Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_06-cv-00918/USCOURTS-caed-1_06-cv-00918-1/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 360
Nature of Suit: Other Personal Injury
Cause of Action: 28:1332 Diversity-Personal Injury

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

GERARDO PEREZ NIEVES, 

Plaintiff,

v.

LOWE’S COMPANIES, INC., and DOES 1

THROUGH 100, INCLUSIVE,

Defendants.

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Case No. 1:06-cv-00918 AWI TAG

ORDER DENYING REQUEST TO STAY

BRIEFING SCHEDULE, 

AND GRANTING REQUEST TO

CONTINUE SCHEDULING

CONFERENCE

(Doc. 18)

I. Background

On July 18, 2006, defendant Lowe’s Companies, Inc. (hereinafter “Lowe’s”) removed, to

this Court, a lawsuit that had been filed against it in Kern County Superior Court by California

resident Gerardo Perez Nieves. (Doc. 1-1). As its basis for removal, defendant Lowe’s asserted

diversity of citizenship under 28 U.S.C. § 1332. (Doc. 1-1, pp. 2-4). Plaintiff subsequently filed

a motion for an order remanding this action to State court. (Doc. 13). Oral arguments on the

motion for remand were heard on October 23, 2006. At the conclusion of the hearing, the Court

ordered the parties to file supplemental briefs, and set a briefing schedule. Plaintiff was ordered

to file his supplemental brief by November 2, 2006, and defendant Lowe’s was ordered to file its

supplemental brief by November 7, 2006, whereupon this matter was to be deemed under

submission. As of this date, neither party has filed supplemental briefs.

II. Stipulation filed November 7, 2006

On November 7, 2006, plaintiff and defendant Lowe’s filed a “Stipulation to Stay Further

Briefing Schedule and Continue Scheduling Conference.” (Doc. 18). The stipulation explains

that the parties have agreed to enter into a written stipulation wherein plaintiff’s damages will be

Case 1:06-cv-00918-AWI-TAG Document 19 Filed 11/08/06 Page 1 of 2
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limited and this action may be ordered remanded to State court as a consequence. The stipulation

also explains that the written agreement to limit damages and stipulate to an order of remand, has

been signed by plaintiff’s counsel, but has not been signed by plaintiff, and that is expected that it

will take approximately two weeks to obtain plaintiff’s signature. No explanation is provided as

to why it will take plaintiff two weeks to sign the agreement. Nevertheless, the parties wish the 

court to issue an order staying the due date of defendant Lowe’s supplemental brief pertaining to

the motion to remand, and continuing the Scheduling Conference (currently set for November 8,

2006) to December 14, 2006. The court has considered the stipulation (Doc. 18), and makes the

following orders with respect to the requests therein: 

1. The request to stay the briefing schedule pertaining to plaintiff’s motion to remand

(Doc. 13) is DENIED. 

2. The request to continue the Scheduling Conference is GRANTED, but only to allow a

two-week continuance to Wednesday, November 22, 2006.

3. The Scheduling Conference previously set for November 8, 2006 at 9:30 a.m. is 

continued to Wednesday, November 22, 2006 at 1:30 p.m. in the chambers of United States

Magistrate Judge Theresa A. Goldner, 1200 Truxtun Avenue, Suite 120, Bakersfield, California. 

4. No telephonic appearances will be allowed at the Scheduling Conference on

November 22, 2006. Counsel for plaintiff and counsel for defendant Lowe’s must be personally

present at the Scheduling Conference on November 22, 2006, and must be prepared to fully

participate in a meaningful Scheduling Conference, including a discussion of the factual and

legal issues in this action. 

5. In the event a stipulation for an order of remand is filed before 4:00 p.m. on November

21, 2006, the court will issue an order vacating the November 22, 2006 Scheduling Conference.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: November 8, 2006 /s/ Theresa A. Goldner 

j6eb3d UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE 

Case 1:06-cv-00918-AWI-TAG Document 19 Filed 11/08/06 Page 2 of 2