Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_24-cv-00948/USCOURTS-caed-1_24-cv-00948-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 385
Nature of Suit: Property Damage - Product Liability
Cause of Action: 28:1332 Diversity-Breach of Contract

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

JORGE TORRES,

Plaintiff,

v.

FCA US LLC,

Defendant.

Case No. 1:24-cv-00948-KES-CDB

ORDER DIRECTING PLAINTIFF TO FILE 

A DECLARATION AND 

ACCOMPANYING MOTION TO SEAL 

PURSUANT TO LOCAL RULE 141

(Doc. 10)

7-day Deadline

Plaintiff Jorge Torres (“Plaintiff”) initiated this action with the filing of a complaint against 

Defendant FCA US LLC (“Defendant”) on June 20, 2024, in the Superior Court of California, 

County of Kern, entitled Jorge Torres v. FCA US LLC, Case No. BCV-24-102086. (Doc. 1). 

Defendant removed the state action to this Court on August 18, 2024. (Id.). Plaintiff asserts breach 

of express warranty under California’s Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act. (Id. ¶ 2).

On November 20, 2024, the parties filed a joint notice of settlement. (Doc. 7). On 

November 21, 2024, in light of the joint notice, the Court found good cause to extend the deadline 

under Local Rule 160(b) to file dispositional documents, set the deadline within 45 days of the 

entry of the order (i.e., no later than January 6, 2025) and vacated all case management dates. 

(Doc. 8). On January 8, 2025, the Court noted the deadline has passed and the parties failed to file 

either dispositional documents, a timely request for extension, or otherwise explain the 

delinquency to the Court. (Doc. 9). Thus, the Court ordered the parties to show cause (“OSC”) in 

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writing within three days of entry of the order why sanctions should not be imposed for their failure 

to timely file dispositional documents. (Id.). 

Pending before the Court is counsel for Plaintiff’s timely response to the OSC and 

declaration therewith, filed on January 10, 2025. (Doc. 10). Therein, counsel for Plaintiff declares 

that sanctions should not be imposed for failure to timely file dispositional documents “[f]or 

reasons [her] law firm cannot share due to attorney-client privilege, [as] issues with moving the 

settlement forward arose after the filing of the Notice of Settlement on November 20, 2024.” (Id.

¶ 4). Counsel declares that her firm has worked diligently to resolve these issues, and they were 

believed to be resolved such that the parties would be able to file dismissal documents by the 

January 6, 2025, deadline, but that has since changed. (Id. ¶ 5). Thus, counsel for Plaintiff requests 

that the OSC regarding sanctions be discharged and/or continued based on the situation described, 

and that the Court extend the deadline to file dismissal documents to February 20, 2025. (Id. ¶ 6).

In light of the response to the OSC, and counsel for Plaintiff’s representation that the failure 

to timely file dispositional documents is due to reasons she is unable to share with the Court due 

to attorney-client privilege, the Court will direct counsel for Plaintiff to file a declaration setting 

forth the purported good cause to further delay the filing of dispositional documents, accompanied 

by a motion to seal pursuant to Local Rule 141, for the Court’s ex parte in-camera review. See

E.D. L.R. 141(a)-(b).

Conclusion and Order

In light of the response to the OSC and declaration of counsel for Plaintiff, IT IS HEREBY 

ORDERED that:

1. Counsel for Plaintiff is DIRECTED to file within seven (7) days a declaration 

accompanied by a motion to seal pursuant to Local Rule 141 for the Court’s ex parte

in-camera review in which counsel explains the issues in moving forward with the 

settlement and preventing the parties from timely filing dispositional documents; and

2. The Order to Show Cause regarding sanctions (Doc. 9) is held in abeyance, subject to 

discharge upon counsel for Plaintiff’s compliance with the above; and

3. The deadline to file dispositional documents is extended to January 21, 2025. No 

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further extensions of the deadline will be granted absent extraordinary circumstances.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: January 13, 2025 ___________________ _

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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