Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-5_06-cv-03002/USCOURTS-cand-5_06-cv-03002-15/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 110
Nature of Suit: Insurance
Cause of Action: 28:2201 Declaratory Judgement (Insurance)

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United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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ORDER GRANTING DEFENDANT'S MOTION FOR RELIEF FROM DECEMBER 10, 2007 TRIAL DATE —No. C-06-03002 RMW

MAG

United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

E-FILED on 10/10/07

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

SAN JOSE DIVISION

EMPLOYERS INSURANCE OF WAUSAU,

Plaintiff,

v.

CALIFORNIA WATER SERVICE

COMPANY, a California Corporation,

Defendant.

No. C-06-03002 RMW

ORDER GRANTING DEFENDANT'S

MOTION FOR RELIEF FROM DECEMBER

10, 2007 TRIAL DATE 

[Re Docket No. 234]

On October 1, 2007, defendant Cal. Water filed a motion for relief from the December 10,

2007 trial date, asking the court to change the trial date from December 10, 2007 to March 8, 2008. 

Plaintiff Wausau opposes the motion. 

The court moved the trial in the action from the originally-scheduled date of October 22,

2007 following the parties' filing of a combined total of five motions for summary judgment noticed

on the last possible date to hear dispositive motions. Because of number of motions, the court did

not feel the parties had provided for sufficient time for the court to consider and rule on the

numerous issues presented prior to the pre-trial and trial dates. Unfortunately, the new trial date

chosen by the court, December 10, 2007, conflicts with a pre-paid vacation that was scheduled by

Case 5:06-cv-03002-RMW Document 240 Filed 10/10/07 Page 1 of 3
United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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ORDER GRANTING DEFENDANT'S MOTION FOR RELIEF FROM DECEMBER 10, 2007 TRIAL DATE —No. C-06-03002 RMW

MAG 2

 Cal. Water's counsel on the assumption that the trial would begin on October 22, 2007. Counsel's

scheduled departure date is December 22, 2007.

Wausau argues that the trial date need not be moved because the trial should take only 10

days. Wausau's time estimate differs from Cal. Water's estimate. Cal. Water asserts that the case

will take 14 days if tried to the court and 20 days if tried to a jury because it anticipates that the

parties will call over 20 witnesses at trial. 

The court does not expect the trial to take as long as Cal. Water seems to believe it will,

however, it is sympathetic to the potential scheduling dilemma. It does not agree with Wausau that

it would be feasible to recess a jury trial until Cal. Water's counsel returns from his pre-scheduled

trip in the event that the trial runs longer than 10 days. The court also understands that Wausau is

ready to move forward with trial in this matter and that Wausau would like to schedule trial for a

date before the March 3, 2008 date proposed by Cal. Water. The March 3, 2008 date, however,

corresponds well with the court's availability. Accordingly, the court grants Cal. Water's motion for

relief from the December 10, 2007 trial date and continues the trial date to March 3, 2008, as set

forth below.

Wausau's real concern appears to relate to its motion, currently scheduled for hearing on

November 2, 2007, to prevent testimony at trial by two of Cal. Water's experts who submitted their

reports late. The court will rule on that motion independent of the continuance granted in the

present motion. 

ORDER

The court grants Cal. Water's motion for relief from the December 10, 2007 trial date. The

currently-scheduled pretrial date of November 29, 2007 shall be continued to February 21, 2008. 

The trial date shall be continued to March 3, 2008. The parties shall comply with the court's

standing order as regards pretrial conferences and filings.

DATED: 10/10/07

RONALD M. WHYTE

United States District Judge

Case 5:06-cv-03002-RMW Document 240 Filed 10/10/07 Page 2 of 3
United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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ORDER GRANTING DEFENDANT'S MOTION FOR RELIEF FROM DECEMBER 10, 2007 TRIAL DATE —No. C-06-03002 RMW

MAG 3

Notice of this document has been electronically sent to:

Counsel for Plaintiff:

Bryan M. Barber bbarber@barberlg.com

Fulton M. Smith, III fsmith@barberlg.com 

Counsel for Defendant:

John H. Podesta jpodesta@bbgslaw.com

A. Geoffrey Hutchinson ghutchinson@bbgslaw.com 

Counsel are responsible for distributing copies of this document to co-counsel that have not

registered for e-filing under the court's CM/ECF program.

Dated: 10/10/07 /s/ MAG

Chambers of Judge Whyte

Case 5:06-cv-03002-RMW Document 240 Filed 10/10/07 Page 3 of 3