Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_09-cv-00705/USCOURTS-caed-1_09-cv-00705-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 790
Nature of Suit: Other Labor Litigation
Cause of Action: 29:1801 Farmworker Rights

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

 EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

SANTIAGO ROJAS and JOSEFINO

RAMIREZ, on behalf of themselves and

all others similarly situated,

Plaintiffs,

v.

MARKO ZANINOVICH, INC.,

SUNVIEW VINEYARDS OF

CALIFORNIA, INC., and DOES 1 to 20

inclusive,

Defendants.

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CIV-F-09-0705 AWI SMS

ORDER SETTING A HEARING AND

BRIEFING SCHEDULE

Two groups of plaintiffs, both seeking to represent class actions, are suing Sunview

Vineyards on largely the same legal grounds. Sunview, in opposition to a motion for discovery,

stated: “Allowing discovery to go forward prior to consolidation and/or appointment of lead

counsel would prejudice Sunview, allowing burdensome, unnecessary and duplicative discovery.

The multitude of plaintiffs’ attorneys and law firms involved in Robles and Doe/Rojas would

require Sunview to engage in multiple, duplicative and possible contradictory meet and confer

conferences that may have to be repeated once lead counsel is appointed. Sunview therefore

respectfully requests that the Court deny Plaintiffs’ Motion to Compel early discovery. Sunview

further requests that the Court affirmatively stay all discovery pending consolidation of Robles

and Doe/Rojas and/or appointment of lead counsel.” Civ. Case No. 06-0288, Doc. 59,

Opposition, at 1:16-23. The court agrees with Sunview that these issues need to be addressed at

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this point. 

Fed. R. Civ. Proc. 42(a) states, “If actions before the court involve a common question of

law or fact, the court may....(2) consolidate the actions.” In the Ninth Circuit, consolidation

appears to merge the cases for all purposes. See Huene v. United States, 743 F.2d 703, 705 (9th

Cir. 1984). The court seeks the input of the parties as to how consolidation should proceed. 

Specifically, should the two complaints coexist or should they be merged into a new complaint? 

The fact that the two groups of plaintiffs are represented by different attorneys will greatly

complicate discovery. It is abundantly clear that the plaintiffs will soon seek class certification. 

Forcing Sunview to respond to two sets of likely duplicative requests is inefficient and

problematic. The court seeks the parties’ views and legal briefing on how this problem should be

resolved. Some possibilities are the appointment of interim class counsel per Fed. R. Civ. Proc.

23(g)(3); straightforward appointment of permanent class counsel per the guidelines of Fed. R.

Civ. Proc. 23(g)(2) even in advance of a formal motion for class certification; or an agreement

between the plaintiffs’ attorneys to join forces in prosecuting the case. To be clear, the court is

seeking the parties’ views and briefing on how the litigation should be organized. The court will

not appoint any lead counsel or oust any attorneys at the hearing on June 29, 2009; briefing by

any party on which attorney should represent the class would be unwelcome at this point. The

various plaintiffs’ attorneys will be given an opportunity to make their case at a later time,

contingent on how consolidation and discovery coordination are resolved. 

The three parties are invited to file a brief on these issues by 4 PM on May 29, 2009. 

They are also invited to file a response to other parties’ filings by 4 PM on June 17, 2009. On

Monday June 29, 2009 at 2:30 PM, the court will hold a hearing on these matters. All discovery

is suspended pending the hearing.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: May 4, 2009 /s/ Anthony W. Ishii 

0m8i78 CHIEF UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

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