Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_05-cv-01127/USCOURTS-caed-1_05-cv-01127-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 360
Nature of Suit: Other Personal Injury
Cause of Action: 28:1332 Diversity-Personal Injury

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

RALPH M. BANKS,

Plaintiff,

v.

EQUILON ENTERPRISES LLC,

Defendant.

 

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1:05-cv-01127 OWW LJO

CORRECTED

SCHEDULING CONFERENCE ORDER 

Discovery Cut-Off: 10/30/06

Non-Dispositive Motion

Filing Deadline: 11/15/06

Dispositive Motion Filing

Deadline: 11/30/06

Settlement Conference Date: 

11/7/06 9:00 Ctrm. 8

Pre-Trial Conference Date: 

2/20/07 11:00 Ctrm. 3

Trial Date: 3/27/07 9:00

Ctrm. 3 (JT-4 days)

I. Date of Scheduling Conference.

January 11, 2006.

II. Appearances Of Counsel.

John C. Hall, Esq., and Stephen R. Cornwell, Esq., appeared

on behalf of Plaintiff. 

Thelen Reid & Priest LLP by Marytza J. Mendizabal, Esq.,

appeared on behalf of Defendant. 

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III. Summary of Pleadings. 

1. According to Plaintiff’s Complaint, Plaintiff alleges

that, while performing his job duties as a driver for Pan-Pacific

Petroleum Carriers, he slipped on a substance on the concrete in

the vicinity of the Shell Oil Products U.S. loading rack. 

Plaintiff alleges he sustained injury to his lower back from the

slip. He claims to have suffered economic and non-economic

damages according to proof. 

2. Equilon denies responsibility for Plaintiff’s alleged

injury. 

IV. Orders Re Amendments To Pleadings.

1. The parties do not anticipate filing any amendments to

the pleadings at this time unless discovery should require. 

2. The parties agree that Plaintiff shall have 120 days to

complete investigation and preliminary discovery on the necessity

to join additional parties. In the event that no additional

parties are joined as of May 12, 2006, the Doe Defendants shall

be dismissed without prejudice. 

V. Factual Summary.

A. Admitted Facts Which Are Deemed Proven Without Further

Proceedings. 

1. Plaintiff was employed as a driver for Pan-Pacific

Petroleum Carriers on or about October 6, 2003. Plaintiff

alleges that he slipped on a substance on the concrete in the

vicinity of the Shell Oil Products U.S. loading rack. 

2. Plaintiff claims he sustained injury to his lower

back from the slip and seeks to recover economic and non-economic

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damages according to proof.

3. Defendant denies responsibility for Plaintiff’s

alleged injury. 

B. Contested Facts.

1. All remaining facts are contested.

VI. Legal Issues.

A. Uncontested.

1. Jurisdiction exists under 28 U.S.C. § 1332. 

Plaintiff has reserved the right to challenge diversity of

citizenship jurisdiction in the event that any third party will

destroy jurisdiction. 

2. Venue is proper under 28 U.S.C. § 1392.

3. The parties agree that the substantive law of

the State of California provides the rule of decision in this

diversity action. 

B. Contested. 

1. All remaining legal issues are disputed.

VII. Consent to Magistrate Judge Jurisdiction.

1. The parties have not consented to transfer the 

case to the Magistrate Judge for all purposes, including trial.

VIII. Corporate Identification Statement.

1. Any nongovernmental corporate party to any action in

this court shall file a statement identifying all its parent

corporations and listing any entity that owns 10% or more of the

party's equity securities. A party shall file the statement with

its initial pleading filed in this court and shall supplement the

statement within a reasonable time of any change in the

information. 

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IX. Discovery Plan and Cut-Off Date.

1. The parties are ordered to complete all discovery on

or before October 30, 2006.

2. The parties are directed to disclose all expert

witnesses, in writing, on or before September 1, 2006. Any

supplemental expert disclosures will be made on or before October

2, 2006. The parties will comply with the provisions of Federal

Rule of Civil Procedure 26(a) regarding their expert

designations. Local Rule 16-240(a) notwithstanding, the written

designation of experts shall be made pursuant to F. R. Civ. P.

Rule 26(a)(2), (A) and (B) 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.

3. The provisions of F. R. Civ. P. 26(b)(4) shall 

apply to all discovery relating to experts and their opinions. 

Experts may 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. 

X. Pre-Trial Motion Schedule.

1. All Non-Dispositive Pre-Trial Motions, including any

discovery motions, will be filed on or before November 15, 2006,

and heard on December 15, 2006, at 9:00 a.m. before Magistrate

Judge Lawrence J. O’Neill in Courtroom 8. 

2. In scheduling such motions, the Magistrate

Judge may grant applications for an order shortening time

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pursuant to Local Rule 142(d). However, if counsel does not

obtain an order shortening time, the notice of motion must comply

with Local Rule 251. 

3. All Dispositive Pre-Trial Motions are to be

filed no later than November 30, 2006, and will be heard on

January 8, 2007, at 10:00 a.m. before the Honorable Oliver W.

Wanger, United States District Judge, in Courtroom 3, 7th Floor. 

In scheduling such motions, counsel shall comply with Local Rule

230. 

XI. Pre-Trial Conference Date.

1. February 20, 2007, at 11:00 a.m. in Courtroom 3, 7th

Floor, before the Honorable Oliver W. Wanger, United States

District Judge. 

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

3. Counsel's 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.

XII. Trial Date.

1. March 27, 2007, at the hour of 9:00 a.m. in Courtroom 3

before the Honorable Oliver W. Wanger, United States District

Judge. 

2. This is a jury trial.

3. Counsels' Estimate Of Trial Time:

a. 4 days.

4. Counsels' attention is directed to Local Rules

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of Practice for the Eastern District of California, Rule 285. 

XIII. Settlement Conference.

1. A Settlement Conference is scheduled for November 7,

2006, at 9:00 a.m. in Courtroom 8 before the Honorable Lawrence

J. O’Neill, United States Magistrate Judge. 

2. 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 full authority to negotiate and settle the case on any

terms at the conference. 

3. Permission for a party [not attorney] to attend

by telephone may be granted upon request, by letter, with a copy

to the other parties, if the party [not attorney] lives and works

outside the Eastern District of California, and attendance in

person would constitute a hardship. If telephone attendance is

allowed, the party must be immediately available throughout the

conference until excused regardless of time zone differences. 

Any other special arrangements desired in cases where settlement

authority rests with a governing body, shall also be proposed in

advance by letter copied to all other parties. 

4. Confidential Settlement Conference Statement. 

At least five (5) days prior to the Settlement Conference the

parties shall submit, directly to the Magistrate Judge's

chambers, a confidential settlement conference statement. The

statement should not be filed with the Clerk of the Court nor

served on any other party. Each statement shall be clearly

marked "confidential" with the date and time of the Settlement

Conference indicated prominently thereon. Counsel are urged to

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request the return of their statements if settlement is not

achieved and if such a request is not made the Court will dispose

of the statement.

5. 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, pre-trial and trial.

e. The relief sought.

f. The parties' position on settlement,

including present demands and offers and a history of past

settlement discussions, offers and demands. 

XIV. Request For Bifurcation, Appointment Of Special Master, 

Or Other Techniques To Shorten Trial. 

1. At the present time, it does not appear that there are

any claims that require bifurcation. The matter may be addressed

by stipulation or non-dispositive motion in the future as the

subject arises. 

XV. Related Matters Pending.

1. The State Compensation Insurance Fund of California has

filed a Notice of Lien pursuant to California Labor Code §§ 3850-

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3865 on any potential recovery in this case. 

XVI. Compliance With Federal Procedure.

1. The Court requires compliance with the Federal

Rules of Civil Procedure and the Local Rules of Practice for the

Eastern District of California. To aid the court in the

efficient administration of this case, all counsel are directed

to familiarize themselves with the Federal Rules of Civil

Procedure and the Local Rules of Practice of the Eastern District

of California, and keep abreast of any amendments thereto.

XVII. Effect Of This Order.

1. The foregoing order represents the best

estimate of the court and counsel as to the agenda most suitable

to bring this case to resolution. 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 scheduling conference. 

2. 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. 

3. Failure to comply with this order may result in

the imposition of sanctions. 

DATED: January 11, 2006.

/s/ OLIVER W. WANGER

 

 Oliver W. Wanger

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

dlp/banks v. equilon sch con

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