Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_02-cv-05969/USCOURTS-caed-1_02-cv-05969-1/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 440
Nature of Suit: Other Civil Rights
Cause of Action: 42:1983 Civil Rights Act

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

KRISTINE BALLANTYNE, )

)

Plaintiff, )

)

v. )

)

COUNTY OF FRESNO, et al., )

)

)

Defendants. )

____________________________________)

CV F 02-5969 AWI DLB

ORDER DENYING PLAINTIFF’S

MOTION TO AMEND OR

STRIKE DEFENDANTS’ BILL

OF COSTS

ORDER VACATING DECEMBER

5, 2005 HEARING DATE

(Document #120)

This was a civil rights action brought by Plaintiff Kristine Ballantyne. On October

14, 2005, the jury returned a verdict in Defendants’ favor. On October 19, 2005, the Clerk

of the Court entered an amended judgment. On October 21, 2005, Defendants filed a bill of

costs. On November 3, 2005, Plaintiff filed a motion for an order striking costs or reducing

the cost bill. On November 16, 2005, Defendants filed an opposition.

Rule 54(d) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure allows costs, other than attorneys’

fees, to the prevailing party as a matter of course. However, only those costs defined in 28

U.S.C. § 1920 are available as costs. Crawford, 482 U.S. at 441-42; Alflex Corp. v.

Underwriters Laboratories, Inc., 914 F.2d 175, 176 (9th Cir. 1990); Local Rule 54-292.

Local Rule 54-292 provides the procedure for a party to file a cost bill and for the

calculation of costs. Local Rule 54-292 reads in part:

(b) Filing of Cost Bill. Within ten (10) days after entry of judgment or order

under which costs may be claimed, the prevailing party may serve on all other

Case 1:02-cv-05969-AWI -DLB Document 123 Filed 11/30/05 Page 1 of 2
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parties and file with the Clerk a bill of costs conforming to 28 U.S.C. § 1924.

See Fed. R. Civ. P. 6(a), (e). The cost bill shall itemize the costs claimed and

shall be supported by a memorandum of costs and an affidavit of counsel that

the costs claimed are allowable by law, are correctly stated, and were

necessarily incurred. Cost bill forms shall be made available by the Clerk's

Office upon request or on the Court's website.

(c) Objections. The party against whom costs are claimed may, within ten

(10) days from date of service, file specific objections to claimed items with a

statement of grounds for objection.

(d) Taxing Costs. If no objection is filed, the Clerk shall proceed to tax and

enter costs. If objections are filed, they should state specific objections to

claimed items with a statement of grounds thereof. The Clerk may require and

consider further affidavits as necessary to determine allowable costs. The

parties may request a hearing, in person or by telephone conference call, and

the Clerk shall schedule the hearing as needed. Upon the taxation and entry of

costs the Clerk shall serve notice thereof to all parties.

(e) Review. On motion filed and served within five (5) court days after notice

of the taxing of costs has been served, the action of the Clerk may be reviewed

by the Court as provided in Fed. R. Civ. P. 54(d). See L.R. 78-230.

Pursuant to Local Rule 54-292, Plaintiff’s motion to strike costs or reduce costs is

premature. Upon receiving Defendants’ cost bill, Plaintiff could have filed objections to the

cost bill pursuant to Local Rule 54-292(c) & (d). After receiving the cost bill and Plaintiff’s

objections, the Clerk of the Court is to tax costs pursuant to Local Rule 54-292 (d). If

Plaintiff disagrees with the costs taxed by the Clerk of the Court, Plaintiff may then file a

motion before the court to review the taxing of costs. At this time, the Clerk of the Court

has not yet taxed costs. As such, there is no taxing of costs for the court to review pursuant

to Local Rule 54-292(e) on a noticed motion. Thus, Plaintiff’s motion to strike costs or

reduce the cost bill must be denied as premature.

Accordingly, the court ORDERS that:

1. Plaintiff’s motion for an order striking costs or reducing the cost bill is DENIED

without prejudice as premature;

2. The hearing set for December 5, 2005 is VACATED and no party shall appear; and

3. The Clerk of the Court is DIRECTED to tax costs in this action.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: November 29, 2005 /s/ Anthony W. Ishii 

0m8i78 UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

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