Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_07-cv-00666/USCOURTS-caed-2_07-cv-00666-7/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

PETER DALE GRAVES,

Plaintiff, No. CIV S-07-0666-GEB-CMK P

vs.

B. WILLIAMS, et al.,

Defendants. ORDER

 /

Plaintiff is a prisoner who is proceeding pro se and in forma pauperis. Plaintiff

seeks relief pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. 

Plaintiff filed a document entitled Plaintiff’s Notice of Motion and Motion to

conduct a Deposition on Officer R. Merritt on October 1, 2007. Plaintiff requests permission to

hold the oral deposition of Correctional Officer R. Merritt, who is a witness and not a party to

this action. In view of the logistical problems inherent in the taking of a deposition within a

prison, and pursuant to its authority to order such terms as will provide for the safe and

expeditious taking of depositions, this court will deny plaintiff’s request to take Officer Merritt’s

oral deposition but will grant plaintiff leave to proceed with the deposition by written questions. 

/ / /

Case 2:07-cv-00666-KJM -CMK Document 44 Filed 11/02/07 Page 1 of 3
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 If plaintiff chooses to proceed in this manner he may submit a list of questions for

the witness to this court, with appropriate copies served on defendants, within thirty days from

the date of this order. Defendants will then have thirty days in which to object to any questions,

and submit questions of their own. Plaintiff may object to proposed cross-examination questions

within the next fourteen days. Upon the submission of all questions and objections thereto, the

court will issue a further order ruling on the objections and forwarding all permissible questions

to the witness, who will be directed to respond. Counsel for defendants will be ordered to

provide such assistance as is required within and without the prison to effectuate this order. If

redirect and recross-examination questions are desired by either party under Fed. R. Civ. P. 31(a),

the party shall notify the court forthwith and provision will be made therefor.

In view of the above, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that:

1. Plaintiff’s request for leave to take defendants’ oral depositions is denied;

2. Plaintiff is granted leave to take defendants’ depositions by written

questions;

3. Within 30 days of the date of this order, plaintiff shall file and serve

proposed deposition questions;

4. Within 30 days of the date of service of plaintiff’s proposed questions,

defendants may file and serve objections and questions of their own;

5. Within 14 days of the date of service of any objections and proposed

questions by defendants, plaintiff may file and serve his objections; 

6. Following submission of all questions and objections, the court will issue

a further order ruling on objections and forwarding permissible questions to the witness;

7. Upon receipt of the questions, witness Merritt shall write out answers in

the form provided by plaintiff and return them to the court no later than fourteen days after

service by the Clerk;

/ / /

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8. Upon receipt of the answers, the Clerk shall serve the parties with copies

of the answers; and

9. The parties shall inform the court forthwith whether they wish to depose

the witness further by redirect and/or recross-examination questions. Upon such notification the

court will make provision for further questioning.

DATED: November 2, 2007

______________________________________

CRAIG M. KELLISON

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 2:07-cv-00666-KJM -CMK Document 44 Filed 11/02/07 Page 3 of 3