Terry et al v. Wasatch Advantage Group, LLC et al
Filing
69
ORDER signed by Magistrate Judge Deborah Barnes on 8/11/17 ORDERING that Defendants' 7/14/17 MOTION for leave to take additional depositions #59 is DENIED without prejudice to renewal; and Defendants' 7/21/17 MOTION for leave to take additional depositions #63 is DENIED without prejudice to renewal. (Mena-Sanchez, L)
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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
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FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
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DENIKA TERRY, et al.,
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Plaintiffs,
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No. 2:15-cv-0799 KJM DB
v.
ORDER
WASATCH ADVANTAGE GROUP, et
al.,
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Defendants.
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This action came before the court on August 11, 2017, for hearing of defendants’ motion
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for leave to take additional depositions. Attorney David Lavine appeared telephonically on
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behalf of the plaintiffs. Attorney Yoon Nam appeared in person on behalf of the defendants.
On July 5, 2017, at the request of the parties, the undersigned set this matter for an
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Informal Telephonic Discovery Conference on July 11, 2017. (ECF No. 55.) However, review
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of the parties’ joint letter brief revealed that the nature of the parties’ dispute was not suitable for
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resolution via an Informal Telephonic Discovery Conference. Accordingly, on July 10, 2017, the
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Informal Telephonic Discovery Conference was vacated. (ECF No. 57.)
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On July 14, 2017, defendant filed a motion for leave to take additional depositions. (ECF
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No. 59.) Defendant noticed the motion for hearing before the undersigned on July 21, 2017.
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However, July 21, 2017, was not an available law and motion date. Nor did defendants’ motion
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provided proper notice pursuant to Local Rule 251. Accordingly, on July 17, 2017, the hearing of
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defendants’ motion was vacated.1 (ECF No. 60.)
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On July 21, 2017, defendants filed an affidavit claiming that they were “unable to secure
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the cooperation of counsel for Plaintiffs . . . in the preparation and execution of the required joint
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statement.” (ECF No. 62 at 2.) That same day, defendants again filed a motion for leave to take
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additional depositions. (ECF No. 63.) Again, defendants noticed the motion for hearing before
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the undersigned on only seven days’ notice.
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Accordingly, on July 25, 2017, the undersigned issued an order continuing the hearing of
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defendants’ motion to August 11, 2017. (ECF No. 64.) That order also advised defendants of the
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requirements of Local Rule 251. Moreover, the parties were ordered that on or before August 4,
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2017, the parties should file a joint statement or defense counsel should file an affidavit stating
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that, after a good faith effort, defense counsel was unable to secure the cooperation of plaintiffs’
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counsel in preparing a joint statement. (ECF No. 64.)
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On August 4, 2017, the parties did not file a joint statement. Instead, each party filed a
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declaration essentially blaming the other party for their failure to file a joint statement. (ECF
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Nos. 65 & 67.) Moreover, the parties’ briefing failed to adequately discuss the merits, or lack of
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merit, of defendants’ request or the procedural issues relevant to defendants’ request for leave to
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conduct eight additional depositions with an impeding discovery deadline of August 14, 2017,
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and a class certification hearing on September 22, 2017.
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Instead of re-noticing this motion for hearing, defendants filed another motion on July 21, 2017.
(ECF No. 63.) Because the July 14, 2017 motion was neither withdrawn by defendants nor renoticed, this order will also deny the July 14, 2017 motion without prejudice to renewal.
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Accordingly, upon consideration of the arguments on file and those made at the hearing,
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and for the reasons set forth on the record at that hearing and above, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED
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that:
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1. Defendants’ July 14, 2017 motion for leave to take additional depositions (ECF No.
59) is denied without prejudice to renewal; and
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2. Defendants’ July 21, 2017 motion for leave to take additional depositions (ECF No.
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63) is denied without prejudice to renewal.2
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Dated: August 11, 2017
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DLB:6
DB\orders\orders.civil\terry0799.oah.081117
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If defendants intend to renew their motion, defendants should first consider, and if necessary
obtain, a continuation of the discovery deadline and the class certification hearing. While the
undersigned is permitted to modify the discovery deadline in this action, the undersigned may do
so only to the extent any such modification does not impact the balance of the schedule.
Moreover, if defendants renew their motion, or bring a future discovery motion, defense counsel
shall carefully review and comply with Local Rule 251. Finally, the parties are cautioned that, if
in a future discovery dispute before the undersigned the parties fail to file a joint statement the
parties should be prepared to discuss the issue of sanctions for one or both attorneys at the hearing
of the discovery dispute.
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