Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-3_14-cv-00574/USCOURTS-cand-3_14-cv-00574-6/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 710
Nature of Suit: Fair Labor Standards Act
Cause of Action: 29:201 Fair Labor Standards Act

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United States District Court

Northern District of California

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

MERCEDES ALVAREZ, et al.,

Plaintiffs,

v.

FARMERS INSURANCE EXCHANGE,

Defendant.

Case No. 14-cv-00574-WHO 

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE WHY NONRESPONSIVE OPT-IN PLAINTIFFS 

SHOULD NOT BE DISMISSED PER 

FRCP 37

Re: Dkt. No. 107

The parties have submitted a joint statement of a discovery dispute regarding five FLSA 

opt-in plaintiffs’ failure to respond to discovery. Dkt. No. 107. In March 2015, I allowed 

defendant to propound discovery on 29 opt-in plaintiffs (10% of the opt-in plaintiffs). Five of

those opt-in plaintiffs have not responded and plaintiffs’ counsel admits that he has not been able 

to communicate with them. Defendant wants to (i) dismiss the five non-responsive plaintiffs

pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 37 for failure to participate in discovery and (ii) have 

leave to propound discovery on the 280 remaining opt-in plaintiffs to see whether they also refuse 

to participate in discovery and should be dismissed.

The opt-in plaintiffs’ failure to participate in discovery is troubling, but defendant’s effort 

to dismiss them and to propound additional discovery is premature. Accordingly, plaintiffs are 

Ordered to Show Cause why the five non-responsive opt-in plaintiffs should not be dismissed 

pursuant to Rule 37 for failure to participate in discovery. Plaintiffs shall file a brief, not to exceed 

10 pages, responding to this Order to Show Cause by September 15, 2015. Defendant may file a 

10-page response to plaintiffs’ brief. Any response shall be filed by September 25, 2015. The 

Order to Show Cause shall be withdrawn if the five non-responsive plaintiffs provide discovery 

before September 15, 2015. In that event, the parties shall file a joint statement indicating that the 

Case 3:14-cv-00574-WHO Document 110 Filed 07/17/15 Page 1 of 2
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United States District Court

Northern District of California

five non-responsive plaintiffs have provided discovery. If any of the five non-responsive plaintiffs 

are ultimately dismissed, defendant will be allowed to propound discovery for an equal number of 

additional opt-in plaintiffs. 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: July 17, 2015

______________________________________

WILLIAM H. ORRICK

United States District Judge

Case 3:14-cv-00574-WHO Document 110 Filed 07/17/15 Page 2 of 2