Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-4_06-cv-05865/USCOURTS-cand-4_06-cv-05865-6/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 791
Nature of Suit: Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA)
Cause of Action: 29:1132 E.R.I.S.A.: Employee Benefits

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United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

DAVID CAPLAN, Case No. C-06-05865 CW (JCS)

Plaintiff(s),

v. NOTICE OF REFERENCE; ORDER 

TO MEET AND CONFER AND

CNA FINANCIAL CORPORATION, SUBMIT JOINT LETTER; TIME AND

ET AL., PLACE OF HEARING

Defendant(s).

__________________________________/

TO ALL PARTIES AND COUNSEL OF RECORD:

The above matter has been referred to Magistrate Judge Joseph C. Spero for resolution of all

pending and future discovery matters.

Before the Court are two motions: (1) Plaintiff’s Motion to Compel Production of

Documents and Answers to Interrogatories Against Defendant CNA Long Term Disability Plan

[Docket No. 61] and (2) Plaintiff’s Motion to Compel Production of Documents and Answers to

Interrogatories Against Defendant Hartford Life Group Insurance Company [Docket No. 65].

On Tuesday, October 2, 2007, the Court held a Telephonic Discovery Conference in which it

ORDERED the parties to meet and confer and then submit a detailed Joint Letter setting forth the

remaining disputed issues, each side’s substantive position, and each side’s proposed compromise. 

This Joint Letter shall be filed no later than Friday, October 12, 2007, and shall serve as the

operative brief for the Motions. No other briefing shall be permitted.

The hearing on these Motions has been set for November 9, 2007, at 9:30 a.m., in

Courtroom A, 15th Floor, Federal Building, 450 Golden Gate Avenue, San Francisco, California. 

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United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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LAW AND MOTION HEARING PROCEDURES

Civil law and motion is heard on Friday mornings, at 9:30 a.m., in Courtroom A, 15th Floor, 

United States District Court, 450 Golden Gate Avenue, San Francisco, California. 

In the event a discovery dispute arises, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that before filing any

discovery motion before this Court, the parties must comply with the following:

1. Lead trial counsel for both parties must meet and confer in person regarding the

matter(s) at issue. This meeting shall occur after other efforts to resolve the dispute,

such as telephone, e-mail, teleconference, or correspondence, have been

unsuccessful. Once those efforts have proved unsuccessful, any party may demand a

meeting of lead trial counsel to resolve a discovery matter. Such a meeting shall

occur within ten (10) business days of the demand. The locations of the meetings

shall alternate. The first meeting shall be at a location selected by counsel for

Plaintiff(s). If there are any future disputes, the next such meeting shall be held at a

location to be determined by counsel for Defendant(s), etc.

2. Within five (5) business days of the in-person meeting between lead trial counsel

referred to above, the parties shall jointly file a detailed letter with the Court, which

will include the matters that remain in dispute, a detailed substantive description of

each side’s position on each such issue, and a description of each side’s proposed

compromise on each such issue.

3. After the Court has received the joint letter, the Court will determine what future

proceedings, if any, are necessary.

In the event that the parties continue to be unable to resolve the matters regarding the timing

and scope of discovery, the Court will consider what future actions are necessary. These actions

may include sanctions against a party failing to cooperate in the discovery process and meet and

confer in good faith, as required by this Order, the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, and the Local

Rules of this Court. 

All documents shall be filed in compliance with Civil L. R. 7-2 through 7-5. Documents not

filed in compliance with those rules will not be considered by the Court. Any party seeking an

Case 4:06-cv-05865-CW Document 69 Filed 10/11/07 Page 2 of 3
United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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award of attorney’s fees or other expenses in connection with this motion shall file a motion in

accordance with Civil L. R. 37-3. 

A party or counsel has a continuing duty to supplement the initial disclosure when required

under Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(e)(1).

Law and motion matters may be submitted without argument upon stipulation of the parties

and notification of the Court no later than 4:30 p.m. the day before the hearing. Pursuant to Civil L.

R. 7-7(e), filed motions may be withdrawn without leave of the Court, within seven (7) days of the

date for service of the opposition. Thereafter, leave of the Court must be sought.

All filings of documents relating to motions referred to the undersigned shall list the civil

case number and the district court judge’s initials followed by the designation “(JCS)”.

ELECTRONIC FILING AND COURTESY COPIES

Please refer to Civil L. R. 5-4 and General Order No. 45 for the Northern District of

California for information relating to electronic filing procedures and requirements. 

BEFORE NOON ON THE NEXT BUSINESS DAY FOLLOWING THE ELECTRONIC

FILING, THE PARTIES ARE REQUIRED TO LODGE DIRECTLY WITH CHAMBERS ONE

PAPER COPY OF EACH DOCUMENT, WHICH IS TO BE DESIGNATED "JCS’S CHAMBERS'

COPY." All filings of documents relating to motions referred to the undersigned shall list the civil

case number and the district court judge’s initials, followed by the designation “(JCS)”.

The failure of counsel or a party to abide by this Order may result in sanctions pursuant to

Fed. R. Civ. P. 16(f).

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: October 11, 2007 

JOSEPH C. SPERO

United States Magistrate Judge

Case 4:06-cv-05865-CW Document 69 Filed 10/11/07 Page 3 of 3