Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-3_14-cv-03564/USCOURTS-cand-3_14-cv-03564-8/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 362
Nature of Suit: Medical Malpractice
Cause of Action: 28:1331 Fed. Question: Medical Malpractice

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PORTER | SCOTT

350 University Ave., Suite 200

Sacramento, CA 95825

TEL: 916.929.1481

FAX: 916.927.3706

A PROFESSIONAL CORPORATION

JONATHAN A. CORR, SBN 190823

ADRIANA C. CERVANTES, SBN 282473

350 University Ave., Suite 200

Sacramento, California 95825

TEL: 916.929.1481

FAX: 916.927.3706

Attorneys for Defendant KENNETH SUSMAN, M.D.

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 

SAN FRANCISCO DIVISION

JEANNIE ALDERSON and WILLIAM R. 

BROWN,

Plaintiff(s)

vs.

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, et al.,

Defendant(s). 

____________________________________/

CASE NO. 14-cv-03564 SI

DECLARATION OF ADRIANA C. 

CERVANTES IN SUPPORT OF

STIPULATION FOR REQUEST FOR 

AN ORDER CHANGING THE TIME OF 

THE SETTLEMENT CONFERENCE

I, ADRIANA C. CERVANTES, declare:

1. I am an attorney with the law firm of Porter Scott, attorneys of record for Defendant 

KENNETH SUSMAN, M.D., and I am duly licensed to practice before all the courts of the State of 

California and the United States District Court for the Northern District of California.

2. On June 1, 2015 this Court entered a PRETRIAL PREPARATION ORDER

requiring the parties to complete a settlement conference before a magistrate judge in December 

2015. See Dkt. # 51. On June 5, 2015, U.S. Magistrate Judge Elizabeth D. Laporte entered Notice 

of a Settlement Conference and Settlement Conference Order a settlement conference on December 

18, 2015. See Dkt. # 53. 

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PORTER | SCOTT

350 University Ave., Suite 200

Sacramento, CA 95825

TEL: 916.929.1481

FAX: 916.927.3706

3. Defendant Mendocino Coast District Hospital has not appeared or participated in 

this action due to a pending bankruptcy matter.

4. On December 2, 2015, I received an email correspondence from Thomas Donnelly, 

counsel who will be representing Mendocino Coast District Hospital, informing me that his client’s 

pending bankruptcy matter was concluded and that he intends to file a responsive pleading to this 

action prior to the currently scheduled Settlement Conference and agreed that the most logical 

approach seemed to be to continue the settlement conference. I forwarded Mr. Donnelly’s email 

correspondence to counsel for Plaintiffs JEANNIE ALDERSON and WILLIAM BROWN and 

Defendants UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, EILER J. SOMMERHAUG, M.D., and 

PETALUMA VALLEY HOSPITAL, (hereinafter “all parties”) for consideration. 

5. On December 2, 2015, Robin Wall, counsel for the U.S. defendant, agreed to 

continue the settlement conference to a later date and provided additional grounds for a settlement 

conference continuance. Specifically, Mr. Wall explained that his post-surgical medical leave may 

need to be extended to December 11, 2015. This may result in his unavailability to participate in

Plaintiff’s deposition and the mandatory pre-settlement conference meet and confer requirement as 

well as timely exchange of his client’s settlement conference statements and confidential letter. 

6. Plaintiffs Jeannie Alderson and William Brown’s depositions were noticed for 

October 2015, however, due to William’s Brown’s emergency medical condition, the depositions 

were re-noticed at the earliest mutually convenient dates for December 7 and 9, 2015, respectfully.

7. On December 2, 2015, as a result above the two compelling reasons described above 

all parties agreed by email to reschedule Plaintiffs Jeannie Alderson and William Browns 

depositions previously noticed for December 7 and 9, 2015 respectively, to a date in or around 

mid/late-January 2016. 

8. Counsel for Kenneth Susman, M.D. anticipates that Plaintiffs deposition testimony 

is necessary for a productive settlement conference because they are key witnesses to the alleges 

events.

9. On December 2 and 3, 2015, I informed Stephen Ybarra of the parties’ intent to 

request to continue the settlement conference before Magistrate Judge Laporte and also obtained 

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PORTER | SCOTT

350 University Ave., Suite 200

Sacramento, CA 95825

TEL: 916.929.1481

FAX: 916.927.3706

current dates of availability for a settlement conference in February 2016 or March 2016. At 

present, all parties are coordinating to determine the earliest mutually convenient date in March 

2016.

10. After reviewing the docket in this case, it is my understanding that no prior 

modifications to the PRETRIAL PREPARATION ORDER entered on June 1, 2015, have been 

made by stipulation or Court Order. See Dkt. # 51-57.

Dated: December 4, 2015 Respectfully Submitted,

/s/ Adriana C. Cervantes

JONATHAN A. CORR

ADRIANA C. CERVANTES

Attorneys for Defendant

Kenneth Susman, M.D.

CERTIFICATION

Pursuant to Civil L.R. 5-1(i)(3), the undersigned hereby attests that Adriana C. Cervantes, 

plaintiff and defendants have concurred in the filing of this document.

Dated: December 4, 2015 PORTER SCOTT

A PROFESSIONAL CORPORATION

By 

/s/ Adriana C. Cervantes

ADRIANA C. CERVANTES

Attorney for Defendant

Kenneth Susman, M.D.

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