Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-3_02-cv-02118/USCOURTS-cand-3_02-cv-02118-40/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 190
Nature of Suit: Other Contract Actions
Cause of Action: 28:1332 Diversity-Other Contract

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United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

MILLER ET AL,

 Plaintiff,

 v.

 INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES

CORPORATION ET AL,

Defendant. /

No. C02-02118 MJJ

ORDER TAXING COSTS

Before the Court is Defendant International Business Machine Corporation’s (“IBM”)

Application For The Clerk To Tax Costs (Docket No. 668), which is opposed by Plaintiff Ralph I.

Miller (“Miller”). Miller has also filed a Motion For Leave To File A Surresponse (Docket No. 675)

in connection with its objections to IBM’s application.

In the interests of justice, the Court GRANTS Plaintiff’s Motion For Leave To File a

Surresponse and will consider Plaintiff’s surreponse as well as IBM’s response thereto.

The Court next examines each of the categories of expenses contained in IBM’s Bill of

Costs.

A. Fees for Filing and Service of Process

Pursuant to the compromise reached by the parties, which addresses the objections raised by

Miller, the Court find its appropriate to tax costs of $605 this category.

B. Reporters’ Transcripts

The Court will disallow the costs for the November 27, 2002, August 2, 2005 and December

8, 2005 transcripts as no notice of appeal relating to these transcripts had been filed as of the time

these costs were incurred. IBM has withdrawn its request to tax the costs of the April 8, 2003 and

Case 3:02-cv-02118-MJJ Document 679 Filed 04/20/07 Page 1 of 3
United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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April 28, 2006 reporters’ transcripts. Accordingly, the Court finds it is appropriate to tax costs only

for the November 27, 2002 hearing transcript, which was related to the appeal that Miller

subsequently took from this Court’s Order granting defendants’ motion to dismiss. The Court

therefore will tax costs of $165.00 in this category.

C. Depositions

The Court agrees with IBM that the most reasonable interpretation of Local Rule 54-3(c)(1)

permits recovery of the cost of obtaining not only an original transcript and copy transcript of any

deposition, but a copy of the video of the deposition if the deposition was visually recorded. IBM

has adequately documented the costs in this regard that it seeks to tax. 

However, the documentation submitted by IBM does not adequately establish that the “wait

time” charged by the reporter for the depositions of Victor Paddock and Ralph Miller was due to the

tardiness of the witness or the witness’ counsel. Accordingly, the Court will disallow these “wait

time” charges.

Accordingly, the Court finds that it is appropriate to tax costs of $19,945.97 in this category.

D. Reproduction and Exemplification

The Court finds the documentation submitted by IBM in connection with reproduction and

exemplification costs to be “appropriate documentation” within the meaning of Local Rule 54-1. 

Accordingly, the Court finds that it is appropriate to tax costs of $8,446.73 in this category.

E. Witness Expenses

IBM has withdrawn its claimed cost relating to the witness fee for Dr. Udinsky’s expert

deposition. Miller does not contest the other witness expenses. Accordingly, the Court finds that it

is appropriate to tax costs of $ 235.40 in this category.

F. Total Taxable Costs

For the foregoing reasons, the Court ORDERS that Miller be taxed $29398.10 pursuant to

Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 54 and Local Civil Rule 54 for the costs incurred by IBM in the

litigation of this matter.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: 

 

MARTIN J. JENKINS

UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

Case 3:02-cv-02118-MJJ Document 679 Filed 04/20/07 Page 2 of 3
United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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Case 3:02-cv-02118-MJJ Document 679 Filed 04/20/07 Page 3 of 3