Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-5_05-cv-00233/USCOURTS-cand-5_05-cv-00233-1/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 350
Nature of Suit: Motor Vehicle Personal Injury
Cause of Action: 28:1332 Diversity-Motor Vehicle Product Liability

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United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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*E-filed 4/28/06*

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

SAN JOSE DIVISION

SHIRLEY PONCINI,

Plaintiff,

 v.

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

Defendant. /

No. C 05-00233 HRL

ORDER IMPOSING SANCTIONS

AGAINST PLAINTIFF’S COUNSEL

When plaintiff’s counsel Gerald Scher failed to appear for the scheduled Case

Management Conference (CMC) on March 28, 2006, this court issued an Order to Show Cause

requiring him to appear on April 11, 2006 and either offer a satisfactory explanation for his

absence or face sanctions. Scher also failed to appear on April 11.

Thereafter, numerous attempts by chamber’s staff to contact Scher were finally

successful, and Scher submitted a “declaration” concerning his two failures to appear.

The declaration was not sworn and not signed under penalty of perjury. In it, Scher

stated he missed two appearances because the e-mail address his office had used when

subscribing to the court’s CM/ECF system was “not one in active use in this office.” 

Reportedly, this e-mail address had been set up by a secretary who subsequently left Scher’s

employ, and, when she left, the account “ceased to be used.”

Case 5:05-cv-00233-HRL Document 22 Filed 04/28/06 Page 1 of 3
United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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Scher’s explanation does not satisfy. 

First, Scher signed the Joint Case Managment Statement, filed March 17, 2006, which

prominently listed the date and time of the scheduled CMC. Accordingly, any e-mail address

problem aside, he had actual notice of the CMC.

Second, it is the lawyer’s responsibility that his office e-mail addresses are monitored,

most certainly the address used for the court’s CM/ECF system.

The court sanctions Scher the sum of $300.00, to be paid forthwith to the clerk of the

court.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: 4/28/06 /s/ Howard R. Lloyd 

HOWARD R. LLOYD

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 5:05-cv-00233-HRL Document 22 Filed 04/28/06 Page 2 of 3
United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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THIS SHALL CERTIFY THAT A COPY OF THIS ORDER WILL BE SENT TO:

Claire T. Cormier claire.cormier@usdoj.gov 

Gerald H. Scher g.scher@sbcglobal.net, marysanchez1970@yahoo.com 

Dated: 4/28/06

 /s/ RNR 

 Chambers of Magistrate Judge Lloyd

Case 5:05-cv-00233-HRL Document 22 Filed 04/28/06 Page 3 of 3