Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-casd-3_09-cv-00942/USCOURTS-casd-3_09-cv-00942-3/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

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

AMY R. GURVEY,

Plaintiff,

CASE NO. 09-CV-942-AJB (BGS)

ORDER:

(1) GRANTING DEFENDANTS’

EX PARTE MOTION TO

EXTEND EXPERT

DESIGNATION (DOC. NO. 99);

(2) GRANTING IN PART AND

DENYING IN PART

PLAINTIFF’S EX PARTE

MOTION TO EXTEND

DISCOVERY (DOC. NO. 103); &

(3) DENYING AS MOOT

PLAINTIFF’S EX PARTE

MOTION TO EXTEND

DISCOVERY DEADLINES

(DOC. NO. 112)

vs.

LEGEND FILMS, INC., formerly known

as Legend Films, LLC; et al.,

Defendants.

Presently before the Court are various motions filed by Plaintiff Amy Gurvey and

Defendants regarding discovery scheduling and disputes. On July 6, 2011, Defendants Legend

Films, Inc., Legend3D, Inc., Barry Sandrew, and Jeffrey Yapp filed an ex parte motion to

extend the deadline for expert designation. (Doc. No. 99.) On July 11, 2011, nunc pro tunc

to June 29, 2011, Plaintiff filed an ex parte request to extend discovery, mandate production

from Defendants “of all documents that exchanged hands during defendants’ angel and private

placement venture capital rounds since 2002,” for an order granting Plaintiff’s right to appear

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telephonically at the next court hearing of July 7, 2011, and for an order granting Plaintiff

expedited electronic filing privileges for this lawsuit. (Doc. No. 103.) In Plaintiff’s ex parte

motion, Plaintiff also opposes Defendants’ ex parte motion to extend the deadline for expert

designations. (Id. at 6.) On July 8, 2011, Defendants filed an opposition to Plaintiff’s ex parte

motion. (Doc. No. 101.) On July 19, 2011, nunc pro tunc to July 13, 2011, Plaintiff filed

another ex parte motion to extend discovery deadlines, opposition to Defendants’ ex parte

motion to extend expert deadlines, and request for expedited rehearing of discovery during the

week of July 11. (Doc. No. 112.) Defendants filed an opposition to Plaintiff’s most recent ex

parte motion on July 19, 2011. (Doc. No. 113.) 

I. Defendants’ ex parte motion to extend the deadline for expert designations

In their ex parte motion, Defendants request the Court extend the deadline to designate

expert witnesses from June 3 to July 1, 2011. (Doc. No. 99.) Defendants do not seek to extend

the deadline to exchange expert reports. Expert designations were to be made no later than

June 3, 2011, and Defendants did not move for an extension of this deadline until July 6, 2011.

Therefore, because Defendants moved for an extension after the time has expired for expert

designations, Defendants must demonstrate good cause for an extension of the deadline as well

as excusable neglect for failing to make their designations by the deadline. Fed.R.Civ.P. 6(b).

Additionally, because expert designations are disclosures required by Rule 26(a), to excuse a

failure to disclose, the failure must be substantially justified or harmless. Fed.R.Civ.P. 37(c).

In support of their request, Defendants assert that they had an agreement with Plaintiff’s

former counsel, Andre Jardini, to extend expert designations to July 1 due to an expert

changing his fee quote shortly before designations were due, requiring Defendants to locate

a different expert. (Id.; Doc. No. 99-3, Clifford Decl. ¶2.) On June 2, 2011, Andre Jardini filed

an ex parte motion to withdraw as Plaintiff’s attorney. (Doc. No. 82.) Based upon this motion

to withdraw from the case, Mr. Jardini was not comfortable signing a joint motion

memorializing the parties’ agreement regarding expert designations. (Doc. No. 99-2, Plevin

Decl. ¶5.) On June 20, 2011, Plaintiff filed a request for approval of substitution of attorney,

seeking to substitute into the case to represent herself. (Doc. No. 93.) The Court granted

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Plaintiff’s request. (Doc. No. 94.) Plaintiff now opposes Defendants’ ex parte to extend the

date for designations. 

In her opposition, Plaintiff argues that Defendants’ ex parte motion is improper and that

further expert discovery in favor of Defendants is now irrelevant in the face of controlling NY

law on the issue of “highest valuation.” (Doc. No. 103 at 6.) Plaintiff also asserts that she

received notice of the ex parte motion by fax and she does not authorize service by fax. (Id.

at 6-7.) Contrary to Plaintiff’s assertion, Defendants’ ex parte motion was not improper.

Pursuant to Judge Skomal’s Chambers’ Rules, “[a] party seeking a modification [of the

scheduling order] may move ex parte if the other parties will not join in a motion to amend the

schedule.” The Court also finds Plaintiff’s argument regarding the relevancy of further expert

discovery by Defendants is not proper at this stage in the proceedings, given that Defendants

merely seek to designate an expert they may use at trial to present evidence. Additionally,

Defendants have provided a proof of service of their ex parte motion on Plaintiff by mail.

(Doc. No. 99-4.) 

The Court finds that Defendants’ failure to designate experts by June 3 was

substantially justified under the circumstances and harmless. See Fed.R.Civ.P. 37(c).

Defendants, only days before designations were due, learned of a fee change by a potential

expert and sought to locate a new expert. Defendants appraised opposing counsel of the

situation and sought a stipulation for a one month extension. Mr. Jardini agreed to the

extension and then filed his motion to withdraw from representation before counsel could file

a joint motion memorializing the agreement. There was also a lapse of time between the

motion to withdraw and Plaintiff’s substitution into the case to represent herself. Plaintiff has

not articulated how she would be prejudiced by the Court allowing Defendants an extension

to designate their expert. It appears Plaintiff will not be harmed, as Defendants will provide

an expert report by the current deadline. Given these circumstances, the Court finds

Defendants have shown good cause for an extension and excusable neglect for failing to move

for an extension before the time to designate expired. See Fed.R.Civ.P. 6(b). Accordingly, the

Court grants Defendants’ ex parte motion and extends the deadline by which all parties shall

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exchange with all other parties a list of all expert witnesses expected to be called at trial

pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. 26(a)(2)(A) to July 1, 2011. 

II. Plaintiff’s ex parte motion filed July 11, 2011

Plaintiff requests in her ex parte motion that the Court extend discovery, mandate

production from Defendants “of all documents that exchanged hands during defendants’ angel

and private placement venture capital rounds since 2002,” issue an order granting Plaintiff’s

right to appear telephonically at the next court hearing of July 7, 2011, and issue an order

granting Plaintiff expedited electronic filing privileges for this lawsuit. 

A. Plaintiff’s request to appear telephonically and electronic filing privileges

As an initial matter, the Court denies as moot Plaintiff’s request to appear telephonically

at the next court hearing of July 7, 2011. On June 24, 2011, the Court vacated the Further

Settlement Conference set for July 7, 2011. (Doc. No. 97.) Additionally, the Court denies as

moot Plaintiff’s request for electronic filing privileges, asthat request was addressed by Judge

Battaglia on July 15, 2011in an Order regarding a separate motion filed by Plaintiff on July 6,

2011. (See Doc. Nos. 100 & 110.) Judge Battaglia ordered Plaintiff to submit a new

declaration, under penalty of perjury, addressing each of the six inquiries the Court must

consider before granting a pro se litigant access to the ECF system. (Doc. No. 110.) To date,

Plaintiff has not submitted such a declaration. 

B. Plaintiff’s request to extend discovery and for production of documents

Plaintiff requests the Court extend discovery in order to reschedule Defendants’

depositions after the due diligence documents are produced and reviewed by Plaintiff. (Doc.

No. 103 at 3-4.) Fact discovery in this case ended on May 20, 2011 and Plaintiff did not move

to extend discovery until June 29, 2011. (Doc. No. 69 ¶2; Doc. No. 103.) Therefore, because

Plaintiff moved for an extension after the time has expired for completing discovery, Plaintiff

must demonstrate good cause for an extension of discovery as well as excusable neglect for

failing to complete the discovery by the cutoff. Fed.R.Civ.P. 6(b). 

In support of her request to extend fact discovery, Plaintiff asserts that depositions

noticed by her former attorney, Mr. Jardini, were cancelled at Defendants’ request and it was

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understood by Mr. Jardini that counsel had an arrangement to extend fact discovery in order

to reschedule these depositions. (Doc. No. 103 at ¶3.) Plaintiff has attached to her motion a

declaration from Mr. Jardini. (Doc. No. 103, Ex. 1, Jardini Decl.) Mr. Jardini states that the

depositions of Defendant Jeffrey Yapp and Barry Sandrew were originally noticed for April

22, 2011. (Id. ¶4.) Mr. Jardini also noticed the deposition of Defendant Legend 3D, Inc. under

Fed.R.Civ.P. 30(b)(6) for May 11, 2011. (Id. ¶5.) Mr. Jardini declares that after serving these

notices, he spoke with defense counsel, Fred Plevin, who indicated that Jeffrey Yapp would

be unavailable on April 22. (Id. ¶6.) Mr. Plevin and Mr. Jardini agreed to reschedule both the

Yapp and Sandrew depositions to a new date and that Mr. Jardini would take the 30(b)(6)

depositions of Yapp and Sandrew on the same day. (Id. ¶6.) In an email confirming this

conversation, Mr. Plevin confirmed that the depositions of Yapp and Sandrew would leave

only a few areas noticed for the 30(b)(6) deposition of Legend for David Martin. (Id. ¶6, Ex.

3 to Jardini Decl..) Mr. Jardini avers that on April 17, 2011, Mr. Plevin sent an email

confirming that the depositions of the individual defendants would occur on June 1, 2011 and

that the Rule 30(b)(6) deposition would be deferred for later scheduling. (Id. ¶7, Ex. 4 to

Jardini Decl..) Mr. Jardini then later took the depositions set for June 1, 2011 off calendar due

to the impasse between Mr. Jardini and Ms. Gurvey as to the handling of this case. (Id. ¶¶8-9.)

Mr. Jardini avers that he took the depositions off calendar with the understanding they would

be reset consistent with the calendars of the witnesses, defense counsel, and Ms. Gurvery or

her new counsel. (Id. ¶9.) As for Plaintiff’s request for certain documents, Mr. Jardini avers

that he “believe[s] all of the documents Ms. Gurvey believes necessary to her case are

requested in the Rule 30(b)(6) notice of deposition.” (Id. ¶12, Ex. 2 to Jardini Decl..) 

In Mr. Plevin’s declaration attached to Defendants’ opposition, he states that he and Mr.

Jardini had no agreement to reschedule depositions for a date other than June 1, 2011 and that

he was informed on May 27, 2011 that the depositions were off calendar. (Doc. No. 101-1,

Plevin Decl. ¶5.) Mr. Plevin also avers that he and Mr. Jardini never discussed extending

deadlines for written discovery. (Id. ¶6.) Mr. Plevin declares that there were only two sets

of requests for production served upon Defendants and that counsel for Plaintiff never

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expressed any concern with Defendants’ responses. (Id. ¶2.) 

The Court, for good cause and excusable neglect shown, grants Plaintiff’s ex parte

motion to extend discovery. Due to the circumstances of Mr. Jardini’s request to withdraw as

counsel for Plaintiff in early June 2011 and the subsequent substitution of Ms. Gurvey into the

case to represent herself, the Court finds good cause to extend fact discovery for the limited

purpose of completing the discovery Mr. Jardini had propounded prior to his exit from the

case. The Court finds that the breakdown in the relationship between Mr. Jardini and Ms.

Gurvey in May 2011, as well as Defendants’ initial agreement to allow Plaintiff to take the

outstanding depositions past the discovery cutoff of May 20, 2011, provides excusable neglect

for Ms. Gurvey not moving to extend the time to complete fact discovery prior to the deadline.

Accordingly, the fact discovery Plaintiff’s former counsel served but did not complete

shall be completed no later than September 1, 2011. This limited discovery includes the

depositions of Defendants Jeffrey Yapp, Barry Sandrew, and Legend3D, Inc.’s Rule 30(b)(6)

designee(s). In noticing Legend3D, Inc.’s Rule 30(b)(6) deposition, Plaintiff may include the

exact “request for production of documents at time of deposition” that Mr. Jardini served on

Defendants on April 8, 2011 in conjunction with the noticing of Legend3D, Inc.’s Rule

30(b)(6) designee(s). (Doc. No. 103, Ex. 2 to Jardini Decl.) Plaintiff may not serve any other

written discovery and the Court denies her request to compel production of documents. As the

Rule 30(b)(6) deposition was taken off calendar and the documents sought were to be produced

at the deposition, Defendants have not failed to produce documents. Additionally, the Court

will allow Defendants to complete the deposition of Plaintiff no later than September 1, 2011,

as they indicate in their opposition that counsel had discussed finishing Plaintiff’s deposition

on June 13, 2011. (See Doc. No. 101-1, Plevin Decl. ¶4.) In noticing the depositions, Plaintiff

and defense counsel shall meet and confer on scheduling and location of the depositions. If

any discovery disputes arise during this limited period of additional fact discovery, the parties

are to follow Judge Skomal’s Chambers’ Rules. 

III. Plaintiff’s ex parte motion filed July 19, 2011

Plaintiff’s most current ex parte motion seeks to extend discovery deadlines, compel

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production of documents, compel defendants’ depositions, and an order for an expedited

hearing the week of July 11 on discovery. The Court denies as moot Plaintiff’s request to

extend discovery deadlines, compel production of documents, and compel defendants’

depositions, given the Court’s rulings on Plaintiff’s ex parte motion filed July 11, 2011. The

Court also denies as moot Plaintiff’s request for an expedited hearing the week of July 11. The

Court previously denied the identical request. (Doc. No. 109.) 

Conclusion

For the reasons set forth above, the Court:

1. GRANTS Defendants’ ex parte motion to extend the time for expert 

designations to July 1, 2011;

2. DENIES AS MOOT Plaintiff’s ex parte motion to appear telephonically at the

July 7 hearing and for electronic filing privileges (Doc. No. 103);

3. GRANTS Plaintiff’s ex parte motion to extend discovery (Doc. No. 103). 

Plaintiff may re-notice and complete the depositions of Defendants Jeffrey Yapp, Barry

Sandrew, and Legend3D, Inc.’s Rule 30(b)(6) designee(s) no later than September 1, 2011.

 Defendants may take the continued deposition of Plaintiff no later than September 1, 2011;

3. DENIES Plaintiff’s ex parte motion to compel production of documents (Doc.

No. 103). However, in noticing Legend3D, Inc.’s Rule 30(b)(6) deposition, Plaintiff may

include the exact “request for production of documents at time of deposition” that Mr. Jardini

served on Defendants on April 8, 2011 in conjunction with the noticing of Legend3D, Inc.’s

Rule 30(b)(6) designee(s). (Doc. No. 103, Ex. 2 to Jardini Decl.) Plaintiff may not serve any

other written discovery; and 

4. DENIES AS MOOT Plaintiff’s ex parte motion to extend discovery, compel 

production of documents, compel depositions of defendants, and for an order for an expedited

hearing the week of July 11 (Doc. No. 112). 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

DATED: July 29, 2011 __________________________________

BERNARD G. SKOMAL

United States Magistrate Judge

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