Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_06-cv-01388/USCOURTS-caed-1_06-cv-01388-2/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 950
Nature of Suit: Contitutionality of State Statutes
Cause of Action: 28:2201 Declaratory Judgement

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STIPULATION AND PROPOSED ORDER STAYING ACTION 

WILMER CUTLER PICKERING 

 HALE AND DORR LLP 

Brian M. Boynton #222193 

1875 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. 

Washington, D.C. 20006 

(202) 663-6000 

(202) 663-6363 (facsimile) 

BAKER, MANOCK & JENSEN 

A Professional Corporation 

Robert D. Wilkinson #100478 

Fig Garden Financial Center 

5260 North Palm Avenue, Fourth Floor 

Fresno, California 93704-2209 

(559) 432-5400 

(559) 432-5620 (facsimile) 

Counsel for Defendant THE CALIFORNIA TABLE GRAPE COMMISSION 

LAW OFFICES OF BRIAN C. LEIGHTON 

Brian C. Leighton #090907 

701 Pollasky Avenue 

Clovis, California 93612 

Counsel for Plaintiff EQUINOX TREE & VINE, LLC 

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

EQUINOX TREE & VINE, LLC, a 

California Limited Liability Company 

 Plaintiff, 

 v. 

THE CALIFORNIA TABLE GRAPE 

COMMISSION, 

 Defendant. 

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Case No. 1:06-cv-01388-OWW-DLB 

STIPULATION AND ORDER STAYING 

ACTION AND ESTABLISHING ESCROW 

ACCOUNT 

WHEREAS Plaintiff Equinox Tree & Vine, LLC (“Equinox”) alleges in the above-captioned 

action that the California law imposing assessments on shipments of California table grapes to be 

used by Defendant the California Table Grape Commission (“Commission”) violates Equinox’s 

constitutional rights; 

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Case 1:06-cv-01388-OWW -DLB Document 11 Filed 11/29/06 Page 1 of 5
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STIPULATION AND PROPOSED ORDER STAYING ACTION 

WHEREAS a similar constitutional challenge has been pending in this Court since 1996 in a 

case brought by the same counsel representing Equinox captioned Delano Farms Co. v. California 

Table Grape Commission, 1:96-cv-6053-OWW-DLB (“Delano Farms”); 

WHEREAS litigation in the Delano Farms action has progressed substantially and a hearing 

on cross-motions for summary judgment in that case is scheduled for January 25, 2007; 

WHEREAS the parties to this case and the Delano Farms case agree that the cases are 

Related under Eastern District Local Rule 83-123(b), the Commission filed Notices of Related Cases 

relating the Delano Farms action to this action on October 31, 2006, and this Court found that the 

cases are related in an order filed November 22, 2006; and 

WHEREAS the parties agree through their counsel that it is in the best interests of the parties 

and in the interests of judicial economy to stay this action pending final determination of the Delano 

Farms case; 

IT IS HEREBY STIPULATED by the parties to this action, through their counsel, subject to 

the approval of the Court, that: 

1. This case shall be stayed until 30 days after final resolution of the Delano Farm case, 

including the resolution of all available appeals, provided, however, that following the Court’s 

decision on the cross-motions for summary judgment in the Delano Farms case, either party to this 

case may seek a status conference to discuss whether this case should remain stayed in light of that 

decision. 

2. Subject to its claim that the Commission’s agricultural promotion program is 

unconstitutional, Equinox will pay directly to the Commission within 30 days of the Court’s entry of 

this Stipulation all past due assessments for the 2005 season (ending April 30, 2006), the sum of 

which is $58,998.46. 

3. Equinox and the Commission will establish an interest-bearing escrow account at a bank 

in Fresno, California, to be agreed upon by the parties, for the deposit of assessments owed by 

Equinox since May 1, 2006, subject to Equinox’s claim that the Commission’s agricultural 

promotion program is unconstitutional. The account shall be established with two signatories: 

Brian C. Leighton of the Law Offices of Brian C. Leighton, counsel for Equinox; and Robert D. 

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STIPULATION AND PROPOSED ORDER STAYING ACTION 

Wilkinson of the law firm of Baker, Manock & Jensen, counsel for the Commission. Neither 

signatory may withdraw money from the account without first obtaining the written agreement of the 

other signatory, or by court order. Should either signatory be unable to continue to serve in this role, 

a new signatory shall be named, subject to agreement by both parties. Monthly statements on the 

account shall be provided to the Law Offices of Brian C. Leighton and Baker, Manock & Jensen. 

4. Equinox shall deposit in the escrow account within 30 days of the Court entry of this 

Stipulation (1) applicable penalties for late payment of assessments for the 2005 season, the sum of 

which is $780.13, and (2) all past due assessments under California Food & Agricultural Code 

sections 65600-65654 since May 1, 2006, in an amount to be calculated by the Commission under 

the prevailing rate following submission by Equinox of all past due shipment reports, which reports 

shall be filed with the Commission within 15 days of the Court’s entry of this Stipulation. Equinox 

shall notify the Commission and its counsel by mail when it deposits the penalties and past due 

assessments by providing a duplicate of the check and proof of deposit. 

5. Equinox shall hereafter deposit into the escrow account all assessment payments on or 

before the date they become due under California Food & Agricultural Code §§ 65600-65605 and 

under the Commission’s regular procedures and shall comply with all Commission reporting and 

payment rules. Equinox shall notify the Commission and its counsel by mail each time it deposits an 

assessment payment with a duplicate of the checks and proof of deposit. 

6. So long as this Stipulation and Order is in effect and Equinox makes all of its assessment 

deposits into the escrow account in a timely manner: 

(a) The Commission shall not collect or seek to collect from Equinox, directly or 

indirectly, any assessments owed by it, other than as specified in paragraph 7 or by pursuing 

any claims for collection that the Commission may bring following the termination of the 

stay of the action; 

(b) The Commission will not collect or seek to collect from Equinox any penalties or 

fines for late payment of assessments due since May 1, 2006; and 

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STIPULATION AND PROPOSED ORDER STAYING ACTION 

(c) Neither the Commission nor Equinox will collect or seek to collect interest on the 

assessments at the termination of this action, other than the interest that accrues on the 

amounts deposited in the escrow account provided for herein. 

7. Upon the entry of a final judgment in this action, including the resolution of all available 

appeals, all principal and interest in the escrow account provided for herein shall be paid within 10 

days to the prevailing party. If the Commission’s program is found to be constitutional in part and 

unconstitutional in part, distribution of the principal and interest shall be prorated in proportion to 

those portions of the program found to be constitutional and unconstitutional. 

8. Distribution of the principal and interest of the escrow account may be made upon the 

signatures of the authorized representatives for the parties as provided for above. In the event 

enforcement of this Order is required or the parties cannot agree as to the distribution of the 

principal and interest of the escrow account, the dispute may be submitted by motion of either party 

to the Court in this action and the distribution of the principal and interest shall be made in 

accordance with the final order upon that motion. 

9. Nothing in this stipulation shall act as a waiver of rights or defenses related to the claims 

at issue in this case, except that Equinox expressly agrees that any statute of limitations, laches 

defense, or other defense or argument based upon delay or the passage of time related to claims by 

the Commission for collection of unpaid assessments from Equinox shall be tolled during the 

pendency of the stay of this action. 

10. This Stipulation and Order is effective immediately, and shall remain effective until 

modified by further stipulation or by further order of this Court, or until final judgment is entered in 

this action, whichever comes first. 

 

Dated: November 27, 2006 WILMER CUTLER PICKERING 

 HALE AND DORR 

Brian M. Boynton 

BAKER, MANOCK & JENSEN 

Robert D. Wilkinson 

By: /s/ Brian M. Boynton _

 Brian M. Boynton 

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STIPULATION AND PROPOSED ORDER STAYING ACTION 

 Counsel for Defendant THE CALIFORNIA 

TABLE GRAPE COMMISSION 

Dated: November 27, 2006 LAW OFFICES OF BRIAN C. LEIGHTON 

By: /s/ Brian C. Leighton (as authorized)_

 Brian C. Leighton 

Counsel for Plaintiff EQUINOX TREE 

& VINE LLC 

ORDER 

IT IS SO ORDERED. 

Dated: __November 27, 2006________ 

_/s/ OLIVER W. WANGER____ 

Oliver W. Wanger 

United States District Judge 

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