SECOND SCHEDULING ORDER

ORDER DIRECTING CLERK'S OFFICE TO SEND LOCAL RULE 281 TO PLAINTIFF

STANLEY A. BOONE, Magistrate Judge.

Plaintiff Jared Villery is appearing pro se and in forma pauperis in this civil rights action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Plaintiff and Defendants have declined United States Magistrate Judge jurisdiction. (Doc. Nos. 7, 67, 68.)

This action is proceeding against Defendants George Rodriguez, Bryan Lindsey, Edward Granillo, Brian Dagama, and David Stewart for retaliation in violation of the First Amendment.1 Pursuant to Rule 16(b) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, the Court now sets a further schedule for this litigation.

The parties are required to file pretrial statements in accordance with the schedule set forth herein. In addition to the matters already required to be addressed in the pretrial statement in accordance with Local Rule 281, Plaintiff will be required to make a particularized showing in order to obtain the attendance of witnesses. The procedures and requirements for making such a showing are outlined in detail below. Plaintiff is advised that failure to comply with the procedures set forth below may result in the preclusion of any and all witnesses named in his pretrial statement.

At the trial of this case, Plaintiff must be prepared to introduce evidence to prove each of the alleged facts that support the claims raised in the lawsuit. In general, there are two kinds of trial evidence: (1) exhibits and (2) the testimony of witnesses. It is Plaintiff's responsibility to produce all of the evidence to prove his case, whether that evidence is in the form of exhibits or witness testimony. If Plaintiff wants to call witnesses to testify, he must follow certain procedures to ensure that the witnesses will be at the trial and available to testify.

1. Procedures for Obtaining Attendance of Incarcerated Witnesses Who Agree to Testify Voluntarily — An incarcerated witness who agrees voluntarily to attend trial to give testimony cannot come to court unless the Court orders the warden or other custodian to permit the witness to be transported to court. The Court will not issue such an order unless it is satisfied that 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 trial must serve and file concurrent with the pretrial statement a written motion for a court order requiring that such witnesses be brought to court at the time of trial. The motion must: (1) state the name, address, and prison identification number of each such witness; and (2) be accompanied by declarations showing that each witness is willing to testify and that each witness has actual knowledge of relevant facts. The motion should be entitled "Motion for Attendance of Incarcerated Witnesses."

The willingness of the prospective witness can be shown in one of two ways: (1) the party himself can swear by declaration under penalty of perjury that the prospective witness has informed the party that he or she is willing to testify voluntarily without being subpoenaed, in which declaration the party must state when and where the prospective witness informed the party of this willingness; or (2) the party can serve and file a declaration, signed under penalty of perjury by the prospective witness, in which the witness states that he or she is willing to testify without being subpoenaed.

The prospective witness's actual knowledge of relevant facts can be shown in one of two ways: (1) if the party has actual firsthand knowledge that the prospective witness was an eyewitness or an ear-witness to the relevant facts (e.g., if an incident occurred in Plaintiff's cell and, at the time, Plaintiff saw that a cellmate was present and observed the incident, Plaintiff may swear to the cellmate's ability to testify), the party himself can swear by declaration under penalty of perjury that the prospective witness has actual knowledge; or (2) the party can serve and file a declaration signed under penalty of perjury 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 declaration is made by the party or by the prospective witness, it must be specific about the incident, when and where it occurred, who was 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's custodian to bring the witness to court.

Motions for the attendance of incarcerated witnesses, if any, must be filed on or before April 14, 2017. Oppositions, if any, must be filed on or before April 28, 2017.

2. 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 with his pretrial statement 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.

Motions for the attendance of incarcerated witnesses, if any, must be filed on or before April 14, 2017. Oppositions, if any, must be filed on or before April 28, 2017.

3. 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's voluntary attendance to notify the witness of the time and date of trial. No action need be sought or obtained from the Court.

4. 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, the witness must be served with a subpoena. Fed. R. Civ. P. 45. In addition, the party seeking the witness's presence must tender an appropriate sum of money for the witness. Id. In the case of an unincarcerated witness, the appropriate sum of money is the daily witness fee of $40.00 plus the witness's travel expenses. 28 U.S.C. § 1821.

If Plaintiff wishes to obtain the attendance of one or more unincarcerated witnesses who refuse to testify voluntarily, Plaintiff must first notify the Court in writing of the name and location of each unincarcerated witness. The Court will calculate the travel expense for each unincarcerated witness and notify Plaintiff of the amount(s). Plaintiff must then, for each witness, submit a money order made payable to the witness for the full amount of the witness's travel expenses plus the daily witness fee of $40.00. The subpoena will not be served upon the unincarcerated witness by the United States Marshal unless the money order is tendered to the Court. 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.

If Plaintiff wishes to have the Marshal serve any unincarcerated witnesses who refuse to testify voluntarily, Plaintiff must submit the money orders to the Court no later than May 14, 2017. In order to ensure timely submission of the money orders, Plaintiff must notify the Court of the names and locations of his witnesses, in compliance with step one, on or before April 14, 2017.

The parties are advised that failure to file pretrial statements as required by this order may result in the imposition of appropriate sanctions, which may include dismissal of the action or entry of default.

The following is important information about scheduling and trailing cases:

District Court Judges of the Fresno Division of the Eastern District of California have one of the heaviest caseload in the nation. As a result, each District Judge schedules multiple trials to begin on each available trial date. Civil cases will trail and begin as soon as a courtroom is cleared. The law requires that the Court give any criminal trial priority over civil trials or any other matter. A civil trial set to begin while a criminal trial is proceeding will trail the completion of the criminal trial.

The Court cannot give advance notice of which cases will trail or for how long because the Court does not know which cases actually will go to trial or precisely how long each will last. Once your trial date arrives, counsel, parties and witnesses must remain on 24-hour-stand-by until a court opens. Since continuance to a date certain will simply postpone, but not solve, the problem, continuances of any civil trial under these circumstances will no longer be entertained, absent a specific and stated finding of good cause. The Court will use its best efforts to mitigate the effect of the foregoing and to resolve all cases in a timely manner.

One alternative is for the parties to consent to a United States Magistrate Judge conducting all proceedings, including trial and entry of final judgment, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 28 U.S.C. 636(c), Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 73, and Local Rule 305. The Eastern District Magistrate Judges, all experienced former trial lawyers, use the same jury pool and same court facilities as United States District Court Judges. Since Magistrate Judges do not conduct felony trials, they have greater flexibility and schedule firm trial dates. Judgment entered by a United States Magistrate Judge is appealable directly to the United States Court of Appeal for the Ninth Circuit. (While there are scheduling benefits to consenting to Magistrate Judge jurisdiction, substantive rulings and decisions will not be affected by whether a party chooses to consent or not.)

As another response to its large caseload, the Fresno Division of the Eastern District of California is assigning cases, whenever possible, to Article III District Court Judges from around the nation as Visiting Judges. Pursuant to the Local Rules, Appendix A, such reassignments will be random, and the parties will receive no advance notice before their case is reassigned to an Article III District Court Judge from outside of the Eastern District of California.

Accordingly, the Court HEREBY ORDERS as follows:

1. This matter is set for telephonic trial confirmation hearing before the Honorable Lawrence J. O'Neill on June 15, 2017, at 8:30 a.m. in Courtroom 4;

2. This matter is set for jury trial before the Honorable Lawrence J. O'Neill on August 1, 2017, at 8:30 a.m. in Courtroom 4;

3. Counsel for Defendants is required to arrange for the participation of Plaintiff in the telephonic trial confirmation hearing and to initiate the telephonic hearing at (559) 499-5680;

4. Plaintiff shall serve and file a pretrial statement as described in this order on or before April 14, 2017;

5. Defendants shall serve and file a pretrial statement as described in this order on or before April 28, 2017;

6. In addition to electronically filing their pretrial statement, Defendants shall e-mail the pretrial statement to: ljoorders@caed.uscourts.gov;

7. If Plaintiff intends to call incarcerated witnesses at time of trial, Plaintiff shall serve and file a motion for attendance of incarcerated witnesses as described in this order on or before April 14, 2017;

8. The opposition to the motion for the attendance of incarcerated witnesses, if any, shall be filed on or before April 28, 2017;

9. If Plaintiff wishes to obtain the attendance of unincarcerated witnesses who refuse to testify voluntarily, Plaintiff must notify the Court of their names and locations on or before April 14, 2017, and Plaintiff must submit the money orders, as described in subsection 4 of this order, to the Court on or before May 14, 2017; and

10. The Clerk's Office shall send Plaintiff a copy of Local Rule 281.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

RULE 281 (Fed. R. Civ. P. 16)

PRETRIAL STATEMENTS

(a) Time for Filing. As required by the pretrial (scheduling) order in the action, counsel shall file either separate pretrial statements or a joint pretrial statement as follows:

(1) Separate Statements. Not less than fourteen (14) days before the date set by the Court for the holding of the final pretrial conference, counsel for the plaintiff shall serve and file a pretrial statement in the form prescribed herein. Not less than seven (7) days before the date set for the holding of the pretrial conference, counsel for all other parties shall serve on all parties and file pretrial statements that may adopt by reference any or all of the matters set forth in the plaintiff's pretrial statement.

(2) Joint Statements. Not less than seven (7) days before the date set by the Court for the holding of the final pretrial conference, or such other time as the Court may order, counsel for all parties shall file a joint pretrial statement in the form prescribed herein or in such other form as the Court may prescribe.

(3) Word Processed Copy. Electronic filers shall also concurrently submit an electronic copy of their statement in Word format following the procedures for proposed orders. See L.R. 137(b).

(b) Form, Contents. The pretrial statement shall state the name of the party or parties on whose behalf it is presented and set forth the nature of the action and the following matters, under the following captions and in the following order:

(1) Jurisdiction — Venue. The factual and statutory basis of federal jurisdiction and venue and whether there is any dispute concerning jurisdiction or venue.

(2) Jury — Non-Jury. Whether the party has demanded a jury trial of all or any of the issues or, if not, whether a demand for jury trial made by any other party is conceded or contested.

(3) Undisputed Facts. A plain, concise statement of the facts that are undisputed.

(4) Disputed Factual Issues. A plain, concise statement of each fact (and any related essential facts) that the party claims or concedes to be in dispute.

(5) Disputed Evidentiary Issues. A plain, concise summary of any reasonably anticipated disputes concerning admissibility of live and deposition testimony, physical and demonstrative evidence and the use of special technology at trial, including computer animation, video discs, and other high technology, and a statement whether each such dispute should be resolved by motion in limine, briefed in the trial brief, or addressed in some other manner.

(6) Special Factual Information in Certain Actions. In addition to the facts and issues described in (3) through (5), the following special information with respect to the following types of actions shall be specified within either the disputed or undisputed facts sections as appropriate:

(i) In eminent domain actions:

(A) As to each parcel involved, its designation, general description, location, and size; the interest taken; the names of persons claiming an interest therein and the interests claimed; whether an order of possession has been issued; each objection or defense to the taking, if any; and the claimed market value of the interest taken at the time of the taking.

(B) Whether consolidation of trial with other actions would be practicable or desirable.

(C) Suggested procedures for a mutual exchange of lists of comparable sales to be relied upon by the valuation experts, such lists to include for each transaction, to the extent known, the names of the parties, the date of transaction, amount of consideration, location of property, and recording date.

(D) Whether evidence of value other than comparable sales is to be relied upon and, if so, the method of valuation and the authority for its use.

(ii) In patent actions:

(A) The name, number, filing, and issue date of the patent or patents involved.

(B) The names of all persons claiming a present interest in each patent.

(C) An abstract of each patent sufficient to permit determination of the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. An abstract in keeping with that called for in Patent Office Rule 1.72(b) shall be deemed sufficient. See 37 C.F.R. § 1.72.

(D) A statement of the facts relied upon to support any charge of infringement.

(E) Where invalidity of a patent has been asserted as a defense, any and all prior art (patents, publications, and public uses) pleaded in the answer or noticed pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 282, in relation to the defense invoked, whether the defense be 35 U.S.C. § 102 or 35 U.S.C. § 103.

(F) An explanation of any interparty tests that have been conducted and a request for such interparty tests as should be ordered before setting for trial.

(iii) In actions involving contracts:

(A) The parties' respective versions of the terms of the contract.

(B) Whether the contract and any modifications or collateral agreements were written or oral or both, specifying any document, letter, or other writing relied upon by date and parties, and indicating any oral agreement relied upon by date, place, and parties.

(C) Any misrepresentation of fact, mistake, or other matter affecting validity.

(D) Any breach of contract.

(E) Any waiver or estoppel.

(F) The relief sought (rescission, restitution, damages for breach, specific performance, etc.).

(G) The measure of restitution or damages and an itemized statement of the elements thereof.

(iv) In tort actions for personal injury, wrongful death or property damage:

(A) The date, place, and general nature of the incident; the particular acts, omissions, or conditions constituting the basis for liability; the particular acts, omissions or conditions constituting the basis of any defense; any statute, ordinance, or regulation violated by either party; the applicability of the doctrine of strict liability or res ipsa loquitur.

(B) Each plaintiff's age; injuries sustained; any prior injury or condition worsened; periods of hospitalization; medical expenses and estimated future medical expenses; the period of total and/or partial disability; annual, monthly, or weekly earnings before the incident; earnings loss to date and estimated diminution of future earnings power; property damage; general damages; punitive damages.

(C) In wrongful death actions: the names and ages of dependents; the annual, monthly, or weekly contribution of decedent to dependents before death; the physical condition, education, and training of decedent at the time of death.

(7) Relief Sought. The elements of monetary damage, if any, and the specific nature of any other relief sought.

(8) Points of Law. A statement of the legal theory or theories of recovery or of defense and of any points of law (substantive or procedural) that are or may reasonably be expected to be in controversy, citing the pertinent statutes, ordinances, regulations, cases, and other authorities relied upon. Extended legal argument is not required in the pretrial statement.

(9) Abandoned Issues. A statement of all issues raised by the pleadings that have been abandoned, including, for example, claims for relief and affirmative defenses.

(10) Witnesses. A list (names and addresses) of all prospective witnesses, whether offered in person or by deposition or interrogatory, designating those who are expert witnesses. Only witnesses so listed will be permitted to testify at the trial, except as may be otherwise provided in the pretrial order.

(11) Exhibits — Schedules and Summaries. A list of documents or other exhibits that the party expects to offer at trial. Only exhibits so listed will be permitted to be offered at trial except as may be otherwise provided in the pretrial order.

(12) Discovery Documents. A list of all portions of depositions, answers to interrogatories, and responses to requests for admission that the party expects to offer at trial.

(13) Further Discovery or Motions. Any requests for further discovery or pretrial motions. Where discovery and/or law and motion has been terminated by a Court order, counsel shall set forth the grounds for relief from that order and why a motion to be relieved was not made before the date ordered in the status conference for termination. Motions for relief at pretrial are not favored and will ordinarily be denied unless the moving party makes a strong showing.

(14) Stipulations. Any stipulations requested or offered for pretrial or trial purposes.

(15) Amendments — Dismissals. Any requested amendments to pleadings, dismissals, additions or substitutions of parties, or dispositions as to defaulting parties.

(16) Settlement Negotiations. A statement whether settlement negotiations between parties and/or a court settlement conference under L.R. 270 would be helpful.

(17) Agreed Statements. A statement whether presentation of all or part of the action upon an Agreed Statement of Facts is feasible and advisable.

(18) Separate Trial of Issues. A statement whether separate trial of any of the issues is feasible and advisable.

(19) Impartial Experts — Limitation of Experts. A statement whether appointment by the Court of impartial expert witnesses or limitation of the number of expert witnesses is advisable.

(20) Attorneys' Fees. A statement whether attorneys' fees are sought and the time and manner in which they are to be ascertained. See L.R. 293.

(21) Trial Exhibits. Any special handling of trial exhibits and a statement of advisability of court retention of exhibits pending appeal decision. See L.R. 138(e).

(22) Trial Protective Order. Whether a trial protective order will be sought pursuant to L.R. 141.1(b)(2).

(23) Miscellaneous. Any other appropriate comments, suggestions, or information that might aid in the disposition of the action, including references to any matters set forth in Fed. R. Civ. P. 16(c).

(c) Claims of Privilege. If any privilege against disclosure is claimed with respect to any statement required by this Rule and the validity of the claim has not yet been determined, a party may omit such statement and include instead a statement of such claim of privilege and the grounds therefor.

(d) Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(a)(3) Disclosures. The foregoing disclosures satisfy the requirements of Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(a)(3).