Brown v. Gore et al
Filing
145
ORDER Granting 123 Motion to Reopen Discovery and Modifying Scheduling Order; Denying as moot Plaintiff's motion for a new scheduling order. The mandatory settlement conference scheduled before Judge Skomal on December 11, 2013 is Vacated. Signed by Magistrate Judge Bernard G. Skomal on 11/25/2013. (All non-registered users served via U.S. Mail Service)(srm)(jrd)
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
9
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
10
11
ROBERT MARK BROWN, II,
Civil
No.
12
13
14
15
12-CV-1938-GPC (BGS)
Plaintiff,
ORDER GRANTING MOTION TO
REOPEN DISCOVERY AND
MODIFYING SCHEDULING ORDER
v.
DEPUTY #1, DEPUTY SHERIFF; et al.,
Defendant.
16
17
On October 8, 2013, the Court granted Plaintiff's motion for leave to amend his complaint
18
to add Deputy Garcia, Henton, Pierson, Lawson, and Whittaker as Defendants. (Doc. No. 113.)
19
On October 15, 2013, Plaintiff filed a first amended complaint adding said Defendants. (Doc.
20
No. 117.) On October 29, 2013, Plaintiff filed a motion to reopen discovery and to adopt a new
21
scheduling order. (Doc. No. 123.) Plaintiff requests that discovery be reopened so that he may
22
conduct discovery on the newly added Defendants.(Id. at 2-3.)
23
?A schedule may be modified only for good cause and with the judge's consent.” Fed. R.
24
Civ. P. 16(b)(4). Generally, in determining whether there is good cause to permit an extension
25
the court will primarily look to: (1) the diligence of the party seeking the extension; but may also
26
consider (2) the explanation for the failure to complete discovery in a timely fashion; and (3)
27
potential prejudice in allowing the extension.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 16, advisory committee note of
28
1983; Johnson v. Mammoth Recreations, Inc., 975 F.2d 604 (9th Cir. 1992).
1
12cv1938-GPC
1
Here, after Plaintiff filed his First Amended Complaint, he diligently sought an extension
2
of time to complete fact discovery as to the newly added Defendants. Accordingly, the Court
3
finds good cause to reopen discovery. Therefore, the Court hereby GRANTS Plaintiff’s motion
4
to reopen discovery. Fact discovery is limited, however, to those Defendants whom Plaintiff was
5
granted leave to add as Defendants in this action, which included Deputy Garcia, Henton,
6
Pierson, Lawson and Whittaker. Plaintiff shall not seek discovery beyond these five Defendants.
7
All fact discovery with regards to the newly added Defendants listed above shall be completed
8
on or before January 31, 2014. Completed” means that all discovery under Rules 30-36 of the
9
Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, and discovery subpoenas under Rule 45 must be initiated a
10
sufficient period of time in advance of the cut-off date, so that it may be completed by the cut-off
11
date, taking into account the times for services, notice, and response as set forth in the Federal
12
Rules of Civil Procedure. The Court expects counsel to make every effort to resolve all disputes
13
without court intervention. Absent advance consent from the Court, all discovery motions must
14
be filed within 30 days of the service of an objection, answer or response which becomes the
15
subject of dispute or the passage of a discovery due date without response or production, and
16
only after counsel have extensively met and conferred and have reached impasse with regard to
17
the particular issue. Discovery motions must be filed must be filed in the manner set forth in
18
Judge Skomal’s Chambers Rules ( see Judge Skomal’s Rules on Discovery Disputes available on
19
the Court’s website).
20
In his motion, Plaintiff also requests that this Court enter a new scheduling order in this
21
case. (Doc. No. 123 at 3.) Plaintiff does not specify why a new scheduling order is necessary, but
22
it appears that Plaintiff’s request is to accommodate the additional discovery that he wishes to
23
complete as to the newly added Defendants. Because the Court has granted Plaintiff’s motion to
24
reopen discovery, Plaintiff’s motion for a new scheduling order is DENIED AS MOOT.
25
Lastly, a mandatory settlement conference is currently scheduled before Judge Skomal on
26
December 11, 2013. (Doc. No. 39 at 3.) Due to the additional discovery that needs to be
27
completed, as well as the numerous motions pending in this case, the Court hereby VACATES
28
the currently scheduled mandatory settlement conference. For the same reasons, the remaining
2
12cv1938-GPC
1
dates and deadlines set forth in the Case Management Conference Order (Doc. No. 39 at 4-6) are
2
hereby VACATED. Following a ruling on any future dispositive motions, counsel for Defendant
3
shall contact the Court to reset the remaining deadlines, if necessary.
4
IT IS SO ORDERED.
5
Dated: November 25, 2013
6
7
BERNARD G. SKOMAL
United States Magistrate Judge
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
3
12cv1938-GPC
Disclaimer: Justia Dockets & Filings provides public litigation records from the federal appellate and district courts. These filings and docket sheets should not be considered findings of fact or liability, nor do they necessarily reflect the view of Justia.
Why Is My Information Online?