Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-4_15-cv-01313/USCOURTS-cand-4_15-cv-01313-4/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 110
Nature of Suit: Insurance
Cause of Action: 12:635 Breach of Insurance Contract

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ALLEN, GLAESSNER, HAZELWOOD & WERTH, LLP

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STIPULATION TO AMEND

SCHEDULING ORDER

CASE NO.: 3:15-CV-01313-JSW 

75546.1

PETER O. GLAESSNER, State Bar No. 93830

pglaessner@aghwlaw.com

LORI A. SEBRANSKY, State Bar No. 125211

lsebransky@aghwlaw.com

ALLEN, GLAESSNER, HAZELWOOD & WERTH, LLP

180 Montgomery Street, Suite 1200

San Francisco, CA 94104

Telephone: (415) 697-2000

Facsimile: (415) 813-2045

Attorneys for Plaintiff and Counterdefendant

SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA RAPID TRANSIT 

DISTRICT

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

OAKLAND DIVISION

SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA RAPID 

TRANSIT DISTRICT,

Plaintiffs,

v.

TRAVELERS PROPERTY CASUALTY 

COMPANY OF AMERICA, a Connecticut 

Corporation,

Defendants.

TRAVELERS PROPERTY CASUALTY 

COMPANY OF AMERICA, a Connecticut 

Corporation,

Counterclaimant and 

Third-Party 

Claimant,

v.

SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA RAPID 

TRANSIT DISTRICT; SENTINEL 

INSURANCE COMPANY LTD., a 

Connecticut Corporation; and DOES 1-20, 

inclusive,

Counterdefendant 

and Third-Party 

Defendants.

Case No. 3:15-cv-01313-JSW

STIPULATION AND [PROPOSED] ORDER 

TO AMEND ORDER SCHEDULING TRIAL 

AND PRETRIAL MATTERS 

AS MODIFIED

Case 4:15-cv-01313-JSW Document 44 Filed 01/05/16 Page 1 of 5
ALLEN, GLAESSNER, HAZELWOOD & WERTH, LLP

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STIPULATION TO AMEND

SCHEDULING ORDER

CASE NO.: 3:15-CV-01313-JSW 

75546.1

RECITALS 

Plaintiff/counterdefendant San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BARTD), 

defendant/counterclaimant/third-party claimant/counterdefendant Travelers Property Casualty 

Company of America, and third-party defendant and counterclaimant Sentinel Insurance 

Company, LTD, jointly submit this Stipulation to request that the Court modify the August 5, 

2015 Amended Order Scheduling Trial and Pretrial Matters by extending the applicable trial and 

pretrial deadlines by 90 days. The reasons for this request and stipulation are as follows: 

1. This coverage dispute arises from a fatal accident that occurred on Saturday, 

October 19, 2013 on the track between the Walnut Creek and Pleasant Hill BARTD stations. 

Christopher Sheppard, Manager of BARTD Track & Grounds, and Laurence Daniels, a contractor 

working for Anil Verma Associates, Inc. (“AVA”), an engineering firm that is insured by 

Travelers were on the track the afternoon of October 19 when they were struck by a train and 

killed. 

2. Mr. Daniel’s heirs have sued BARTD for wrongful death in a civil suit styled, 

Amber Daniels, et. al, v. Bay Area Rapid Transit District, Alameda County Superior Court No. 

RG14725711. Plaintiffs essentially allege that BARTD negligently failed to protect Mr. Daniels 

while he was working on tracks during rail car movement. 

3. BARTD filed a cross-complaint against AVA in the Daniels action for declaratory 

relief, and for implied and express indemnity and contribution. 

4. BARTD is an additional insured under the Travelers policy under some 

circumstances. BARTD tendered its defense of the Daniels lawsuit to Travelers under the 

additional insured endorsement. Travelers denied that tender. BARTD filed this insurance action 

to determine whether Travelers has an obligation to defend. 

5. Travelers filed a third-party claim against Sentinel Insurance Company, which 

insured Mr. Daniels’ company (Daniels Engineering). By this third-party claim, Travelers 

contends that should the Court find that Travelers owes BARTD a defense, that defense should be 

provided by Sentinel, and not by Travelers. Sentinel denies the claims asserted against it and 

Case 4:15-cv-01313-JSW Document 44 Filed 01/05/16 Page 2 of 5
ALLEN, GLAESSNER, HAZELWOOD & WERTH, LLP

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STIPULATION TO AMEND

SCHEDULING ORDER

CASE NO.: 3:15-CV-01313-JSW 

75546.1

filed a counterclaim for declaratory relief. 

6. The parties have been working cooperatively to resolve this coverage dispute in 

the most efficient way possible. In September 2015, BARTD and the insurers attended an initial 

mediation session in the underlying case. Although some progress was made, the wrongful death 

claims were not resolved. The parties to this insurance action, however, were able to discuss in 

principle a potential settlement strategy that would encompass the insurers’ defense obligations to 

BARTD, and BARTD’s liability claims against AVA (Travelers’ insured), thus resolving the 

claims involved in this action.

7. Unfortunately, settlement progress has been delayed by the wrongful death 

plaintiffs’ efforts to amend their pleadings to assert a survivorship claim (although Mr. Daniels 

died instantly), which they contend increases the value of their case by several million dollars. 

Pleading challenges to that claim are currently pending. It will be difficult to engage in 

productive settlement negotiations encompassing the wrongful death claims until those pleading 

challenges are resolved. BARTD also has learned about a peripheral issue involving another 

agency that could potentially affect BARTD’s settlement. BARTD is working to sort that issue 

out now.

8. In addition to participation in mediation in the underlying case, BART and the 

insurers agreed to mediation and have had several telephone conferences with our appointed 

mediator, Richard Sipos. Mr. Sipos has been a very good resource. The parties and Mediator 

agree that it makes most sense to resolve the insurance claims in conjunction with mediation of 

the underlying wrongful death suit.

9. Given these circumstances, including the delay in the underlying case, and the 

parties’ continued desire to work toward a global resolution without incurring unnecessary 

litigation costs, our mediator Mr. Sipos suggested, and the parties agreed, that the parties ask this 

Court to modify the August 5, 2015 Amended Order Scheduling Trial and Pretrial Matters by 

extending all deadlines by 90 days. 

/ / /

Case 4:15-cv-01313-JSW Document 44 Filed 01/05/16 Page 3 of 5
ALLEN, GLAESSNER, HAZELWOOD & WERTH, LLP

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STIPULATION TO AMEND

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CASE NO.: 3:15-CV-01313-JSW 

75546.1

STIPULATION 

For these reasons, it is hereby stipulated by and between San Francisco Bay Area Rapid 

Transit District (BARTD), Travelers Property Casualty Company of America, and Sentinel 

Insurance Company LTD, through their respective counsel of record, subject to the Court’s 

approval, that the current Amended Order Scheduling Trial and Pretrial Matters be modified to 

extend all deadlines by 90 days. The modified dates are noted in bold: 

A. DATES

Jury Trial Date: Monday, December 12, 2016 at 8:00 a.m.

Jury Selection: Wednesday, December 7, 2016 at 8:00 a.m.

Pre-Trial Conference: Monday, November 21, 2016 at 2:00 p.m.

Last Day to Hear 

Dispositive Motions: Thursday, August 11, 2016 at 9:00 a.m.

Last day for Expert 

Discovery: Thursday, October 27, 2016

Last day for Expert

Disclosure: Monday, October 3, 2016

Close of Non-expert 

Discovery: Thursday, September 8, 2016

Deadline to Mediate: Thursday, April 28, 2016

The parties appreciate the Court’s attention and consideration. 

 Respectfully submitted,

Dated: January 4, 2016 ALLEN, GLAESSNER,

HAZELWOOD & WERTH, LLP

By: /s/ Lori A. Sebransky

PETER O. GLAESSNER

LORI A. SEBRANSKY 

Attorneys for SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA 

RAPID TRANSIT DISTRICT 

/ / /

Friday, August 12

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ALLEN, GLAESSNER, HAZELWOOD & WERTH, LLP

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STIPULATION TO AMEND

SCHEDULING ORDER

CASE NO.: 3:15-CV-01313-JSW 

75546.1

Dated: January 4, 2016 CATES PETERSON LLP

By: /s/ Mark D. Peterson

MARK D. PETERSON

Attorneys for TRAVELERS PROPERTY 

CASUALTY COMPANY OF AMERICA

Dated: January 4, 2016 SMITH ELLISON

By: /s/ Michael W. Ellison

MICHAEL W. ELLISON 

Attorneys for SENTINEL INSURANCE 

COMPANY LTD. 

ORDER

The parties’ stipulation is adopted and IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: _________________

______________________________

JEFFREY S. WHITE

UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE 

AS MODIFIED. January 5, 2016

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