Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-4_04-cv-02161/USCOURTS-cand-4_04-cv-02161-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 190
Nature of Suit: Other Contract Actions
Cause of Action: 28:1332 Diversity-Other Contract

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

VFD CONSULTING, INC.

Plaintiff,

v.

21st SERVICES, et al.,

Defendants.

___________________________________/

No. C-04-2161 SBA (EMC)

ORDER RE MEET AND CONFER

Defendant 21 Services filed a motion to compel on April 27, 2005. See Docket No. 82. 

Based on the Court’s review of the papers filed, it appears that, although the parties engaged in an inperson meet and confer several months ago, the parties did not meet and confer in person prior to the

dispute that led to the instant motion. This is in violation of the Court’s standing order on discovery. 

Moreover, based on the Court’s review of the papers filed, the Court questions the adequacy of the

parties’ meet and confer efforts because it is hard to believe that much, if not all, of the issues raised

in the motion cannot be resolved by the parties without the need for judicial intervention.

Accordingly, the Court hereby orders the parties to conduct an in-person meet and confer by

May 20, 2005. Either lead trial counsel shall attend the meet and confer or counsel with full and

complete authority on discovery matters. 

The parties are forewarned that the in-person meet-and-confer requirement shall be imposed

on all future discovery disputes. The parties are also forewarned that the Court will not look kindly

upon unnecessary posturing by either party and that any party that takes a position that is not

substantially justified may be subject to sanctions.

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Finally, in lieu of any opposition or reply brief, the parties shall file a joint letter on June 1,

2005, discussing the results of their meet and confer. The joint letter should reflect when the inperson meet and confer took place, how long it lasted, and who participated. The joint letter should

also inform the Court of the issues on which the parties were able to which agreement and the issues,

if any, still in need of resolution. For each remaining dispute, the parties should provide brief

statements in support of their respective positions, including citation to any applicable legal

authority. The parties should use the attached template for their joint letter.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: April 29, 2005

 /s/ 

 EDWARD M. CHEN

United States Magistrate Judge

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 Note for Counsel: The Court may request a courtesy copy of the joint letter to be faxed to

chambers. If so, counsel should still file a copy of the joint letter with the Clerk of the Court. The letter

faxed to chambers is a courtesy copy only. As a general matter, parties may not fax any papers to the

Court without prior leave of the Court.

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 Note for Counsel: Unnecessary exhibits should not be attached.

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 Note for Counsel: Each party’s position should be stated succinctly (e.g., in one paragraph).

The purpose of the joint letter is to inform the Court of the essence of the dispute in lieu of full briefing.

The Court may order full briefing and/or a hearing if necessary.

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[Date]

VIA [METHOD]1

Honorable Edward M. Chen

United States Magistrate Judge

U.S. District Court

450 Golden Gate Avenue

San Francisco, CA 94102

Re: [Case number and case name]

Dear Judge Chen:

The parties have met and conferred regarding several discovery disputes. The meet and

confer took place on [date], with the participation of [Plaintiff’s attorney], representing Plaintiff, and

[Defendant’s attorney], representing Defendant. The meet and confer was in person and lasted

approximately [minutes or hours].

I. RESOLVED DISCOVERY DISPUTES

The parties reached agreement on several discovery disputes. Those agreements are as

follows:

[Description of Agreement No. 1.]

[Description of Agreement No. 2.]

[Description of Agreement No. 3, etc.]

II. REMAINING DISCOVERY DISPUTES

The parties were not able to reach agreement on the remaining discovery disputes. Those

remaining disputes and the parties’ respective positions are provided below. Copies of the relevant

discovery requests and responses are attached as Exhibits [numbers].2

A. [Dispute No. 1]

1. [Position of Party Seeking Discovery]3

2. [Position of Party Opposing Discovery]

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B. [Dispute No. 2]

1. [Position of Party Seeking Discovery]

2. [Position of Party Opposing Discovery]

C. [Dispute No. 3]

1. [Position of Party Seeking Discovery]

2. [Position of Party Opposing Discovery]

D. [Dispute No. 4, etc.]

1. [Position of Party Seeking Discovery]

2. [Position of Party Opposing Discovery]

Sincerely,

[Plaintiff’s counsel] [Defendant’s counsel]

Attorney for Plaintiff Attorney for Defendant

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