Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-casd-3_17-cv-00062/USCOURTS-casd-3_17-cv-00062-1/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 360
Nature of Suit: Other Personal Injury
Cause of Action: 28:1331pi Fed. Question: Personal Injury

---

1

17cv62 CAB(RBB)

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

NAWAL DEWIDAR,

Plaintiff,

v.

NATIONAL RAILROAD PASSENGER 

CORPORATION (AMTRAK), et al.,

Defendants.

Case No.: 17cv62 CAB(RBB)

ORDER GRANTING JOINT 

MOTION TO AMEND 

SCHEDULING ORDER

[ECF No. 22]

The Court has reviewed the parties’ “Joint Motion to Amend Scheduling Order” 

[ECF No. 22]. Good cause shown, the Court GRANTS the joint motion and amends the 

Scheduling Order as follows:

1. Plaintiff(s) (or the party(ies) having the burden of proof on any claim) shall 

serve on all parties a list of experts whom that party expects to call at trial on or before 

February 12, 2018. Defendant(s) (or the party(ies) defending any claim, counterclaim, 

crossclaim, or third party claim) shall serve on all parties a list of experts whom that party 

expects to call at trial on or before February 12, 2018. On or before February 26, 2018, 

any party may supplement its designation in response to any other party’s designation, so 

long as that party has not previously retained an expert to testify on that subject. Expert 

designations shall include the name, address, and telephone number of each expert, and a 

Case 3:17-cv-00062-CAB-RBB Document 24 Filed 09/05/17 PageID.<pageID> Page 1 of 7
2

17cv62 CAB(RBB)

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

reasonable summary of the testimony the expert is expected to provide. The list shall also 

include the normal rates the expert charges for deposition and trial testimony. 

The parties must identify any person who may be used at trial to present evidence 

pursuant to Rules 702, 703 or 705 of the Federal Rules of Evidence. This requirement is 

not limited to retained experts.

Please be advised that failure to comply with this section or any other discovery 

order of the Court may result in the sanctions provided for in Fed. R. Civ. P. 37, 

including a prohibition on the introduction of experts or other designated matters in 

evidence.

2. All expert disclosures required by Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(a)(2) shall be served on 

all parties on or before March 26, 2018. Any contradictory or rebuttal information shall 

be disclosed on or before April 9, 2018. In addition, Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(e)(1) imposes a 

duty on the parties to supplement the expert disclosures made pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 

26(a)(2)(B) by the time that pretrial disclosures are due under Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(a)(3) 

(discussed below). This disclosure requirement applies to all persons retained or specially 

employed to provide expert testimony, or whose duties as an employee of the party 

regularly involve the giving of expert testimony. 

Please be advised that failure to comply with this section or any other discovery 

order of the Court may result in the sanctions provided for in Fed. R. Civ. P. 37, 

including a prohibition on the introduction of experts or other designated matters in 

evidence.

3. All fact discovery shall be completed by all parties by January 15, 2018. 

“Completed” means that all discovery under Rules 30-36 of the Federal Rules of Civil 

Procedure, and discovery subpoenas under Rule 45, must be initiated a sufficient period of 

time in advance of the cut-off date, so that it may be completed by the cut-off date, taking 

into account the times for service, notice and response as set forth in the Federal Rules of 

Civil Procedure. Counsel shall promptly and in good faith meet and confer with 

regard to all discovery disputes in compliance with Local Rule 26.1(a). The Court 

Case 3:17-cv-00062-CAB-RBB Document 24 Filed 09/05/17 PageID.<pageID> Page 2 of 7
3

17cv62 CAB(RBB)

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

expects counsel to make every effort to resolve all disputes without court intervention 

through the meet and confer process. If the parties reach an impasse on any discovery 

issue, counsel shall file an appropriate motion within the time limit and procedures outlined 

in the undersigned magistrate judge’s chambers rules. A failure to comply in this regard 

will result in a waiver of a party’s discovery issue. Absent an order of the court, no 

stipulation continuing or altering this requirement will be recognized by the court.

4. All motions for discovery shall be filed no later than thirty (30) days following 

the date upon which the event giving rise to the discovery dispute occurred. The 30-day 

deadline will not be extended without a prior Court order; counsel cannot unilaterally 

extend the deadline. For example, ongoing meet-and-confer efforts, rolling document 

productions, or supplemental discovery responses do not extend the deadline. A failure to 

comply will bar the party from filing a corresponding discovery motion. For oral 

discovery, the event giving rise to the discovery dispute is the completion of the transcript 

of the affected portion of the deposition. For written discovery, the event giving rise to the 

discovery dispute is the service of the response. All interrogatories, requests for admission, 

and document production requests must be served by November 13, 2017.

5. All expert discovery shall be completed by all parties by May 7, 2018. The 

parties shall comply with the same procedures set forth in the paragraph governing fact 

discovery.

6. All pre-trial motions, other than Daubert motions, motions to amend or join 

parties, or motions in limine, shall be filed on or before June 4, 2018. All Daubert motions 

shall be filed on or before June 4, 2018. Counsel for the moving party shall set the motion 

date on the date that is 35 days from the date the motion is filed. Parties intending to file 

a motion shall not contact Judge Bencivengo’s chambers for a hearing date. The parties 

should review Judge Bencivengo’s chambers rules for civil cases for the additional 

requirements for noticed motions before Judge Bencivengo.

Pursuant to Local Rule 7.1.f.3.c, if an opposing party fails to file opposition 

papers in the time and manner required by Local Rule 7.1.e.2, that failure may 

Case 3:17-cv-00062-CAB-RBB Document 24 Filed 09/05/17 PageID.<pageID> Page 3 of 7
4

17cv62 CAB(RBB)

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

constitute a consent to the granting of a motion or other request for ruling by the 

Court. Accordingly, all parties are ordered to abide by the terms of Local Rule 7.1.e.2 or 

otherwise face the prospect of any pretrial motion being granted as an unopposed motion 

pursuant to Local Rule 7.1.f.3.c.

7. An in-person settlement conference set for October 10, 2017, at 2:00 p.m. is 

vacated and reset for January 9, 2018, at 2:00 p.m. in the chambers of Magistrate Judge

Ruben B. Brooks. Counsel shall lodge confidential settlement briefs directly to chambers 

by January 2, 2018. All parties are ordered to read and to fully comply with the Chamber 

Rules of the assigned magistrate judge.

All parties, claims adjusters for insured Defendants and non-lawyer representatives 

with complete authority to enter into a binding settlement, as well as the principal 

attorneys responsible for the litigation, must be present and legally and factually prepared 

to discuss and resolve the case at the mandatory settlement conference and at all inperson settlement conferences. Retained outside corporate counsel shall not appear on 

behalf of a corporation as the party representative who has the authority to negotiate and 

enter into a settlement. Failure to attend or obtain proper excuse will be considered 

grounds for sanctions.

If Plaintiff is incarcerated in a penal institution or other facility, the Plaintiff's 

presence is not required at conferences before Judge Brooks, and the Plaintiff may 

participate by telephone. In that case, defense counsel is to coordinate the Plaintiff's 

appearance by telephone.

Confidential written settlement statements for the mandatory settlement conference 

shall be lodged with Judge Brooks no later than five court days before the mandatory 

settlement conference. The statements need not be filed with the Clerk of the Court or 

served on opposing counsel. The statements will not become part of the court file and 

will be returned at the end of the conference upon request. Written statements may be 

lodged with Judge Brooks either by mail, by email, or by delivery to the Clerk's Office.

//

Case 3:17-cv-00062-CAB-RBB Document 24 Filed 09/05/17 PageID.<pageID> Page 4 of 7
5

17cv62 CAB(RBB)

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

Any statement submitted should avoid arguing the case. Instead, the statement 

should include a neutral factual statement of the case, identify controlling legal issues, 

and concisely set out issues of liability and damages, including any settlement demands 

and offers to date and address special and general damages where applicable.

If appropriate, the Court will consider the use of other alternative dispute 

resolution techniques.

8. The parties must comply with the pretrial disclosure requirements of Fed. R. 

Civ. P. 26(a)(3) no later than July 9, 2018. Please be advised that failure to comply with 

this section or any other discovery order of the Court may result in the sanctions 

provided for in Fed. R. Civ. P. 37, including a prohibition on the introduction of 

experts or other designated matters in evidence.

9. In jury trial cases before the Honorable Cathy Ann Bencivengo, neither party 

is required to file Memoranda of Contentions of Fact and Law pursuant to Civil Local Rule 

16.1.f.2. 

10. Counsel shall confer and take the action required by Local Rule 16.1.f.4.a on 

or before July 16, 2018. The parties shall meet and confer and prepare a proposed pretrial 

order containing the following:

1. A joint neutral statement to be read to the jury, not in excess of one 

page, of the nature of the case and the claims and defenses.

2. A list of the causes of action to be tried, referenced to the Complaint 

[and Counterclaim if applicable]. For each cause of action, the order shall 

succinctly list the elements of the claim, damages and any defenses. A cause 

of action in the Complaint [and/or Counterclaim] which is not listed shall be 

dismissed with prejudice.

3(a). A list of each witness counsel actually expect to call at trial with a brief 

statement, not exceeding four sentences, of the substance of the witnesses’

testimony.

3(b). A list of each expert witness counsel actually expect to call at trial with 

a brief statement, not exceeding four sentences, of the substance of the 

witnesses’ testimony.

3(c). A list of additional witnesses, including experts, counsel do not expect 

to call at this time but reserve the right to call at trial along with a brief 

statement, not exceeding four sentences, of the substance of the witnesses’

Case 3:17-cv-00062-CAB-RBB Document 24 Filed 09/05/17 PageID.<pageID> Page 5 of 7
6

17cv62 CAB(RBB)

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

testimony.

4(a). A list of all exhibits that counsel actually expect to offer at trial with a 

one-sentence description of the exhibit. All exhibits are to be identified 

numerically, plaintiff starting with “1” and defendant beginning with an 

agreed upon numerical designation.

4(b). A list of all other exhibits that counsel do not expect to offer at this time 

but reserve the right to offer if necessary at trial with a one-sentence 

description of the exhibit.

5. A statement of all facts to which the parties stipulate. This statement 

shall be on a separate page and will be read to and provided to the jury. 

6. A list of all deposition transcripts by page and line, or videotape 

depositions by section, that will be offered at trial.

7. Counsel will note any objections they have to any other parties’ Fed. R. 

Civ. P. 26(a)(3) Pretrial Disclosures.

The Court encourages the parties to consult with the assigned magistrate judge to work out 

any problems in preparation of the proposed pretrial order. The court will entertain any 

questions concerning the conduct of the trial at the pretrial conference.

11. Counsel for the Plaintiff(s) must provide opposing counsel with the proposed 

pretrial order for review and approval and take any other action required by Local Rule 

16.1.f.6.a on or before July 23, 2018. Opposing counsel must communicate promptly with 

plaintiff’s attorney concerning any objections to form or content of the pretrial order, and 

both parties shall attempt promptly to resolve their differences, if any, concerning the order.

12. The proposed pretrial order shall be lodged with the district judge’s chambers 

on or before July 30, 2018, and shall be in the form prescribed in Local Rule 16.1.f.6.

13. The final Pretrial Conference is scheduled on the calendar of the Honorable 

Cathy Ann Bencivengo for August 6, 2018, at 2:00 p.m.

14. The trial in this matter shall commence on Monday, September 10, 2018, at 

8:45 a.m.

//

//

//

//

Case 3:17-cv-00062-CAB-RBB Document 24 Filed 09/05/17 PageID.<pageID> Page 6 of 7
7

17cv62 CAB(RBB)

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

15. Plaintiff’s counsel shall serve a copy of this order on all parties that enter this 

case hereafter.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: September 5, 2017

Case 3:17-cv-00062-CAB-RBB Document 24 Filed 09/05/17 PageID.<pageID> Page 7 of 7