(PC) Garcia v. Garcia ( 2020 )

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 9 EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 10 11 MARCO A. GARCIA, Case No. 1:17-cv-01313-BAM (PC) 12 Plaintiff, ORDER GRANTING DEFENDANTS’ MOTION TO COMPEL DISCOVERY AND 13 v. REQUEST FOR AWARD OF SANCTIONS (ECF No. 31) 14 GARCIA, et al., THIRTY (30) DAY DEADLINE 15 Defendants. ORDER REQURING PLAINTIFF TO PAY 16 REASONABLE EXPENSES INCURRED IN THE AMOUNT OF $615.00 AND STAYING 17 ORDER IN LIGHT OF PLAINTIFF’S INDIGENCY 18 ORDER RESETTING DISCOVERY AND 19 DISPOSITIVE MOTION DEADLINES 20 Discovery Deadline: October 18, 2020 Dispositive Motion Deadline: December 18, 21 2020 22 23 I. Introduction 24 Plaintiff Marco A. Garcia (“Plaintiff”) is a state prisoner proceeding pro se and in forma 25 pauperis in this civil rights action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. This action proceeds on 26 Plaintiff’s complaint against Defendants Garcia and Bursiaga for excessive force in violation of 27 the Eighth Amendment. All parties have consented to Magistrate Judge jurisdiction. (ECF Nos. 28 5, 27.) 1 On April 9, 2019, Plaintiff was served with: Defendant Bursiaga’s Special Interrogatories 2 (Set One) and Request for Production of Documents (Set One) and Defendant Garcia’s Special 3 Interrogatories (Set One) and Request for Production of Documents (Set One). (Declaration of 4 Matthew P. Bunting, ECF No. 31-1, Exhibits 1–4.) Plaintiff did not respond. (Id. ¶ 7.) 5 On June 5, 2019, defense counsel sent Plaintiff a letter stating that Defendants had not 6 received Plaintiff’s discovery responses, and that Defendants would pursue a motion for an order 7 compelling response to the discovery and requesting monetary sanctions against him if he failed 8 to respond to the discovery requests before June 21, 2019. (Id., Exhibit 5.) Plaintiff did not 9 respond to the meet and confer letter. (Id. ¶ 10.) Defendants therefore filed the instant motion to 10 compel on July 10, 2019. (ECF No. 31.) 11 On July 11, 2019, the Court issued an order directing the parties to meet and confer 12 regarding their discovery dispute, and to file a joint statement following the parties’ conference. 13 The Court stayed further briefing on the motion to compel. (ECF No. 32.) 14 On July 25, 2019, rather than filing a joint statement as directed, Defendants filed their 15 own statement, with Plaintiff’s statement attached as Exhibit 1. (ECF No. 33.) In their statement, 16 Defendants indicate that the phone call between defense counsel and Plaintiff lasted 17 approximately 15–20 minutes, during which Plaintiff repeatedly stated he had not responded to 18 the discovery requests because he does not know how to, and he did not have any estimate as to 19 when he could respond to the discovery. Plaintiff stated that he has access to a law library and a 20 computer in prison but does not fully know how to use it. Defense counsel suggested to Plaintiff 21 that for his portion of the joint statement, he write in plain English without being overly 22 concerned that his writing was not “lawyer-like.” Finally, Defendants indicate that none of the 23 issues that were the subject of Defendants’ pending motion to compel were resolved during the 24 meet and confer, including the Special Interrogatories and Requests for Production of Documents 25 propounded by both Defendants Bursiaga and Garcia. (Id. at 2–3; ECF No. 33-1, pp. 1–2.) 26 In Plaintiff’s portion of the “joint” statement, Plaintiff states that during the call he 27 explained that he is a non-attorney and he did not know how to respond to the requests. Plaintiff 28 was also overwhelmed by the amount of paperwork he received and that most of what was 1 requested was what Plaintiff requested and was told he could not have because he is an inmate. 2 Plaintiff felt it would be a waste of time to respond to something Defendants should reasonably 3 know he does not have and has no access to. Plaintiff specifically indicates that in the Kings 4 County Jail, where the alleged incident occurred, they do not give inmates pictures of incidents or 5 staff reports other than a write up, and there is no way to get copies of medical slips or things of 6 that nature as an inmate. Furthermore, Plaintiff states that as he is no longer in the custody of 7 Kings County, there is no way he can get medical records. Plaintiff also appears to state that 8 Defendants already have the records they are requesting. Plaintiff repeats that he did not respond 9 because he did not understand the requests, and asks for more time to understand what he is 10 required to do to respond. (ECF No. 33, p. 5.) 11 On March 26, 2020, Defendants filed a motion for the Court to issue a ruling on the 12 pending motion to compel, styled as an “Ex Parte Request for Order on Motion to Compel.” 13 (ECF No. 36.) Though Plaintiff had not had the opportunity to file an opposition, the Court found 14 a response unnecessary and deemed the motion submitted on March 27, 2020. (ECF No. 37.) 15 Based on the statements submitted by the parties, it did not appear that the parties discussed any 16 of the specific interrogatories or requests for production at issue, and declined to issue a ruling on 17 the motion to compel at that time. Instead, the Court found it appropriate to reinstate briefing on 18 the motion to compel to allow Plaintiff the opportunity to submit an opposition. In that order, the 19 Court also vacated the discovery and dispositive motion deadlines set in the Court’s December 20 12, 2018 discovery and scheduling order. (Id.) 21 Plaintiff has failed to file an opposition to the motion to compel or otherwise 22 communicate with the Court, and the deadline to do so has expired. The motion is deemed 23 submitted. Local Rule 230(l). 24 II. Motion to Compel 25 As discussed above, Plaintiff’s statement following the parties’ meet and confer stated that 26 he did not respond to Defendants’ discovery requests due to his lack of legal experience and 27 resources and his uncertainty as to how to respond to the requests. (ECF No. 33, p. 5.) Though 28 the statement set forth several reasons for his inability to respond to discovery, they did not 1 address any of the specific requests at issue. Thus, the Court provided Plaintiff with an 2 opportunity to file an opposition to the motion to compel that could provide further information 3 about Plaintiff’s inability to respond to certain interrogatories or requests for production. 4 However, Plaintiff did not oppose the motion. 5 While the Court acknowledges Plaintiff’s pro se status and his lack of legal resources, this 6 alone does not provide Plaintiff with an excuse for failing to provide any responses to 7 Defendants’ discovery requests. Plaintiff must respond to Defendants’ interrogatories and 8 requests for production to the best of his current ability. If Plaintiff learns that one or more of his 9 responses to Defendants’ interrogatories or requests for production is incomplete or incorrect at 10 some later date, then Plaintiff has a duty to serve Defendants with supplemental responses. Fed. 11 R. Civ. P. 26(e)(1)(A). 12 A. Interrogatories 13 An interrogatory is a written question propounded by one party to another who must 14 answer under oath and in writing. Interrogatories are limited to anything within the permissible 15 scope of discovery, namely, any nonprivileged matter that is relevant to any party’s claim or 16 defense. Fed. R. Civ. P. 33, 26(b)(1). The responding party is obligated to respond to the 17 interrogatories to the fullest extent possible, Fed. R. Civ. P. 33(b)(3), and any objections must be 18 stated with specificity, Fed. R. Civ. P. 33(b)(4). Generally, the responding party does not need to 19 conduct extensive research in answering the interrogatory, but a reasonable effort to respond must 20 be made. Evans v. Tilton, 2010 WL 1136216, at *6 (E.D. Cal. Mar. 19, 2010). 21 As Plaintiff has failed to oppose the motion, he has presented no justification for his lack 22 of response to Defendants’ interrogatories. Accordingly, the Court will grant Defendants’ motion 23 to compel responses to their interrogatories. Plaintiff shall be required to answer the 24 interrogatories separately and fully in writing under oath. Fed. R. Civ. P. 33(b)(3). 25 B. Requests for Production 26 Defendants are entitled to discovery regarding any nonprivileged matter relevant to the 27 claims and defenses in this action. Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(b)(1). In responding to requests for 28 production, Plaintiff must produce documents or other tangible things which are in his 1 “possession, custody, or control.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 34(a). Responses must either state that 2 inspection and related activities will be permitted as requested or state an objection to the request, 3 including the reasons. Fed. R. Civ. P. 34(b)(2)(B). 4 Actual possession, custody or control is not required. “A party may be ordered to produce 5 a document in the possession of a non-party entity if that party has a legal right to obtain the 6 document or has control over the entity [that] is in possession of the document.” Soto v. City of 7 Concord, 162 F.R.D. 603, 619 (N.D. Cal.1995); see also Allen v. Woodford, 2007 WL 309945, at 8 *2 (E.D. Cal. Jan. 30, 2007) (“Property is deemed within a party’s ‘possession, custody, or 9 control’ if the party has actual possession, custody, or control thereof or the legal right to obtain 10 the property on demand.”) (citation omitted). 11 Again, in failing to oppose the motion, Plaintiff has provided no justification for his lack 12 of responses to Defendants’ requests for production. Accordingly, the Court will grant 13 Defendants’ motion to compel responses to their requests for production of documents. Plaintiff 14 shall be required to provide documents responsive to Defendants’ requests without objections. 15 Fed. R. Civ. P. 34(b)(2)(B). 16 III. Request for Sanctions 17 If a motion to compel is granted, the Court shall require the party whose conduct 18 necessitated the motion, the party or attorney advising that conduct, or both to pay the movant’s 19 reasonable expenses incurred in making the motion. Fed. R. Civ. P. 37(a)(5)(A) (quotation marks 20 omitted). Before doing so, the Court must provide an opportunity to be heard and the Court shall 21 not order payment if circumstances make an award of expenses unjust. Fed. R. Civ. P. 37(a)(5) 22 (quotation marks omitted). 23 Defendants argue that they have been prejudiced by Plaintiff’s unwillingness to respond to 24 discovery by his failure to provide information and the time and expense that has been spent 25 addressing this issue. Defendants further contend that Plaintiff has failed to demonstrate that his 26 failure to respond is substantially justified. Defendants contend that the meet and confer letter 27 and motion to compel with supporting pleadings took approximately three hours of work at a rate 28 of $205.00, totaling $615.00. (ECF No. 31, pp. 4–5.) 1 In this instance, Defendants’ motion to compel was granted in full. The Court has 2 reviewed the attorney’s fees sought by Defendants and finds that three hours of time at a rate of 3 $205.00 is reasonable. 4 Although Plaintiff is proceeding pro se and in forma pauperis, this status does not shield 5 him from an award of expenses. See Warren v. Guelker, 29 F.3d 1386, 1390 (9th Cir. 1994). 6 However, the Ninth Circuit has held that it is an abuse of discretion to order a sanction which 7 cannot be performed, and Plaintiff’s in forma pauperis status suggests he is unable to pay 8 monetary sanctions. See Thomas v. Gerber Prod., 703 F.2d 353, 357 (9th Cir. 1983). 9 IV. Discovery and Dispositive Motion Deadlines 10 Defendants further request that the Court extend the discovery deadline date to November 11 12, 2019. (ECF No. 31, p. 5.) However, as discussed above, the Court previously vacated the 12 existing discovery and dispositive motion deadlines in this action. Now that the motion to 13 compel has been resolved, the Court finds it appropriate to reset the applicable deadlines to afford 14 Defendants enough time to bring any further motions that may become necessary regarding 15 discovery, and to file subsequent dispositive motions. 16 V. Order 17 Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that: 18 1. Defendants’ motion to compel, (ECF No. 31), is GRANTED; 19 2. Within thirty (30) days from the date of service of this order, Plaintiff shall serve 20 answers to Defendant Bursiaga’s Special Interrogatories (Set One) and to Defendant 21 Garcia’s Special Interrogatories (Set One); 22 3. Within thirty (30) days from the date of service of this order, Plaintiff shall produce 23 documents responsive to Defendant Bursiaga’s Request for Production (Set One) and 24 to Defendant Garcia’s Request for Production (Set One); 25 4. Defendants’ request for sanctions, (ECF No. 31), is GRANTED; 26 5. Reasonable expenses in the amount of $615.001 are assessed against Plaintiff; 27 28 1 $205.00/hour x 3 hours. 1 6. The order assessing reasonable expenses in the amount of $615.00 is stayed; 2 7. At any time prior to the closure of this action, Defendants may move to lift the stay 3 and enforce the sanction upon a showing that Plaintiff has the ability to pay $615.00; 4 8. The deadline for completion of all discovery is extended to October 18, 2020; 5 9. The deadline for filing all dispositive motions (other than a motion for summary 6 judgment for failure to exhaust) is extended to December 18, 2020; 7 10. If Plaintiff does not wish to continue with this litigation, he may stipulate with 8 Defendants for a voluntary dismissal consistent with Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 9 41(a); and 10 11. If Plaintiff fails to comply with this order, Defendants are not precluded from 11 seeking appropriate sanctions, up to and including terminating sanctions, 12 pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 37(b)(2). 13 IT IS SO ORDERED. 14 15 Dated: June 19, 2020 /s/ Barbara A. McAuliffe _ UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28