Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-azd-3_04-cv-01210/USCOURTS-azd-3_04-cv-01210-2/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 442
Nature of Suit: Civil Rights Employment
Cause of Action: 42:2000e Job Discrimination (Employment)

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WO

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE DISTRICT OF ARIZONA

Betty Ann St. George, et al., 

Plaintiffs, 

vs.

Home Depot U.S.A., Inc., a foreign

corporation, et al., 

Defendants. 

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No. CV-04-1210-PCT-LOA

ORDER

This is the time set for informal Rule 16 scheduling conference since all parties

have voluntarily consented to magistrate judge jurisdiction (docket # 374 and # 379)

subsequent to the August 30, 2006 reassignment of this case to the undersigned magistrate

judge. Plaintiffs are represented by counsel, Robert M. Gregory. Defendants are represented

by co-counsel, Rebecca Winterscheidt and Barbara L. McCloud. Court reporter is not

present.

Initially, the Court voluntarily discloses the past and present legal

representation by a member of the Defendant's law firm, Snell & Wilmer, L.L.P., for the

purposes of creating the undersigned's will and estate planning. Neither side asks the Court

to recuse from this case and have the matter reassigned to a different judge. The Court also

advises counsel that since this lawsuit was filed on June 14, 2004, the Court will exercise its

best efforts to resolve by ruling all pending dispositive motions by March 30, 2007 and that

Case 3:04-cv-01210-LOA Document 383 Filed 10/04/06 Page 1 of 3
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this case will thereafter be on a fast track to judgment on or before September 30, 2007.

Therefore, counsel and the parties shall plan accordingly. 

The Court and counsel discuss the pending dispositive motions and the various

ways to fairly manage these motions involving 21 different Plaintiffs, each of which may

have totally dissimilar claims, strengths and weaknesses. Counsel agree that the Court should

initially consider the issues raised in Defendants' summary judgment motions addressing

Plaintiffs' claims of negligent hiring, negligent supervision and negligent retention, (docket

# 334 and # 336), before tackling the more complicated claims of sex discrimination,

retaliation and intentional infliction of emotional distress. (docket # 353) The Court agrees

to set oral argument in advance of its preparation for these motions on the date set forth

below to which all counsel acknowledge their availability. Chambers' staff believes it has all

courtesy copies previously provided to Judge Strand's chambers except those specifically

identified below. Counsel will be directed to provide courtesy copies, appropriately indexed,

to the undersigned's chambers by a date certain.

Pursuant to stipulation and good cause appearing,

IT IS ORDERED setting oral argument on Defendants' Motions for Summary

Judgment related to Plaintiffs' claims of negligent hiring, negligent supervision and negligent

retention, (docket # 334 and # 336), only at 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 28, 2006 in

Courtroom 302. Any objections to or motions to strike any pleading related to these

dispositive motions may also be addressed at this hearing. Oral argument shall be limited to

30 minutes for each side including rebuttal argument.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that respective counsel shall provide courtesy

copies, appropriately indexed, of his or their pleadings identified as docket # 348, # 362, 

# 363 and # 371 to the undersigned's chambers by 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, November 8,

2006. Plaintiffs' counsel shall also provide to the undersigned's chambers that which is 

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addressed in counsel's May 26, 2006 letter to Judge Strand by the aforesaid deadline.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that all future pleadings filed herein shall

contain case number: No. CV-04-1210-PCT-LOA until further order of the Court.

Dated this 3rd day of October, 2006.

Case 3:04-cv-01210-LOA Document 383 Filed 10/04/06 Page 3 of 3