Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_13-cv-01568/USCOURTS-caed-2_13-cv-01568-1/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 446
Nature of Suit: Americans with Disabilities Act - Other
Cause of Action: 28:1331 Fed. Question

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

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WILLIAM HOPSON and CYNTHIA 

HOPSON,

Plaintiffs,

v.

ERNIE’S GENERAL STORE, INC.; 

ERNEST GIANNECCHINI TRUST; and 

Does 1-5,

Defendants.

NO. CIV 2:13-1568 WBS DAD 

ORDER RE: SANCTIONS

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In response to this court’s Order to Show Cause of 

November 27, 2013, (Docket No. 13), counsel for defendants

Michael Babitzke submitted a letter explaining his failure to 

attend the Status (Pretrial Scheduling) Conference. (Docket No. 

15.) In the letter, Babitzke took “full responsibility” for the 

failure, and noted that he “simply failed to notice and calendar 

the pretrial scheduling conference.” (Id.)

The court has the authority under Federal Rule of Civil 

Case 2:13-cv-01568-WBS-KJN Document 20 Filed 12/20/13 Page 1 of 3
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Procedure 16(f) to impose sanctions for even unintentional or 

negligent noncompliance with the court’s pretrial orders. See, 

e.g., Lucas Auto. Eng’g, Inc. v. Bridgestone/Firestone, Inc., 275 

F.3d 762, 769 (9th Cir. 2001) (upholding Rule 16 sanctions 

imposed on a party for unintentionally failing to attend a 

scheduled mediation due to an incapacitating headache); Ayers v. 

City of Richmond, 895 F.2d 1267, 1270 (9th Cir. 1990) (upholding 

sanctions under Rule 16(f) where counsel failed to appear for a 

settlement conference because the date “slipped by him”). Rule 

16(f) also allows a court to order a party, its attorney, or both 

to pay reasonable expenses incurred because of noncompliance with 

the rule. Fed. R. Civ. P. 16(f)(2); see also, e.g., Official 

Airline Guides, Inc. v. Goss, 6 F.3d 1385, 1397 (9th Cir. 1993)

(upholding award of fees incurred because of party’s failure to 

comply with court’s order.)

Mr. Babitzke’s failure to participate in the filing of 

a joint status report and subsequent failure to appear at the 

Status (Pretrial Scheduling) Conference violated the terms of the 

court’s July 31, 2013, Order re: Status (Pretrial Scheduling) 

Conference. (Docket No. 4.) Because Mr. Babitzke’s failure 

consumed the time of opposing counsel as well as the court, the 

court will order Mr. Babitzke to compensate opposing counsel a 

reasonable sum for his time. Accordingly, Mr. Babitzke will be 

required send payment of $100 to counsel for plaintiffs, Daniel 

Malakauskas. If Mr. Malakauskas wishes to waive receipt of the 

payment, the court will not further enforce this Order. Under 

the circumstances, the court will not require Mr. Babitzke to pay 

additional sanctions to the court.

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IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that within ten days of the 

date this Order is signed, defendants’ counsel Michael Babitzke 

shall send payment in the amount of $100 to plaintiffs’ counsel 

Daniel Malakauskas or request that the matter be scheduled for a 

formal hearing.

Dated: December 19, 2013

Case 2:13-cv-01568-WBS-KJN Document 20 Filed 12/20/13 Page 3 of 3