L.V.Q. v. The GEO Group, Inc.
1:24-cv-00656
| E.D. Cal. | Jul 10, 2025Background
- Plaintiff L.V.Q. alleges physical and sexual abuse while detained at the Mesa Verde ICE Processing Center operated by GEO Group, Inc. from 2018 to 2022.
- Following alleged repeated harassment and abuse culminating in sexual assaults in June 2022, Plaintiff claims GEO and its staff failed to protect him despite being aware of his vulnerabilities and prior incidents.
- Plaintiff served discovery requests on GEO seeking documents and electronically stored information (ESI) relevant to the case.
- GEO withheld certain documents citing privacy laws and requested review/redaction by third-party agencies (ICE).
- Disputes arose over GEO's failure to produce some documents, improper ESI production, and delayed production of contracts.
- The parties submitted these disputes to the court’s informal discovery dispute process for adjudication.
Issues
| Issue | Plaintiff's Argument | Defendant's Argument | Held |
|---|---|---|---|
| Withholding documents on privacy grounds | Documents are discoverable with protective order in place | Production requires consent, nonparty review/redaction | Objections overruled; production ordered |
| Production of ESI not in native format/with metadata | ESI must comply with stipulated ESI order | Converted files to .pdf for production, misapprehended order | ESI must be produced as required |
| Nonproduction of requested contracts | Contracts are relevant and owed | Delay due to other litigation, no substantive objection | Contracts must be produced |
| ICE review/redaction of third-party info prior to production | No legal authority requires ICE review | PBNDS and privacy statutes require ICE review/redaction | Court declines to impose this restriction |
Key Cases Cited
- Oppenheimer Fund, Inc. v. Sanders, 437 U.S. 340 (1978) (sets necessary boundaries for discovery relevance)
- Jadwin v. Cnty. of Kern, 2008 WL 2025093 (E.D. Cal. 2008) (party resisting discovery must clarify and support objections) (Note: does not have official reporter citation)
- Loyd v. United States, 2024 WL 5260932 (C.D. Cal. 2024) (privacy concerns can be managed by protective orders) (Note: does not have official reporter citation)
No key cases from official reporters with Bluebook citations provided beyond Oppenheimer Fund, Inc. v. Sanders.