Howard v. AM Retail Group, Inc., et al.

Filing 16

SCHEDULING ORDER, signed by Magistrate Judge Jennifer L. Thurston on 5/3/2018. Pleading Amendment Deadline 11/2/2018. Discovery Deadlines: Non-Expert 2/1/2019; Expert 3/25/2019. Mid-Discovery Status Conference set for 11/5/2018 at 08:30 AM in Baker sfield, 510 19th Street before Magistrate Judge Jennifer L. Thurston. Non-Dispositive Motion Deadlines: Filed by 4/12/2019; Hearing by 5/10/2019. Dispositive Motion Deadlines: Filed by 5/24/2019; Hearing by 6/21/2019. Pretrial Conference set for 8/27/2019 at 09:00 AM in Bakersfield, 510 19th Street before Magistrate Judge Jennifer L. Thurston. Jury Trial set for 10/21/2019 at 08:30 AM in Bakersfield, 510 19th Street before Magistrate Judge Jennifer L. Thurston. (Hall, S)

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

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EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

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DAWONA HOWARD,

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Plaintiff,

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v.
AM RETAIL GROUP, INC., et al.
Defendants.

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Case No.: 1:17-CV-1751- JLT
SCHEDULING ORDER (Fed. R. Civ. P. 16)
Pleading Amendment Deadline: 11/2/2018
Discovery Deadlines:
Non-Expert: 2/1/2019
Expert: 3/25/2019
Mid-Discovery Status Conference:
11/5/2018 at 8:30 a.m.
Non-Dispositive Motion Deadlines:
Filing: 4/12/2019
Hearing: 5/10/2019

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Dispositive Motion Deadlines:
Filing: 5/24/2019
Hearing: 6/21/2019

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Pre-Trial Conference:
8/27/2019 at 9:00 a.m.
510 19th Street, Bakersfield, CA

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Trial: 10/21/2019 at 8:30 a.m.
510 19th Street, Bakersfield, CA
Jury trial: 3-4 days

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I.

May 3, 2018.

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Date of Scheduling Conference

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Appearances of Counsel

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Kimberly Lind appeared on behalf of Plaintiff.

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Fraser McAlpine and Angelito Sevilla appeared on behalf of Defendants.

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III.

Pleading Amendment Deadline
Any requested pleading amendments are ordered to be filed, either through a stipulation or

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motion to amend, no later than November 2, 2018.

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IV.

Discovery Plan and Cut-Off Date

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The parties have exchanged the initial disclosures required by Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(a)(1).

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The parties are ordered to complete all discovery pertaining to non-experts on or before

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February 1, 2019, and all discovery pertaining to experts on or before March 25, 2019.

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The parties are directed to disclose all expert witnesses, in writing, on or February 11, 2019,

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and to disclose all rebuttal experts on or before March 11, 2019. The written designation of retained

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and non-retained experts shall be made pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. Rule 26(a)(2), (A), (B), and (C)

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and shall include all information required thereunder. Failure to designate experts in compliance

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with this order may result in the Court excluding the testimony or other evidence offered through such

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experts that are not disclosed pursuant to this order.

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The provisions of Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(b)(4) and (5) shall apply to all discovery relating to experts

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and their opinions. Experts must be fully prepared to be examined on all subjects and opinions

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included in the designation. Failure to comply will result in the imposition of sanctions, which may

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include striking the expert designation and preclusion of expert testimony.

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The provisions of Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(e) regarding a party’s duty to timely supplement
disclosures and responses to discovery requests will be strictly enforced.
A mid-discovery status conference is scheduled for November 5, 2018 at 8:30 a.m. before the

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Honorable Jennifer L. Thurston, U.S. Magistrate Judge, located at 510 19th Street, Bakersfield,

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California. Counsel SHALL file a joint mid-discovery status conference report one week before the

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conference. Counsel also SHALL lodge the status report via e-mail to [e-mail].
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The joint statement SHALL outline the discovery counsel have completed and that which needs to be

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completed as well as any impediments to completing the discovery within the deadlines set forth in this

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order. Counsel may appear via teleconference by dialing [phone] and entering Access Code

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1652736, provided the Magistrate Judge's Courtroom Deputy Clerk receives a written notice of the

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intent to appear telephonically no later than five court days before the noticed hearing date.

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V.

Pre-Trial Motion Schedule
All non-dispositive pre-trial motions, including any discovery motions, shall be filed no later

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than April 12, 2019, and heard on or before May 10, 2019. The Court hears non-dispositive motions at

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9:00 a.m. at the United States District Courthouse in Bakersfield, California.
No motion to amend or stipulation to amend the case schedule will be entertained unless it

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is filed at least one week before the first deadline the parties wish to extend. Likewise, no written

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discovery motions shall be filed without the prior approval of the assigned Magistrate Judge. A party

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with a discovery dispute must first confer with the opposing party in a good faith effort to resolve by

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agreement the issues in dispute. If that good faith effort is unsuccessful, the moving party promptly

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shall seek a telephonic hearing with all involved parties and the Magistrate Judge. It shall be the

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obligation of the moving party to arrange and originate the conference call to the court. To schedule

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this telephonic hearing, the parties are ordered to contact the Courtroom Deputy Clerk, Susan Hall, at

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[phone] or via email at [e-mail]. Counsel must comply with Local Rule 251

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with respect to discovery disputes or the motion will be denied without prejudice and dropped

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from the Court’s calendar.
All dispositive pre-trial motions shall be filed no later than May 24, 2019, and heard no later

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than June 21, 2019, before the Honorable Jennifer L. Thurston, United States Magistrate Judge, at the

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United States District Courthouse in Bakersfield, California. In scheduling such motions, counsel shall

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comply with Fed. R. Civ. P. 56 and Local Rules 230 and 260.

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VI.

Motions for Summary Judgment or Summary Adjudication

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At least 21 days before filing a motion for summary judgment or motion for summary

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adjudication, the parties are ORDERED to meet, in person or by telephone, to confer about the issues

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to be raised in the motion.
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The purpose of the meeting shall be to: 1) avoid filing motions for summary judgment where a

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question of fact exists; 2) determine whether the respondent agrees that the motion has merit in whole

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or in part; 3) discuss whether issues can be resolved without the necessity of briefing; 4) narrow the

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issues for review by the court; 5) explore the possibility of settlement before the parties incur the

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expense of briefing a motion; and 6) to develop a joint statement of undisputed facts.
The moving party SHALL initiate the meeting and SHALL provide a complete, proposed

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statement of undisputed facts at least five days before the conference. The finalized joint statement of

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undisputed facts SHALL include all facts that the parties agree, for purposes of the motion, may be

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deemed true. In addition to the requirements of Local Rule 260, the moving party shall file the joint

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statement of undisputed facts.
In the notice of motion the moving party SHALL certify that the parties have met and conferred

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as ordered above, or set forth a statement of good cause for the failure to meet and confer. Failure to

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comply may result in the motion being stricken.

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VII.

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Pre-Trial Conference
August 27, 2019, at 9:00 a.m., located at the United States District Courthouse in Bakersfield,

California, before the Honorable Jennifer L. Thurston, United States Magistrate Judge.
The parties are ordered to file a Joint Pretrial Statement pursuant to Local Rule 281(a)(2).

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The parties are further directed to submit a digital copy of their pretrial statement in Word format,

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directly to Judge Thurston's chambers, by email at [e-mail].

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Counsels' attention is directed to Rules 281 and 282 of the Local Rules of Practice for the

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Eastern District of California, as to the obligations of counsel in preparing for the pre-trial conference.

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The Court will insist upon strict compliance with those rules. In addition to the matters set forth in the

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Local Rules the Joint Pretrial Statement shall include a Joint Statement of the case to be used by the

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Court to explain the nature of the case to the jury during voir dire.

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VIII. Trial Date

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October 21, 2019, at 8:30 a.m. at the United States District Courthouse in Bakersfield,
California, before the Honorable Jennifer L. Thurston, United States Magistrate Judge.
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This is a jury trial.
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B.

Counsels' Estimate of Trial Time: 3-4 days.

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C.

Counsels' attention is directed to Local Rules of Practice for the Eastern District of

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California, Rule 285.

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IX.

Settlement Conference

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If the parties desire a conference with the Court, they may file a joint written request for a

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settlement conference. Alternatively, the parties may file a joint written request for referral to the

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Court’s Voluntary Dispute Resolution Program.

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X.

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Trial
Not applicable at this time.

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XI.

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Related Matters Pending
There are no pending related matters.

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Request for Bifurcation, Appointment of Special Master, or other Techniques to Shorten

XII.

Compliance with Federal Procedure
All counsel are expected to familiarize themselves with the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure

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and the Local Rules of Practice of the Eastern District of California, and to keep abreast of any

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amendments thereto. The Court must insist upon compliance with these Rules to efficiently handle its

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increasing case load, and sanctions will be imposed for failure to follow the Rules as provided in both

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the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and the Local Rules of Practice for the Eastern District of

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California.

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XIII. Effect of this Order

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The foregoing order represents the best estimate of the court and counsel as to the agenda most

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suitable to dispose of this case. The trial date reserved is specifically reserved for this case. If the

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parties determine at any time that the schedule outlined in this order cannot be met, counsel are ordered

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to notify the court immediately of that fact so that adjustments may be made, either by stipulation or by

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subsequent status conference.

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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 the request to modify is made by stipulation. Stipulations

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extending the deadlines contained herein will not be considered unless they are accompanied by
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affidavits or declarations, and where appropriate attached exhibits, which establish good cause

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for granting the relief requested.

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Failure to comply with this order may result in the imposition of sanctions.

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IT IS SO ORDERED.
Dated:

May 3, 2018

/s/ Jennifer L. Thurston
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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