Bond Manufacturing Co. v. Xiamen Hwaart Composite Material Co., Ltd. et al
Filing
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ORDER Denying without prejudice 30 Stipulation Adjourning Discovery Plan and Scheduling Order. Signed by Magistrate Judge Nancy J. Koppe on 12/04/2013. (Copies have been distributed pursuant to the NEF - AC)
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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
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DISTRICT OF NEVADA
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BOND MANUFACTURING,
2:13-cv-00812-APG-NJK
Plaintiff,
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vs.
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ORDER
XIAMEN HWAART COMPOSITE
MATERIAL CO., et al.,
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Stipulation Adjourning Discovery Plan and
Scheduling Order (Docket No. 30)
Defendants.
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Before the Court is the parties’ Stipulation Adjourning Discovery Plan and Scheduling
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Order, Docket No. 30, which, for the reasons discussed below, is hereby DENIED without
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prejudice.
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I.
Failure to Provide Required Information
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Pursuant to LR 26-4, all stipulations to extend discovery must include:
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(a) A statement specifying the discovery completed;
(b) A specific description of the discovery that remains to be completed;
(c) The reasons why the deadline was not satisfied or the remaining discovery was not
completed within the time limits set by the discovery plan; and,
(d) A proposed schedule for completing all remaining discovery.
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The parties’ stipulation does not include items (a), (b), or (c).
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II.
Failure to Show Good Cause
A motion to extend deadlines in the Court’s scheduling order must be supported by a
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showing of “good cause” for the extension. Johnson v. Mammoth Recreations, Inc., 975 F.2d
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604, 608-09 (9th Cir. 1992); see also Fed. R. Civ. P. 16(b) and Local Rule 26-4. The good cause
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inquiry focuses primarily on the movant’s diligence. See Coleman v. Quaker Oats Co., 232 F.3d
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1271, 1294-95 (9th Cir. 2000). “Good cause” to extend a deadline exists “if it cannot reasonably
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be met despite the diligence of the party seeking the extension.” Johnson, 975 F.2d at 609.
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While prejudice to the opposing party may also be considered, where the movant “fail[s] to show
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diligence, ‘the inquiry should end.’” Coleman, 232 F.3d at 1295 (quoting Johnson, 975 F.2d at
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609).
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Here, the parties state that the extension is necessary due to Defendants’ substitution of
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counsel, retention of counsel in New York, filing of pro hac vice documents, and need for new
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counsel to review case. Docket No. 30, at 2. The Court, however, when approving the
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substitution of counsel, specifically instructed Defendants that the approval was subject to the
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provisions of Local Rule 10-6(d) and (e). Docket No. 29, at 2. Subparagraphs (d) and (e)
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explicitly provide that discharge, withdrawal, or substitution of an attorney shall not alone be
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reason for delay of pretrial proceedings, discovery, or trial, and that except for good cause shown,
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no withdrawals will be approved if delay would result. Therefore, Defendants’ substitution of
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counsel alone is not good cause for an extension.
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III.
Failure to Show Excusable Neglect
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Requests to extend a discovery deadline filed less than 21 days before the expiration of
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that particular deadline must be supported by a showing of excusable neglect. See Local Rule
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26-4. This motion was filed only six days before the deadline to amend pleadings and add parties
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will expire; therefore, excusable neglect must be shown.
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Excusable neglect encompasses situations in which the failure to comply with a filing
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deadline is attributable to negligence. Lemoge v. U.S., 587 F.3d 1188, 1195 (9th Cir.2009). There
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are at least four factors for determining whether neglect is excusable: (1) the danger of prejudice
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to the opposing party; (2) the length of the delay and its potential impact on the proceedings; (3)
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the reason for the delay; and (4) whether the movant acted in good faith. Pioneer Inv. Servs. Co.
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v. Brunswick Assocs. Ltd., 507 U.S. 380, 395 (1993). The determination of whether neglect is
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excusable is ultimately an equitable one, taking account of all relevant circumstances
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surrounding the party's omission. Pioneer, 507 U.S. at 395. This equitable determination is left
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to the discretion of the district court. Pincay v. Andrews, 389 F.3d 853, 860 (9th Cir.2004).
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Here, the parties have failed to address excusable neglect in their stipulation. Further, as
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discussed above, the parties have failed to show diligence in conducting discovery, and the
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reason for the delay weighs against granting the requested extension.
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III.
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Conclusion
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the Parties’ Stipulation Adjourning Discovery Plan and
Scheduling Order, Docket No. 30, is hereby DENIED without prejudice.
DATED this 4th
day of December, 2013.
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___________________________________
NANCY J. KOPPE
United States Magistrate Judge
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