Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_02-cv-00480/USCOURTS-caed-2_02-cv-00480-2/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 443
Nature of Suit: Civil Rights Accommodations
Cause of Action: 42:12101 Americans with Disabilities Act

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

----oo0oo----

JAMES SANFORD,

NO. CIV. S 02-0480 MCE JFM

Plaintiff,

v. ORDER

THRIFTY PAYLESS, INC., dba

RITE AID CORPORATION,

Defendant.

----oo0oo----

Plaintiff James Sanford, as the prevailing party in this

litigation, has filed a Bill of Costs, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §

1920, in the amount of $1,748.25. Defendant Thrifty Payless,

Inc. dba Rite Aid Corporation (“Rite Aid”) has objected to

certain portions of that costs bill.

Under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 54(d), the prevailing

party in a lawsuit may recover its costs “unless the court

otherwise directs”. As this language suggests, the ultimate

decision on whether to award costs is a matter within the court’s

discretion. Association of Mexican-American Educators v. State

Case 2:02-cv-00480-MCE -JFM Document 74 Filed 11/03/05 Page 1 of 3
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of Calif., 231 F.3d 572, 591-92 (9 Cir. 2000). If the Court th

declines to award costs as requested by the prevailing party,

however, it should specify its reasons for doing so. Berkla v.

Corel Corp., 302 F.3d 909. 921 (9 Cir. 2002). th

Here the Court need only address the two specific items

objected to by Rite Aid in response to Plaintiff’s Bill of Costs. 

First, according to Rite Aid, Plaintiff cannot seek reimbursement

for service of a subpoena on witness Chuck Pearson, because,

according to the documentation submitted by Plaintiff, that

service was attempted in the State of Pennsylvania, where Mr.

Pearson resides. Under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 45(b)(2),

a subpoena may properly be served only within the district of the

issuing court, within 100 miles of the place of attendance, or

within the state where the issuing court sits, as authorized by

state law. The attempted service on Mr. Pearson fails to qualify

under any of these alternatives, and the Court’s file does not

reflect that Plaintiff otherwise obtained special authorization

from this Court to effect service upon Mr. Pearson. 

Consequently, the $120.00 sought for attempted service on Mr.

Pearson is disallowed as a recoverable cost.

Secondly, Rite Aid objects to $69.67 sought out of a total

$137.50 claimed in printing and exemplification costs, pursuant

to 28 U.S.C. § 1920(4). That objection is premised on the

argument that at least some of the $69.67 constitutes copying

charges associated with Plaintiff’s failed summary judgment

motion. Those costs also include copying expenses associated

with every other aspect of the case except for discovery matters

and preparation of the original summons and complaint. Given the

Case 2:02-cv-00480-MCE -JFM Document 74 Filed 11/03/05 Page 2 of 3
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relatively nominal amount of disputed charges, and the fact that

any expense associated with the summary judgment motion (for

which the Court did decline to award attorneys’ fees and certain

litigation expenses) appears inextricably intertwined with other

aspects of the case for which copy charges would unquestionably

have been permitted, the Court in its discretion elects not to

reduce said charges.

Given the foregoing, costs are taxed in favor of Plaintiff

as stated in his Bill of Costs, except that subpoena fees are

reduced from $683.00 to $563.00. Total costs are awarded in the

sum of $1,628.25.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

DATED: November 2, 2005

___________________________________

MORRISON C. ENGLAND, JR

UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

Case 2:02-cv-00480-MCE -JFM Document 74 Filed 11/03/05 Page 3 of 3