Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-azd-2_23-cv-00755/USCOURTS-azd-2_23-cv-00755-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 710
Nature of Suit: Fair Labor Standards Act
Cause of Action: 29:201 Denial of Overtime Compensation

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WO

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE DISTRICT OF ARIZONA

Steven Preston,

Plaintiff,

v. 

Jingze Food LLC, et al.,

Defendants.

No. CV-23-00755-PHX-KML

ORDER 

On December 10, 2024, the court granted a request by defense counsel to withdraw. 

(Doc. 51.) In doing so, the court ordered the two defendants that are limited liability 

companies to retain new counsel and for defendant Jingze Xi to file a statement indicating 

whether he planned to proceed through counsel or as a pro se party. That order required 

new counsel appear and Jingze Xi file a statement within fourteen days. As of December 

31, 2024, new counsel had not appeared on behalf of the LLCs and Jingze Xi had not filed

a statement.

On December 31, 2024, plaintiff Steven Preston filed a “Motion for Relief Due to 

Defendants’ Failure to Prosecute.” (Doc. 52.) That motion pointed out defendants’ failure 

to comply with the court’s December 10 order and requested the court dismiss the 

counterclaims, strike the answer, and allow Preston “to proceed with seeking a default 

judgment.” (Doc. 52 at 2.) On January 8, 2025, Jingze Xi filed a motion for extension of 

time explaining the LLCs will retain counsel and Jingze Xi will likely represent himself. 

(Doc. 53.) The motion requests until January 31, 2025, for new counsel to appear. 

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The court grants an extension until January 31, 2025, for the LLCs to retain counsel. 

By that date, counsel must file a notice of appearance on behalf of the LLCs. If that notice 

of appearance does not indicate counsel represents Jingze Xi, then Jingze Xi must file a 

statement indicating he plans to represent himself. That statement is also due no later than 

January 31, 2025. Based on this extension, the court denies Preston’s request for relief 

based on defendants’ failing to participate. However, all defendants are warned that any 

additional noncompliance with court orders may result in striking their answer. The 

deadline for Jingze Xi to file a statement indicating he wished to defend these claims was 

December 24, 2024, but he did not file a statement until January 8, 2025. In the future, 

Jingze Xi must comply with all court-imposed deadlines.

If counsel does not appear on behalf of the LLCs and Jingze Xi does not file a 

statement indicating he will represent himself on or before January 31, 2025, Preston shall 

file a renewed motion to strike defendants’ answer and for entry of default. Should Preston 

do so, his motion must address the “five factors that a district court must consider before 

dismissing a case or declaring a default.” Transamerica Life Ins. Co. v. Arutyunyan, 93 

F.4th 1136, 1146 (9th Cir. 2024) (quotation marks and citation omitted). The motion must 

present factual and legal arguments regarding each factor, supported by evidence as Preston 

deems appropriate.

Finally, there is a settlement conference set for January 14, 2025. Jingze Xi indicates 

he plans to attend that conference. He is required to do so. Failure to attend will be treated 

as noncompliance with a court order that will support an award of sanctions, including 

possibly the striking of his answer and entry of default judgment.

Accordingly,

IT IS ORDERED the motion (Doc. 52) is DENIED WITHOUT PREJUDICE.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED the Motion for Extension (Doc. 53) is GRANTED. 

No later than January 31, 2025, counsel shall appear on behalf of the defendant LLCs. If 

that notice of appearance indicates counsel does not represent Jingze Xi, no later than 

January 31, 2025, Jingze Xi shall file a statement indicating he will represent himself.

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IT IS FURTHER ORDERED Jingze Xi shall attend the settlement conference set 

for January 14, 2025.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED if no notice of appearance is filed and Jingze Xi 

does not file a statement indicating he will represent himself, plaintiff shall file a motion 

to strike the answer and for entry of default no later than February 12, 2025.

Dated this 13th day of January, 2025.

Case 2:23-cv-00755-KML Document 54 Filed 01/13/25 Page 3 of 3