Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_18-cv-00536/USCOURTS-caed-1_18-cv-00536-10/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 830
Nature of Suit: Patent
Cause of Action: 18:1836(b) Civil Action to Protect Trade Secrets

---

1

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

This Court conducted a further scheduling conference on June 11, 2020, following amendment 

of the operative complaint to add a defendant and a claim for patent infringement. Counsel Benjamin 

Kleinman, Jon Michaelson, Mansi Shah and Adam Wiley appeared by telephone on behalf of Plaintiff 

Deerpoint Group, Inc. Counsel Mark Miller and William Nelson appeared by telephone on behalf of 

Defendants Agrigenix, LLC, Sean Mahoney, and Custom AG Formulators, Inc. 

A. Claim Construction 

After discussion with counsel and based upon the procedures proposed in the parties’ Third 

Updated Joint Scheduling Report (Doc. No. 107), the Court SETS the following deadlines related to

claim construction only:

1. Plaintiff’s Disclosure of Asserted Claims 

and Preliminary Infringement Contentions

(including associated document production): Completed.

2. Defendant’s Preliminary Invalidity Contentions

(including associated document production): July 7, 2020

3. Parties Exchange Identification of Claim Terms for 

Construction and Preliminary Claim Constructions

(including citation to and production of associated

DEERPOINT GROUP, INC., 

 Plaintiff,

v.

AGRIGENIX, LLC, et al., 

Defendants.

_______________________________/

Case No. 1:18-cv-00536-AWI-BAM

AMENDED SCHEDULING ORDER AND 

VACATING PRETRIAL AND TRIAL DATES

Case 1:18-cv-00536-JLT-BAM Document 109 Filed 06/12/20 Page 1 of 4
2

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

extrinsic evidence): July 21, 2020

4. Parties Exchange Responsive Claim Constructions

(including citation to and production of associated

extrinsic evidence): August 11, 2020

5. Parties File Joint Claim Construction Statement: September 1, 2020

6. Claim Construction Discovery Deadline: September 29, 2020

7. Parties File Opening Claim Construction Briefs: October 13, 2020

8. Parties File Responsive Claim Construction Briefs: October 27, 2020

9. Parties File Reply Claim Construction Briefs: November 3, 2020

10. Claim Construction Hearing: November 23, 2020

Time: 1:30 p.m.

Dept: 2 (AWI)

The parties are advised that compliance with the claim construction discovery deadline set 

forth above requires motions to compel be filed and heard sufficiently in advance of the cutoff so that 

the Court may grant effective relief within the allotted discovery time. A parties’ failure to have a 

discovery dispute heard sufficiently in advance of the discovery cutoff may result in denial of the 

motion as untimely.

Within three (3) weeks after the Court’s claim construction ruling, the parties are directed to 

contact to the Court to set a date for further scheduling regarding the patent infringement claim. 

B. Non-Dispositive Motions

It is anticipated that the parties may conduct discovery during the pendency of claim 

construction and the scope of discovery shall be as set forth in Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 

26(b)(1). Non-dispositive motions, including motions to compel, are heard on Fridays at 9:00 a.m. 

before the Honorable Barbara A. McAuliffe, United States Magistrate Judge, in Courtroom 8. Before 

scheduling such motions, the parties shall comply with Local Rule 230 or Local Rule 251. Counsel 

must comply with Local Rule 251 with respect to discovery disputes or the motion will be denied 

without prejudice and dropped from calendar. In addition to filing a joint statement electronically, a 

Case 1:18-cv-00536-JLT-BAM Document 109 Filed 06/12/20 Page 2 of 4
3

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

copy of the joint statement shall also be sent Judge McAuliffe’s chambers by email to 

bamorders@caed.uscourts.gov. Counsel for the parties are additionally required to conduct at least 

one telephonic (or in person) conference as part of their obligations to meet and confer in good faith 

to resolve their discovery dispute prior to seeking judicial intervention. The parties are further 

cautioned that boilerplate objections to written discovery will be summarily denied. 

Upon stipulation of the parties, Judge McAuliffe will resolve discovery disputes by informal 

telephonic conference outside the formal procedures of the Local Rules and Federal Rules of Civil 

Procedure governing noticed motions to compel. The procedures for requesting an informal 

telephonic conference are set forth in Judge McAuliffe’s Case Management Procedures located on the 

Court’s website, http://www.caed.uscourts.gov. If the parties stipulate to an informal ruling on a 

discovery dispute that arises during a deposition, they may request an informal ruling during the 

deposition by contacting Judge McAuliffe’s Courtroom Deputy, Esther Valdez, by telephone at (559) 

499-5788. 

The parties are advised that unless prior leave of the Court is obtained, all moving and 

opposition briefs or legal memorandum in civil cases before Judge McAuliffe shall not exceed twentyfive (25) pages. Reply briefs by the moving party shall not exceed ten (10) pages. These page 

limitations do not include exhibits. Briefs that exceed this page limitation, or are sought to be filed 

without leave, may not be considered by the Court.

Counsel or pro se parties may appear and argue non-dispositive motions before Judge 

McAuliffe by telephone by dialing the court’s teleconference line at (877) 411-9748 and entering 

Access Code 3219139, provided they indicate their intent to appear telephonically on their pleadings 

or by email to evaldez@caed.uscourts.gov at least one week prior to the hearing.

C. Settlement Conference

A Settlement Conference has not been scheduled. The parties are advised to contact the Court 

if they determine that a settlement conference would be beneficial. If a settlement conference is set, 

the parties are advised that unless otherwise permitted in advance by the Court, the attorneys who will 

try the case shall appear at the settlement conference with the parties and the person or persons having 

full authority to negotiate and settle the case, on any terms, at the conference.

Case 1:18-cv-00536-JLT-BAM Document 109 Filed 06/12/20 Page 3 of 4
4

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

D. Modification of Scheduling Conference Order – Non-Patent Infringement Claims

The parties are proceeding on parallel pre-trial tracks for the patent infringement and non-patent 

infringement claims. Pursuant to the parties’ Third Updated Joint Scheduling Report, and good cause 

appearing, the deadlines set forth in the Court’s Scheduling Order issued on August 16, 2019, are 

modified as follows:

Non-Expert Discovery Deadline: December 15, 2020

Expert Disclosure: January 26, 2021

Supplemental Expert Disclosure: February 23, 2021

Expert Discovery Deadline: March 23, 2021

Dispositive Motion Filing Deadline: April 20, 2021

Additionally, to the extent not already addressed, the pretrial conference currently set for April 

21, 2021, at 10:00 AM in Courtroom 2 (AWI) before District Judge Anthony W. Ishii and the trial 

currently set for June 22, 2021, at 8:30 AM in Courtroom 2 (AWI) before District Judge Anthony W. 

Ishii are HEREBY VACATED. As necessary and appropriate, a further scheduling conference will be 

set following the dispositive motion filing deadline. The parties are directed to contact the Court to set 

up a further scheduling conference following the rulings on dispositive issues.

E. Effect of this Order

The foregoing order represents the best estimate of the Court and the parties as to the agenda 

most suitable for this case. Requests to alter the deadlines contained herein will not be considered 

unless they are accompanied by affidavits or declarations, and where appropriate attached exhibits, 

which establish good cause for granting the relief requested.

Failure to comply with this order may result in the imposition of sanctions, including but not 

limited to, dismissal of this action.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: June 11, 2020 /s/ Barbara A. McAuliffe _

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 1:18-cv-00536-JLT-BAM Document 109 Filed 06/12/20 Page 4 of 4