Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_19-cv-01774/USCOURTS-caed-1_19-cv-01774-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 190
Nature of Suit: Other Contract Actions
Cause of Action: 28:1441 Petition for Removal- Breach of Contract

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

CYNTHIA COTTA, et al.,

 Plaintiffs,

v.

FCA US LLC,

Defendant.

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Case No.: 1:19-CV-01774-AWI-JLT

SCHEDULING ORDER (Fed. R. Civ. P. 16)

Pleading Amendment Deadline: 6/15/2020

Discovery Deadlines: 

Initial Disclosures: Completed

Non-Expert: 9/17/2020

Expert: 11/30/2020

Mid-Discovery Status Conference: 

 6/9/2020 at 8:30 a.m.

Non-Dispositive Motion Deadlines:

Filing: 12/11/2020

Hearing: 1/8/21

Dispositive Motion Deadlines: 

Filing: 1/15/21

Hearing: 2/22/21

Settlement Conference:

9/9/2020 at 1:30 p.m.

 510 19th Street, Bakersfield, CA

Pre-Trial Conference:

4/8/21 at 10:00 a.m.

Courtroom 2

Trial: 6/1/21 at 8:30 a.m.

 Courtroom 2

 Jury trial: 3-5 days

Case 1:19-cv-01774-AWI-JLT Document 9 Filed 03/19/20 Page 1 of 7
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I. Date of Scheduling Conference

March 17, 2020.

II. Appearances of Counsel

Kevin Jacobson appeared on behalf of Plaintiffs.

Richard Stuhlbarg appeared on behalf of Defendant.

III. Pleading Amendment Deadline

Any requested pleading amendments are ordered to be filed, either through a stipulation or 

motion to amend, no later than June 15, 2020.

IV. Discovery Plan and Cut-Off Date

The parties are ordered to complete all discovery pertaining to non-experts on or before 

September 17, 2020, and all discovery pertaining to experts on or before November 30, 2020.

The parties are directed to disclose all expert witnesses, in writing, on or before October 16, 

2020, and to disclose all rebuttal experts on or before October 29, 2020. The written designation of 

retained and non-retained experts shall be made pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. Rule 26(a)(2), (A), (B), 

and (C) and shall include all information required thereunder. Failure to designate experts in 

compliance with this order may result in the Court excluding the testimony or other evidence offered 

through such experts that are not disclosed pursuant to this order.

The provisions of Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(b)(4) and (5) shall apply to all discovery relating to experts 

and their opinions. Experts must be fully prepared to be examined on all subjects and opinions 

included in the designation. Failure to comply will result in the imposition of sanctions, which may 

include striking the expert designation and preclusion of expert testimony.

The provisions of Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(e) regarding a party's duty to timely supplement

disclosures and responses to discovery requests will be strictly enforced.

A mid-discovery status conference is scheduled for June 9, 2020 at 8:30 a.m. before the 

Honorable Jennifer L. Thurston, U.S. Magistrate Judge, located at 510 19th Street, Bakersfield, 

California. Counsel SHALL file a joint mid-discovery status conference report one week before the 

conference. Counsel also SHALL lodge the status report via e-mail to JLTorders@caed.uscourts.gov. 

The joint statement SHALL outline the discovery counsel have completed and that which needs to be 

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completed as well as any impediments to completing the discovery within the deadlines set forth in this 

order. Counsel SHALL discuss settlement and certify that they have done so. Counsel may appear 

via teleconference by dialing (888) 557-8511 and entering Access Code 1652736, provided the 

Magistrate Judge's Courtroom Deputy Clerk receives a written notice of the intent to appear 

telephonically no later than five court days before the noticed hearing date.

V. Pre-Trial Motion Schedule

All non-dispositive pre-trial motions, including any discovery motions, shall be filed no later 

than December 11, 20201, and heard on or before January 8, 2021. Non-dispositive motions are heard 

at 9:00 a.m., before the Honorable Jennifer L. Thurston, United States Magistrate Judge, at the United 

States District Courthouse located at 510 19th Street, Bakersfield, California. 

No written discovery motions shall be filed without the prior approval of the assigned 

Magistrate Judge. A party with a discovery dispute must first confer with the opposing party in a good 

faith effort to resolve by agreement the issues in dispute. If that good faith effort is unsuccessful, the 

moving party promptly shall seek a telephonic hearing with all involved parties and the Magistrate 

Judge. It shall be the obligation of the moving party to arrange and originate the conference call to the 

court. To schedule this telephonic hearing, the parties are ordered to contact Courtroom Deputy Clerk, 

Susan Hall at (661) 326-6620 or via email at SHall@caed.uscourts.gov. Counsel must comply with 

Local Rule 251 with respect to discovery disputes or the motion will be denied without prejudice 

and dropped from calendar.

In scheduling such motions, the Magistrate Judge may grant applications for an order shortening 

time pursuant to Local Rule 144(e). However, if counsel does not obtain an order shortening time, the 

notice of motion must comply with Local Rule 251. 

Counsel may appear and argue non-dispositive motions via teleconference by dialing (888) 557-

8511 and entering Access Code 1652736, provided the Magistrate Judge's Courtroom Deputy Clerk 

receives a written notice of the intent to appear telephonically no later than five court days before the 

1 Non-dispositive motions related to non-expert discovery SHALL be filed within a reasonable time of 

discovery of the dispute, but in no event later than 30 days after the expiration of the non-expert discovery 

deadline.

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noticed hearing date. 

All dispositive pre-trial motions shall be filed no later than January 15, 2021, and heard no 

later than February 22, 2021, in Courtroom 2 at 10:30 a.m. before the Honorable Anthony W. Ishii, 

United States District Court Judge. In scheduling such motions, counsel shall comply with Fed. R.

Civ. P. 56 and Local Rules 230 and 260.

VI. Motions for Summary Judgment or Summary Adjudication

At least 21 days before filing a motion for summary judgment or motion for summary 

adjudication, the parties are ORDERED to meet, in person or by telephone, to confer about the issues to 

be raised in the motion.

The purpose of the meeting shall be to: 1) avoid filing motions for summary judgment where a 

question of fact exists; 2) determine whether the respondent agrees that the motion has merit in whole or 

in part; 3) discuss whether issues can be resolved without the necessity of briefing; 4) narrow the issues 

for review by the court; 5) explore the possibility of settlement before the parties incur the expense of 

briefing a motion; and 6) to develop a joint statement of undisputed facts.

The moving party SHALL initiate the meeting and SHALL provide a complete, proposed 

statement of undisputed facts at least five days before the conference. The finalized joint statement of 

undisputed facts SHALL include all facts that the parties agree, for purposes of the motion, may be 

deemed true. In addition to the requirements of Local Rule 260, the moving party shall file the joint 

statement of undisputed facts. 

In the notice of motion the moving party SHALL certify that the parties have met and conferred 

as ordered above, or set forth a statement of good cause for the failure to meet and confer. Failure to 

comply may result in the motion being stricken.

VII. Pre-Trial Conference Date

April 8, 2021, at 10:00 a.m. in Courtroom 2 before Judge Ishii.

The parties are ordered to file a Joint Pretrial Statement pursuant to Local Rule 281(a)(2). 

The parties are further directed to submit a digital copy of their pretrial statement in Word format,

directly to Judge Ishii's chambers, by email at AWIOrders@caed.uscourts.gov. 

Counsels' attention is directed to Rules 281 and 282 of the Local Rules of Practice for the 

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Eastern District of California, as to the obligations of counsel in preparing for the pre-trial conference. 

The Court will insist upon strict compliance with those rules. In addition to the matters set forth in the 

Local Rules the Joint Pretrial Statement shall include a Joint Statement of the case to be used by the 

Court to explain the nature of the case to the jury during voir dire.

VIII. Trial Date

June 1, 2021, at 8:30 a.m. in Courtroom 2 before the Honorable Anthony W. Ishii, United 

States District Court Judge.

A. This is a jury trial.

B. Counsels' Estimate of Trial Time: 3-5 days. 

C. Counsels' attention is directed to Local Rules of Practice for the Eastern District of 

California, Rule 285.

IX. Settlement Conference

A settlement conference is scheduled for September 9, 2020, at 1:30 p.m., located at 510 19th

Street, Bakersfield, California.

Unless otherwise permitted in advance by the Court, the attorneys who will try the case shall 

appear at the Settlement Conference with the parties and the person or persons having authority to 

negotiate and settle the case on any reasonable terms2discussed at the conference. Consideration of 

settlement is a serious matter that requires preparation prior to the settlement conference. Set forth 

below are the procedures the Court will employ, absent good cause, in conducting the conference.

At least 21 days before the settlement conference, Plaintiff SHALL submit to Defendant via fax 

or e-mail, a written itemization of damages and a meaningful3settlement demand which includes a brief 

explanation of why such a settlement is appropriate. Thereafter, no later than 14 days before the 

settlement conference, Defendant SHALL respond via fax or e-mail, with an acceptance of the offer or 

with a meaningful counteroffer, which includes a brief explanation of why such a settlement is 

2

Insurance carriers, business organizations, and governmental bodies or agencies whose settlement agreements 

are subject to approval by legislative bodies, executive committees, boards of directors or the like may be represented by a 

person whose recommendations about settlement are relied upon by the ultimate decision makers.

3

“Meaningful” means the offer is reasonably calculated to settle the case on terms acceptable to the offering 

party. “Meaningful” does not include an offer which the offering party knows will not be acceptable to the other party. If, 

however, the offering party is only willing to offer a settlement which it knows the other party will not accept, this should

trigger a recognition the case is not in a settlement posture and the parties should confer about continuing the settlement 

conference via stipulation.

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appropriate. The parties SHALL continue to exchange counteroffers until it is no longer 

productive.

If settlement is not achieved, each party SHALL attach copies of their settlement offers to their 

Confidential Settlement Conference Statement, as described below. Copies of these documents shall 

not be filed on the court docket.

CONFIDENTIAL SETTLEMENT CONFERENCE STATEMENT

At least five court days before the settlement conference, the parties shall submit, directly to 

Judge Thurston's chambers by e-mail to JLTOrders@caed.uscourts.gov, a Confidential Settlement 

Conference Statement. The statement should not be filed with the Clerk of the Court nor served on 

any other party, although the parties may file a Notice of Lodging of Settlement Conference 

Statement. Each statement shall be clearly marked "confidential" with the date and time of the 

Settlement Conference indicated prominently thereon. 

The Confidential Settlement Conference Statement shall include the following:

A. A brief statement of the facts of the case.

B. A brief statement of the claims and defenses, i.e., statutory or other grounds upon which 

the claims are founded; a forthright evaluation of the parties' likelihood of prevailing on 

the claims and defenses; and a description of the major issues in dispute.

C. A summary of the proceedings to date.

D. An estimate of the cost and time to be expended for further discovery, pretrial and trial. 

E. The relief sought.

F. The party's position on settlement, including present demands and offers and a history of 

past settlement discussions, offers and demands.

X. Requests for Bifurcation, Appointment of Special Master, or other Techniques to Shorten 

Trial

None.

XI. Related Matters Pending

There are no pending related matters.

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XII. Compliance with Federal Procedure

All counsel are expected to familiarize themselves with the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 

and the Local Rules of Practice of the Eastern District of California4, and to keep abreast of any 

amendments thereto. The Court must insist upon compliance with these Rules if it is to efficiently 

handle its increasing case load, and sanctions will be imposed for failure to follow both the Federal 

Rules of Civil Procedure and the Local Rules of Practice for the Eastern District of California.

XIII. Effect of this Order

The foregoing order represents the best estimate of the court and counsel as to the agenda most 

suitable to dispose of this case. The trial date reserved is specifically reserved for this case. If the 

parties determine at any time that the schedule outlined in this order cannot be met, counsel are ordered 

to notify the court immediately of that fact so that adjustments may be made, either by stipulation or by 

subsequent status conference.

The dates set in this order are firm and will not be modified absent a showing of good 

cause even if the request to modify is made by stipulation. Stipulations extending the deadlines 

contained herein will not be considered unless they are accompanied by affidavits or declarations, 

and where appropriate attached exhibits, which establish good cause for granting the relief 

requested.

Failure to comply with this order may result in the imposition of sanctions. 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

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

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

4 The Court notes, for example, counsel failed to follow the format for the joint scheduling order and 

in doing so added extraneous information unneeded at this point. Counsel SHALL employ the Local Rules 

and procedures of this Court and not any other District.

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