Ortiz v. Lowe's Home Centers, LLC ( 2024 )

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 9 EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 10 11 LILLIAN ORTIZ and FERNANDO Case No. 1:23-cv-01460-JLT-CDB ALVAREZ, 12 Plaintiffs, 13 SCHEDULING ORDER (Fed. R. Civ. P. 16) 14 v. Rule 26 Disclosures: January 22, 2024 15 L 1 O thW roE ug’S h H 50O , ME CENTERS, LLC, and DOES P Dl ie sa cd oi vn eg r yA Dm ee an dd lm ine en s:t : March 8, 2024 16 Defendants. N Exo pn e-E rtx : p Ne or vt: e J mul by e r8 2, 02 ,0 22 04 2 4 17 Mid-Discovery Status Conf.: May 6, 2024 18 Non-Dispositive Motion Deadlines: Filing: July 22, 2024 19 Hearing: August 26, 2024, 10:30 a.m. 20 Dispositive Motion Deadlines: Filing: August 12, 2024 21 Hearing: September 23, 2024, 8:30 a.m. 22 Pre-Trial Conference: December 2, 2024, 1:30 p.m. 2500 Tulare Street, Fresno, CA 23 24 Trial: February 4, 2025, 8:30 a.m. 2500 Tulare Street, Fresno, CA 25 3-5 days 26 27 In September 2023, Plaintiffs Lillian Ortiz and Fernando Alvarez (“Plaintiffs”) commenced 28 separate actions with the filing of complaints in the Superior Court of the State of California, County 1 of Kern, against Defendant Lowe’s Home Centers, LLC (“Defendant”). (Doc. 1). Defendant removed 2 both actions to this Court. Id. On January 8, 2024, the Court issued an order consolidating the cases 3 pursuant to Rule 42(a). (Doc. 11). That same day, the parties convened via Zoom videoconference 4 for a scheduling conference before Magistrate Judge Christopher D. Baker. Rick Martin and Ji-Su 5 Park appeared on behalf of Plaintiffs and Jamie Chanin Pollaci appeared on behalf of Defendant. 6 I. Magistrate Judge Consent 7 Currently there is no joint consent to Magistrate Judge jurisdiction. 8 Notice of Congested Docket and Court Policy of Trailing 9 Due to the District Judges’ heavy caseload, the adopted policy of the Fresno Division of the 10 Eastern District is to trail all civil cases. The parties are hereby notified that for a trial date set before a 11 District Judge, the parties will trail indefinitely behind any higher priority criminal or older civil case 12 set on the same date until a courtroom becomes available. The trial date will not be reset. 13 The Magistrate Judges’ availability is far more realistic and accommodating to parties than that 14 of the District Judges who carry the heaviest caseloads in the nation and who must prioritize criminal 15 and older civil cases over more recently filed civil cases. A Magistrate Judge may conduct trials, 16 including entry of final judgment, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(c), Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 73, 17 and Local Rule 305. Any appeal from a judgment entered by a Magistrate Judge is taken directly to 18 the United States Court of Appeal for the Ninth Circuit. 19 Therefore, the parties are directed to consider consenting to Magistrate Judge jurisdiction to 20 conduct all further proceedings, including trial, and to file a consent/decline form (provided by the 21 Court at the inception of this case) indicating whether they will consent to the jurisdiction of the 22 Magistrate Judge. 23 II. Pleading Amendment 24 Any motions to amend the pleadings, including to add parties and/or allegations and claims, 25 must be filed by March 8, 2024. Filing a motion and/or stipulation requesting leave to amend the 26 pleadings does not reflect on the propriety of the amendment or imply good cause to modify the 27 existing schedule, if necessary. All proposed amendments must (A) be supported by good cause 28 pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 16(b) if the amendment requires any modification to the existing schedule, 1 see Johnson v. Mammoth Recreations, Inc., 975 F.2d 604, 609 (9th Cir. 1992), and (B) establish, 2 under Fed. R. Civ. P. 15(a), that such an amendment is not (1) prejudicial to the opposing party, (2) 3 the product of undue delay, (3) proposed in bad faith, or (4) futile, see Foman v. Davis, 371 U.S. 178, 4 182 (1962). 5 III. Discovery Plan and Cut-Off Date 6 The parties shall exchange the initial disclosures required by Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(a)(1) by no 7 later than January 22, 2024. 8 The parties are ordered to complete all discovery pertaining to non-experts on or before July 8, 9 2024, and all discovery pertaining to experts on or before November 20, 2024. 10 The parties are directed to disclose all expert witnesses1, in writing, on or before September 11 30, 2024, and to disclose all rebuttal experts on or before October 21, 2024. The written designation 12 of retained and non-retained experts shall be made pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. Rule 26(a)(2), (A), (B), 13 and (C) and shall include all information required thereunder. Failure to designate experts in 14 compliance with this order may result in the Court excluding the testimony or other evidence offered 15 through such experts that are not disclosed pursuant to this order. 16 The provisions of Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(b)(4) and (5) shall apply to all discovery relating to 17 experts and their opinions. Experts must be fully prepared to be examined on all subjects and opinions 18 included in the designation. Failure to comply will result in the imposition of sanctions, which may 19 include striking the expert designation and preclusion of expert testimony. 20 The provisions of Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(e) regarding a party’s duty to timely supplement 21 disclosures and responses to discovery requests will be strictly enforced. 22 A mid-discovery status conference is scheduled for May 6, 2024, at 9:30 a.m. before Judge 23 Baker. Counsel SHALL file a joint mid-discovery status conference report no later than one week 24 before the conference. Counsel also SHALL lodge the joint status report via e-mail to 25 CDBorders@caed.uscourts.gov. The joint status report SHALL outline the discovery counsel have 26 27 1 In the event an expert will offer opinions related to an independent medical or mental health 28 evaluation, the examination SHALL occur sufficiently in advance of the disclosure deadline so the expert’s report fully details the expert’s opinions in this regard. 1 completed and that which needs to be completed as well as any impediments to completing the 2 discovery within the deadlines set forth in this order. Counsel SHALL discuss settlement and certify 3 in the joint status report (1) that they have met/conferred regarding settlement, and (2) proposed dates 4 for convening a settlement conference before a U.S. Magistrate Judge. 5 IV. Pre-Trial Motion Schedule / Informal Discovery Dispute Conferences 6 All non-dispositive pre-trial motions, including any discovery motions, shall be filed no later 7 than July 22, 2024,2 and heard on or before August 26, 2024. The Court hears non-dispositive 8 motions at 10:30 a.m. at the United States District Courthouse in Bakersfield, California before Judge 9 Baker. 10 No motion to amend or stipulation to amend the case schedule will be entertained unless it is 11 filed at least one week before the first deadline the parties wish to extend. Likewise, no written 12 discovery motions shall be filed without the prior approval of the Court. A party with a discovery 13 dispute must first confer with the opposing party in a good faith effort to resolve by agreement the 14 issues in dispute. If that good faith effort is unsuccessful, the moving party promptly shall seek a 15 hearing with all involved parties and Judge Baker. For these hearings and at the direction of the 16 Courtroom Deputy Clerk, the Court may direct counsel to appear remotely (via Zoom). For hearings 17 noticed to occur in-person, the Court may permit counsel to appear remotely (via Zoom) provided the 18 Courtroom Deputy Clerk receives a written notice of the request to appear remotely no later than five 19 court days before the noticed hearing date. 20 At least three days before the conference, counsel SHALL file informal letter briefs detailing 21 their positions. The briefs may not exceed 5 pages, excluding exhibits. Counsel must comply with 22 Local Rule 251 with respect to discovery disputes. 23 All dispositive pre-trial motions shall be filed no later than August 12, 2024, and heard on or 24 before September 23, 2024, at 8:30 a.m. In scheduling such motions, absent consent to Magistrate 25 26 27 2 Non-dispositive motions related to non-expert discovery SHALL be filed within a 28 reasonable time of discovery of the dispute, but in no event later than 10 days after the expiration of the non-expert discovery deadline. 1 Judge jurisdiction, counsel SHALL consult the assigned District Judge’s general information and 2 calendar accordingly and SHALL comply with Fed. R. Civ. P. 56 and Local Rules 230 and 260. 3 V. Motions for Summary Judgment or Summary Adjudication 4 At least 21 days before filing a motion for summary judgment or motion for summary 5 adjudication, the parties SHALL meet, in person or by telephone, to confer about the issues to be 6 raised in the motion. 7 The purpose of the meeting shall be to: 1) avoid filing motions for summary judgment where a 8 question of fact exists; 2) determine whether the respondent agrees that the motion has merit in whole 9 or in part; 3) discuss whether issues can be resolved without the necessity of briefing; 4) narrow the 10 issues for review by the court; 5) explore the possibility of settlement before the parties incur the 11 expense of briefing a motion; and 6) to develop a joint statement of undisputed facts. 12 The moving party SHALL initiate the meeting and SHALL provide a complete, proposed 13 statement of undisputed facts at least five days before the conference. The finalized joint statement 14 of undisputed facts SHALL include all facts that the parties agree, for purposes of the motion, may be 15 deemed true. In addition to the requirements of Local Rule 260, the moving party shall file the joint 16 statement of undisputed facts. 17 In the notice of motion, the moving party SHALL certify that the parties have met and 18 conferred as ordered above, or set forth a statement of good cause for the failure to meet and confer. 19 Failure to comply may result in the motion being stricken. 20 VI. Pre-Trial Conference 21 December 2, 2024, at 1:30 p.m., located at the United States District Courthouse, 2500 Tulare 22 Street, in Fresno, California, before District Judge Jennifer L. Thurston. 23 The parties are ordered to file a Joint Pretrial Statement pursuant to Local Rule 281(a)(2). The 24 parties are further directed to submit a digital copy of their pretrial statement in Word format, directly 25 to District Judge Thurston’s chambers, by email at JLTorders@caed.uscourts.gov. 26 Counsels’ attention is directed to Rules 281 and 282 of the Local Rules for the Eastern District 27 of California, as to the obligations of counsel in preparing for the pre-trial conference. The Court will 28 insist upon strict compliance with those rules. In addition to the matters set forth in the Local Rules, 1 the Joint Pretrial Statement shall include a Joint Statement of the case to be used by the Court to 2 explain the nature of the case to the jury during voir dire. 3 VII. Trial Date 4 February 4, 2025, at 8:30 a.m., located at the United States District Courthouse, 2500 Tulare 5 Street, in Fresno, California, before District Judge Jennifer L. Thurston. 6 A. This is a jury trial. 7 B. Counsels’ Estimate of Trial Time: 3-5 days. 8 C. Counsels’ attention is directed to Local Rules of Practice for the Eastern District of 9 California, Rule 285. 10 VIII. Settlement Conference 11 The parties SHALL meet and confer and notify the Court prior to the Pre-Trial Conference 12 whether they wish to convene a Settlement Conference. In the event the parties request a Settlement 13 Conference, unless otherwise permitted in advance by the Court, the attorneys who will try the case 14 shall appear at the settlement conference with the parties and the person or persons having full 15 authority to negotiate and settle the case on any terms3 at the conference. 16 Consideration of settlement is a serious matter that requires preparation prior to the settlement 17 conference. Set forth below are the procedures the Court will employ, absent good cause, in 18 conducting the conference. 19 At least twenty-one days before the settlement conference, Plaintiff SHALL submit to 20 Defendant via fax or e-mail, a written itemization of damages and a meaningful4 settlement demand 21 22 3 Insurance carriers, business organizations, and governmental bodies or agencies whose 23 settlement agreements are subject to approval by legislative bodies, executive committees, boards of directors or the like shall be represented by a person or persons who occupy high executive positions in 24 the party organization and who will be directly involved in the process of approval of any settlement offers or agreements. To the extent possible, the representative shall have authority, if he or she deems 25 it appropriate, to settle the action on terms consistent with the opposing party's most recent demand. 26 4 “Meaningful” means the offer is reasonably calculated to settle the case on terms acceptable to the offering party. “Meaningful” does not include an offer which the offering party knows will not be 27 acceptable to the other party. If, however, the offering party is only willing to offer a settlement which it knows the other party will not accept, this should trigger a recognition the case is not in a settlement 28 posture and the parties should confer about continuing or vacating the settlement conference via stipulation. 1 which includes a brief explanation of why such a settlement is appropriate. Thereafter, no later than 2 fourteen days before the settlement conference, Defendant SHALL respond, via fax or e-mail, with an 3 acceptance of the offer or with a meaningful counteroffer which includes a brief explanation of why 4 such a settlement is appropriate. 5 If settlement is not achieved, each party SHALL attach copies of their settlement offers to their 6 Confidential Settlement Conference Statement, as described below. Copies of these documents shall 7 not be filed on the court docket. 8 CONFIDENTIAL SETTLEMENT CONFERENCE STATEMENT 9 At least five court days prior to the settlement conference, the parties shall submit, directly to 10 Judge Baker’s chambers by e-mail to CDBOrders@caed.uscourts.gov, a Confidential Settlement 11 Conference Statement. The statement should not be filed with the Clerk of the Court nor served on 12 any other party, although the parties may file a Notice of Lodging of Settlement Conference 13 Statement. Each statement shall be clearly marked "confidential" with the date and time of the 14 settlement conference indicated prominently thereon. 15 The Confidential Settlement Conference Statement shall include the following: 16 A. A brief statement of the facts of the case. 17 B. A brief statement of the claims and defenses, i.e., statutory or other grounds upon 18 which the claims are founded; a forthright evaluation of the parties' likelihood of prevailing on the 19 claims and defenses; and a description of the major issues in dispute. 20 C. A summary of the proceedings to date. 21 D. An estimate of the cost and time to be expended for further discovery, pretrial and trial. 22 E. The relief sought. 23 F. The party’s position on settlement, including present demands and offers and a history 24 of past settlement discussions, offers and demands. 25 IX. Request for Bifurcation, Appointment of Special Master, or other Techniques to Shorten 26 Trial 27 The parties request bifurcation of punitive damages at trial. Specifically, the amount of 28 punitive damages should be determined in a second phase of trial, only after there has been a finding 1 || by clear and convincing evidence that an officer, director or managing agent was guilty of malice, 2 || oppression or fraud. 3 The parties agree that expert discovery be delayed until after a ruling on dispositive motions, 4 || which the parties believe will save both parties fees and costs and will promote more productive 5 || settlement discussions. The parties do not request bifurcation or phasing of any other issues. 6 || X. Related Matters Pending 7 There are no pending related matters. 8 || XI. Compliance with Federal Procedure 9 All counsel are expected to familiarize themselves with the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 10 || and the Local Rules of the Eastern District of California, and to keep abreast of any amendments 11 || thereto. The Court requires compliance with these Rules to efficiently handle its increasing case load 12 XII. Effect of this Order 13 The foregoing order represents the best estimate of the court and counsel as to the agenda mo: 14 || suitable to dispose of this case. The trial date reserved is specifically reserved for this case. If the 15 || parties determine at any time that the schedule outlined in this order cannot be met, counsel are 16 || ordered to notify the court immediately of that fact so that adjustments may be made, either by 17 || stipulation or by subsequent status conference. 18 The dates set in this Order are considered to be firm and will not be modified absent a 19 || showing of good cause even if the request to modify is made by stipulation. Stipulations 20 || extending the deadlines contained herein will not be considered unless they are accompanied by 21 || affidavits or declarations, and where appropriate attached exhibits, which establish good cause 22 || for granting the relief requested. 23 Failure to comply with this order may result in the imposition of sanctions. 24 TT IS SO ORDERED. 25 Dated: _ January 8, 2024 | br Pr 26 UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE 27 28