Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_15-cv-01733/USCOURTS-caed-2_15-cv-01733-34/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 370
Nature of Suit: Other Fraud
Cause of Action: 28:1332 Diversity-Fraud

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JOINT STIPULATION AND ORDER 

EXTENDING CASE SCHEDULE

Case No. 2:15-cv-01733-MCE-DAD

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O’MELVENY & MYERS LLP

Richard B. Goetz (State Bar No. 115666)

Carlos M. Lazatin (State Bar No. 229650)

400 South Hope Street

Los Angeles, CA 90071

Telephone: (213) 430-6000

Facsimile: (213) 430-6407

Email: rgoetz@omm.com

 clazatin@omm.com

O’MELVENY & MYERS LLP

Hannah Y. Chanoine (admitted pro hac vice)

Times Square Tower

7 Times Square

New York, NY 10036

Telephone: (212) 326-2000

Facsimile: (212) 326-2061

Email: hchanoine@omm.com

Attorneys for Defendants

BURSOR & FISHER, P.A.

Neal J. Deckant (State Bar. No. 322946)

Frederick J. Klorczyk (State Bar No. 320783)

1990 North California Boulevard, Suite 940

Walnut Creek, CA 94596

Telephone: (925) 300-4455

Facsimile: (925) 407-2700

E-Mail: ndeckant@bursor.com

fklorczyk@bursor.com

BURSOR & FISHER, P.A.

Joseph I. Marchese (admitted pro hac vice)

888 Seventh Avenue

New York, NY 10019

Telephone: (646) 837-7150

Facsimile: (212) 989-9163

E-Mail: jmarchese@bursor.com

BURSOR & FISHER, P.A.

Scott A. Bursor (State Bar No. 276006)

2665 S. Bayshore Dr., Suite 220

Miami, FL 33133-5402

Telephone: (305) 330-5512

Facsimile: (305) 676-9006

E-Mail: scott@bursor.com

Attorneys for Plaintiff

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

JOANN MARTINELLI, individually and on 

behalf of all others similarly situated,

Plaintiff,

v.

JOHNSON & JOHNSON and McNEIL 

NUTRITIONALS, LLC,

Defendants.

Case No. 2:15-cv-01733-MCE-DAD

JOINT STIPULATION AND ORDER 

EXTENDING CASE SCHEDULE 

Judge Morrison C. England, Jr.

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JOINT STIPULATION AND ORDER EXTENDING CASE 

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Pursuant to Rule 16(b)(4), Plaintiff Joann Martinelli (“Plaintiff”) and Defendants Johnson 

& Johnson and McNeil Nutritionals, LLC (“Defendants”) (collectively, the “Parties”) submit this 

joint stipulation to extend the current case deadlines in this consumer class action regarding 

Benecol. In this case, the Court has certified two classes of Benecol purchasers, and the Parties 

are currently engaged in discovery to prepare for trial. However, as a result of the current health 

crisis, the Parties agree that there is good cause to extend the current deadlines in this Court’s 

December 20, 2019 Supplemental Pretrial Scheduling Order (Dkt. No. 218) (“Supplemental 

Pretrial Scheduling Order”). Accordingly, by and through their counsel of record, the Parties 

hereby stipulate as follows:

WHEREAS, on March 29, 2019, the Court issued an order certifying two classes of 

consumers of Benecol: the California Class and the Multi-State Warranty Class (Dkt. No. 216 at 

19);

WHEREAS, on December 20, 2019 this Court entered the Supplemental Pretrial 

Scheduling Order setting the schedule for completion of fact and expert discovery and the

deadline for dispositive motions;

WHEREAS, under the Supplemental Pretrial Scheduling Order, non-expert discovery 

must be completed by July 27, 2020 (220 days from the date of the Order) (Dkt. 218 at 1:21-22); 

expert witness designations and reports must be served by September 25, 2020 (60 days after the 

close of non-expert discovery) (id. at 2:2-6); supplemental expert witnesses designations must be 

served by October 25, 2020 (30 days after the designation of expert witnesses) (id. at 2:7-12); 

and dispositive motions must be filed by October 25, 2020 (90 days after the close of non-expert 

discovery) (id. at 3:14-15); 

WHEREAS, the Court has not yet set a trial date, but has instructed the Parties to file a 

Joint Notice of Trial Readiness thirty days after receiving the Court’s ruling on dispositive 

motions, and if no dispositive motions are filed, on November 25, 2020 (30 days after the time 

for designation of supplemental expert witnesses) (Dkt. No. 218 at 5:2–7);

///

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WHEREAS, the Parties are diligently preparing this case for trial. The parties have 

served and responded to written discovery, including interrogatories and requests for production. 

On March 18, 2020, Plaintiff filed a motion for an order approving her plan for providing notice 

to the certified classes, (Dkt. No. 221), which Defendants opposed and which is currently 

pending. On April 2, 2020, Defendants filed a motion to amend the current class definition, 

(Dkt. No. 227), which Plaintiff opposed and which is also pending;

WHEREAS, Defendants are also engaged in third-party discovery. Defendants have 

issued subpoenas seeking the deposition testimony of Plaintiff’s husband, Larry Martinelli, and 

Plaintiff’s physician Dr. James T. Foster. On March 10, 2020, Larry Martinelli and Dr. Foster 

filed motions to quash the subpoenas, with hearings originally noticed for April 3, 2020 (Dkt. 

Nos. 219, 220) (“Motions to Quash”);

WHEREAS, Magistrate Judge Deborah Barnes continued the hearings on the Motions to 

Quash to June 5, 2019 due to the current health crisis and related restrictions. (Dkt. Nos. 222 

(continuance to May 8, 2020 in the “interest of public health and safety”), 231 (continuance to 

June 5, 2020 in light of General Order 617)); 

WHEREAS, if Judge Barnes denies the Motions to Quash, allowing the depositions of 

Larry Martinelli and Dr. Forster to proceed, it is uncertain when those depositions can take place 

in light of the current stay-at-home orders. In addition, Defendants had anticipated pursuing

additional discovery depending on the outcome of the Court’s ruling on the Motions to Quash; 

however, because the hearings have been continued to June 5, 2020, it will be difficult to 

complete that additional discovery prior to the July 27, 2020 cut-off for non-expert discovery;

WHEREAS, the Parties have not previously requested an extension of the dates in the 

Supplemental Pretrial Scheduling Order;

WHEREAS, the Parties agree that there is good cause to extend the case deadlines to take 

into account the additional time that may be required to complete discovery;

///

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///

NOW, THEREFORE, believing that good cause exists, the Parties STIPULATE AND 

AGREE, subject to the approval of this Court, that the current case schedule should be extended 

as follows:

1. Non-expert discovery shall be completed by September 25, 2020.

2. Expert designations and reports pursuant Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 

26(a)(2)(B) shall be due November 20, 2020. 

3. Supplemental designations and reports of experts who will express an opinion on 

a subject covered by an expert designated by an adverse party shall be due January 22, 2021.

4. Dispositive motions shall be filed by January 22, 2021.

5. The Parties shall file a Joint Notice of Trial Readiness not later than thirty (30) 

days after receiving the Court’s ruling(s) on dispositive motion(s). If the parties do not file 

dispositive motions, the Parties shall file a Joint Notice of Trial Readiness by February 22, 2021.

6. Other than as stated herein, the Parties will comply with the terms of the Court’s 

December 20, 2019 Supplemental Pretrial Scheduling Order, Dkt. No. 218.

IT IS SO STIPULATED.

Dated: May 22, 2020 O’MELVENY & MYERS, LLP

By: _/s/ Carlos M. Lazatin __

 Carlos M. Lazatin

Richard B. Goetz (State Bar No. 115666)

Carlos M. Lazatin (State Bar No. 229650)

400 South Hope Street

Los Angeles, California 90071

Telephone: (213) 430-6000

Facsimile: (213) 430-6407

E-Mail: rgoetz@omm.com

 clazatin@omm.com

Attorneys for Defendants

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Dated: May 22, 2020 BURSOR & FISHER, P.A.

By: /s/ Frederick J. Klorczyk III (as authorized on 5/22/20)

 Frederick J. Klorczyk III

Neal J. Deckant (State Bar No. 322946)

Frederick J. Klorczyk III (State Bar No. 320783)

1990 North California Boulevard, Suite 940

Walnut Creek, CA 94596

Telephone: (925) 300-4455

Facsimile: (925) 407-2700

E-Mail: ndeckant@bursor.com

 fklorczyk@bursor.com

Attorneys for Plaintiff

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JOINT STIPULATION AND ORDER 

EXTENDING CASE SCHEDULE

Case No. 2:15-cv-01733-MCE-DAD

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ORDER

PURSUANT TO THE FOREGOING STIPULATION, AND FINDING GOOD CAUSE 

THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED AS FOLLOWS:

1. Non-expert discovery shall be completed no later than September 25, 2020.

2. Expert designations and reports pursuant Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 

26(a)(2)(B) shall be due November 20, 2020. 

3. Supplemental designations and reports of experts who will express an opinion on 

a subject covered by an expert designated by an adverse party shall be due January 22, 2021.

4. Dispositive motions shall be filed by January 22, 2021.

5. The Parties shall file a Joint Notice of Trial Readiness not later than thirty (30) 

days after receiving the Court’s ruling(s) on dispositive motion(s). If the parties do not file 

dispositive motions, the Parties shall file a Joint Notice of Trial Readiness not later than February 

22, 2021.

6. Other than as stated herein, the Parties will comply with the terms of the Court’s 

December 20, 2019 Supplemental Pretrial Scheduling Order, Dkt. No. 218.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: May 29, 2020

Case 2:15-cv-01733-MCE-DB Document 234 Filed 06/01/20 Page 6 of 6