Case ID: fed-cl_135/html/0817-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Susan G. Braden Chief Judge", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

IN RE DOWNSTREAM ADDICKS AND BARKER (TEXAS) FLOOD-CONTROL RESERVOIRS This Document Applies to: All Downstream Cases
    Sub-Master Docket No. 17-9002L
    United States Court of Federal Claims.
    Filed: January 29, 2018
   CASE MANAGEMENT ORDER NO. 5

Susan G. Braden Chief Judge

On January 26, 2018, the parties filed a Joint Motion For Entry Of Case Management Order No. 5, together with a proposed Order. ECF No. 25. To promote the efficient administration of justice, the January 26, 2018 Joint Motion is granted in part. Accordingly, it is hereby ORDERED:

1. This Order applies to all cases presently and subsequently filed in this court that, pursuant to Management Orders 1, 2, 3, and 4, are identified as downstream cases in In re Downstream Addicks and Barker (Texas) Flood-Control Reservoirs, Sub-Master Docket No. 17-9002L (the “Downstream Sub-Master Docket”). This Order is intended to supplement, and not to replace, the court’s prior Orders.
2. Downstream Co-Lead Counsel advised the court that they would file a consolidated and amended complaint in the Downstream Sub-Master Docket by January 16, 2018. One downstream Master Complaint was filed.
3. On or before January 30, 2018, all plaintiffs named in the Master Complaint will serve on the Government, through Downstream Co-Lead Counsel, a completed Initial Fact Sheet (the “Initial Fact Sheet”).
4. On January 30, 2018, all plaintiffs not named in the Master Complaint will serve on the Government, through Downstream Co-Lead Counsel, a completed Initial Fact Sheet in the form of the exemplar Initial Fact Sheet attached as Attachment A.
6.Each plaintiff, whether named in the Master Complaint or not named in the Master Complaint, ‘will provide a signed version of their Initial Fact Sheet, consistent with the requirements of RCFC 33(b)(6), within 80 days of submission of the Initial Fact Sheet. For any plaintiff, their signed Initial Fact Sheet: (1) will be treated as answers to interrogatories; (2) can be used to the extent allowed by the Federal Rules of Evidence, pursuant to RCFC 33(c); and (3) may be amended, pursuant to RCFC 26(e).
6. Plaintiffs whose cases are filed after January 30, 2018 will serve on the Government, through Downstream Co-Lead Counsel, a completed Initial Fact Sheet no later than 30 days after • the date the case was filed.
7. All complaints other than the Master Complaint, whether pre-existing or hereafter filed, are administratively stayed except for service of the Initial Fact Sheet, referenced above, pending further order of the court. Plaintiffs in all stayed actions are hereby relieved of the responsibility to: (i) provide initial disclosures pursuant to RCFC 26(a)(1); (ii) respond to the Government’s motions for more definite statement; and (iii) respond to the Government’s motions to dismiss pursuant to RCFC 12. The claims of any plaintiffs later added to the Master Complaint by amendment are not stayed and such plaintiffs must meet any discovery and other obligations under the RCFC, including providing initial disclosures and responding to subsequent discovery requests.
8. Downstream Co-Lead Counsel and counsel for the Government will meet and confer for the purpose of drafting a mutually-agreeable Short Form Complaint adopting the Master Complaint. On or before Friday, February 2, 2018, Downstream Co-Lead Counsel and counsel for the Government are directed to provide the court with an agreed proposed Short Form Complaint.
9. Once the court approves the Short Form Complaint procedure agreed to by the parties, presently and subsequently-filed cases may adopt the Master Complaint by filing a Short Form Complaint in the Downstream Sub-Master Docket. Nothing herein will prevent an attorney from filing a single Short-Form Complaint on behalf of multiple plaintiffs.
10. The Government need not answer any complaint or newly-filed complaint other than the Master Complaint, or specifically respond to any claim not asserted in the Master Complaint.
11. The Government’s filings under RCFC 12, including any motions to dismiss or answer, will apply equally to any complaint adopting the allegations of a Master Complaint. Pursuant to Case Management Order No. 3, the Government will file any Motion To Dismiss, pursuant to RCFC 12(b) on or by February 16, 2018 (EOF No. 2, Ct. Att. A at 3), and an Answer, pursuant to RCFC 7(a)(2) on or by February 28, 2018 (EOF No. 2, Ct. Att. B at 3).
12. Downstream Co-Lead Counsel will facilitate, coordinate, and effect all communications with the Government on behalf of all plaintiffs in this consolidated action, all pro se plaintiffs in this consolidated action, and all attorneys who have not been designated as Downstream Co-Lead Counsel in this consolidated action. Attorneys who have not been designated Downstream Co-Lead Counsel are directed to communicate with Downstream Co-Lead Counsel, and not the Government or the court, concerning discovery, case management, scheduling, and all other case-related matters. In the event that an attorney who has not been designated Downstream Co-Lead Counsel seeks to submit a motion or any other filing to the court, such attorney must first request and obtain leave from the court.
13.All discovery on behalf of plaintiffs in this consolidated action must be served by Downstream Co-Lead Counsel. Downstream Co-Lead Counsel will provide, facilitate, or coordinate the use of translators, if necessary. All discovery on behalf of the Government in this consolidated action need be served only to Downstream Co-Lead Counsel.
14. Service upon Downstream Co-Lead Counsel is accomplished by serving each of the following via electronic mail, file sharing link, United States Mail and/or another method agreed by the parties:
Derek Potts at dpotts@potts-Iaw.com Rand Nolen at Rand-Nolen@fleming-law.com
Richard Mithoff at RMithoff@mithoff law.com
Jack McGehee at .jmcgehee@lawtx.com David Frederick at dfrederick@kellogg hansen.com
William Consovoy at will@consovoy mccarthy.com
15. All requests for discovery, including but not limited to interrogatories and requests for production, should, to the extent possible, be jointly submitted from Downstream Co-Lead Counsel and Upstream Co-Lead Counsel to avoid duplicative requests of documents, streamline the response process, and ensure Downstream Co-Lead Counsel and Upstream Co-Lead Counsel receive the same information. Downstream Co-Lead Counsel will coordinate and serve upon the Government, on behalf of all plaintiffs, responses to any discovery requests served by the Government.
16. Downstream Co-Lead Counsel will cross-notice all depositions in both the Downstream Sub-Master Docket and In re Upstream Addicks and Barker (Texas) Fbodr-Control Reservoirs, Sub-Master Docket No. 17-9001L, and coordinate the conduct of depositions among Downstream Co-Lead Counsel and Upstream Co-Lead Counsel to avoid duplicate examination.
17. In any case filed and consolidated into the Downstream Sub-Master Docket after entry of this Order, Downstream Co-Lead Counsel will provide the attorney representing the plaintiffs) or, if the plaintiffs) is proceeding pro se, the plaintiffs), a copy of: (a) this Order, (b) the operative Master Complaint, (c) the template for a Short-Form Complaint, and (d) an Initial Fact Sheet. A completed Initial Fact Sheet on behalf of each plaintiff will be served on the Government within 30 days of consolidation.

IT IS SO ORDERED. 
      
      . The court made the following changes to the January 26, 2018 proposed Order: (1) Paragraph 5: a plaintiff may amend his or her Initial Fact Sheet, pursuant to Rule of the United States Court of Federal Claims ("RCFC”) 26(e); (2) Paragraph 8: the parties are directed to file a Joint Proposed Short Form Complaint; (3) Paragraph 9: the court will approve the Short Form Complaint procedure agreed to by the parties; and (4) Paragraph 11: the Government must comply with the deadlines set forth in Case Management Order No. 3 (ECF No. 2).
     
      
      . See In re Addicks and Barker (Texas) Flood-Control Reservoirs, Master Docket No. 17-3000L, ECF No. 1 (October 31, 2017 Management Order 1); ECF No. 103 (December 5, 2017 Management Order 2 (Order Establishing Sub-Master Docket for Upstream Claims)); ECF No. 104 (December 5, 2017 Management Order 3 (Order Establishing Sub-Master Docket for Downstream Claims)); ECF No. 120 (December 21', 2017 Management Order 4).
     
      
      . When used herein, the term Downstream Co-Lead Counsel means counsel appointed as "Co-Lead Counsel” and “Of Counsel” for downstream plaintiffs in the court’s November 20, 2017 Orders. See In re Addicks and Barker (Texas) Flood-Control Reservoirs, Master Docket No. 17-3000L, ECF Nos. 67, 69 (Fed. Cl. Nov. 20, 2017). When used herein, the term Upstream Co-Lead Counsel means counsel'appointed as "Co-Lead Counsel” and "Of Counsel” for upstream plaintiffs in the court’s November 20, 2017 Orders. See In re Addicks and Barker (Texas) Flood-Control Reservoirs, Master Docket No. 17-3000L, ECF Nos. 68, 70 (Fed. Cl. Nov. 20, 2017).