Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_20-cv-00044/USCOURTS-caed-1_20-cv-00044-2/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 365
Nature of Suit: Personal Injury - Product Liability
Cause of Action: 28:1332 Diversity-Product Liability

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

WANDA BOGIE,

Plaintiff

v.

ETHICON, INC., et al., 

Defendants

_____________________________________

JOANNA THOMPSON,

 Plaintiffs

 v.

ETHICON, INC., et al.,

 Defendants

_____________________________________

JANEEN SMITH, et al.,

 Plaintiffs

 v.

ETHICON, INC., et al.,

 Defendants

_____________________________________

ROSEMARY LOPEZ,

 Plaintiff

 v. 

ETHICON, INC., et al.,

 Defendants

CASE NO. 1:20-CV-0044 AWI JLT

ORDER FOR PARTIES TO SUBMIT 

STATUS REPORT

CASE NO. 1:20-CV-0129 AWI JLT

CASE NO. 1:20-CV-0130 AWI JLT

CASE NO. 1:20-CV-0354 AWI JLT

Case 1:20-cv-00044-AWI-JLT Document 70 Filed 04/02/20 Page 1 of 4
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On April 1, 2020, the Court related and reassigned the above cases. A review of the docket 

for the above cases raises a number of questions. To resolve those questions, the Court will order 

the parties to submit a status report for each case. The status reports shall be filed jointly. To the 

extent that the parties disagree on a matter, the status reports shall note that a disagreement exists 

and have separate sections that describe each side’s position. Otherwise, if no disagreement is 

expressly noted, the Court will assume that a representation is being made jointly on behalf of all 

parties. Once the status reports are received, the Court will set a date for a telephonic status 

conference. At the telephonic status conference, the Court will utilize the status reports and 

discuss how to proceed with these cases, including resolving any outstanding motions, possible 

discovery issues, and possible pre-trial conference, trial, or settlement conference settings. 

As part of the status report for each of the above cases, the parties shall address the 

following matters:

1. Identify any outstanding motion that requires resolution by this Court;

_____________________________________

FRANCES JENS, et al,

 Plaintiffs

 v.

ETHICON, INC., et al,

 Defendants

_____________________________________

CYNTHIA CLOSE, et al.,

 Plaintiffs

 v.

ETHICON, INC., et al.,

 Defendants,

CASE NO. 1:20-CV-0357 AWI JLT

CASE NO. 2:19-CV-2237 AWI JLT

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2. To the extent that a motion is outstanding, and to the extent that the parties agree 

that a motion should be granted, the parties should file a stipulation to grant that 

motion (again to the extent that the parties agree);1

3. Identify any discovery issues that remain, including the need for any additional 

discovery;

4. Identify any motions that may need to be filed (apart from motions in limine);

5. Identify any relevant motions, including Daubert related motions, that were 

resolved by the MDL court prior to transfer;

6. Identify every cause of action that the Plaintiff will be pursuing in this Court;

7. Identify every affirmative defense that the Defendants will be pursuing in this 

Court;

8. Discuss whether the parties intend to request a settlement conference with a 

Magistrate Judge or a private mediator;

9. Discuss procedures for resolving the above cases through trial and provide 

estimates for the length of time that each trial may last;

10. Discuss the possibility of consolidating any of the above cases for trial; see, e.g.,

Blount v. Boston Sci. Corp., 2019 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 142360 (E.D. Cal. Aug. 21, 

2019);

11. Provide a best estimate as to the number and timing of any additional cases that 

might be transferred from MDL 2327 back to the Eastern District of California 

(both the Fresno and Sacramento Divisions); 

12. Any other matter that the parties believe is relevant to the efficient resolution of the 

above cases; and

13. Provide several dates in which the parties will be available for a telephonic status 

conference.

 

1 For example, the Court has seen motions for summary judgment/partial summary judgment that were filed by 

Defendants. The Plaintiff’s opposition for some of these motions essentially amounts to a notice of non-opposition. 

In such instances, it seems that the parties should be able to file a stipulation for entry of partial summary judgment.

Case 1:20-cv-00044-AWI-JLT Document 70 Filed 04/02/20 Page 3 of 4
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As the parties are well aware, both this Court and the general public have been affected by 

restrictions put in place to combat the spread of, and harm from, COVID-19. These restrictions 

directly impact the ability of the Court to resolve matters through jury trials. The parties should 

familiarize themselves with all general orders from the Eastern District of California regarding 

COVID-19. To date, that includes Eastern District of California General Order Nos. 610, 611, 

612, 613, and 614.

ORDER

Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that:

1. No later than twenty-one (21) days from service of this order, the parties shall file joint 

status reports in each of the above cases, consistent with this order;2and

2. Any scheduling conference that may have been set in any of the above cases is 

VACATED.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: April 2, 2020 

 SENIOR DISTRICT JUDGE

 

2

If the parties need additional time to file status reports, they may file a stipulation for additional time.

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