Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-3_07-cv-04309/USCOURTS-cand-3_07-cv-04309-6/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 443
Nature of Suit: Civil Rights Accommodations
Cause of Action: 42:405 Fair Housing Act

---

2

BONNETT, FAIRBOURN, FRIEDMAN

& BALINT, P.C.

Andrew S. Friedman (Pro Hac Vice)

Wendy J. Harrison (CA SBN 151090)

2901 North Central Avenue, Suite 1000

Phoenix, Arizona 85012

Telephone: (602) 274-1100

CHAVEZ & GERTLER, L.L.P.

Mark A. Chavez (CA SBN 90858)

42 Miller Avenue

Mill Valley, California 94941

(415) 381-5599

RODDY KLEIN & RYAN

Gary Klein (Pro Hac Vice)

Shennan Kavanagh (Pro Hac Vice)

727 Atlantic Avenue

Boston, MA 02111-2810

Telephone: 617/357-5500

COUGHLIN STOIA GELLER

RUDMAN & ROBBINS LLP

Shawn A. Williams

100 Pine Street Suite 2600

San Francisco, CA 94111

Telephone: 415/288-4545

COUGHLIN STOIA GELLER

RUDMAN & ROBBINS LLP

Samuel H. Rudman (Pro Hac Vice)

Robert M. Rothman (Pro Hac Vice)

58 South Service Road, Suite 200

Melville, NY 11747

Telephone: 631/367-7100

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

In re: WELLS FARGO

RESIDENTIAL MORTGAGE

LENDING DISCRIMINATION

LITIGATION

This document relates to:

ALL ACTIONS

[PROPOSED] PRE-TRIAL ORDER

NO. 1

Honorable Martin J. Jenkins

Date Action Filed: July 30, 2007

Lead Case No: C 07-03880 MJJ

Related Case No: C 07-04309 MJJ

Case 3:07-cv-04309-MMC Document 35 Filed 01/08/08 Page 1 of 10
3

In order to promote the just, expeditious and cost-effective resolution of this

litigation, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED as follows:

I. RULE 42 CONSOLIDATION, MASTER FILE AND MASTER DOCKET

A. Pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 42(a), the Clerk of Court

shall consolidate the action Jeffries et al. v. Wells Fargo Bank N.A. et al., C 07-

03880 MJJ, and Related Case Ventura et al. v. Wells Fargo Bank N.A., C 07-04309 

MJJ for pretrial proceedings (the “Consolidated Actions”).

B. The Jeffries action, C 07-03880 MJJ, as the first filed action, is the

lead case and will now be referred to as “In Re Wells Fargo Residential Mortgage

Lending Discrimination Litigation.”

C. Pursuant to LR 3-4(b), when a pleading or other captioned document

is filed which is intended to be applicable to all these Consolidated Actions, the

paper shall be filed with a caption denoting the new title caption, further denoting 

the lead case number (C 07-03880 MJJ) above all consolidated case numbers, and 

indicating that it is applicable to “All Actions.” Duplicate originals need not be

submitted for associated cases.

D. When such a pleading or other paper is filed stating that it is

applicable to “All Actions,” the Clerk of Court (“Clerk”) is directed to file such 

pleading or paper in C 07-03880 MJJ as the Master File, and enter such filing in 

the docket for C 07-03880 MJJ as the Master Docket.

Case 3:07-cv-04309-MMC Document 35 Filed 01/08/08 Page 2 of 10
4

E. An original of this Order and every subsequent Order shall be filed by 

the Clerk in the Master File and entered upon the Master Docket.

F. When a pleading or other captioned document is intended to be

applicable only to one or more, but fewer than all, of these Consolidated Actions,

the paper shall be filed with a caption indicating the actions which it is applicable

to through use of the last name of the first-named plaintiff in that action and that

action’s case-specific number, and with an additional duplicate original for each of

the individual actions so identified.

G. When such a pleading or other paper is filed stating that it is

applicable to fewer than all of these Consolidated Actions, the Clerk is directed to 

file such pleading or paper in the docket(s) for such action(s). The Clerk shall also 

note on the Master Docket those actions to which the document relates.

II. APPOINTMENT AND ORGANIZATION OF PLAINTIFFS’ CO-LEAD

AND LIAISON INTERIM CLASS COUNSEL

A. The organizational structure of Plaintiffs’ counsel established under

paragraph III.B. hereof shall apply to all such Plaintiffs’ counsel in all of these

Consolidated Actions, and including subsequently filed actions.

B. Pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 23(g), the following 

counsel are designated to act on behalf of Plaintiffs and the Class in these

Consolidated Actions and all subsequently filed actions unless otherwise ordered 

by the Court (“Co-Lead and Liaison Interim Class Counsel”):

Case 3:07-cv-04309-MMC Document 35 Filed 01/08/08 Page 3 of 10
5

1. BONNETT FAIRBOURN FRIEDMAN & BALINT, P.C.

ANDREW S. FRIEDMAN

2901 N. Central Avenue

Suite 1000

Phoenix, AZ 85012

Telephone: 602/274-1100

Co-Lead Interim Class Counsel

2. RODDY KLEIN & RYAN

GARY KLEIN

727 Atlantic Avenue

Boston, MA 02111-2810

Telephone: 617/357-5500

Co-Lead Interim Class Counsel

3. Coughlin Stoia Geller Rudman & Robbins LLP

SHAWN A. WILLIAMS

100 Pine Street Suite 2600

San Francisco, CA 94111

Telephone: 415/288-4545

Coughlin Stoia Geller Rudman & Robbins LLP

SAMUEL H. RUDMAN

ROBERT M. ROTHMAN

58 South Service Road

Suite 200

Melville, NY 11747

Telephone: 631/367-7100

Liaison Interim Class Counsel

C. Co-Lead and Liaison Interim Class Counsel are directed to mail a

copy of this Order to all counsel of record in each of these consolidation actions.

D. Co-Lead and Liaison Interim Class Counsel are expected to maintain 

communications and promote harmonious dealings among all Plaintiffs’ counsel.

Case 3:07-cv-04309-MMC Document 35 Filed 01/08/08 Page 4 of 10
6

Co-Lead and Liaison Interim Class Counsel shall provide general supervision of

the activities of Plaintiffs’ counsel and shall have the following responsibilities and 

duties to perform or delegate as appropriate:

1. to brief and argue motions;

2. to initiate and conduct discovery, including, without limitation,

coordination of discovery with Defendants’ counsel, the preparation of written 

interrogatories, requests for admissions and requests for production of documents;

3. to direct and coordinate the examination of witnesses in 

depositions;

4. to act as spokesperson at pretrial conferences;

5. to call and chair meetings of counsel as appropriate or

necessary from time to time;

6. to initiate and conduct any settlement negotiations with counsel

for Defendants;

7. to provide general coordination of the activities of Plaintiffs’

counsel and to delegate work responsibilities to selected counsel as may be

required in such a manner as to lead to the orderly and efficient prosecution of this

litigation and to avoid duplication or unproductive effort;

8. to consult with and employ experts;

Case 3:07-cv-04309-MMC Document 35 Filed 01/08/08 Page 5 of 10
7

9. to receive and review periodic time reports of all attorneys on 

behalf of Plaintiffs and to determine if the time is being spent appropriately and for

the benefit of Plaintiffs; and

10. to perform such other duties as may be expressly authorized by 

further order of this Court.

E. Defendants’ counsel may rely upon all agreements made with 

Plaintiffs’ Co-Lead and Liaison Interim Class Counsel and such agreements shall

be binding on Plaintiffs and Plaintiffs’ counsel in these Consolidated Actions and 

any subsequent related actions.

III. LATER FILED CASES IN THIS COURT

A. When a case that relates to the same subject matter as these actions is

hereafter filed in this Court or transferred here from another court, the Clerk of this

Court shall:

1. File a copy of this Order in the separate file for such action.

2. Mail a copy of the Order of assignment to counsel for plaintiffs

and counsel for each defendant in the actions consolidated herewith.

3. Make an appropriate entry in the Master Docket.

4. Mail to the attorneys for the plaintiff(s) in the newly filed or

transferred case a copy of this Order.

Case 3:07-cv-04309-MMC Document 35 Filed 01/08/08 Page 6 of 10
8

5. Upon the first appearance of any new defendant(s) mail to the

attorneys for the defendant(s) in such newly filed or transferred case a copy of this

Order.

B. Counsel for plaintiffs and defendants in the consolidated actions shall

cooperate in calling to the attention of the Clerk any newly filed or transferred 

case.

IV. APPLICATION OF THIS ORDER TO SUBSEQUENT ACTIONS

A. This Order shall apply to each case alleging claims similar to those set

forth in these consolidated actions, which is filed in or transferred to this Court

after the date of this Order, unless a party objecting to the consolidation of that

case or to any other provision of this Order serves an application for relief from

this Order or from any of its provisions within ten (10) days after the date on which 

the Clerk mails a copy of this Order to counsel for that party.

B. Because additional cases may be consolidated with these Consolidated 

Actions in this Court, this Court will issue orders to the extent practicable calling 

for such matters to proceed in a manner consistent with the schedule in these

Consolidated Actions.

C. All future plaintiffs’ counsel consolidated in this action must be

authorized in advance by Co-Lead and Liaison Interim Class Counsel to assume

Case 3:07-cv-04309-MMC Document 35 Filed 01/08/08 Page 7 of 10
9

responsibilities related to those of the firms designated above as Co-Lead and 

Liaison Interim Class Counsel.

V. PRESERVATION OF EVIDENCE

A. The Court reminds the parties of their duty to preserve evidence that

may be relevant to these Consolidated Actions.

B. This duty extends to documents, data and tangible things (to be

interpreted broadly) in the possession, custody and control of the parties to this

action, and the employees, agents, contractors or other non-parties who possess

materials reasonably anticipated to be subject to discovery in these consolidated 

actions. Counsel are under an obligation to exercise efforts to identify and notify 

such non-parties, including employees.

C. Preservation of evidence is to be interpreted broadly to accomplish the

goal of maintaining the integrity of all documents, data and tangible things

reasonably anticipated to be subject to discovery in these Consolidated Actions.

D. Counsel are directed to inquire of their respective clients if the

business practices of any party involve the routine destruction, recycling,

relocation or mutation of such materials and, if so, direct the party, to the extent

practicable for the pendency of this order, either to (1) halt such business

processes; (2) sequester or remove such material from the business process; or (3)

Case 3:07-cv-04309-MMC Document 35 Filed 01/08/08 Page 8 of 10
10

arrange for the preservation of complete and accurate duplicates or copies of such 

material, suitable for later discovery if requested.

E. The most senior lawyer or lead trial counsel representing Defendant

and a representative for Co-Lead and Liaison Interim Class Counsel shall, not later

than ___________, 2008, submit to the Court under seal and pursuant to Federal

Rule of Civil Procedure 11, a statement that the directive in paragraph IV(D)

above, has been carried out.

VI. MISCELLANEOUS

A. Counsel for all parties are directed to cooperate with one another,

whenever possible, to promote the expeditious handling of pretrial proceedings in 

these Consolidated Actions.

B. All subsequent pretrial orders issued in these Consolidated Actions

shall be numbered consecutively. Any reference to an Order of this Court in any 

document filed with the Court shall include the proper number of the Order.

C. This Order may be amended by the Court on its own motion, and any 

party may apply at any time to this Court for a modification or exception to this

Order.

D. Service of any pleading, motion or other paper shall be made by hand 

delivery, facsimile, overnight delivery or by United States mail to counsel for

Defendant and to the firms appointed as Co-Lead and Liaison Interim Class

Case 3:07-cv-04309-MMC Document 35 Filed 01/08/08 Page 9 of 10
11

Counsel, as well as by e-mail to the designated e-mail distribution lists submitted 

by each party, as updated.

E. All Plaintiffs’ counsel in these Consolidated Actions and counsel of

any future matter consolidated with this case shall submit a record of the time

expended on these matters on a monthly basis in a manner prescribed by Co-Lead 

and Liaison Interim Class Counsel.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

DATED: _______________________, 2008.

_________________________________________

MARTIN J. JENKINS

UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

January 8

Case 3:07-cv-04309-MMC Document 35 Filed 01/08/08 Page 10 of 10