Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-3_10-cv-03328/USCOURTS-cand-3_10-cv-03328-16/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 890
Nature of Suit: Other Statutory Actions
Cause of Action: 28:1331 Fed. Question

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United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

MICHAEL E. DAVIS, ET AL,

Plaintiff(s),

v.

ELECTRONIC ARTS INC.,

Defendant(s).

___________________________________/

No. C-10-03328-RS (DMR)

NOTICE OF AMENDED DISCOVERY

PROCEDURES

TO ALL PARTIES AND COUNSEL OF RECORD:

The above matter was referred to Magistrate Judge Donna M. Ryu for resolution of

discovery disputes. Judge Ryu's amended discovery procedures are set forth below, and should be

followed in all discovery disputes filed after the date of this notice.

RESOLUTION OF DISCOVERY DISPUTES

In order to respond to discovery disputes in a flexible, cost-effective and efficient manner,

the court uses the following procedure. The parties shall not file formal discovery motions. Instead,

as required by the federal and local rules, the parties shall first meet and confer to try to resolve their

disagreements. The meet and confer session must be in person or by telephone, and may not be

conducted by letter, e-mail, or fax. If disagreements remain, the parties shall file a joint letter no

later than five business days after the meet and confer session, unless otherwise directed by the

court. Lead trial counsel for both parties must sign the letter, which shall include an attestation

Case 3:10-cv-03328-RS Document 125 Filed 08/11/14 Page 1 of 4
United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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that the parties met and conferred in person or by telephone regarding all issues prior to filing the

letter. The letter must also include a paragraph listing relevant case management deadlines,

including (1) the fact and expert discovery cut-off dates; (2) the last day to hear or file dispositive

motions; (3) claim construction or class certification briefing deadlines and hearing dates; and (4)

pretrial conference and trial dates. Going issue-by-issue, the joint letter shall describe each

unresolved issue, summarize each party’s position with appropriate legal authority, and provide each

party’s final proposed compromise before moving to the next issue. The joint letter shall not exceed

eight pages (12-point font or greater; margins no less than one inch) without leave of court. Parties

are expected to plan for and cooperate in preparing the joint letter so that each side has

adequate time to address the arguments. In the rare instance that a joint letter is not possible,

each side may submit a letter not to exceed three pages, which shall include an explanation of why a

joint letter was not possible. The parties shall submit one exhibit that sets forth each disputed

discovery request in full, followed immediately by the objections and/or responses thereto. No other

information shall be included in the exhibit. No other exhibits shall be submitted without prior court

approval. The court will review the submission(s) and determine whether formal briefing or

proceedings are necessary. Discovery letter briefs must be e-filed under the Civil Events

category of Motions and Related Filings > Motions - General > "Discovery Letter Brief". 

The court has found that it is often efficient and beneficial for counsel to appear in person at

discovery hearings. This provides the opportunity to engage counsel, where appropriate, in

resolving aspects of the discovery dispute while remaining available to rule on disputes that counsel

are not able to resolve themselves. For this reason, the court expects counsel to appear in

person. Permission to attend by telephone may be granted upon written request made at least one

week in advance of the hearing if the court determines that good cause exists to excuse personal

attendance, and that personal attendance is not needed in order to have an effective discovery

hearing. The facts establishing good cause must be set forth in the request. 

In emergencies during discovery events (such as depositions), any party may, after

exhausting good faith attempts to resolve disputed issues, seek judicial intervention pursuant to Civil

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L.R. 37-1(b) by contacting the court through the courtroom deputy. If the court is unavailable, the

discovery event shall proceed with objections noted for the record. 

CHAMBERS COPIES AND PROPOSED ORDERS

Pursuant to Civil L.R. 5-1(e)(7) and 5-2(b), parties must lodge an extra paper copy of certain

filings and mark it as a copy for “Chambers.” All chambers copies should be three-hole punched,

and must include tabs between exhibits. 

Any stipulation or proposed order submitted by an e-filing party shall be submitted by email

to dmrpo@cand.uscourts.gov as a word processing attachment on the same day the document is efiled. This address should only be used for this stated purpose unless otherwise directed by the

court.

PRIVILEGE LOGS

If a party withholds responsive information by claiming that it is privileged or otherwise

protected from discovery, that party shall promptly provide a privilege log that is sufficiently

detailed for the opposing party to assess whether the assertion of privilege is justified. Unless the

parties agree to alternative logging methods, the log should include: (a) the title and description of

the document, including number of pages or Bates-number range; (b) the subject matter addressed in

the document; (c) the identity and position of its author(s); (d) the identity and position of all

addressees and recipients; (e) the date the document was prepared and, if different, the date(s) on

which it was sent to or shared with persons other than its author(s); and (f) the specific basis for the

claim that the document is privileged or protected. Communications involving trial counsel that

post-date the filing of the complaint need not be placed on a privilege log. Failure to promptly

furnish a privilege log may be deemed a waiver of the privilege or protection.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: August 11, 2014

 DONNA M. RYU

United States Magistrate Judge

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United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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