Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_19-cv-01658/USCOURTS-caed-1_19-cv-01658-7/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 442
Nature of Suit: Civil Rights Employment
Cause of Action: 42:1983 Civil Rights (Employment Discrimination)

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115.101 05968184.000 1

Whitney, Thompson & Jeffcoach LLP

Joseph D Rubin, #149920

 jrubin@wtjlaw.com

Mandy L. Jeffcoach, #232313

 mjeffcoach@wtjlaw.com

970 W. Alluvial Ave.

Fresno, California 93711

Telephone: (559) 753-2550

Facsimile: (559) 753-2560

Attorneys for Defendant City of Fresno

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA, FRESNO DIVISION

LA-KEBBIA WILSON and CHARLES 

SMITH,

Plaintiffs,

v.

CITY OF FRESNO, HOWARD LACY and 

DOES 1 to 100, inclusive,

Defendant.

Case No. 1:19-CV-01658-ADA-BAM

STIPULATION TO AMEND 

SCHEDULING CONFERENCE ORDER; 

AND ORDER THEREON

Dispositive Motion Deadline: March 4, 2024

Pretrial Conference: August 5, 2024

 1:30 PM

 Courtroom 1 (ADA)

IT IS HEREBY STIPULATED AND AGREED, by and between the parties, through their 

respective counsel of record, as follows:

1. This litigation involves a myriad of claims under FEHA, Title VII, 42 U.S.C. 

Section 1983 and common law by two employees against the City of Fresno and one of its 

employees based upon multiple alleged adverse employment actions.

2. The Scheduling Conference Order in this matter was filed on November 5, 2020

(Document No. 38). The last Amendment to the Scheduling Order was filed on June 14, 2023

(Document No. 62). No trial date has been set. 

3. The parties have completed discovery. 

Case 1:19-cv-01658-NODJ-BAM Document 64 Filed 11/07/23 Page 1 of 4
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115.101 05968184.000 2

4. In conjunction with the previous modification of the Scheduling Order, the parties 

agreed to take part in mediation in an effort to reach a global settlement involving the present 

litigation; Plaintiff Wilson’s appeal of an Order of Termination before the City of Fresno’s Civil 

Service Board (“CSB”); and threatened further litigation. As a result, the parties vacated the 

hearing before the CSB that was scheduled for March 29 and 30, 2023. 

5. The parties participated in a full day mediation before Retired Judge Alan Simpson 

on May 15, 2023. The matter was considered by Fresno City Council on May 25, 2023.

6. The parties were unable to achieve a global resolution. As indicated in the previous 

stipulation (Document No. 62), the parties further believe that the CSB’s determination on the 

pending appeal will likely impact the pending federal lawsuit in terms of damages, issues to be 

adjudicated in pretrial motions, and the possibility of the parties’ changing settlement positions. 

As such, the parties desire an opportunity for the CSB matter to go forward.

7. Plaintiff’s counsel in the administrative appeal had an emergency such that the 

scheduling conference before the CSB could not go forward on August 21, 2023. The next 

meeting of the CSB was on October 11, 2023. The CSB set the hearing on Plaintiff’s appeal of 

the order of termination for January 16-17, 2024.

8. Joseph Rubin, counsel for the City of Fresno, had back surgery on September 7, 

2023. He is still on a modified schedule and has not been released to return to a full schedule. 

9. In addition, prior trial counsel for the City, James Betts, retired on August 31, 2023. 

New counsel, Mandy Jeffcoach, is in the process of getting up to speed. Further, counsel for the 

City has a trial specially set in Flores v. City of Fresno, Fresno County Superior Court Case No. 

19CECG00219 (estimated two weeks) commencing December 4, 2023. 

10. All parties believe that a 90-day extension on the remaining deadlines in the

Scheduling Conference Order would greatly assist the parties in allowing the CSB matter to 

Case 1:19-cv-01658-NODJ-BAM Document 64 Filed 11/07/23 Page 2 of 4
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115.101 05968184.000 3

proceed, having further settlement discussions and preparing for trial. It will also allow the parties 

additional time to meet and confer on dispositive motions and attempt to agree on a joint statement 

of undisputed facts. Thus, the parties propose the following dates:

Current Date New Date

Pretrial Motion Filing Deadline: 12/04/2023 03/04/2024

Pretrial Conference: 05/02/2024 08/01/2024

11. Thus, it is respectfully requested that the remaining deadlines in the Scheduling

Conference Order be modified by 90-days.

Dated: November 7, 2023 BETTS & RUBIN

By /s/ Joseph D. Rubin 

Joseph D. Rubin

Attorneys for Defendant CITY OF FRESNO

Dated: November 7, 2023 GOYETTE & ASSOCIATES, INC.

By /s/ Gary Goyette 

Gary Goyette

Attorneys for Plaintiffs La-KEBBIA WILSON and 

CHARLES SMITH

Dated: November 7, 2023 BRUCE J. BERGER LAW FIRM, INC.

By /s/ Bruce Berger 

Bruce Berger

Attorneys for Defendant HOWARD LACY

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115.101 05968184.000 4

ORDER

Pursuant to the parties’ Stipulation and good cause appearing therefore,

IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that:

The Scheduling Order will be modified in the following manner:

Pretrial Dispositive Motion Filing Deadline: March 4, 2024

Pretrial Conference: August 5, 2024, at 1:30 p.m. in Courtroom 1 (ADA)

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: November 7, 2023 /s/ Barbara A. McAuliffe _

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 1:19-cv-01658-NODJ-BAM Document 64 Filed 11/07/23 Page 4 of 4