Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_03-cv-05949/USCOURTS-caed-1_03-cv-05949-6/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 890
Nature of Suit: Other Statutory Actions
Cause of Action: 00:0000 Cause Code Unknown

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

OSCAR RODRIGUEZ JR. dba PACIFIC

CONSTRUCTION CONCEPTS, )

)

Plaintiff, )

)

v. )

)

AMERICAN EXPRESS, ADVANTA, )

BANK ONE, BANK OF AMERICA, )

CITIBANK, DISCOVER, FORD )

CREDIT, HOME DEPOT, LOWES )

COMPANIES, INC., INTERNAL )

REVENUE SERVICE, NEXTEL )

COMMUNICATIONS, PINE )

MOUNTAIN LAKE, U.S. BANKCORP, )

VALLEY FIRST CREDIT UNION, )

WELLS FARGO BANK, NBMA, and )

DOES 1-100, INCLUSIVE, )

)

Defendants )

____________________________________)

CV F 03-5949 AWI LJO

ORDER TEMPORARILY

STAYING PROCEEDINGS

AND DIRECTING PLAINTIFF

TO SUBMIT FURTHER

DOCUMENTS

In this action for damages and relief under the Soldiers and Sailors Civil Relief Act,

plaintiff Oscar Rodriguez, Jr. (“Plaintiff”) has requested a further continuation of the time for

submission of his brief in opposition to the motion for summary judgment by defendants

Citibank, Bank of America, American Express, and Valley First Credit Union (collectively

“Defendants”). Plaintiff’s request for extension of time is his third, each of the previous two

having been requested on the same ground of unavailability due to active military service. The

prior two requests were unopposed. The instant request is opposed by defendants Bank of

Case 1:03-cv-05949-AWI-LJO Document 182 Filed 12/15/05 Page 1 of 3
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1 References to section numbers hereinafter refer to Title 50 Appendix of the

United State Code unless otherwise specified.

2 The record does contain a letter from Plaintiff’s commanding officer dated August

23, 2005, but the letter deals with a period of military participation that was scheduled to end

September 25, 2005. The court has no documents at hand that pertain to the current time period.

2

America and Valley First Credit Union.

The court construes Plaintiff’s request to continue as a request to stay proceedings. 

Because the request for stay is opposed, the court must look to statutory authority to determine

whether Plaintiff is entitled to further continuation or stay of these proceedings. The Soldiers’

and Sailors’ Civil Relief Act, 50 App. U.S.C. § 5011 et seq.(“the Act”), as amended in 2003

provides for the stay of proceedings that are brought under the Act. Pursuant to section

522(b)(1):

At any stage before final judgment in a civil action or proceeding in

which a servicemember described in subsection (a) is a party, the court may on

its own motion and shall, upon application by the servicemember, stay the

action for a period of not less than 90 days, if the conditions in paragraph (2) are

met.

The conditions for stay are set forth in section 522(b)(2) as follows:

An application for a stay under paragraph (1) shall include the following:

 (A) A letter or other communications setting forth facts stating the manner in

which current military duty requirement materially affect the servicemember’s

ability to appear and stating a date when the servicemember will be available to

appear.

 (B) A letter or other communication from the servicemember’s commanding

officer stating the servicemember’s current military duty prevents appearance

and that military leave is not authorized for the servicemember at the time of the

letter.

Pursuant to the act, the court will order a stay of proceedings upon proper application

by Plaintiff pursuant to section 522(b) of the Act. To this court’s knowledge, Plaintiff has not

filed a declaration or letter from a commanding officer in support of his request to stay or for

continuance with respect to the instant request.2 The court will grant a two (2) week extension

of time for the filing of a declaration and a letter from Plaintiff’s commanding officer as set

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forth in subdivisions (A) and (B), above. Plaintiff’s declaration shall be made under oath or

affirmation and shall include specific information pertaining to facts that prevent Plaintiff from

opposing Defendants’ motion for summary judgment. Plaintiff shall also include information

as to the expected time that Plaintiff will be unable to participate in the proceedings. Following

receipt of Plaintiff’s declaration and letter from his commanding officer, the court will consider

the information provided and will stay proceedings further as the court deems appropriate. See

Boone v. Lightner, 319 U.S. 561, 571 (1943) ( courts have broad discretion in considering stayrelated factors); Atkins v. County of Alameda, 2004 WL 444105 at *2 (N.D.Cal. 2004) (two

primary factors are whether the serviceperson is stationed overseas or whether the service

person “can easily alleviate the need for a stay . . .”). Defendants need not respond to the

submission of the declaration or letter from commanding officer unless directed to do so by the

court.

THEREFORE, it is hereby ordered that Plaintiff shall, not later than fourteen (14) days

from the date of service of this order, file and serve a declaration setting forth facts under oath

or affirmation that support his request for stay of proceedings in conformity with section

522(b)(2)(A), and a letter from Plaintiff’s commanding officer in conformity with section

522(b)(2)(B). All other proceedings are hereby STAYED until further notice of the court. 

Plaintiff is also directed to advise the court of the status of Nextel Communications as a named

party in this action as per the court’s previous order.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: December 15, 2005 /s/ Anthony W. Ishii 

h2ehf UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

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