Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_04-cv-00037/USCOURTS-caed-2_04-cv-00037-2/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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1

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

JAMES BRITTINGHAM,

Plaintiff, No. CIV S-04-0037 LKK DAD P

vs.

HIGH DESERT STATE PRISON, et al.,

Defendants. ORDER

 /

On February 28, 2005, defendant Sandham filed an answer to plaintiff’s amended

complaint. Four days later, the court issued an order that begins with the statement that

defendant “has filed an answer to plaintiff’s amended complaint.” (Discovery Order filed Mar.

4, 2005, at 1.) On November 9, 2005, plaintiff filed a request for a copy of the answer. Plaintiff

states that he was never served with the answer, has never received any document from

defendant’s counsel or the court that reflects a street address or telephone number for counsel,

and has been unable to move forward with discovery.

The court has reviewed the answer electronically filed by defendant Sandham on

February 28, 2005. The document does not include a proof of service, and none was separately

filed. Pursuant to the Local Rules of Practice, a party who is not registered for the court’s

electronic filing system must be conventionally served in accordance with the appropriate

Case 2:04-cv-00037-LKK -DAD Document 48 Filed 11/17/05 Page 1 of 2
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1

 Plaintiff is informed that no reply to the answer is required or permitted. Fed. R. Civ.

P. 7(a). It is the defendant’s burden to litigate any affirmative defense alleged in his answer.

2

Federal Rules of Procedure. Local Rule 5-135(b). A proof of service must be affixed to the

original of a document when it is filed. Local Rule 5-135(c). In the absence of proof that

defendant’s answer was conventionally served on the pro se plaintiff in this case, counsel will be

required to serve the answer forthwith and file a proof of such service.1 In the future, plaintiff

shall inform the court immediately if he has not been served with a document cited by the court

as having been filed by defendant.

Good cause appearing, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that:

1. Plaintiff’s November 9, 2005 request for a copy of defendant’s answer is

granted; and

2. Within five court days from the date of this order, defendant shall file a proof

of service reflecting that the answer filed February 28, 2005, has been conventionally served on

the pro se plaintiff.

DATED: November 16, 2005.

DAD:13:bb

brit0037.35def

Case 2:04-cv-00037-LKK -DAD Document 48 Filed 11/17/05 Page 2 of 2