Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_18-cv-01187/USCOURTS-caed-1_18-cv-01187-22/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

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

KEVIN ALLEN,

Plaintiff,

v.

V. BENTACOURT, et al.,

Defendants.

No. 1:18-cv-01187 JLT GSA (PC)

ORDER WITHDRAWING FINDINGS AND 

RECOMMENDATIONS

(ECF No. 83)

ORDER GRANTING IN PART AND 

DENYING IN PART DEFENDANTS’ 

MOTION TO COMPEL AND MOTION FOR 

SANCTIONS

(ECF No. 78)

ORDER MODIFYING DISCOVERY AND 

SCHEDULING ORDER

(ECF No. 61)

DISCOVERY SHALL BE COMPLETED AND 

ANY MOTIONS TO COMPEL SHALL BE 

FILED BY FEBRUARY 18, 2025

DISPOSITIVE MOTIONS SHALL BE FILED 

BY APRIL 18, 2025

Plaintiff, a former state prisoner proceeding pro se and in forma pauperis, has filed this 

civil rights action seeking relief under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. The matter was referred to a United 

States Magistrate Judge pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(B) and Local Rule 302. This matter is 

at the discovery stage of the proceedings.

Case 1:18-cv-01187-JLT-GSA Document 87 Filed 12/20/24 Page 1 of 4
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For the reasons stated below, the Court will withdraw its findings and recommendations 

issued November 7, 2024. ECF No. 83. In addition, Defendants’ motion to compel and motion 

for sanctions (ECF No. 78) will be granted in part and denied without prejudice in part. Finally,

the Court will modify the discovery and scheduling order (ECF No. 61) by setting new deposition 

and dispositive motion deadline dates.

I. BACKGROUND

On November 7, 2024, the Court issued a findings and recommendations order which 

denied in part and granted in part Defendants’ motion to compel and motion for sanctions. See

ECF Nos.78, 83 (motion to compel and motion for sanctions; findings and recommendations 

order). In it, the Court granted Defendants’ motion for terminating sanctions; it denied 

Defendants’ request for monetary sanctions, and it denied Defendants’ motion to compel Plaintiff 

to appear and be deposed. ECF No. 83 at 15.

On November 18, 2024, Plaintiff filed objections to the findings and recommendations. 

ECF No. 84. Based on the contents of Plaintiff’s objections, shortly thereafter, the Court ordered 

Defendants to file a response to them. ECF No. 85. Defendants’ response was filed on 

December 16, 2024. ECF No. 86.

II. DISCUSSION

In Defendants’ motion to compel and motion for sanctions, they ultimately argued that 

Plaintiff should be sanctioned and that this matter should be dismissed because Plaintiff had

failed to appear and be deposed in Los Angeles, and he did not respond to attempts to reach him 

that day. See generally ECF No. 78. In Plaintiff’s objections to the findings and 

recommendations, Plaintiff provided reasons why he had missed his deposition. See generally

ECF No. 84.

In Defendants’ response to the Court’s order directing them to file a response to Plaintiff’s 

objections, Defendants state, in relevant part, that because Plaintiff has provided them with 

updated contact information, it may be possible to depose him. ECF No. 86 at 2. As a result, 

they request that their motion to compel be granted and that the Court order Plaintiff to appear for 

a deposition. Id. They also request the Court to set new deadlines for the completion of 

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discovery and the filing of dispositive motions. Id. Finally, Defendants state that they are not 

opposed to the Court finding that terminating sanctions are not warranted at this time. Id. 

However, they ask the finding be made without prejudice to them being able to renew it if 

Plaintiff fails to appear again to be deposed. Id.

Based on the parties’ statements, the Court will withdraw the currently pending findings 

and recommendations and grant Defendants’ motion to compel in part, to the extent that it asks 

that Plaintiff be compelled to appear and be deposed. The motion will be denied in part without 

prejudice, to the extent that it asks for terminating sanctions. Finally, the Court will modify the 

discovery and scheduling order by setting new end-of-discovery and dispositive motions 

deadlines.

Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that:

1. The findings and recommendations issued November 7, 2024 (ECF No. 83), are 

WITHDRAWN;

2. Defendants’ motion to compel and motion for sanctions (ECF No. 78) is GRANTED 

IN PART and DENIED IN PART as follows:

a. GRANTED to the extent that it requests that Plaintiff be compelled to appear and 

be deposed;

b. DENIED without prejudice to the extent that it requests terminating sanctions;

3. Plaintiff shall APPEAR and be DEPOSED by Defendants at a date and time in the 

reasonable future upon which the parties agree;

4. The discovery and scheduling order issued August 21, 2023 (ECF No. 61), is 

MODIFIED as follows:

a. The new deadline for the completion of discovery and for the filing of motions to 

compel is February 18, 2025, and

b. The new deadline for the filing of dispositive motions is April 18, 2025.

All other directives in the discovery and scheduling order are to remain in full force 

and effect.

Plaintiff is cautioned that any further failure on his part to comply with the orders of 

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this Court and/or to properly and timely engage in his prosecution of this case may result in 

a recommendation that this matter be dismissed.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: December 20, 2024 /s/ Gary S. Austin 

 UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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