Rupa Marya v. Warner Chappell Music Inc

Filing 294

STATUS REPORT Joint Status Report Pursuant to December 8, 2015 Order (Dkt. 290) filed by Plaintiffs Good Morning to You Productions Corp, Majar Productions LLC, Rupa Marya, Robert Siegel. (Manifold, Betsy)

1 FRANCIS M. GREGOREK (144785)
[e-mail]
2 BETSY C. MANIFOLD (182450)
[e-mail]
3 RACHELE R. RICKERT (190634)
[e-mail]
4 MARISA C. LIVESAY (223247)
[e-mail]
5 WOLF HALDENSTEIN ADLER
FREEMAN & HERZ LLP
6 750 B Street, Suite 2770
San Diego, CA 92101
7 Telephone: [phone]
Facsimile: 619/234-4599
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9 Interim Lead Counsel for Plaintiffs and the [Proposed] Class
10 [Additional Counsel Listed on Signature Page]
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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

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CENTRAL DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA -

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WESTERN DIVISION

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16 GOOD MORNING TO YOU
17 PRODUCTIONS CORP., et al.,
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Plaintiffs,

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v.

21 WARNER/CHAPPELL MUSIC,
22 INC., et al.
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Defendants.

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Lead Case No. CV 13-04460-GHK (MRWx)
JOINT STATUS REPORT PURSUANT
TO DECEMBER 8, 2015 ORDER (DKT.
290)

Room:
Judge:

650
Hon. George H. King,
Chief Judge

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Pursuant to the Court’s December 9, 2015 Order, Plaintiffs, Defendants and

2 Intervenors (collectively, “Parties”) submit this Joint Status Report “setting forth
3 the Parties’ proposed steps, and timing of those steps, to effectuate the settlement.”
4 Dkt. 290.

As set forth herein, the Parties respectfully request a stay of all

5 proceedings pending these steps to effectuate the settlement. The Parties therefore
6 briefly summarize the history and current status of the litigation, including
7 reference to prior stays.
8 Prior Stay During Phase One of Litigation
The Court’s October 16, 2013 Order re: Defendants’ Motion to Dismiss the
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10 then-operative complaint (Dkt. 52) granted in part and denied in part Defendants’
11 motion. See Dkt. 71. The October 16, 2013 Order bifurcated Claim One from all
12 other claims through Summary Judgment as Phase One and stayed all other claims
13 “including discovery specific to such claims,” deferring those matters to a second
14 phase of the litigation. Dkt. 71 at 3. On September 22, 2015, the Court issued its
15 Memorandum and Order deciding the Parties’ summary judgment motions (Dkt.
16 244) (“Summary Judgment Order”), which granted in part Plaintiffs’ motion for
17 summary judgment and denied Defendants’ cross-motion for summary
18 judgment. See Dkt. 244.
19 Current Status of the Litigation
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Defendants moved for reconsideration and, alternatively, sought permission

21 for an interlocutory appeal from the Summary Judgment Order. Dkt. 247. At the
22 October 19, 2015, Status Conference, the Court denied Defendants’ request for a
23 stay of providing substantive discovery responses and documents pending the
24 Court’s resolution of their motion for reconsideration. Dkt. 248. Defendants’
25 motion for reconsideration was fully briefed. The Court took that motion under
26 submission on November 12, 2015. Dkt. 274. At the October 19, 2015 Status
27 Conference, the Court lifted the stay as to the remaining six claims, class
28 certification, and the statute of limitations. Dkt. 248. The Court scheduled a bench
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trial for December 15, 2015, to complete Phase One (Claim One) of the litigation.

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Id. The Court also set deadlines for Phase Two, including the dates for filing of

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Plaintiffs’ class certification motion (January 18, 2016), expert designations

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(March 1, 2016), and a discovery cut-off of April 19, 2016. Id. The Court

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scheduled a bench trial with respect to liability issues for the remaining claims for

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May 31, 2016. Id.

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At the October 19, 2015 Status Conference (Dkt. 248), the Court directed

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Plaintiffs to file their motion for leave to amend the operative Complaint by

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November 16, 2015. Dkt. 248. Plaintiffs did so on October 29, 2015. Plaintiffs

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and Defendants stipulated that, if the Court granted Plaintiffs’ motion for leave to

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amend, the parties would agree to an expedited briefing schedule. The Court

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approved that stipulation with modifications on November 2, 2015. See Dkts. 258,

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260, 262.

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On December 7, 2015, the Court granted Plaintiffs’ motion for leave to

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amend. The Court directed Plaintiffs to file their Fifth Amended Complaint within

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ten (10) days. In addition, the Court ordered that Defendants respond to the Fifth

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Amended Complaint within thirty (30) days of Plaintiffs’ filing of that amended

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complaint, thereby overriding the expedited briefing schedule to which Plaintiffs

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and Defendants had stipulated in Dkts. 260 and 262. See Dkt. 289. Plaintiffs filed

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the Fifth Amended Complaint on December 9, 2015. Dkt. 291. Accordingly,

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Defendants’ response to the Fifth Amended Complaint currently is due January 8,

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2015.

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On November 9, 2015, the Association for Childhood Education

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International (“ACEI”) and The Hill Foundation, Inc. (“Foundation”) (collectively,

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“Intervenors”), moved for leave to intervene, which was unopposed. The Court

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granted the motion to intervene on December 7, 2015. See Dkts. 266 & 288.

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Settlement Mediation
At the October 19, 2015 Status Conference, the Court directed the parties to

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confer regarding a procedure for mediation.

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Intervenors (collectively, the “Parties”) agreed to participate in a confidential

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mediation with David Rotman, Esq. On November 13, 2015, the Parties reported

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their agreement to participate in a private mediation to the Court. Dkt. 276.

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Plaintiffs, Defendants, and the

On December 1, 2015, counsel for all Parties participated in an all-day

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mediation with Mr. Rotman.

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confidential mediator’s proposal to settle the class action. On December 8, 2015,

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On December 7, 2014, Mr. Rotman made a

the Parties accepted the mediator’s proposal.

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The Parties immediately contacted the Court and requested that the Court

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relieve them of their filing obligation and vacate the December 15, 2015, trial date.

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The Court granted the Parties’ request, relieved them from their immediate filing

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obligations, vacated the December 15 trial date, and directed the Parties to file this

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Status Report. Dkt. 290.

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Proposed Steps and Timing of Settlement

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The Parties are in the process of drafting, discussing and completing a

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Settlement Agreement. The Parties will work to complete that process through the

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coming holidays, and will execute the Settlement Agreement by January 15, 2016.

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On or before January 29, 2016, Plaintiffs will notice and file a motion for

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preliminary approval of the proposed class action settlement. Plaintiffs’ motion

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will request that the Court enter a Preliminary Order approving the proposed class

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action settlement following a hearing set under the Local Rules or at such other

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date and time as the Court may set. Plaintiffs’ filing will include the fully executed

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Settlement Agreement, a proposed plan and schedule for notice to the class, and a

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proposed final approval hearing date. Consistent with experience in prior cases,

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counsel for the Parties anticipate that the time from Plaintiffs’ filing of the motion

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for preliminary approval of the proposed class action settlement to the proposed

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final approval hearing date will be approximately six months.

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Parties Request a Stay of all Proceedings

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In the interim, the Parties have stopped all litigation activity to concentrate

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their efforts on the class action settlement process. As of this date, however, the

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Court has not stayed proceedings in the case. Certain dates established by prior

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Orders are approaching.

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Plaintiffs’ Fifth Amended Consolidated Complaint (Dkt. 291) is January 8, 2016

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(30 days after Plaintiffs’ filing of the Fifth Amended Consolidated Complaint, per

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the schedule set forth in the Court’s December 7, 2015 Order, Dkt. 289).

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Similarly, Plaintiffs’ deadline for filing their motion for class certification currently

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is January 18, 2016, per the Court’s October 19, 2015 Order, Dkt. 248.

For example, Defendants’ date for responding to

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Accordingly, the Parties respectfully request that the Court enter an Order

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staying all proceedings in this action through and including January 29, 2016.

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Provided that Plaintiffs have filed their motion for preliminary approval of class

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action settlement on or before January 29, 2016, the Parties respectfully request

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that the Court continue the stay of proceedings pending final approval or denial of

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the proposed settlement or such other date as the Court may order.

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Respectfully submitted,
Dated: December 18, 2015

WOLF HALDENSTEIN ADLER
FREEMAN & HERZ LLP

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By:

/s/ Betsy C. Manifold
BETSY C. MANIFOLD
FRANCIS M. GREGOREK
[e-mail]
BETSY C. MANIFOLD
[e-mail]
RACHELE R. RICKERT
[e-mail]

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MARISA C. LIVESAY
[e-mail]
750 B Street, Suite 2770
San Diego, CA 92101
Telephone: [phone]
Facsimile: 619/234-4599

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WOLF HALDENSTEIN ADLER
FREEMAN & HERZ LLP
MARK C. RIFKIN (pro hac vice)
[e-mail]
JANINE POLLACK (pro hac vice)
[e-mail]
270 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10016
Telephone: [phone]
Facsimile: 212-545-4753
Interim Lead Counsel for Plaintiffs
RANDALL S. NEWMAN PC
RANDALL S. NEWMAN (190547)
[e-mail]
37 Wall Street, Penthouse D
New York, NY 10005
Telephone: [phone]
Facsimile: 212/797-3172

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HUNT ORTMANN PALFFY NIEVES
DARLING & MAH, INC.
ALISON C. GIBBS (257526)
[e-mail]
OMEL A. NIEVES (134444)
[e-mail]
KATHLYNN E. SMITH (234541)
smith@ huntortmann.com
301 North Lake Avenue, 7th Floor
Pasadena, CA 91101

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Telephone [phone]
Facsimile 626/796-0107

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DONAHUE GALLAGHER WOODS
LLP

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WILLIAM R. HILL (114954)
[e-mail]
ANDREW S. MACKAY (197074)
[e-mail]
DANIEL J. SCHACHT (259717)
[e-mail]
1999 Harrison Street, 25th Floor
Oakland, CA 94612-3520
Telephone: [phone]
Facsimile: 510/832-1486

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GLANCY BINKOW & GOLDBERG
LLP
LIONEL Z. GLANCY (134180)
[e-mail]
MARC L. GODINO (188669)
[e-mail]
1925 Century Park East, Suite 2100
Los Angeles, CA 90067
Telephone: [phone]
Facsimile: 310/201-9160

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Attorneys for Plaintiffs

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Dated: December 18, 2015

MUNGER TOLLES & OLSON LLP

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By:

/s/ Kelly M. Klaus
KELLY M. KLAUS
KELLY M. KLAUS (161091)
[e-mail]
ADAM I. KAPLAN (268182)
[e-mail]
560 Mission St., 27th Floor
San Francisco, CA 94105

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Telephone: [phone]

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MUNGER TOLLES & OLSON LLP
GLENN D. POMERANTZ (112503)
[e-mail]
MELINDA E. LEMOINE
[e-mail]
355 South Grand Ave., 35th Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90071
Telephone: [phone]

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Attorneys for Defendants

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Dated: December 18, 2015

WHITEFORD, TAYLOR &
PRESTON LLP

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By:

/s/ Steven Tiller
STEVEN TILLER

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STEVEN TILLER (pro hac vice)
[e-mail]
7 St. Paul Street
Baltimore, MD 21202
Telephone: [phone]
Facsimile: 410/223-4325
SCOTT O. LUSKIN (238082)
[e-mail]
PAYNE & FEARS LLP
801 South Figueroa Street, Suite 1150
Los Angeles, CA 90017-2566
Telephone: [phone]
Facsimile: 213/439-9922
Attorneys for Intervenor THE
ASSOCIATION FOR CHILDHOOD
EDUCATION INTERNATIONAL AND
THE HILL FOUNDATION, INC.

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DECLARATION REGARDING CONCURRENCE

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I, BETSY C. MANIFOLD, am the CM/ECF User whose identification

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login and password are being used to file this JOINT STATUS REPORT

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PURSUANT TO DECEMBER 8, 2015 ORDER (DKT. 290). In compliance

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with L.R. 5-4.3.4(a)(2)(i), I hereby attest that Kelly M. Klaus and Steven Tiller

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have concurred in this filing’s content and have authorized its filing.

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DATED: December 18, 2015

By:

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WARNER/CHAPPELL:22543

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/s/ Betsy C. Manifold
BETSY C. MANIFOLD