Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_19-cv-00179/USCOURTS-caed-2_19-cv-00179-4/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 890
Nature of Suit: Other Statutory Actions
Cause of Action: 

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

BILL HANSEN,

Plaintiff,

v.

LMB MORTGAGE SERVICES, INC., et 

al.,

Defendants.

No. 2:19-CV-0179-KJM-DMC

ORDER

Plaintiff, who is proceeding with retained counsel, brings this civil action under 

the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA). The case proceeds against defendants Digital 

Media Solutions, LLC (Digital Media), LMB Mortgage Services, Inc. (LMB), and CPL Assets, 

LLC (CPL). All defendants sought an order to compel arbitration and to stay proceedings. See

ECF Nos. 23 (amended motion to compel arbitration filed by LMB and CPL) and 26 (joinder 

filed by Digital Media). Defendants LMB and CPL have appealed the District Judge’s January 

21, 2020, order denying the motion to compel arbitration and stay proceedings. See ECF Nos. 40 

(order) and 43 (notice of appeal). 

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Case 2:19-cv-00179-KJM-DMC Document 48 Filed 02/21/20 Page 1 of 2
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On February 20, 2020, the court issued an order sua sponte vacating the scheduling 

conference set for February 27, 2020, pending resolution of the appeal and return of jurisdiction 

to this court. That order was issued in error. See Britton v. Co-op Banking Group, 916 F.2d 1405 

(9th Cir. 1990); see also In re Williams Sports Rentals, Inc., 2017 WL 4923337, at *2 (E.D. Cal. 

2017). Because the issue of arbitrability – the only issue presented on appeal – is severable from 

the merits of the underlying dispute, see Moses H. Cone Memorial Hospital v. Mercury 

Construction, 460 U.S. 1, 21 (1983), and because no stay of proceeding has been entered, this 

court may proceed with case scheduling notwithstanding the pending appeal, see Britton, 916 

F.2d at 1412.

Accordingly, the February 20, 2020, order is vacated and the scheduling 

conference remains on calendar for February 27, 2020, at 11:00 a.m., in Sacramento, California, 

Courtroom 4, as originally ordered on February 13, 2020. The scheduling conference shall 

proceed on the joint case management report filed on January 31, 2020. Because the joint report 

was filed before defendants LMB and CPL appealed the order denying the motion to compel 

arbitration and stay proceedings, the parties shall be prepared to discuss the practical effect of the 

appeal on scheduling litigation in this court on the merits of the underlying claims and defenses. 

IT IS SO ORDERED. 

Dated: February 21, 2020

____________________________________

DENNIS M. COTA

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 2:19-cv-00179-KJM-DMC Document 48 Filed 02/21/20 Page 2 of 2