Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_07-cv-00004/USCOURTS-caed-1_07-cv-00004-2/pdf.json

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

---

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

ROY L. SHIVERS, III, ) 1:07cv0004 OWW SMS

)

)

) INFORMATIONAL ORDER

)

Plaintiff, )

)

 vs. )

)

MICHELLE LEVINE, et al., )

)

) 

Defendants. )

____________________________________)

Plaintiff Roy Shivers, III, is a state prisoner proceeding pro se and in forma pauperis in a civil

rights action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. In litigating this action, the parties must comply with the

Federal Rules of Civil Procedure (Fed. R. Civ. Pro.) and the Local Rules of the United States District

Court, Eastern District of California (Local Rules). This order highlights specific rules of which the

parties should take particular note. FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THE LOCAL RULES,

FEDERAL RULES OR A COURT ORDER, INCLUDING THIS ORDER, WILL BE GROUNDS

FOR DISMISSAL OR OTHER APPROPRIATE SANCTIONS. See Local Rule 11-110; Fed. R.

Civ. Pro. 41(b).

1. Documents intended to be filed with the court must be mailed to the Clerk of the Court. 

See Local Rule 5-134(a). All documents improperly mailed to a judge's chambers will be stricken

Case 1:07-cv-00004-OWW -SMS Document 11 Filed 05/01/07 Page 1 of 4
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

 When a document is stricken, it becomes a nullity and is not considered by the court for any 1

purposes.

2

from the record. A document requesting a court order must be styled as a motion, not a letter. See 1

Fed. R. Civ. Pro. 7.

2. Each document submitted for filing must include the original signature of the filing party

or parties. Local Rule 7-131; Fed. R. Civ. Pro. 11(a). All documents submitted without the required

signature(s) will be stricken. Each separate document must be separately stapled. See Local Rule 7-

130. If a document is stapled behind another document, it will not be filed and will not enter the

court docket.

3. All documents filed with the court must be submitted with an additional legible

conformed copy for the court's use. See Local Rule 5-134(b). A document submitted without an

extra copy for the court's use will be stricken. If the filing party wishes the court to return a filestamped copy, he or she must include an additional copy for that purpose (i.e., submit an original and

two copies, one for the court's use and one to be returned) AND a pre-addressed postage paid

envelope. The court cannot provide copy or mailing service for a party, even for an indigent plaintiff

proceeding in forma pauperis. Copies of documents from the court file may be obtained at the cost

of fifty cents per page.

4. After defendants have appeared in an action by filing a pleading responsive to the

complaint (i.e., an answer or a motion to dismiss), all documents filed with the court must include a

certificate of service stating that a copy of the document was served on the opposing party. See Fed.

R. Civ. Pro. 5; Local Rule 5-135. A document submitted without the required proof of service will

be stricken. Where a party is represented, service on the party's attorney of record constitutes

effective service. 

5. All filings must bear the file number assigned to the action, followed by the initials of the

District Court Judge and the Magistrate Judge to whom the case is assigned and the letter "P." 

Where plaintiff simultaneously pursues more than one action, he or she must file separate original

Case 1:07-cv-00004-OWW -SMS Document 11 Filed 05/01/07 Page 2 of 4
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

documents and the appropriate number of copies in each action to which the document pertains. 

Documents submitted listing more than one case number in the caption will be stricken.

6. The court cannot serve as a repository for the parties' evidence (i.e., prison or medical

records, witness affidavits, etc.). The parties may not file evidence with the court until the course of

litigation brings the evidence into question (for example, on a motion for summary judgment, at trial,

or when requested by the court). Evidence improperly submitted to the court will be stricken.

7. After an answer is filed, the court will issue an order opening discovery, and setting the

deadlines for discovery, amended pleadings, and pre-trial dispositive motions. No discovery may be

conducted without court permission until an answer is filed and the court issues the discovery order. 

Discovery propounded on a party is self-executing, and must be served directly on the party from

whom discovery is sought; parties should not file copies of their discovery with the court. See Local

Rules 33-250, 34-250, 36-250. Discovery documents inappropriately submitted to the court will be

stricken. Where the response to discovery is unsatisfactory, the party seeking discovery may file a

motion to compel discovery, including a copy of the discovery propounded and the response thereto. 

See Fed. R. Civ. Pro. 37. 

8. Because plaintiff is incarcerated and proceeds pro se, all pretrial motions will be

submitted without a hearing. See Local Rule 78-230(m). The parties are referred to Local Rule 78-

230(m) for the briefing schedule on motions.

9. All court deadlines will be strictly enforced. Requests for time extensions must state the

reason the extension is needed and must be filed with the court before the deadline in question. See

Local Rule 6-142.

10. A pro se plaintiff has an affirmative duty to keep the court and opposing parties apprised

of his or her address. If a plaintiff moves and fails to file a notice of change of address, service of

court orders at plaintiff's prior address shall constitute effective notice. See Local Rule 83-182(d). If 

Case 1:07-cv-00004-OWW -SMS Document 11 Filed 05/01/07 Page 3 of 4
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 4

mail directed to plaintiff is returned by the U.S. Postal Service as undeliverable, the court will not

attempt to re-mail it. If the address is not updated within sixty days of the mail being returned, the

action will be dismissed for failure to prosecute. See Local Rule 83-183(b).

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: May 1, 2007 /s/ Sandra M. Snyder 

icido3 UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 1:07-cv-00004-OWW -SMS Document 11 Filed 05/01/07 Page 4 of 4