Cynthia Marie Vespa v. Singler-Ernster Inc. et al

Filing 114

Discovery OrderMotion Hearing set for 1/8/2019 09:00 AM in San Francisco, Courtroom E, 15th Floor before Magistrate Judge Elizabeth D. Laporte.Signed by Judge Elizabeth D. Laporte on 12/14/18. (mllS, COURT STAFF) (Filed on 12/14/2018)

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

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NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

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Cynthia Marie Vespa
Plaintiff,

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v.

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ORDER RE DISCOVERY
PROCEDURES

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Singler-Ernster Inc., et al.,

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Defendant.

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United States District Court
Northern District of California

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The above matter has been referred to Magistrate Judge Elizabeth D. Laporte. All hearing
dates are subject to the availability of Judge Laporte's calendar. You may review Judge Laporte's
calendar and scheduling information on the District Court's website,
http://www.cand.uscourts.gov/.

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Courtroom E, 15th Floor

TO ALL PARTIES AND COUNSEL OF RECORD:

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Hearing Date: January 8, 2019 at 9:00 A.M.

Dkts. 100, 103

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Case No. 16-cv-3723-RS (EDL)

DISCOVERY DISPUTES
1.

Discovery disputes shall be addressed as follows:
A.

Discovery disputes referred from a district court judge

Discovery disputes in cases referred by a district court judge to this Magistrate Judge must
follow either Procedure No. 1 or Procedure No. 2, set forth below, depending on the status of the
dispute at the time of the referral by the district court.
Procedure No. 1:
Unless the district court judge has ordered another procedure, in which case that procedure
should be followed upon referral, motions filed before the district court and subsequently referred
to this magistrate judge shall maintain the original district court briefing schedule. Upon referral,
the parties shall promptly contact Judge Laporte’s Courtroom Deputy to re-schedule a hearing on
the motion to a date on Judge Laporte’s civil law and motion calendar. Discovery motions are

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generally heard on Judge Laporte's civil law and motion calendar on Tuesday mornings at 9:00

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a.m., Courtroom E, 15th Floor, United States District Court, 450 Golden Gate Avenue, San

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Francisco, California, 94102, in accordance with Judge Laporte's available dates and times for

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setting motions. Any party may seek an order to shorten or enlarge time under Civil L.R. 6-3 if

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the circumstances justify that relief. The Court will not consider discovery motions unless the

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moving party has complied with the meet and confer requirements of Fed. R. Civ. P. 37 and Civil

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L.R. 37-1(a).

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Motions to compel fact discovery must be filed within the time limits contained in Civil
Local Rule 37-3. Motions to compel expert discovery must be filed within the time limits
contained in Civil Local Rule 37-3. Motions for sanctions must comply with Federal Rule of Civil

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United States District Court
Northern District of California

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Procedure 37 and Civil L.R. 37-4, as discussed in Section 3 of this standing order.

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Procedure No. 2:
Discovery disputes, other than motions for sanctions which are discussed in Section 3 of

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this standing order, which arise after the case has been referred to this Magistrate Judge, or before

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a formal motion has been filed before the district court, shall follow the procedure below:

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The counsel for each party shall meet and confer in person, or, if counsel are located

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outside the Bay Area, by telephone, to attempt to resolve their dispute informally. A mere

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exchange of letters, e-mails, telephone calls or facsimile transmissions does not satisfy the meet

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and confer requirement.

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If the parties are unable to resolve their dispute informally after a good faith effort,

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including meet and confer efforts conducted by lead counsel, they shall prepare a joint

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statement of not more than five pages (12-point or greater font) stating the nature and status of the

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dispute and attesting to their good faith meet and confer efforts. Issue-by-issue, the joint letter

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shall describe each unresolved issue, summarize each party’s position with appropriate legal

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authority, and provide each party’s final proposed compromise before addressing the next issue.

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The joint letter should also address the proportionality factors set for in Federal Rule of Civil

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Procedure 26(b)(1). Where necessary, the parties may submit supporting declarations and

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documentation. Parties are expected to plan for and cooperate in preparing the joint letter so that
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each side has adequate time to address the arguments. When appropriate, the parties may file a

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separate letter for each genuinely independent dispute.
The parties are strongly encouraged to submit a joint statement, but in the rare instances

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when a joint statement is not possible, each side may submit a statement of not more than two

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pages (12-point font or greater). The joint statement or individual statements shall be e-filed

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(unless the case is exempt from e-filing requirements) and chambers copies submitted as required

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herein. Whether joint or individual, the statement must be filed under the Civil Events category of

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“Motions and Related Filings > Motions – General > Discovery Letter Brief.”
Upon review of the parties’ submission[s], the Court will advise the parties of how the

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Court intends to proceed. The Court may issue a ruling or schedule a telephone conference or in

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United States District Court
Northern District of California

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person conference with the parties, and at such conference may issue rulings, order more formal

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briefing, or set further hearing dates. The Court may also order the parties to come to the

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courthouse to meet and confer in good faith. Alternatively, the Court may determine without a

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telephone conference that further briefing is required.

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B.

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Discovery disputes in cases which are assigned to Judge Laporte for all
purposes through consent of the parties

The parties shall follow Procedure No. 2 above for all discovery disputes in cases assigned to

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Judge Laporte for all purposes, as set forth in Judge Laporte’s Standing Order.

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2.

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1(b).

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3.

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Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 37 and Civil L.R. 37-4. The parties shall comply with their meet

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and confer obligations pursuant to Civil L.R. 37-1(a). Parties who refuse to meet and confer will

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be subject to sanctions pursuant to Civil L.R. 37-4.

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4.

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list the civil case number and the District Court Judge's initials followed by the designation

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"(EDL)". At the time of filing of original papers with the clerk's office, the parties are required to

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submit two conformed copies of each document, one of which shall be designated "EDL

In emergencies during discovery events, the Court is available pursuant to Civil L.R. 37-

Motions for sanctions shall be filed by separate noticed motion in accordance with the

All filings of documents relating to motions referred to Magistrate Judge Laporte shall

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Chambers Copy." If documents are filed electronically, courtesy copies shall be provided in

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accordance with Civil Local rule 5-1(e)(7). The paper chambers copy must be marked "Chambers

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Copy" and must be lodged with the Clerk's Office, in an envelope clearly marked with the judge's

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name, case number, and "Chambers Copy." Parties must not file a paper copy of any document

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with the Clerk's Office that has already been filed electronically.

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5.

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supplement or correct their initial disclosures, expert disclosures, pretrial disclosures, and

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responses to discovery requests under the circumstances itemized in that Rule, and when ordered

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by the Court. The Court expects that the parties will supplement and/or correct their disclosures

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promptly when required under that Rule, without the need for a request from opposing counsel.

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United States District Court
Northern District of California

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In addition to the general requirements of Rule 26(e)(1), the parties will supplement and/or

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correct all previously made disclosures and discovery responses 28 days before the fact

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discovery cutoff date.

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6.

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request, and is otherwise discoverable under the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, by claiming

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that it is privileged, or protected from discovery under the attorney work product doctrine or any

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other protective doctrine (including, but not limited to, privacy rights), that party shall prepare a

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"privilege log" (Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(b)(5)) setting forth the privilege relied upon and specifying

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separately for each document or for each category of similarly situated documents:

Rule 26(e)(1) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure requires all parties to

Privilege logs. If a party withholds information that is responsive to a discovery

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a. The name and job title or capacity of the author;

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b. The name and job title or capacity of each recipient;

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c. 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);

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d. The title and description of the document;

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e. The subject matter addressed in the document;

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f. The purpose(s) for which it was prepared or communicated; and

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g. The specific basis for the claim that it is privileged.

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The privilege log will be produced as quickly as possible, but no later than 14 days after the

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discovery responses are due, unless the parties stipulate or the Court orders otherwise in a

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particular case.

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7.

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Rules of Civil Procedure, all parties shall affirmatively state in a written response served on all

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other parties the full extent to which they will produce materials and shall, promptly after the

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production, confirm in writing that they have produced all such materials so described that are

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locatable after a diligent search of all locations at which such materials might plausibly exist.

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8.

In responding to requests for documents and materials under Rule 34 of the Federal

All documents shall be filed at the Clerk's Office in compliance with the Civil Local

Rules. Documents not filed in compliance with those rules will not be considered by the Court.

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United States District Court
Northern District of California

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9.

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and order of the Court no later than two (2) court days before the hearing.

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10.

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encourages parties to advise the Court by letter to chambers of any matter that appears to have

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been unduly delayed.

Discovery motions may be submitted without argument upon stipulation of the parties

The Court strives to set matters and render decisions in a timely manner. The Court

The failure of counsel or a party to abide by this Order may result in sanctions

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pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 16(f). A party or counsel has a continuing duty

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to supplement the initial disclosure when required under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure

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26(e)(1).

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IT IS SO ORDERED.
Dated: December 14, 2018
______________________________________
ELIZABETH D. LAPORTE
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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