Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_13-cv-01960/USCOURTS-caed-1_13-cv-01960-2/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 550
Nature of Suit: Prisoner - Civil Rights (U.S. defendant)
Cause of Action: 42:1983 Prisoner Civil Rights

---

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

LAWRENCE F. MCCLURE,

Plaintiff,

v.

A. VILLEGAS, et al.,

Defendants.

_____________________________________/

Case No. 1:13-cv-01960-SKO (PC)

ORDER DENYING MOTION FOR 

RECORDS SUBPOENA AND 

APPOINTMENT OF INVESTIGATOR

(Doc. 10)

Plaintiff Lawrence F. McClure, a state prisoner proceeding pro se and in forma pauperis, 

filed this civil rights action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983 on December 2, 2013. On June 16, 

2014, Plaintiff filed a motion seeking the issuance of a records subpoena and the appointment of 

an investigator. Plaintiff’s motion is denied for the reasons that follow.

Plaintiff’s request for the issuance of a subpoena duces tecum is premature, as the 

discovery phase of this litigation is not yet open. Fed. R. Civ. P. 16(b), 26(a)(1)(B)(iv), 45; Local 

Rule 240(c)(8); Doc. 3, 1st Info. Order, § V(A).

With respect to an investigator, the expenditure of public funds on behalf of an indigent 

litigant is proper only when authorized by Congress. Tedder v. Odel, 890 F.2d 210, 211-12 (9th 

Cir. 1989) (quotation marks and citation omitted). While Plaintiff is entitled to have the United 

States Marshal serve process for him, there is no provision for the appointment of an investigator 

to assist Plaintiff and the Marshal’s Office may not act in that capacity on the behalf of Plaintiff. 

28 U.S.C. § 1915(d); Fed. R. Civ. P. 4(c)(3); Tedder, 890 F.2d at 211-12.

Case 1:13-cv-01960-SKO Document 11 Filed 06/23/14 Page 1 of 2
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

2

Accordingly, Plaintiff’s motion for a records subpoena and the appointment of an 

investigator is HEREBY DENIED.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: June 21, 2014 /s/ Sheila K. Oberto 

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 1:13-cv-01960-SKO Document 11 Filed 06/23/14 Page 2 of 2