Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-3_17-cv-01875/USCOURTS-cand-3_17-cv-01875-1/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 440
Nature of Suit: Other Civil Rights
Cause of Action: 28:451 Employment Discrimination

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United States District Court

Northern District of California

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

PAUL A. BALLESTRASSE,

Plaintiff,

v.

WILLIAM BARR,

Defendant.

Case No. 17-cv-01875-SK 

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR 

FAILURE TO PROSECUTE

Regarding Docket No. 159

On December 4, 2019, the Court denied a motion filed by Wendy E. Musell and Stewart 

and Musell, LLP to vacate the hearing on their pending motion to withdraw as counsel for Plaintiff 

Paul Ballestrasse. The Court specifically ordered that both Plaintiff and his counsel personally 

appear at the hearing scheduled for December 30, 2019. (Dkt. No. 157.)

On December 30, 2019, Plaintiff failed to appear at the hearing. The Court granted the 

motion to withdraw on the condition that Stewart and Musell continue to accept service of papers 

and forward them to Plaintiff until he files a substitution of counsel. (Dkt No. 159.) The Court 

scheduled a further case management conference on January 13, 2020. The Court ordered Stewart 

and Musell to serve a copy of the order granting the motion to withdraw and setting the further 

case management conference by January 2, 2020. 

Plaintiff failed to appear at the case management conference held on January 13, 2020. 

Therefore, the HEREBY ORDERS Plaintiff TO SHOW CAUSE why this case should not be 

dismissed for failure to prosecute pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41(b). Plaintiff

shall file a written response to this Order to Show Cause (“OSC”) by no later than January 22, 

2020. The Court admonishes Plaintiff that he has an obligation to comply with the Court’s orders 

and deadlines. If he fails to file a timely response, the Court will consider dismissing this case 

based on his failure to prosecute. 

Case 3:17-cv-01875-SK Document 163 Filed 01/13/20 Page 1 of 2
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United States District Court

Northern District of California

The Court FURTHER ORDERS that pretrial conference is CONTINUED to February 24, 

2020 at 2:30 p.m. The Court notes that the deadlines for meeting and conferring on and serving 

motions in limine as set forth in the Case Management and Pretrial Order (Dkt. No. 34) have 

already passed. Although the Court is continuing the pretrial conference, this Order does not reset 

the clock for the deadlines on motions in limine. If Plaintiff responds to this OSC and seeks to 

move to exclude evidence, he must promptly seek leave to extend the deadlines regarding motions 

in limine and demonstrate good cause for his delay.

The deadline for the parties to meet and confer regarding their preparation of the joint 

pretrial conference statement and preparation and exchange of pretrial materials to be filed 

(including jury instructions, verdict forms and voir dire) as set forth in the Case Management and 

Pretrial Order is CONTINUED to January 27, 2020. 

The Court advises Plaintiff that the district court has produced a guide for pro se litigants 

called Representing Yourself in Federal Court: A Handbook for Pro Se Litigants, which provides 

instructions on how to proceed at every stage of your case, including discovery, motions, and trial. 

It is available electronically online (http://cand.uscourts.gov/prosehandbook) or in hard copy free 

of charge from the Clerk’s Office. The Court again advises Plaintiff that he also may wish to seek 

assistance from the Legal Help Center. Plaintiff may call the Legal Help Center at (415) 782-8982 

for a free appointment with an attorney who may be able to provide basic legal help, but not legal 

representation.

Stewart & Musell shall serve a copy of this Order on Plaintiff by no later than January 14, 

2020.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: January 13, 2020

______________________________________

SALLIE KIM

United States Magistrate Judge

Case 3:17-cv-01875-SK Document 163 Filed 01/13/20 Page 2 of 2