Opinion
No. 2:12-cv-2154 MCE KJN P
02-12-2015
RICHARD KIMBRO, Plaintiff, v. MIRANDA, et al., Defendants.
ORDER
Pursuant to the mailbox rule, on December 16, 2014, Plaintiff filed a request for reconsideration of the magistrate judge's order filed December 4, 2014, denying Plaintiff's motion for extension of time. ECF No. 95. Pursuant to E.D. Local Rule 303(f), a magistrate judge's orders shall be upheld unless "clearly erroneous or contrary to law." Id. For the following reasons, Plaintiff's motion for reconsideration is DENIED.
On November 24, 2014, Plaintiff filed a motion for an extension of time to file a supplemental opposition to Defendants' summary judgment motion and a request for the court to clarify the meaning of Defendants' letter dated November 6, 2014. ECF No. 93. Attached as an exhibit to Plaintiff's motion was a copy of an order issued by Magistrate Judge Claire in Hubbard v. Hougland, 2: 09-cv-0939 TLN AC P. Id. at 9-25. In that order, Judge Claire directed the defendants in that case to provide that plaintiff, Mr. Hubbard, with documents requested in a motion to compel. Id. Also attached as an exhibit to plaintiff's motion for extension of time was a letter dated November 6, 2014, addressed to Plaintiff in this case, i.e., Mr. Kimbro, regarding Hubbard v. Hougland, 2:09-cv-0939 TLN AC P, from Deputy Attorney General Heath. Id. at 8. In this letter, Deputy Attorney General Heath stated that the documents ordered produced by Judge Claire would be produced by December 1, 2014. Id.
In his November 24, 2014 motion, Plaintiff requested an extension of time to review the documents produced to him by Deputy Attorney General Health so that he could file a supplemental opposition to Defendants' pending summary judgment motion. Id. at 1-3.
On December 4, 2014, Magistrate Judge Newman denied Plaintiff's November 24, 2014, motion for extension of time after finding that the letter sent to Plaintiff by Deputy Attorney General Heath was sent to Plaintiff in error. ECF No. 94.
In the pending motion for reconsideration, Plaintiff contends that the letter sent to him by Deputy Attorney General Heath was not sent to him in error. ECF No. 95. On January 20, 2015, Defendants filed an opposition to Plaintiff's motion for reconsideration. ECF No. 96. According to Defendants, that the letter sent to plaintiff by Deputy Attorney General Heath was not sent in error, but that the letter is unrelated to the instant action. Id.
More specifically, Defendants state that in Hubbard v. Hougland, 2:09-cv-0939 TLN AC, Judge Claire ordered the defendants in that case to produce grievances/appeals/staff misconduct complaints filed against them by individuals alleging excessive force or dishonesty. Id. at 2-3. Defendants explain that the purpose of Deputy Attorney General Heath's November 6, 2014, letter to Plaintiff was to inform him that his staff complaint was being produced to inmate Hubbard in another litigation. Id. at 3. Defendants further note that, on December 9, 2014, Deputy Attorney General Heath sent plaintiff a follow-up letter explaining the purpose of the November 6, 2014 letter. Id. at 3, 7.
In the opposition, Defendants also respond to Plaintiff's request to reopen discovery based on the new information he received as a result of the letter from Deputy Attorney General Heath. Id. at 4-5. Defendants observe that discovery in this case closed on September 6, 2013. Id. at 2.
Because the letter sent to Plaintiff by Deputy Attorney General Heath is unrelated to the instant action, Magistrate Judge Newman's December 4, 2014 order denying plaintiff's motion for extension of time was not clearly erroneous or contrary to law. Plaintiff has not shown good cause to reopen discovery based on the letters he received from Deputy Attorney General Heath. See Johnson v. Mammoth Recreations, Inc., 975 F.2d 604, 609 (9th Cir. 1992) (good cause must be shown to reopen discovery).
Therefore, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that, Plaintiff's Motion for Reconsideration is DENIED.
IT IS SO ORDERED. Dated: February 12, 2015
/s/_________
MORRISON C. ENGLAND, JR., CHIEF JUDGE
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE