Blaszkowski et al v. Mars Inc. et al

Filing 255

Plaintiff's MOTION for Extension of Time to Amend Pleadings and to Join Parties by All Plaintiffs. Responses due by 12/3/2007 (MacIvor, Catherine)

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF FLORIDA MIAMI DIVISION CASE NO. 07-21221 CIV ALTONAGA/Turnoff RENEE BLASZKOWSKI, et al., individually and on behalf of others similarly situated, Plaintiffs/Class Representatives, vs. MARS INC., et al., Defendants. ______________________________________________/ PLAINTIFFS' MOTION FOR ENLARGEMENT OF TIME FOR JOINDER OF PARTIES AND TO AMEND PLEADINGS Plaintiffs, Renee Blaszkowski et al., pursuant to Rule 6(b) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, respectfully request this Court to enter an order granting an enlargement of time for joinder of parties and to amend pleadings, and as grounds therefore, states: 1. On July 6, 2007, the Court entered a Scheduling Order [DE 130] setting a

deadline for the joinder of parties and the amendment of pleadings for November 16, 2007. At the time that the Order was entered, it was contemplated that this would allow time for joinder of parties and amendments of pleadings after some discovery had taken place.

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2.

At the Scheduling Conference, the Court indicated that discovery would

be stayed pending a ruling on the Defendants' anticipated Motion to Dismiss,1 after which discovery would commence. 3. The Defendants moved to dismiss the Complaint based on a number of

grounds, including lack of personal jurisdiction as to certain Defendants. The Court subsequently granted the Plaintiffs leave to conduct personal jurisdiction discovery, but reconsidered the ruling except as to one Defendant because of the failure to specifically plead certain Defendants' contact with the forum. 4. The Plaintiffs are contemporaneously seeking leave to file their Second

Amended Complaint, which has clarified the jurisdictional allegations addressed in the Court's Order on the Defendants' Motion for Reconsideration. [DE 244]. The Plaintiffs will, therefore, request this Court to revisit granting the Plaintiffs' leave for personal jurisdiction discovery, which was denied based upon the lack of personal jurisdiction allegations. [DE 251 p. 5 and fn 5]. Assuming that leave of Court is granted, although a number of the issues raised by the Defendants' lengthy Motion to Dismiss have been clarified,2 the Plaintiffs still expect the Defendants to re-file the Motion to Dismiss based on personal jurisdiction. The re-filing of the Motion to Dismiss will continue to stay discovery pending a ruling from the Court. 5. The Plaintiffs request that the Court extend the time to join parties and

amend the pleadings through March 15, 2008, because the Plaintiffs require sufficient
The Court ruled that a stay would only be in effect if the parties could agree on a preservation of evidence Order. While no such agreement has as yet been reached, the Plaintiffs and Defendants are continuing to attempt to come to an agreement regarding 2 Although the Plaintiffs are confident that the Amended Complaint was sufficient in all respects except as to certain jurisdictional allegations, the Second Amended Complaint is shorter and addresses some issues raised by the Defendants. The Plaintiffs still expect the Defendants to re-file their Motion to Dismiss based on lack of personal jurisdiction.
1

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time to obtain a ruling on the Defendant's Motion to Dismiss and to obtain discovery prior to having to determine whether any further amendments need to be made and/or whether any parties should be joined. 6. The Plaintiffs will be prejudiced if they are held to a deadline to join

parties and/or amend pleadings prior to the time that discovery has commenced. 7. The Plaintiffs, therefore, respectfully request this Honorable Court enter

an Order enlarging the time to join parties or to amend pleadings up to and including March 15, 2008 to allow time for discovery after the Court has ruled upon the Defendants' Motion to Dismiss. 8. delay. WHEREFORE, Plaintiffs, Renee Blaszkowski, et al., respectfully request this Honorable Court to enter an order granting an enlargement of the deadline to join parties and to amend pleadings up to and including March 15, 2008 and for all other relief that this Court deems just and proper. Dated: November 16, 2007 Miami, Florida Rule 7.1 Certificate Prior to filing this Motion, the undersigned contacted Carol Licko, Esquire, who agreed to contact all of the Defendants regarding their position on this motion. As of the time of filing this Motion, Ms. Licko has reported the Defendants positions as: "Defendants believe the 4-month extension requested by Plaintiffs to amend pleadings The Plaintiff seek this Order in good faith and not for the purpose of

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and join parties is excessive under the circumstances, but will not formally oppose this request." Respectfully submitted, /s/Catherine J. MacIvor CATHERINE J. MACIVOR (FBN 932711) [e-mail] MALTZMAN FOREMAN, PA One Biscayne Tower 2 South Biscayne Boulevard ­ Suite 2300 Miami, Florida 33131 Tel: [phone] / Fax: [phone] Attorneys for Plaintiffs

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CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE WE HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing was electronically filed with the Clerk of the Court via CM/ECF on this 16 day of November, 2007. We also certify that the foregoing was served on all counsel or parties of record on the attached Service List either via transmission of Notices of Electronic Filing generated by CM/ECF or in some other authorized manner for those counsel or parties who are not authorized to receive electronic Notices of Filing. s/ Catherine J. MacIvor CATHERINE J. MACIVOR

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SERVICE LIST CASE NO. 07-21221 ALTONAGA/Turnoff CATHERINE J. MACIVOR [e-mail] JEFFREY B. MALTZMAN [e-mail] JEFFREY E. FOREMAN [e-mail] DARREN W. FRIEDMAN [e-mail] MALTZMAN FOREMAN, PA One Biscayne Tower 2 South Biscayne Boulevard -Suite 2300 Miami, Florida 33131 Tel: [phone] / Fax: [phone] Attorneys for Plaintiffs ROLANDO ANDRES DIAZ E-Mail: [e-mail] CASSIDY YEN DANG E-Mail: [e-mail] MARIA KAYANAN E-Mail: [e-mail] KUBICKI DRAPER 25 W. Flagler Street Penthouse Miami, Florida 33130-1712 Telephone: [phone] Facsimile: [phone] Attorneys for Defendant Pet Supermarket, Inc. WILLIAM C. MARTIN DLA PIPER LLP 203 North LaSalle Street Suite 1900 Chicago, Illinois 60601-1293 E-Mail: [e-mail] Attorneys for Defendants Menu Foods, Inc. And Menu Foods Income Fund HUGH J. TURNER, JR. AKERMAN SENTERFITT 350 E. Las Olas Boulevard Suite 1600 Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33301-2229 Telephone: [phone] Facsimile: [phone] E-Mail: [e-mail] ALEXANDER SHAKNES E-Mail: [e-mail] AMY W. SCHULMAN E-Mail: [e-mail] LONNIE L. SIMPSON E-Mail: [e-mail] S. DOUGLAS KNOX E-Mail: [e-mail] DLA PIPER LLP 1251 Avenue of the Americas New York, New York 10020 Attorneys for Defendants Menu Foods, Inc. and Menu Foods Income Fund JOHN B.T. MURRAY, JR. E-Mail: [e-mail] SQUIRE, SANDERS & DEMPSEY L.L.P. 1900 Phillips Point West 777 South Flagler Drive West Palm Beach, Florida 33401-6198 Telephone: [phone] Facsimile: [phone] Attorneys for Defendants PETCO Animal Supplies Stores, Inc., PetSmart, Inc., Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., Target Corporation and Meiner, Inc.

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GARY L. JUSTICE E-Mail: [e-mail] CHARLES H. ABBOTT E-Mail: [e-mail] GAIL E. LEES E-Mail: [e-mail] WILLIAM EDWARD WEGNER E-Mail: [e-mail] GIBSON DUNN & CRUTCHER LLP 333 South Grand Avenue Los Angeles, California 90071 Telephone: [phone] Attorneys for Defendant Nutro Products, Inc. OMAR ORTEGA DORTA AND ORTEGA, P.A. Douglas Entrance 800 S. Douglas Road, Suite 149 Coral Gables, Florida 33134 Telephone: [phone] Facsimile: [phone] E-Mail: [e-mail] Attorneys for Defendant Mars, Incorporated And Mars Petcare U.S.

Attorneys for Defendants Publix Super Markets, Inc. and H.E. Butt Grocery Co. MARTY STEINBERG E-Mail: [e-mail] ADRIANA RIVIERE-BADELL E-Mail: [e-mail] HUNTON & WILLIAMS, LLP Mellon Financial Center 1111 Brickel Avenue, Suite 2500 Miami, Florida 33131 Telephone: [phone] Facsimile: [phone] Attorneys for Defendant Nutro Products, Inc.

DANE H. BUTSWINKAS E-Mail: [e-mail] PHILIP A. SECHLER E-Mail: [e-mail] THOMAS G. HENTOFF E-Mail: [e-mail] CHRISTOPHER M. D'ANGELO E-Mail: [e-mail] PATRICK J. HOULIHAN E-Mail: [e-mail] WILLIAMS & CONNOLLY LLP 725 Twelfth Street, N.W. Washington, DC 20005 Attorneys for Defendants Mars, Incorporated And Mars Petcare U.S.

BENJAMIN REID E-Mail: [e-mail] OLGA M. VIEIRA E-Mail: [e-mail] CARLTON FIELDS, P.A. 100 S.E. Second Street, Suite 4000 Bank of America Tower at International Place Miami, Florida 33131-0050 Telephone: [phone] Facsimile: [phone] Attorneys for Defendants Colgate-Palmolive

MARCOS DANIEL JIMINEZ E-Mail: [e-mail] ROBERT J. ALWINE, II E-Mail [e-mail] KENNY NACHWALTER, P.A. 1100 Miami Center 201 South Biscayne Boulevard Miami, Florida 33131 Telephone: [phone] Facsimile: [phone] Attorneys for Defendants Safeway, Inc. and

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Company and Hill's Pet Nutrition, Inc. SHERRIL M. COLOMBO COZEN O'CONNOR Wachovia Center, Suite 4410 200 South Biscayne Boulevard Miami, Florida 33131 Telephone: [phone] Facsimile: [phone] E-Mail: [e-mail] Attorneys for Defendant Del Monte Foods Co.

The Stop & Shop Supermarket Company LLC RICHARD FAMA E-Mail: [e-mail] JOHN J. McDONOUGH E-Mail: [e-mail] COZEN O'CONNOR 45 Broadway New York, New York 10006 Telephone: [phone] Facsimile: [phone] Attorneys for Defendant Del Monte Foods

JOHN F. MULLEN COZEN O'CONNOR 1900 Market Street Philadelphia, PA 19103 Telephone: [phone] Facsimile: [phone] E-Mail: [e-mail] Attorneys for Defendant Del Monte Foods, Co.

CAROL A. LICKO HOGAN & HARTSON L.L.P Mellon Financial Center 1111 Brickell Avenue, Suite 1900 Miami, Florida 33131 Telephone [phone] Facsimile [phone] E-Mail: [e-mail] Attorneys for Nestle U.S.A., Inc. Nestle Purinia Petcare Co. and Nestle S.A.

ROBERT C. TROYER HOGAN & HARTSON L.LP. 1200 17th Street One Tabor Center, Suite 1500 Denver, Colorado 80202 Telephone: [phone] Facsimile: [phone] E-Mail: [e-mail] Attorneys for Defendant Nestle USA, Inc. Nestle Purina Petcare Co. and Nestle S.A.

CRAIG A. HOOVER E-Mail: [e-mail] MIRANA L. BERGE E-Mail: [e-mail] HOGAN & HARTSON L.L.P. 555 13th Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20004 Telephone: [phone] Facsimile: [phone] Attorneys for Defendants Nestle USA, Inc. Nestle Purina Petcare Co. and Nestle S.A.

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JAMES K. REUSS LANE ALTON & HORST, LLC Two Miranova Place Suite 500 Columbus, Ohio 43215 Telephone: [phone] E-Mail: [e-mail] Attorneys for Defendant The Kroger Co. of Ohio D. JEFFREY IRELAND E-Mail: [e-mail] BRIAN D. WRIGHT E-Mail: [e-mail] LAURA A. SANOM E-Mail: [e-mail] FARUKI IRELAND & COX P.L.L. 500 Courthouse Plaza, S.W. 10 North Ludlow Street Dayton, Ohio 45402 Attorneys for Defendant Proctor & Gamble Co. and The Iams Co. RALPH G. PATINO E-Mail: [e-mail] DOMINICK V. TAMARAZZO E-Mail: [e-mail] CARLOS B. SALUP E-Mail: [e-mail] PATINO& ASSOCIATES, P.A. 225 Alcazar Avenue Coral Gables, Florida 33134 Telephone: [phone] Facsimile: [phone] Attorneys for Defendants Pet Supplies "Plus" and Pet Supplies Plus/USA, Inc.

ALAN G. GREER RICHMAN GREER, P.A. Miami-Center ­ Suite 1000 201 South Biscayne Boulevard Miami, Florida 33131 Telephone: [phone] Facsimile: [phone] Attorneys for Defendants Proctor & Gamble Co. and The Iams Co. ROBIN L. HANGER SQUIRE, SANDERS & DEMPSEY L.L.P. 200 S. Biscayne Boulevard 40th Floor Miami, Florida 33131-2398 Telephone: [phone] Facsimile: [phone] E-Mail: [e-mail] Attorneys for Defendants PETCO Animal Supplies Stores, Inc. ROBERT VALADEZ E-Mail: [e-mail] JAVIER THOMAS DURAN E-Mail: [e-mail] SHELTON & VALADEZ, P.C. 600 Navarro, Suite 500 San Antonio, Texas 78205 Telephone: [phone] Facsimile: [phone] Attorneys for Defendant H.E. Butt Grocery Co.

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CRAIG P. KALIL E-Mail: [e-mail] JOSHUA D. POYER E-Mail: [e-mail] ABALLI, MILNE, KALIL & ESCAGEDO, P.A. 2250 Sun Trust International Center One S.E. Third Avenue Miami, Florida 33131 Telephone: [phone] Facsimile: [phone] Attorneys for Defendant's Inc. and Albertson's LLC C. RICHARD FULMER, JR. FULMER, LEROY, ALBEE, BAUMANN, & GLASS, PLC 2866 East Oakland Park Boulevard Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33306 Telephone: [phone] Facsimile: [phone] E-Mail: [e-mail] Attorneys for Defendant The Kroger Co. of Ohio

W. RANDOLPH TESLIK E-Mail: [e-mail] ANDREW DOBER E-Mail: [e-mail] AKIN GUM STRAUSS HAUER & FELD LLP 1333 New Hampshire Avenue, NW Washington, D.C. 20036 Telephone: [phone] Facsimile: [phone] Attorneys for Defendants New Albertson's Inc. and Albertson's LLC

JASON JOFFE SQUIRE SANDERS & DEMPSY, LLP 200 South Biscayne Boulevard Suite 4000 Miami, Florida 33131 Telephone: [phone] Facsimile: [phone] E-Mail: [e-mail] Attorneys for Defendant Meijer, Inc.

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