Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_14-cv-01603/USCOURTS-caed-1_14-cv-01603-4/pdf.json

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

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Stipulation To Allow Deposition Of Expert Dr.

Sarkisian Beyond Expert Discovery Deadline

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THERESA A. GOLDNER, COUNTY COUNSEL

By: ANDREW C. THOMSON, Deputy (SBN 149057)

 JAMES L. BRANNEN, Deputy (SBN 279367 )

Kern County Administrative Center

1115 Truxtun Avenue, Fourth Floor

Bakersfield, CA 93301

Telephone 661-868-3800

Fax 661-868-3805

Attorneys for Defendants County of Kern, 

Cynthia Norris, Melissa Allen and Mark Pafford

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

ALEXANDER F. HARPER, an 

individual

 Plaintiff,

 vs.

COUN TY OF KERN, a municipal 

entity, CYNTHIA NORRIS, an 

individual, MELISSA ALLEN, an 

individual, MARK PAFFORD, an 

individual, and DOES 1 through 10, 

inclusive,

 Defendants.

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CASE NO. 1:14-CV-01603- TLN-MJS

STIPULATION TO ALLOW DEPOSITION 

OF DEFENSE EXPERT RICKY 

SARKISIAN, Ph.D BEYOND EXPERT 

DISCOVERY DEADLINE DUE TO 

UNCONTROLABLE CIRCUMSTANCES 

AND SCHEDULING ISSUES; ORDER

)

Plaintiff ALEXANDER F. HARPER (hereinafter “Plaintiff”) is represented by 

Attorneys Brian T. Dunn and Jennifer A. Bandlow, The Cochran Firm – California, 4929 

Wilshire Blvd, Ste 1010, Los Angeles, California 90010.

Defendants COUNTY OF KERN, CYNTHIA NORRIS, MELISSA ALLEN, and 

MARK PAFFORD (hereinafter collectively “Defendants”) are represented by the Office of 

Kern County Counsel, Deputy Andrew C. Thomson and Deputy James Brannen, 1115 Truxtun 

Ave., Bakersfield, California 93301.

Case 1:14-cv-01603-TLN-MJS Document 31 Filed 03/03/16 Page 1 of 4
Stipulation To Allow Deposition Of Expert Dr.

Sarkisian Beyond Expert Discovery Deadline

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Plaintiff and Defendants are hereinafter collectively referred to as the “Parties.”

IT IS HEREBY STIPULATED AND AGREED TO, by and between the Parties, 

through their respective counsel of record, that an Order be entered allowing Plaintiff to take the 

deposition of Defendants’ expert witness Ricky Sarkisian, Ph.D. (hereinafter “Sarkisian”) on 

March 23, 2016, at 10 a.m., a date which is later than the expert witness discovery deadline set

forth in the Scheduling Order and subsequent related Orders.

1. The Parties have repeatedly met and conferred regarding expert witness discovery issues 

in an effort to informally resolve expert discovery issues, including deposition scheduling. 

2. The Parties have been able to schedule the deposition of all other expert witnesses

within the deadline established by the Court, with the exception of scheduling issues associated 

with the deposition of Todd Boyer which has previously been addressed with the Court.

3. Plaintiff properly noticed the deposition of defense expert witness Dr. Sarkisian, who 

was retained by Defendants to act as a vocational rehabilitation expert.

4. The Parties have worked together to facilitate the deposition of all experts and have 

cooperated in the scheduling of expert Dr. Sarkisian’s deposition for March 2, 2016.

5. Due to a vehicle break down while traveling to Dr. Sarkisiann’s deposition, Deputy

County Counsel Andrew Thomson was unable to attend the scheduled deposition, and the 

parties, in the spirit of discovery and cooperation, agreed to the cancelation and rescheduling of 

the deposition.

6. As a result of the schedules of Dr. Sarkisian and counsel, the deposition of Sarkisian

cannot reasonably be rescheduled for a date earlier then March 23, 2016.

7. Dr. Sarkisian has communicated to counsel for defendants that, given the rescheduling 

parameters of all counsel, his schedule will not allow his deposition prior to the scheduled 

expert witness discovery deadline of March 4, 2016.

8. In coordinating with the schedules of counsel, March 23, 2016 is the earliest day that the 

attorneys and Sarkisian are all available for his expert deposition.

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Case 1:14-cv-01603-TLN-MJS Document 31 Filed 03/03/16 Page 2 of 4
Stipulation To Allow Deposition Of Expert Dr.

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9. Nothing in this stipulation constitutes a waiver of any of Plaintiff’s rights to challenge 

defendants’ designation of Dr. Sarkisian as an expert or to move to exclude any and all 

testimony by Dr. Sarkisian.

10. The Parties agree that this stipulation may be signed in counterpart.

11. The Parties respectfully request the Court’s consideration of this request.

THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY STIPULATED:

The deposition of defense expert Ricky Sarkisian, Ph.D. may be noticed for, and taken 

on, March 23, 2016 at 10 a.m., a date which is later than the scheduled conclusion of expert 

witness discovery.

Dated: March 2, 2016 THE COCHRAN FIRM - CALIFORNIA

 By /s/ Jennifer A. Bandlow _ 

Jennifer A. Bandlow, Esq. 

 Attorneys for Plaintiff Alexander F. Harper 

Dated: March 2, 2016 THERESA A. GOLDNER, COUNTY COUNSEL

 By /s/ Andrew C. Thomson 

 Andrew C. Thomson, Deputy 

Attorneys for Defendants County of Kern 

ORDER

Good cause appearing, the STIPULATION TO ALLOW DEPOSITION OF DEFENSE 

EXPERT RICKY SARKISIAN, Ph.D. BEYOND EXPERT DISCOVERY DEADLINE in 

CASE NO. 1:14-CV-01603-TLN-MJS is hereby approved and adopted as the order of this 

Court.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: March 2, 2016 /s/Michael J. Seng 

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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Case 1:14-cv-01603-TLN-MJS Document 31 Filed 03/03/16 Page 4 of 4