Blair v. Rent-A-Center, Inc. et al

Filing 39

ORDER RE PENDING MOTION TO TRANSFER [re #20 MOTION to Change Venue To Central District of California filed by Rent-A-Center, Inc., Rent-A-Center West, Inc.]. Signed by Judge William Alsup on 6/30/2017. (whasec, COURT STAFF) (Filed on 6/30/2017)

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

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FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
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For the Northern District of California

United States District Court

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PAULA BLAIR, individually and on behalf of
all others similarly situated,
No. C 17-02335 WHA
Plaintiff,

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v.
ORDER RE PENDING
MOTION TO TRANSFER

RENT-A-CENTER, INC., a Delaware
corporation, RENT-A-CENTER WEST, INC.,
a Delaware corporation, and DOES 1–50,
inclusive,
Defendants.
/

With respect to the pending motion to transfer, defendants failed in the opening motion

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to identify employees of the Rent-A-Center store in Long Beach, California, whose

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convenience is at issue, among other things. These individuals should have been identified by

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name, location, position, and role in case. In the reply memorandum, defendants supplied this

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information, but not under oath. This was sandbagging. Plaintiff has moved to strike this

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after-the-fact information. Defendants are ORDERED TO PRODUCE the Central District-based

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witnesses (Dkt. No. 35-2 at 3; witnesses number 3 and 4) for deposition at plaintiff’s counsel’s

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office in La Jolla, California, on FRIDAY, JULY 7, AT 10 A.M. Each is to be deposed for ninety

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minutes on the issues raised in the motion. If plaintiff’s counsel does not wish to take

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advantage of this opportunity, then the motion to strike will be denied. If plaintiff does take

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advantage, supplemental information from the depositions will be considered (but the motion to

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strike will still be denied). If defendants do not produce the witnesses, then the motion to strike

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may be granted. The cost of the court reporter will be borne by defendants (who are guilty of

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sandbagging), but otherwise each side will bear its own expenses. There is no need for a

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videographer.

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IT IS SO ORDERED.

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Dated: June 30, 2017.

WILLIAM ALSUP
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

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For the Northern District of California

United States District Court

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