Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_08-cv-01877/USCOURTS-caed-2_08-cv-01877-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 110
Nature of Suit: Insurance
Cause of Action: 28:1332 Diversity-Insurance Contract

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

OAKLAND DIVISION

ROBERT WATTS, on behalf of himself

individually and all others similarly

situated,

Plaintiff,

 v.

ALLSTATE INDEMNITY CO., an

Illinois corporation, et al.,

Defendants. 

No. C 08-1236 SBA

ORDER

[Docket No. 13]

Before the Court is defendants’ Motion to Dismiss or, Alternatively, Stay Pending Appraisal

(the “Motion”) [Docket No. 13]. Although defendants (collectively, “Allstate”) indicate they

attempted to meet and confer but could not, due to plaintiff’s unavailability, Mot. at 2 n.3, they do

not explain, however, the timing of their attempts or the reason, if any, they were unable to so before

filing the Motion. Based upon the Court’s review of the Motion, it appears that had the parties met

and conferred, they could have addressed a number of issues raised in the Motion which would have

either addressed or at least narrowed the scope of any disagreement between the parties. As such,

the Court gives the parties ten days to meet and confer and decide whether Watts should file a First

Amended Complaint (“FAC”), to address some or all of these issues and/or whether, by stipulation

the parties are able to agree that some of the issues presented in the Motion are no longer subject to

dispute.

In meeting and conferring, the parties are to consider the following issues:

(1) To the extent Allstate claims Watts has not pled a loss or actual damages, whether an

FAC would be appropriate;

(2) Whether the right to an appraisal expressed in plaintiff’s policy documents, and

which Allstate claims functions as an arbitration provision, may lawfully be applied

under California law as a class arbitration waiver;

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Case 2:08-cv-01877-LKK-KJN Document 26 Filed 06/17/08 Page 1 of 2
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(3) To the extent Allstate claims Watts has failed to plead fraud with specificity, whether

an FAC would be appropriate;

(4) To the extent Allstate claims Watts has failed to plead unfair competition, under

section 17200 of the California Business and Professions Code, whether an FAC

would be appropriate;

(5) To the extent Allstate claims Watts has failed to plead certain specific information

related to a claim under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, 18

U.S.C. § 1961 et seq., whether an FAC would be appropriate;

(6) To the extent Allstate claims certain defendants should be dismissed as uninvolved in

this matter, whether an FAC or a stipulation would be appropriate;

In addition to the above, Watts has ten days to file a venue declaration explaining his

connection to the Northern District of California (the “Venue Declaration”). Specifically, Watts is

to identify the locations of the collision giving rise to this matter, the subsequent service of the

vehicle, and “the failure to inspect and repair seat belts pretensioners.” 

ACCORDINGLY, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED THAT the parties have 10 days from the date

of entry of this Order to meet and confer, and jointly file a statement certifying that they have met

and conferred and discussed the issues which the Court has identified. The parties shall identify for

the Court, those issues which are no longer in dispute, advise the Court as to those issues for which

they agree Watts may file an FAC, and those issues which remain in dispute. Finally, Watts has

10 days from the date of entry of this Order to file his Venue Declaration. 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

June 17, 2008 _________________________________

Saundra Brown Armstrong 

United States District Judge

Case 2:08-cv-01877-LKK-KJN Document 26 Filed 06/17/08 Page 2 of 2