Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_03-cv-02571/USCOURTS-caed-2_03-cv-02571-6/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 442
Nature of Suit: Civil Rights Employment
Cause of Action: 42:2000e Job Discrimination (Employment)

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1

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

LESTER E. PATRICK, )

) CIV NO. S-03-2571 GEB JFM PS

Plaintiff, )

)

v. ) ORDER

)

ANTHONY J. PRINCIPI, ) 

Secretary of Department of )

Veteran Affairs, )

)

Defendant. )

)

On June 7, 2005, Defendant filed a request for an order

that would allow one of his witnesses, Ms. Deborah Seal, to testify

by video or telephone in the trial of this action, which is

scheduled to commence on June 14, 2005. Defendant makes the

request under Rule 43(a) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure,

asserting that the post-operative effects of Ms. Seal’s recent

surgery show that Ms. Seal cannot travel to California for trial. 

Defendant has presented evidence showing that Ms. Seal has a postoperative open surgical wound on which a bandage is kept that needs

Case 2:03-cv-02571-GEB -JFM Document 75 Filed 06/10/05 Page 1 of 2
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28 1 Ms. Seal has been listed as a witness on each party’s

witness list.

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to be changed twice a week at her post-operative medical treatment

site on the East Coast. 

Defendant also states that Plaintiff opposes the request

because he desires to have Ms. Seal testify from the witness stand

in the courtroom.1 While it is recognized that the optimal way of

examining a witness is to have the witness take the witness stand

in the courtroom, in the situation where a witness is unable to

attend trial because of a serious medical condition, the witness

may be allowed to appear by other means.

In light of the nature or Ms. Seal’s post-operative

condition, Defendant’s request that Ms. Seal be allowed to testify

by contemporaneous video and audio transmission is granted. 

Defendant is obligated to make the arrangements required for this

testimony.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: June 8, 2005

/s/ Garland E. Burrell, Jr.

GARLAND E. BURRELL, JR.

United States District Judge

Case 2:03-cv-02571-GEB -JFM Document 75 Filed 06/10/05 Page 2 of 2