Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-5_13-cv-02667/USCOURTS-cand-5_13-cv-02667-8/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 190
Nature of Suit: Other Contract Actions
Cause of Action: 28:1332 Diversity-Contract Dispute

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Case No. 13-cv-02667 HRL (NC) OSC FOR FAILURE TO APPEAR

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

HEATHER BROOKSBANK,

 Plaintiff,

 v.

PRIVATE CAPITAL GROUP, LLC,

 Defendant.

Case No. 13-cv-02667 HRL (NC)

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE WHY 

PLAINTIFF SHOULD NOT BE 

SANCTIONED FOR HER 

FAILURE TO APPEAR AND HER 

FAILURE TO PARTICIPATE IN 

GOOD FAITH IN SETTLEMENT 

CONFERENCE; and ORDER 

SETTING FURTHER 

SETTLEMENT CONFERENCE

Response Required by July 10, 2015

This Court held a settlement conference on June 22, 2015, at 11:00 a.m., upon a 

referral from the trial judge, Magistrate Judge Howard R. Lloyd. Plaintiff Heather 

Brooksbank failed to appear at the settlement conference and failed to reply to a telephone 

message left for her during the conference to explain her absence.

Under Rule 16(f) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, the Court may issue “any 

just orders,” including the sanctions set forth in Rule 37(b)(2)(A)(ii-vii), if a party fails to 

appear at a scheduling or other pretrial conference; does not participate in good faith; or 

fails to obey a scheduling order. Instead of or in addition to Rule 37 sanctions, the Court 

must order a party to pay the “reasonable expenses” including attorney’s fees, incurred 

because of noncompliance, unless noncompliance was “substantially justified or other 

Case 5:13-cv-02667-HRL Document 85 Filed 06/29/15 Page 1 of 2
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Case No. 14-cv-02667 HRL (NC) OSC FOR FAILURE TO APPEAR 2

circumstances make an award of expenses unjust.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(f)(2). 

In this case, plaintiff Heather Brooksbank must explain by July 10 in a filed writing: 

(1) why she did not appear as ordered on June 22; (2) whether her noncompliance was 

“substantially justified or other circumstances make an award of expenses unjust”; (3) why 

she should not be sanctioned for her noncompliance; and (4) whether she will appear as 

ordered for a settlement conference in the San Jose courthouse on July 24, 2015, at 11:00 

a.m.

Defendant Private Capital Group may reply by July 17. The Court will schedule a 

hearing, if one is necessary, after considering the written submissions.

The Clerk of Court is also requested to reschedule the settlement conference to July 

24, 2015, 11:00 a.m. in San Jose courtroom 7.

Plaintiff is reminded that limited scope legal assistance is available from the Federal 

Pro Se Program. To schedule an appointment in San Jose, litigants may call 408.297.1480 

or sign up in the appointment book located outside the Federal Pro Se Program office on the 

second floor of the courthouse. The Federal Pro Se Program at the San Jose courthouse is 

open for appointments and on a drop-in basis Monday through Thursday afternoons, and 

Fridays by appointment only, and at the offices of the Law Foundation of Silicon Valley on 

a drop-in basis Monday through Thursday mornings, and Fridays by appointment only.

IT IS SO ORDERED. 

Date: June 29, 2015 _________________________ Nathanael M. Cousins

United States Magistrate Judge

Case 5:13-cv-02667-HRL Document 85 Filed 06/29/15 Page 2 of 2