Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_14-cv-01889/USCOURTS-caed-1_14-cv-01889-13/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 190
Nature of Suit: Other Contract Actions
Cause of Action: 28:1332 Diversity-Breach of Contract

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JOINT REQUEST FOR CONTINUANCE OF THE OCTOBER 18, 2016 SETTLEMENT 

CONFERENCE

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Thomas A. Vogele, Esq. (SBN 254557)

Timothy M. Kowal, Esq. (SBN 254709)

THOMAS VOGELE & ASSOCIATES, APC

3199 Airport Loop Drive, Suite A-3

Costa Mesa, California 92626

Telephone: (714) 641-1232

Facsimile: (888) 391-4105

Email: tvogele@tvalaw.com

Attorneys for plaintiffs C & C Properties, Inc., JEC 

Panama, LLC and Wings Way, LLC

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

C & C PROPERTIES, INC., a California 

corporation; JEC PANAMA, LLC, a 

California limited liability company; and 

WINGS WAY, LLC, a Delaware limited 

liability company,

Plaintiffs,

vs.

SHELL PIPELINE COMPANY, a 

Delaware limited partnership; ALON USA 

PARAMOUNT PETROLEUM 

CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation; 

CHEVRON PIPE LINE COMPANY, a 

Delaware corporation; and DOES 1 through 

25, inclusive,

Defendants.

CASE NO.: 1:14-cv-01889 JLT

JOINT REQUEST FOR CONTINUANCE OF 

THE OCTOBER 18, 2016 SETTLEMENT 

CONFERENCE

Action Filed: November 26, 2014

Trial Date: 

Plaintiffs C & C PROPERTIES, INC., JEC PANAMA, LLC, and WINGS WAY, LLC

(collectively “Plaintiffs”), on the one hand, and defendants SHELL PIPELINE COMPANY 

(“Shell”) and ALON USA PARAMOUNT PETROLEUM CORPORATION (“Alon”), on the 

other hand, jointly and respectfully request the October 18, 2016 Settlement Conference be 

continued 45 days. Good cause exists for the requested continuance, as explained below. 

1. This litigation was initiated on November 25, 2014. It involves claims arising from 

the defendants’ alleged operation of three pipelines that traversed the south frontage of Plaintiffs’ 

138-acre parcel in Bakersfield, California. More specifically, Plaintiffs alleged defendants 

Case 1:14-cv-01889-LHR-CDB Document 117 Filed 10/12/16 Page 1 of 4
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committed trespass by refusing to remove their pipelines from the property following Plaintiffs’ 

demand and continuing to operate the pipelines for commercial purposes without right.

2. On or about March 1, 2016, Plaintiffs propounded requests for production of 

documents on each defendant. The requests sought, among other documents, defendants’ records 

regarding the operation of the three pipelines traversing the Plaintiffs’ property. The information 

contained in the requested documents is relevant to damages under Civil Code § 3334.

3. Defendants did not turn over the requested financial records and other documents. 

Defendants contend the documents contain confidential information and/or trade secrets, and 

because pursuant to FRCP Rule 26(d)(1), written discovery could not yet be propounded. 

4. On June 21, 2016, the Parties appeared at a Scheduling Conference before United 

States Magistrate Judge Jennifer L. Thurston. Thomas Vogele, Esq. appeared on behalf of 

plaintiffs; Kevin A. Day, Esq. appeared on behalf of defendants.

5. At the Scheduling Conference, the document requests were discussed. At that 

time, the Parties agreed to execute a stipulated protective order protecting against dissemination 

of confidential information and trade secrets to the public. To that end Judge Thurston ordered 

Mr. Day to draft and provide a proposed protective order to Mr. Vogele by July 1, 2016. 

Judge Thurston also ordered the parties to file an executed protective order by July 29, 2016. 

Mainly due to maters of third-party confidentiality as to whether information related to the use of 

the common-carrier pipeline could be disclosed (pursuant to confidentiality demanded by the 

California Public Utilities Commission) the protective order was agreed to and executed on 

October 7, 2016.

6. Also at the Scheduling Conference, Judge Thurston ordered Plaintiffs to submit a 

settlement demand prior to the settlement conference. Plaintiffs contend they cannot engage in 

meaningful settlement discussions until they receive the requested discovery from Defendants to 

reasonably estimate the amount of damages. That information is contained in the documents 

produced by Defendants in October 2016. 

7. Additionally, Defendants contend they are also not in position to engage in 

meaningful settlement discussions. Plaintiffs recently settled separate arbitration proceedings with 

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Chevron U.S.A. Inc. related to the non-disclosure of certain information about the Subject 

Property. Defendants argue said settlement information is both relevant and key to Defendants’ 

analysis of the settlement posture of the case. However, Defendants have not been provided with 

the terms of the settlement with Chevron, which cannot be voluntarily be produced due to 

confidentiality provisions therein. Without the requested information, Defendants represent they 

are not in position to begin settlement discussions on October 18, 2016.

For the foregoing reasons, the parties, and each of them, agree that good cause exists to 

continue the October 18, 2016 Settlement Conference 45 days. By that time, the parties expect a 

protective order will be in place, discovery will be further along and all essential individuals will 

be able to participate in the continued settlement conference with the meaningful information 

necessary to potentially settle this matter. As such, the settlement procedures ordered by Judge 

Thurston can be meaningfully fulfilled by the parties.

DATED: October ___, 2016 THOMAS VOGELE & ASSOCIATES, APC

By:

Thomas A. Vogele

Timothy M. Kowal

Attorneys for plaintiffs C & C Properties, Inc., 

JEC Panama, LLC and Wings Way, LLC

DATED: October ___, 2016 ALVARADOSMITH, APC

By:

Kevin Day

Attorneys for defendants Shell Pipeline Company and 

Alon USA Paramount Petroleum Corporation

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ORDER

Finding good cause to exist, the Court hereby continues the Settlement Conference from 

October 18, 2016 to December 13, 2016 at 9:30 a.m.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: October 11, 2016 /s/ Jennifer L. Thurston 

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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