Opinion
1:07-cv-01629-LJO-GSA-PC.
August 10, 2011
ORDER GRANTING IN PART DEFENDANTS' MOTION FOR LEAVE TO CONDUCT DEPOSITIONS BY VIDEOCONFERENCE (Doc. 55)
I. BACKGROUND
Plaintiff Ess'nn A. Aubert, is a state prisoner proceeding pro se and in forma pauperis with this civil rights action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Plaintiff filed the Complaint commencing this action on November 8, 2007. (Doc. 1.) On May 5, 2011, the Court issued a scheduling order establishing pre-trial deadlines in this action. (Doc. 20.) This action is currently in the discovery phase, and on June 23, 2011, Defendants filed a motion pursuant to Rule 30(b)(4) seeking leave to conduct depositions of Plaintiff and all witnesses by videoconference. Fed.R.Civ.P. 30(b)(4).
II. RULE 30(b)(4) — DEPOSITION BY REMOTE MEANS
Rule 30(b)(4) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure provides that "[t]he parties may stipulate — or the court may on motion order — that a deposition be taken by telephone or other remote means." Fed.R.Civ.P. 30(b)(4). Defendants request leave to conduct the deposition of Plaintiff, and all witnesses, via videoconference, due to budgetary conditions. Defendants seek to eliminate unnecessary travel expenses which would be incurred if defense counsel is required to travel to Corcoran, California, where Plaintiff is incarcerated, to take Plaintiff's deposition. Defendants also assert that the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation is operating under severe financial constraints, which limit its travel expenditures.
Defendants have presented good cause to take Plaintiff's deposition by videoconference. Plaintiff is presently incarcerated at the California Substance Abuse Treatment Facility in Corcoran, California, and is unable to easily travel to another location for a deposition. Counsel for Defendants assert that they are located "approximately 235 miles away" in Sacramento, California, and would incur considerable travel expenses to conduct Plaintiff's deposition in Corcoran. (Motion, Doc. 55 at 1:22-23.) Therefore, Defendants' request shall be granted with respect to Plaintiff's deposition. However, the Court declines to grant blanket permission to conduct all depositions of witnesses in this case by videoconference. Depositions by remote means may not be acceptable under all circumstances, and Defendants have not addressed the circumstances of individual witnesses, besides Plaintiff, they seek to depose.
III. CONCLUSION
Based on the foregoing, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that Defendants' request to conduct depositions by videoconference is GRANTED IN PART and DENIED IN PART, as follows:
1. Good cause appearing, Defendants' request for leave to conduct Plaintiff's deposition by videoconference pursuant to Rule 30(b)(4) is GRANTED; and
2. Defendants' request for leave to conduct depositions of other witnesses in this case by videoconference is DENIED, without prejudice.
IT IS SO ORDERED.