Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_17-cv-00294/USCOURTS-caed-1_17-cv-00294-19/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

CHRISTOPHER DICKSON,

Plaintiff,

v.

GOMEZ, et al.,

Defendants.

Case No. 1:17-cv-00294-DAD-BAM (PC)

ORDER REGARDING PLAINTIFF’S

MOTION TO COMPEL, AND DIRECTING 

THE PARTIES TO MEET AND CONFER

(ECF No. 70)

Plaintiff Christopher Dickson (“Plaintiff”) is a state prisoner proceeding pro se and in 

forma pauperis in this civil rights action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. This action proceeds 

against Defendants Gomez, Rios, and Martinez for excessive force and against Defendants 

Duncan and Esparza for violations of Plaintiff’s due process rights.

On May 21, 2021, Plaintiff filed a motion for an order compelling discovery. (ECF No. 

70.)

Under this Court’s discovery and scheduling order, the parties are relieved of the 

requirement in Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 26 and 37, and Local Rule 251, to attempt to 

confer in good faith to resolve a discovery dispute prior to filing any motion to compel. 

Voluntary compliance is encouraged, but not required. The Court’s order further provides that 

the meet and confer requirement may be reimposed in any case that the Court deems it 

appropriate. (ECF No. 36.)

Case 1:17-cv-00294-KES-BAM Document 71 Filed 05/25/21 Page 1 of 3
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Upon review of the motion to compel referenced above, the Court finds it appropriate to 

require the parties to engage in a meet and confer conference regarding their discovery dispute. 

Defense counsel is directed to contact Plaintiff by telephone, or to set-up an in-person meeting, 

regarding the parties’ discovery dispute within twenty-one (21) days of the date of this order. 

Briefing on the motion to compel is stayed during the meet and confer process, and the opposing 

party is relieved of their obligation to respond to the motion until further order of the Court.

In conducting the meet and confer conference, the parties are reminded that they are 

required to act in good faith during the course of discovery. Complete, accurate, and truthful 

discovery responses are required. False or incomplete responses violate the Federal Rules of 

Civil Procedure and subject an offending party and/or counsel to sanctions. Boilerplate 

objections will not be tolerated and will be summarily overruled. Privileges are narrowly 

construed and are generally disfavored. Information not properly disclosed may be excluded 

from use at a hearing, motion, or trial.

Within seven (7) days of the parties’ conference, defense counsel shall file a Joint 

Statement regarding the meet and confer conference. All parties shall participate in the 

preparation of the Joint Statement, and must sign the Joint Statement. Electronic signatures are 

acceptable; a wet signature is not required. 

The Joint Statement shall set forth the following:

(a) a statement that the parties met and conferred in good faith regarding the dispute, by 

phone or in-person, including the date(s) of the conference(s);

(b) a statement explaining whether the motion to compel was resolved in full or in part 

through the meet and confer process; and

(c) if any issues from the motion remain unresolved, a statement referring the court to 

each specific discovery request that is still at issue.

Upon review of the Joint Statement, the Court shall issue a further order regarding the 

motion to compel. No additional filings may be made regarding the motion to compel unless and 

until ordered by the Court.

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Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that:

1. The parties are ordered to meet and confer regarding Plaintiff’s motion to compel, (ECF 

No. 70), as outlined above;

2. Defendants are relieved of the obligation to respond to the motion to compel until further 

order of the Court;

3. Within thirty (30) days of the date of service of this order, a Joint Statement shall be filed 

in this matter as outlined above; and

4. The parties are warned that the failure to meet and confer in good faith as set forth 

in this order, or to comply with any of its terms, will result in the imposition of 

sanctions, which may include dismissal of the action.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: May 24, 2021 /s/ Barbara A. McAuliffe _

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 1:17-cv-00294-KES-BAM Document 71 Filed 05/25/21 Page 3 of 3