Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-5_06-cv-05818/USCOURTS-cand-5_06-cv-05818-2/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 890
Nature of Suit: Other Statutory Actions
Cause of Action: 15:2801 Petroleum Marketing Practices Act

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 This disposition is not designated for publication and may not be cited. 1

Case No. C06-05818 JF 

ORDER GRANTING IN PART AND DENYING IN PART DEFENDANT’S MOTION TO EXTEND TIME TO FILE

ANSWER TO PLAINTIFF’S MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT OR PARTIAL SUMMARY JUDGMENT

AND DEFAULT JUDGMENT AND GRANTING MOTION FOR DEFAULT JUDGMENT

(JFEX1)

NOT FOR CITATION

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

SAN JOSE DIVISION

EQUILON ENTERPRISES LLC, a Delaware

Corporation, d/b/a SHELL OIL PRODUCTS US,

 Plaintiff,

 v.

MEHDI SHAHBAZI, et al.,

 Defendants.

Case Number C 06-05818 JF

ORDER (1) DENYING 1

DEFENDANT’S MOTION TO

EXTEND TIME TO FILE ANSWER

TO PLAINTIFF’S MOTION FOR

SUMMARY JUDGMENT OR

PARTIAL SUMMARY JUDGMENT

AND DEFAULT JUDGMENT; AND

(2) GRANTING MOTION FOR

DEFAULT JUDGMENT

[re. docket no. 60, 68] 

On February 2, 2007, Defendant Mehdi Shahbazi (“Shahbazi”) filed a motion for

extension of time to reply to Plaintiff Equilon Enterprises, LLC’s (“Equilon”) motion for

summary judgment or partial summary judgment and for the entry of default judgment against

Defendant Salinas Shell (“Salinas Shell”). On February 6, 2007, Equilon filed opposition to the

motion.

Case 5:06-cv-05818-JF Document 69 Filed 02/07/07 Page 1 of 4
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 Shahbazi filed opposition in the late afternoon of February 6, 2007. In the interests of 2

justice, the Court will review all documents. The Court is aware that Equilon has not had an

opportunity to reply.

 Shahbazi filed an additional document entitled “Seek to File Late Answer to Plaintiff 3

Equilon Motion for Summary Judgment and Partial Summary Judgment and Motion for Default”

during the late afternoon of February 6, 2007. For the purposes of this motion, the Court will

treat the February 6, 2007 motion and the February 2, 2007 motion to extend time as one and the

same.

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Case No. C 06-05818 JF

ORDER GRANTING IN PART AND DENYING IN PART DEFENDANT’S MOTION TO EXTEND TIME TO FILE

ANSWER TO PLAINTIFF’S MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT OR PARTIAL SUMMARY JUDGMENT

AND DEFAULT JUDGMENT AND GRANTING MOTION FOR DEFAULT JUDGMENT

(JFEX1)

 1. Motion for Summary Judgment

Shahbazi seeks an extension on the basis that financial difficulties prevent him from

obtaining the discovery he seeks. The Court informed Shahbazi during the January 26, 2007 case

management conference in the action regarding the Marina station, C 05-05102 JF, that he must

file a Rule 56(f) motion in order to continue a summary judgment hearing if additional time for

discovery is needed. This Court specifically instructed Shahbazi that a Rule 56(f) motion

requires an affidavit outlining the specific facts that Shahbazi hopes to obtain through discovery. 

A defendant must show (1) that they have set forth in affidavit form the specific facts that they

hope to elicit from further discovery, (2) that the facts sought exist, and (3) that these sought-after

facts are “essential” to resist the summary judgment motion. California ex rel. Cal. Dep’t of

Toxic Substances Control v. Campbell, 138 F.3d 772, 779 (9th Cir. 1998). Shahbazi, in his

instant motion, failed to adhere to Rule 56(f) on all three grounds. Accordingly, the Court will

deny this aspect of the motion.

The Court will hear oral argument on the motion for summary judgment or partial

summary judgment as currently scheduled on February 9, 2007. The deadline for filing an

opposition to the motion has passed. The Court will determine after oral argument whether it

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should allow any additional briefing prior to resolution of this matter. 

Case 5:06-cv-05818-JF Document 69 Filed 02/07/07 Page 2 of 4
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 The emergency motion, filed on December 18, 2006, was entitled “Emergency Motion 4

to Live [sic] to File for Reconsideration of December 5, 2006 Order and Request to Set Aside the

Default.” Within its December 19, 2006 order, the Court referred to the emergency motion as

seeking to set aside a default judgment when it should have referred to the clerk’s entry of

default. Default judgment has not been issued previously in this case.

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Case No. C 06-05818 JF

ORDER GRANTING IN PART AND DENYING IN PART DEFENDANT’S MOTION TO EXTEND TIME TO FILE

ANSWER TO PLAINTIFF’S MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT OR PARTIAL SUMMARY JUDGMENT

AND DEFAULT JUDGMENT AND GRANTING MOTION FOR DEFAULT JUDGMENT

(JFEX1)

2. Motion for Default Judgment

Equilon’s motion for default judgment against Defendant Salinas Shell, filed on 4

December 22, 2206, will be taken under submission without oral argument. See Civil L. R.

7-1(b). Shahbazi may not file an opposition to Equilon’s motion for default judgment as to

Salinas Shell because a partnership “may appear only through a member of the bar of this Court.” 

Civil L.R. 3-9(b). 

Since Shahbazi cannot represent the partnership, Shahbazi cannot oppose the motion for

entry of default judgment against Salinas Shell and the Court will not grant him an extension to

do so. Salinas Shell has not filed an opposition to the motion. The Court has reviewed the

papers filed by Equilon and will grant the motion. 

Good cause appearing, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that:

(1) The motion to extend time to file answer to Plaintiff’s motion for summary 

 judgment or partial summary judgment is DENIED.

(2) The motion for entry of default judgment is GRANTED.

(3) The Court will hear oral argument on Plaintiff’s motion for summary 

 judgment or partial summary judgment on February 9, 2007.

DATED: February 7, 2007

 

JEREMY FOGEL

United States District Judge

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Case No. C 06-05818 JF

ORDER GRANTING IN PART AND DENYING IN PART DEFENDANT’S MOTION TO EXTEND TIME TO FILE

ANSWER TO PLAINTIFF’S MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT OR PARTIAL SUMMARY JUDGMENT

AND DEFAULT JUDGMENT AND GRANTING MOTION FOR DEFAULT JUDGMENT

(JFEX1)

This Order has been served upon the following persons:

Gary Ernest Gray mail@graybattey.com 

Rosanne L. Mah rosanne.mah@bingham.com 

James Severson james.severson@bingham.com 

Colin C. West colin.west@bingham.com 

Mehdi Shahbazi

3030 Del Monte Blvd.

Marina, CA 93933

Case 5:06-cv-05818-JF Document 69 Filed 02/07/07 Page 4 of 4