Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_06-cv-02657/USCOURTS-caed-2_06-cv-02657-6/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 423
Nature of Suit: Bankruptcy Withdrawal 28 USC 157
Cause of Action: 28:0157 Motion for Withdrawal of Reference

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

In re )

) 2:06-cv-2657-GEB-KJM

CHUNG XAY LUU, )

)

Debtor. ) DRAFT PRETRIAL ORDER

)

)

PREM DHAWAN, Trustee in )

Bankruptcy, )

)

Plaintiff, )

)

v. )

)

THAM THI MAI, )

)

Defendant. )

)

A final pretrial conference will be held on August 13,

2007. This draft pretrial order issues in an attempt to expedite

the conference. A final pretrial order will issue after the

conference.

I. JURY/NON-JURY

All issues shall be tried to a jury.

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1 The parties have leave to include other undisputed facts

into the instruction and may make the facts read in a narrative

form if they desire. As the preamble to this instruction the

parties could have the following language:

Before the trial, the attorneys for the parties agreed that

the following facts are true. By this procedure, it is often

possible to shorten the length of the trial. Therefore, in

accordance with the agreement of the parties, you are required

to treat these facts as having been proved:

2

II. UNDISPUTED FACTS

This section contains facts which will become a part of

the evidentiary record. The parties shall incorporate them into a

preliminary jury instruction which will be read to the jury prior

to opening statements, and shall determine which party or parties

should read them to the jury.1 The parties shall also review the

undisputed facts stated in this section and modify them as

necessary so that the jury will understand what is being

communicated. For example, perhaps what is meant by “Chapter 7

bankruptcy” in the first undisputed fact should be explained. 

1. Debtor filed a Chapter 7 bankruptcy case on August 16,

2005.

2. Defendant is an individual currently residing in the City

of Suisun in the County of Solano, California.

3. Defendant is the ex-wife of the Debtor.

4. On June 8, 1989, Debtor and Defendant purchased and

acquired title to the Shasta Street Property as husband and wife,

as joint tenants.

5. On or about May 11, 2004, Debtor filed for divorce from

Defendant in Solano County Superior Court, Case Number FFL079006

("Marital Dissolution Action").

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6. On or about November 22, 2004, the Superior Court of

Solano County entered a Judgement of Dissolution in the Marital

Dissolution Action.

7. The Crested Drive Property is a single family residential

property.

8. The Shasta Street Property is a single family residential

property.

9. The Crested Drive Property and the Shasta Street Property

are not used in the production, transmission, or distribution, for

sale, of electric energy or of natural or synthetic gas for heat,

light or power.

10. On July 23, 1993, the Debtor and Defendant purchased and

took record title to the Crested Drive Property as husband and

wife, as joint tenants.

11. On June 17, 2002, the Debtor executed an Interspousal

Transfer Deed conveying his right, title and interest in the

Crested Drive Property to Defendant "a married woman as her sole

and separate property" which deed was recorded on June 24, 2002.

12. On July 18, 2002, Defendant executed an Interspousal

Transfer Deed wherein Defendant grants the Crested Drive Property

to "Chung Xay Luu and Tham Thi Mai, Husband and Wife as Joint

Tenants" which deed was recorded on July 26, 2002

13. On October 20, 2004, the Debtor and Defendant executed a

Grant Deed which purports to convey the Crested Drive Property to

Defendant "Tham Thi Mai, an unmarried woman" which deed was

recorded on October 20, 2004,

14. On January 5, 2004, the Debtor executed an Interspousal

Transfer Grant Deed, pursuant to which deed the Debtor conveyed his

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28 2 The parties also have leave to set forth their agreements

on any evidentiary matters in the Stipulation.

4

right, title and interest in the Shasta Street Property to

Defendant which deed was recorded on January 7, 2004.

III. DISPUTED EVIDENTIARY ISSUES

Any evidentiary dispute capable of being resolved in

limine shall be addressed using the following procedure. Counsel

for the parties are required to meet and confer about the dispute. 

If the meeting fails to resolve the dispute, the parties are to set

forth their respective positions on the dispute in a document

entitled “Stipulation Re: Evidentiary Disagreements,” that shall be

signed by counsel for the parties and filed no later than twenty

(20) court days prior to the date on which trial commences

(“Stipulation”).2 

In the Stipulation, after the movant states the legal and

factual basis for opposing admission of a clearly-identified,

specific item of evidence, the nonmovant shall state its position.

Failure to state a basis for admissibility or non-admissibility of

disputed evidence constitutes a waiver or abandonment of that

basis. If the same argument or a portion thereof applies to a

dispute over other evidence, that argument may be incorporated by

reference where that other disputed evidence is argued. 

 This procedure is intended to expedite the trial by

allowing the judge to understand the factual context involving

disputed evidence and to make binding pretrial rulings. The

parties are cautioned that failure to utilize this procedure to

resolve an evidentiary issue which is capable of resolution in an

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3 Since the judge disfavors side-bar conferences during

trial, counsel may be informed of this waiver in front of the jury.

Evidentiary disputes addressed in limine need not be included in

trial briefs as required by Local Rule 16-285(a)(3) (requiring that

“reasonably anticipated disputes concerning admissibility of

evidence” be included in trial briefs). 

4 Plaintiff’s issue regarding “[t]he amount of sanctions

that Plaintiff is entitled to recover as a consequence of

prevailing on its Motion to Compel” shall be referenced to the

bankruptcy judge. (Joint Pretrial Statement (“JPS”) at 9.)

5

in limine motion may be deemed a waiver of objection to such

evidence, or could result in a ruling excluding the evidence.3

IV. ISSUES FOR TRIAL4

A. The Final Pretrial Order supersedes the pleadings

and controls the facts and claims which may be presented at trial. 

Any legal theory of relief or affirmative defense asserted in the

pleadings but not preserved for trial in this section of the Final

Pretrial Order cannot be raised during the trial. Therefore, to

preserve an issue for trial, and to be entitled to jury

instructions on that issue, the issue shall be identified and

preserved in this section of the Order. Failure to do so

dismisses, waives or abandons that issue, claim or defense. 

Hotel Emp., et al. Health Tr. v. Elks Lodge 1450, 827 F.2d 1324,

1329 (9th Cir. 1987) (“Issues not preserved in the pretrial order

are eliminated from the action.”).

B. The following issues are preserved for trial provided

jury instructions are submitted as required by Section XI of this

Order:

Agreed Issues Applicable to All Claims Asserted by Plaintiff

1. The extent of the Debtor's legal and equitable ownership

interest in the Crested Property, the Shasta Property and the

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Personal Property at the time said properties were transferred to

Defendant.

2. The dates when Transfer #1, Transfer #2 and the transfer

of the Personal Property occurred (collectively the "Transfers"). 

3. Whether the Debtor was insolvent at the time that the

Transfers occurred or became insolvent as a result of such

Transfer(s). 

Defendant's Additional Issues as to Defenses Asserted to All Claims

4. Whether pursuant to the divorce and Marital Settlement

Agreement of the parties, Defendant received marital assets of

substantially equal value as received by the Debtor.

5. Whether the Dissolution Judgement incorporates the most

recent Marital Settlement Agreement of the parties.

6. Whether the Transfers were made pursuant to court order.

7. Whether Plaintiff was harmed by the alleged Transfers.

8. Whether Defendant was a transferee in good faith for

value.

9. Whether the alleged Transfers were preferences.

10. Whether Plaintiff's claims are barred by the applicable

statutes of limitations. 

11. Whether the transfers were exempt from fraudulent

conveyance laws in effect at the time of the transfers.

12. Whether as part of the dissolution the parties entered

into a marital settlement.

13. Whether subsequent to the entry of the November 1, 2006

Bankruptcy Court Order granting Plaintiff's motion compelling

Defendant to produce written discovery, Defendant produced

responsive documents.

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Plaintiff's Additional Issues as to Defenses Asserted to All Claims

14. Whether Defendant filed sworn documents with the

state court in connection with the Dissolution Action stating that

she was not represented by counsel.

Agreed Issues re: Preference Claims (11 U.S.C. § 547(b))

15. Whether Transfer #1 and the transfer of the Personal

Property occurred within one year of the commencement of the

Debtor's bankruptcy case.

16. Whether Transfer #1 and the transfer of the Personal

Property constituted

transfers of the Debtor's interest in property.

17. Whether Transfer #1 and the transfer Personal Property

was for the benefit of Defendant.

18. Whether Transfer #1 and the transfer of the Personal

Property was made on account of an antecedent debt owed by the

Debtor to Defendant.

19. Whether Defendant was an insider of Debtor when Transfer

#1 and the transfer of the Personal Property occurred.

20. Whether the effect of Transfer #1 and the transfer of the

Personal Property was that Defendant received more than she would

have received if: (a) the bankruptcy case were a case under Chapter

7 of Title 11 U.S.C.; (b) the transfers had not been made; and (c)

Defendant received payment of her debt(s) to the extent provided by

the provisions of Title 11.

Agreed Issues re: Fraudulent Conveyance Claim (11 U.S.C. § 548(a)) 

21. Whether Transfer #1 and the transfer of the Personal

Property occurred within one year of the commencement of the

Debtor's bankruptcy case.

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22. Whether Transfer #1 and the transfer of the Personal

Property constituted

transfers of the Debtor's interest in property.

23. Whether the Debtor made Transfer #1 and transfer of the

Personal Property to Defendant with the actual intent to hinder,

delay or defraud any creditor of the Debtor to whom the Debtor was

or became indebted on or after the date of said transfers.

24. Whether the Debtor received reasonably equivalent value

for Transfer #1 and the transfer of the Personal Property to

Defendant. (i.e., the value of the property transferred and the

value of any consideration received by the Debtor in exchange).

25. Whether the Debtor was engaged in business or a

transaction, or was about to engage in a business or transaction,

for which any property remaining with the Debtor was an

unreasonably small capital when Transfer #1 and the transfer of the

Personal Property to Defendant occurred.

26. Whether the Debtor intended to incur while receiving less

than reasonably equivalent value in exchange for such transfers,

and while he intended to incur, or believed that he would incur,

debts that would be beyond the Debtor's ability to pay as such

debts matured. 

Agreed Issues re: Fraudulent Conveyance Claim (11 U.S.C. § 544(b)

and California Civil Code § 3439 et seq.)

27. Whether Transfer #2 occurred within four years of the

commencement of the Debtor's bankruptcy case.

28. Whether the Debtor made Transfer #2 to Defendant with the

actual intent to hinder, delay or defraud any creditor of the

Debtor.

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29. Whether at the time Transfer #2 was made the Debtor 

intended to incur, or believed that he would incur, debts that

would be beyond the Debtor's ability to pay as such debts came due.

30. Whether at the time Transfer #2 occurred the Debtor while

he was engaged, or was about to engage in a business or

transaction, for which any property remaining with the Debtor was

an unreasonably small in relation to the business or transaction.

31. Whether the Debtor intended to incur, or believed or

reasonably should have believed that he would incur, debts that

would be beyond the Debtor's ability to pay as such debts became

due.

32. Whether a creditor's claim arose before the Debtor made

Transfer #2. 

33. Whether Plaintiff is entitled to recover punitive damages

and attorneys fees

 incurred in connection with prosecuting this claim for relief. 

Agreed Issues re: Claim to Determine Liability for Avoided Transfer

(11 U.S.C. §§ 550 and 551)

34. Whether Defendant is (a) the initial transferee of

Transfer #1, Transfer #2 and the Personal Property or the entity

for whose benefit such Transfers were made or (b) the immediate or

mediate transferee of the initial transferee.

Agreed Issues re: Claim to Sell Real Properties Free and Clear of

Co-Owner's Interest (11 U.S.C. § 363(h))

35. Whether partition in kind of the Crested Drive Property

and the Shasta Street Property among the estate and Defendant is

impracticable.

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36. Whether a sale of the estate's one-half interest in the

Crested Drive Property and the Shasta Street Property would realize

significantly less for the estate than a sale of the Crested Drive

Property and the Shasta Street Property free and clear of 

Defendant's interest.

37. Whether the benefit to the estate of a sale of the

Crested Drive Property and the Shasta Street Property free and

clear of Defendant's interest outweighs the detriment, if any, to

Defendant.

 C. In addition to the matters set forth in Local Rule

16-285, the parties shall brief the following points of law in

their trial briefs. 

1. The elements, standards, and burdens of proof as

to each of Plaintiff's causes of action, including citations of

authority in support thereof.

2. The elements, standards, and burdens of proof

as to each of Defendant's defenses, including citations of

authority in support thereof.

Notwithstanding Local Rule 16-285, trial briefs shall be

filed with the Court no later than twenty (20) court days prior to

the date on which trial commences. All legal positions briefed in

the trial brief shall be supported with case and applicable

statutory authority. See Local Rule 16-285. If separate or

partial separate trial briefs are submitted, responding briefs, if

any, shall be filed with the Court no later than five (5) court

days prior to the date on which trial commences. The trial

brief(s) must include “a summary of points of law, including

reasonably anticipated disputes concerning admissibility of

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evidence, legal arguments, and citations of authority in support

thereof.” L.R. 16-285(a)(3).

V. WITNESSES

Since neither Plaintiff nor Defendant listed in the JPS

any witnesses that it intends to call at trial, it is assumed that

neither side intends to call witnesses to testify at trial. 

If a witness is discovered after the pretrial conference,

counsel for the party offering the witness shall promptly inform

the Court and opposing parties of the existence of the unlisted

witness so that the Court may consider at trial whether the witness

shall be permitted to testify. The witness will be not be

permitted to testify unless:

(1) The witness could not reasonably have been discovered

prior to pretrial;

(2) The Court and opposing counsel were promptly notified

upon discovery of the witness;

(3) If time permitted, counsel offered the witness for

deposition; and

(4) If time did not permit, a reasonable summary of the

witness' testimony was provided to opposing counsel.

VI. EXHIBITS

Defendant anticipates offering at trial the exhibits

listed in Defendant’s Supplement to the JPS, which was filed on

August 3, 2007. Since Plaintiff did not list in the JPS any

exhibits that it intends to offer at trial, it is assumed that

Plaintiff does not intend to offer any exhibits at trial. 

Any party proposing to introduce an exhibit which was

discovered after the pretrial conference shall promptly notify the

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28 5 The parties have leave to file joint exhibits. The above

procedure is designed for separate exhibits.

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Court and opposing counsel of the existence of such exhibit. The

Court will not permit any such exhibit to be introduced unless it

finds:

(1) That the exhibit could not reasonably have been

discovered prior to the pretrial conference;

(2) The Court and counsel were promptly informed of the

exhibit's existence; and

(3) That the offering party has delivered a copy of the

exhibit to opposing counsel, or, if the exhibit may not be copied,

that the offering counsel has made the exhibit reasonably available

for inspection by opposing counsel. 

Defendant's exhibits shall be designated by alphabetical

letter and marked with colored stickers provided by the Court. To

obtain stickers, parties should contact the Clerk of Court at (916)

930-4000.

Defendant is directed to provide to Plaintiff, at least

twenty (20) court days prior to the date on which trial commences,

copies of all of Defendant’s respective exhibits, marked with

exhibit stickers provided by the Court. Within five (5) court days

after receipt and examination of the exhibits, Plaintiff shall file

with the Court and serve upon opposing counsel objections, if any,

to the exhibits, referencing the exhibits as marked by exhibit

sticker and specifying the basis for each objection.5 Failure to

exchange exhibits as ordered could result in the exhibit not being

used at trial and/or the imposition of sanctions. The failure to

make objections in the manner prescribed by this section shall

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constitute a waiver of objections. If Defendant seeks to admit

into evidence an exhibit to which no objection was made, Defendant

must identify said exhibit for the record and then move it into

evidence. 

Counsel for Defendant shall produce all exhibits to the

Clerk's Office no later than 4:00 p.m. on the Friday before the

date on which trial is scheduled to commence. At that time,

Defendant shall also furnish the Court with a copy of each exhibit,

unless the exhibit is physically incapable of being reproduced. 

Failure to produce exhibits as ordered could result in waiver of

the right to offer those exhibits. Defendant shall also furnish a

list to the Court, the courtroom deputy and opposing counsel

itemizing the exhibits. 

VII. FURTHER PREPARATION FOR USE OF DISCOVERY DOCUMENTS

A. It is the duty of counsel to ensure that any

depositions which are to be used at trial for any purpose shall

have been filed with the clerk, and counsel are cautioned that a

failure to discharge this duty may result in preclusion of the use

of the unfiled depositions or in the imposition of such other

sanctions as the Court deems appropriate.

B. No later than twenty (20) court days before the trial

commencement date, counsel for each party shall serve on the other

parties a statement designating all answers to interrogatories and

all portions of depositions (except for passages to be used solely

for refreshing recollection, impeachment or rebuttal). No later

than ten (10) court days before the trial commencement date,

counter-designations of other portions of these discovery documents

may be served. No later than five (5) court days before the trial

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commencement date, the parties shall file and serve any preserved

evidentiary objections to any designated discovery, or said

objections are waived.

VIII. FURTHER DISCOVERY OR MOTIONS

Pursuant to the Court's Pretrial Scheduling Order, all

discovery and law and motion was to have been completed prior to

the date of the final pretrial conference. That order is

confirmed. The parties are, of course, free to conduct any

additional discovery they desire pursuant to informal agreement. 

However, any such agreement will not be enforceable in this Court.

IX. SETTLEMENT NEGOTIATIONS

No settlement conference is scheduled in this matter. If

the parties believe that a settlement conference would be

productive and facilitate resolution of this case, the parties may

contact the Court. If the Court schedules a settlement conference

at the request of the parties, each party would be directed to have

a principal with authority to settle the case on any terms present

at the settlement conference. 

In addition, each party would have to submit a settlement

conference statement directly to the chambers of the settlement

judge, five (5) court days prior to the settlement conference. 

Such statements would not have to be filed with the clerk nor

served on opposing counsel. However, each would be required to

notify the other party or parties that the statement was submitted

to the judge's chambers.

[or]

A settlement conference is scheduled before the Honorable

 on at . Each party

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is directed to have a principal with authority to settle the case

on any terms present at the settlement conference. 

In addition, each party is directed to submit a

settlement conference statement directly to the chambers of Judge 

 , the settlement judge, five (5) court days prior to the

settlement conference. Such statements shall not be filed with the

clerk nor served on opposing counsel. However, each party shall

notify the other party or parties that the statement has been

submitted to the judge's chambers.

X. AGREED STATEMENT

The parties shall submit a short, jointly-prepared

statement concerning the nature of this case that can be read to

the jury at the commencement of trial. The statement shall be

provided to the Court no later than ten (10) court days before the

trial commencement date. If the parties fail to do this, they may

be required to give their respective opening statements before voir

dire. Separate statements shall be submitted if agreement is not

reached.

XI. JURY INSTRUCTIONS, VOIR DIRE, AND VERDICT FORMS

Jury instructions, proposed voir dire, and verdict forms

shall be filed no later than fifteen (15) court days before trial. 

The parties shall prepare the instructions and verdict forms in

accordance with Local Rule 51-163, and shall tailor all general

instructions to the facts and issues in suit. The parties are

directed to confer and to attempt to agree upon a joint set of jury

instructions and verdict forms. As to instructions on which there

is dispute, the parties shall adhere to the following procedure: 

1) the party offering the disputed instruction(s) shall submit the

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6 As explained in United States v. Blouin, 666 F.2d 796,

798 (2d Cir. 1981), “the goal of the 'struck jury' system is to

whittle down an initially selected group . . . [to the amount of

jurors] who will serve as the petit jury.” The selected group

consists of the jurors who will hear the case, plus the number of

jurors required to enable the parties to use the combined number of

peremptory challenges allotted to both sides for striking jurors

from the group. Typically extra jurors are included in the select

group in the event the minimum amount of jurors required for the

“struck system” is reduced “for cause” or some other reason.

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instruction(s) as its proposed jury instructions, shall submit

authority in support of the proposed instruction(s) and shall

number the disputed instruction(s) in a manner that shows where

each disputed instruction should be placed in the tendered agreed

upon instructions. The contested instruction(s) and supporting

authority shall be filed with the joint set of instructions fifteen

(15) court days prior to the trial commencement date; 2) the party

opposed to the contested instruction(s) shall file opposing

authority ten (10) court days prior to the trial commencement date.

The examination of prospective jurors is conducted by the

Court. 

At the time of electronically filing the jury

instructions and verdict forms, the parties shall also submit a

copy of the sanitized joint jury instructions, the sanitized

disputed jury instructions, and the joint verdict forms to the

Court by email to geborders@caed.uscourts.gov in accordance with

L.R. 51-163(b)(1).

XII. USE OF STRUCK JURY SELECTION SYSTEM

Eight jurors will be impaneled. The "struck jury" system

will be used to select the jury.6 At the beginning of the voir

dire process, approximately eighteen prospective jurors, randomly

selected by the Jury Administrator, will be seated for voir dire. 

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The order of the jurors’ random selection is reflected by the order

in which they will be seated. The first randomly selected juror

will be in jury seat number one, which is at the extreme right-hand

side of the jury box in the top row as the jury box is viewed from

the well of the courtroom. The eighth juror will be in the eighth

seat. The ninth selected juror will occupy the seat located at the

extreme right-hand side of the jury box in the bottom row. The

fifteenth seat will be in the left-hand side of that row. Three

chairs will be placed in front of the jury box. The sixteenth

juror will occupy the seat on the right and the eighteenth juror

will occupy the seat on the left. The first eight jurors on a

list, which shall be given to counsel, will constitute the petit

jury unless one or more of those eight is excused for some reason. 

Assuming that the first and fifth jurors on the list are excused,

the second listed juror becomes the first, and the other jurors’

numbers are changed accordingly, with the ninth juror on the list

becoming seventh on the list; however, the jurors continue to be

identified by their original numbers.

Following the voir dire questioning, each side will take

turns exercising its three allotted peremptory strikes. If a side

elects to pass rather than exercise a particular peremptory

challenge, that challenge is waived.

XIII. ATTORNEYS FEES

The parties are referred to Local Rule 54-293 concerning

the post-trial procedure for seeking an award of attorney's fees. 

XIV. TRIAL DATE

Trial to a jury will commence on October 10, 2007. The

parties estimate in the JPS that the trial will involve 2-3 days of

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testimony. A trial day will commence at 9:00 a.m. and will adjourn

at approximately 4:30 p.m. Each side has ten minutes within which

to make an opening statement to the jury and forty-five minutes

within which to make a closing argument. Counsel are to call Shani

Furstenau, Courtroom Deputy, at (916) 930-4114, one week prior to

trial to ascertain the status of the trial date.

Dated: August 9, 2007

 

GARLAND E. BURRELL, JR.

United States District Judge

Case 2:06-cv-02657-GEB -KJM Document 33 Filed 08/09/07 Page 18 of 18