Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-3_13-cv-05001/USCOURTS-cand-3_13-cv-05001-21/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 791
Nature of Suit: Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA)
Cause of Action: 29:1132 E.R.I.S.A.: Employee Benefits

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STIPULATION TO SET DEPOSITION OF DEBBIE SHANK MORGAN AFTER FACT DISCOVERY CUTOFF

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KENNETH C. ABSALOM (SBN 114607)

kenabsalom@333law.com

GEORGE R. NEMIROFF (SBN 262058)

nemiroff@333law.com

LAW OFFICE OF KENNETH C. ABSALOM

220 Montgomery Street, Suite 905

San Francisco, Ca. 94104

Tel: 415-392-5040

Fax: 415-392-3729

Attorneys for Defendants 

Carl Goff, Russell E. Burns, and

Dan Reding

DWAYNE P. MCKENZIE (SBN 175162)

dmckenzie@coxcastle.com 

COX, CASTLE & NICHOLSON LLP 

2049 Century Park East, 28th Floor 

Los Angeles, CA 90067-3284 

Telephone: (310) 284-2200 

Facsimile: (310) 284-2100 

Attorneys for Defendants Kevin J. Albanese, 

F.G. Crosthwaite, Thomas Holsman, John M. 

Humber, Richard Piombo

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

DAVID SLACK, individually, and on behalf 

of all others similarly situated, et al. 

Plaintiffs,

vs.

RUSSELL E. BURNS, et al.

Defendants.

Case No.: 3:13-cv-05001-EMC

STIPULATION TO SET DEPOSITION 

OF DEBBIE SHANK MORGAN AFTER 

FACT DISCOVERY CUTOFF

Judge: Hon. Edward M. Chen

Complaint Filed: October 27, 2013

TO THE COURT, TO ALL PARTIES AND THEIR COUNSEL OF RECORD: 

This Stipulation is submitted pursuant to Local Rules 6-2, and is entered into by and 

between Plaintiffs David Slack, Jim Jarboe, Kenny Mendoza, Ken Bettis and Clyde Eli 

Case 3:13-cv-05001-EMC Document 267 Filed 04/07/16 Page 1 of 6
STIPULATION TO SET DEPOSITION OF DEBBIE SHANK MORGAN AFTER FACT DISCOVERY CUTOFF

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(collectively, “Plaintiffs”), and Defendants Russell E. Burns, Carl Goff and Dan Reding (“Union 

Trustees”) and F.G. Crosthwaite, Richard Piombo, John Humber, Thomas Holsman and Kevin 

Albanese (“Management Trustees””) (collectively, “Defendants”) for the purpose of efficiently 

managing this litigation. One extension has previously been requested regarding the expert report 

disclosure deadline and it was granted. The original Complaint in this matter was filed on October 

27, 2013. 

1. On October 19, 2015, Defendants filed with this Court a Motion Seeking Leave to 

Depose Debbie Shank Morgan pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. 30(a)(2)(B).1 (ECF No. 235).

2. On October 21, 2015, Plaintiffs filed a Procedural Objection to Defendant’s Motion 

Seeking Leave to Depose Debbie Shank Morgan, Filed in Violation of This Court’s Civil Standing 

Order on Discovery. (ECF No. 237). 

3. On October 22, 2015, Defendants filed a Response to Plaintiff’s Procedural 

Objection. (ECF No. 239). 

4. On October 22, 2015, the parties received a Clerk’s Notice referring the parties to 

the Court’s standing order regarding discovery disputes and required them to meet and confer and 

file a joint letter by November 5, 2015. (ECF No. 240). 

5. The parties met and conferred in accordance with the Court’s direction and, when 

they determined no resolution could be reached, filed a joint letter on November 5, 2016 laying out 

their respective positions. (ECF No. 244). 

6. On November 9, 2015, the Court issued its order referring the case to Magistrate 

Judge Kandis Westmore for discovery purposes. (ECF No. 245). 

7. On November 24, 2015, Magistrate Judge Westmore issued an order granting 

Defendants leave to conduct the deposition of Debbie Shank Morgan. (ECF NO. 248). 

8. On December 7, 2015, Defendants had prepared and served on Debbie Shank 

Morgan in Ohio a subpoena duces tecum commanding her to appear at deposition and produce 

documents on February 3, 2016.

 1 At the time the motion was filed Morgan was incarcerated in a federal penitentiary in Carswell, Texas. 

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STIPULATION TO SET DEPOSITION OF DEBBIE SHANK MORGAN AFTER FACT DISCOVERY CUTOFF

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9. On or about January 27, 2016, counsel for the Union Trustees received 

correspondence from Morgan’s attorney, Lawrence Hupertz, that Morgan was undergoing various 

surgeries, one of which was scheduled for the day of her deposition and would not be able to 

appear at the scheduled time, nor in the foreseeable future. 

10. On February 9, 2016, counsel for the Union Trustees sent correspondence to 

Magistrate Judge Westmore seeking her assistance in coordinating Morgan’s deposition. (ECF No. 

249). 

11. On February 17, 2016, Magistrate Judge Westmore conducted a teleconference 

involving counsel for both parties and Morgan. The conference concluded with Magistrate Judge 

Westmore informing the parties she would make inquiries with Morgan’s home confinement 

specialist, Kenneth Dodds, as to the extent that her health condition would prevent her from being 

able to sit for deposition. Magistrate Judge Westmore also indicated she would request Morgan’s 

physician(s) furnish an affidavit or letter regarding her health condition following her surgery. 

(ECF No. 251). 

12. On March 16, 2016, having not heard back from the Court, Defendants sent 

additional correspondence to Magistrate Judge Westmore, seeking an update as to Morgan’s 

deposition. (ECF No. 252). 

13. On March 29, 2016, Magistrate Judge Westmore conducted a teleconference 

involving counsel for both parties and third party witness Morgan. Magistrate Judge Westmore 

informed the parties of her findings. Further, she proposed dates for the parties to confer about after 

the fact-discovery cut off and recommended the parties submit a stipulation to the Court to conduct 

the deposition after said cutoff. 

14. Counsel for the parties agreed to enter into a stipulation setting May 23, 2016 as the 

date counsel for all parties to this action are available for taking Morgan’s deposition. Counsel for 

Morgan informed the Court that he was not authorized to enter into any stipulation. Thus, it is 

unclear whether Morgan will in fact appear for her deposition on this re-noticed date.

Case 3:13-cv-05001-EMC Document 267 Filed 04/07/16 Page 3 of 6
STIPULATION TO SET DEPOSITION OF DEBBIE SHANK MORGAN AFTER FACT DISCOVERY CUTOFF

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15. Following the teleconference on March 29, Magistrate Judge Westmore issued a 

minute order stating the court did not agree that Ms. Morgan is incapable of having her deposition 

taken and accommodations could be made for her medical appointment schedule and physical 

limitations. At the conclusion of her minute order, Magistrate Judge Westmore indicated the parties 

are “’[t]o submit a stipulation and proposed order to extend discovery cut-off for the limited 

purposes of taking Ms. Morgan’s deposition during the week of May 23, 2016.” (ECF No. 257). 

16. This Stipulation is not offered for any dilatory or improper purpose, but rather solely 

to effectively manage the scheduling of case events, to ensure the most efficient use of resources 

by the Court, the parties, and their counsel, and to accommodate the pre-existing schedules of 

parties and counsel. 

WHEREFORE, subject to the Court’s approval, Plaintiffs and Defendants, desiring to 

efficiently manage this complex matter, hereby stipulate and request a variance in the fact 

discovery cut-off date as follows: 

1. The discovery cut-off is extended for the limited purpose of taking the deposition of 

Debbie Shank Morgan during the week of May 23, 2016.

2. This stipulated extension to the discovery cut-off for the limited purpose of taking 

the deposition of Ms. Morgan is without prejudice to subsequent stipulations by the parties or 

requests by Defendants to further adjust the extension as may be necessary in the event the 

deposition does not or cannot occur as scheduled for any reason.

Respectfully submitted,

Dated: April 5, 2016 BERNS WEISS LLP

By: /s/ H. Scott Leviant

H. Scott Leviant

Jeffrey K. Berns

Lee A. Weiss

Albert G. Lum

Attorneys for Plaintiffs

Case 3:13-cv-05001-EMC Document 267 Filed 04/07/16 Page 4 of 6
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Dated: April 5, 2016 LAW OFFICE OF KENNETH C. ABSALOM

By: /s/ Kenneth C. Absalom

Kenneth C. Absalom

George R. Nemiroff 

Attorney for Defendants Russell E. Burns, Dan 

Reding, and Carl Goff

Dated: April 5, 2016 COX CASTLE & NICHOLSON

By: /s/ Dwayne McKenzie

Dwayne McKenzie

Monica Briseno

Attorney for Defendants F.G. Crosthwaite, Rich 

Piombo, Thomas Holsman, John Humber and Kevin 

Albanese

Case 3:13-cv-05001-EMC Document 267 Filed 04/07/16 Page 5 of 6
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PURSUANT TO STIPULATION, IT IS SO ORDERED:

Dated:

Hon. Edward M. Chen

UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

4/7/16

U

NITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

IT IS SO ORDERED

Judge Edward M. Chen

Case 3:13-cv-05001-EMC Document 267 Filed 04/07/16 Page 6 of 6