Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_21-cv-01258/USCOURTS-caed-1_21-cv-01258-14/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
Lance Aytman
Plaintiff
Keith Hooker
Plaintiff
Alex Horn
Plaintiff
Kraft Heinz Foods Company LLC
Defendant

Document Text:

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

ALEX HORN, LANCE AYTMAN, and 

KEITH HOOKER,

Plaintiffs,

v.

KRAFT HEINZ FOODS COMPANY 

LLC,

Defendant.

Case No. 1:21-cv-01258-JLT-BAM

ORDER GRANTING PARTIES’ 

AMENDED JOINT STIPULATED

MOTION TO COMPEL DEPOSITION OF 

DR. VALERIE GIBSON AND 

COMPELLING PLAINTIFF TO APPEAR 

FOR DEPOSITION ON SEPTEMBER 26, 

2023

(Doc. 92)

Currently before the Court is the parties’ Amended Joint Stipulation to Compel 

Deposition of Dr. Valerie Gibson Pursuant to Local Rule 251 (Fed. R. Civ. P. 37). (Doc. 92.)1

The parties’ stipulation requests the Court compel compliance of a subpoena for testimony served 

on non-party Dr. Valerie Gibson. (Id.) The parties’ stipulation further requested the Court extend 

the deadline for expert disclosures. (Id at 5.) The Court previously addressed the parties’ 

requests for extension of the expert disclosure deadline. (Doc. 91.)

The Court incorporates the stipulated facts from the parties’ stipulation. (Doc. 92.) On 

June 22, 2023, Defendant served a subpoena for deposition set for July 18, 2023 on Dr. Gibson 

via email. (Id. at 12-19.) On July 17, 2023, Defendant then served an amended notice for 

deposition pursuant to the original subpoena set for August 9, 2023 on Dr. Gibson via email. (Id. 

at 21-31.) On July 25, 2023, Defendant subsequently served a second amended notice of 

1 The parties’ Amended Joint Stipulation (Doc. 92) includes exhibits with proofs of service and 

supersedes the parties’ initial Joint Stipulation requesting the same relief (Doc. 87).

Case 1:21-cv-01258-JLT-BAM Document 93 Filed 09/18/23 Page 1 of 3
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deposition pursuant to the original subpoena set for September 12, 2023 on Dr. Gibson via email. 

(Id. at 33-43.) On September 8, 2023, Plaintiffs served a subpoena for the September 12, 2023 

deposition on Dr. Gibson via service on a front desk employee. (Id. at 45-51.) Dr. Gibson then 

contacted and discussed the subpoena with Plaintiffs’ counsel. (Id. at 4.) Defendant served the 

instant amended joint stipulation on Dr. Gibson via email on September 15, 2023. (Id. at 52-53.)

Rule 45 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure authorizes the issuance of a subpoena to 

command a nonparty to attend and testify at a specific time and place. Fed. R. Civ. P. 

45(a)(1)(A)(iii); Fed. R. Civ. P. 30(a)(1) (“The deponent's attendance may be compelled by 

subpoena under Rule 45”). If necessary to enforce that subpoena, a party may move to compel a 

deposition of a nonparty in the court where the discovery is to be taken. Fed. R. Civ. P. 37(a)(1)-

(2). Under Rule 45(d)(3), a party to which a subpoena is directed may move for an order quashing 

the subpoena. Otherwise, the party must respond. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 45(e). Rule 45(g) permits 

the Court to hold a non-party who fails to comply with a subpoena in contempt, including a 

finding that any objections have been waived. Fed. R. Civ. P. 45(g).

Based on the parties’ stipulation, Dr. Gibson has disregarded the subpoena issued by 

Defendant and the one issued by Plaintiff. (Doc. 92 at 3-5.) Dr. Gibson has failed to appear and 

testify, despite being paid in advance the sum of $2,000. (Id.) Pursuant to Rule 45(g), the Court 

finds that Dr. Gibson is in contempt of Court. The Court further finds that Dr. Gibson has waived 

any objections to the subpoena. Accordingly, Dr. Gibson will now be ordered by this Court to 

comply the subpoena to appear for a deposition and give testimony.

Dr. Gibson is cautioned that failure to comply will result in the imposition of 

monetary sanctions, including an order to pay one or both parties’ reasonable expenses as 

well as an order directing Dr. Gibson to pay a contempt sanction to the Court.

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Case 1:21-cv-01258-JLT-BAM Document 93 Filed 09/18/23 Page 2 of 3
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Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the parties’ stipulated motion to compel the 

deposition of Dr. Valerie Gibson (Doc. 92) is GRANTED as follows:

1. Dr. Gibson is in contempt of Court for failure to comply with Defendant’s and 

Plaintiffs’ subpoenas dated June 22, 2023 and September 7, 2023.

2. All objections to Defendant’s and Plaintiffs’ subpoenas are deemed waived.

3. Dr. Gibson is hereby ordered to appear for her remote deposition on September 26, 

2023 at 9:00 AM PT pursuant to login instructions to be provided by the Defendant, 

with up to 6 hours on the record for Defendant and 3 hours on the record for Plaintiffs.

4. Defendant and Plaintiffs are each directed to serve a copy of this order on Dr. Gibson.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: September 18, 2023 /s/ Barbara A. McAuliffe _

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 1:21-cv-01258-JLT-BAM Document 93 Filed 09/18/23 Page 3 of 3