Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-casd-3_18-cv-01276/USCOURTS-casd-3_18-cv-01276-1/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 850
Nature of Suit: Securities, Commodities, Exchange
Cause of Action: 15:0078m(a) Securities Exchange Act

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

HIGHFIELDS CAPITAL I LP, et al.,

Plaintiffs,

v.

SEAWORLD ENTERTAINMENT, INC., 

et al.,

Defendants.

Case No.: 18-cv-1276-MMA-AGS

NOTICE AND AMENDED ORDER: 

(1) FOR EARLY NEUTRAL 

EVALUATION AND (2) SETTING 

RULE 26 COMPLIANCE AND CASE 

MANAGEMENT CONFERENCE

An Early Neutral Evaluation and Case Management Conference will be held in the 

Chambers of Magistrate Judge Andrew G. Schopler on March 17, 2020, at 9:00 a.m.

Notwithstanding the pendency of any motion, the parties must timely comply with the 

following dates, deadlines, and mandatory instructions:

1. Directions to Chambers: Judge Schopler’s Chambers are located at the 

Edward J. Schwartz U.S. Courthouse, 221 West Broadway, Suite 5160, San Diego, 

California 92101. Do not report to Courtroom 5C; report to Chambers. In order to gain 

access to Chambers, the parties should take the elevator to the 5th Floor, turn to face 

the wooden double doors (labeled “Authorized Personnel Only” and “5150”), and 

press the wall buzzer labeled “#15 JUDGE SCHOPLER.”

2. Mandatory Personal Appearances: All parties and lead attorneys must 

appear in person at the ENE. A party that is a business, organization, or other entity must 

have at least two people appear in person at the ENE: (1) the party’s representative 

(someone other than the lead attorney) who has full settlement authority and (2) its lead 

attorney. In addition, anyone else needed to authorize full settlement must appear in 

person. Government entities are excused from this personal-appearance requirement, so 

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long as their lead attorney appears in person and has the power to recommend a resolution 

to the ultimate settlement authority.

3. Interpreters: If a party is not fluent in English, that party’s counsel must 

ensure that an appropriate Court-certified interpreter appears in person at the ENE. If a 

non-English-speaking party is not represented by counsel, that party must ensure that an 

appropriate Court-certified interpreter appears in person at the ENE.

4. Notice of Specific Settlement Impediments: If either party identifies a 

specific impediment to meaningful settlement discussions—for instance, a need to 

investigate an accident site or take a specific individual’s deposition—it shall so inform 

the Court at the earliest possible opportunity, but no later than the deadline for the Joint 

Discovery Plan and ENE statement. The Court may then set a telephonic status conference 

to discuss the matter or take other action.

5. ENE Statements: By the below-listed date, the parties must email their ENE 

statements to efile_schopler@casd.uscourts.gov. Each statement, which is limited to five 

pages, must outline:

a. All ENE attendees for that side, including their names, titles, and positions.

b. The nature of the case, including the claims and defenses.

c. The requested settlement terms. These settlement terms may be attached as an 

addendum or exhibit, rather than included in the five-page ENE statement. But the 

requested settlement terms must include:

(1)A specific financial demand or offer (or a detailed explanation of why a financial 

demand or offer cannot be made), and

(2)All other settlement terms (for example, confidentiality, tax treatment, 

employment retention/termination, etc.). 

If exhibits are attached and the total submission amounts to more than 20 pages, a courtesy 

hard copy must also be delivered directly to Chambers. At their discretion, the parties may 

choose to share their statements with opposing counsel or to keep them confidential.

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6. Case Management: A Joint Discovery Plan must be filed on the CM/ECF 

system as well as lodged with Judge Schopler by emailing the Plan to 

efile_schopler@casd.uscourts.gov as set out below. If the Plan with its attachments 

exceeds 20 pages, a courtesy paper copy must be delivered to Judge Schopler’s Chambers.

If the parties wish to modify the tentative discovery dates or limitations listed below

(confirmed dates are boldfaced; tentative dates are not), the Plan must set forth casespecific good cause for the proposed modifications.

CASE MANAGEMENT SCHEDULE

Event Deadline

Rule 26(f) Conference January 22, 2020

Rule 26 Initial Disclosures March 3, 2020

Joint Discovery Plan March 10, 2020

ENE Statements March 10, 2020

ENE and CMC March 17, 2020, at 9:00 a.m.

Motions to Amend May 15, 2020

Substantial Completion of 

Document Production

July 31, 2020

Fact Discovery Completion October 16, 2020

Expert Witness Designations 

and Disclosures

December 2, 2020

Rebuttal Expert Witness 

Designations and Disclosures

January 11, 2021

Expert Discovery Completion February 11, 2021

MSC Statements February 18, 2021

Mandatory Settlement 

Conference

February 25, 2021

Pretrial Motions and Daubert 

Motions

March 12, 2021

DISCOVERY LIMITATIONS

Discovery Type Restriction (Per Side)

Depositions No more than [10]

Requests for Admission No more than [25]

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Interrogatories No more than [25]

Requests to Produce Documents No more than [25]

7. Magistrate Judge Consent Forms: If all parties consent to the Magistrate 

Judge exercising jurisdiction to conduct all proceedings, including trial, each party must

provide plaintiff’s counsel with an executed copy of the attached consent form. Plaintiff

should file these consent forms in paper format at the Clerk’s Office as soon as possible.

See Local Civil Rule 73.1. The consent forms should not be filed with the court 

electronically. The parties are free to withhold consent without adverse consequences. In 

fact, unless all parties consent to the Magistrate Judge’s jurisdiction, no judicial officer will 

be informed about the consent forms or their contents. Questions related to the consent 

forms should be directed only to the Clerk’s Office at (619) 557-5600. Please do not call 

Chambers’ staff with questions on this issue.

8. Notice to New Parties: If any parties respond to the complaint after today’s 

date, plaintiff’s counsel must promptly notify them about the ENE and this Order.

9. Pre-ENE Settlement: If the parties resolve the matter, they must telephone 

Judge Schopler’s Chambers as soon as possible. In order for the ENE to be vacated and 

personal appearances excused, the parties must:

a. File a Joint Motion to Dismiss and separately email the assigned District Judge 

a proposed order; or

b. File a Settlement Notice containing the electronic signatures of counsel for all 

settling parties; or

c. Obtain Court approval to vacate the ENE and avoid personal appearances, by 

explaining in the telephone call to Judge Schopler’s Chambers the 

extraordinary circumstances that prevent the parties from complying with 

options a or b, above.

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Dated: January 8, 2020

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* Pursuant to Civil Local Rule 73.1, if (and only if) all parties have consented to the 

reference to a magistrate judge, then Plaintiff shall file the consent form(s) in paper format 

at the Clerk’s Office.

Notice of a magistrate judge's availability. A United States magistrate judge of this court is available 

to conduct all proceedings in this civil action (including a jury or nonjury trial) and to order the entry 

of a final judgment. The judgment may then be appealed directly to the United States court of appeals 

like any other judgment of this court. A magistrate judge may exercise this authority only if all parties 

voluntarily consent. 

You may consent to have your case referred to a magistrate judge, or you may withhold your consent 

without adverse substantive consequences. The name of any party withholding consent will not be 

revealed to any judge who may otherwise be involved with your case. 

Consent to a magistrate judge's authority. The following parties ☐ Consent / ☐ Do Not Consent*

to have a United States magistrate judge conduct all proceedings in this case including trial, the entry 

of final judgment, and all post-trial proceedings.

Printed Names Signatures of all parties and counsel for all parties Dates

REFERENCE ORDER

IT IS ORDERED: This case is referred to United States Magistrate Judge Andrew G. Schopler, to 

conduct all proceedings and order entry of a final judgment in accordance with 28 U.S.C. § 636(c), 

Fed. R. Civ. P. 73, and CivLR 73.1.

Date United States District Judge

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

HIGHFIELDS CAPITAL I LP, et al.,

Plaintiff(s)

v.

SEAWORLD ENTERTAINMENT, INC., et 

al.,

Defendant(s)

Case No.: 18-cv-1276-MMA-AGS

NOTICE, CONSENT, AND

REFERENCE OF A CIVIL ACTION TO 

A MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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* Pursuant to Civil Local Rule 73.1, if (and only if) all parties have consented to the 

reference to a magistrate judge, then Plaintiff shall file the consent form(s) in paper format 

at the Clerk’s Office.

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