Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_13-cv-00519/USCOURTS-caed-1_13-cv-00519-15/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 442
Nature of Suit: Civil Rights Employment
Cause of Action: 28:1441 Petition for Removal- Labor/Mgmnt. Relations

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

LUIS VALDEZ, et al.,

Plaintiffs,

v.

THE NEIL JONES FOOD COMPANY,

et al.,

Defendants.

Case No. 1:13-cv-00519-AWI-SAB

ORDER SETTING SCHEDULING 

CONFERENCE

A scheduling order in this action issued on December 19, 2013. (ECF No. 38.) On May 

7, 2014, the parties filed a notice of settlement and the dates set forth in the December 19, 2013 

scheduling order were vacated. (ECF No. 41.) Since that time, the parties have filed three 

motions for preliminary approval of the class action settlement which have been denied. (ECF 

Nos. 47, 54, 67.) Most recently Judge Ishii provided the parties with the opportunity to address 

the issues that precluded a finding that the settlement was not substantially influenced by the self 

interest of the named parties and their representatives rather than the interests of the class. (ECF 

No. 64.) The parties briefing did not quell the concerns of the Court and the proposed settlement 

was found to fall outside of the range of possible approval. (ECF No. 67.)

During the two years since the notice of settlement was filed, the parties have filed three 

motions for preliminary approval without resolving the concerns that the Court has identified. 

Further, as all three settlement proposals have included the same provisions that have precluded a 

finding that the settlement was within the range of possible approval and the parties responses to 

Case 1:13-cv-00519-SAB Document 68 Filed 01/29/16 Page 1 of 2
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the order requiring additional briefing, it appears that these issues will preclude approval of the 

settlement. 

The Court finds it is in the interest of the parties and judicial economy to move this action 

forward. Therefore, the Court shall set a scheduling conference to address the deadlines 

established in the December 13, 2013 scheduling order and set a date for Plaintiffs to file their 

motion for class certification. 

Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that:

1. A scheduling conference to address the class certification deadline shall be held on 

February 19, 2016, at 3:30 p.m. in Courtroom 9.

2. If the parties wish to appear telephonically at the scheduling conference they shall 

contact Courtroom Deputy Mamie Hernandez at (559) 499-5672 who will then 

provide counsel with the toll-free teleconference number and teleconference

code for the call.

3. The parties shall submit a joint scheduling report addressing whether additional 

discovery is needed prior to Plaintiffs submitting their motion for class 

certification and setting forth proposed dates seven days prior to the scheduling

conference. 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: January 29, 2016 

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 1:13-cv-00519-SAB Document 68 Filed 01/29/16 Page 2 of 2