Lamon v. Adams et al
Filing
34
ORDER RE Motions 28 , 29 , 31 , signed by Magistrate Judge Sheila K. Oberto on 5/3/10: Plaintiff's requests for an extension of time to Defendants' discovery requests is GRANTED; and Plaintiff's request to modify the scheduling order and/or to stay this action for 90 days is DENIED. (Hellings, J)
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1 2 3 4 5 6 7 EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 Plaintiff Barry Louis Lamon ("Plaintiff") is a state prisoner proceeding pro se and in forma pauperis in this civil rights action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Before the Court are three motions from Plaintiff. On January 19, 2010, Plaintiff filed a motion for a 45-day extension of time to respond to Defendants' discovery requests. (Doc. #28.) Plaintiff filed a second motion seeking a 45-day extension of time on February 16, 2010. (Doc. #31.) On January 19, 2010, Plaintiff filed a motion seeking modification of the scheduling and discovery order, or alternatively a 90-day stay of these proceedings. A. Extension of Time to Respond to Defendants' Discovery Requests v. DERRAL G. ADAMS, et al., Defendants. / BARRY LOUIS LAMON, Plaintiff, CASE NO. 1:09-cv-00205-LJO-SKO PC ORDER RE MOTIONS (Doc. 28, 29, 31)
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
Plaintiff seeks a 45-day extension of time to respond to Defendants' discovery requests. Plaintiff states that he cannot meet the present deadline for filing responses because he was transferred to another prison to attend a trial and does not have access to the relevant records for this case. Good cause having been demonstrated, the Court will grant Plaintiff's motion for an extension of time. Plaintiff will be granted an extension of time to and including June 11, 2010 to complete and serve his responses to Defendants' discovery requests. 1
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B.
Modification of Scheduling and Discovery Order/Stay
Plaintiff seeks a modification of the scheduling order or a stay of this action because he was transferred to a different prison to attend a civil trial that was scheduled to last through March 29, 2010. Plaintiff states that he was unable to bring the records and files relevant to this case and cannot meaningfully prosecute this action while he attended the trial. Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 16(b) provides that a scheduling order can only be modified for good cause. "Rule 16(b)'s `good cause' standard primarily considers the diligence of the party seeking the amendment." Johnson v. Mammoth Recreations, Inc., 975 F.2d 604, 609 (9th Cir. 1992). The schedule may be modified if it cannot reasonably be met despite the diligence of the party seeking the extension. Id. (quoting Fed. R. Civ. P. 16 advisory committee's notes). "The District Court has broad discretion to stay proceedings as an incident to its power to control its own docket." Clinton v. Jones, 520 U.S. 681, 707 (1997) (citing Landis v. North American Co., 299 U.S. 248, 254 (1936)). "The proponent of the stay bears the burden of establishing its need." Id. at 706. The Court considers the following factors when ruling on a request to stay proceedings: (1) the possible damage which may result from the granting of a stay, (2) the hardship or inequity which a party may suffer in being required to go forward, and (3) the orderly course of justice, measured in terms of the simplifying or complicating of issues, proof, and questions of law which could be expected to result from a stay. Filtrol Corp. v. Kelleher, 467 F.2d 242, 244 (9th Cir. 1972) (quoting CMAX, Inc. V. Hall,300 F.2d 265, 268 (9th Cir. 1962)). The Court finds that any further extension of time or stay of this action is premature. Plaintiff has requested an extension of time to respond to Defendants' discovery requests and the Court will grant that request. Plaintiff has not demonstrated good cause to extend any other deadlines. Although the deadline for amending th pleadings has already passed, plaintiff has not expressed any intention to amend any pleadings. Plaintiff has also not demonstrated an inability to meet any other deadlines. The deadline for completion of discovery is on June 27, 2010, and the deadline for filing pre-trial dispositive motions is on September 7, 2010. The trial to which Plaintiff refers was scheduled to end on March 29, 2010 before the deadlines in this action, and it is not yet clear that Plaintiff will be unable to meet the existing deadlines. Therefore, the Court will deny Plaintiff's 2
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motion without prejudice. Plaintiff may re-file motions requesting an extension of time as those deadlines become imminent. Accordingly, it is HEREBY ORDERED that: 1. Plaintiff's requests for an extension of time to respond to Defendants' discovery requests, filed on January 19, 2010 and February 16, 2010, is GRANTED; and 2. Plaintiff's request to modify the scheduling order and/or to stay this action for 90 days is DENIED.
IT IS SO ORDERED. Dated: ie14hj May 3, 2010 /s/ Sheila K. Oberto UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
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