Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-4_14-cv-02373/USCOURTS-cand-4_14-cv-02373-6/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 370
Nature of Suit: Other Fraud
Cause of Action: 28:1332 Diversity-Fraud

---

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

United States District Court

Northern District of California

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

KRISTINE BARNES,

Plaintiff,

v.

RICK MORTELL, et al.,

Defendants.

Case No. 14-cv-02373-KAW 

ORDER GRANTING DEFENDANTS’

REQUEST TO APPEAR 

TELEPHONICALLY; ORDER 

DISCHARGING ORDER TO SHOW 

CAUSE

Re: Dkt. Nos. 60, 64-67

Defendants Rick Mortell (a/k/a Eric Mortell), Darlene Mortell, and Erika Mortell did not 

file a case management conference statement on or before December 9, 2014 as ordered, and none 

of the defendants appeared at the December 16, 2014 case management conference. 

On December 18, 2014, the Court issued an order to show cause to the defendants to 

separately explain, in writing, why they should not each pay monetary sanctions in the amount of 

$500 for their failure to appear at the case management conference. (Dkt. No. 60.) Additionally, 

the Court ordered the defendants to personally appear at the next case management conference to 

be held on February 17, 2015. Id.

On January 15, 2015, Defendants responded to the orders to show cause. (Dkt. Nos. 65-

67.) All three defendants submitted identical statements, which claimed that each of them 

“neglected to record the date” and asked not to “be fined for this error as the Attorney for the 

Plaintiff also did not appear for a Scheduling Conference....” Id. While mistakes do happen, an 

opposing party’s failure to comply with a similar court order is not sufficient reason to be relieved 

of sanctions for failing to appear. Nevertheless, in light of their compliance with the order to show 

cause, the Court will not order sanctions against Defendants Rick Mortell, Darlene Mortell, and 

Erika Mortell at this time. Future failures to appear may result in the imposition of monetary and 

Case 4:14-cv-02373-KAW Document 69 Filed 01/21/15 Page 1 of 2
2

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

United States District Court

Northern District of California

terminating sanctions. Accordingly, the order to show cause is discharged.

Also on January 15, 2015, Defendants filed a request to appear telephonically at the 

February 17, 2015 case management conference, despite being ordered to appear personally. (Dkt. 

No. 64.) Defendants claim that they do not have the financial resources to appear in person. Id. 

Accordingly, the Court GRANTS Defendants request to appear telephonically at the February 17, 

2015 case management conference. Defendants shall comply with the Court’s Standing Order on 

Procedures for Telephonic Appearances, available online at http://cand.uscourts.gov/kaworders. 

This includes personally arranging the telephonic appearance with CourtCall—a paid, private 

service—in advance of the hearing date. All Defendants must be present, because they are 

appearing pro se.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: January 21, 2015

______________________________________

KANDIS A. WESTMORE

United States Magistrate Judge

Case 4:14-cv-02373-KAW Document 69 Filed 01/21/15 Page 2 of 2