Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_07-cv-01189/USCOURTS-caed-2_07-cv-01189-5/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

CLIFTON JEROME MCDANIEL,

Plaintiff, No. CIV S-07-1189 LEW JFM P

vs.

S. HUBBARD, et al.,

Defendants. ORDER

 /

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

42 U.S.C. § 1983. On November 28, 2007, plaintiff filed a motion for default judgment and/or

request to enter default by the clerk, claiming defendants did not timely answer the amended

complaint and obtained plaintiff’s medical and psychiatric reports without a formal discovery

request in violation of Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(a)(1)(E)(iii). 

Entry of default is appropriate only where the defendant has been properly served

and fails to timely file a responsive pleading. On October 31, 2007, the court granted defendants

a ten day extension of time in which to file a responsive pleading. On November 7, 2007,

defendants filed an answer. Because the answer was timely filed under Fed. R. Civ. P. 6, entry of

default or default judgment is inappropriate. In addition, it is inappropriate to sanction

defendants for obtaining plaintiff’s medical and psychiatric records. Plaintiff’s claim to

doctor/patient privilege is waived by placing his medical and psychiatric conditions at issue in

Case 2:07-cv-01189-JAM -JFM Document 24 Filed 12/19/07 Page 1 of 2
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the instant action. See Barton v. United States District Court, Central Dist., Cal., 410 F.3d 1104,

1108 (9th Cir. 2005). Plaintiff’s request for sanctions is also inappropriate. 

Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that plaintiff’s November 28, 2007

motion is denied.

DATED: December 18, 2007.

1/mcda1189.def

Case 2:07-cv-01189-JAM -JFM Document 24 Filed 12/19/07 Page 2 of 2