Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_08-cv-00573/USCOURTS-caed-1_08-cv-00573-0/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
Fresh Export LTDA
Defendant
Sunriver Sales
Plaintiff
Sunriver Trading Company Limited
Plaintiff
Francisco Valenzuela
Defendant

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

SUNRIVER TRADING COMPANY

LIMITED, a California

corporation dba Sunriver Sales,

Plaintiff,

v.

FRESH EXPORT LTDA, a business

form unknown; FRANCISCO

VALENZUELA and DOES 1 through

20, inclusive,

Defendants.

 

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1:08-cv-0573 OWW SMS 

SCHEDULING CONFERENCE ORDER 

First Amended Complaint

Filing Deadline: 8/8/08

Motion to Dismiss Filing

Deadline: 8/22/08

Opposition Filing Deadline:

8/29/08

Motion to Dismiss Hearing 

Date: 9/15/08 10:00 Ctrm. 3

Further Scheduling

Conference Date: 10/17/08

8:15 Ctrm. 3

I. Date of Scheduling Conference.

July 30, 2008.

II. Appearances Of Counsel.

Law Offices of Michael J. Lampe by Michael P. Smith, Esq.,

appeared on behalf of Plaintiff. 

Lombardo & Gilles, LLP, by E. Soren Diaz, Esq., and Alvarez

Hinzpeter Jana Abogados LTDA by Angie Armer Rios, Esq., appeared

on behalf of Defendants. 

///

Case 1:08-cv-00573-OWW -SMS Document 14 Filed 07/31/08 Page 1 of 5
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III. Summary of Pleadings. 

1. Plaintiff, a California fresh fruit broker, initiated a

State Court action in the Tulare County Superior Court against

the Defendants, Chilean exporters of fresh fruit, seeking

$265,000.00 in damages, based on the alleged non-payment of an

unpaid balance on two promissory notes in favor of Plaintiff

dated September 5, 2006, and September 21, 2006. In its Amended

Complaint, Plaintiff will allege that the notes were given by

Defendant, Fresh Export, in return for monetary advances made to

Defendant, Fresh Export, in connection with the purchase of fresh

fruits from Defendant, Fresh Export.

2. The Defendants then removed this action to Federal

Court, based on diversity of citizenship between Plaintiff and

Defendants. The Defendants then filed a motion to dismiss the

action, alleging: (1) that this Court lacks personal jurisdiction

over the Defendants due to lack of minimum contact by either

Chilean Defendant with California, (2) that the forum is

inconvenient for the resolution of the dispute for both Plaintiff

and Defendants, and (3) that Plaintiff has failed to state any

claim against, and have failed to serve, Defendant Francisco

Valenzuela with process.

3. In its Amended Complaint, Plaintiff will contend that a

correct balance of $147,000.00 remains unpaid on the two

promissory notes and that the Court has diversity jurisdiction

over this action. Plaintiff will allege that this Court has both

personal and subject matter jurisdiction over Defendant Fresh

Export LTDA and that the current forum is convenient and proper

for resolution of this dispute. Plaintiff intends to dismiss

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Defendant Francisco Valenzuela from this action and file a First

Amended Complaint prior to the date set to hear Defendants’

motion to dismiss, August 18, 2008. Defendant Fresh Export has

consented to the filing of such Amended Complaint.

4. The hearing currently scheduled for August 18, 2008,

for Defendants’ motion to dismiss should be postponed pending the

presentation of the Amended Complaint. In any case, Defendant

Fresh Export has indicated that it expects to file a revised

motion to dismiss the Amended Complaint. Defendant Fresh Export

has not filed an Answer pending the resolution of its current

motion to dismiss. If its motion to dismiss is denied, Defendant

Fresh Export will file a timely answer. 

IV. Orders Re Amendments To Pleadings.

1. Plaintiff proposes to file a First Amended Complaint. 

Plaintiff shall file its First Amended Complaint on or before

August 8, 2008. The response to the First Amended Complaint is

due on or before August 22, 2008. Any replies shall be filed by

August 29, 2008. The motion shall be heard September 15, 2008,

at 10:00 a.m. 

V. Factual Summary.

A. Admitted Facts Which Are Deemed Proven Without Further

Proceedings. 

1. Plaintiff Sunriver Trading Company, Ltd., is a

corporation incorporated in California and doing business under

the fictitious name Sunriver Sales. 

2. Defendant, Fresh Export, LTDA, a Chilean Limited

Liability Company, is formed under the laws of the Country of

Chili and disputes that jurisdiction exists over it in this case. 

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3. Defendant, Francisco Valenzuela, is a Chilean

citizen residing in the Country of Chili.

4. There are two promissory notes between the parties

dated September 5, 2006, and September 21, 2006. These notes

were issued in connection with monetary advances made to

Defendant, Fresh Export, in connection with the purchase of fresh

fruits from Defendant, Fresh Export, by Plaintiff.

B. Contested Facts.

1. There is a dispute regarding the sale of fruit

in Chili, prices received, and related matters. 

2. All remaining facts are contested. 

VI. Legal Issues.

A. Uncontested.

1. Personal jurisdiction is disputed. Diversity

jurisdiction exists under 28 U.S.C. § 1332. 

2. Venue is proper under 28 U.S.C. § 1391.

3. The promissory notes provide that California law

governs their interpretation and enforcement. 

4. The parties do not agree as to choice of law for

the sales transaction. 

B. Contested. 

1. All remaining legal issues are disputed. 

VII. Consent to Magistrate Judge Jurisdiction.

1. The parties have not consented to transfer the 

case to the Magistrate Judge for all purposes, including trial.

VIII. Corporate Identification Statement.

1. Any nongovernmental corporate party to any action in

this court shall file a statement identifying all its parent

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corporations and listing any entity that owns 10% or more of the

party's equity securities. A party shall file the statement with

its initial pleading filed in this court and shall supplement the

statement within a reasonable time of any change in the

information. 

IX. Discovery Plan and Cut-Off Date.

1. No date for Rule 26(a) exchanges will be set until

disposition of the motion to dismiss. 

X. Further Scheduling Conference.

1. Because the issue of personal jurisdiction must be

resolved, a Further Scheduling Conference shall be held October

17, 2008, at 8:15 a.m. in Courtroom 3 before the Honorable Oliver

W. Wanger, as to a schedule for the case. The Court will defer

adopting further schedule pending decision on the motion to

dismiss. 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: July 30, 2008 /s/ Oliver W. Wanger 

emm0d6 UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

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