Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_16-cv-00859/USCOURTS-caed-1_16-cv-00859-2/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 790
Nature of Suit: Other Labor Litigation
Cause of Action: 28:1441 Petition for Removal

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

I. Date of Scheduling Conference

September 20, 2016.

RYAN PEREZ, et al.,

 Plaintiffs,

v.

GAMESA WIND US, LLC, et al.,

Defendants.

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Case No.: 1:16-cv-00859 JLT

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

Pleading Amendment Deadline: 1/20/2017

Discovery Deadlines:

Initial Disclosures: 10/4/2016

Non-Expert: 2/8/2017

Expert: 5/9/2017

Mid-discovery status conference: 12/14/2016 

at 8:30 a.m.

Non-Dispositive Motion Deadlines:

Filing: 5/22/2017

Hearing: 6/26/2017

Dispositive Motion Deadlines: 

Filing: 7/10/2017

Hearing: 8/8/2017 at 9:30 a.m.

Pre-Trial Conference:

9/8/2017 at 9:30 a.m.

Trial: 10/23/2017 at 8:30 a.m.

 Jury trial: 6-8 days 

Case 1:16-cv-00859-JLT Document 13 Filed 10/06/16 Page 1 of 6
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II. Appearances of Counsel

K. Poncho Baker appeared on behalf of Plaintiffs.

Andrew Hoag appeared on behalf of Defendants.

III. Pleading Amendment Deadline

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

motion to amend, no later than January 20, 2017. 

IV. Discovery Plan and Cut-Off Date

The parties agree the depositions of the plaintiffs may last for ten hours each and either 

deposition may be divided over two days. Also, the defendants may propound up to 35 interrogatories 

on each plaintiff and the plaintiffs may propound this same number as to each defendant.

The parties are ordered to exchange the initial disclosures required by Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(a)(1) 

on or before October 4, 2016.

The parties are ordered to complete all discovery as to non-experts by February 8, 2017 and 

discovery regarding experts no later than May 9, 2017.

The parties are directed to disclose all expert witnesses1in writing, on or before March 14, 

2017 and to disclose any rebuttal experts by April 11, 2017. 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 December 14, 2016 at 8:30 a.m. before 

 

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In the event an expert will offer opinions related to an independent medical or mental health evaluation, the examination 

SHALL occur sufficiently in advance of the disclosure deadline so the expert’s report fully details the expert’s opinions in 

this regard.

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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 completed as well as any impediments to completing the 

discovery within the deadlines set forth in this order. Counsel may appear via the CourtCall 

service but they must provide a written notice of their intent to do so to the Magistrate Judge's 

Courtroom Deputy Clerk at least than five court days before hearing.

V. Pre-Trial Motion Schedule

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

than May 22, 2017, and heard on or before June 26, 2017. Non-dispositive motions are heard before 

the Honorable Jennifer L. Thurston, United States Magistrate Judge at the United States Courthouse in 

Bakersfield, California.

No motion to amend or stipulation to amend the case schedule will be entertained unless it 

is filed at least one week before the first deadline the parties wish to extend. Likewise, 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 the 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 the Court’s calendar.

All dispositive pre-trial motions shall be filed no later than July 10, 2017, and heard no later 

than August 8, 2017. 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

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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

September 8, 2017 at 9:30 a.m. before Judge Thurston.

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 Thurston’s chambers, by email at JLTorders@caed.uscourts.gov. 

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

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

October 23, 2017 at 8:30 a.m. before Judge Thurston

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A. This is a jury trial.

B. Counsels' Estimate of Trial Time: 6-8 days. 

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

California, Rule 285.

IX. Settlement

The parties consent to referral to the VDRP. However, they feel that the referral should be 

delayed until after they complete some discovery. Thus, when they agree the matter is ripe for the 

referral, they may submit a stipulation requesting the referral at that time.

The Court does not set a settlement conference at this time. If, in the future, the parties feel that 

a settlement conference is likely to be fruitful, they may submit a stipulation requesting the Court 

schedule a conference. The stipulation should propose dates about 60 days into the future to allow 

sufficient time to secure the services of a Magistrate Judge in Fresno.

X. Request for Bifurcation, Appointment of Special Master, or other 

Techniques to Shorten Trial

The defendants may move to trifurcate, with a liability phase, a damages phase and then a 

punitive damages phase. Any request to do so must be raised in the joint pretrial conference statement.

XI. Related Matters Pending

There are no pending related matters.

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 California, 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 

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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 considered to be 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: October 6, 2016 /s/ Jennifer L. Thurston 

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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