Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_19-cv-01936/USCOURTS-caed-2_19-cv-01936-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 893
Nature of Suit: Environmental Matters
Cause of Action: 33:1365 Environmental Matters

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

EDEN ENVIRONMENTAL CITIZEN’S 

GROUP, LLC,

Plaintiff,

v.

CALIFORNIA CASCADE BUILDING 

MATERIALS, INC, et al.,

Defendants.

No. 2:19–cv–1936–TLN–KJN

ORDER

(ECF No. 37)

On March 19, 2020, Plaintiff filed a motion to compel regarding a discovery dispute over 

a Rule 34(a)(2) entry onto land. (ECF No. 34.) Plaintiff requested a hearing for March 26, 

pursuant to Local Rule 251(a), and the court set the matter for a telephonic hearing on that day. 

(ECF No. 36.) The court granted defendants leave to file their separate statement by Tuesday, 

March 24, 2020. (Id.)

Defendant objected to the shortened time, contending the normal procedure for discovery 

disputes requires a hearing set 21 days out, and requires a joint statement from the parties—

neither of which was adhered to in this proceeding. Further, defendants argue that while Local 

Rule 251 permits a hearing on seven days notice, it requires a joint statement to be filed 

indicating the parties have conferred on the issue. See Terry v. Wasatch Advantage Grp., 2017 

U.S. Dist. LEXIS 116288, at *3 n.2 (E.D. Cal. July 25, 2017). Defendants also argue plaintiff has 

Case 2:19-cv-01936-KJN Document 38 Filed 03/20/20 Page 1 of 2
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not met the good-faith requirement of conferring with defendants prior to filing a separate 

statement, as is allowed by Local Rule 251(d). Finally, defendants the parties agreed to defer this 

category of discovery, and also contend that no exigency exists for the shortened period given

California’s “shelter at home” order. 

The court overrules defendants’ objections. As defendants correctly note, Local Rule 

251(a) allows for a hearing on seven days’ notice, and plaintiff’s motion was filed seven days 

prior to the hearing. Further, Local Rule 251(d) allows for a separate statement to be filed: “If 

counsel for the moving party is unable, after a good faith effort, to secure the cooperation of 

counsel for the opposing party in arranging the required conference, or in preparing and executing 

the required joint statement, counsel for the moving party may file and serve an affidavit so 

stating.” Here, plaintiff’s counsel did so file an affidavit, which demonstrated that the parties had 

been discussing this issue since early February 2020—the court expects defendants will oppose 

the motion to compel on the same grounds as they have asserted since then. (See ECF No. 33.) 

Further, the court notes that while defendants claim the parties agreed to bifurcate discovery, 

leaving merits discovery until the end of 2020, the parties’ joint statement clearly contemplates 

requesting this entry onto land prior to then. (See Id. at p. 6: “The one exception to this 

agreement to bifurcate and limit discovery is Plaintiff wishes to perform a site inspection of the 

Facility pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 34, and, if possible, take storm water runoff 

samples during what is left of this year’s Northern California rainy season.”). Finally, as to 

defendants’ contentions regarding the “shelter at home” order, the court will be holding the 

conference telephonically. Further, the court has yet to rule on the motion to compel, and so 

defendants’ concerns about any actual inspection are premature. The court will discuss these 

issues with counsel at next week’s hearing. For now, defendants are advised to respond to the 

substance of plaintiff’s motion by the due date. (See ECF No. 36.)

Accordingly, defendants’ objections are OVERRULED. 

SD, eden.193

DATED: March 20, 2020

Case 2:19-cv-01936-KJN Document 38 Filed 03/20/20 Page 2 of 2