1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 9 NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 10 SHIKEB SADDOZAI, 11 Case No. 18-cv-05558 BLF (PR) Plaintiff, 12 ORDER DENYING MOTION FOR v. WRITTEN DEPOSITION; 13 DENYING MOTION FOR TERMINATION SANCTIONS 14 RON DAVIS, et al., WITHOUT PREJUDICE; ADDRESSING PENDING 15 Defendants. MOTIONS
16 (Docket. Nos. 70, 75, 77, 78, 86)
17 18 Plaintiff, a California state prisoner, filed a pro se civil rights complaint under 42 19 U.S.C. § 1983, against employees at San Quentin State Prison (“SQSP”). The third 20 amended complaint (“TAC”) is the operative complaint in this action. Dkt. No. 29. This 21 matter was reopened on remand, to proceed on the sole remaining claim against Defendant 22 Clawson for his failure to protect Plaintiff during an assault by several inmates, during 23 which Defendant shot Plaintiff with his block gun. Dkt. No. 59 at 2-3, citing Dkt. No. 29 24 at 4. 25 Plaintiff has filed objections to oral deposition and requests a written deposition. 26 Dkt. No. 70. Defendant filed a motion for terminating and monetary sanctions for 27 Plaintiff’s repeated failure to be deposed and comply with court orders. Dkt. No. 75. The 1 Court herein addresses these motions and the following pending matters: (1) Defendant’s 2 motion to stay discovery, Dkt. No. 77; (2) Plaintiff’s motion to compel, Dkt. No. 78; and 3 (3) Plaintiff’s motion for a court order, Dkt. No. 86. 4 5 DISCUSSION 6 A. Objection to Oral Deposition and Motion to Take Written Deposition 7 Plaintiff failed to appear for a properly noticed deposition on November 17, 2022. 8 Dkt. No. 67 at 2. Thereafter on January 9, 2023, the Court granted Defendant’s motion to 9 compel Plaintiff to submit to a deposition under Rule 37(a) of the Federal Rules of Civil 10 Procedure. Id. at 4. The Court ordered Plaintiff to appear for a second oral deposition on 11 February 9, 2023, as noticed by Defendant’s counsel. Id. Plaintiff was warned of the 12 potential consequence of dismissal of this entire action for his refusal to appear under Rule 13 37(b)(2)(A)(v) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. Id. 14 Weeks after the Court granted Defendant’s motion, Plaintiff filed an objection to 15 oral deposition, seeking leave to take deposition by written questions. Dkt. No. 70. He 16 also repeats his request for assistance of counsel to assist with deposition, discovery, and to 17 preserve privilege. Id. at 1. Plaintiff makes various allegations regarding the prison’s 18 failure to provide ADA accommodations, loss of legal property, interference with mail, 19 lack of help from mental health clinician, exposure to Covid-19, and squalid living 20 conditions. Id. at 2-7. He asserts that lack of law library services and resources have 21 prevented him from obtaining information sufficient to respond or to form a belief about 22 the requests and demands made by the Court and attorneys. Id. at 9-11. He asserts that he 23 needs counsel to assist him in the deposition to make proper objections and preserve his 24 rights. Id. at 12. He also asserts that defendant’s counsel has failed to provide him with 25 sufficient information regarding the deposition to adequately prepare. Id. at 13-14. Lastly, 26 Plaintiff asserts that certain medical issues will cause him extreme difficulty and 1 discomfort if forced to submit to an oral deposition. Id. at 14. 2 None of reasons provided by Plaintiff are sufficient nor persuasive to overcome 3 Defendant’s right to depose Plaintiff in this matter. The various allegations regarding 4 prison conditions are not relevant to Plaintiff’s ability to be present and submit to an oral 5 deposition. Nor does preparing for a deposition amount to an exceptional circumstance 6 that warrants appointment of counsel. Lastly, if Plaintiff requires medical 7 accommodations during the deposition or other information, he can request those from 8 Defendant’s counsel. Plaintiff is a seasoned litigator and has been deposed in various 9 other matters before this Court. He is therefore well aware of what to expect and how to 10 prepare for a deposition. Accordingly, the motion for written deposition is DENIED. 11 B. Motion for Terminating and Monetary Sanctions 12 On February 9, 2023, counsel appeared in person for Plaintiff’s second scheduled 13 deposition. Dkt. No. 75-1 at 3; Dkt. No. 75-2 at 2. Although Plaintiff appeared and was 14 sworn, after objecting to taking the oath, he stated his name for the record and then refused 15 to answer questions.1 Dkt. No. 75-2 at 2. Plaintiff made the same objections as mentioned 16 in the motion discussed above, such as the need for assistance of counsel and having 17 medical issues, but he would not identify the medical issues to counsel. Id. at 2-3. 18 Defendant’s counsel presented Plaintiff with a copy of the court’s order granting his 19 motion to compel, and Plaintiff acknowledged receiving the order and understanding that 20 his deposition testimony had been compelled. Id. at 3. Counsel advised Plaintiff that 21 pursuant to the court order, his failure to answer questions could result in monetary and/or 22 terminating sanctions. Id. However, Plaintiff merely repeated his objections, stated that 23 he would object to every question posed, and that he would not answer questions without 24 the assistance of counsel. Id. The deposition was then suspended. Id. 25
26 1 Defendant also submits a copy of the transcript of the deposition taken on February 9, 1 Defendant now moves for terminating and monetary sanctions for Plaintiff’s 2 repeated failure to cooperate in discovery and comply with court orders. Dkt. No. 75 at 4, 3 citing Thompson v. Housing Auth., 782 F.2d 829, 831 (9th Cir. 1986); see also Fed. R. Civ. 4 P. 37(b)(2)(A)(v), 41(b). Defendant asserts that the following factors weigh in favor of 5 terminating sanctions: (1) the public interest in expeditious resolution and management of 6 the court’s docket which is being impeded by Plaintiff’s uncooperative behavior; (2) 7 prejudice to Defendant in being unable to defend against Plaintiff’s claim and continuing 8 to incur costs in attempting to depose him; and (3) and the ineffectiveness of less drastic 9 sanctions to persuade Plaintiff to cooperate. Id. at 5-8, citing Pagtalunan v. Galaza, 291 10 F.3d 639, 641 (9th Cir. 1986). Defendant also asserts that he should be awarded attorney’s 11 fees and costs (totaling $1,952.05) associated with his two attempts to depose Plaintiff as 12 punishment for his bad-faith conduct and to deter such conduct in the future. Id. at 8-9; 13 Dkt. No. 75-2 at 3. 14 Plaintiff filed an objection to Defense counsel’s declaration, as not complying with 15 Rule 56(c)(4) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, among other arguments. Dkt. No. 16 80. Plaintiff’s objections are meritless as counsel’s declaration is based on personal 17 knowledge of the facts attested to therein, and it is wholly irrelevant whether counsel has 18 been deposed. Accordingly, the objections are DENIED. 19 Plaintiff filed an “affidavit” in opposition to Defendant’s motion for sanctions. Dkt. 20 No. 82. However, this affidavit is identical to the one Plaintiff filed in support of his 21 objection to the oral deposition and request for written deposition discussed above. 22 Compare Dkt. No. 82 with Dkt. No. 70; see supra at 2-3. The Court has already 23 considered and rejected those arguments above. Id.
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1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 9 NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 10 SHIKEB SADDOZAI, 11 Case No. 18-cv-05558 BLF (PR) Plaintiff, 12 ORDER DENYING MOTION FOR v. WRITTEN DEPOSITION; 13 DENYING MOTION FOR TERMINATION SANCTIONS 14 RON DAVIS, et al., WITHOUT PREJUDICE; ADDRESSING PENDING 15 Defendants. MOTIONS
16 (Docket. Nos. 70, 75, 77, 78, 86)
17 18 Plaintiff, a California state prisoner, filed a pro se civil rights complaint under 42 19 U.S.C. § 1983, against employees at San Quentin State Prison (“SQSP”). The third 20 amended complaint (“TAC”) is the operative complaint in this action. Dkt. No. 29. This 21 matter was reopened on remand, to proceed on the sole remaining claim against Defendant 22 Clawson for his failure to protect Plaintiff during an assault by several inmates, during 23 which Defendant shot Plaintiff with his block gun. Dkt. No. 59 at 2-3, citing Dkt. No. 29 24 at 4. 25 Plaintiff has filed objections to oral deposition and requests a written deposition. 26 Dkt. No. 70. Defendant filed a motion for terminating and monetary sanctions for 27 Plaintiff’s repeated failure to be deposed and comply with court orders. Dkt. No. 75. The 1 Court herein addresses these motions and the following pending matters: (1) Defendant’s 2 motion to stay discovery, Dkt. No. 77; (2) Plaintiff’s motion to compel, Dkt. No. 78; and 3 (3) Plaintiff’s motion for a court order, Dkt. No. 86. 4 5 DISCUSSION 6 A. Objection to Oral Deposition and Motion to Take Written Deposition 7 Plaintiff failed to appear for a properly noticed deposition on November 17, 2022. 8 Dkt. No. 67 at 2. Thereafter on January 9, 2023, the Court granted Defendant’s motion to 9 compel Plaintiff to submit to a deposition under Rule 37(a) of the Federal Rules of Civil 10 Procedure. Id. at 4. The Court ordered Plaintiff to appear for a second oral deposition on 11 February 9, 2023, as noticed by Defendant’s counsel. Id. Plaintiff was warned of the 12 potential consequence of dismissal of this entire action for his refusal to appear under Rule 13 37(b)(2)(A)(v) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. Id. 14 Weeks after the Court granted Defendant’s motion, Plaintiff filed an objection to 15 oral deposition, seeking leave to take deposition by written questions. Dkt. No. 70. He 16 also repeats his request for assistance of counsel to assist with deposition, discovery, and to 17 preserve privilege. Id. at 1. Plaintiff makes various allegations regarding the prison’s 18 failure to provide ADA accommodations, loss of legal property, interference with mail, 19 lack of help from mental health clinician, exposure to Covid-19, and squalid living 20 conditions. Id. at 2-7. He asserts that lack of law library services and resources have 21 prevented him from obtaining information sufficient to respond or to form a belief about 22 the requests and demands made by the Court and attorneys. Id. at 9-11. He asserts that he 23 needs counsel to assist him in the deposition to make proper objections and preserve his 24 rights. Id. at 12. He also asserts that defendant’s counsel has failed to provide him with 25 sufficient information regarding the deposition to adequately prepare. Id. at 13-14. Lastly, 26 Plaintiff asserts that certain medical issues will cause him extreme difficulty and 1 discomfort if forced to submit to an oral deposition. Id. at 14. 2 None of reasons provided by Plaintiff are sufficient nor persuasive to overcome 3 Defendant’s right to depose Plaintiff in this matter. The various allegations regarding 4 prison conditions are not relevant to Plaintiff’s ability to be present and submit to an oral 5 deposition. Nor does preparing for a deposition amount to an exceptional circumstance 6 that warrants appointment of counsel. Lastly, if Plaintiff requires medical 7 accommodations during the deposition or other information, he can request those from 8 Defendant’s counsel. Plaintiff is a seasoned litigator and has been deposed in various 9 other matters before this Court. He is therefore well aware of what to expect and how to 10 prepare for a deposition. Accordingly, the motion for written deposition is DENIED. 11 B. Motion for Terminating and Monetary Sanctions 12 On February 9, 2023, counsel appeared in person for Plaintiff’s second scheduled 13 deposition. Dkt. No. 75-1 at 3; Dkt. No. 75-2 at 2. Although Plaintiff appeared and was 14 sworn, after objecting to taking the oath, he stated his name for the record and then refused 15 to answer questions.1 Dkt. No. 75-2 at 2. Plaintiff made the same objections as mentioned 16 in the motion discussed above, such as the need for assistance of counsel and having 17 medical issues, but he would not identify the medical issues to counsel. Id. at 2-3. 18 Defendant’s counsel presented Plaintiff with a copy of the court’s order granting his 19 motion to compel, and Plaintiff acknowledged receiving the order and understanding that 20 his deposition testimony had been compelled. Id. at 3. Counsel advised Plaintiff that 21 pursuant to the court order, his failure to answer questions could result in monetary and/or 22 terminating sanctions. Id. However, Plaintiff merely repeated his objections, stated that 23 he would object to every question posed, and that he would not answer questions without 24 the assistance of counsel. Id. The deposition was then suspended. Id. 25
26 1 Defendant also submits a copy of the transcript of the deposition taken on February 9, 1 Defendant now moves for terminating and monetary sanctions for Plaintiff’s 2 repeated failure to cooperate in discovery and comply with court orders. Dkt. No. 75 at 4, 3 citing Thompson v. Housing Auth., 782 F.2d 829, 831 (9th Cir. 1986); see also Fed. R. Civ. 4 P. 37(b)(2)(A)(v), 41(b). Defendant asserts that the following factors weigh in favor of 5 terminating sanctions: (1) the public interest in expeditious resolution and management of 6 the court’s docket which is being impeded by Plaintiff’s uncooperative behavior; (2) 7 prejudice to Defendant in being unable to defend against Plaintiff’s claim and continuing 8 to incur costs in attempting to depose him; and (3) and the ineffectiveness of less drastic 9 sanctions to persuade Plaintiff to cooperate. Id. at 5-8, citing Pagtalunan v. Galaza, 291 10 F.3d 639, 641 (9th Cir. 1986). Defendant also asserts that he should be awarded attorney’s 11 fees and costs (totaling $1,952.05) associated with his two attempts to depose Plaintiff as 12 punishment for his bad-faith conduct and to deter such conduct in the future. Id. at 8-9; 13 Dkt. No. 75-2 at 3. 14 Plaintiff filed an objection to Defense counsel’s declaration, as not complying with 15 Rule 56(c)(4) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, among other arguments. Dkt. No. 16 80. Plaintiff’s objections are meritless as counsel’s declaration is based on personal 17 knowledge of the facts attested to therein, and it is wholly irrelevant whether counsel has 18 been deposed. Accordingly, the objections are DENIED. 19 Plaintiff filed an “affidavit” in opposition to Defendant’s motion for sanctions. Dkt. 20 No. 82. However, this affidavit is identical to the one Plaintiff filed in support of his 21 objection to the oral deposition and request for written deposition discussed above. 22 Compare Dkt. No. 82 with Dkt. No. 70; see supra at 2-3. The Court has already 23 considered and rejected those arguments above. Id. Furthermore, as stated in reply, 24 Defendant confirms that accommodations can be made by various means to address the 25 alleged “burdens” of deposing Plaintiff due to his medical issues. Dkt. No. 83 at 4. 26 The Courts finds Defendant has presented persuasive grounds for terminating and 1 monetary sanctions. Plaintiff has engaged in dilatory tactics and conducted himself in bad 2 faith with regard to his deposition, which has been hindering the expeditious resolution of 3 this matter. However, in the interest of justice and his pro se status, the Court will grant 4 Plaintiff one final opportunity to comply and submit to an oral deposition, which includes 5 making a good faith effort to answer all questions posed by Defendant’s counsel. Plaintiff 6 is warned that his failure to appear and answer questions in good faith will result in 7 terminating sanctions and the award of reasonable fees and costs to Defendant’s counsel. 8 The motion for sanctions is therefore DENIED without prejudice, to the Court 9 reconsidering and granting the motion if Plaintiff fails to comply. Plaintiff is ORDERED 10 to appear at an oral deposition at the time and place noticed by Defendant. 11 C. Plaintiff’s Motion to Compel 12 Plaintiff moves for an order to compel Defendant to supply him with all the case 13 laws and authorities relied upon in all his filings in this matter. Dkt. No. 78; Dkt. No. 79.2 14 He asserts that he is in the process of preparing a motion for summary judgment which will 15 substantially advance this action. Id. at 3. He asserts that his requests to obtain these case 16 laws from the prison library has been “unanswered and unresolved.” Id. at 4. Plaintiff 17 also asserts that the cases are subject to discovery and known only to Defendant, whom he 18 alleges is misrepresenting cases that are inapplicable and used to “cause Plaintiff to under 19 take a wild goose chase.” Id. at 5-6. Defendant opposes the motion, asserting that he 20 cannot possibly determine what authority Plaintiff requires, and that he should not be 21 ordered to conduct legal research on Plaintiff’s behalf. Dkt. No. 84 at 1. Nevertheless, 22 Defendant has supplied Plaintiff with a list of all legal authority cited in his motion for 23 sanctions. Id. at 3. Nearly two months after Defendant filed the opposition, Plaintiff filed 24
25 2 The Court notes that this motion and accompanying affidavit are identical to those 26 Plaintiff filed in another pending lawsuit. See Saddozai v. Atchley, et al., Case No. 20-cv- 07534 BLF (PR), Dkt. Nos. 56, 56-1. For similar reasons that motion was denied, the 1 “objections” which appears to be a reply. Dkt. No. 85. However, this reply merely repeats 2 some of the same objections as in Plaintiff’s motion and asserts that he is “not waiving 3 [his] right to appeal.” Id. at 4. 4 After considering the papers, the Court finds no good cause to grant Plaintiff’s 5 motion. Plaintiff is a seasoned litigant, who is well informed of his statutory right to 6 access case law and authorities through the prison law library. He is also aware of the 7 proper avenues to obtain relief, i.e., by filing a prison grievance or a separate lawsuit. 8 Otherwise, his general and unsubstantiated allegations regarding lack of library access are 9 not sufficient to grant his request. Nor is the Court persuaded by Plaintiff’s assertion that 10 Defendant has misapplied case law in his filings. All parties are required to abide by 11 Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 11, and certify that their pleadings and motions are well- 12 grounded in fact and have a colorable basis in law or be subject to sanctions. Fed. R. Civ. 13 P. 11(b), (c). Furthermore, there is no indication that Defendant has failed to serve 14 Plaintiff with all his filings in this matter, which include citations to the legal authorities 15 relied upon. Moreover, Defendant has supplied Plaintiff with another list of legal 16 authorities in support of his motion for sanctions. Dkt. No. 84 at 3. Accordingly, 17 Plaintiff’s motion to compel is DENIED. 18 D. Plaintiff’s Motion for Court Order 19 Plaintiff has most recently filed a motion “to the Court ordering correctional 20 authorities and or ordering Defendants counsel to intervene and order correctional 21 authorities at San Quentin State Prison who are agents for opposing counsel deputy district 22 attorney to cease and desist withholding and concealing Plaintiff’s legal mail; and to take 23 mandatory and judicial notice of the facts evidence and exhibits A-to-E.” Dkt. No. 86. 24 Despite this long title on the cover page, the attached pleading is nearly identical to 25 Plaintiff’s filing under Docket No. 85, except for the insertion of paragraph 8, in which he 26 claims that on various dates, his legal mail has been “intentionally and willfully destroyed, 1 concealed and or withheld from being delivered” and that he has been forced to sign for 2 documents that are incomplete, under threat, duress, [or] coercion.” Id. at 4. The attached 3 exhibits do not support this allegation, as none of the documents therein mention any 4 incident regarding Plaintiff’s legal mail being delayed. Dkt. No. 86 at 6-37. The only 5 document relevant to mail is a memorandum regarding “Processing and Inspection of 6 Confidential Correspondence,” dated September 1, 2022, addressed to Associate Directors; 7 it does not mention any specific incident regarding mail or Plaintiff. Id. at 34. 8 Accordingly, the Court is not persuaded that the type of court intervention Plaintiff seeks is 9 warranted. The motion is DENIED. 10 11 CONCLUSION 12 For the forgoing reasons, the Court orders as follows: 13 1. Plaintiff’s objection to oral deposition and request for written deposition is 14 DENIED. Dkt. No. 70. 15 2. Defendant’s motion for terminating and monetary sanctions is DENIED 16 without prejudice. Defendant shall properly notice Plaintiff for an in-person oral 17 deposition at a date no later than forty-two (42) days from the date this order is filed. 18 Plaintiff is ORDERED to appear at the oral deposition and answer all questions in good 19 faith. As stated above, if Plaintiff fails to appear and participate in the deposition by 20 answering all questions posed in good faith, the Court will reconsider and grant 21 Defendant’s motion for terminating and monetary sanctions. 22 Defendant shall file notice of Plaintiff’s compliance or failure to comply within 23 seven (7) days after the scheduled deposition. If Plaintiff fails to comply, Defendant may 24 then move for the Court to reconsider granting his motion for terminating and monetary 25 sanctions. 26 3. In light of this order, Defendant’s motion to stay discovery is DENIED as 1 moot. Dkt. No. 77. 2 4. Plaintiff's motion to compel Defendant to supply him with all case laws and 3 authorities is DENIED. Dkt. No. 78. 4 5. Plaintiff's motion for a court order is DENIED. Dkt. No. 86. 5 This order terminates Docket Nos. 70, 75, 77, 78, and 86. 6 IT IS SO ORDERED. 7 || Dated: August 23, 2023 hacncen _ BETH LABSON FREEMAN 8 United States District Judge 9 10 11 12
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