McCain v. California Highway Patrol et al
Filing
83
STATUS (PRETRIAL SCHEDULING) ORDER signed by Magistrate Judge Kendall J. Newman on 11/30/11: Designation of Expert Witnesses due by 11/15/2012. Discovery due by 1/20/2012. Dispositive Motions filed by 3/28/2013. Final Pretrial Conference set for 6/26/2013 at 11:00 AM in Courtroom 3 (KJM) before Judge Kimberly J. Mueller. Jury Trial set for 8/26/2013 at 09:00 AM in Courtroom 3 (KJM) before Judge Kimberly J. Mueller. (Kaminski, H)
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
9
FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
10
TERRYLYN MCCAIN,
11
Plaintiff,
12
13
No. 2:11-cv-01265 KJM KJN PS
v.
CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY PATROL,
et al.,
14
Defendants.
15
STATUS (PRETRIAL SCHEDULING) ORDER
/
16
READ THIS ORDER CAREFULLY. IT CONTAINS IMPORTANT DATES
17
THAT THE COURT WILL STRICTLY ENFORCE AND WITH WHICH ALL COUNSEL
18
AND PARTIES MUST COMPLY.1 FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THE TERMS OF THIS
19
ORDER MAY RESULT IN THE IMPOSITION OF MONETARY AND ALL OTHER
20
SANCTIONS WITHIN THE POWER OF THE COURT, INCLUDING DISMISSAL OR AN
21
ORDER OF JUDGMENT.
22
This matter was scheduled for a status (pretrial scheduling) conference to take
23
place on December 1, 2011. In light of the status reports filed by the parties (Dkt. Nos. 78, 80),
24
the undersigned issues the following scheduling order without physically conducting the
25
1
26
This action proceeds before the undersigned pursuant to Eastern District of California
Local Rule 302(c)(21) and 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1).
1
1
conference:
2
NATURE OF CASE
3
In short, plaintiff alleges claims against several defendants who participated in a
4
traffic stop involving plaintiff that led to plaintiff’s arrest and the towing of her motor vehicle.
5
Plaintiff has sued the California Highway Patrol (“CHP”) and two of its officers, Brent Mangham
6
and Michael Walling. Plaintiff has also sued the parties who towed plaintiff’s vehicle, Mike’s
7
Towing Service, Inc. and Michael D. Olivarez (collectively, “Towing Defendants”).
8
SERVICE OF PROCESS
9
Plaintiff served the CHP with process, and the CHP subsequently filed a motion
10
to dismiss plaintiff’s claims against it. On August 4, 2011, the undersigned entered findings and
11
recommendations that recommended the dismissal of plaintiff’s claims against the CHP with
12
prejudice (Dkt. No. 38). Those findings and recommendations have not yet been resolved by the
13
district judge assigned to this case. However, if those findings and recommendations are
14
adopted, the CHP will be dismissed from the action.
15
Plaintiff served the Towing Defendants with process, and the Towing Defendants
16
subsequently filed a motion to dismiss plaintiff’s claims against them. On August 26, 2011, the
17
undersigned entered findings and recommendations that recommended the dismissal of some of
18
plaintiff’s claims against the Towing Defendants (Dkt. No. 52). Those findings and
19
recommendations have not yet been resolved by the district judge assigned to this case. The
20
Towing Defendants filed an answer to plaintiff’s complaint (Dkt. No. 60).
21
In regards to Mangham and Walling, the undersigned determined that plaintiff had
22
not properly served these defendants with process. (See Order, Oct. 28, 2011, Dkt. No. 70.)
23
However, Mangham and Walling have filed an answer to plaintiff’s complaint (Dkt. No. 75).
24
JOINDER OF PARTIES/AMENDMENTS
25
26
No further joinder of parties or amendments to pleadings will be permitted except
with leave of court and upon a showing of good cause.
2
1
JURISDICTION/VENUE
2
Jurisdiction and venue are undisputed and are hereby found to be proper. See 28
3
U.S.C. §§ 1331, 1343, and 1391(b).
4
MOTION HEARING SCHEDULES
All law and motion, except as to discovery-related matters, shall be completed by
5
6
March 28, 2013. The word “completed” in this context means that all law and motion matters
7
must be heard by the above date. Counsel (and/or pro se parties)2 are cautioned to refer to the
8
Local Rules regarding the requirements for noticing such motions on the court’s regularly
9
scheduled law and motion calendar. This paragraph does not preclude motions for continuances,
10
temporary restraining orders or other emergency applications, and is subject to any special
11
scheduling set forth in the “MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS” paragraph below.
12
The parties should keep in mind that the purpose of law and motion is to narrow
13
and refine the legal issues raised by the case and to dispose of by pretrial motion those issues that
14
are susceptible to resolution without trial. To accomplish that purpose, the parties need to
15
identify and fully research the issues presented by the case, and then examine those issues in light
16
of the evidence obtained through discovery. If it appears to counsel after examining the legal
17
issues and facts that an issue can be resolved by pretrial motion, counsel are to file the
18
appropriate motion consistent with the law and motion cutoff set forth above.
19
ALL PURELY LEGAL ISSUES ARE TO BE RESOLVED BY TIMELY
20
PRETRIAL MOTION. Counsel are reminded that motions in limine are procedural devices
21
designed to address the admissibility of evidence. COUNSEL ARE CAUTIONED THAT THE
22
COURT WILL LOOK WITH DISFAVOR UPON SUBSTANTIVE MOTIONS PRESENTED
23
UNDER THE GUISE OF MOTIONS IN LIMINE AT THE TIME OF TRIAL.
24
////
25
2
26
Any reference to “counsel” in this order includes parties appearing without counsel,
otherwise referred to as appearing in propria persona or pro se.
3
1
DISCOVERY
2
To the extent that the parties have not already exchanged initial disclosures
3
pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 26(a)(1), they shall exchange such initial disclosures
4
on or before January 20, 2012.
All discovery shall be completed by January 25, 2013. The word “completed”
5
6
means that all discovery shall have been conducted so that all depositions have been taken and
7
any disputes relative to discovery shall have been resolved by appropriate order if necessary and,
8
where discovery has been ordered, the order has been complied with. Motions to compel
9
discovery must be noticed on the undersigned’s law and motion calendar in accordance with the
10
Local Rules and must be heard not later than January 10, 2013. The parties are reminded that
11
discovery-related motions must conform to the requirements of the Federal Rules of Civil
12
Procedure and this court’s Local Rules, including Local Rule 251.
13
The undersigned addresses two discovery-related issues raised in the status
14
reports. First, the undersigned denies the Towing Defendants’ request to delay expert discovery
15
and permit the parties to file motions for summary judgment prior to conducting expert
16
discovery. Second, plaintiff proposes a location where depositions will take place in this case.
17
The undersigned declines to set a location for all depositions, and plaintiff’s designation is
18
disregarded. The parties shall meet and confer regarding the location where depositions will take
19
place.
20
EXPERT DISCLOSURES
21
The parties are to designate in writing and file with the court, and serve upon all
22
other parties, the names of all experts they propose to tender at trial, pursuant to the following
23
schedule: initial expert disclosures shall be made on or before November 15, 2012; rebuttal
24
expert disclosures shall be made on or before December 17, 2012.
25
26
An expert witness not appearing on such lists will not be permitted to testify
unless the party offering the witness demonstrates: (a) that the necessity of the witness could not
4
1
have been reasonably anticipated at the time the lists were exchanged; (b) the court and opposing
2
counsel were promptly notified upon discovery of the witness; and (c) that the witness was
3
promptly proffered for deposition. Failure to provide the information required along with the
4
expert designation may lead to preclusion of the expert’s testimony or other appropriate
5
sanctions.
6
For the purposes of this scheduling order, experts are defined as “percipient” and
7
“Rule 26” experts. Both types of experts shall be listed. Percipient experts are persons who,
8
because of their expertise, have rendered expert opinions in the normal course of their work
9
duties or observations pertinent to the issues in the case. Another term for their opinions are
10
“historical opinions.” Percipient experts are experts who, unless also designated as Rule 26
11
experts, are limited to testifying to their historical opinions and the reasons for them. That is,
12
they may be asked to testify about their opinions given in the past and the whys and wherefores
13
concerning the development of those opinions. However, they may not be asked to render a
14
current opinion for the purposes of the litigation.
15
Rule 26 experts, who may also be percipient experts, shall be specifically
16
designated by a party to be a testifying expert for the purposes of the litigation. A Rule 26 expert
17
may express opinions formed for the purposes of the litigation. A party designating a Rule 26
18
expert will be assumed to have acquired the express permission of the witness to be so listed.
19
The parties shall comply with the information disclosure provisions of Federal
20
Rule of Civil Procedure 26(a)(2) for any expert, who is in whole or in part designated as a
21
Rule 26 expert. This information is due at the time of designation. Failure to supply the required
22
information may result in the Rule 26 expert being stricken. All Rule 26 experts are to be fully
23
prepared to render an informed opinion at the time of designation so that they may fully
24
participate in any deposition taken by the opposing party. Rule 26 experts will not be permitted
25
to testify at trial as to any information gathered or evaluated, or opinion formed, which should
26
have been reasonably available at the time of designation. The court will closely scrutinize for
5
1
discovery abuse opinions offered at deposition that differ markedly in nature and/or in bases from
2
those expressed in the mandatory information disclosure.
3
FINAL PRETRIAL CONFERENCE
4
The final pretrial conference is set before United States Senior District Judge
5
Kimberly J. Mueller on June 26, 2013, at 11:00 a.m., in Courtroom No. 3. Counsel are cautioned
6
that counsel appearing at the pretrial conference will in fact try the matter. Counsel for all parties
7
are to be fully prepared for trial at the time of the pretrial conference, with no matters remaining
8
to be accomplished except production of witnesses for oral testimony. Counsel are referred to
9
Local Rules 281 and 282 relating to pretrial statements and conferences. A FAILURE TO
10
COMPLY WITH LOCAL RULES 281 AND 282 WILL BE GROUNDS FOR SANCTIONS.
11
Notwithstanding Local Rule 281, the parties shall submit a joint pretrial statement
12
not later than fourteen (14) days prior to the pretrial conference. The joint pretrial statement shall
13
conform with the requirements of Local Rule 281(b). The undisputed facts and disputed factual
14
issues shall be set forth in two separate sections. The parties should identify those facts which
15
are relevant to each separate cause of action. In this regard, the parties are to number each
16
individual fact or factual issues. Where the parties are unable to agree as to what factual issues
17
are properly before the court for trial, they should nevertheless list in the section on “DISPUTED
18
FACTUAL ISSUES” all issues asserted by any of the parties and explain by parenthetical the
19
controversy concerning each issue. The parties should keep in mind that, in general, each fact
20
should relate or correspond to an element of the relevant cause of action. The parties should also
21
keep in mind that the purpose of listing the disputed factual issues is to apprise the court and all
22
parties about the precise issues that will be litigated at trial. The court is not interested in a
23
listing of all evidentiary facts underlying the issues that are in dispute.3 The joint statement of
24
undisputed facts and disputed factual issues is to be filed with the court concurrently with the
25
3
26
However, with respect to the listing of undisputed facts, the court will accept agreements
as to evidentiary facts.
6
1
filing of the joint pretrial statement.
2
Pursuant to Local Rule 281(b), the parties are required to provide with their
3
pretrial statement a list of witnesses and exhibits that they propose to proffer at trial, no matter
4
for what purpose. These lists shall not be contained in the pretrial statement itself, but shall be
5
attached as separate documents to be used as addenda to the final pretrial order. Plaintiff’s
6
exhibits shall be listed numerically; defendants’ exhibits shall be listed alphabetically. The
7
pretrial order will contain a stringent standard for the proffering of witnesses and exhibits at trial
8
not listed in the pretrial order. Counsel are cautioned that the standard will be strictly applied.
9
On the other hand, the listing of exhibits or witnesses which counsel do not intend or use will be
10
viewed as an abuse of the court’s processes.
11
Counsel (and pro se parties) are reminded that, pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil
12
Procedure 16, it will be their duty at the pretrial conference to aid the court in: (a) formulation
13
and simplification of issues and the elimination of meritless claims or defenses; (b) settling of
14
facts that should be properly admitted; and (c) avoidance of unnecessary proof and cumulative
15
evidence. The parties must prepare their joint pretrial statement and participate in good faith at
16
the pretrial conference with these aims in mind. A FAILURE TO DO SO MAY RESULT IN
17
THE IMPOSITION OF SANCTIONS, which may include monetary sanctions, orders precluding
18
proof, eliminations of claims or defenses, or such other sanctions as the court deems appropriate.
19
TRIAL SETTING
20
A jury trial shall commence before Judge Mueller on August 26, 2013, at 9:00
21
a.m., in Courtroom No. 3. The court anticipates that the trial will take approximately three to
22
five trial days.
23
SETTLEMENT CONFERENCE & VOLUNTARY DISPUTE RESOLUTION PROGRAM
24
From the representations in the joint status report, it appears that the parties are
25
not presently amenable to settlement discussions. If the parties believe that a settlement
26
conference would be beneficial, they shall file with the court a written stipulation to participate in
7
1
a proposed settlement conference. The parties shall conduct any settlement conference before a
2
magistrate judge other than the undersigned unless the parties stipulate to the undersigned acting
3
as the settlement judge and also file written waivers of any disqualification by virtue thereof.
4
The parties shall file settlement conference statements drafted in conformity with Local Rule 270
5
no later than fourteen days before any settlement conference.
6
The court’s Voluntary Dispute Resolution Program (“VDRP”) is unavailable
7
unless all parties are represented by an attorney. See E. Dist. Local Rule 271(a)(2). As plaintiff
8
is proceeding pro se, no referral to VDRP may be made at this time.
9
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
10
The parties are reminded that pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure
11
16(b)(4), this order shall not be modified except by leave of court upon a showing of “good
12
cause.” See, e.g., Johnson v. Mammoth Recreations, Inc., 975 F.2d 604 (9th Cir. 1992). The
13
parties and counsel are cautioned that changes to any of the scheduled dates might result in
14
changes to all other dates. Thus, even where good cause has been shown, the court will not grant
15
a request to change the discovery cutoff date without modifying the pretrial and trial dates.
16
Mere agreement by the parties pursuant to a stipulation does not constitute good
17
cause. Nor does the unavailability of witnesses or counsel, except in extraordinary
18
circumstances, constitute good cause.
19
IT IS SO ORDERED.
20
DATED: November 30, 2011
21
22
23
_____________________________________
KENDALL J. NEWMAN
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
24
25
26
8
Disclaimer: Justia Dockets & Filings provides public litigation records from the federal appellate and district courts. These filings and docket sheets should not be considered findings of fact or liability, nor do they necessarily reflect the view of Justia.
Why Is My Information Online?