Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-4_15-cv-02696/USCOURTS-cand-4_15-cv-02696-1/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 791
Nature of Suit: Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA)
Cause of Action: 28:1132 E.R.I.S.A.

---

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

23 

24 

25 

26 

27 

28 

United States District Court 

Northern District of California

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 

OAKLAND DIVISION 

FRANK A MCBRIDE, 

Plaintiff, 

v. 

PENTAGON TECHNOLOGIES 

GROUP, INC., et al., 

Defendants. 

Case No. 15-cv-02696-SBA 

ORDER FOR PRETRIAL 

PREPARATION 

Pursuant to Rule 16(e) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure ("FRCP"), IT IS 

HEREBY ORDERED AS FOLLOWS: 

 A. DEADLINE FOR JOINDER OF PARTIES/AMENDING THE 

PLEADINGS 

 The deadline for the joinder of other parties and to amend the pleadings is: 

Completed. 

 B. DISCOVERY CUT-OFF

 All discovery, except for expert discovery, shall be completed and all 

depositions taken on or before 8/31/16. The parties are responsible for scheduling discovery 

so that motions to resolve discovery disputes can be heard before the above discovery cutoff. 

C. EXPERT DESIGNATION AND DISCOVERY

 Plaintiff shall designate any experts by 8/31/16; defendant by 8/31/16; 

rebuttal disclosure by 9/21/16. Any expert not so named may be disallowed as a witness. 

No expert will be permitted to testify to any opinion, or basis or support for an opinion, that 

has not been disclosed in response to an appropriate question or interrogatory from the 

opposing party. Expert discovery shall be completed by 10/12/16. 

D. MOTION CUT-OFF

Case 4:15-cv-02696-SBA Document 61 Filed 01/28/16 Page 1 of 6
2 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

23 

24 

25 

26 

27 

28 

United States District Court 

Northern District of California

 All dispositive motions shall be heard on or before11/9/16, at 1:00 p.m.

The parties must meet and confer prior to filing any motion. The movant shall certify to 

the Court in its moving papers that it has complied with this requirement. Should the parties 

fail to meet and confer, the Court may decline to entertain the motion. 

 THE COURT DOES NOT RESERVE MOTION HEARING 

DATES. The parties are advised to check Judge Armstrong's calendar at 

www.cand.uscourts.gov/sba, under Scheduling Information to determine the next available 

hearing date, particularly in the case of a dispositive motion. The parties are advised not to 

wait until 35 days prior to the law and motion cut-off date to file and serve their motion. As 

the Court's law and motion calendar tends to fill quickly, there is no guarantee that a hearing 

date within the law and motion cut-off date will be available. You MUST submit a hard 

copy of all motion papers filed in E-FILED cases in order to be placed on calendar. 

 Page Limits: All noticed motions (other than motions for summary 

judgment) and any opposition thereto, shall not exceed fifteen (15) pages in length, 

exclusive of the table of contents, table of authorities, exhibits and declarations, if required. 

Reply briefs may not exceed ten (10) pages in length. Motions for summary judgment are 

subject to the page limits set forth in Civil Local Rule 7. 

Meet and Confer Requirement: All parties are required to meet and 

confer in good faith before filing any motion or any non-stipulated request with this court, 

and to certify that they have complied with this requirement. 

 Failure to Oppose: The failure of the opposing party to file a 

memorandum of points and authorities in opposition to any motion shall constitute a consent 

to the granting of the motion. 

 

 Summary Judgment: Parties are limited to filing one motion for summary 

judgment. Any party wishing to exceed this limit must request leave of Court. Separate 

statements of undisputed facts will not be considered. Joint statements of undisputed facts 

are not required, but are helpful if agreed upon.

 

 Hearing on Motions: Note that pursuant to Civil L.R. 7-1(b), the 

Court may, in its discretion, adjudicate motions without oral argument. 

E. MANDATORY SETTLEMENT CONFERENCES

 All parties are ordered to participate in a mandatory settlement 

conference during the following time period: 11/14/16-12/30/16

 F. PRETRIAL CONFERENCE 

 All Counsel who will try the case shall appear for a pretrial conference 

Case 4:15-cv-02696-SBA Document 61 Filed 01/28/16 Page 2 of 6
3 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

23 

24 

25 

26 

27 

28 

United States District Court 

Northern District of California

on 2/8/17 at 1:00 p.m. All Counsel shall be fully prepared to discuss all aspects of the trial. 

Failure to file the requisite pretrial documents in advance of the pretrial conference may 

result in vacation of the pretrial conference and/or the imposition of sanctions. ALL 

PARTIES WITH SETTLEMENT AUTHORITY ARE REQUIRED TO ATTEND THE 

PRETRIAL CONFERENCE.

 

G. PRETRIAL PREPARATION DUE: 1/4/17 

 Prior to the date pretrial preparation is due, Counsel shall meet and 

confer in good faith in advance of complying with the following pretrial requirements in 

order to clarify and narrow the issues for trial, arrive at stipulations of facts, simplify and 

shorten the presentation of proof at trial, and explore possible settlement. In addition, 

Counsel shall meet and confer regarding anticipated motions in limine, objections to 

evidence, jury instructions, and any other matter which may require resolution by the Court. 

The following items 1 through 8 below shall be filed and served by the above-referenced 

date. 

 1. Joint Pretrial Statement

 Counsel are required to file a pretrial conference statement 

containing the following information: 

 (a) The Action

 (i) Substance of the Action. A brief description of the 

substance of claims and defenses which remain to be decided 

 (ii) Relief Prayed. A detailed statement of all the relief 

claimed, particularly itemizing all elements of damages claimed as well as witnesses, 

documents or other evidentiary material to be presented concerning the amount of those 

damages. 

 (b) The Factual Basis of the Action 

 (i) Undisputed Facts. A plain and concise statement of 

all relevant facts not reasonably disputable, as well as which facts parties will stipulate for 

incorporation into the trial record without the necessity of supporting testimony or exhibits. 

 (ii) Disputed Factual Issues. A plain and concise 

statement of all disputed factual issues which remain to be decided. 

 (iii) Agreed Statement. A statement assessing whether 

all or part of the action may be presented upon an agreed statement of facts. 

 (iv) Stipulations. A statement of stipulations requested or 

Case 4:15-cv-02696-SBA Document 61 Filed 01/28/16 Page 3 of 6
4 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

23 

24 

25 

26 

27 

28 

United States District Court 

Northern District of California

proposed for pretrial or trial purposes. 

 (c) Disputed Legal Issues

 (i) Points of Law. Without extended legal argument, a 

concise statement of each disputed point of law concerning liability or relief, citing 

supporting statutes and decisions. Unless otherwise ordered, parties should cite to briefs 

served and lodged setting forth briefly the nature of each party's contentions concerning each 

disputed point of law, including procedural and evidentiary issues. 

 (ii) Proposed Conclusions of law. If the case is to be 

tried without jury, unless otherwise ordered, parties should briefly indicate objections to 

proposed conclusions of law lodged with this Court. 

 2. Trial Briefs

 

 Each party shall serve and file a trial brief which shall briefly 

state their contentions, the relevant facts to be proven at trial, and the law on the issues 

material to the decision. 

 3. Findings of Fact

 In non-jury cases, each party shall serve and lodge with the 

Court proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law on all material issues. Findings shall 

be brief, clear, written in plain English and free of pejorative language, and argument. 

 4. Witnesses

 Each party shall serve and file with the Court a list of all persons 

who may be called as witnesses. The list shall include a summary of the substance of each 

witness' proposed testimony. 

 5. Designation of Discovery Excerpts

 Each party expecting to use discovery excerpts as part of its case 

in chief shall serve and lodge with the Court a statement identifying (1) by witness and page 

and line, all deposition testimony and (2) by lodged excerpt, all interrogatory answers and 

request for admissions to be used as part of its direct case. Each interrogatory answer 

intended to be offered as an exhibit shall be copied separately and marked as an exhibit. The 

original of any deposition to be used at trial must be produced at the time of trial, as well as 

a copy for the Court. Counsel shall indicate any objections to the use of these materials and 

advise the Court that counsel has conferred respecting such objections. 

 6. Jury Instructions

Case 4:15-cv-02696-SBA Document 61 Filed 01/28/16 Page 4 of 6
5 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

23 

24 

25 

26 

27 

28 

United States District Court 

Northern District of California

 The parties shall file a joint set of proposed jury instructions as 

to those instructions on which the parties have reached agreement. As to any disputed 

instructions, each party shall separately submit its "proposed" instruction(s) supported by a 

memorandum setting forth the authority for its use. Responses or objections to any 

"proposed" jury instruction shall be filed no later than the date of the pretrial conference. 

All instructions shall be written in plain English which is comprehensible to jurors, concise 

and free of argument, and shall be organized in a logical fashion so as to aid jury 

comprehension, and are also to be provided on a CD in a word format. The Court's practice 

is to utilize, whenever possible, instructions found in the Ninth Circuit Manual of Model 

Jury Instructions. 

 7. Jury Voir Dire and Verdict Forms

 Each party shall submit proposed questions for jury voir dire and 

a proposed form of verdict. 

 8. Exhibits

 Each party shall provide every other party one set of all exhibits, 

charts, schedules, summaries and diagrams and other similar documentary materials to be 

used at the trial together with a complete list of all such exhibits. The Court requires one 

original version of exhibits (as described above) for the Clerk and two copies (one for the 

Bench and one for the witness stand). All such versions of the exhibits, including the 

originals, should be indexed into a binder for easy and quick reference by all parties. The 

first page of each binder should have a copy of the exhibit list (see attached) appropriately 

completed with each exhibit description and its designated number. Plaintiffs shall refer to 

their exhibits numerically and Defendants shall label theirs alphabetically. Exhibit labels are 

also attached for your convenience. Exhibits should be brought to Court on the first day of 

trial. 

 9. Motions in Limine and Objections to Evidence 

 Each party anticipating making motion(s) in limine and/or 

objection(s) to any testimony or exhibits expected to be offered shall file and serve a 

statement briefly identifying each item objected to and the grounds for the objection. The 

parties must meet and confer prior to filing any motion in limine and objection to evidence. 

The movant shall certify to the Court in its moving papers that it has complied with this 

requirement. 

 NOTE: All motions in limine submitted by each party shall be 

set forth in a single memorandum, not to exceed ten (10) pages in length. Responses to the 

motions in limine shall be set forth in a single memorandum, not to exceed ten (10) pages in 

length. Reply briefs shall not exceed six (6) pages. No motions in limine will be considered 

unless the parties certify that they met and conferred prior to the filing of such motion. Any 

request to exceed the page limit must be submitted prior to the deadline for these briefs and 

Case 4:15-cv-02696-SBA Document 61 Filed 01/28/16 Page 5 of 6
United States District Court 

Northern District of California

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

23 

24 

25 

26 

27 

28 

mu

has

est

adv

at 

the

wit

day

Au

arr

35

oth

354

san

Da

ust be suppo

s met and c

timated 4-5 

vised that th

1300 Clay S

e U.S. Bank

th two fifte

y of trial al

uthority. 

rangements 

34) at least 

her parties, 

42). Confe

nctions purs

IT IS S

ated: Januar

orted by a s

onferred w

 

 

 

 

H. TRI

 Tria

trial days, 

hey must be

Street, 2nd 

kruptcy Cou

en-minute b

ll parties ar

I. TRA

 If tr

must be ma

one week p

J. STA

 Any

arrange a c

erences may

K. SAN

 Fail

suant to FR

SO ORDER

ry 28, 2016 

showing of 

ith the oppo

(a) Mot

(b) Opp

(c) Rep

IAL DATE

al before the

or as soon t

e prepared t

Floor, Cou

urthouse). T

breaks, on M

re required 

ANSCRIPT

anscripts w

ade with th

prior to the 

ATUS AND

y party desir

onference t

y be conduc

NCTIONS

ure to comp

RCP 16(f). 

RED. 

6

good cause

osing party.

tions/Obje

position du

ply due: 

E

e Jury will b

thereafter a

to go to tria

urtroom 210

The Court's

Monday, W

to have som

TS

will be reque

e Court Rep

commence

D DISCOV

ring to conf

through the 

cted telepho

ply with thi

 __

SA

U

6

e, along with

. 

ctions due:

ue: 1/18/17

1/25/17

begin on 2/

as the Court

al on a traili

0, Oakland, 

s trial hours

Wednesday, 

meone in C

ested during

porter Coor

ement of tria

VERY CON

fer with the

 courtroom

onically, up

is order may

_________

AUNDRA 

United States

h a certifica

: 1/11/17 

/13/17, at 8:

t may desig

ing basis. T

California,

s are from 8

Thursday a

Court with f

g or immed

rdinator (Te

al commenc

NFERENC

e Court may

m deputy (Te

on request 

y result in t

__________

BROWN A

s District Ju

ation that th

:30 a.m., fo

nate. The p

The trial wi

 94612 (loc

8:30 a.m. to 

and Friday. 

full Settlem

diately after 

elephone N

ces. 

ES

y, upon noti

elephone N

(preferably

the impositi

__________

ARMSTRO

udge 

he applicant

or an 

parties are 

ill take plac

cated inside

2:00 p.m., 

On the firs

ment 

the trial, 

No. 510-637

ice to all 

o. 510-637-

y in writing)

ion of 

___ 

ONG 

t

e 

e

st 

-

-

). 

Case 4:15-cv-02696-SBA Document 61 Filed 01/28/16 Page 6 of 6