Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-casd-3_06-cv-00987/USCOURTS-casd-3_06-cv-00987-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 340
Nature of Suit: Marine Personal Injury
Cause of Action: 46:1101 Violation of Maritime Regulations

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1 06cv0987

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

IN THE MATTER OF A COMPLAINT OF

ROBERT and JUDY WILLCOXSON,

Registered Owners of the 42-foot 1985 Chris

Craft Catalina 425, Official No.: 935279,

HIN: CCNCB145J485, her engines, tackle,

apparel, etc. in a cause of Exoneration from

or Limitation of Liability

CASE NO. 06-CV-987 J (CAB)

ORDER FOLLOWING HEARING

ON EX PARTE MOTION TO

STAY DISCOVERY AND TRIAL

PROCEEDINGS

[Doc. No. 63.]

On May 21, 2008, the Court held a telephonic hearing on Claimant Northern Insurance

Company of New York's ("Northern") Ex Parte Application for a Temporary Stay of Discovery

and Trial Proceedings. Plaintiffs-in-Limitation Robert and Judy Willcoxson ("Willcoxson")

submitted a Conditional Non-Opposition. Geoffrey Robb, Esq., appeared for Willcoxson. Doug

Holthaus, Esq., appeared for Claimant Northern. Roza Crawford, Esq., appeared for Claimant Old

United. Roger Dyer, Esq., appeared for Claimant Marriot. David Holnagel, Esq., appeared for

Claimant Progressive. Having considered the submissions of the parties and the arguments of

counsel, Northern's Application is GRANTED in Part and DENIED in Part.

Northern requested a 90-day stay of this matter because its primary counsel of record,

Mr. Holthaus, is undergoing cancer treatments. Northern requested the temporary stay of

Case 3:06-cv-00987-LAB-CAB Document 71 Filed 05/27/08 Page 1 of 2
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1 Counsel for Willcoxson indicated there are some supplemental responses due

from Claimants other than Northern and that the discovery will be completed

shortly. 

2 06cv0987

discovery and trial proceedings to accommodate its counsel's treatment for his medical condition. 

Although the application requested a 90-day stay, to approximately the end of July, during the

telephonic hearing Mr. Holthaus indicated that he anticipated being able to resume activity in this

matter in September. 

Although no party objected to the request, Willcoxson proposed a 30-day stay to allow

Northern to associate in counsel so the litigation can proceed. Discovery in this matter is

substantially complete.1 Expert reports were exchanged on April 25, 2008, with the exception of a

report from Northern. Willcoxson contends that Northern should make alternative arrangements

for its representation while Mr. Holthaus is unavailable. The case has been pending for two years.

Mr. Willcoxson is 72 years old and Mrs. Willcoxson is 68 years old. An indefinite delay in the

resolution of this matter is unfair to them and the other claimants.

The Court joins the parties in their concern and sympathy for Mr. Holthaus' condition. 

There is, however, some uncertainty as to when Mr. Holthaus will be able to resume responsibility

for his client's representation. Under the circumstances, the Application for a Temporary Stay is

GRANTED until July 1, 2008. Discovery not involving Northern must be concluded. The dates

for exchange of supplemental expert reports, the discovery cutoff, the motion cutoff date, and the

Mandatory Settlement Conference scheduled for June 2, 2008, are VACATED.

A telephonic status conference will be held on July 1, 2008, at 9:00 a.m., to issue a

revised Scheduling Order and schedule a Settlement Conference. A representative of Northern is

required to appear with Mr. Holthaus, unless Northern files a notice of association of counsel prior

to that date, in which case new counsel must appear.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: May 27, 2008

__________________________

CATHY ANN BENCIVENGO

United States Magistrate Judge

Case 3:06-cv-00987-LAB-CAB Document 71 Filed 05/27/08 Page 2 of 2