Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-3_05-cv-03045/USCOURTS-cand-3_05-cv-03045-11/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 893
Nature of Suit: Environmental Matters
Cause of Action: 28:1331 Fed. Question

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Stipulation to Amend Pretrial 

Preparation Order

FRANCIS M. GOLDSBERRY II, SBN: 63737

FRANCIS M. GOLDSBERRY III, SBN: 178739

GOLDSBERRY, FREEMAN & GUZMAN, LLP

777 12th Street, Suite 250

Sacramento, CA 95814

Telephone: (916) 448-0448

Facsimile: (916) 448-8628

E-Mail: mac@gfsacto.com

E-Mail: tripp@gfsacto.com

Attorneys for Defendants

ATKN COMPANY OF CALIFORNIA,

f/k/a Guy F. Atkinson Company of

California; ATKN COMPANY, a

Nevada corporation, f/k/a Guy F. 

Atkinson Company

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

SAN FRANCISCO DIVISION

MARY A. BOTTOMS, an individual and as

trustee for the Bottoms Family 1989 Trust;

THE BLUE OAK CHARITABLE FUND, a

California non-profit public benefit corporation,

Plaintiffs,

vs.

ATKN COMPANY OF CALIFORNIA, f/k/a

Guy F. Atkinson Company of California;

ATKN COMPANY, a Nevada corporation,

f/k/a Guy F. Atkinson Company, and DOES 1 -

100,k

Defendants.

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CASE NO. 3:05-cv-03045 SI

JOINT APPLICATION AND

STIPULATION TO AMEND THE

PRETRIAL PREPARATION ORDER AS

AMENDED 

The parties to this action jointly stipulate and apply for a change in the Pretrial Preparation

Order (as Amended July 23, 2007) to change the dates for various benchmarks in the progress of

this action.

As explained in the June 29, 2007 Joint Application and Stipulation to Amend the Pretrial

Preparation Order, discovery in this action has been hampered by a variety of factors. Foremost is

that defendants ATKN are defunct, but retain literally thousands of boxes of documents in storage. 

Case 3:05-cv-03045-SI Document 42 Filed 12/20/2007 Page 1 of 6 Case 3:05-cv-03045-SI Document 43 Filed 12/26/07 Page 1 of 6
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Stipulation to Amend Pretrial 

Preparation Order - 2 -

Of those thousands of boxes, nearly 100 boxes were identified as having documents that may be

relevant to this dispute. The parties continue to progress in their review of these documents, but

the large volume and the condition of the documents (many are more than 40 years old) continue to

present challenges that exceed the estimates of the parties.

Neither party has conducted sufficient discovery to allow it to be adequately prepared by the

January 30, 2008 discovery cut-off. Furthermore, the parties hope to conduct a second mediation

session before launching into numerous depositions, which will likely require significant travel

because 1) ATKN’s predecessor, Guy F. Atkinson Co., had offices in several cities throughout the

country, such that witnesses with relevant information may not have ever lived in the Bay Area, and

2) the passage of so much time since the events that allegedly give rise to liability means that many

witnesses have moved out of the area. Therefore, the deposition process is likely to be more

difficult and expensive than it would be in other cases, and the parties would like to explore

whether such depositions can be avoided by a negotiated settlement.

Counsel for the parties have met and conferred, and we believe that the following schedule

should allow the parties sufficient time to explore mediation and still conduct full discovery, if

necessary:

NON-EXPERT DISCOVERY CUTOFF: August 1, 2008

DESIGNATION OF EXPERTS: August 29, 2008

DESIGNATION OF REBUTTAL EXPERTS: September 19, 2008

EXPERT DISCOVERY CUTOFF: October 17, 2008

DISPOSITIVE MOTIONS FILED BY: November 14, 2008

OPPOSITION DUE: December 1, 2008

REPLY DUE: December 8, 2008

HEARING DATE: December 19, 2008

PRETRIAL CONFERENCE: February 20, 2009

TRIAL: March 9, 2009

Furthermore, the parties stipulate that defendants may have leave to file a counterclaim in

the form attached hereto as Exhibit A. Good cause exists for the filing of this counterclaim in that

Case 3:05-cv-03045-SI Document 42 Filed 12/20/2007 Page 2 of 6

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Case 3:05-cv-03045-SI Document 43 Filed 12/26/07 Page 2 of 6
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Stipulation to Amend Pretrial 

Preparation Order - 3 -

recently decided case law (United States v. Atlantic Research, 127 S.Ct. 2331, 168 L.Ed.2d 28,

(2007)) suggests that such a counterclaim is necessary to place allocation of liability under

CERCLA in issue. Plaintiffs do not stipulate as to the validity of claims asserted or claims made by

defendants.

We respectfully request that the court issue a new Pretrial Preparation Order reflecting these

new dates and granting defendant leave to file the counterclaim attached hereto as Exhibit A.

SO STIPULATED.

DATED: December 20, 2007 LELAND, PARACHINI, STEINBERG

MATZGER & MELNICK, LLP

By: /s/ Mitchell Chyette 

Mitchell Chyette

Attorneys for Plaintiffs

MARY A. BOTTOMS, Trustee of the BOTTOM

FAMILY 1989 TRUST and THE BLUE OAK

CHARITABLE FUND, a California Non-Profit

Public Benefit Corporation

DATED: December 20, 2007 GOLDSBERRY, FREEMAN & GUZMAN, LLP

By: /s/ Francis M. Goldsberry III 

FRANCIS M. GOLDSBERRY III

Attorneys for Defendants

ATKN COMPANY OF CALIFORNIA,

f/k/a Guy F. Atkinson Company of

California; ATKN COMPANY, a

Nevada corporation, f/k/a Guy F. 

Atkinson Company

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Exhibit A: Joint Application and Stipulation to

Amend Pretrial Preparation Order 

Re: Bottoms v. ATKN Company of California, et al.

United States District Court

Northern District No.: 3:05-cv-03045 SI

E X H I B I T A

JOINT APPLICATION AND STIPULATION TO AMEND

THE PRETRIAL PREPARATION ORDER AS AMENDED

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Exhibit A: Joint Application and Stipulation to

Amend Pretrial Preparation Order 

FRANCIS M. GOLDSBERRY II, SBN: 63737

FRANCIS M. GOLDSBERRY III, SBN: 178739

GOLDSBERRY, FREEMAN & GUZMAN, LLP

777 12th Street, Suite 250

Sacramento, CA 95814

Telephone: (916) 448-0448

Facsimile: (916) 448-8628

E-Mail: mac@gfsacto.com

E-Mail: tripp@gfsacto.com

Attorneys for Defendants

ATKN COMPANY OF CALIFORNIA,

f/k/a Guy F. Atkinson Company of

California; ATKN COMPANY, a

Nevada corporation, f/k/a Guy F. 

Atkinson Company

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

SAN FRANCISCO DIVISION

MARY A. BOTTOMS, an individual and as

trustee for the Bottoms Family 1989 Trust;

THE BLUE OAK CHARITABLE FUND, a

California non-profit public benefit corporation,

Plaintiffs,

vs.

ATKN COMPANY OF CALIFORNIA, f/k/a

Guy F. Atkinson Company of California;

ATKN COMPANY, a Nevada corporation,

f/k/a Guy F. Atkinson Company, and DOES 1 -

100,k

Defendants.

______________________________________

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CASE NO. 3:05-cv-03045 SI

COUNTERCLAIM OF DEFENDANTS

ATKN COMPANY OF CALIFORNIA AND

ATKN COMPANY 

1. Counterclaimaints ATKN COMPANY OF CALIFORNIA AND ATKN

COMPANY bring this counterclaim for contribution against counterdefendants MARY A.

BOTTOMS, individually and as trustee for the Bottoms Family 1989 Trust, and THE BLUE OAK

CHARITABLE FUND (collectively “counterdefendants”). This counterclaim arises out of the

same transactions, occurrences and set of circumstances set forth in plaintiffs’ complaint. 

Jurisdiction and venue with respect to these counterclaims are proper in this Court under the

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Exhibit A: Joint Application and Stipulation to

Amend Pretrial Preparation Order 

provisions of 42 U.S.C. § 9613(b).

2. Counterclaimaint is informed and believes, and thereon alleges, that

counterdefendants are an “owner” or “operator” of “facilities” from which there has been a

“release” of hazardous substances into the “environment,” within the meaning of 42 U.S.C. § 9607.

3. Counterclaimants deny any and all liability to plaintiffs. However, if plaintiffs

obtain a judgment of joint and several liability on their complaint against counterclaimants,

counterclaimants are informed and believe that they will be liable for an amount greater than

counterclaimants’ equitable share of liability. Therefore, counterclaimants will be entitled to

contribution from counterdefendants pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 9613(f).

PRAYER

Wherefore, ATKN COMPANY OF CALIFORNIA AND ATKN COMPANY pray for

judgment as follows:

(a) Contribution for any liability above and beyond counterclaimaint’s equitable share;

and

(b) For such other and further relief as this Court may deem just and proper.

DATED: GOLDSBERRY, FREEMAN & GUZMAN, LLP

By:_________________________________

FRANCIS M. GOLDSBERRY III

Attorneys for Defendants

ATKN COMPANY OF CALIFORNIA,

f/k/a Guy F. Atkinson Company of

California; ATKN COMPANY, a

Nevada corporation, f/k/a Guy F. 

Atkinson Company

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