Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_23-cv-00253/USCOURTS-caed-1_23-cv-00253-7/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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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

DEAN MARTIN SEALEY, 

 Plaintiff,

 v.

T. CISNEROS, et al.,

 Defendants.

Case No. 1:23-cv-00253-NODJ-EPG (PC)

ORDER REQUIRING PARTIES TO 

EXCHANGE DOCUMENTS

Dean Sealey is a state prisoner proceeding pro se in this civil rights action filed

pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. 

On December 1, 2023, the Court issued an order requiring the parties to file scheduling 

and discovery statements. (ECF No. 33). The parties have now filed their statements. (ECF 

Nos. 34 & 35).

The Court has reviewed this case and the parties’ statements. To secure the just, speedy, 

and inexpensive disposition of this action,1the Court will direct that certain documents that are 

central to the dispute be promptly produced.2

1 See, e.g., United States v. W.R. Grace, 526 F.3d 499, 508–09 (9th Cir. 2008) (“We begin with 

the principle that the district court is charged with effectuating the speedy and orderly administration of 

justice. There is universal acceptance in the federal courts that, in carrying out this mandate, a district 

court has the authority to enter pretrial case management and discovery orders designed to ensure that 

the relevant issues to be tried are identified, that the parties have an opportunity to engage in appropriate 

discovery and that the parties are adequately and timely prepared so that the trial can proceed efficiently 

and intelligibly.”).

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Accordingly, IT IS ORDERED that:

1. Each party has sixty days from the date of service of this order to serve opposing 

parties, or their counsel, if represented, with copies of the following documents

and/or evidence that they have in their possession, custody, or control, to the 

extent the parties have not already done so:

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a. Documents regarding exhaustion of Plaintiff’s claims, including 602s, 

Form 22s, and responses from the appeals office.

b. Witness statements and evidence that were generated from 

investigation(s) related to the events at issue in the complaint, such as an 

investigation stemming from the processing of Plaintiff’s grievance(s)

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including the following witness statements identified in the Defendants’ 

Statement (ECF No. 35 at 4): 

i. Written statements made by Plaintiff, Defendant Fagundes, 

Inmate Salazar, and Inmate Landeros.

c. Any Accident Investigation Report, medical evaluation, or Medical LayIn related to the events at issue in the complaint.

2 Advisory Committee Notes to 1993 Amendment to Federal Rules of Civil Procedure regarding 

Rule 26(a) (“The enumeration in Rule 26(a) of items to be disclosed does not prevent a court from 

requiring by order or local rule that the parties disclose additional information without a discovery 

request.”).

3 Defense counsel is requested to obtain these documents from Plaintiff’s institution(s) of 

confinement. If defense counsel is unable to do so, defense counsel should inform Plaintiff that a third 

party subpoena is required.

4 See Woodford v. Ngo, 548 U.S. 81, 94–95 (2006) (“[P]roper exhaustion improves the quality 

of those prisoner suits that are eventually filed because proper exhaustion often results in the creation of 

an administrative record that is helpful to the court. When a grievance is filed shortly after the event 

giving rise to the grievance, witnesses can be identified and questioned while memories are still fresh, 

and evidence can be gathered and preserved.”).

The Court notes that Defendant(s) only need to produce documents such as a Confidential 

Appeal Inquiry or a Use of Force Critique to the extent those documents contain witness statements 

related to the incident(s) alleged in the complaint and/or evidence related to the incident(s) alleged in the 

complaint that will not be provided to Plaintiff separately.

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d. Workers’ Compensation Claim records related to the events at issue in 

Plaintiff’s complaint.

e. Prison Industry Authority report(s) related to the incident at issue.

f. California Prison Industry Authority (CALPIA) employee training 

materials. 

g. All of Plaintiff’s medical records related to the incident(s) and/or 

condition(s) at issue in the case, including Orthopedic Surgery Consult 

notes and photograph(s), Regional Medical Center records and 

photograph(s) (ECF No. 35 at 4; ECF No. 34 at 5).

h. Video recordings and photographs related to the incident(s) at issue in 

the complaint, including video recordings of the incident itself and 

videos and photographs of Plaintiff taken following the incident(s),

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including Orthopedic Surgery Consult photograph(s) and Regional 

Medical Center photograph(s). (ECF No. 35 at 4; ECF No. 34 at 5).

2. If any party obtains documents and/or other evidence described above later in 

the case from a third party, that party shall provide all other parties with copies 

of the documents and/or evidence within thirty days.

3. Parties do not need to produce documents or evidence that they have already 

produced.

4. Parties do not need to produce documents or evidence that were provided to 

them by the opposing party.

5. Parties may object to producing any of the above-listed documents and/or 

evidence. Objections shall be filed with the Court and served on all other parties 

within sixty days from the date of service of this order (or within thirty days of 

receiving additional documents and/or evidence). The objection should include 

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If Plaintiff is not allowed possess, or is unable to play, video recording(s), defense 

counsel shall work with staff at Plaintiff’s institution of confinement to ensure that Plaintiff is able to 

view the video recording(s).

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the basis for not providing the documents and/or evidence. If Defendant(s) 

object based on the official information privilege, Defendant(s) shall follow the 

procedures described in the Court’s scheduling order. If a party files an 

objection, all other parties have fourteen days from the date the objection is filed 

to file a response. If any party files a response to an objection, the Court will 

issue a ruling on the objection.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: January 12, 2024 /s/

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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