Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-5_18-cv-02113/USCOURTS-cand-5_18-cv-02113-5/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 440
Nature of Suit: Other Civil Rights
Cause of Action: 42:1983 Civil Rights Act

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United States District Court 

Northern District of California

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 

GEORGETTE PURNELL,

Plaintiff, 

v. 

CLYDE CHENG and others, 

Defendants. 

Case No. 18-cv-02113 EJD (NC) 

ORDER ON FRESNO’S OBJECTION 

TO DOCUMENT SUBPOENA 

Re: Dkt. No. 85 

The Court today heard the City of Fresno’s objection to a document subpoena 

served by the defendants in this case seeking records for August 30, 2018, regarding 

Georgette Purnell. The Court determined that under California Penal Code section 13300 

defendants demonstrated a “compelling need” for production of the requested Fresno 

documents. The need and relevance of the documents is to probe the damages asserted by 

plaintiff Purnell in this excessive force case against Sunnyvale police officers. 

The Court also determined that the privacy interests of the witnesses and officers 

identified in the Fresno records can be shielded by redactions without harm to the 

probative use of the documents. It is therefore ordered that Fresno produce directly to the 

defendants’ counsel in this case the requested documents by January 29, 2020, in a 

redacted format, without the names and identifying information of officers and witnesses 

disclosed. Fresno is also asked to file a brief status report with this Court indicating that it 

has completed the production. If a protective order is desired to further regulate the use 

and distribution of the Fresno records, any party (including plaintiff Purnell) or Fresno 

may move by January 29 for entry of a protective order under Fed. R. Civ. P. 26. 

Case 5:18-cv-02113-EJD Document 89 Filed 01/16/20 Page 1 of 2
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United States District Court 

Northern District of California

Plaintiff Purnell did not appear for the hearing today although she was permitted to 

participate by telephone. Dkt. No. 86. 

The Court will file the Fresno records under seal for good cause shown. The Court 

reviewed the records in camera at Fresno’s request. 

IT IS SO ORDERED. 

Dated: January 15, 2020 _____________________________________ 

NATHANAEL M. COUSINS 

United States Magistrate Judge 

Case 5:18-cv-02113-EJD Document 89 Filed 01/16/20 Page 2 of 2