Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_11-cv-02053/USCOURTS-caed-1_11-cv-02053-23/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 790
Nature of Suit: Other Labor Litigation
Cause of Action: 28:1332 Diversity-(Citizenship)

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

TROY M. LINDELL, ON BEHALF OF 

HIMSELF AND ALL OTHERS SIMILARLY 

SITUATED,

Plaintiff,

vs.

SYNTHES USA, SYNTHES USA SALES 

LLC, SYNTHES SPINE COMPANY, LP,

Defendants.

Case No.: No. 11-cv-02053-LJO-BAM

ORDER GRANTING DEFENDANTS’ 

MOTION TO CONTINUE THE HEARING 

ON PLAINTIFF’S MOTION FOR CLASS 

CERTIFICATION 

Currently before the Court is Defendants’ Motion to Continue the Hearing on Plaintiff’s 

Motion for Class Certification. (Doc. 131.) Plaintiff filed his opposition on February 11, 2014. 

(Doc. 131.) 

Defendants’ lead counsel, Anthony B. Hallar of Blank Rome LLP (“Counsel”), practices 

out of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Counsel arranged to appear in person at the hearing on 

Plaintiff’s Motion for Class Certification, currently scheduled for February 14, 2014. Counsel 

has informed the Court that the National Weather Service and major media outlets are currently 

forecasting that a major winter storm will affect the entire east coast of the United States with 

significant snowfall starting on February 12, 2014, continuing into February 13, 2014. It is 

anticipated that the storm will cause travel disruptions, including flight cancellations and delays. 

Counsel submits that, due to the importance of Plaintiff’s Motion, it is “essential and 

ethically required for him to appear in person at the hearing to represent his clients and argue 

Defendants’ Opposition to Plaintiff’s Motion.” Accordingly, Defendants request a continuance 

of the hearing on Plaintiff’s Motion for Class Certification. 

Case 1:11-cv-02053-LJO-BAM Document 137 Filed 02/12/14 Page 1 of 2
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Plaintiff opposes Defendant’s request. Plaintiff notes the delays and several continuances 

that have already occurred on the hearing on Plaintiff’s Motion for Class Certification. Plaintiff 

also opposes the notion that a continuance is proper before it is known whether Counsel’s travel 

arrangements will in fact be disrupted by inclement weather. Lastly, Plaintiff notes there are 

several other possibilities for Defendants to appear at the hearing, including a telephonic 

appearance by Counsel, or an in person appearance by Defendants’ local counsel. 

The Court sympathizes with Plaintiff’s concerns. Class certification in this matter has 

been a subject of considerable delay – notably, at the request of both parties. Nevertheless, 

weather-related delays, cancellations, missed connection flights and the like are all too common 

when traveling from the East to West Coast during inclement conditions. To ensure the parties 

are adequately represented at the hearing, and to avoid an eleventh hour scramble to rearrange 

calendars and continue the hearing on Plaintiff’s Motion, the Court will continue the hearing on 

Plaintiff’s Motion for Class Certification. 

CONCLUSION

The Court ORDERS as follows:

Plaintiff’s Motion for Class Certification, currently set for February 14, 2014, is 

CONTINUED to February 24, 2014, at 9:00 AM, in Courtroom 8, before United States 

Magistrate Judge Barbara A. McAuliffe. 

The Court ADMONISHES the parties that there will be no further continuances of the 

hearing on Plaintiff’s Motion for Class Certification absent an extraordinary showing of both 

good cause and prejudice. 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: February 12, 2014 /s/ Barbara A. McAuliffe _

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 1:11-cv-02053-LJO-BAM Document 137 Filed 02/12/14 Page 2 of 2