Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-casd-3_05-cv-02298/USCOURTS-casd-3_05-cv-02298-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 791
Nature of Suit: Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA)
Cause of Action: 29:1132 E.R.I.S.A.-Employee Benefits

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JOINT MOTION RE: FURTHER CONTINUANCE OF PRE-TRIAL CONFERENCE AND 

MANDATORY SETTLEMENT CONFERENCE; [PROPOSED] ORDER 

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FRANK N. DARRAS #128904 

SHERNOFF BIDART & DARRAS, LLP 

3257 East Guasti Road, Suite 300 

Ontario, CA 91761 

Telephone: (909) 390-3770 

Facsimile: (909) 974-2121 

Attorneys for Plaintiff, THOMAS STAFFELD 

Email: fdarras@sbd-law.com

STANLEY A. CALVERT #152981 

WILSON, ELSER, MOSKOWITZ, 

EDELMAN & DICKER LLP 

402 West Broadway, Suite 1500 

San Diego, CA 92101 

Telephone: (619) 321-6200 

Facsimile: (619) 321-6201 

Attorneys for Defendant, THE PRUDENTIAL INSURANCE COMPANY 

OF AMERICA 

Email: stanley.calvert@wilsonelser.com

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 

THOMAS STAFFELD, 

 Plaintiff, 

 vs. 

THE PRUDENTIAL INSURANCE 

COMPANY OF AMERICA; LEAP 

WIRELESS INTERNATIONAL 

DISABILITY PLAN #502 

 Defendants. 

Case No.: 05CV-2298 BTM (WMc) 

JOINT MOTION RE: FURTHER 

CONTINUANCE OF FINAL PRE-TRIAL 

CONFERENCE AND MANDATORY 

SETTLEMENT CONFERENCE; 

[PROPOSED] ORDER 

TO THE HONORABLE COURT AND TO ALL PARTIES HEREIN AND THEIR 

ATTORNEYS OF RECORD: 

Counsel for Plaintiff THOMAS STAFFELD (hereinafter “STAFFELD”) and 

counsel for THE PRUDENTIAL INSURANCE COMPANY OF AMERICA (hereinafter 

Case 3:05-cv-02298-BTM-WMC Document 48 Filed 03/14/07 Page 1 of 4
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JOINT MOTION RE: FURTHER CONTINUANCE OF PRE-TRIAL CONFERENCE AND 

MANDATORY SETTLEMENT CONFERENCE; [PROPOSED] ORDER 

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“PRUDENTIAL”) hereby request a continuance of the Final Pre-Trial Conference thirty 

(30) days to allow the court an opportunity to issue a ruling on Defendant’s Motion for 

Summary Judgment. 

Therefore, Plaintiff and Defendant, by and through their respective counsel of 

record, hereby stipulate and respectfully request that the Final Pre-Trial Conference in 

this matter each be continued. If the Court approves the parties’ Joint Motion Re: 

Continuance, the parties propose the following date (or date thereafter as may be 

convenient for the Court): 

 Final Pre-Trial Conference: April 18, 2007 

 Mandatory Settlement Conference: April 18, 2007 

 Good cause exists to grant the parties’ request for a continuance based on the 

following grounds: 

1. The above captioned action was on December 16, 2005. This ERISA 

action arises out of the discontinuation of Plaintiff’s claim for long-term disability benefits 

under a group plan insured by Defendant. 

2. On January 18, 2006, Defendant filed an Answer to the Complaint. 

3. On March 20, 2006, counsel for the parties conducted an Early Meeting of 

Counsel pursuant to FRCP § 26(f), and subsequently exchanged documents and 

identified known witnesses. 

4. On October 11, 2006, Defendant filed its motion for summary judgment. 

Plaintiff filed an opposition to this motion for summary judgment November 17, 2006. 

Oral argument on the motion for summary judgment was scheduled for December 1, 

2006. The Court, on its own motion, cancelled the oral argument and took the matter 

under submission. 

5. To date the parties have not yet received an order regarding this motion 

for summary judgment. 

6. The Final Pre-Trial Conference and Mandatory Settlement Conference are 

currently scheduled for March 21, 2007. 

Case 3:05-cv-02298-BTM-WMC Document 48 Filed 03/14/07 Page 2 of 4
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JOINT MOTION RE: FURTHER CONTINUANCE OF PRE-TRIAL CONFERENCE AND 

MANDATORY SETTLEMENT CONFERENCE; [PROPOSED] ORDER 

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7. The parties believe a continuation of the Final Pre-Trial Conference and 

Mandatory Settlement Conference are warranted to allow the court an opportunity to 

issue a ruling on the motion for summary judgment well in advance of any pre-trial 

deadlines. 

8. Rule 16(b) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure (“FRCP”) gives the 

Court wide discretion to regulate pre-trial matters and manage its calendar. 

Furthermore, pursuant to FRCP 16(b), the parties may obtain relief from the Scheduling 

Order by demonstrating good cause. As set forth herein, good cause exists for 

extensions of the Final Pre-Trial Conference and pretrial deadlines currently set in this 

action, and since the Court has wide discretion in its regulation of pre-trial matters, it 

has wide discretion to enter an Order pursuant to this Stipulation. 

For all the stated reasons above, IT IS HEREBY STIPULATED AND AGREED 

by and between the parties and their respective counsel of record, and it is respectfully 

requested that the Court permit and enter an Order to continue the Final Pre-Trial 

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Case 3:05-cv-02298-BTM-WMC Document 48 Filed 03/14/07 Page 3 of 4
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JOINT MOTION RE: FURTHER CONTINUANCE OF PRE-TRIAL CONFERENCE AND 

MANDATORY SETTLEMENT CONFERENCE; [PROPOSED] ORDER 

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Conference and Mandatory Settlement Conference. 

DATED: March 6, 2007 SHERNOFF BIDART & DARRAS, LLP 

 

___/s/ Frank N. Darras______________ 

FRANK N. DARRAS 

Attorneys for Plaintiff 

THOMAS STAFFELD 

DATED: March _6_, 2007 WILSON, ELSER, MOSKOWITZ 

 EDELMAN & DICKER LLP 

 

___/s/ Stanley A. Calvert____________ 

 STANLEY A. CALVERT 

Attorneys for Defendant 

THE PRUDENTIAL INSURANCE 

COMPANY OF AMERICA 

ORDER

Pursuant to the stipulation of the parties and their respective counsel, IT IS 

HEREBY ORDERED that the Final Pre-Trial Conference be continued to May 8, 2007 

at 4:00pm and the Mandatory Settlement Conference be continued to May 1, 2007 at 

2:00pm. 

IT IS SO ORDERED. 

DATED: March 14, 2007 

 

 

 HONORABLE BARRY T. MOSKOWITZ 

 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

 

Case 3:05-cv-02298-BTM-WMC Document 48 Filed 03/14/07 Page 4 of 4