Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-4_15-cv-01648/USCOURTS-cand-4_15-cv-01648-39/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 893
Nature of Suit: Environmental Matters
Cause of Action: 42:9659 CERCLA Comprehensive Environmental Response

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United States District Court

Northern District of California

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

ROBERT E. RENZEL TRUST, et al.,

Plaintiffs,

v.

ALFREDO TORRES, et al.,

Defendants.

Case No. 15-cv-01648-HSG 

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE

On November 14, 2018, counsel for Plaintiffs and Counter-Defendants Estate of Robert 

Renzel, Deceased, by and through his successors in interest, Susan Carter and Ann Renzel 

Sebastian; Robert E. Renzel Trust, by and through its trustees, Susan Carter and Ann Renzel 

Sebastian; Susan Carter; Ann Renzel Sebastian; and Bascom Avenue Development LLC, a 

California limited liability company (collectively, “Renzel”), and Defendants, Counter-Claimants, 

and Cross-Claimants Carmen Torres and Alfredo Torres (“Torres”) (collectively, the “Settling 

Parties”), filed a joint notice, apprising the Court that the Settling Parties “reached an agreement 

that will result in the dismissal of all claims between the Settling Parties.” See Dkt. No. 281, at 1–

2. The settlement does not include pro se parties, namely Hyang Bae Whang, Seon Geun Whang, 

and Kyu Chuk Whang (collectively, “Whang”), Uktae Han and Mija Han (collectively, “Han”), 

Thu Huynh and Ngoc T.B. Tran (collectively, “Huynh”), and Gary Tran. Id.

According to the joint notice, the agreement “will result in the dismissal of all claims with 

the exception of those filed by [pro se parties] Whang and Huynh, who also have pending 

counterclaims and cross-claims.” Id. The joint notice adds, however, that the pro se parties “have 

not participated in any pretrial exchanges or communications.” Id. Most importantly, pro se

parties Whang and Huynh have not complied with the mandatory pretrial exchanges as required by 

Case 4:15-cv-01648-HSG Document 283 Filed 11/19/18 Page 1 of 2
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United States District Court

Northern District of California

the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and this Court’s standing orders.

As the Supreme Court has explained, “[t]he authority of a court to dismiss sua sponte for 

lack of prosecution has generally been considered an ‘inherent power,’ governed not by rule or 

statute but by the control necessarily vested in courts to manage their own affairs[.]” See Link v. 

Wabash R. Co., 370 U.S. 626, 630-31 (1962). The Court assumes that under the circumstances the 

pro se parties do not wish to proceed given the settlement, but needs to confirm as much.

Accordingly, Defendants Hyang Bae Whang, Seon Geun Whang, Kyu Chuk Whang, Thu 

Huynh, and Ngoc T.B. Tran are ordered TO SHOW CAUSE as to why their counterclaims and 

cross-claims, see Dkt. No. 71, 80, should not be dismissed for failure to prosecute. In the 

alternative, these parties can confirm that they wish to dismiss the counterclaims and cross-claims. 

The Court SETS a hearing on the Order to Show Cause for November 29, 2018 at 2:00 p.m. 

These Defendants, appearing either through new counsel or pro se, must appear at the hearing. In 

the alternative, before November 29, 2018, each party may file a request for voluntary dismissal of 

the counterclaims and cross-claims, in which case the hearing will be vacated.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated:

______________________________________

HAYWOOD S. GILLIAM, JR.

United States District Judge

11/19/2018

Case 4:15-cv-01648-HSG Document 283 Filed 11/19/18 Page 2 of 2