Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_09-cv-00939/USCOURTS-caed-2_09-cv-00939-10/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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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

DARRYL HUBBARD, 

Plaintiff, No. CIV S-09-0939 JAM GGH P

vs.

C.D. HOUGLAND, et al., ORDER

Defendants.

 /

Plaintiff is a state prisoner proceeding pro se with a civil rights action pursuant to

42 U.S.C. § 1983. On September 22, 2010, defendant’s motion to dismiss for failure to exhaust

administrative remedies was granted and this case was closed. Plaintiff stated he attempted to

exhaust his administrative remedies but prison authorities were discarding his appeals and not

logging them even though many of his other appeals were properly logged. The undersigned

found the plaintiff’s arguments could not overcome the motion to dismiss and noted that an

evidentiary hearing would not have been of help. However, the Ninth Circuit reversed and

remanded and ordered an evidentiary hearing to be held. Therefore an evidentiary hearing will

be held on August 14, 2012, at 9:00 am before the undersigned who makes the following

ORDERS:

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1. The evidentiary hearing will be held on August 14, 2012, at 9:00 am before

the undersigned;

2. No later than 45 days prior to the evidentiary hearing, defendant shall inform

the court if plaintiff’s facility will be able to provide video conferencing so plaintiff may appear

by video.

3. At the evidentiary hearing, plaintiff must be prepared to introduce evidence. In

general, there are two kinds of evidence: (1) exhibits and (2) the testimony of witnesses. It is the

plaintiff’s responsibility to produce all of the evidence, whether that evidence is in the form of

exhibits or witness testimony. If the plaintiff wants to call witnesses to testify, he must follow

certain procedures to ensure that the witnesses will be at the hearing and available to testify.

4. As to Witnesses: on or before June 29, 2012, the parties shall provide witness

lists.

A. Procedures for Obtaining Attendance of Incarcerated Witnesses Who

Agree to Testify Voluntarily

An incarcerated witness who agrees voluntarily to attend the hearing to give

testimony cannot come to court unless this court orders the warden or other custodian to permit

the witness to be transported to court. This court will not issue such an order unless it is satisfied

that:

1. The prospective witness is willing to attend; 

and

2. The prospective witness has actual knowledge of relevant facts.

A party intending to introduce the testimony of incarcerated witnesses who have

agreed voluntarily to attend the hearing must serve and file a written motion for a court order

requiring that such witnesses be brought to court at the time of the hearing. The motion must:

1. State the name, CDC Identification number, and address of each such

witness; 

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and

2. Be accompanied by affidavits showing that each witness is willing to

testify and that each witness has actual knowledge of relevant facts.

The willingness of the prospective witness can be shown in one of two ways:

1. The party can swear by affidavit that the prospective witness has

informed the party that he is willing to testify voluntarily without being

subpoenaed. The party must state in the affidavit when and where the

prospective witness informed the party of this willingness; or

2. The party can serve and file an affidavit sworn to by the prospective

witness, in which the witness states that he or she is willing to testify

without being subpoenaed.

The prospective witness’ actual knowledge of relevant facts can be shown in one

of two ways:

1. The party can swear by affidavit that the prospective witness has actual

knowledge. However, this can be done only if the party has actual

firsthand knowledge that the prospective witness was an eyewitness or an

ear-witness to the relevant facts. For example, if an incident occurred in

the plaintiff’s cell and, at the time, the plaintiff saw that a cellmate was

present and observed the incident, the plaintiff may swear to the cellmate’s

ability to testify.

Or

2. The party can serve and file an affidavit sworn to by the prospective

witness in which the witness describes the relevant facts to which the

prospective witness was an eye- or ear-witness. Whether the affidavit is

made by the plaintiff or by the prospective witness, it must be specific

about what the incident was, when and where it occurred, who was

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present, and how the prospective witness happened to be in a position to

see or to hear what occurred at the time it occurred.

The court will review and rule on the motion for attendance of incarcerated

witnesses, specifying which prospective witnesses must be brought to court. Subsequently, the

court will issue the order necessary to cause the witness’ custodian to bring the witness to court.

B. Procedures for Obtaining Attendance of Incarcerated Witnesses Who

Refuse to Testify Voluntarily

If a party seeks to obtain the attendance of incarcerated witnesses who refuse to

testify voluntarily, the party should submit a motion for the attendance of such witnesses. Such

motion should be in the form described above. In addition, the party must indicate in the motion

that the incarcerated witnesses are not willing to testify voluntarily.

C. Procedures for Obtaining Attendance of Unincarcerated Witnesses Who

Agree to Testify Voluntarily

It is the responsibility of the party who has secured an unincarcerated witness’

voluntary attendance to notify the witness of the time and date of the hearing. No action need be

sought or obtained from the court.

D. Procedures for Obtaining Attendance of Unincarcerated Witnesses Who

Refuse to Testify Voluntarily

If a prospective witness is not incarcerated, and he or she refuses to testify

voluntarily, not later than four weeks before the hearing, the party must prepare and submit to the

United States Marshal a subpoena for service by the Marshal upon the witness. (Blank subpoena

forms may be obtained from the Clerk of the Court.) Also, the party seeking the witness’

presence must tender an appropriate sum of money to the witness through the United States

Marshal. In the case of an unincarcerated witness, the appropriate sum of money is the daily

witness fee of $40.00 plus the witness’ travel expenses.

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A subpoena will not be served by the United States Marshal upon an

unincarcerated witness unless the subpoena is accompanied by a money order made payable to

the witness for the full amount of the witness’ travel expenses plus the daily witness fee of

$40.00, and a copy of the court’s order granting plaintiff in forma pauperis status. Because no

statute authorizes the use of public funds for these expenses in civil cases, the tendering of

witness fees and travel expenses is required even if the party was granted leave to proceed in

forma pauperis.

E. Each party may call any witnesses designated by the other.

A. No other witness will be permitted to testify unless:

(1) The party offering the witness demonstrates that the witness is 

for the purpose of rebutting evidence which could not be reasonably

anticipated prior to the evidentiary hearing.

(2) The witness was discovered after the exchange of witnesses

and the proffering party makes the showing required in “B,” below.

B. If not timely designated within the fourteen-day period prior to the 

evidentiary hearing, the parties shall promptly inform the court and opposing parties of the

existence of the unlisted witnesses so that the court may consider at the evidentiary hearing

whether the witnesses shall be permitted to testify. The witnesses will not be permitted unless:

(1) The witnesses could not reasonably have been discovered prior 

to the exchange of witness lists;

(2) The court and the opposing party were promptly notified upon 

discovery of the witnesses;

(3) If time permitted, the party proffered the witnesses for

deposition; or 

(4) If time did not permit, a reasonable summary of the witnesses’ 

testimony was provided to the opposing party.

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5. As to Exhibits: both parties shall submit exhibit lists on or before June 29,

2012, and exchange exhibits with each other no later than 14 days prior to the hearing.

Petitioner will use numbers to mark exhibits; respondent will use letters.

 A. No other exhibits will be permitted to be introduced unless:

(1) The party proffering the exhibit demonstrates that the exhibit is 

for the purpose of rebutting evidence which could not have been

reasonably anticipated, or

(2) The exhibit was discovered after the exchange of exhibits and 

the proffering party makes the showing required in Paragraph “B” below.

B. If not identified by June 29, 2012, the parties shall promptly inform the court and 

opposing party of the existence of such exhibits so that the court may consider their admissibility

at the evidentiary hearing. The exhibits will not be received unless the proffering party

demonstrates:

(1) The exhibits could not reasonably have been discovered 

earlier;

(2) The court and the opposing party were promptly informed of

their existence; or

(3) The proffering party forwarded a copy of the exhibit(s) (if 

physically possible) to the opposing party. If the exhibit(s) may not be

copied the proffering party must show that he has made the exhibit(s)

reasonably available for inspection by the opposing party.

DATED: April 27, 2012

 /s/ Gregory G. Hollows 

 UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE 

GGH: AB

hubb939.ord

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