Cedarville Rancheria v. Cedarville County Water District

Filing 13

STATUS (PRETRIAL SCHEDULING) CONFERENCE ORDER signed by Judge Lawrence K. Karlton on 3/12/13. Discovery deadline set for 11/11/2013. Law & Motion deadline set for 1/11/2014. Final Pretrial Conference set for 4/21/2014 at 01:30 PM in Courtroom 4 (LKK) before Judge Lawrence K. Karlton. Five (5) day Jury Trial set for 7/22/2014 at 10:30 AM in Courtroom 4 (LKK) before Judge Lawrence K. Karlton.

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
8
FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
9
10 CEDARVILLE RANCHERIA,
NO. CIV. S-12-3046 LKK/CMK
11
12

Plaintiff,
v.

13 CEDARVILLE COUNTY WATER
DISTRICT, DOES 1 through 100,
14 inclusive,
15

Defendants.
/

16
17
18

STATUS (PRETRIAL SCHEDULING) CONFERENCE
READ THIS ORDER CAREFULLY.

IT CONTAINS IMPORTANT DATES WHICH

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

A FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THE TERMS OF THIS

21 ORDER MAY RESULT IN THE IMPOSITION OF MONETARY AND ALL OTHER
22 SANCTIONS WITHIN THE POWER OF THE COURT, INCLUDING DISMISSAL OR AN
23 ORDER OF JUDGMENT.
(Pretrial

Scheduling)

25 Conference was held in chambers on March 11, 2013.

Delia Parr

24

Pursuant

to

court

order,

a

Status

26 appeared telephonically as counsel for plaintiff; Samuel L. Emerson
1

1 appeared as counsel for defendant Cedarville County Water District.
2 After hearing, the court makes the following findings and orders:
3

SERVICE OF PROCESS

4

All parties defendant have been served and no further service

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

JOINDER OF PARTIES/AMENDMENTS

8

No further joinder of parties or amendments to pleadings is

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

JURISDICTION/VENUE

13

Jurisdiction is predicated upon 28 U.S.C. §§ 1331 and 1362, is

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

MOTION HEARING SCHEDULES

16

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

17 and except that it shall be conducted so as to be completed by
18 January 11, 2014.

The word "completed" in this context means that

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

Counsel are cautioned to refer to Local

26 Rule 230 regarding the requirements for noticing such motions on
2

1 the

court's

regularly

scheduled

law

and

motion

calendar.

2 Opposition or statement of non-opposition to all motions shall be
3 filed not later than 4:30 p.m. fourteen (14) days preceding the
4 hearing date, or by proof of service by mail not less than
5 seventeen (17) days preceding the hearing date.

This paragraph

6 does not preclude motions for continuances, temporary restraining
7 orders or other emergency applications, and is subject to any
8 special scheduling set forth in the "MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS"
9 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(e), 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

20

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 November 11, 2013.

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
4

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 October 11, 2013.

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.

All designated experts shall submit

10 written reports which counsel shall exchange at the time of
11 designation.
12 Civ. P.

The contents of the report must comply with Fed. R.

26 (a)(2)(B).

All experts so designated are to be fully

13 prepared to render an informed opinion at the time of designation
14 so that they may fully participate in any deposition taken by the
15 opposing party.

Experts will not be permitted to testify at the

16 trial as to any information gathered or evaluated, or opinion
17 formed, after deposition taken 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.
25 ////
26

MID-LITIGATION STATEMENTS
5

1

Not later than fourteen (14) days prior to the close of

2 discovery, all parties shall file with the court and serve on all
3 other parties a brief statement summarizing all law and motion
4 practice heard by the court as of the date of the filing of the
5 statement, whether the court has disposed of the motion at the time
6 the statement is filed and served, and the likelihood that any
7 further motions will be noticed prior to the close of law and
8 motion. The filing of this statement shall not relieve the parties
9 or counsel of their obligation to timely notice all appropriate
10 motions as set forth above.
11

FINAL PRETRIAL CONFERENCE

12

The Final Pretrial Conference is SET for April 21, 2014, at

13 1:30 p.m.

Counsel are cautioned that counsel appearing for

14 Pretrial will in fact try the matter.
15

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

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

In addition

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

non-discovery

23 resolution.

motion

tendered

to

the

court,

and

its

A FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH LOCAL RULES 280 AND 281 WILL

24 BE GROUNDS FOR SANCTIONS.
25

The parties shall file Separate Pretrial Statements, the

26 contents and timing of which are set forth in Local Rule 281,
6

1 except that the parties are to prepare a JOINT STATEMENT with
2 respect to the undisputed facts and disputed factual issues of the
3 case.

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

The parties are

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

The joint statement shall be filed not less than seven

7 (7) days before the date set by the court for the holding of the
8 Final Pretrial Conference.
9

The undisputed facts and disputed factual issues are to be set

10 forth in two separate sections.

In each section, the parties

11 should identify first the general facts relevant to all causes of
12 action.

After identifying the general facts, the parties should

13 then identify those facts which are relevant to each separate cause
14 of action.

In this regard, the parties are to number each

15 individual fact or factual issue.

Where the parties are unable to

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

"Whether or not . . . ."

The

22 parties should keep in mind that, in general, each fact should
23 relate or correspond to an element of the relevant cause of action.
24 Notwithstanding

the

provisions

of

Local

Rule

281,

the

Joint

25 Statement of Undisputed Facts and Disputed Factual Issues is to be
26 filed with the court concurrently with the filing of plaintiff's
7

1 Pretrial Statement. If the case is tried to a jury, the undisputed
2 facts will be read to the jury.
3

Pursuant to Local Rule 281(b)(10) and (11), the parties are

4 required

to

provide

in

their

Pretrial

Statements

a

list

of

5 witnesses and exhibits that they propose to proffer at trial, no
6 matter for what purpose. These lists shall not be contained in the
7 Pretrial Statement itself, but shall be attached as separate
8 documents to be used as addenda to the Final Pretrial Order.
9 Plaintiff's exhibits shall be listed

numerically; defendant's

10 exhibits shall be listed alphabetically.

In the event that the

11 alphabet is exhausted, defendant's exhibits shall be marked "2A-2Z,
12 3A-3Z, etc."

The Pretrial Order will contain a stringent standard

13 for the proffering of witnesses and exhibits at trial not listed in
14 the Pretrial Order.

Counsel are cautioned that the standard will

15 be strictly applied. On the other hand, the listing of exhibits or
16 witnesses which counsel do not intend to call or use will be viewed
17 as an abuse of the court's processes.
18

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

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

Unless

23 otherwise barred by a rule of evidence or order of this court, the
24 parties remain free to tender appropriate discovery documents
25 during trial for such purposes as, but not limited to, impeachment
26 or memory refreshment.
8

1

Pursuant

to

Local

Rule

281(b)(8),

the

parties'

Pretrial

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

Each

3 party shall commence this section by specifying as to each claim
4 whether federal or state law governs, and if state law, the state
5 whose law is applicable.
6

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

7 16, it will be their duty at the Pretrial Conference to aid the
8 court in (a) formulation and simplification of issues and the
9 elimination of frivolous claims or defenses; (b) settling of facts
10 which should be properly admitted; and (c) the avoidance of
11 unnecessary proof and cumulative evidence.

Counsel must prepare

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

A FAILURE TO DO SO

14 MAY RESULT IN THE IMPOSITION of SANCTIONS which may include
15 monetary sanctions, orders precluding proof, eliminations of claims
16 or

defenses,

or

such

other

sanctions

as

the

court

deems

17 appropriate.
18

TRIAL SETTING

19

Trial is SET for July 22, 2014, at 10:30 a.m.

20 by jury.

Trial will be

The parties represent in good faith that the trial will

21 take approximately five (5) days.
22

SETTLEMENT CONFERENCE

23

A Settlement Conference will be set before a judge other than

24 the trial judge at the time of the Pretrial Conference.
25

Counsel

are

cautioned

to

have

a

principal

capable

of

26 disposition present at the Settlement Conference or to be fully
9

1 authorized to settle the matter on any terms and at the Settlement
2 Conference.
3

MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

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:

March 12, 2013.

4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
11