Opinion
1:12-cv-1001-EPG-PC
07-06-2016
GERALDINE DARDEN, Plaintiff, v. S. DRISCOLL, M.D., et al., Defendants.
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.)
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.
Dated: July 6 , 2016
/s/ _________
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE