Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_02-cv-02489/USCOURTS-caed-2_02-cv-02489-1/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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Defendants M. Penner and Linda Rianda have filed separate motions for summary 1

judgment, see Docket Nos. 67; 74, in addition to the State’s global motion for summary judgment,

Docket No. 70.

1

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

JAMES ANTHONY MORRIS,

Plaintiff,

vs.

DR. CLAUD MITCHELL, DR.

DOUGLAS C. PETERSON, DR. M.

PENNER, DR. VONG, JANE DOE, sued

in their individual capacities, and

CHERYL PLILER, LINDA L. RIANDA,

and RICK MANUEL, sued in their

individual and official capacities,

Defendants.

Case No. CIV S-02-2489 (JKS)

O R D E R

On June 20, 2005, this Court granted the State’s request to extend the deadline for filing

dispositive motions and moved the deadline to July 15, 2005. Docket No. 65. The June 20 order

also directed the State to file a response to Plaintiff’s dispositive motion, which had been filed on

February 23, 2005, but had been left unaddressed by the State. Id. The June 20 order set August 12,

2005, as the deadline for Plaintiff’s opposition to any dispositive motion that the State filed pursuant

to the Court’s extension.

The State has since filed three motions for summary judgment. See Docket Nos. 67; 70; 74. 1

It appears as though Plaintiff has ignored the State’s efforts. He has filed nothing in response to the

motions for summary judgment nor has he asked for any extensions of time to file an opposition. 

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ORDER 

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Because Plaintiff is proceeding pro se, the Court will advise him of the following points before

addressing the merits of Defendants’ motions for summary judgment.

A motion for summary judgment is a request for an order of judgment in favor of the moving

party without trial. In general, a motion for summary judgment presents the facts that are not

disputed and argues that the facts entitle the movant to judgment as a matter of law. Pursuant to

Klingele v. Eikenberry, 849 F.2d 409, 411–12 (9th Cir. 1988), Plaintiff is hereby advised that

Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 56 sets forth the requirements for opposing a motion for summary

judgment. Plaintiff is also advised that if he fails to respond to Defendants’ motions for summary

judgment, the Court may grant the motions and dismiss Plaintiff’s claim.

Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 56 states in relevant part:

...(c) Motion and Proceedings Thereon. The motion shall be served at

least 10 days before the time fixed for the hearing. The adverse party

prior to the day of hearing may serve opposing affidavits. The

judgment sought shall be rendered forthwith if the pleadings,

depositions, answers to interrogatories, and admissions on file,

together with the affidavits, if any, show that there is no genuine issue

as to any material fact and that the moving party is entitled to a

judgment as a matter of law. A summary judgment, interlocutory in

character, may be rendered on the issue of liability alone although

there is a genuine issue as to the amount of damages.

...(e) Form of Affidavits; Further Testimony; Defense Required. Supporting and

opposing affidavits shall be made on personal knowledge, shall set forth such facts as

would be admissible in evidence, and shall show affirmatively that the affiant is

competent to testify to the matters stated therein. Sworn or certified copies of all

papers or parts thereof referred to in an affidavit shall be attached thereto or served

therewith. The court may permit affidavits to be supplemented or opposed by

depositions, answers to interrogatories, or further affidavits. When a motion for

summary judgment is made and supported as provided in this rule, an adverse party

may not rest upon the mere allegations or denials of the adverse party's pleading, but

the adverse party's response, by affidavits or as otherwise provided in this rule, must

set forth specific facts showing that there is a genuine issue for trial. If the adverse

party does not so respond, summary judgment, if appropriate, shall be entered against

the adverse party...

...(g) Affidavits Made in Bad Faith. Should it appear to the satisfaction of the court

at any time that any of the affidavits presented pursuant to this rule are presented in

bad faith or solely for the purpose of delay, the court shall forthwith order the party

employing them to pay to the other party the amount of the reasonable expenses

which the filing of the affidavits caused the other party to incur, including reasonable

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ORDER 

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attorney’s fees, and any offending party or attorney may be adjudged guilty of

contempt.

Although the actual text of Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 56 controls in any dispute as to

its interpretation, the Court provides the following brief explanation of the Rule’s requirements:

To oppose a motion for summary judgment, Plaintiff must provide the Court with evidence

supporting his or her claims. Under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 56(e), Plaintiff may provide

the following types of proof:

1. Plaintiff may rely on the statements made in the complaint if the complaint (a) was signed

under penalty of perjury; (b) shows that Plaintiff has personal knowledge (i.e., “first-hand” or “nonhearsay” knowledge) of the matters stated; and (c) Plaintiff calls the Court’s attention to those parts

of the complaint upon which Plaintiff relies;

2. Plaintiff may file and serve, upon the Court and opposing counsel, one or more affidavits

or declarations setting forth facts that Plaintiff believes will prove Plaintiff’s claims. Any person

signing an affidavit or declaration must have personal knowledge of the facts stated. At the end of a

declaration or affidavit, the document must state “I declare under penalty of perjury that the

foregoing is true and correct” and be signed by the individual who has the personal knowledge. Any

declarations or affidavits that are unsigned will not be considered;

3. Plaintiff may submit copies of documents so long as Plaintiff provides proof that the

records are what Plaintiff claims they are (i.e., Plaintiff must declare under penalty of perjury that

the documents are true and correct copies, and must specify where Plaintiff got the documents); and

4. Plaintiff may rely upon all or part of the transcript of a deposition, answers to

interrogatories, or admissions obtained in this proceeding.

To oppose successfully a motion for summary judgment, Plaintiff must set forth information

in declarations, affidavits, and other documents which, when viewed together with Defendants’

declarations, affidavits, and other documents convinces the Court that Plaintiff’s claims should go to

trial. In rare cases, if a party has good reason why facts are not available to him or her when

required to oppose a motion for summary judgment, the Court may consider a request to postpone

ruling on a motion for summary judgment. To support a request for postponement, the party must

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ORDER 

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provide the Court and opposing counsel with an affidavit or declaration (signed under penalty of

perjury) setting forth the reasons the facts are unavailable and how the party expects the facts to

support his or her claims. If Plaintiff does not file and serve a written opposition with supporting

documents or a request to postpone with a supporting affidavit or declaration, the Court may

consider the failure to act as consent to the granting of Defendants’ motions for summary judgment.

This notice shall constitute the only such notice from the Court concerning Defendants’

motions for summary judgment. The Court will not be providing any further information regarding

the interpretation of Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 56 and cannot entertain unsolicited inquiries

about the applicable rules of procedure. Further, if Plaintiff has not filed an opposition beforehand,

the Court will consider Defendants’ motions for summary judgement ripe for a ruling on

Wednesday, September 14, 2005, after which time the Court will issue a decision without

considering Plaintiff’s positions and without further notice to Plaintiff. Should Plaintiff file an

opposition, the State’s response will be due seven (7) days after the date of service of Plaintiff’s

opposition.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

 

Dated at Anchorage, Alaska, this 29th day of August 2005.

 /s/ James K. Singleton, Jr.

JAMES K. SINGLETON, JR. 

United States District Judge 

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