Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_19-cv-01624/USCOURTS-caed-1_19-cv-01624-5/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 442
Nature of Suit: Civil Rights Employment
Cause of Action: 28:1332 Diversity-(Citizenship)

---

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

1

Stipulation and [Proposed] Order to Stay Entire Action Pending Mediation Case No. 1:19-cv-01624-DAD-JLT

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

REBECCA MALLORY,

Plaintiffs,

v.

ODYSSEY HEALTHCARE OPERATING A, 

L. P., et al.,

Defendants.

Case No. 1:19-cv-01624-DAD-JLT

STIPULATION AND [PROPOSED] 

ORDER TO STAY ENTIRE ACTION 

PENDING MEDIATION

(Doc. 18)

STIPULATION

WHEREAS, Plaintiff Rebecca Mallory (“Plaintiff”) filed a civil action against Defendant 

Odyssey Healthcare Operating A, L.P. (“Defendant Odyssey”), Defendant Kindred Healthcare 

Operating, LLC, Defendant Humana Inc., Defendant Gentiva Health Services (USA), and 

Defendant Gentiva Certified Healthcare Corp. (collectively, “Defendants”) in California Superior 

Court for Kern County (Case No. BCV-19-102735) on September 25, 2019 (the “Action”).

WHEREAS, on November 8, 2019, Defendants removed the Action to the United States 

District Court for the Eastern District of California (Case No. 19-cv-01624-DAD-JLT). 

WHEREAS, on January 15, 2020, Plaintiff filed a stipulation to dismiss Defendant 

Kindred Healthcare Operating, LLC, Defendant Humana Inc., Defendant Gentiva Health Services 

(USA), and Defendant Gentiva Certified Healthcare Corp. from the Action without prejudice and, 

on January 23, 2020, the Court closed the Action as to these Defendants.

Case 1:19-cv-01624-DAD-JLT Document 19 Filed 03/19/20 Page 1 of 3
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

1

Stipulation and [Proposed] Order to Stay Entire Action Pending Mediation Case No. 1:19-cv-01624-DAD-JLT

WHEREAS, on January 28, 2020, Plaintiff served Requests for Production (Set One) and 

Special Interrogatories (Set One) on Defendant Odyssey (collectively, the “Parties”).

WHEREAS, on February 6, 2020, Plaintiff and Defendant Odyssey Healthcare Operating 

A, L.P. met and conferred and agreed to attend private mediation to resolve the Action;

WHEREAS, on February 23, 2020, Plaintiff and Defendant Odyssey Healthcare 

Operating A, L.P. agreed to stay the Action and all related discovery deadlines pending private 

mediation;

WHEREAS, mediation is scheduled to take place on September 10, 2020 with Mr. Jeff 

Ross, Esq. at his offices in Oakland, CA. 

1. THEREFORE, the Parties stipulate as follows: That the above-captioned case be 

stayed in its entirety while the Parties prepare for and engage in private mediation. This stay shall 

be effective February 23, 2020 and remain in place until fourteen (14) days after mediation 

(including any subsequent negotiations) is completed. 

2. If the mediation is cancelled by either Party, or one of the parties determines that 

settlement discussions have ended, the stay shall be lifted. Notice of such cancellation of 

mediation or of the ending of settlement discussions shall be emailed to all counsel for the 

opposing parties. In this case, the stay shall be effective February 23, 2020 and remain in place 

until fourteen (14) days after such notice is sent. 

3. If the Parties resolve the matter at mediation or subsequent to mediation, then the 

Plaintiff will file a Notice of Settlement and request a preliminary approval date, and request the 

stay be lifted for such purpose.

4. The Parties agree to attend mediation in good-faith and with the goal of resolving 

this case. 

IT IS SO STIPULATED.

Dated: March 12, 2020 JACKSON LEWIS P.C.

By: /s/Hardev Chhokar

Shannon B. Nakabayashi

Case 1:19-cv-01624-DAD-JLT Document 19 Filed 03/19/20 Page 2 of 3
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

1

Stipulation and [Proposed] Order to Stay Entire Action Pending Mediation Case No. 1:19-cv-01624-DAD-JLT

Hardev Chhokar

Attorneys for Defendant

ODYSSEY HEALTHCARE OPERATING 

A, L. P.

Dated: March 12, 2020 THE SPIVAK LAW FIRM

By: /s/Maralle Messrelian 

David Spivak

Maralle Messrelian

Attorneys for Plaintiff REBECCA 

MALLORY

[PROPOSED ORDER]

Based upon the parties’ stipulation, the Court ORDERS:

1. That the above-captioned case be STAYED until completion of the mediation on

September 10, 2020. Because there is no justification for making this stay effective from 

February 23, 20201, that request is DENIED;

2. No later than September 24, 2020, the parties SHALL file a joint report 

detailing the status of the matter and discussing whether the stay should be lifted;

3. The stipulation seems to suggest that a party may “back out” of the agreement to 

mediate. The Court is staying the action now and delaying the progress of this case only because 

the parties have committed to mediate. If a party has anything less than a full commitment to 

participating in mediation in good faith with the goal of resolving this case, that party SHALL

alert the Court within 10 days so the Court may consider lifting the stay. The parties and the 

attorneys should consider this their only opportunity for “safe harbor” under Rule 11.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: March 19, 2020 /s/ Jennifer L. Thurston 

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

1 The mere fact that the parties agreed on that day to stay the action is of little moment, given they lack the authority 

to do so.

Case 1:19-cv-01624-DAD-JLT Document 19 Filed 03/19/20 Page 3 of 3