Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_08-cv-00062/USCOURTS-caed-2_08-cv-00062-11/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 360
Nature of Suit: Other Personal Injury
Cause of Action: 28:1331 Fed. Question: Personal Injury

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

JACQUELINE CONNELL, )

)

Plaintiff, ) 2:08-cv-00062 GEB CMK

)

v. ) ORDER

)

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, )

)

Defendant. )

)

On December 28, 2009, the United States filed an objection to

Plaintiff’s discovery designation concerning the bench trial scheduled

to commence at 9:00 a.m. on January 12, 2010. The United States

argues Plaintiff’s discovery designation was untimely, and

alternatively, Plaintiff’s designation of the deposition testimony of

Frank LiVolsi, Suzanne Mueller, and Dean Germano is impermissible

under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 32(a)(1) (“Rule 32(a)(1)”),

which governs the use of deposition testimony at trial. Plaintiff

declares the untimely filing was due to a clerical mistake. The

timeliness issue is not decided. Plaintiff did not address the United

States’ arguments under Rule 32(a)(1).

Case 2:08-cv-00062-GEB-CMK Document 108 Filed 01/11/10 Page 1 of 2
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The United States’ objection concerns Plaintiff’s apparent

intention to treat the named witnesses as parties. Since these

individuals are not parties in this action, the United States’

objection is sustained. See Kennedy v. U.S. Postal Service, 145 F.3d

1077, 1077 (9th Cir. 1988)(noting that “the United States is the only

proper defendant in an FTCA action”). Absence satisfying the

requirement that a witness is “unavailable” under Rule 32(a)(4),

Plaintiff is not authorized to use non-parties’ deposition testimony

as Plaintiff indicates in her discovery designation. 

Dated: January 8, 2010

 

GARLAND E. BURRELL, JR.

United States District Judge

Case 2:08-cv-00062-GEB-CMK Document 108 Filed 01/11/10 Page 2 of 2