Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-3_04-cv-01827/USCOURTS-cand-3_04-cv-01827-9/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 110
Nature of Suit: Insurance
Cause of Action: 28:1441 Petition for Removal- Insurance Contract

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STIPULATION TO EXTEND DEADLINES Case No: C 04-01827

-1-

ROBINSON & WOOD,

I NC .

227 N ORTH FIRST S TREET

S AN JOSE , CA 95113 -1016

(408) 298 -7120

Jesse F. Ruiz [SBN 77984] (jfr@robinsonwood.com)

Bonnie M. Ross [SBN 178591] (bmr@robinsonwood.com)

ROBINSON & WOOD, INC.

227 North First Street

San Jose, CA 95113-1016

Telephone: (408) 298-7120

Facsimile: (408) 298-0477

 

Attorneys for Defendant

AVIVA INUSRANCE COMPANY OF CANADA 

Marc S. Maister [SB 155980] (mmaister @irell.com)

Michael Fehner [SB 207312] (mfehner @irell.com)

IRELL & MANELLA LLP

840 Newport Center Drive, Suite 400

Newport Beach, CA 92600-6324

Telephone: (949) 760-0991

Facsimile: (949) 760-5200

Attorneys for Plaintiff

THE FLINTKOTE COMPANY

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO DIVISION

THE FLINTKOTE COMPANY, a 

Delaware Corporation,

Plaintiff,

v.

GENERAL ACCIDENT ASSURANCE 

COMPANY OF CANADA, a Canada 

insurance company; GENERAL 

ACCIDENT FORE AND LIFE 

ASSURANCE CORPORATION 

LIMITED OF PERTH, SCOTLAND, a 

Scotland insurance company; and DOES 

1 through 10,

Defendants.

Case No. C 04-01827 MHP

STIPULATION TO EXTEND DEADLINES

Case 3:04-cv-01827-MHP Document 118 Filed 08/31/06 Page 1 of 5
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STIPULATION TO EXTEND DEADLINES Case No: C 04-01827

-2-

ROBINSON & WOOD,

I NC .

227 N ORTH FIRST S TREET

S AN JOSE , CA 95113 -1016

(408) 298 -7120

Defendant Aviva Insurance Company of Canada and plaintiff The Flintkote Company, by 

and through their counsel, submit the following stipulation and respectfully request the Court’s 

order approving the stipulation.

Current Schedules and Deadlines

By stipulation and order entered on August 10, 2006, the Court approved the following 

schedule for this matter:

! Statement of Issues for Summary Adjudication: September 1, 2006

! Opening Summary Adjudication Briefs on liability issues: October 16, 2006

! Opposition Summary Adjudication Briefs: October 30, 2006

! Hearing on Summary Adjudication Motions: November 13, 2006.

Relevant History and Developments

This is an insurance coverage action involving hundreds of thousands of past and pending 

asbestos claims, and a declaration of coverage as to future claims. The current deadlines were an 

extension of deadlines set by the Court on March 20, 2006. The extension was based upon the 

recognition by both parties that the completion of depositions of Aviva’s personnel in Toronto, 

Canada, is necessary before all issues appropriate for Summary Adjudication can be fully 

presented to the Court and supported with competent evidence. Both parties also agreed that it 

was advantageous to take the depositions after Aviva had fully completed its production of 

documents. 

Flintkote requested that Aviva complete its production approximately two weeks before 

the Toronto depositions were to take place, to ensure adequate time to review the documents 

produced. Aviva agreed. The last day to have produced documents was August 28, 2006. 

Despite devoting all available resources to the document review and production effort, Aviva’s 

counsel was not able to meet this deadline, for several reasons. Aviva’s production is being made 

Case 3:04-cv-01827-MHP Document 118 Filed 08/31/06 Page 2 of 5
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STIPULATION TO EXTEND DEADLINES Case No: C 04-01827

-3-

ROBINSON & WOOD,

I NC .

227 N ORTH FIRST S TREET

S AN JOSE , CA 95113 -1016

(408) 298 -7120

from approximately 28 boxes of documents. As the document review progressed, several CD’s 

of material, each containing thousands of pages of images, were discovered in the boxes, which 

then had to be printed, stamped, scanned, and reviewed for production. This greatly increased the 

volume of documents to be reviewed. In addition, the bulk of the documents is made up of letters 

informing insurers of asbestos lawsuits filed against Flintkote, and enclosing pleadings. These 

letters and pleadings were in the custody of Aviva’s prior Canadian counsel, and the claims letters 

are mixed among attorney-client correspondence. Moreover, approximately half the material has 

attorney notes, which must be reviewed for work product and redacted by Aviva’s current 

counsel. The need to review each file page-by-page, rather than being able to produce entire files, 

has significantly increased the amount of time needed to complete the production. Nevertheless, 

Aviva has made two electronic productions to Flintkote in August 2006, comprising 5,250 pages. 

Aviva will produce an additional 7,000 pages by September 1. 

Aviva’s counsel anticipates that its entire production of documents can be completed by 

September 18, 2006. At Aviva’s request, Flintkote has agreed to extend the previously-set 

briefing and hearing schedule to allow Aviva additional time to complete its production and allow 

for its review by Flintkote’s counsel before the depositions, although Flintkote reserves all rights 

with respect to the documents and deponents.

An extension of deadlines will benefit both parties because it will minimize the chances 

counsel will need to make multiple trips to Toronto to take depositions. It will promote judicial 

economy because the issues for Summary Adjudication will be well-defined and well-supported 

based upon all the available evidence after the parties are permitted to complete the discovery as 

herein requested.

///

Case 3:04-cv-01827-MHP Document 118 Filed 08/31/06 Page 3 of 5
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STIPULATION TO EXTEND DEADLINES Case No: C 04-01827

-4-

ROBINSON & WOOD,

I NC .

227 N ORTH FIRST S TREET

S AN JOSE , CA 95113 -1016

(408) 298 -7120

Stipulation

Counsel for the parties therefore stipulate to extend the deadlines for submissions to the 

court, and hearing date on Summary Adjudication motions, as follows:

! Statement of Issues for Summary Adjudication: September 5, 2006

! Opening Summary Adjudication Briefs on liability issues: November 13, 2006

! Opposition Summary Adjudication Briefs:November 27, 2006

! Hearing on Summary Adjudication Motions: December 11, 2006.

Accordingly, the parties respectfully request that the court approve their stipulation and order an 

extension of the existing deadlines.

Counsel for both parties affix their electronic signatures below.

SO STIPULATED:

DATED: August 30, 2006 ROBINSON & WOOD, INC.

By:_______//s//________________________

Jesse F. Ruiz

Bonnie Margaret Ross

Attorneys for Defendant

Aviva Insurance Company of Canada

SO STIPULATED:

DATED: August 30, 2006 IRELL & MANELLA LLP

By:________//s//_______________________

Michael Fehner

Attorneys for Plaintiff

The Flintkote Company

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STIPULATION TO EXTEND DEADLINES Case No: C 04-01827

-5-

ROBINSON & WOOD,

I NC .

227 N ORTH FIRST S TREET

S AN JOSE , CA 95113 -1016

(408) 298 -7120

ORDER APPROVING STIPULATION TO EXTEND DEADLINES 

The above (attached) Stipulation to Extend Deadlines is approved. The Court hereby 

orders the following briefing schedule:

! Statement of Issues for Summary Adjudication: September 5, 2006

! Opening Summary Adjudication Briefs on liability issues: November 13, 2006

! Opposition Summary Adjudication Briefs: November 27, 2006

! Hearing on Summary Adjudication Motions: December 11, 2006.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated:_____________ By:________________________

United States District Judge 

August 31, 2006

U

NITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

IT IS SO ORDERED

Judge Marilyn H. Patel

Case 3:04-cv-01827-MHP Document 118 Filed 08/31/06 Page 5 of 5