Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_02-cv-06018/USCOURTS-caed-1_02-cv-06018-14/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

1

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

ALFRED BROWN, CASE NO. CV-F-02-6018 AWI DLB P

Plaintiff, ORDER DENYING PLAINTIFF’S

MOTION TO COMPEL FURTHER 

RESPONSES TO REQUEST FOR

PRODUCTION OF DOCUMENTS FROM

DEFENDANT BUNKER 

vs.

[Doc. 130]

EDGAR CASTILLO, et al.,

Defendants.

 /

BACKGROUND

Plaintiff is a state prisoner proceeding pro se and in forma pauperis in a civil rights action

pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. The instant action involves allegations by plaintiff that during his

incarceration at the California Substance Abuse Treatment Facility at Corcoran State Prison, defendants

were deliberately indifferent to his medical needs by failing to provide him with a replacement for his

old wheelchair. Plaintiff alleges that on January 28, 2002, he fell out of his wheelchair and suffered

physical injuries. Plaintiff has filed a motion to compel further responses to his second request for

production of documents served on defendant Bunker. Defendants filed an oppositon to the motion on

May 4, 2006. 

In the requests at issue, plaintiff seeks copies of depositon transcritps taken in the course of this

Case 1:02-cv-06018-LJO-DLB Document 135 Filed 05/22/06 Page 1 of 3
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

litigation as well as documents obtained from plaintiff’s Central File and medical record as a result of

a subpoena issued by Bunker’s attorney.

Defendant Bunker has objected to the requests asserting that plaintiff must obtain copies of the

deposition transcripts directly from the court reporter and upon payment of reasonable charges.

Defendant further asserts that documents from plaintiff’s Central File and medical record are equally

accessible to plaintiff at the facility CSATF/SP at a cost of $0.12 per page. In the alternative defendant

offers to provide the documents to plaintiff at a cost of $.25 per page to be prepaid before copies are

forwarded to plaintiff.

DISCUSSION

a. Deposition Transcripts

Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 30(f)(2) provides:

Unless otherwise ordered by the court or agreed by the parties, the officer

shall retain stenographic notes of any deposition taken stenographically

or a copy of the recording of any deposition taken by another method.

Upon payment of reasonable charges therefor, the officer shall furnish a

copy of the transcript or other recording of the deposition to any party or

the deponent.

This court cannot compel defendant to provide copies of the deposition transcripts to plaintiff.

As stated by defendant, plaintiff must obtain copies of the transcripts by making arrangement directly

with the court reporter. Neither this court nor defendant can provide a copy to plaintiff without the

authorization of the court reporter. 

b. Documents from Plaintiff’s Central File and Medical File

Plaintiff is entitled to documents responisve to his request which are in defendant’s “possession,

custody or control.” Fed.R.C.P. 34(a). The producing party bears the costs of reviewing and gathering

such documents but the requesting party must pay for the costs of copying the documents. Plaintiff is

not entitled to copies of the documents free of charge. Defendant has correctly pointed out that the

documents are available to plaintiff at the institution at a cost of $0.12 per page. Defendant has advised

plaintiff that the costs for counsel to copy the documents for plaintiff is $0.25 per page. Based on his

discovery request, plaintiff apparently wants defendants to provide the documents to him. Plaintiff’s

motion to compel is therefore granted to the extent plaintiff is willing to provide payment to defendant

Case 1:02-cv-06018-LJO-DLB Document 135 Filed 05/22/06 Page 2 of 3
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

3

for the costs of complying with the demand.

. CONCLUSION

Based on the foregoing, plaintiff’s motion to compel is granted in part. Within 10 days of this

order, defendant shall provide to plaintiff the total cost of copying the requested documents. Plaintiff

shall thereafter forward the funds to defendant’s counsel. Within 10 days of receipt of the appropriate

funds, defendant shall forward the requested documents to plaintiff. In light of defendant’s agreement

to provide the documents to plaintiff upon payment of the appropriate costs, plaintiff’s request for

sanctions is denied.

 

IT IS SO ORDERED. 

Dated: May 19, 2006 /s/ Dennis L. Beck 

3b142a UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 1:02-cv-06018-LJO-DLB Document 135 Filed 05/22/06 Page 3 of 3