Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_90-cv-00520/USCOURTS-caed-2_90-cv-00520-962/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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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

RALPH COLEMAN, et al.,

Plaintiff,

v.

EDMUND G. BROWN, JR., et al.,

Defendants.

No. 2:90-cv-0520 KJM DB P

ORDER

On April 25, 2019, the court received the neutral expert’s monthly invoice for 

services rendered through March 31, 2019. In accordance with the district court’s January 8, 

2019 order, ECF No. 6064 at 5, the court reviewed the invoice. On April 29, 2019, at the 

direction of the court, the courtroom deputy to the undersigned sent an email to the neutral expert 

requesting “an itemization for the services rendered in connection with the $15,950.00 charge 

billed for outside services/consultants, including a description of the services rendered, by whom 

they were provided, the total hours spent, and the hourly rate billed.” The neutral expert 

submitted the requested information on the same day. 

Following review of the additional information, on April 30, 2019, the neutral 

expert’s proposed summary invoice was distributed to the parties. See ECF No. 6064 at 5. A 

Case 2:90-cv-00520-KJM-SCR Document 6155 Filed 05/16/19 Page 1 of 3
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copy of that summary invoice is filed concurrently with this order, along with the detailed billing 

summaries provided for the court’s review, under seal.1 Attachment A, Invoices dated March 12, 

2019 and April 6, 2019 (filed under seal). On May 7, 2019, defendants submitted objections to 

the proposed final invoice. See Attachment B, May 7, 2019 Letter from Supervising Deputy 

Attorney General Adriano Hrvatin to Honorable Deborah Barnes. On May 10, 2019, the neutral 

expert responded to defendants’ objections. See Attachment C, May 10, 2019 Letter from 

Benjamin B. Wagner, Esq. to Honorable Deborah Barnes.

The court has reviewed defendants’ objections and the neutral expert’s response to 

those objections. Defendants request that the court disclose all itemized billing records submitted 

by the neutral expert now that his investigation is over. See Attachment B at 1. That request should 

be directed to the district court. Cf. ECF No. 6083 at 4 (district court order holding, inter alia, that 

“detailed billing statements [of the neutral expert] will be made a part of the record, filed under 

seal, until the investigation is concluded, and so available for appellate review.”). The neutral 

expert has responded to defendants’ specific billing item questions. See Attachment B at 1-2; 

Attachment C at 1. Finally, defendants preserve “their objection to payment of this and future

invoices pending resolution of Defendants’ pending motion requesting leave to deposit any 

remaining funds deemed payable” to the neutral expert and they request “that this Court defer 

ordering payment of the current invoice until the Court resolves Defendants’ motion.” Attachment 

B at 2. The latter request is controlled by the district court’s order denying defendants’ request for 

stay pending ruling on their motion, ECF No. 6121, and is denied. 

Accordingly, good cause appearing, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that:

1. The Clerk of the Court is directed to maintain Attachment A to this order under 

seal until further order of court; and

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1 The detailed billing statements of the neutral expert will be maintained under seal pending 

further order of the district court. See ECF No. 6083 at 2.

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2. Within ten business days from the date of this order defendants shall pay to the 

neutral expert the amount of $396,589.74 as reflected in the invoice for services rendered through 

March 2019. 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: May 16, 2019

Case 2:90-cv-00520-KJM-SCR Document 6155 Filed 05/16/19 Page 3 of 3