Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_06-cv-00434/USCOURTS-caed-2_06-cv-00434-1/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 130
Nature of Suit: Miller Act
Cause of Action: 28:1352 Miller Act

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, for the )

use and benefits of NRA )

Construction Company, Inc., a )

California corporation, ) 2:06-cv-434-GEB-GGH

)

Plaintiff, )

) ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE

v. ) AND CONTINUING STATUS

) (PRETRIAL SCHEDULING)

EAI INTERNATIONAL, a California ) CONFERENCE

corporation; and JAMES E. )

ZOURCHA, an individual surety, )

)

Defendants. )

)

The May 25, 2006, Order Continuing Status (Pretrial

Scheduling) Conference (“May 25 Order”) reset the status conference in

this case for September 25, 2006, and required Plaintiff “to file a

further status report no later than September 11, 2006, in which it

explains why this action should not be dismissed for its failure to

litigate using default procedures or, in the alternative, how and when

Plaintiff will litigate default proceedings.” (May 25 Order at 2.)

Plaintiff filed an untimely status report on September 18,

2006, in which it states “Defendant [EAI International] is essentially

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Defendant Zourcha is not subject to the OSC, despite 1

Plaintiff’s statement in its Status Report that it attempted to contact

Mr. Zoucha “multiple” times in advance of the September 25 status

conference, because the record does not indicate that Defendant Zourcha

was ever served with the May 25 Order. 

“If the fault lies with the attorney, that is where the impact 2

of sanction should be lodged. If the fault lies with the clients, that

is where the impact of the sanction should be lodged.” Matter of

Sanction of Baker, 744 F.2d 1438, 1442 (10th Cir. 1984), cert. denied,

471 U.S. 1014 (1985). Sometimes the faults of attorneys, and their

consequences, are visited upon clients. In re Hill, 775 F.2d 1385, 1387

(9th Cir. 1985).

out of the case” and that “Mr. Zoucha is representing himself in pro

persona and has appeared in this case.” (Plf.’s Status Report at 1.) 

Plaintiff explains that “Mr. Zoucha has not responded to any attempt

at communication regarding this Status . . . Report and therefore

Plaintiff files this report . . . without his input.” (Id.)

Order to Show Cause

Plaintiff is Ordered to Show Cause (OSC) no later than 

4:00 p.m. on September 26, 2006, why sanctions should not be imposed

under Rule 16(f) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure against its

counsel and/or Plaintiff for the failure to file a timely status

report, as ordered. The written response shall state whether the 1

Plaintiff or its counsel is at fault, whether a hearing is requested

on the OSC, and whether it intends to voluntarily dismiss Defendant 2

EAI International.

Continuance of Status (Pretrial Scheduling) Conference and Joint

Status Report Filing Requirement

The status conference is rescheduled to commence at 

9:00 a.m. on December 18, 2006. If Plaintiff requests a hearing on

the OSC, it will be held directly following the status conference. In

accordance with the requirements set forth in the March 2, 2006, Order

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The parties are reminded that “[t]he failure of one or more of 3

the parties to participate in the preparation of the Joint Status Report

does not excuse the other parties from their obligation to timely file

a status report in accordance with this Order. In the event a party

fails to participate as ordered, the party timely submitting the status

report shall include a declaration explaining why it was unable to

obtain the cooperation of the other party or parties.” (Order Setting

Status (Pretrial Scheduling) Conference, March 2, 2006, at 2, n.1.)

Setting Status (Pretrial Scheduling) Conference, the parties shall

file a joint status report no later than December 4, 2006.3

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: September 19, 2006

/s/ Garland E. Burrell, Jr.

GARLAND E. BURRELL, JR.

United States District Judge

Case 2:06-cv-00434-GEB-GGH Document 14 Filed 09/20/06 Page 3 of 3