Schaeffer et al v. Piccolo Properties, L.P. et al

Filing 243

STIPULATION AND ORDER re 239 STIPULATION WITH PROPOSED ORDER FOR APPOINTMENT OF A SPECIAL MASTER FOR DISCOVERY filed by R.S., Ryan Schaeffer, Anne Schaeffer. Signed by Judge Jon S. Tigar on June 19, 2015. (wsn, COURT STAFF) (Filed on 6/19/2015)

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John R. Till
SBN 178763 [e-mail]
Kirk M. Tracy SBN 288508 [e-mail]
PALADIN LAW GROUP® LLP
1176 Boulevard Way
Walnut Creek, CA 94595
Telephone:
[phone]
Facsimile:
[phone]

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Counsel for Plaintiffs
RYAN, ANNE, and REESE SCHAEFFER

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

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NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

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SAN FRANCISCO DIVISION

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RYAN SCHAEFFER, an individual; ANNE
SCHAEFFER, an individual; and REESE
SCHAEFFER, a minor by and through her
general guardians Ryan Schaeffer and Anne
Schaeffer,

Case No. 3:13-CV-4358 JST
STIPULATION AND [PROPOSED]
ORDER FOR APPOINTMENT OF A
SPECIAL MASTER FOR DISCOVERY

Plaintiffs,
v.
GREGORY VILLAGE PARTNERS, L.P., a
California Partnership, et al.
Defendants.

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This proposed appointment order for appointment of a special master is submitted to the

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Court pursuant to the Court’s May 27, 2015 order (ECF No. 227, the “Order”) arising out of a

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discovery dispute between the plaintiffs Ryan, Anne and Reese Schaeffer (collectively,

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“Plaintiffs”) and the defendants Gregory Village Partners, L.P. and VPI, Inc. (collectively,

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“Gregory Village”). (Plaintiffs and Gregory Village are collectively referenced as the “Parties”).

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The Court has determined that the discovery disputes “cannot be effectively and timely

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addressed by an available district judge or magistrate judge of the district” and that appointment

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of a special master is appropriate. ECF No. 227, at 3:21-24. The Order has therefore directed the

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Parties, pursuant to Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, Rule 53(b), to identify a mutually
STIPULATION AND [PROPOSED] ORDER FOR APPOINTMENT OF A SPECIAL MASTER FOR DISCOVERY

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acceptable special master along with all the terms required by Rule 53(b)(2) or, to the extent the

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Parties differ, to file competing proposals

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Initially, the Special Master is specifically tasked with the review in camera of all

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documents identified as privileged on Gregory Village’s privilege log, as revised by Gregory

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Village in light of the rulings and guidance provided by the Court in the Order. The Special

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Master is the take into consideration the orders of this Court related to Gregory Village’s

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privilege log and the Court’s determination regarding privileged and unprivileged documents.

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Gregory Village will submit all documents, including those with redactions, on its privilege log

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not already reviewed by this Court and for which Gregory Village continues to assert a privilege.

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Gregory Village shall determine any document it is going to “de-privilege” by July 1, 2015 and

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shall provide an updated privilege log to the Special Master and Plaintiffs, which shows the

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remaining privileged documents, by the same date. Any document “de-privileged” by Gregory

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Village shall be produced to Plaintiffs by July 6, 2015. Gregory Village will then provide the

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remaining privileged documents to the Special Master for review on July 6, 2016.

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IT IS HEREBY ORDERED:

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1. Honorable Wayne D. Brazil (Ret.) of Two Embarcadero Center, Suite 1500, San

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Francisco, CA 94111 is appointed Special Master for the purpose of any further discovery

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disputes between the Parties, including the privileged or work product nature of Gregory

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Village’s documents. ECF No. 227, at 3:21-24. Attached is special master and discovery referee

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reference information. The duties of the Special Master shall include, but are not limited to,

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a. Managing and supervising discovery and resolving discovery disputes.

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b. Hearing evidence on discovery disputes and issuing findings and decisions on

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discovery disputes.

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c. Managing and supervising discovery involving electronic information or data.

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The Special Master is directed to proceed with all reasonable diligence to complete the
tasks assigned by this order.

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2. The Honorable Wayne D. Brazil (Ret.) shall have discretion to determine the
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Case No. 3:13-CV-4358-JST

STIPULATION AND [PROPOSED] ORDER FOR APPOINTMENT OF A SPECIAL MASTER FOR DISCOVERY

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appropriate procedures for resolution of matters assigned to the Special Master and shall have the

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authority to implement those procedures, subject to the following terms in this paragraph and the

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following paragraphs.

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The Special Master may request or require the Parties to supply any further information
that the Special Master shall deem necessary.

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Before issuing any ruling, the Special Master shall provide a “tentative ruling”, which will

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provide either party the opportunity to comment upon the “tentative ruling”. The Special Master

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shall provide the Parties with reasonable notice of the date of the tentative ruling. The Parties will

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then have until the close of business (5:00 p.m. PST) the day following the tentative ruling to

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provide any comments or objections. Any comments or objections may be made in letter format

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and submitted to the Special Master and the other party via email.

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The Special Master will prepare a report within 30 days of receiving the information

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necessary to make a ruling unless otherwise stipulated by the Parties or ordered by the Special

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Master.

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Pursuant to FRCP Rule 53(f), the Court shall conduct a de novo review of the Special

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Master’s report or recommendations. The Parties shall have 21 days after the issuance of any

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report or recommendations by the Special Master to file any objections or motion to adopt or

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modify the report or recommendations.

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The Special Master may by order impose on a party any noncontempt sanction provided

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by Rule 37 or 45, and may recommend a contempt sanction against a party and sanctions against

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a nonparty.

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3. No ex parte contact. The Parties shall not engage in any ex parte discussions with the

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Special Master and the Special Master shall not engage in any ex parte discussions with any of

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the parties. Ex parte communications are allowed for scheduling and other non-substantive

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communications with staff of the Special Master. [Fed. R. Civ. P. 53(b)(2)(B)]

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4. The Parties shall file with the Clerk all papers filed for consideration with the Special

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Master. The Special Master shall also file with the Clerk all reports or other communications with

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the Court. [Fed. R. Civ. P. 53(b)(2)(C)].
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Case No. 3:13-CV-4358-JST

STIPULATION AND [PROPOSED] ORDER FOR APPOINTMENT OF A SPECIAL MASTER FOR DISCOVERY

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5. Any party seeking review of any ruling of the Special Master shall comply with the

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procedures set forth in Fed. R. Civ. P. 53(f). Fact findings and legal conclusions of the Special

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Master will be reviewed de novo and all procedural rulings of the Special Master will be

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reviewed only for an abuse of discretion.

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6. The Special Master shall be paid $450.00 per hour for work done plus actual costs

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incurred and case management fees. Attached hereto is the Special Master’s rate sheet which

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reflects the rate of $450.00 per hour and case management fees. The Special Master shall bill

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Gregory Village on a monthly basis for fees and disbursements, and those bills shall be promptly

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paid by Gregory Village. The costs of the Special Master will be borne entirely by Gregory

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Village, subject to future reallocation upon a showing of good cause to the Court.
7. The Special Master is authorized to hire staff they determine are necessary to assist in
completion of the matters referred to the Special Master by this Order

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IT IS SO STIPULATED.
Date: June 12, 2015

/s/
John R. Till, Esq.
Counsel for Plaintiffs

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Date: June 12, 2015

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STANZLER LAW GROUP
/s/
Jeffery Curtiss, Esq.
Counsel for Gregory Village
Partners, L.P.

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PALADIN LAW GROUP® LLP

PURSUANT TO STIPULATION, IT IS SO ORDERED.
Date: June 19, 2015
Honorable Jon S. Tiger
U.S. District Judge
(Case No. 3:13-cv-4358 JST)

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Case No. 3:13-CV-4358-JST

STIPULATION AND [PROPOSED] ORDER FOR APPOINTMENT OF A SPECIAL MASTER FOR DISCOVERY