Jimmy Gettings v. County of Shasta, et al.

Summary

The United States District Court for the Eastern District of California granted Defendants’ motions to compel responses to interrogatories and requests for production in an action involving alleged unlawful searches and seizures, excessive force, and malicious prosecution. The Court ordered Plaintiff to provide discovery responses by April 7, 2025, and found that untimely objections were waived. The Court also awarded Defendants $945 in fees, assessing the amount against Plaintiff’s counsel rather than Plaintiff.

Holdings

1. Defendants' motion to compel interrogatory responses was granted, and Plaintiff was ordered to provide responses by April 7, 2025.
2. Plaintiff waived objections to the interrogatories and requests for production by failing to assert them timely.
3. Defendants' motion to compel responses to the requests for production was granted, and Plaintiff was ordered to produce responsive documents by April 7, 2025, on a rolling basis when documents were ready.
4. Defendants were awarded $945 in total fees for both motions, and Plaintiff's counsel, rather than Plaintiff, was ordered to pay the award by April 7, 2025.

Questions Presented

1. Whether Defendants were entitled to an order compelling Plaintiff to answer the interrogatories after Plaintiff failed to respond or object by the deadline.
2. Whether Defendants were entitled to an order compelling Plaintiff to respond to the requests for production despite the volume and potentially duplicative nature of the requests.
3. Whether Plaintiff's failure to timely object waived objections to the interrogatories and requests for production.
4. Whether Defendants were entitled to reasonable expenses under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 37(a)(5)(A), and whether the award should be assessed against Plaintiff or his counsel.

Disposition

other