Opinion
CASE NO. 1:08-cv-01380-AWI-BAM PC
03-24-2012
GEORGE H. ROBINSON, Plaintiff, v. D. ADAMS, et al., Defendants.
ORDER DENYING PLAINTIFF'S MOTION FOR
RECONSIDERATION, FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL
MOTION FOR RECONSIDERATION, AND
SECOND SUPPLEMENTAL MOTION FOR
RECONSIDERATION
(ECF Nos. 113, 115, 116)
THIRTY-DAY DEADLINE
Plaintiff George H. Robinson ("Plaintiff") is a state prisoner proceeding pro se in this civil rights action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. This action is proceeding on the complaint filed May 13, 2008, against Defendants David, Miranda, Melo, Garcia, Mendoza, Martinez, and Masiel for use of excessive force, and Defendants Adams and Ruiz for failing to protect Plaintiff in violation of the Eighth Amendment; and against Defendants Martinez, David, Miranda, and Garcia for assault and battery; and against Defendants David, Miranda, Melo, Garcia, Mendoza, Martinez, and Masiel for intentional infliction of emotional distress and negligence in violation of state law. On May 18, 2011, the undersigned issued an order vacating the order partially granting Plaintiff's motion to compel and referred the motion to compel back to the Magistrate Judge for consideration. (ECF No. 108). On May 27, 2011, an order granting in part and denying in part Plaintiff's motion to compel issued. (ECF No. 109.) On July 1, 2011, Plaintiff filed a motion for reconsideration. (ECF No. 113.) On July 15, 2011, Plaintiff filed a supplemental motion for reconsideration, and on July 25, 2011, Plaintiff filed a second supplemental motion for reconsideration of the Magistrate Judge's order. (ECF Nos. 113, 115, 116.) On September 1, 2011, the Magistrate Judge conducted an in camera review as discussed in the May 27, 2011 order. The Magistrate Judge determined that certain documents were entitled to a protective order, and an order issued directing Defendants to file a motion for a protective order. (ECF No. 121.) On September 15, 2011, Plaintiff filed a motion for clarification and modification of the September 1, 2011 order. (ECF No. 124.) Defendants filed a motion for a protective order on October 3, 2011. (ECF No. 125.) Plaintiff filed an opposition to the motion for a protective order on October 20, 2011. (ECF No. 127.)
I. Motion for Reconsideration Legal Standard
Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 60(b)(6) allows the Court to relieve a party from an order for any reason that justifies relief. Rule 60(b)(6) "is to be used sparingly as an equitable remedy to prevent manifest injustice and is to be utilized only where extraordinary circumstances . . ." exist. Harvest v. Castro, 531 F.3d 737, 749 (9th Cir. 2008) (internal quotations marks and citation omitted). The moving party "must demonstrate both injury and circumstances beyond his control . . . ." Id. (internal quotation marks and citation omitted). Further, Local Rule 230(j) requires, in relevant part, that Plaintiff show "what new or different facts or circumstances are claimed to exist which did not exist or were not shown upon such prior motion, or what other grounds exist for the motion," and "why the facts or circumstances were not shown at the time of the prior motion."
"A motion for reconsideration should not be granted, absent highly unusual circumstances, unless the district court is presented with newly discovered evidence, committed clear error, or if there is an intervening change in the controlling law," and it "may not be used to raise arguments or present evidence for the first time when they could reasonably have been raised earlier in the litigation." Marlyn Nutraceuticals, Inc. v. Mucos Pharma GmbH & Co., 571 F.3d 873, 880 (9th Cir. 2009) (internal quotations marks and citations omitted) (emphasis in original).
A. July 1, 2011 Motion for Reconsideration
Plaintiff brings this motion on the grounds that the Magistrate Judge applied a legal standard that is contrary to law and the legal conclusions relieved the Defendants from their burden to support their objections. Plaintiff also argues that Defendants failed to meet and confer, failed to provide a detailed description, identify documents in dispute, or offer a declaration to support their objection at the time documents were due. Plaintiff is reiterating the same arguments made in his motion to compel and claiming the rulings were erroneous or contrary to law. However, Plaintiff's disagreement with the rulings in the motion to compel is not grounds for reconsideration of arguments previously made and considered on the merits by the Magistrate Judge. U.S. v. Westlands Water Dist., 134 F.Supp.2d 1111, 1131 (E.D.Cal. 2001).
The court has wide latitude in controlling discovery. In re State of Arizona, 528 F.3d 652, 655 (9th Cir. 2008); Burlington Northern, 408 F.3d at 1147. This includes broad discretion "to permit and deny discovery, and [a court's] decision to deny discovery will be not disturbed except upon the clearest showing that denial of discovery results in actual and substantial prejudice to the complaining litigant." Hallett v. Morgan, 296 F.3d 732, 751 (9th Cir. 2002) (quoting Goehring v. Brophy, 94 F.3d 1294, 1305 (9th Cir. 1996)). The clearly erroneous standard is "significantly deferential, requiring 'a definite and firm conviction that a mistake has been committed.' " Green v. Baca, 219 F.R.D. 485, 489 (C.D.Cal. 2003) (citations omitted). "The contrary to law standard . . . permits independent review of purely legal determinations by the magistrate judge." Id. (citations omitted).
Plaintiff's objects to the Magistrate Judge limiting his requests by narrowing the time period for the requested information and limiting them to the issue of use of force. Plaintiff is entitled to obtain discovery that is relevant to his claims or defenses. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(b)(1). However, all discovery is subject to Rule 26(b)(2)(C) which requires that "[o]n motion or on its own, the court must limit the frequency or extent of discovery otherwise allowed by these rules or by local rule if it determines that: (i) the discovery sought is unreasonably cumulative or duplicative, or can be obtained from some other source that is more convenient, less burdensome, or less expensive. . . ." It is well within the discretion of the court in ruling on a motion to compel to narrow the request rather than sustaining the responding parties objections. Green, 219 F.R.D. at 490. Given the broad discretion of the court in conducting discovery, the rulings of the Magistrate Judge were not an abuse of discretion.
Defendants' failure to comply with the requirements for claiming official information privilege in federal court does not divest the Court of its broad discretion to manage discovery or to order an in camera review. Plaintiff claims that the Magistrate Judge committed clear error or ruled contrary to law because Defendants did not comply with procedural requirements to show the information is entitled to the official information privilege. See Johnson v. Runnels, No. 2:04-cv-00776 LKK EFB P, 2009 WL 900755, *3-6 (E.D.Cal. Mar. 31, 2009) (discussing official information privilege and setting forth the specific requirements necessary to invoke the privilege relating to personnel records). In this case, the Court did not deny Plaintiff's motion to compel and shield Defendants from producing discoverable evidence in reliance on an unsupported claim of official information privilege. Rather, the Court exercised the discretion with which it has been vested and granted Plaintiff's motion to compel subject to in camera review to ensure the evidence sought by Plaintiff is both relevant and does not unduly endanger the safety and security of the institution. See Ochotorena v. Adams, No. 1:05-cv-01524-LJO-DLB (PC), 2010 Wl 1035774, *8 (E.D.Cal. Mar. 19, 2010) (plaintiff not entitled to unfettered access to personnel records and privacy concerns can be addressed by a protective order); Manago v. Williams, No. 2:07-cv-2290 LKK KJN P, 2010 WL 5059684, *6 (E.D.Cal. Dec. 6, 2010) (ordering in camera review based upon the assertion of privilege in personnel information); Lamon v. Director, California Dep't of Corrections, No. 2:06-cv-00156 GEB KJM P, 2009 WL 1911699, *3 (E.D.Cal. July 1, 2009) (directing that responsive documents be submitted for in camera review due to security and safety concerns). The rulings of the Magistrate Judge were not clearly erroneous or contrary to law.
Based on the foregoing, Plaintiff's motion for reconsideration, filed July 1, 2011, shall be denied.
B. July 15, 2011 and July 25, 2011 Supplemental Motions for Reconsideration
Plaintiff filed supplemental motions for reconsideration stating that Defendants have provided responses ordered by the Court but do not include all responsive information. Plaintiff argues that this supports his argument that he should be able to review all documents submitted to the court for in camera review and conduct a hearing in which he can call witnesses to show that Defendants are failing to turn over all responsive evidence.
The Court shall deny the motions for reconsideration. However, Plaintiff shall be granted an opportunity to file one further motion to compel only as to those requests granted in the May 24, 2011 order. Plaintiff is cautioned this is not a further opportunity to argue the order entered by the Magistrate Judge. Plaintiff is granted leave to file a motion to compel to the extent that Defendants' responses to the order of the Magistrate Judge are deficient. Plaintiff is advised that his disagreement with the responses provided by Defendants is not grounds for a further motion to compel.
II. Conclusion and Order
Accordingly, it is HEREBY ORDERED that:
1. Plaintiff's motion for reconsideration, filed July 1, 2011, is DENIED;
2. Plaintiff's first supplemental motion for reconsideration, filed July 15, 2011, is
DENIED;
3. Plaintiff's second supplemental motion for reconsideration, filed July 25, 2011, is
DENIED;
4. Within thirty days from the date of service of this order, Plaintiff shall file a motion to compel as described in this order; and
5. This action is referred back to the Magistrate Judge for consideration of any motions still pending.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
_______________
CHIEF UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE