Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_23-cv-01319/USCOURTS-caed-1_23-cv-01319-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 891
Nature of Suit: Agricultural Acts
Cause of Action: 29:1801 Farmworker Rights

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

AZUCENA ORTIZ, on behalf of 

themselves, and those similarly situated in 

the State of California, et al.,

Plaintiffs,

v.

LUCERO AG SERVICES, INC., et al.,

Defendants.

Case No. 1:23-cv-01319-JLT-EPG

ORDER VACATING SCHEDULING 

CONFERENCE

(ECF No. 9)

Plaintiffs filed this civil action on September 5, 2023, mainly bringing putative class 

claims. (ECF No. 1). The Court issued an order on September 6, 2023, setting an initial 

scheduling conference for December 7, 2023, with the requirement that the parties file a joint 

scheduling report at least one week before the conference. (ECF No. 3). Additionally, the Court’s 

order advised Plaintiffs about the need to comply with Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 4(m), 

which requires a complaint to be served within 90 days after being filed, but permits the Court to 

extend the time for service. 

Now before the Court is Plaintiffs’ statement regarding the scheduling conference. (ECF 

No. 9). They state that they “successfully served Defendant Lucero AG Services, Inc.

(“Defendant Lucero”) on September 29, 2023; Defendant Ricardo Ulices Lucero-Ambrosio 

(“Defendant Lucero-Ambrosio”) on September 29, 2023; and Defendant Paragroup Farms, Inc. 

(“Defendant Paragroup”) on September 28, 2023.” (Id. at 3). However, these Defendants have 

Case 1:23-cv-01319-JLT-EPG Document 10 Filed 12/01/23 Page 1 of 2
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filed no response to the complaint, and Plaintiffs intend to seek a clerk’s entry of default against 

them under Rule 55(a). However, Plaintiffs state that they “have been unable to serve the two 

remaining Defendants 559 AG Corp. (“Defendant 559”) and Artemio Fidel Salazar Luna 

(“Defendant Luna”) despite multiple attempts.” (Id. at 3-4). 

Due to the foregoing circumstances, Plaintiffs request the Court vacate the Status 

Conference scheduled for December 7, 2023 and set another Status Conference in 

90 days to (1) allow Plaintiffs to request Entry of Default regarding Defendants 

Lucero, Lucero-Ambrosio and Paragroup; and (2) allow Plaintiffs additional time 

to investigate alternative addresses and contacts in order to serve Defendants 559 

and Luna.

(Id. at 4). 

Upon review, IT IS ORDERED as follows:

1. The Court vacates the scheduling conference set for December 7, 2023, at 10 a.m. (ECF 

No. 3). The Court will not reset the scheduling conference at this time, but if the 

circumstances in this case later warrant a conference, the Court will set one.

2. Plaintiffs are granted an extension to February 29, 2024, to serve Defendants 559 and 

Luna and to seek a Clerk’s entry of default as to the served Defendants.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: December 1, 2023 /s/

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 1:23-cv-01319-JLT-EPG Document 10 Filed 12/01/23 Page 2 of 2