Adams et al v. California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation et al

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
SHELTON ADAMS, et al.,
Plaintiffs,
v.
CRAIG ALAN KOENIG, et al.,
Defendants.
Case No. 21-cv-08545-JST (AGT)
DISCOVERY ORDER
Re: Dkt. Nos. 143, 175, 177
On November 4, 2025, the Court held a hearing to address whether a protective order
should be entered. See dkt. 169. During that hearing, the Court made it clear that a protective
order was warranted and ordered the parties to further meet and confer as to the terms of the
protective order. The Court further thought the protective order approved in Williams v. Cal-
ifornia Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, No. 21-cv-09586, would be appro-
priate in this case.
Having met and conferred, Defendants now seek the entry of a protective order. Dkt.
175. Plaintiffs oppose. Dkt. 176. Defendants present good cause, see dkt. 143 at 4–6,1 and
the Court finds that “specific prejudice or harm will result if no protective order is granted.”
Phillips ex rel. Estates of Byrd v. General Motors Corp., 307 F.3d 1206, 1210 (9th Cir.
2002). Balancing the public and private interests, and taking into account Plaintiffs’
1 Page numbers correspond to the ECF page numbers at the top of each page.
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objections, see dkts. 147 & 176, the Court finds that a protective order is merited here. See
Phillips, 307 F.3d at 1211 (citing Glenmede Trust Co. v. Thompson, 56 F.3d 476, 483 (3d
Cir. 1995) (laying out factors)).
Further, as discussed at the November 4th hearing, see dkt. 169, and after review of
Plaintiffs’ objections, see dkt. 176, the Court now orders that a protective order — modeled
on dkt. 76 in Williams — be entered in this case.
Consistent with this order, by December 5, 2025, if the parties are now able to file a
stipulated protective order, they should do so. Otherwise, Defendants shall, using the
Willliams protective order as a model, submit a case-specific order for the Court’s approval,
specifically removing any reference to a stipulation throughout and including language that
the Court has found good cause.
* * *
Additionally, Defendants seek additional time to respond to Plaintiffs’ Special Inter-
rogatories. See dkt. 177 at 3–4. Plaintiffs oppose, arguing that by February 13, 2026, they
must identify their bellwether plaintiffs. Id. at 1–3. Defendants seek additional time for dis-
covery, but oppose an extension of the February 13, 2026, deadline. Id. at 3. The Court
observes that the real dispute appears to be the February 13, 2026, deadline, which can only
be decided by Judge Tigar.
There is, however, a ripe discovery dispute. Defendants’ responses to Plaintiffs’ Spe-
cial Interrogatories were due on November 14, 2025. Id. Defendants explain why they cannot
complete their responses by the due date, id. at 3–4, and indeed that date has now lapsed.
Defendants, however, can respond to the outstanding interrogatories, and Plaintiffs have
their reasons not to move the deadline. See id. at 1–3. Therefore, the Court finds no good
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cause to move the original deadline. Defendants must respond within fourteen days of the
date of this order. Those responses may not be complete. The Court takes no position at this
time on the sufficiency of any response and notes only that Defendants can supplement their
responses as needed and required. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(e)(1).
IT IS SO ORDERED.
Dated: November 24, 2025
______________________________
Alex G. Tse
United States Magistrate Judge
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