Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_15-cv-00760/USCOURTS-caed-1_15-cv-00760-5/pdf.json

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

---

______________________________________________________________________________________ ________________ 

STIPULATION FOR AN ORDER FOR DISCLOSURE OF AUTOPSY PHOTOGRAPHS 

1 

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

THERESA A. GOLDNER, COUNTY COUNSEL 

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

 KATHLEEN RIVERA (SBN 211606) 

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 and Deputy Reed 

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 

D.G., a minor, by and through his 

guardian ad litem, Denise Bonilla, 

individually and as successor-in-interest 

to David Garcia, deceased; D.E.G., a 

minor, by and through her guardian ad 

litem, Denise Bonilla, individually and 

as successor-in-interest to David Garcia, 

deceased; G.D., a minor, by and 

through her guardian ad litem, Denise 

Bonilla, individually and as successorin-interest to David Garcia, deceased; 

RAMONA RAMIREZ NUNEZ, 

individually; 

 Plaintiffs, 

 vs. 

COUNTY OF KERN; DOES 1 

THROUGH 10; 

 Defendants. 

) 

) 

) 

) 

) 

) 

) 

) 

) 

) 

) 

) 

) 

) 

) 

) 

) 

) 

) 

) 

CASE NO. 1:15-CV-00760 JAM-JLT 

STIPULATION FOR AN ORDER FOR 

DISCLOSURE OF AUTOPSY 

PHOTOGRAPHS 

[ALL PARTIES REQUEST A JURY] 

COME NOW the Parties in this matter, and present this Stipulation for an order for 

disclosure of autopsy photographs of the autopsy of Decedent David Garcia. 

Plaintiffs, D.G., a minor, by and through his guardian ad litem, Denise Bonilla; D.E.G., 

a minor, by and through her guardian ad litem, Denise Bonilla; G.D., a minor, by and through 

her guardian ad litem, Denise Bonilla; and Ramona Ramirez Nunez, (hereinafter collectively 

Case 1:15-cv-00760-JAM-JLT Document 30 Filed 06/14/16 Page 1 of 4
______________________________________________________________________________________ ________________ 

STIPULATION FOR AN ORDER FOR DISCLOSURE OF AUTOPSY PHOTOGRAPHS 

2 

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

“Plaintiffs”) are Jointly represented by Matthew C. Clark and Neil K. Gehlawat of ChainCohn-Stiles, and Dale K. Galipo of the Law Offices of Dale K. Galipo. 

Defendants, County of Kern (hereinafter “County”) and Deputy Robert Reed 

(hereinafter “Reed”), (hereinafter collectively “Defendants”) are represented by Andrew C. 

Thomson and Kathleen Rivera, Office of Kern County Counsel. 

Plaintiffs 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 should issue as follows: a) to direct the Kern 

County Coroner’s Office (hereinafter “Coroner”) to disclose to the Parties a full and complete 

color set of the autopsy photographs of the January 27, 2015 autopsy of the body of David 

Garcia (hereinafter “Decedent”); and b) that the disclosed autopsy photographs of the autopsy 

of Decedent be subject to the Protective Order which has been previously approved by this 

Court in this matter and subject to the limitations set forth below. 

1. Whereas, California Code of Civil Procedure § 129, provides as follows: 

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no copy, reproduction, or facsimile 

of any kind shall be made of any photograph, negative, or print, including instant 

photographs and video recordings, of the body, or any portion of the body, of a 

deceased person, taken by or for the coroner at the scene of death or in the course 

of a post mortem examination or autopsy made by or caused to be made by the 

coroner, except for use in a criminal action or proceeding in this state that relates 

to the death of that person, or except as a court of this state permits, by order after 

good cause has been shown and after written notification of the request for the 

court order has been served, at least five days before the order is made, upon the 

district attorney of the county in which the post mortem examination or autopsy 

has been made or caused to be made. 

This section shall not apply to the making of such a copy, reproduction, or 

facsimile for use in the field of forensic pathology, for use in medical or scientific 

education or research, or for use by any law enforcement agency in this or any 

other state or the United States. 

This section shall apply to any such copy, reproduction, or facsimile, and to any 

such photograph, negative, or print, heretofore or hereafter made. 

2. Whereas, the Coroner has refused to produce the autopsy photographs in the 

absence of a court order for disclosure under Code of Civil Procedure § 129; 

\ \ \ 

Case 1:15-cv-00760-JAM-JLT Document 30 Filed 06/14/16 Page 2 of 4
______________________________________________________________________________________ ________________ 

STIPULATION FOR AN ORDER FOR DISCLOSURE OF AUTOPSY PHOTOGRAPHS 

3 

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. Whereas, the Parties are informed and believe that copies of the autopsy 

photographs are necessary for their full and complete preparation of this matter for trial; 

4. Whereas, the Parties believe that this stipulation and any resulting Court Order 

would be consistent with the requirements set forth in Code of Civil Procedure §129; 

5. Whereas, in addition to the protective order in place, the Parties agree to the 

following additional restrictions in order to comply with Code of Civil Procedure §129: 

a) The photographs shall not be copied or disseminated outside of the 

Parties’ attorney’s offices except for review by retained experts or a party to the 

action. 

b) The only people who shall be authorized to view the photographs will be 

the attorneys, the attorneys’ office staff, retained experts and parties to the action. 

c) The photographs shall not be provided to the news media directly or 

indirectly without a specific order from the Court. 

d) The photographs shall only be utilized in connection with this litigation 

and for no other purpose; 

e) At the conclusion of the litigation, all autopsy photographs of decedent 

David Garcia that are produced, and any copies thereof, including exhibits to 

depositions, shall be destroyed or returned to the Office of Kern County Counsel. 

f) No counsel shall file with this court any autopsy photographs of decedent 

David Garcia either as an exhibit to a motion or otherwise unless the court has 

issued an order sealing such record. 

g) Any person or persons violating this order shall be subject to sanctions. 

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

THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY STIPULATED THAT: 

The Court issue an Order directing the Coroner to issue to the Parties copies of the 

autopsy photographs of the autopsy of David Garcia; 

The produced photographs are subject to the Court’s prior protective order issued in this 

matter and are subject to the addition restrictions set forth above in 5a through 5g above. 

Dated: June 9, 2016 CHAIN-COHN-STILES 

 

 

 By /s/ Neil K. Gehlawat _ 

Matthew C. Clark 

Neil K. Gehlawat 

Attorneys for Plaintiffs

Case 1:15-cv-00760-JAM-JLT Document 30 Filed 06/14/16 Page 3 of 4
______________________________________________________________________________________ ________________ 

STIPULATION FOR AN ORDER FOR DISCLOSURE OF AUTOPSY PHOTOGRAPHS 

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

Dated: June 10, 2016 THERESA A. GOLDNER, COUNTY COUNSEL

 

 By /s/ Andrew C. Thomson _ 

 Andrew C. Thomson, Deputy 

 Attorneys for Defendants County of 

Kern and Deputy Reed 

IT IS SO ORDERED. 

 

Dated: June 13, 2016 /s/ John A. Mendez_______________________ 

JOHN A. MENDEZ 

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT JUDGE 

 

#22P4602.DOC

Case 1:15-cv-00760-JAM-JLT Document 30 Filed 06/14/16 Page 4 of 4