Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_06-cv-01381/USCOURTS-caed-1_06-cv-01381-3/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 362
Nature of Suit: Medical Malpractice
Cause of Action: 28:1332 Diversity-Medical Malpractice

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STIPULATION TO SUSPEND SCHEDULING CONFERENCE ORDER; [PROPOSED] ORDER

The McGREGOR W. SCOTT

United States Attorney

JEFFREY J. LODGE (SBN 152205)

Assistant United States Attorney

United States Courthouse

2500 Tulare Street, Suite 4401

Fresno, California 93721

Telephone: (559) 497-4000

Facsimile: (559) 497-4099

Attorneys for Defendant United States of America

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

LORENA S. ALVARADO, a minor, )

by and through her Guardian )

ad Litem LORENA ALVARADO, )

)

Plaintiff, )

)

v. )

)

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, )

)

Defendant. )

 )

1:06-cv-01381-OWW-DLB

STIPULATION TO SUSPEND

SCHEDULING CONFERENCE ORDER;

ORDER

Defendant United States of America and Plaintiff Lorena S.

Alvarado (a minor, by and through her Guardian ad Litem Lorena

Alvarado) hereby stipulate, by and through their respective

counsel, to suspend the Scheduling Conference Order entered in

this case on May 9, 2007 (docket number 21).

On February 2, 2007, Plaintiff filed her First Amended

Complaint for Damages Re Medical Negligence. The United States

answered asserting affirmative defenses including, Comparative

Fault, Negligence of Third Parties, Superceding and Intervening

Cause, and Apportionment. At the time of the Scheduling

Conference, the United States, as the only named defendant, had

Case 1:06-cv-01381-OWW-SKO Document 26 Filed 02/22/08 Page 1 of 4
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STIPULATION TO SUSPEND SCHEDULING CONFERENCE ORDER; [PROPOSED] ORDER

not determined which of Plaintiff’s other medical providers were

subject to a third party complaint. The Scheduling Conference

Order set deadlines including a Discovery Cut-Off of April 30,

2008. 

Defendant’s discovery in this case, which remains ongoing,

including expert medical opinions developed in response to

Plaintiff’s allegations, has lead the United States to determine

that it is necessary and appropriate to implead certain of

Plaintiff’s medical providers as third-party defendants in this

case. 

Under California law, “No action based upon the health care

provider’s professional negligence may be commenced unless the

defendant has been given at least 90 days’ prior notice of the

intention to commence the action.” Cal. Civ. Proc. Code 

§ 364(a). For this reason, the United States must provide 90

days’ notice to Plaintiff’s other medical providers prior to

bringing a third party complaint.

The current deadlines set forth in the Scheduling Conference

Order including the discovery cut-off of April 30, 2008, will not

permit the United States to provide the 90 days’ notice to

medical providers required by California law. 

Plaintiff has stipulated, subject to court approval, to

suspend the Scheduling Conference Order to allow the United

States to provide notice to Plaintiff’s medical providers

consistent with California law and to allow time for the filing

of a third-party complaint within 120 days. The parties also

request that the court set a scheduling conference to re-set the

Case 1:06-cv-01381-OWW-SKO Document 26 Filed 02/22/08 Page 2 of 4
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STIPULATION TO SUSPEND SCHEDULING CONFERENCE ORDER; [PROPOSED] ORDER

remaining deadlines in the case as well as the pre-trial

conference and the trial date.

The parties believe that good cause exists to suspend the

Scheduling Conference Order because: (a) the United States

believes that joinder of third party medical providers is

necessary for a complete resolution of the issues in this case;

and (b) the United States is required to provide 90 days’ notice

to medical providers pursuant to California law prior to filing a

third party complaint.

 Based on the above, the parties hereby stipulate to suspend

the Scheduling Conference Order and request a scheduling

conference. The parties request the Court to endorse this

stipulation by way of formal order. 

Respectfully submitted,

Dated: February 19, 2008. GWILLIAM, IVARY, CHIOSSO, CAVALLI &

BREWER

(As auth. _2-21-08__)

/s/ Steven J. Brewer

By: Steven J. Brewer

Attorneys for Plaintiff

Dated: February 19, 2008. McGREGOR W. SCOTT

United States Attorney

/s/ Jeffrey J. Lodge

By: Jeffrey J. Lodge

Assistant U.S. Attorney

Attorneys for Defendant

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STIPULATION TO SUSPEND SCHEDULING CONFERENCE ORDER; [PROPOSED] ORDER

ORDER

IT IS SO ORDERED. THE SCHEDULING CONFERENCE ORDER ENTERED

IN THIS CASE ON MAY 9, 2007, IS HEREBY SUSPENDED. A SEPARATE

ORDER SHALL BE ISSUED TO ADDRESS RE-SCHEDULING OF THE CASE. The

parties shall obtain a new scheduling conference date from the 

Courtroom Deputy Clerk within 150 days.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: February 21, 2008 /s/ Oliver W. Wanger 

emm0d6 UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

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