Almer v. Peanut Corporation of America

Filing 11

STIPULATION (Fourth) for Extension of Time to Answer or Otherwise Plead by King Nut Companites, Jeffrey Almer. (Attachments: # 1 Certificate of Service)(Brew, Sarah)

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT STATE OF MINNESOTA ________________________________________________________________________ Jeffrey Almer as trustee for the heirs of Shirley Mae Almer, Plaintiff, vs. Peanut Corporation of America, a Virginia business entity and King Nut Companies, an Ohio business entity, Defendants. ________________________________________________________________________ FOURTH STIPULATION FOR EXTENSION OF TIME TO ANSWER OR OTHERWISE PLEAD ________________________________________________________________________ WHEREAS, Plaintiff Jeffrey Almer as trustee for the heirs of Shirley Mae Almer, served a Complaint against Defendant Peanut Corporation of America ("Defendant PCA") and Defendant Kanan Enterprises, Inc., d/b/a King Nut Companies ("Defendant Kanan"), on or about January 27, 2009; WHEREAS, counsel for Plaintiff agreed to grant Defendant PCA and Defendant Kanan an extension of time to answer or otherwise plead until March 10, 2009 [ECF Dkt. #2]; WHEREAS, on February 12, 2009, U.S. Magistrate Judge Susan Richard Nelson entered an order granting Defendant PCA and Defendant Kanan an extension of time to answer or otherwise plead until March 10, 2009 [ECF Dkt. #3]; Case No. 09-cv-00268 (MJD/JSM) WHEREAS, on February 17, 2009, Defendant PCA filed a Notice of Filing Bankruptcy by Defendant Peanut Corporation of America [ECF Dkt. #4], to which it attached as Exhibit A a copy of its Voluntary Bankruptcy Petition [ECF Dkt. #4-2]. Within such Notice, Defendant PCA notified the Court and the parties that, "[a]s a result of the bankruptcy filing by [Defendant PCA], the claims of [Plaintiff] Jeffrey Almer as trustee for the heirs of Shirley Mae Almer are stayed as a matter of law under 11 U.S.C. § 362(A)." [ECF Dkt. #4]; WHEREAS, as a result of the stay of claims against Defendant PCA, Plaintiff's counsel agreed to grant Defendant Kanan an extension of time to answer or otherwise plead until March 10, 2009 [ECF Dkt. #7]; WHEREAS, on March 9, 2009, U.S. Magistrate Judge Janie S. Mayeron entered an order granting Defendant Kanan an extension of time to answer or otherwise plead until March 24, 2009 [ECF Dkt. #8]; WHEREAS, on or about March 12, 2009, counsel for the Trustee of the Bankruptcy estate of PCA; counsel and representatives of PCA's insurer, The Hartford Insurance Company; counsel for Plaintiff in this case, who also represent other potential plaintiffs allegedly injured by the consumption of PCA peanut butter containing Salmonella; counsel representing other plaintiffs with similar claims involving the consumption of PCA peanut butter; counsel for Defendant Kanan; and counsel for Kellogg, Inc., another entity facing claims similar to those against Kanan in this case, agreed to meet to discuss a potential mechanism to resolve all PCA Salmonella claims and lawsuits, including this one, under the supervision of the bankruptcy trustee and 2 court. Representatives of the parties listed above had scheduled meeting to discuss the potential for such a global settlement mechanism for April 8, 2009. WHEREAS, as a result of the parties' pending meeting and the potential for settlement of this matter without further litigation before this Court, Plaintiff's counsel agreed to grant Defendant Kanan an extension of time to answer or otherwise plead until April 24, 2009 [ECF Dkt. #9]. WHEREAS, on March 30, 2009, U.S. Magistrate Judge Janie S. Mayeron entered an order granting Defendant Kanan an extension of time to answer or otherwise plead until April 24, 2009 [ECF Dkt. #10]. WHEREAS, on April 8, 2009, representatives of the various parties identified above met to discuss the potential for a global settlement mechanism of PCA-related Salmonella claims and lawsuits, including this one, under the supervision of the bankruptcy trustee and court. A draft settlement Agreement has been circulated among the parties. While the parties have not yet agreed on all terms of the Agreement, discussions continue, and all parties have expressed an interest in continuing to explore settlement potential. WHEREAS, as a result of the parties' ongoing discussions and the potential for settlement of this matter without further litigation before this Court, Plaintiff's counsel agreed to grant a further extension of time in which Defendant Kanan must answer or otherwise plead. IT IS HEREBY STIPULATED by Plaintiff Jeffrey Almer as trustee for the heirs of Shirley Mae Almer and Defendant Kanan, through their undersigned counsel, that the 3 time within which Defendant Kanan shall answer or otherwise plead shall be extended to May 26, 2009. Dated: April 24, 2009. PRITZKER | OLSEN, P.A. By s/ Fred H. Pritzker Fred H. Pritzker, Reg. No. 88456 Plaza VII, Suite 2950 45 South Seventh Street Minneapolis, MN 55402-1652 fhp@pritzkerlaw.com (612) 338-0202 Attorneys for Plaintiff Dated: April 24, 2009. GREENE ESPEL, P.L.L.P. By s/ Sarah L. Brew Sarah L. Brew, Reg. No. 209958 Kathryn N. Hibbard, Reg. No. 387155 200 S. Sixth Street, Suite 1200 Minneapolis, MN 55402 sbrew@greeneespel.com khibbard@greeneespel.com (612) 373-0830 Attorneys for Defendant Kanan Enterprises, Inc., d/b/a King Nut Companies 4

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