Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-5_14-cv-04679/USCOURTS-cand-5_14-cv-04679-1/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 510
Nature of Suit: Prisoner Petitions - Vacate Sentence
Cause of Action: 28:2255 Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus (Federal)

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Case No. 14-CV-04679-LHK 

ORDER REQUESTING PLAINTIFF TO FILE STATEMENT OF OPPOSITION OR NON-OPPOSITION

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United States District Court

Northern District of California

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

SAN JOSE DIVISION

REYNALDO PEDREGON,

Defendant-Petitioner,

v.

United States of America,

Plaintiff-Respondent.

Case No. 14-CV-04679-LHK 

ORDER REQUESTING PETITIONER

TO FILE STATEMENT OF

OPPOSITION OR NON-OPPOSITION

Re: Dkt. No. 7

On March 29, 2012, Judge Jensen sentenced Defendant-Petitioner Reynaldo Pedregon 

(“Petitioner”) to 240 months’ imprisonment and ten years’ supervised release following a guilty 

verdict entered against Petitioner following a jury trial.

October 20, 2014, Petitioner filed a Motion to Vacate, Set Aside, or Correct Sentence 

pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2255. ECF No. 1 (“Motion”). Petitioner’s motion alleged, among other 

issues, that his pre-trial counsel (Manuel U. Araugo), trial counsel (Peter A. Leeming), and 

appellate counsel (Mark D. Eibert) provided ineffective assistance. Petitioner filed a 

Memorandum of Fact and Law in support of his motion on December 29, 2014. United States v. 

Pedregon, No. 09-CR-586 (N.D. Cal.), ECF No. 57. On January 27, 2015, the government was 

ordered to file an answer to Petitioner’s Motion within 60 days. Id., ECF No. 58.

Case 5:14-cv-04679-LHK Document 9 Filed 05/27/15 Page 1 of 2
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Case No. 14-CV-04679-LHK 

ORDER REQUESTING PLAINTIFF TO FILE STATEMENT OF OPPOSITION OR NON-OPPOSITION

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United States District Court

Northern District of California

On March 30, 2015, the government filed a motion seeking an order from the Court 

waiving Petitioner’s attorney-client privilege. ECF No. 7. Specifically, the government contends 

it cannot respond to Petitioner’s allegations of ineffective assistance of counsel until it can discuss 

these allegations with Petitioner’s former attorneys: Manuel U. Araujo, Peter A. Leeming, and 

Mark D. Eibert. Petitioner’s response to the government’s motion was due to be filed with the 

Court by April 27, 2015. As of May 27, 2015, Petitioner has filed no response.

If Petitioner wants to pursue his claims of ineffective assistance of counsel, as alleged in 

his Motion, Petitioner must waive the attorney-client privilege with respect to communications 

between Petitioner and his former counsel. Bittaker v. Woodford, 331 F.3d 715, 716 (9th Cir. 

2003) (“It has long been the rule in the federal courts that, where a habeas petitioner raises a claim 

of ineffective assistance of counsel, he waives the attorney-client privilege as to all 

communications with his allegedly ineffective lawyer.”). Any waiver for this purpose would be 

solely for the purpose of adjudicating Petitioner’s claims for ineffective assistance of counsel. Id.

at 722. Accordingly, if Petitioner agrees to waive his attorney-client privilege for this purpose, 

then Petitioner’s claims of ineffective assistance of counsel can progress in this Court. If 

Petitioner does not agree to waive his attorney-client privilege for this purpose, then Petitioner’s 

claims of ineffective assistance of counsel cannot progress and should be withdrawn from 

Petitioner’s Motion. In other words, Petitioner’s case cannot progress further in this Court until 

Petitioner files a response indicating his position. Petitioner is hereby ORDERED to file a 

response to the government’s motion by June 26, 2015. 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: May 27, 2015 _______________________________

LUCY H. KOH

United States District Judge

Case 5:14-cv-04679-LHK Document 9 Filed 05/27/15 Page 2 of 2