Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-5_06-cv-06837/USCOURTS-cand-5_06-cv-06837-9/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 240
Nature of Suit: Torts to Land
Cause of Action: 28:1332 Diversity-Torts to Land

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United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

SAN JOSE DIVISION

Vernon Dower, et al.,

Plaintiffs,

 v.

Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire,

LLC, et al.,

Defendants. /

No. C 06-06837 JW 

NOTICE OF INTENT TO APPOINT

SPECIAL MASTER; ORDER FOLLOWING

CASE MANAGEMENT CONFERENCE

The Court conducted a Case Management Conference on November 19, 2007. Counsel for

the respective parties were present. In light of the discussion at the conference, the Court orders as

follows:

A. Notice of Intent to Appoint Special Master

The Court reiterated its desire to appoint a Special Master to assist in the management of this

lawsuit. The parties were agreeable. Thus, due to the parties' consent, the number of parties in the

lawsuit, the complexity of legal and factual issues involved in this case, and the cost savings to the

parties which will result from a more focused management of pre-trial matters, the Court concludes

that the appointment of a Special Master in this lawsuit would be beneficial to all. Pursuant to FED.

R. CIV. P. 53, the Court notifies the parties of its intent to appoint a Special Master. 

Case 5:06-cv-06837-JW Document 94 Filed 11/21/07 Page 1 of 6
United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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B. Scope of the Special Master’s Appointment

The Special Master shall preside over all proceedings, with the power to hear and make

reports and recommendations on the following pretrial matters:

1. Timing of pre-answer motions or any responsive pleadings;

2. Motions to dismiss under FED. R. CIV. P. 12;

3. Timing and content of initial disclosures;

4. Case development processes (e.g., staged discovery and discovery schedules or

plans);

5. Disclosures and discovery;

6. Disclosure or discovery disputes;

7. Motions for preliminary injunction, writs of attachment, or modifications of existing

injunctions or attachment orders;

8. Limits on the number of party experts.

Furthermore, the Special Master shall have the authority to:

1. Conduct pretrial conferences and hearings to establish:

(a) The substance of the claims and defenses presented in the case and of the

issues to be decided;

(b) The material facts not reasonably disputable;

(c) The disputed material factual issues;

(d) The relief claimed, including a particularized itemization of all elements of

damages which may reasonably be claimed based upon the evidence which

would be presented at trial;

(e) The pertinent undisputed and disputed points of law, with respect to liability

and relief, including proposed jury instructions;

(f) The witnesses necessary to be called at trial, except for impeachment or

rebuttal, together with the substance of the testimony to be given;

(g) A compilation of all documents and other items necessary to be offered as

exhibits at trial, except for impeachment or rebuttal, together with a brief

statement following each item describing its substance or purpose and the

identity of the authenticating witness; 

2. Audit and establish attorney fees to be awarded, if any.

Case 5:06-cv-06837-JW Document 94 Filed 11/21/07 Page 2 of 6
United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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The Special Master shall exercise the power necessary or proper to regulate all proceedings

before him and shall do all acts and take all measures necessary or proper for the efficient

performance of his duties under this Order.

The Special Master shall file numbered interim reports or recommendations which: 1) advise

this Court of the status of the case, and 2) recommend the disposition of any matter heard by him. 

The parties shall have ten (10) days from the date an interim report or recommendation is filed to file

any objections. Any party opposing the objection(s) shall file an opposition within ten (10) days

after the objection is filed. If no objection is filed, the Special Master's report or recommendation

shall become a binding Order of the Court and the parties shall comply with the Order. If, however,

an objection is filed, the matter shall be deemed submitted to the Court without oral argument

twenty (20) days after the Special Master's report or recommendation is filed--unless an application

is made and the Court orders the matter to be scheduled for hearing. 

Reports or recommendations pertaining to non-dispositive motions or pretrial discovery

matters shall be reconsidered by this Court only where the Special Master's report or

recommendation is clearly erroneous or contrary to law. Reports or recommendations pertaining to

dispositive motions shall be reconsidered by this Court de novo.

C. Fees and Costs of Special Master

Unless the Court receives a recommendation from the Special Master for some other

apportionment, each party shall bear the cost of the Special Master on a per capita basis, payable in

advance. The Special Master shall report to the Court on a periodic basis regarding the state of his

fees and expenses. Unless otherwise ordered, the Special Master shall, in his report, advise the

Court, without specifically identifying parties, as to whether the parties are current in their payment

of his fees and expenses. 

//

Case 5:06-cv-06837-JW Document 94 Filed 11/21/07 Page 3 of 6
United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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1 Mr. Levy contact information may be found at:

http://www.jamsadr.com/neutrals/bio.asp?neutralid=1682

2 Mr. Fisher contact information is as follows: http://www.gfisherlaw.com;

georgecfisher@gmail.com; 650 424 0821.

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D. Nominations of Special Master

Plaintiffs and Defendants nominated Mr. Lester J. Levy of JAMS.

1

 Mr. Levy has

previously served as a mediator between Plaintiffs and Defendants in this action. (See Docket Item

No. 36.) Third-party Defendants, who had not participated in the prior mediation, requested time to

consider Mr. Levy’s nomination. Alternatively, the Court nominates Mr. George C. Fisher.

2

The parties shall file any objections to either Mr. Fisher or Mr. Levy being named as Special

Master by December 7, 2007. If no objection is filed, the parties shall file a Stipulation regarding

their election of either Mr. Fisher or Mr. Levy on the same day.

If no objection is filed and Mr. Fisher or Mr. Levy accepts their appointment, the appointed

Special Master shall file an affidavit as required by FED. R. CIV. P. 53(b)(3) and the Court's

appointment of the Special Master shall become effective on December 17, 2007. Once

appointment is effective, the parties shall notice all relevant motions before the Special Master and

not the assigned Magistrate Judge Richard Seeborg.

E. Motion Hearing & Further Case Management Conference

 The Court sets February 25, 2008 at 9 A.M. as a hearing date for Defendants’ anticipated

preclusion motion. Defendants shall notice their motion in accordance with the Civil Local Rule of

the Court. In addition, the Court sets a Further Case Management Conference on the same date at

10:00 A.M. The parties shall submit a Joint Case Management Statement by February 15, 2008. 

The statement shall update the Court on the status of the case and the parties’ discovery plan. 

Case 5:06-cv-06837-JW Document 94 Filed 11/21/07 Page 4 of 6
United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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In light of this Order, the Court VACATES the previous case schedule. 

Dated: November 21, 2007 

JAMES WARE

United States District Judge

Case 5:06-cv-06837-JW Document 94 Filed 11/21/07 Page 5 of 6
United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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THIS IS TO CERTIFY THAT COPIES OF THIS ORDER HAVE BEEN DELIVERED TO:

Barbara L. Lyons blyons@cpmlegal.com

Chung-Han Lee chunglee@wildman.com

Craig Evan Needham cneedham@ndkylaw.com

Kirsten M. Fish kfish@ndkylaw.com

Matthew Paul Vafidis mvafidis@hklaw.com

Niall Padraic McCarthy nmccarthy@cpmlegal.com

Sharon Glenn Pratt spratt@prattattorneys.com

Steven Noel Williams swilliams@cpmlegal.com

Susan J. Matcham susanm@ci.salinas.ca.us

Thomas M. Bruen tbruen@sbcglobal.net

Vanessa W. Vallarta vanessav@ci.salinas.ca.us

Dated: November 21, 2007 Richard W. Wieking, Clerk

By: /s/ JW Chambers 

Elizabeth Garcia

Courtroom Deputy

Case 5:06-cv-06837-JW Document 94 Filed 11/21/07 Page 6 of 6