Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-3_09-cv-04836/USCOURTS-cand-3_09-cv-04836-4/pdf.json

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

---

1

[PROPOSED] ORDER - CASE NO.: C09-04836 JSW 

4/6/10 (26517) #366552.1 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

23 

24 

25 

26 

27 

28 

MICHAEL M.K. SEBREE #142649 

DAVID C. LEE #193743 

FITZGERALD ABBOTT & BEARDSLEY LLP 

1221 Broadway, 21st Floor 

Oakland, California 94612 

Telephone: (510) 451-3300 

Facsimile: (510) 451-1527 

Email: msebree@fablaw.com; dlee@fablaw.com; 

Attorneys for Defendants Leo L. Cotella & Co., Inc., 

Donald N. Ratto and Benedetto Ratto, Jr. 

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA - SAN FRANCISCO 

ABBATE FAMILY FARMS LIMITED 

PARTNERSHIP, a California Limited 

Partnership 

 Plaintiff, 

 vs. 

LEO L. COTELLA & CO., INC., a California 

corporation; DONALD N. RATTO, an 

individual; BENEDETTO RATTO, JR., an 

individual, 

 Defendants. 

Case No.: C09-04836 JSW 

[PROPOSED] ORDER STAYING 

ENTIRE ACTION PENDING 

RESOLUTION OF DEFENDANT LEO L. 

COTELLA & COMPANY'S 

BANKRUPTCY PROCEEDING 

WHEREAS Defendant Leo L. Cotella & Company (the "Company") filed a Chapter 7 

bankruptcy on March 23, 2010, thereby automatically staying Plaintiff's action against the 

Company; 

WHEREAS the liability, if any, of the remaining Defendants, Donald Ratto and 

Benedetto Ratto (owners of the Company), by virtue of the claims made pursuant to the 

Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act, 7 U.S.C. § 499e(c)(5) (hereafter “PACA”), 28 U.S.C. 

§ 1331, and 28 U.S.C. § 1367, is derivative to that of the Company, and can only be determined 

upon completion of the bankruptcy proceedings; 

WHEREAS David C. Lee of the law firm of Fitzgerald Abbott & Beardsley LLP, on 

behalf of Defendants, and Joseph Choate of the law firm Choate & Choate, on behalf of Abbate 

Family Farms Limited Partnership, have reached a stipulation to stay the action as to the 

Case 3:09-cv-04836-JSW Document 39 Filed 04/08/10 Page 1 of 2 Case3:09-cv-04836-JSW Document38 Filed04/06/10 Page1 of 2
2

[PROPOSED] ORDER - CASE NO.: C09-04836 JSW 

4/6/10 (26517) #366552.1 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

23 

24 

25 

26 

27 

28 

remaining Defendants pending completion of the bankruptcy proceedings; 

WHEREAS it appearing to the satisfaction of the Court that good cause exists to 

approve the parties' stipulation; 

IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that the action, in its entirety, is stayed pending 

completion of the bankruptcy proceedings. 

IT IS SO ORDERED. 

Dated: 

 Honorable Jeffrey S. White 

Case3:09-cv-04836-JSW Document38 Filed04/06/10 Page2 of 2

The Clerk of the Court is directed administratively to close the case for statistical purposes. 

The parties shall notify the Court within ten days of the lifting of the bankruptcy stay, and this 

matter shall thereafter be reopened. 

IT IS SO ORDERED. 

Dated: April 8, 2010 ________________________________ 

 JEFFREY S. WHITE 

 UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE 

Case 3:09-cv-04836-JSW Document 39 Filed 04/08/10 Page 2 of 2