Michael Thomas v. Gomez, et al.

Summary

The United States District Court for the Eastern District of California granted Plaintiff Michael Thomas’s motion to stay his civil rights action pending transfers between correctional facilities and his receipt of legal materials. The court stayed the action for 120 days, vacated the existing Discovery and Scheduling Order, and stated that it would issue a new scheduling order after the stay was lifted.

Holdings

1. A district court may stay proceedings under its broad discretion to control its docket, and Plaintiff established good cause for a temporary 120-day stay because his anticipated transfers and lack of access to legal materials would impair his ability to prosecute the action.
2. The court vacated the previously issued Discovery and Scheduling Order and will issue a new scheduling order after the stay is lifted.

Questions Presented

1. Whether good cause supported staying the civil rights action for 120 days while Plaintiff was transferred among correctional facilities and lacked access to his legal materials.
2. Whether the court should vacate the existing Discovery and Scheduling Order as a consequence of the stay.

Disposition

other