has informed the party that he or she is

willing to testify voluntarily without being subpoenaed, in which the party must state when and where

the prospective witness informed the party of this willingness; or (2) the party can serve and file an

affidavit sworn to by the prospective witness, in which the witness states that he or she is willing to

testify without being subpoenaed.

The prospective witness' actual knowledge of relevant facts can be shown in one of two ways:

(1) if the party has actual firsthand knowledge that the prospective witness was an eyewitness or an

ear-witness to the relevant facts (i.e., if an incident occurred in Plaintiff's cell and, at the time, Plaintiff

saw that a cellmate was present and observed the incident, Plaintiff may swear to the cellmate's ability

to testify), the party himself can swear by affidavit that the prospective witness has actual knowledge;

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or (2) the party can serve and file an affidavit sworn to by the prospective witness in which the witness

describes the relevant facts to which the prospective witness was an eye- or ear-witness. Whether the

affidavit is made by the party or by the prospective witness, it must be specific about the incident, when

and where it occurred, who was present, and how the prospective witness happened to be in a position

to see or to hear what occurred at the time it occurred.

The court will review and rule on the motion for attendance of incarcerated witnesses, specifying

which prospective witnesses must be brought to court. Subsequently, the court will issue the order

necessary to cause the witness' custodian to bring the witness to court.

2. Procedures for Obtaining Attendance of Incarcerated Witnesses Who Refuse to Testify

Voluntarily -- If a party seeks to obtain the attendance of incarcerated witnesses who refuse to testify

voluntarily, the party should submit with his pre-trial statement a motion for the attendance of such

witnesses. Such motion should be in the form described above. In addition, the party must indicate in

the motion that the incarcerated witnesses are not willing to testify voluntarily.

3. Proceduresfor Obtaining Attendance of Unincarcerated Witnesses Who Agree to Testify

Voluntarily – It is the responsibility of the party who has secured an unincarcerated witness' voluntary

attendance to notify the witness of the time and date of trial. No action need be sought or obtained from

the court.

4. ProceduresforObtaining Attendance of Unincarcerated WitnessesWhoRefusetoTestify

Voluntarily -- If a prospective witness is not incarcerated, and he or she refuses to testify voluntarily,

not earlier than four weeks and not later than two weeks before trial, the party must prepare and submit

to the Court a subpoena for service by the Marshal upon the witness. (Subpoena forms may be obtained

from the Clerk of the Court upon notification to the Clerk of the name of the party or parties to be

subpoenaed). Also, the party seeking the witness' presence must tender an appropriate sum of money

for the witness with the subpoena. In the case of an unincarcerated witness, the appropriate sum of

money is the daily witness fee of $40.00 plus the witness' travel expenses.

A subpoena will not be served by the United States Marshal upon an unincarcerated witness

unless the subpoena is accompanied by a money order made payable to the witness for the full amount

of the witness' travel expenses plus the daily witness fee of $40.00. As noted earlier, because no statute

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authorizes the use of public funds for these expenses in civil cases, the tendering of witness fees and

travel expenses is required even if the party was granted leave to proceed in forma pauperis.

The parties are advised that failure to file pre-trial statements as required by this order may result

in the imposition of appropriate sanctions, which may include dismissal of the action or entry of default.

Accordingly, the court HEREBY ORDERS as follows:

1. This matter is set for jury trial before the Honorable Robert E. Coyle on September 27,

2005 at 9:00 a.m. in Courtroom 1;

2. This matter is set for telephonic trial confirmation hearing before the Honorable Dennis

L. Beck on August 12, 2005 at 2:00 p.m. in Courtroom 5;

3. Counsel for Defendants is required to arrange for the participation of Plaintiff in the

telephonic trial confirmation hearing and to initiate the telephonic hearing at (559) 498-7538;

4. Plaintiff shall serve and file a pre-trial statement as described in this order on or before

July 15, 2005;

5. If Plaintiff intends to call incarcerated witnesses at time of trial, Plaintiff shall serve and

file, concurrent with the pre-trial statement, a motion for attendance of incarcerated witnesses as

described in this order;

6. Defendants shall serve and file a pre-trial statement as described in this order on or before

July 29, 2005; and

7. Defendants are required to submit with their pre-trial statement an additional copy on 3.5

inch computer disk formatted for WordPerfect 10.0 directly to the chambers of the hearing judge for the

telephonic pre-trial conference, which disk will not be returned unless the party so requests and provides

a self-addressed stamped mailing container or envelope.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: June 10, 2005 /s/ Dennis L. Beck 

3b142a UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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