Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-casd-3_17-cv-01104/USCOURTS-casd-3_17-cv-01104-1/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 870
Nature of Suit: Tax Suits
Cause of Action: 26:7403 IRS: Action to Enforce Federal Tax Lien

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17-cv-01104-LAB-JLB

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

Plaintiff,

v.

GREGORY E. GRANTHAM, et al.,

Defendants.

Case No.: 17-cv-01104-LAB-JLB

ORDER GRANTING IN PART AND 

DENYING IN PART DEFENDANT'S 

MOTION TO EXCUSE PERSONAL 

APPEARANCE AT EARLY 

NEUTRAL EVALUATION 

CONFERENCE 

[ECF No. 31]

Before the Court is Defendant Gregory E. Grantham’s Motion to Excuse Personal 

Appearance of Defendant at the ENE Conference. (ECF No. 31.) Mr. Grantham states 

that he is currently incarcerated in Sheridan, OR, and that there is a strong likelihood that 

he will not be released until on or after January 24, 2018. (Id. at 2-3.) Accordingly, Mr.

Grantham requests that he be excused from personally attending the December 19, 2017 

Early Neutral Evaluation Conference (ENE). (Id. at 3-4.) Plaintiff responded to Mr.

Grantham’s motion on December 11, 2017. (ECF No. 32.) In its response, Plaintiff 

represents that it asked Mr. Grantham’s prison counselor whether Mr. Grantham could be 

made telephonically available for the ENE. (Id. at 2.) Plaintiff represents that Mr. 

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17-cv-01104-LAB-JLB

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Grantham’s counselor responded that he could arrange for Mr. Grantham’s telephonic 

appearance at the ENE. (Id.)

Accordingly, Mr. Grantham’s motion to excuse his personal appearance at the 

ENE is GRANTED in part. It is hereby ordered that Mr. Grantham is excused from 

personally attending the ENE and shall instead appear telephonically. Plaintiff shall 

provide Mr. Grantham and his counselor with the telephone number of the Honorable Jill 

L. Burkhardt’s Chambers. The telephone number for Judge Burkhardt’s Chambers is 

(619) 557-6624. Mr. Grantham is ordered to call Judge Burkhardt’s chambers on 

December 19, 2017 at 1:45 PM.

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Mr. Grantham’s motion also references and attaches his previous Motion to Stay 

Action (ECF No. 18). The Court construes this reference as a renewed motion to stay 

this action. In his prior Motion to Stay Action, Mr. Grantham requested a stay because 

he is currently incarcerated and does not have access to his business records, and as a 

result, is unable to investigate the claims against him. (Id. at 5.) Mr. Grantham also 

asserted that his incarceration would prevent him from participating in the ENE and other 

case deadlines. (Id.) This renewed motion is DENIED as a pretrial scheduling order has 

not yet issued and Mr. Grantham is available to appear at the ENE telephonically. 

This order does not otherwise modify any date, deadline, or requirement set forth 

in the Court’s September 8, 2017 Order (ECF No. 14). 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: December 14, 2017

 

1 Plaintiff represents that Mr. Grantham’s counselor prefers to call in to chambers instead of receiving a 

telephone call from the Court. (ECF No. 32 at 2 n.2.) 

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