John

1 2 3 4 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 5 NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 6 7 BEVERLY JOHN, et al., Case No. 18-cv-06935-WHA (SK)

8 Plaintiffs,

ORDER REGARDING MOTION FOR

9 v. SANCTIONS

10 COUNTY OF LAKE, et al., Regarding Docket No. 146 11 Defendants.

12 Plaintiffs seek an order finding that Defendants and their counsel spoliated evidence and 13 also request that the Court give the jury an instruction that Defendants breached their obligations 14 to provide discovery and that the jury can consider this fact in reaching a verdict (the “adverse 15 inference” instruction). Plaintiffs also seek monetary sanctions for the attorneys’ fees expended in 16 bringing this motion and in seeking additional discovery to file this motion. For the reasons set 17 forth below, the Court finds that Defendants or their counsel breached their obligations to provide 18 discovery and that monetary sanctions are appropriate. The Court also recommends that the 19 District Court provide an adverse inference instruction to the jury at trial. The Court will award…