Peterson v. Enhanced Recovery Company, LLC

Filing 12

SCHEDULING ORDER: Mid-Discovery Status Conference set for 3/12/2018 at 09:30 AM in Courtroom 10 (EPG) before Magistrate Judge Erica P. Grosjean; Non-Expert Discovery due by 5/14/2018; Designation of Expert Witnesses due by 6/11/2018; Rebuttal Designa tion of Expert Witnesses due by 7/2/2018; Expert Discovery due by 8/2/2018; Dispositive Motions filed by 9/17/2018; Pretrial Conference set for 1/16/2019 at 08:15 AM in Courtroom 4 (LJO) before Chief Judge Lawrence J. O'Neill; Jury Trial set for 3/19/2019 at 08:30 AM in Courtroom 4 (LJO) before Chief Judge Lawrence J. O'Neill (3-5 day estimate). Order signed by Magistrate Judge Erica P. Grosjean on 9/29/2017. (Rooney, M)

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

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EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

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ERIKA PETERSON,

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Plaintiff,

CASE NO. 1:17-CV-01005 LJO EPG
SCHEDULING CONFERENCE ORDER

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Initial Disclosures:

October 24, 2017

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Nonexpert
Discovery Cutoff:

May 14, 2018

Expert
Disclosure:

June 11, 2018

Rebuttal
Expert Disclosure:

July 2, 2018

Expert
Discovery Cutoff:

August 2, 2018

Dispositive Motion
Filing Deadline:

September 17, 2018

Settlement Conf.:

Date: Not Set

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v.

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Mid-Discovery Conf: Date:March 12, 2018
Time:9:30 a.m.
Dept:10

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Pretrial Conf.:

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ENHANCED RECOVERY COMPANY,
LLC,

Date: January 16, 2019
Time: 8:15 a.m.
Dept: 4

Jury Trial:
(3-5 day estimate)

Date: March 19, 2019
Time: 8:30 a.m.
Dept: 4

Defendant.

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This Court conducted a scheduling conference on September 26, 2017. Counsel Meghan

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George telephonically appeared on behalf of Plaintiff. Counsel Michael Schulman telephonically

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appeared on behalf of Defendant. Pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 16(b), this Court sets a schedule for

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this action.

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I.

Amendment To The Parties’ Pleadings

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The parties do not anticipate amendment to the pleadings. The parties are advised that the

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filing of motions and/or stipulations requesting leave to amend the pleadings does not imply good

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cause to modify the existing schedule. Fed. R. Civ. P. 16 (b) (4); see also Johnson v. Mammoth

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Recreations, Inc., 975 F. 2d 604, 609 (9th Cir. 1992). Moreover, any request for amendment

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under Fed. R. Civ. P. 15(a) must not be: (1) prejudicial to the opposing party; (2) the product of

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undue delay; (3) proposed in bad faith; or (4) futile. See Foman v. Davis, 371 U.S. 178, 182

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(1962).

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II.

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Consent To Magistrate Judge
The parties have not consented to Magistrate Judge jurisdiction. Out of fairness, the Court

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believes it is necessary to forewarn litigants that the Fresno Division of the Eastern District of

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California now has the heaviest District Court Judge caseload in the entire nation. While the

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Court will use its best efforts to resolve this case and all other civil cases in a timely manner, the

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parties are advised that not all of the parties’ needs and expectations may be met as expeditiously

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as desired. As multiple trials are now being set to begin upon the same date, parties may find

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their case trailing with little notice before the trial begins. The law requires that the Court give

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any criminal trial priority over civil trials or any other matter. The Court must proceed with a

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criminal trial even if a civil trial was filed earlier and set for trial first. Continuances of any civil

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trial under these circumstances will no longer be entertained, absent a specific and stated finding

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of good cause. All parties should be informed that any civil trial set to begin during the time a

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criminal trial is proceeding will trail the completion of the criminal trial.

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The parties are reminded of the availability of United States Magistrate Judge Erica P.

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Grosjean to conduct all proceedings in this action. A United States Magistrate Judge is available

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to conduct trials, including entry of final judgment, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(c), Federal Rule
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of Civil Procedure 73, and Local Rule 305. The same jury pool is used by both United States

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Magistrate Judges and United States District Court Judges. Any appeal from a judgment entered

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by a United States Magistrate Judge is taken directly to the United States Court of Appeal for the

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Ninth Circuit. However, the parties are hereby informed that no substantive rulings or decisions

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will be affected by whether a party chooses to consent.

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Finally, the Fresno Division of the Eastern District of California, whenever possible, is

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utilizing United States Article III District Court Judges from throughout the nation as Visiting

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Judges. Pursuant to the Local Rules, Appendix A, reassignments will be random, and the parties

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will receive no advance notice before their case is reassigned to an Article III District Court Judge

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from outside of the Eastern District of California. Therefore, the parties are directed to consider

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consenting to Magistrate Judge jurisdiction to conduct all further proceedings, including trial.

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III.

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Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(a)(1)
Initial disclosures are to be completed by October 24, 2017.

IV.

Discovery Cutoffs And Limits
All non-expert discovery shall be completed no later than May 14, 2018. Initial expert

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witness disclosures shall be served no later than June 11, 2018. Rebuttal expert witness

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disclosures shall be served no later than July 2, 2018. Such disclosures must be made pursuant

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to Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(a)(2)(A), (B) and (C), and shall include all information required

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thereunder. In addition, Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(b)(4) and Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(e) specifically apply to

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discovery relating to expert witnesses and their opinions. Each expert witness must be fully

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prepared to be examined on all subjects and opinions included in the disclosures. Failure to

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comply with these requirements will result in the imposition of appropriate sanctions, including

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the preclusion of the expert’s testimony, or of other evidence offered through the expert.

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All expert discovery shall be completed no later than August 2, 2018. The parties are

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advised that motions to compel must be filed in advance of the discovery deadlines so that the

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Court may grant effective relief within the allotted discovery time. A party’s failure to have a

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discovery dispute heard sufficiently in advance of the discovery cutoff may result in denial of the

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motion as untimely.
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A Mid-Discovery Status Conference is set for March 12, 2018, at 9:30 a.m. in

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Courtroom 10, before Magistrate Judge Erica P. Grosjean. The parties are directed to file a joint

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report, of up to five (5) pages, outlining the status of the case, any additional discovery still

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planned, potential for settlement, and any other issues pending that would benefit from the Court's

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assistance/direction. The parties shall file the report one full week prior to the conference, and

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email a copy, in Word format, to [e-mail]. If the parties are appearing

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telephonically, each party shall dial 1 [phone] and enter access code 1024453.

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V.

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Pretrial Motion Schedule
A.

General Information Regarding Filing Motions

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The parties are advised that unless prior leave of the Court is obtained before the filing

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deadline,1 all moving and opposition briefs or legal memoranda, including joint statements of

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discovery disputes, filed in civil cases before Magistrate Judge Grosjean, shall not exceed twenty-

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five (25) pages. Reply briefs by the moving party shall not exceed ten (10) pages. These page

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limits do not include exhibits. When scheduling motions (other than discovery motions) the

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parties shall comply with Local Rule 230.

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Counsel or pro se parties may appear and argue motions by telephone, provided a request

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to so do is made to Michelle Rooney, Magistrate Judge Grosjean’s Courtroom Deputy (unless

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prior permission has been given by the judge), no later than five (5) court days before the noticed

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hearing date. Requests can be made by emailing Ms. Rooney at [e-mail]. If

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the parties are appearing telephonically, each party shall dial 1 [phone] and enter access

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code 1024453.

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1. Informal Discovery Conference

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In order to file a discovery motion pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 37, a party must receive

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permission from the Court following an informal telephone conference. A party wishing to

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schedule such a conference should contact chambers to receive available dates. The Court will

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schedule the conference as soon as possible, taking into consideration the urgency of the issue.

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Before contacting the Court, the parties must meet and confer by speaking with each other in

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Parties may seek leave through a telephonic conference among all parties and the Court, or by short motion.

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person, over the telephone, or via video in an attempt to resolve the dispute.
Prior to the conference, both parties shall simultaneously submit letters, outlining their

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respective positions regarding the dispute. The Court will provide the date the letters are due at

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the time the conference is scheduled. Such letters shall be no longer than three (3) pages single

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spaced, and may include up to five (5) pages of exhibits. Letters shall be emailed to Magistrate

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Judge Grosjean’s chambers at [e-mail], and not filed on the docket.

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At the time of conference, the parties shall dial 1 [phone] and enter access code

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1024453. Telephonic conferences will not be on the record and the Court will not issue a formal

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ruling at that time. Nevertheless, the Court will attempt to provide guidance to the parties to

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narrow or dispose of the dispute. If no resolution can be reached without formal motion practice,

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the Court will authorize the filing of a formal discovery motion.

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2.

Discovery Motions

If a motion is brought pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 37, after receiving permission from the

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Court, the parties must prepare and file a Joint Statement re: Discovery Disagreement (“Joint

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Statement”) as required by Local Rule 251.2 In scheduling such motions, Magistrate Judge

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Grosjean may grant applications for an order shortening time pursuant to Local Rule 144(e).

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Motions to shorten time will only be granted upon a showing of good cause. If a party does not

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obtain an order shortening time, the notice of motion must comply with Local Rule 251.

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A Joint Statement, not to exceed twenty-five (25) pages, must be filed seven (7) calendar

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days before the scheduled hearing date. Prior to the filing of the Joint Statement, the parties must

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meet and confer as set forth in Local Rule 251(b). In addition to filing the Joint Statement

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electronically, a copy of the Joint Statement in Word format must be sent to Magistrate Judge

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Grosjean’s chambers via email to [e-mail]. Courtesy copies for any

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pleading in excess of twenty-five pages (25) (including exhibits) shall also be delivered to

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chambers via US mail, or hand delivery, at the time the Joint Statement is electronically filed.

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Motions may be removed from the Court’s calendar if the Joint Statement is not timely filed, or if

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courtesy copies are not timely delivered.

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Certain limited exceptions from filing the required Joint Statement are outlined in Local Rule 251(e).

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B.

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All Dispositive Pre-Trial Motions shall be served and filed no later than September 17,

Dispositive Motions

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2018, and will be heard before District Court Judge Lawrence J. O’Neill. In scheduling such

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motions, the parties shall comply with Fed. R. Civ. P. 56 and Local Rules 230 and 260.

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Motions for Summary Judgment or Summary Adjudication

Prior to filing a motion for summary judgment or motion for summary adjudication, the

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parties are ordered to meet and confer, in person or by telephone, to discuss the issues to be raised

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in the motion. In addition to complying with the requirements of Local Rule 260, the parties

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must prepare a Joint Statement of Undisputed Facts, which identifies all relevant facts

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subject to agreement by all parties. The moving party is responsible for filing the joint

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statement. In the notice of motion, the moving party shall certify that the parties have met and

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conferred as ordered above, or set forth a statement of good cause for the failure to do so.

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VI.

Settlement Conference

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A settlement conference has not been scheduled at this time.3 Despite the provisions of

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Local Rule 270(b), the settlement conference will be conducted by the undersigned Magistrate

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Judge.

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Unless otherwise permitted in advance by the Court, the attorneys who will try the case

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shall appear at the Settlement Conference. It is recommended that pertinent evidence to be offered

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at trial, documents or otherwise, be brought to the settlement conference for presentation to the

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settlement judge. Neither the settlement conference statements nor communications during the

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settlement conference with the settlement judge can be used by either party in the trial of this

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case.

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Absent permission from the Court, in addition to counsel who will try the case being

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present, the individual parties shall also be present4. In the case of corporate parties, associations

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or other entities, and insurance carriers, a representative executive with authority to discuss,

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In limited circumstances, the Court will consider a joint request to conduct the settlement conference before
Magistrate Judge Grosjean, as long as all parties agree to Waive the Disqualification of Settlement Judge pursuant to
Local Rule 270(b). Parties can arrange a telephonic conference if they wish to discuss such a conference.
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In prisoner civil rights cases, a representative from the Attorney General’s Office is sufficient as a party
representative.

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consider, propose and agree, or disagree, to any settlement proposal or offer shall also be present.

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A representative with unlimited authority shall either attend in person or be available by phone

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throughout the conference. In other words, having settlement authority “up to a certain amount”

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is not acceptable.

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IF ANY PARTY BELIEVES THAT A SETTLEMENT CONFERENCE WOULD

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BE FUTILE, THEN THAT PARTY SHALL CONTACT THE COURT NOT LATER

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THAN SEVENTY-TWO HOURS PRECEDING THE SCHEDULED SETTLEMENT

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CONFERENCE.

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Confidential Settlement Statements
At least five (5) court days prior to the settlement conference, each party shall submit a

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Confidential Settlement Conference Statement in Word format directly to Judge Grosjean’s

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Chambers at [e-mail]. The statement shall not be filed on the docket or

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served on any other party. Each statement shall be clearly marked "confidential" with the date

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and time of the settlement conference clearly noted on the first page. The Confidential Settlement

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Conference Statement shall include the following:

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A. A brief statement of the facts of the case.

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B. A brief statement of the claims and defenses, i.e., statutory or other grounds

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upon which the claims are founded; a forthright evaluation of the parties'

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likelihood of prevailing on the claims and defenses; and a description of the major

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issues in dispute.

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C. A summary of the proceedings to date.

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D. An estimate of the cost and time to be expended for further discovery, pretrial

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and trial.

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E. The relief sought.

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F. The party's position on settlement, including present demands and offers and a

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history of past settlement discussions, offers and demands.

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The parties shall contact that the designated settlement conference judge’s chambers to
ascertain whether additional settlement conference procedures are required.
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VII.

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Pretrial Conference
The pretrial conference is set for January 16, 2019, at 8:15 a.m. in Courtroom 4, before

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District Court Judge Lawrence J. O’Neill. The parties are directed to file a joint pretrial statement

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that complies with the requirements of this Court’s Local Rule 281. In addition, the joint pretrial

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statement should include a brief factual summary and an agreed upon neutral statement of the

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case. An additional copy of the joint pretrial statement, carefully prepared and executed by all

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counsel, shall be electronically filed in CM/ECF and shall be e-mailed in Word format to Judge

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O’Neill’s chambers at [e-mail].
The parties’ attention is directed to this Court’s Local Rules 281 and 282. This Court will

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insist upon strict compliance with these rules. At the pretrial conference, the Court will set

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deadlines to file motions in limine, final witness lists, exhibits, jury instructions, objections, and

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other trial documents.

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VIII. Jury Trial Date

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A three to five (3-5) day jury trial is set for March 19, 2019, at 8:30 a.m. in Courtroom 4

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before District Court Judge Lawrence J. O’Neill. The parties’ attention is directed to this Court’s

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Local Rule 285 for the preparation of trial briefs.

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IX.

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Request for Bifurcation, Appointment of Special Master, or other Techniques to
Shorten Trial
Not requested.

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X.

Related Matters Pending

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There is no related litigation.
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XI.

Compliance with Federal Procedures

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All counsel are expected to familiarize themselves with the Federal Rules of Civil
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Procedure and the Local Rules of the Eastern District of California and to keep abreast of any
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amendments thereto. The Court requires strict compliance with these rules. Sanctions will be
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imposed for failure to follow the rules as provided in both the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure
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and the Local Rules of the Eastern District of California.
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XII.

Effect Of This Order

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This order represents the Court and the parties’ best estimated schedule to complete this

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case. Any party unable to comply with the dates outlined in this order shall immediately file an

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appropriate motion or stipulation identifying the requested modification(s).

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The dates set in this Order are considered to be firm and will not be modified absent a

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showing of good cause, even if a stipulation to modify is filed. Stipulations extending the

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deadlines contained herein will not be considered unless they are accompanied by affidavits or

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declarations with attached exhibits, where appropriate, that establish good cause for granting the

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requested relief. Due to the impacted nature of the civil case docket, this Court disfavors requests

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to modify established dates.
Failure to comply with this order shall result in the imposition of sanctions.

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IT IS SO ORDERED.
Dated:

September 29, 2017

/s/
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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