ORDER GRANTING PLAINTIFF'S REQUEST FOR ISSUANCE OF SUBPOENA DUCES TECUM, AND PLACING PARTIES ON NOTICE THAT A SUBPOENA TO GOVERNMENT CLAIMS PROGRAM SHALL ISSUE AFTER TEN DAYS FROM THE DATE OF SERVICE OF THIS ORDER
(ECF No. 72.)
ERICA P. GROSJEAN, District Judge.
I. BACKGROUND
Plaintiff is a state prisoner proceeding pro se and in forma pauperis with this civil rights action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. This case now proceeds on Plaintiff's First Amended Complaint filed on February 11, 2013, against defendant Scott Driscoll, M.D. for inadequate medical care in violation of the Eighth Amendment. (ECF No. 19.)
On May 19, 2016, Plaintiff filed a request for issuance of a subpoena to non-party Government Claims Program, commanding the production of documents. (ECF No. 72.)
II. REQUEST FOR ISSUANCE OF SUBPOENA
"A command in a subpoena to produce documents, electronically stored information, or tangible things requires the responding person to permit inspection, copying, testing, or sampling of the materials." Fed. R. Civ. P. 45(a)(1)(D). "If the subpoena commands the production of documents, electronically stored information, or tangible things or the inspection of premises before trial, then before it is served on the person to whom it is directed, a notice and a copy of the subpoena must be served on each party." Fed. R. Civ. P. 45(a)(4). Under Rule 26 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, "[p]arties may obtain discovery regarding any non-privileged matter that is relevant to any party's claim or defense." Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(b). "Relevant information need not be admissible at trial if the discovery appears reasonably calculated to lead to the discovery of admissible evidence." Id.
Plaintiff requests issuance of a subpoena duces tecum compelling non-party Government Claims Program to produce documents. Plaintiff seeks "any documents, notes or electronically stored information involving Geraldine Darden during the year 2012." (ECF No. 72 at 1.) Plaintiff requests the subpoena to be addressed to Government Claims Program, 400 R Street, 5th Floor, Sacramento, CA 95811.
Plaintiff's request for issuance of the described subpoena, to the extent she seeks information about her medical care at issue in this action, appears reasonably calculated to lead to the discovery of admissible evidence. Moreover, notice of the subpoena was given orally at the Court's July 1, 2016 hearing, and Defendants indicated they had no objection. Thus, the Court shall grant Plaintiff's request. Plaintiff is proceeding in forma pauperis and is entitled to service of the subpoena by the United States Marshal. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(d). Pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 45(b)(1), this order provides the requisite notice to the parties that the Court will, after ten days from the date of service of this order, issue the subpoena and direct the United States Marshal to effect personal service.
III. CONCLUSION
Accordingly, it is HEREBY ORDERED that: 1. Plaintiff's request for issuance of a subpoena to Government Claims Program is GRANTED; and 2. Pursuant to Rule 45(b)(1), the parties are placed on notice that the attached subpoena duces tecum directed to Government Claims Program shall be issued after ten (10) days from the date of service of this order.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
for the
Eastern District of California
GERALDINE DARDEN,
Plaintiff
v. Civil Action No. 1:12-CV-01001-EPG-PC.
S. DRISCOLL, M.D., ET AL.,.
Defendant
SUBPOENA TO PRODUCE DOCUMENTS, INFORMATION, OR OBJECTS
OR TO PERMIT INSPECTION OF PREMISES IN A CIVIL ACTION
To: GOVERNMENT CLAIMS PROGRAM
400 R. Street, Sacramento, CA 95811
(Name of person to whom this subpoena is directed)
[✓] Production: YOU ARE COMMANDED to produce at the time, date, and place set forth below the following documents, electronically stored information, or objects, and to permit inspection, copying, testing, or sampling of the material: Any documents, notes or electronically stored information involving Geraldine Darden during the year 2012.
Place: Geraldine Darden W-81216, CCWF Date and Time:
P.O. Box 1501
Chowchilla, California 93610-1501 10/30/2016 5:00 pm
[ ] Inspection of Premises: YOU ARE COMMANDED to permit entry onto the designated premises, land, or other property possessed or controlled by you at the time, date, and location set forth below, so that the requesting party may inspect, measure, survey, photograph, test, or sample the property or any designated object or operation on it.
Place: Date and Time:
The following provisions of Fed. R. Civ. P. 45 are attached — Rule 45(c), relating to the place of compliance; Rule 45(d), relating to your protection as a person subject to a subpoena; and Rule 45(e) and (g), relating to your duty to respond to this subpoena and the potential consequences of not doing so.
Date: ___________
CLERK OF COURT
OR
__________________________________ _____________________
Signature of Clerk or Deputy Clerk Attorney's signature
The name, address, e-mail address, and telephone number of the attorney representing (name of party) _____________ _______________________________________________, who issues or requests this subpoena, are:
Notice to the person who issues or requests this subpoena
If this subpoena commands the production of documents, electronically stored information, or tangible things or the inspection of premises before trial, a notice and a copy of the subpoena must be served on each party in this case before it is served on the person to whom it is directed. Fed. R. Civ. P. 45(a)(4).
PROOF OF SERVICE
(This section should not be filed with the court unless required by Fat R. Civ. P. 45.)
I received this subpoena for (name of individual and title, if any) _________________ on (date) ___________.
[ ] I served the subpoena by delivering a copy to the named person as follows: ______________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________ on (date) _____________________ ; or
[ ] I returned the subpoena unexecuted because: _______________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
Unless the subpoena was issued on behalf of the United States, or one of its officers or agents, I have also
tendered to the witness the fees for one day's attendance, and the mileage allowed by law, in the amount of
$ _________________.
My fees are $ ___________ for travel and $ _____________ for services, for a total of $ 0.00.
I declare under penalty of perjury that this information is true.
Date: ___________ ___________________________________
Server's signature
___________________________________
>Printed name and title
___________________________________
>Server's address
Additional information regarding attempted service, etc.:
Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 45 (c), (d), (e), and (g) (Effective 12/1/13)
(c) Place of Compliance.
(1) For a Trial, Hearing, or Deposition. A subpoena may command a person to attend a trial, hearing, or deposition only as follows:
(A) within 100 miles of where the person resides, is employed, or regularly transacts business in person; or
(B) within the state where the person resides, is employed, or regularly transacts business in person, if the person
(i) is a party or a party's officer; or
(ii) is commanded to attend a trial and would not incur substantial expense.
(2) For Other Discovery. A subpoena may command:
(A) production of documents, electronically stored information, or tangible things at a place within 100 miles of where the person resides, is employed, or regularly transacts business in person; and
(B) inspection of premises at the premises to be inspected.
(d) Protecting a Person Subject to a Subpoena; Enforcement.
(1) Avoiding Undue Burden or Expense; Sanctions. A party or attorney responsible for issuing and serving a subpoena must take reasonable steps to avoid imposing undue burden or expense on a person subject to the subpoena. The court for the district where compliance is required must enforce this duty and impose an appropriate sanction—which may include lost earnings and reasonable attorney's fees—on a party or attorney who fails to comply.
(2) Command to Produce Materials or Permit Inspection.
(A) Appearance Not Required. A person commanded to produce documents, electronically stored information, or tangible things, or to permit the inspection of premises, need not appear in person at the place of production or inspection unless also commanded to appear for a deposition, hearing, or trial.
(B) Objections. A person commanded to produce documents or tangible things or to permit inspection may serve on the party or attorney designated in the subpoena a written objection to inspecting, copying, testing, or sampling any or all of the materials or to inspecting the premises—or to producing electronically stored information in the form or forms requested. The objection must be served before the earlier of the time specified for compliance or 14 days after the subpoena is served. If an objection is made, the following rules apply:
(i) At any time, on notice to the commanded person, the serving party may move the court for the district where compliance is required for an order compelling production or inspection.
(ii) These acts may be required only as directed in the order, and the order must protect a person who is neither a party nor a party's officer from significant expense resulting from compliance.
(3) Quashing or Modifying a Subpoena.
(A) When Required. On timely motion, the court for the district where compliance is required must quash or modify a subpoena that:
(i) fails to allow a reasonable time to comply;
(ii) requires a person to comply beyond the geographical limits specified in Rule 45(c);
(iii) requires disclosure of privileged or other protected matter, if no exception or waiver applies; or
(iv) subjects a person to undue burden.
(B) When Permitted. To protect a person subject to or affected by a subpoena, the court for the district where compliance is required may, on motion, quash or modify the subpoena if it requires:
(i) disclosing a trade secret or other confidential research, development, or commercial information; or
(ii) disclosing an unretained expert's opinion or information that does not describe specific occurrences in dispute and results from the expert's study that was not requested by a party.
(C) Specifying Conditions as an Alternative. In the circumstances described in Rule 45(d)(3)(B), the court may, instead of quashing or modifying a subpoena, order appearance or production under specified conditions if the serving party:
(i) shows a substantial need for the testimony or material that cannot be otherwise met without undue hardship; and
(ii) ensures that the subpoenaed person will be reasonably compensated.
(e) Duties in Responding to a Subpoena.
(1) Producing Documents or Electronically Stored Information. These procedures apply to producing documents or electronically stored information:
(A) Documents. A person responding to a subpoena to produce documents must produce them as they are kept in the ordinary course of business or must organize and label them to correspond to the categories in the demand.
(B) Form for Producing Electronically Stored Information Not Specified. If a subpoena does not specify a form for producing electronically stored information, the person responding must produce it in a form or forms in which it is ordinarily maintained or in a reasonably usable form or forms.
(C) Electronically Stored Information Produced in Only One Form. The person responding need not produce the same electronically stored information in more than one form.
(D) Inaccessible Electronically Stored Information. The person responding need not provide discovery of electronically stored information from sources that the person identifies as not reasonably accessible because of undue burden or cost. On motion to compel discovery or for a protective order, the person responding must show that the information is not reasonably accessible because of undue burden or cost. If that showing is made, the court may nonetheless order discovery from such sources if the requesting party shows good cause, considering the limitations of Rule 26(b)(2)(C). The court may specify conditions for the discovery.
(2) Claiming Privilege or Protection.
(A) Information Withheld. A person withholding subpoenaed information under a claim that it is privileged or subject to protection as trial-preparation material must:
(i) expressly make the claim; and
(ii) describe the nature of the withheld documents, communications, or tangible things in a manner that, without revealing information itself privileged or protected, will enable the parties to assess the claim.
(B) Information Produced. If information produced in response to a subpoena is subject to a claim of privilege or of protection as trial-preparation material, the person making the claim may notify any party that received the information of the claim and the basis for it. After being notified, a party must promptly return, sequester, or destroy the specified information and any copies it has; must not use or disclose the information until the claim is resolved; must take reasonable steps to retrieve the information if the party disclosed it before being notified; and may promptly present the information under seal to the court for the district where compliance is required for a determination of the claim. The person who produced the information must preserve the information until the claim is resolved.
(g) Contempt.
The court for the district where compliance is required—and also, after a motion is transferred, the issuing court—may hold in contempt a person who, having been served, fails without adequate excuse to obey the subpoena or an order related to a.
For access to subpoena materials, see Fed. R. Civ. P. 45(a) Committee Note (2013).
