Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_16-cv-00029/USCOURTS-caed-1_16-cv-00029-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 790
Nature of Suit: Other Labor Litigation
Cause of Action: 28:1332 Diversity-Petition for Removal

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

I. Date of Scheduling Conference

March 16, 2016

II. Appearances of Counsel

Arnab Banerjee appeared on behalf of Plaintiff

Linda Claxton appeared on behalf of Defendant.

III. Information Concerning the Court’s Schedule

Out of fairness, the Court believes it is necessary to forewarn litigants that the Fresno Division 

of the Eastern District of California now has the heaviest District Court Judge caseload in the entire 

EDHER FLORES, et al.,

 Plaintiffs,

v.

ADT LLC,

Defendant.

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Case No.: 1:16-cv-00029 AWI JLT

SCHEDULING ORDER (Fed. R. Civ. P. 16)

Pleading Amendment Deadline: 7/15/2016

Discovery Deadlines: 

Initial Disclosures: 3/23/2016

Jurisdiction/Class Non-Expert: 12/4/2016

Mid-Discovery Status Conference: 

 11/10/2016 at 9:00 a.m.

 

Class Certification Motion Deadlines:

Filing: 1/13/2017

Opposition: 5/12/2017

Reply brief: 7/14/2017

Hearing: 8/14/2017 at 9 a.m.

Case 1:16-cv-00029-AWI-JLT Document 9 Filed 03/18/16 Page 1 of 6
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nation. While the Court will use its best efforts to resolve this case and all other civil cases in a timely 

manner, the parties are admonished that not all of the parties’ needs and expectations may be met as 

expeditiously as desired. As multiple trials are now being set to begin upon the same date, parties may 

find their case trailing with little notice before the trial begins. The law requires that the Court give any 

criminal trial priority over civil trials or any other matter. The Court must proceed with a criminal trial 

even if a civil trial was filed earlier and set for trial first. Continuances of any civil trial under these 

circumstances will no longer be entertained, absent a specific and stated finding of good cause. All 

parties should be informed that any civil trial set to begin during the time a criminal trial is proceeding 

will trail the completion of the criminal trial. 

The parties are reminded of the availability of a United States Magistrate Judge to conduct all 

proceedings in this action. A United States Magistrate Judge is available to conduct trials, including 

entry of final judgment, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(c), Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 73, and Local 

Rule 305. The same jury pool is used by both United States Magistrate Judges and District Court 

Judges. Any appeal from a judgment entered by a United States Magistrate Judge is taken directly to 

the United States Court of Appeal for the Ninth Circuit. However, the parties are hereby informed that 

no substantive rulings or decisions will be affected by whether a party chooses to consent.

Finally, the Fresno Division of the Eastern District of California, whenever possible, is utilizing 

United States Article III District Court Judges from throughout the nation as Visiting Judges. Pursuant 

to the Local Rules, Appendix A, reassignments will be random, and the parties will receive no advance 

notice before their case is reassigned to an Article III District Court Judge from outside of the Eastern 

District of California. 

Plaintiff has indicated his willingness to consent to the jurisdiction of the Magistrate Judge. 

Therefore, the defendants are directed to consider consenting to Magistrate Judge jurisdiction to 

conduct all further proceedings, including trial. Within 10 days of the date of this order, the 

defendants SHALL file a consent/decline form (provided by the Court at the inception of this case) 

indicating whether they will consent to the jurisdiction of the Magistrate Judge.

IV. Pleading Amendment Deadline

Any requested pleading amendments are ordered to be filed, either through a stipulation or 

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motion to amend, no later than July 15, 2016.

V. Discovery Plan and Cut-Off Date

The parties are ordered to exchange the initial disclosures required by Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(a)(1) 

on or before March 23, 2016.

Discovery is now open for discovery related to jurisdictional issues under CAFA and all nonexpert discovery pertaining to the class certification motion. Plaintiffs will complete all discovery need 

to file the motion for class certification no later than December 4, 2016. The defendant may also 

conduct discovery related to the contents of the class certification motion after it is filed and the 

plaintiffs may conduct discovery in response to the content of the opposition after it is filed.

A mid-discovery status conference is scheduled for November 10, 2016, at 9:00 a.m. before the 

Honorable Jennifer L. Thurston, U.S. Magistrate Judge, located at 510 19th Street, Bakersfield, 

California. Counsel SHALL file a Joint Mid-Discovery Status Conference Report one week prior to 

the conference, and shall also lodge it via e-mailed, in Word format, to JLTorders@caed.uscourts.gov. 

The joint statement SHALL outline the status of the matter , including all discovery that has been 

completed as well as any impediments to completing the discovery within the deadlines set forth in this 

order. Counsel may appear via the CourtCall service. 

VI. Pre-Trial Motion Schedule

All non-dispositive pre-trial motions, including any discovery motions, will be heard at 9:00 

a.m., before the Honorable Jennifer L. Thurston, United States Magistrate Judge, at the United States 

District Courthouse located at 510 19th Street, Bakersfield, California. No written discovery motions 

shall be filed without the prior approval of the assigned Magistrate Judge. A party with a discovery 

dispute must first confer with the opposing party in a good faith effort to resolve by agreement the 

issues in dispute. If that good faith effort is unsuccessful, the moving party promptly shall seek a 

telephonic hearing with all involved parties and the Magistrate Judge. It shall be the obligation of the 

moving party to arrange and originate the conference call to the court. To schedule this telephonic 

hearing, the parties are ordered to contact Courtroom Deputy Clerk, Susan Hall at (661) 326-6620 or 

via email at SHall@caed.uscourts.gov. Counsel must comply with Local Rule 251 with respect to 

discovery disputes or the motion will be denied without prejudice and dropped from calendar.

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In scheduling such motions, the Magistrate Judge may grant applications for an order shortening 

time pursuant to Local Rule 144(e). However, if counsel does not obtain an order shortening time, the 

notice of motion must comply with Local Rule 251. Counsel may appear and argue non-dispositive 

motions via CourtCall. 

All dispositive pre-trial motions shall be heard by the Honorable Anthony W. Ishii, United 

States District Court Judge. In scheduling such motions, counsel shall comply with Fed. R. Civ. P. 56 

and Local Rules 230 and 260.

VII. Motions for Summary Judgment or Summary Adjudication

At least 21 days before filing a motion for summary judgment or motion for summary 

adjudication, the parties are ORDERED to meet, in person or by telephone, to confer about the issues 

to be raised in the motion.

The purpose of the meeting shall be to: 1) avoid filing motions for summary judgment where a 

question of fact exists; 2) determine whether the respondent agrees that the motion has merit in whole 

or in part; 3) discuss whether issues can be resolved without the necessity of briefing; 4) narrow the 

issues for review by the court; 5) explore the possibility of settlement before the parties incur the 

expense of briefing a summary judgment motion; 6) to arrive at a joint statement of undisputed facts.

The moving party shall initiate the meeting and SHALL provide a complete, proposed statement 

of undisputed facts at least five days before the conference. The finalized joint statement of undisputed 

facts SHALL include all facts that the parties agree, for purposes of the motion, may be deemed true. 

In addition to the requirements of Local Rule 260, the moving party shall file the joint statement of 

undisputed facts. 

In the notice of motion the moving party shall certify that the parties have met and conferred as 

ordered above, or set forth a statement of good cause for the failure to meet and confer. 

VIII. Motion for class certification

The motion for class certification SHALL be filed no later than January 13, 2017. Opposition to 

the motion SHALL be filed no later than May 12, 2017. Neither the motion nor the opposition SHALL

exceed 30 pages, exclusive of evidence and evidentiary objections, unless leave is granted by the Court 

prior to the filing. Any reply SHALL be filed no later than July 14, 2017 and shall not exceed 15 pages, 

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exclusive of evidentiary objections. Any objections to the evidence SHALL be filed at the same time as 

the opposition (for Defendant) and the reply (for Plaintiff).1 A hard-copy, courtesy copy of all filings 

related to the class motion SHALL be sent via overnight mail to the Chambers of Judge Thurston at the 

United States Courthouse, 510 19th Street Suite 200, Bakersfield, CA 93301, at the same time the filing 

is submitted. All of the pages of evidence in the hard copy SHALL be numbered, tabbed and indexed.

The hearing on the motion for class certification is set on August 14, 2017, at 9:00 a.m. before 

Judge Thurston.

IX. Settlement Conference

If the parties believe the matter is in a settlement posture, the parties may submit a joint written 

request for a settlement conference, at which time a conference will be set with the Court.

X. Compliance with Federal Procedure

All counsel are expected to familiarize themselves with the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 

and the Local Rules of Practice of the Eastern District of California, and to keep abreast of any 

amendments thereto. The Court must insist upon compliance with these Rules if it is to efficiently 

handle its increasing case load, and sanctions will be imposed for failure to follow the Rules as 

provided in both the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and the Local Rules of Practice for the Eastern 

District of California.

XI. Effect of this Order

The foregoing order represents the best estimate of the court and counsel as to the agenda most 

suitable to dispose of this case. If the parties determine at any time that the schedule outlined in this 

order cannot be met, counsel are ordered to notify the court immediately of that fact so that adjustments 

may be made, either by stipulation or by subsequent status conference.

The dates set in this Order are considered to be firm and will not be modified absent a 

showing of good cause even if the request to modify is made by stipulation. Stipulations 

extending the deadlines contained herein will not be considered unless they are accompanied by 

affidavits or declarations, and where appropriate attached exhibits, which establish good cause 

 

1 No motions to strike evidence will be entertained. If the Court sustains an objection to a piece of evidence, the evidence 

will not be considered.

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for granting the relief requested.

Failure to comply with this order may result in the imposition of sanctions. 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: March 18, 2016 /s/ Jennifer L. Thurston 

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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