Randy Stevens, et al -v- Zurich American Insurance Company

Filing 25

NOTICE OF REFERENCE AND ORDER RE DISCOVERY PROCEDURES. Signed by Magistrate Judge Donna M. Ryu on 11/3/14. (dmrlc2, COURT STAFF) (Filed on 11/3/2014)

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

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NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

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For the Northern District of California

United States District Court

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RANDY STEVENS,

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No. C-14-02043-SC (DMR)
NOTICE OF REFERENCE AND ORDER
RE DISCOVERY PROCEDURES

Plaintiff(s),
v.
ZURICH AMERICAN
COMPANY,

INSURANCE

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Defendant(s).
___________________________________/

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TO ALL PARTIES AND COUNSEL OF RECORD:
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The above matter has been referred to Magistrate Judge Donna M. Ryu for resolution of all
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discovery matters. If the parties have already begun meeting and conferring regarding an actual
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discovery dispute, the parties must comply with the procedures ordered by Judge Conti’s October 29
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Order (Docket No. 24). If not, for any future discovery disputes, the parties shall comply with the
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procedures set forth in this order.
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Parties shall comply with the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and the Northern District of
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California’s Local Rules, General Orders, and Standing Orders. Local rules, general orders,
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standing orders, and instructions for using the Court's Electronic Case Filing system are available at
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http://www.cand.uscourts.gov. Failure to comply may result in sanctions.
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RESOLUTION OF DISCOVERY DISPUTES
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In order to respond to discovery disputes in a flexible, cost-effective and efficient manner,

as required by the federal and local rules, the parties shall first meet and confer to try to resolve their

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disagreements. The meet and confer session must be in person or by telephone, and may not be

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conducted by letter, e-mail, or fax. If disagreements remain, the parties shall file a joint letter no

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later than five business days after the meet and confer session, unless otherwise directed by the

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court. Lead trial counsel for both parties must sign the letter, which shall include an attestation

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that the parties met and conferred in person or by telephone regarding all issues prior to filing the

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letter. The letter must also include a paragraph listing relevant case management deadlines,

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including (1) the fact and expert discovery cut-off dates; (2) the last day to hear or file dispositive

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For the Northern District of California

the court uses the following procedure. The parties shall not file formal discovery motions. Instead,

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United States District Court

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motions; (3) claim construction or class certification briefing deadlines and hearing dates; and (4)

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pretrial conference and trial dates. Going issue-by-issue, the joint letter shall describe each

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unresolved issue, summarize each party’s position with appropriate legal authority, and provide each

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party’s final proposed compromise before moving to the next issue. The joint letter shall not exceed

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eight pages (12-point font or greater; margins no less than one inch) without leave of court. Parties

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are expected to plan for and cooperate in preparing the joint letter so that each side has

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adequate time to address the arguments. In the rare instance that a joint letter is not possible,

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each side may submit a letter not to exceed three pages, which shall include an explanation of why a

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joint letter was not possible. The parties shall submit one exhibit that sets forth each disputed

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discovery request in full, followed immediately by the objections and/or responses thereto. No other

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information shall be included in the exhibit. No other exhibits shall be submitted without prior court

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approval. The court will review the submission(s) and determine whether formal briefing or

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proceedings are necessary. Discovery letter briefs must be e-filed under the Civil Events

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category of Motions and Related Filings > Motions - General > "Discovery Letter Brief".

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The court has found that it is often efficient and beneficial for counsel to appear in person at

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discovery hearings. This provides the opportunity to engage counsel, where appropriate, in

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resolving aspects of the discovery dispute while remaining available to rule on disputes that counsel

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are not able to resolve themselves. For this reason, the court expects counsel to appear in

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person. Permission to attend by telephone may be granted upon written request made at least one

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week in advance of the hearing if the court determines that good cause exists to excuse personal

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attendance, and that personal attendance is not needed in order to have an effective discovery

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hearing. The facts establishing good cause must be set forth in the request.

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In emergencies during discovery events (such as depositions), any party may, after

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exhausting good faith attempts to resolve disputed issues, seek judicial intervention pursuant to Civil

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L.R. 37-1(b) by contacting the court through the courtroom deputy. If the court is unavailable, the

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discovery event shall proceed with objections noted for the record.
CHAMBERS COPIES AND PROPOSED ORDERS

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Pursuant to Civil L.R. 5-1(e)(7) and 5-2(b), parties must lodge an extra paper copy of certain

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For the Northern District of California

United States District Court

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filings and mark it as a copy for “Chambers." All chambers copies should be three-hole punched,

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and must include tabs between exhibits.

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Any stipulation or proposed order submitted by an e-filing party shall be submitted by email

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to [e-mail] as a word processing attachment on the same day the document is e-

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filed. This address should only be used for this stated purpose unless otherwise directed by the

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court.

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PRIVILEGE LOGS
If a party withholds responsive information by claiming that it is privileged or otherwise

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protected from discovery, that party shall promptly provide a privilege log that is sufficiently

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detailed for the opposing party to assess whether the assertion of privilege is justified. Unless the

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parties agree to alternative logging methods, the log should include: (a) the title and description of

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the document, including number of pages or Bates-number range; (b) the subject matter addressed in

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the document; (c) the identity and position of its author(s); (d) the identity and position of all

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addressees and recipients; (e) the date the document was prepared and, if different, the date(s) on

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which it was sent to or shared with persons other than its author(s); and (f) the specific basis for the

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claim that the document is privileged or protected. Communications involving trial counsel that

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post-date the filing of the complaint need not be placed on a privilege log. Failure to promptly

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furnish a privilege log may be deemed a waiver of the privilege or protection.

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IT IS SO ORDERED.

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Dated: November 3, 2014

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DONNA M. RYU
United States Magistrate Judge

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For the Northern District of California

United States District Court

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