Center for Biological Diversity et al v. Otter et al

Filing 29

CASE MANAGEMENT ORDER. ADR Plan to be filed by 12/3/2014. Amended Pleadings due by 10/6/2014. Discovery due by 5/13/2015. Joinder of Parties due by 10/6/2014. Dispositive Motions due by 6/12/2015. Signed by Judge B. Lynn Winmill. (caused to be mailed to non Registered Participants at the addresses listed on the Notice of Electronic Filing (NEF) by (st)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF IDAHO
CENTER FOR BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY,
WESTERN WATERSHEDS PROJECT,
FRIENDS OF THE CLEARWATER, and
WILDEARTH GUARDIANS,

Case No. 1:14-CV-258-BLW
CASE MANAGEMENT ORDER

Plaintiffs,
(Legal Track)
v.
C.L. “BUTCH” OTTER, Governor of Idaho, in
his official capacity; VIRGIL MOORE,
Director of the Idaho Department of Fish and
Game, in his official capacity; BRAD
CORKILL, FRED TREVEY, BOB
BAROWSKY, MARK DOERR, RANDY
BUDGE, KENNY ANDERSON, and WILL
NAILLON, members of the Idaho Fish and
Game Commission, in their official capacities,
Defendants.

In accordance with the agreements reached in the Telephone Scheduling
Conference on September 4, 2014, and to further the efficient administration of this
matter,
NOW THEREFORE IT IS HEREBY ORDERED, that the following recitation of
deadlines and procedures shall govern this litigation:

CASE MANAGEMENT ORDER - 1

1.

Dispositive Motion Deadline: All dispositive motions shall be filed on June 12,
2015. This deadline will not be extended even if you are having discovery
disputes.
a.

This is the critical event for case management and will dictate when the
trial will be set.

b.

As provided below, a trial setting conference will be scheduled
immediately following resolution of all dispositive motions. To facilitate a
prompt trial setting, I will make every effort to schedule oral argument
within 60 days and issue a decision within 30 days after the oral argument.
If a decision is not issued within this time frame, I invite inquiry from
counsel as to the status of the decision.

2.

Amendment of Pleadings and Joinder of Parties: All motions to amend pleadings
and join parties, except for allegations of punitive damages, shall be filed on or
before October 6, 2014. This deadline shall only be extended for good cause
shown.1 All parties are entitled to know the claims and parties well-before trial
rather than be forced to pursue or defend against a moving target. Although this
deadline precedes the general discovery deadline, the parties are directed to send
out all discovery requests that might relate to amendment or joinder enough in

1

The Ninth Circuit has held that motions to amend filed after the Scheduling Order deadline are
governed, not by the liberal provisions of Fed. R. Civ. P. 15(a), but instead, by the more
restrictive provisions of Fed. R. Civ. P. 16(b) requiring a showing of “good cause.” Johnson v.
Mammoth Recreations, Inc., 975 F.2d 604 (9th Cir. 1992).

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advance of this amendment and joinder deadline to obtain the responses needed to
make an informed decision on amendment and joinder.
3.

Alternative Dispute Resolution Plan: The parties shall file their ADR plan on or
before December 3, 2014. They may contact the Court's ADR Coordinator Susie
Headlee at [phone].
4. Discovery Plan: On or before October 1, 2014, the parties will exchange Rule
26(a)(1) initial disclosures. The parties propose no changes to the timing, form, or
requirements of Rule 26(a). The parties anticipate discovery on the following
subjects: 1) the occurrence of past lynx trapping and/or snaring in Idaho, 2) the
likelihood of future lynx trapping and/or snaring in Idaho, and 3) the bases for
Plaintiffs' standing and claims of injury. The parties intend to complete discovery
in this case by 5/13/15, as indicated below.
a. At this time, the parties anticipate no issues with the disclosure or discovery
of electronically stored information.
b. At this time, neither party intends to assert any claim of privilege (other
than the attorney-client or work product privileges) over any document to
be disclosed or produced through discovery. Should discovery involve
sensitive biological or personal data, the parties will attempt to reach
agreement regarding protection of such data.
c. The parties propose no changes to the presumptive limitations on written
discovery set forth in Rules 33, 34, and 36. The parties propose to limit

CASE MANAGEMENT ORDER - 3

themselves to 10 depositions each, with each such deposition not to exceed
a 5-hour period over the course of 1 day.
d. At this time, the parties request only the entry of a scheduling order
pursuant to Rule 16(b)(1). To the extent the deadlines set forth in this
Litigation Plan meet the Court's approval, the parties respectfully request
that those dates be incorporated therein.
5.

Completion of Discovery: All discovery will be completed by May 13, 2015.
This is a deadline for the completion of all discovery; it is not a deadline for
discovery requests. Discovery requests must be made far enough in advance of
this deadline to allow completion of the discovery by the deadline date. The
parties may, by stipulation, agree to defer some trial-related discovery, such as
discovery related to damages issue, until after I have ruled on any dispositive
issues.

6.

Disclosure of Experts:
a.

The Plaintiff shall disclose the experts intended to be called at trial on or
before March 13, 2015.

b.

The Defendant shall disclose the experts intended to be called at trial on or
before April 13, 2015.

c.
7.

All rebuttal experts shall be identified on or before April 27, 2015.

Rules Governing Disclosure of Expert Witnesses: Within the deadlines for the
disclosure of expert witnesses set out above, the parties shall also provide – for
each expert disclosed – the report described in Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(a)(2)(B), as

CASE MANAGEMENT ORDER - 4

modified by Local Rule 26.2(b). Supplementation to the expert witness report
shall be done in accordance with Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(e)(1). Pursuant to Local Rule
26.2(b), expert witnesses will not be allowed to offer any opinion not disclosed in
the mandatory Rule 26 disclosures, supplementation, or deposition. This includes
rebuttal experts. No undisclosed expert rebuttal opinion testimony will be allowed
at trial.
8.

Scheduling of Trial and Pretrial Conference. Plaintiff’s counsel shall contact InCourt Deputy Jamie Gearhart within one week following the entry of a decision on
all pending dispositive motion to make arrangements for a telephone scheduling
conference between counsel and me in which the trial and pretrial conference shall
be set. If no dispositive motion is filed, Plaintiff’s counsel shall immediately
contact Ms. Gearhart within one week of the dispositive motion filing deadline to
set a telephone scheduling conference.

9.

Law Clerk: If counsel has a procedural or legal question that needs to be brought
to my attention, please contact David Metcalf, the law clerk assigned to this case
at [phone] or [e-mail].

10.

Handling of Discovery Disputes and Non-disposition Motion:
a.

I will not refer this case to a magistrate judge for resolution of discovery
disputes and non-dispositive motions. I will keep these motions on my own
docket.

b.

The parties will strictly comply with the meet and confer requirements of
Local Rule 37.1 prior to filing any discovery motions.

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c.

In addition, I will not entertain any written discovery motions until the
Court has been provided with an opportunity to informally mediate the
parties’ dispute. To facilitate that mediation, the attorneys will first contact
David Metcalf, the law clerk assigned to this case, and shall provide him
with a brief written summary of the dispute and the parties’ respective
positions. Mr. Metcalf may be able to offer suggestions that will resolve
the dispute without the need of my involvement. If necessary, an off-therecord telephonic conference with me will then be scheduled as soon as
possible. I will seek to resolve the dispute during that conference and may
enter appropriate orders on the basis of the conference. I will only
authorize the filing of a discovery motion and written briefing if we are
unable to resolve the dispute during the conference.

d.

Prior to filing any discovery motions, counsel must certify, not only that
they have complied with Local Rule 37.1, but that they have complied with
the foregoing procedures.

11.

Calendaring Clerk: With regard to any scheduling matters or calendar issues,
please contact my deputy clerk, Jamie Gearhart at [phone].

12.

Docketing Clerk: If you have any docketing questions, please contact docketing at
[phone].

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DATED: September 4, 2014

_________________________
B. Lynn Winmill
Chief Judge
United States District Court

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