Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_13-cv-01653/USCOURTS-caed-2_13-cv-01653-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 380
Nature of Suit: Other Personal Property Damage
Cause of Action: 28:2671 Federal Tort Claims Act

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Defendant USA’s Motion to Continue Pretrial Scheduling 1 

Conference; [proposed] Order 

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BENJAMIN B. WAGNER 

United States Attorney 

BOBBIE J. MONTOYA 

Assistant United States Attorney 

501 I Street, Suite 10-100 

Sacramento, California 95814 

Telephone: (916) 554-2775 

Attorneys for Defendant 

United States of America 

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 

STATE FARM MUTUAL INSURANCE 

COMPANY, 

 Plaintiff, 

 v. 

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, 

 Defendant. 

Case No. 2:13-CV-01653-LKK-CKD 

DEFENDANT UNITED STATES OF AMERICA’S 

MOTION TO CONTINUE PRETRIAL 

SCHEDULING CONFERENCE 

IN LIGHT OF LAPSE OF APPROPRIATIONS; 

ORDER 

The United States of America hereby moves for a continuance of the pretrial scheduling 

conference in the above-captioned case, which is currently scheduled for October 28, 2013, at 10:30 

a.m., before United States District Judge Lawrence K. Karlton. Pursuant to the August 12, 2013 Order 

Setting Status (Pretrial Scheduling) Conference, Doc. #4, the status reports are due 14 days prior to the 

pretrial scheduling conference, to wit, on or before October 11, 2013 (since October 14 is a federal 

holiday). 

1. At the end of the day on September 30, 2013, the appropriations act that had been 

funding the Department of Justice expired and appropriations to the Department lapsed. The 

Department does not know when funding will be restored by Congress. 

2. Absent an appropriation, Department of Justice attorneys and employees are prohibited 

from working, even on a voluntary basis, except in very limited circumstances, including “emergencies 

involving the safety of human life or the protection of property.” 31 U.S.C. § 1342. That exception is 

Case 2:13-cv-01653-TLN-CKD Document 8 Filed 10/09/13 Page 1 of 3
Defendant USA’s Motion to Continue Pretrial Scheduling 2 

Conference; [proposed] Order 

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not deemed to include most civil cases. Indeed, the undersigned Assistant U.S. Attorney is furloughed 

until appropriations to the Justice Department are restored. 

3. Undersigned counsel for defendant United States of America therefore requests a 

continuance of the pretrial scheduling conference until Congress has restored appropriations to the 

Department. 

4. If this motion for a continuance is granted, the undersigned counsel will notify the Court 

promptly after Congress has appropriated funds for the Department, and will propose rescheduling the 

pretrial scheduling conference as appropriate. 

5. Opposing counsel has authorized counsel for the Government to state that the Plaintiff 

has no objection to this motion. 

Therefore, although we greatly regret any disruption caused to the Court and the other litigants, 

the Government hereby moves for a continuance of the pretrial scheduling conference in this case until 

Department of Justice attorneys are permitted to resume their usual civil litigation functions. 

 Respectfully submitted, 

DATED: October 9, 2013 BENJAMIN B. WAGNER 

United States Attorney 

 /s/ Bobbie J. Montoya 

 BOBBIE J. MONTOYA 

Assistant United States Attorney 

Attorneys for Defendant 

United States of America 

ORDER 

 The status conference, currently set for October 28, 2013, is continued to January 13, 2014 at 

2:30 p.m. The parties are reminded of their obligation to file status reports 14 days preceding the status 

conference. 

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Defendant USA’s Motion to Continue Pretrial Scheduling 3 

Conference; [proposed] Order 

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IT IS SO ORDERED. 

DATED: October 8, 2013. 

Case 2:13-cv-01653-TLN-CKD Document 8 Filed 10/09/13 Page 3 of 3