Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_22-cv-00816/USCOURTS-caed-1_22-cv-00816-2/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
ABM Industry Groups, LLC
Defendant
Flowers Baking Co. of Modesto, LLC
Defendant
Efren Linares
Plaintiff

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 

EFREN LINARES, INDIVIDUALLY, 

AND ON BEHALF OF OTHERS 

SIMILARLY SITUATED, AND ON 

BEHALF OF THE STATE OF 

CALIFORNIA AND AGGRIEVED 

EMPLOYEES PURSUANT TO THE 

PRIVATE ATTORNEYS GENERAL 

ACT, 

Plaintiff, 

v. 

ABM INDUSTRY GROUPS, LLC, 

FLOWERS BAKING CO. OF 

MODESTO, LLC, 

Defendants. 

CASE NO. 1:22-CV-00816 ADA EPG 

CLASS ACTION SCHEDULING 

CONFERENCE ORDER 

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This Court conducted a scheduling conference on February 22, 2023. Counsel Stanley 

Mallison and Daniel Keller telephonically appeared on behalf of the Plaintiff. Counsel Alexander 

Chembers telephonically appeared on behalf of the Defendants. Pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 16(b), 

this Court sets a schedule for this action. 

The Court opens discovery on class certification and the merits of the case. As discussed 

on the record, it is the Court’s expectation that the parties will take expert discovery in connection 

with class certification. Additionally, the parties may take further discovery if they agree. Further 

scheduling expanding the scope of discovery will, if necessary, be issued following class 

certification. 

I. CONSENT TO MAGISTRATE JUDGE 

 The parties are reminded of the availability of United States Magistrate Judge Erica P. 

Grosjean 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 United States 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. 

II. EXPERT WITNESS DISCLOSURES 

The deadlines for all parties to serve their expert witness disclosures, rebuttal expert 

disclosures, and expert discovery have not been set at this time. 

All expert witness disclosures must be made pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(a)(2)(A), 

(B) and (C), and shall include all information required thereunder. In addition, Fed. R. Civ. 

P. 26(b)(4) and Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(e) specifically apply to discovery relating to expert witnesses 

and their opinions. Each expert witness must be fully prepared to be examined on all subjects and 

opinions included in the disclosures. Failure to comply with these requirements will result in the 

imposition of appropriate sanctions, including the preclusion of the expert’s testimony, or of other 

evidence offered through the expert. 

III. CLASS CERTIFICATION MOTIONS 

The following deadlines are set with regard to the filing of class certification motions: 

Motion for Class Certification: May 31, 2024 

Opposition: July 12, 2024 

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Reply: August 30, 2024

The hearing on any motion for class certification, to be heard by Magistrate Judge Erica P. 

Grosjean in Courtroom 10, has been set for a one hour hearing on September 13, 2024, at 10:00 

AM. 

The Court will set additional deadlines regarding class merits discovery and trial dates, if 

necessary, after a ruling on any motion for class certification. 

IV. STATUS CONFERENCE 

A Mid-Discovery Status Conference will be held on September 19, 2023, at 10:00 AM

in Courtroom 10 before Magistrate Judge Erica P. Grosjean. The parties are directed to file a joint 

report, of up to five (5) pages, outlining the status of the case, any additional discovery still 

planned, potential for settlement, and any other issues pending that would benefit from the 

Court’s assistance/direction. The parties shall file the report one full week prior to the conference. 

If the parties are appearing telephonically, each party shall dial 1 (888) 251-2909 and enter access 

code 1024453. Alternatively, the parties and counsel may appear in person. If one or more parties 

wish to appear in person, they shall email Michelle Rooney, Courtroom Deputy Clerk, at 

mrooney@caed.uscourts.gov at least 24 hours before the proceeding so that a notation can be 

placed on the Court’s calendar. 

V. PRETRIAL MOTION SCHEDULE 

A. General Information Regarding Filing Motions 

The parties are advised that unless prior leave of the Court is obtained before the filing 

deadline,1 all moving and opposition briefs or legal memoranda, including joint statements of 

discovery disputes, filed in civil cases before Magistrate Judge Grosjean, shall not exceed twentyfive (25) pages. Reply briefs by the moving party shall not exceed ten (10) pages. These page 

limits do not include exhibits. When scheduling motions (other than discovery motions) the 

parties shall comply with Local Rule 230. 

Unless otherwise directed, the parties are permitted to appear telephonically to argue 

motions and may do so by dialing 1-888-251-2909 and entering access code 1024453. 

Alternatively, the parties and counsel may appear in person. If one or more parties wish to appear 

in person, they shall email Michelle Rooney, Courtroom Deputy Clerk, at 

mrooney@caed.uscourts.gov at least 24 hours before the proceeding so that a notation can be 

1

 Parties may seek leave through a telephonic conference among all parties and the Court, or by short motion. 

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placed on the Court’s calendar. 

1. Informal Discovery Conference

In order to file a motion involving a discovery dispute, see Fed. R. Civ. P. 26 through 37 

and 45,2

 a party must receive permission from the Court following an informal telephonic 

discovery dispute conference. However, non-parties challenging a subpoena under Fed. R. Civ. 

P. 45 are not required to request an informal conference before filing a motion. A party wishing 

to schedule such a conference should contact chambers to receive available dates. The Court will 

schedule the conference as soon as possible, taking into consideration the urgency of the issue. 

Prior to the conference, the parties shall simultaneously file an Informal Discovery 

Dispute Letter Brief, outlining their positions regarding the dispute. Such briefs shall be no 

longer than three pages single-spaced, and may include up to five pages of exhibits. The Court 

will provide the date and time the Letter Briefs are due at the time the conference is scheduled. 

At the time of conference, the parties shall dial 1 (888) 251-2909 and enter access code 

1024453. The Court will not issue a formal ruling at that time. Nevertheless, the Court will 

attempt to provide guidance to the parties to narrow or dispose of the dispute. If no resolution can 

be reached without formal motion practice, the Court will authorize the filing of a formal 

discovery motion. 

2. Discovery Motions 

If a discovery motion, see Fed. R. Civ. P. 26 through 37 and 45, is brought after receiving 

permission from the Court, the parties must prepare and file a Joint Statement re: Discovery 

Disagreement (“Joint Statement”) as required by Local Rule 251.3

 In scheduling such motions, 

Magistrate Judge Grosjean may grant applications for an order shortening time pursuant to Local 

Rule 144(e). Motions to shorten time will only be granted upon a showing of good cause. If a 

party does not obtain an order shortening time, the notice of motion must comply with Local Rule 

251. 

A Joint Statement not to exceed twenty-five (25) pages must be filed seven (7) calendar 

days before the scheduled hearing date. Prior to the filing of the Joint Statement, the parties must 

meet and confer as set forth in Local Rule 251(b). Courtesy copies for any pleading in excess of 

twenty-five pages (25) (including exhibits) shall also be delivered to chambers via US mail, or 

2

 The Court construes “discovery dispute” broadly, which includes, but is not limited to, disputes regarding written 

discovery, oral depositions, physical and mental examinations, and protective orders. 

3

 Certain limited exceptions from filing the required Joint Statement are outlined in Local Rule 251(e). 

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hand delivery, at the time the Joint Statement is electronically filed. Motions may be removed 

from the Court’s calendar if the Joint Statement is not timely filed, or if courtesy copies are not 

timely delivered. 

VI. COMPLIANCE WITH FEDERAL PROCEDURES 

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

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

amendments thereto. The Court requires strict compliance with these rules. 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 the Eastern District of California. 

VII. EFFECT OF THIS ORDER 

This order represents the Court and the parties’ best estimated schedule to complete this 

case. Any party unable to comply with the dates outlined in this order shall immediately file an 

appropriate motion or stipulation identifying the requested modification(s). 

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

showing of good cause, even if a stipulation to modify is filed. Stipulations extending the 

deadlines contained herein will not be considered unless they are accompanied by affidavits or 

declarations with attached exhibits, where appropriate, that establish good cause for granting the 

requested relief. Due to the impacted nature of the civil case docket, this Court disfavors requests 

to modify established dates. 

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

IT IS SO ORDERED. 

Dated: March 16, 2023 /s/

 UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE 

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