Wicks v. Chrysler Group, LLC et al

Filing 26

STATUS ORDER signed by Senior Judge Lawrence K. Karlton on 4/14/11 ORDERING Discovery due by 3/11/2012; Motions must be heard by 5/11/2012 Final Pretrial Conference set for 8/13/2012 at 01:30 PM in Courtroom 4 (LKK) before Senior Judge Lawrence K. Karlton; Jury Trial set for 11/14/2012 at 10:30 AM in Courtroom 4 (LKK) before Senior Judge Lawrence K. Karlton; and pursuant to the request of pltf, Chrysler Group LLC is DISMISSED. (Carlos, K)

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

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FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

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EVERT WICKS,
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NO. CIV. S-10-3214 LKK/KJN

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Plaintiff,
v.

13 CHRYSLER GROUP, LLC, and
AUTOWEST CHRYSLER DODGE
14 JEEP,
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Defendants.
/

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STATUS (PRETRIAL SCHEDULING) CONFERENCE
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READ THIS ORDER CAREFULLY.

IT CONTAINS IMPORTANT DATES WHICH

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THE COURT WILL STRICTLY ENFORCE AND WITH WHICH ALL COUNSEL AND
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PARTIES MUST COMPLY.

A FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THE TERMS OF THIS

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ORDER MAY RESULT IN THE IMPOSITION OF MONETARY AND ALL OTHER
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SANCTIONS WITHIN THE POWER OF THE COURT, INCLUDING DISMISSAL OR AN
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ORDER OF JUDGMENT.
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Pursuant

to

court

order,

a

Status

(Pretrial

Scheduling)

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Conference was held in chambers on April 11, 2011.

Jose F. Vergara

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appeared as counsel for plaintiff; Jon D. Universal appeared
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1 telephonically as counsel for defendants Chrysler Group, LLC and
2 Autowest Chrysler Dodge Jeep.

After hearing, the court makes the

3 following findings and orders:
4

SERVICE OF PROCESS

5

All parties defendant have been served and no further service

6 is permitted except with leave of court, good cause having been
7 shown.
8

JOINDER OF PARTIES/AMENDMENTS

9

No further joinder of parties or amendments to pleadings is

10 permitted except with leave of court, good cause having been shown.
11 See Johnson v. Mammoth Recreations, Inc., 975 F.2d 604 (9th Cir.
12 1992).
13

JURISDICTION/VENUE

14

Jurisdiction is predicated upon 15 U.S.C. §2301(d)(1)(B) is

15 undisputed and is hereby found to be proper, as is venue.
16

MOTION HEARING SCHEDULES

17

All law and motion except as to discovery is left open, save

18 and except that it shall be conducted so as to be completed by
19 May 11, 2012.

The word "completed" in this context means that all

20 law and motion matters must be heard by the above date.

Because

21 this date is not necessarily a date previously set aside for law
22 and motion hearings, it is incumbent upon counsel to contact this
23 court's courtroom deputy, Ana Rivas at [phone], sufficiently
24 in advance so as to ascertain the dates upon which law and motion
25 will be heard and to properly notice its motion for hearing before
26 that date.

Counsel are cautioned to refer to Local Rule 230
2

1 regarding the requirements for noticing such motions on the court's
2 regularly

scheduled

law

and

motion

calendar.

Opposition

or

3 statement of non-opposition to all motions shall be filed not later
4 than 4:30 p.m. fourteen (14) days preceding the hearing date, or by
5 proof

of

service

by

mail

6 preceding the hearing date.

not

less

than

seventeen

(17)

days

This paragraph does not preclude

7 motions for continuances, temporary restraining orders or other
8 emergency applications, and is subject to any special scheduling
9 set forth in the "MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS" paragraph below.
10

At the time of filing a motion, opposition, or reply, counsel

11 are directed to email a copy in word processing format to

lkk-

12 [e-mail].
13

The parties should keep in mind that the purpose of law and

14 motion is to narrow and refine the legal issues raised by the case,
15 and

to

dispose

of

by

pretrial

motion

those

16 susceptible to resolution without trial.

issues

that

are

To accomplish that

17 purpose, the parties need to identify and fully research the issues
18 presented by the case, and then examine those issues in light of
19 the evidence gleaned through discovery.

If it appears to counsel

20 after examining the legal issues and facts that an issue can be
21 resolved by pretrial motion, counsel are to file the appropriate
22 motion by the law and motion cutoff set forth supra.
23

Unless prior permission has been granted, memoranda of law in

24 support of and in opposition to motions are limited to thirty (30)
25 pages, and reply memoranda are limited to fifteen (15) pages.

The

26 parties are also cautioned against filing multiple briefs to
3

1 circumvent this rule.
2

Where the parties bring motions for summary judgment, the

3 court will deem facts which are apparently undisputed as undisputed
4 under Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(d), unless specifically reserved and that
5 party tenders evidence to support the reservation.
6

ALL PURELY LEGAL ISSUES ARE TO BE RESOLVED BY TIMELY PRETRIAL

7 MOTION AND A FAILURE TO MAKE SUCH A MOTION WILL ORDINARILY BE
8 VIEWED AS A WAIVER AT THE TIME OF PRETRIAL.

COUNSEL ARE CAUTIONED

9 THAT IF ANY LEGAL ISSUE THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN TENDERED TO THE COURT
10 BY PRETRIAL MOTION MUST BE RESOLVED BY THE COURT AFTER LAW AND
11 MOTION CUTOFF, FOR INSTANCE WHERE THE ISSUE IS JURISDICTION,
12 SUBSTANTIAL SANCTIONS WILL BE LEVIED AGAINST COUNSEL WHO FAIL TO
13 TIMELY FILE AN APPROPRIATE MOTION.
14

Counsel are further reminded that motions in limine are

15 procedural

devices

designed

to

address

the

admissibility

of

16 evidence.

COUNSEL ARE CAUTIONED THAT THE COURT WILL LOOK WITH

17 DISFAVOR UPON SUBSTANTIVE MOTIONS PRESENTED IN THE GUISE OF MOTIONS
18 IN LIMINE

AT THE TIME OF TRIAL.

19

DISCOVERY

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No modifications of the discovery requirements found in the

21 Federal Rules is ordered.
22

All discovery is left open, save and except that it shall be

23 so conducted as to be completed by March 11, 2012.

The word

24 "completed" means that all discovery shall have been conducted so
25 that all depositions have been taken and any disputes relative to
26 discovery

shall

have

been

resolved
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by

appropriate

order

if

1 necessary and, where discovery has been ordered, the order has been
2 complied with.

Motions to compel discovery must be noticed on the

3 magistrate judge's calendar in accordance with the local rules of
4 this court and so that such motions will be heard not later than
5 February 11, 2012.

In this regard, all counsel are to designate in

6 writing and file with the court and serve upon all other parties a
7 final list of the names of all experts that they propose to tender
8 at trial not later than sixty (60) days before the close of
9 discovery herein established.

At the time of designation, all

10 experts shall submit a written report.

The contents of the report

11 must comply with Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 26 (A)(2)(b). All
12 experts so designated are to be fully prepared to render an
13 informed opinion at the time of designation so that they may fully
14 participate in any deposition taken by the opposing party. Experts
15 will not be permitted to testify at the trial as to any information
16 gathered or evaluated, or opinion formed, after deposition taken
17 subsequent to designation.
18

An expert witness not appearing on said lists will not be

19 permitted

to

testify

unless

the

party

offering

the

witness

20 demonstrates: (a) that the necessity of the witness could not have
21 been reasonably anticipated at the time the lists were exchanged;
22 (b) the court and opposing counsel were promptly notified upon
23 discovery of the witness; and (c) that the witness was promptly
24 proffered for deposition.
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MID-LITIGATION STATEMENTS

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Not later than fourteen (14) days prior to the close of
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1 discovery, all parties shall file with the court and serve on all
2 other parties a brief statement summarizing all law and motion
3 practice heard by the court as of the date of the filing of the
4 statement, whether the court has disposed of the motion at the time
5 the statement is filed and served, and the likelihood that any
6 further motions will be noticed prior to the close of law and
7 motion. The filing of this statement shall not relieve the parties
8 or counsel of their obligation to timely notice all appropriate
9 motions as set forth above.
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FINAL PRETRIAL CONFERENCE

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The Final Pretrial Conference is SET for August 13, 2012, at

12 1:30

p.m.

Counsel

are

cautioned

that

counsel

appearing

for

13 Pretrial will in fact try the matter.
14

Counsel for all parties are to be fully prepared for trial at

15 the time of the Pretrial Conference, with no matters remaining to
16 be accomplished except production of witnesses for oral testimony.
17 Counsel are referred to Local Rules 280 and 281 relating to the
18 contents of and time for filing Pretrial Statements.

In addition

19 to those subjects listed in Local Rule 281(b), the parties are to
20 provide the court with a plain, concise statement which identifies
21 every

non-discovery

22 resolution.

motion

tendered

to

the

court,

and

its

A FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH LOCAL RULES 280 AND 281 WILL

23 BE GROUNDS FOR SANCTIONS.
24

The parties shall file Separate Pretrial Statements, the

25 contents and timing of which are set forth in Local Rule 281,
26 except that the parties are to prepare a JOINT STATEMENT with
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1 respect to the undisputed facts and disputed factual issues of the
2 case.

See Local Rule 281(b)(3), (4), and (6).

The parties are

3 reminded to include in their joint statement all disputed and
4 undisputed special factual information as required by Local Rule
5 281(b)(6).
6

The undisputed facts and disputed factual issues are to be set

7 forth in two separate sections.

In each section, the parties

8 should identify first the general facts relevant to all causes of
9 action.

After identifying the general facts, the parties should

10 then identify those facts which are relevant to each separate cause
11 of action.

In this regard, the parties are to number each

12 individual fact or factual issue.

Where the parties are unable to

13 agree as to what factual issues are properly before the court for
14 trial, they should nevertheless list in the section on "DISPUTED
15 FACTUAL ISSUES" all issues asserted by any of the parties and
16 explain by parenthetical the controversy concerning each issue.
17 Each individual disputed fact or factual issue shall include the
18 following introductory language:

"Whether or not . . . ."

The

19 parties should keep in mind that, in general, each fact should
20 relate or correspond to an element of the relevant cause of action.
21 Notwithstanding

the

provisions

of

Local

Rule

281,

the

Joint

22 Statement of Undisputed Facts and Disputed Factual Issues is to be
23 filed with the court concurrently with the filing of plaintiff's
24 Pretrial Statement.

If the case is tried to a jury, the undisputed

25 facts will be read to the jury.
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Pursuant to Local Rule 281(b)(10) and (11), the parties are
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1 required

to

provide

in

their

Pretrial

Statements

a

list

of

2 witnesses and exhibits that they propose to proffer at trial, no
3 matter for what purpose.

These lists shall not be contained in the

4 Pretrial Statement itself, but shall be attached as separate
5 documents to be used as addenda to the Final Pretrial Order.
6 Plaintiff's

exhibits

shall

be

listed

numerically;

7 exhibits shall be listed alphabetically.

defendant's

In the event that the

8 alphabet is exhausted, defendant's exhibits shall be marked "2A-2Z,
9 3A-3Z, etc."

The Pretrial Order will contain a stringent standard

10 for the proffering of witnesses and exhibits at trial not listed in
11 the Pretrial Order.

Counsel are cautioned that the standard will

12 be strictly applied.

On the other hand, the listing of exhibits or

13 witnesses which counsel do not intend to call or use will be viewed
14 as an abuse of the court's processes.
15

Pursuant to Local Rule 281(b)(12), a party is required to

16 provide a list of all answers to interrogatories and responses to
17 requests for admission that the party expects to offer at trial.
18 This list should include only those documents or portions thereof
19 which the party expects to offer in its case-in-chief.

Unless

20 otherwise barred by a rule of evidence or order of this court, the
21 parties remain free to tender appropriate discovery documents
22 during trial for such purposes as, but not limited to, impeachment
23 or memory refreshment.
24

Pursuant

to

Local

Rule

281(b)(8),

the

parties'

Pretrial

25 Statements shall contain a "statement of legal theory, etc."

Each

26 party shall commence this section by specifying as to each claim
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1 whether federal or state law governs, and if state law, the state
2 whose law is applicable.
3

Counsel are also reminded that, pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P.

4 16, it will be their duty at the Pretrial Conference to aid the
5 court in (a) formulation and simplification of issues and the
6 elimination of frivolous claims or defenses; (b) settling of facts
7 which

should

be

properly

admitted;

and

8 unnecessary proof and cumulative evidence.

(c)

the

avoidance

of

Counsel must prepare

9 their Pretrial Statements, and participate in good faith at the
10 Pretrial Conference, with these aims in mind.

A FAILURE TO DO SO

11 MAY

which

RESULT

IN

THE

IMPOSITION

of

SANCTIONS

may

include

12 monetary sanctions, orders precluding proof, eliminations of claims
13 or

defenses,

or

such

other

sanctions

as

the

court

deems

14 appropriate.
15

TRIAL SETTING

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Trial is SET for November 14, 2012, at 10:30 a.m.

17 be by jury.

Trial will

The parties represent in good faith that the trial

18 will take approximately five (5) days.
19

SETTLEMENT CONFERENCE

20

A Settlement Conference will be set before a judge other than

21 the trial judge at the time of the Pretrial Conference.
22

Counsel

are

cautioned

to

have

a

principal

capable

of

23 disposition present at the Settlement Conference or to be fully
24 authorized to settle the matter on any terms and at the Settlement
25 Conference.
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1

MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

2

Pursuant to the request of plaintiff, Chrysler Group, LLC is

3 dismissed.
4

The parties are reminded that pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P.

5 16(b), the Status (pretrial scheduling) Order shall not be modified
6 except by leave of court upon a showing of good cause.

Counsel are

7 cautioned

dates

that

changes

to

any

of

the

scheduled

will

8 necessarily result in changes to all other dates. Thus, even where
9 good cause has been shown, the court will not grant a request to
10 change the discovery cutoff date without modifying the pretrial and
11 trial dates.
12

Agreement by the parties pursuant to stipulation does not

13 constitute good cause. Nor does the unavailability of witnesses or
14 counsel, except in extraordinary circumstances, constitute good
15 cause.
16

The parties are reminded of their continuing obligation to

17 supplement their statements relative to the identification of
18 parent corporations and any publicly held company that owns 10% or
19 more of the party's stock within a reasonable time of any change in
20 the information.
21

The parties are admonished that they are not to cite or refer

22 to any of the quotations inscribed in the pavers on the front plaza
23 of the United States Courthouse in any written or oral presentation
24 to the court or a jury.
25

There appear to be no other matters presently pending before

26 the court that will aid the just and expeditious disposition of
10

1 this matter.
2

IT IS SO ORDERED.

3

DATED:

April 14, 2011.

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