Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_21-cv-01275/USCOURTS-caed-1_21-cv-01275-9/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 550
Nature of Suit: Prisoner - Civil Rights (U.S. defendant)
Cause of Action: 42:1983 Civil Rights Act

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

JAMES EDWARD WALLACE,

Plaintiff,

v.

DOES, et al.,

Defendants.

No. 1:21-cv-01275-ADA-EPG

ORDER PERMITTING LIMITED 

DISCOVERY OF DOE DEFENDANTS

Plaintiff James Edward Wallace proceeds in forma pauperis and with counsel in this civil 

rights action filed pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. On December 6, 2022, the assigned District 

Judge adopted this Court’s findings and recommendations to allow the following claims to 

proceed from Plaintiff’s second amended complaint: his claims that Doe Defendants used 

excessive force against him in violation of the Fourth Amendment and his claims that Doe 

Defendants denied him adequate medical care in violation of the Fourteenth Amendment. (ECF 

No. 34). 

Because this case proceeds against only Doe Defendants, the Court is unable to direct 

service of process through the United States Marshals until they are identified. However, as 

noted in the Court’s findings and recommendations, the Court will, with the adoption of its 

recommendations, permit discovery sufficient to determine the identity of the Doe Defendants. 

(ECF No. 33, p. 11 n. 5). 

Specifically, although Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 26(d)(1) generally provides that 

“[a] party may not seek discovery from any source before the parties have conferred as required 

Case 1:21-cv-01275-KES-EPG Document 37 Filed 12/07/22 Page 1 of 2
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by Rule 26(f),” a party may do so “when authorized . . . by court order.” Here, the Court finds 

good cause to permit Plaintiff to issue a subpoena (or subpoenas) duces tecum to a third party (or 

third parties) for the limited purpose of identifying the Doe Defendants for the claims that 

proceed in this case. See Malibu Media, LLC v. Doe, 319 F.R.D. 299, 305 (E.D. Cal. 2016) 

(noting that a court may permit, for good cause, early discovery to learn the identities of Doe 

defendants). 

Accordingly, IT IS ORDERED as follows:

1. The Clerk of Court is directed to send Plaintiff form AO 88B

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(a subpoena form) and form 

USM-2852(a United States Marshals form for process receipt and return).

2. Plaintiff has thirty (30) days from the date of service of this order to complete and return 

form AO 88B and form USM-285.3

3. Plaintiff has one-hundred and twenty days (120) days from the date of service of this order 

to file a motion to substitute named defendants in place of all Doe Defendants.

4. Plaintiff is not authorized to serve any other discovery outside the scope of this order 

without first filing a motion seeking leave to do so.

5. Failure to comply with this order may result in the dismissal of this action. 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: December 7, 2022 /s/

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

1 Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 45(a)(3) provides: “The clerk must issue a subpoena, signed but 

otherwise in blank, to a party who requests it. That party must complete it before service. An attorney also 

may issue and sign a subpoena if the attorney is authorized to practice in the issuing court.” Here, while 

the Court is directing the Clerk to issue a subpoena to Plaintiff, it notes that, because Plaintiff is 

represented by counsel, his attorney may also issue a subpoena.

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“Because plaintiff is proceeding in forma pauperis, he is entitled to obtain personal service of an 

authorized subpoena duces tecum by the United States Marshal.” Modica v. Russell, No. 2:15-CV-00057-

MCE-AC PS, 2015 WL 13653879, at *2 (E.D. Cal. Sept. 18, 2015) (citing 28 U.S.C. § 1915(d)). 

However, Plaintiff may choose to serve the subpoena by any means permissible by law. See Fed. R. Civ. 

P. 45(b).

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If Plaintiff chooses to issue the subpoena by means other than the United States Marshals, Plaintiff shall 

file a notice within thirty days of service of this order notifying the Court.

Case 1:21-cv-01275-KES-EPG Document 37 Filed 12/07/22 Page 2 of 2