Prudhomme v. Masonite Corp.

Filing 26

ORDER granting in part and denying in part 25 Joint MOTION to Refer Case to Mediation, to Extend the Case Schedule and for a Status Conference. Specifically, the Motion is GRANTED with respect to the Parties request for a judicial settlement conference with Judge Keesler and an extension on the mediation deadline, and DENIED with respect to the Parties request that the discovery completion deadline and dispositive motions deadline be extended. Signed by Chief Judge Frank D. Whitney on 3/31/2014. (eef)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
WESTERN DISTRICT OF NORTH CAROLINA
CHARLOTTE DIVISION
CIVIL ACTION NO. 3:13-CV-00275-FDW-DCK
JESSICA PRUDHOMME,
Plaintiff,
vs.
MASONITE CORPORATON,
Defendant.

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ORDER

THIS MATTER is before the Court on the “Joint Motion to Refer Case to Mediation, to
Extend the Case Schedule and for a Status Conference.” (Doc. No. 25). By the Motion, the
Parties request a judicial settlement conference before Magistrate Judge David C. Keesler, in
place of mediation, and a modification of the amended Case Management Order. For the reasons
stated below, the Motion is GRANTED in part and DENIED in part.
First, with respect to Parties request for a judicial settlement conference with Judge
Keesler, the Motion is GRANTED for good cause shown. Counsel are directed to jointly
telephone Judge Keesler’s chambers as soon as possible to discuss scheduling.
The Parties next request a modification of the Case Management Order to extend certain
deadlines.

Specifically, the Parties request that the Court extend the mediation deadline,

currently April 11, 2014, to allow time to schedule and conduct a judicial settlement conference
with Judge Keesler. The Parties also request that the discovery completion deadline, currently
March 28, 2014, be extended to allow for additional limited discovery, and the dispositive
motions deadline, currently April 25, 2014, be extended for at least four weeks after the

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discovery completion deadline, if the judicial settlement conference does not result in a
settlement.
As an initial matter, the Court notes that in its prior order granting the Parties’ previous
motion to modify the Case Management Order, (Doc. No. 20), it extended the discovery
completion deadline, mediation deadline, and dispositive motions deadline exactly as the Parties
requested based on Plaintiff’s pregnancy. (Doc. No. 21). A second extension for the same
reason is unnecessary. Additionally, the Court does not believe that the Plaintiff’s pregnancy or
childbirth will impede the ability of her counsel or opposing counsel to prepare any dispositive
motions that they may wish to file by April 25, 2014. Therefore, to the extent that the Parties
request that the discovery completion deadline and dispositive motions deadline be extended, the
Motion is DENIED. To the extent that the Parties request the mediation deadline be extended to
allow them to conduct a judicial settlement conference with Judge Keesler, such an extension is
GRANTED. The mediation deadline is extended for as long as necessary to conduct a judicial
settlement conference with Judge Keesler.
IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that the Motion, (Doc. No. 25), is GRANTED IN PART
and DENIED IN PART. Specifically, the Motion is GRANTED with respect to the Parties’
request for a judicial settlement conference with Judge Keesler and an extension on the
mediation deadline, and DENIED with respect to the Parties’ request that the discovery
completion deadline and dispositive motions deadline be extended.
IT IS SO ORDERED.

Signed: March 31, 2014

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