Noble v. Federal Express Corporation

Filing 27

ORDER re: 17 Defendant's motion for judgment on the pleadings. Parties to meet and confer and file stipulation and proposed order or joint supplemental brief on or before 10/31/11. Signed by Judge Thelton E. Henderson on 10/20/11. (tehlc3, COURT STAFF) (Filed on 10/20/2011)

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

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FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

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KATHRYN NOBLE,

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Plaintiff,

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v.
FEDERAL EXPRESS
CORPORATION, et al.,

NO. C11-1062 TEH
ORDER RE: DEFENDANT’S
MOTION FOR JUDGMENT ON
THE PLEADINGS

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Defendants.
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For the Northern District of California

United States District Court

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This matter comes before the Court on a motion for judgment on the pleadings filed

13 by Defendant Federal Express Corporation (“FedEx”). FedEx moves for judgment based on
14 Plaintiff Kathryn Noble’s failure to include this lawsuit in her filings for Chapter 13
15 bankruptcy. Since the motion was filed, Noble has received leave from the bankruptcy court
16 to amend her bankruptcy filings and also to pursue this lawsuit.1 The parties shall meet and
17 confer on whether the bankruptcy court’s October 14, 2011 order alleviates FedEx’s
18 concerns about standing.
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In addition, the Court advises the parties that it is inclined to follow the outcome

20 reached in Cannata v. Wyndham Worldwide Corp., Case No. 2:10-CV-00068-PMP-LRL,
21 2011 WL 2910112 (D. Nev. July 21, 2011). That court did not judicially estop the plaintiff
22 from pursuing her discrimination claims, but it did “limit any potential award of damages to
23 the amount necessary for the repayment of creditors as determined by the chapter 7 estate
24 trustee” such that the plaintiff “will receive nothing.” Id. at *9. This solution would appear
25 to strike an appropriate balance of equities, and the parties shall meet and confer on whether
26 this is an acceptable outcome in this case. If the parties agree, or can agree on an alternate
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The Court takes judicial notice of the documents filed in the bankruptcy court
pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 201. The Court does not, however, take judicial
28 notice of these documents for the truth of any matter asserted in Noble’s bankruptcy filings.

1 resolution, then they shall file an appropriate stipulation and proposed order resolving
2 FedEx’s pending motion. If they cannot reach agreement, then they shall file a joint
3 supplemental brief setting forth their respective positions, including citations to legal
4 authority as to why proceeding in this manner would be reversible error. The parties shall
5 file their stipulation and proposed order or joint supplemental brief on or before October 31,
6 2011.
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8 IT IS SO ORDERED.
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For the Northern District of California

United States District Court

10 Dated: 10/20/11
THELTON E. HENDERSON, JUDGE
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

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