Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_15-cv-01520/USCOURTS-caed-1_15-cv-01520-1/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
L&L Construction
Defendant
Robert Littrell
Defendant
Littrell Homes
Defendant
Littrell Homes, Inc.
Defendant
Probuilders Specialty Insurance Co., RRG
Plaintiff

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1505766v.1 JOINT STIPULATION CONCERNING SCHEDULING CONFERENCE

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 

(SACRAMENTO DIVISION) 

PROBUILDERS SPECIALTY INSURANCE CO., 

RRG A Risk Retention Group, 

Plaintiff, 

vs. 

LITTRELL HOMES, INC., L&L CONSTRUCTION 

DBA: LITTRELL HOMES, ROBERT LITTRELL, 

Defendants. 

Case No. 1:15-cv-01520 - JAM (EPG) 

STIPULATION TO CONTINUE 

SCHEDULING CONFERENCE, AND 

ORDER THEREON 

 

PLAINTIFF, PROBUILDERS SPECIALTY INSURANCE COMPANY, RRG, a Risk 

Retention Group ("PROBUILDERS”) and Defendant Littrell Homes, Inc. (“LITTRELL”) have met 

and conferred as required by the Rules of this Court concerning discovery, scheduling, settlement, 

and key legal issues. As a result of meeting and conferring, the parties hereby stipulate as follows: 

1. This case is for insurance declaratory relief, principally concerning the interpretation 

of the deductible endorsement in PROBUILDERS’ insurance policies issued to LITTRELL. That 

endorsement states, in pertinent part as alleged at Paragraph 9 of PROBUILDERS’ Complaint: 

 

Case 1:15-cv-01520-DAD-EPG Document 21 Filed 02/01/16 Page 1 of 5
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1505766v.1JOINT STIPULATION CONCERNING SCHEDULING CONFERENCE AND [PROPOSED] ORDER THEREON

 

PER CLAIM DEDUCTIBLE 

IT IS AGREED THAT $ 5,000.001/7,500.002 SHALL BE DEDUCTED FROM 

EACH AND EVERY CLAIM UNDER THIS POLICY, IRRESPECTIVE OF THE 

NUMBER OF CLAIMS WHICH MAY BE JOINED IN ANY ONE SUIT, 

ARBITRATION, MEDIATION, OR ANY OTHER FORM OF LEGAL 

PROCEEDING. SUCH COVERAGE AS IS AFFORDED UNDER THIS POLICY 

APPLIES SUBJECT TO THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS: 

1. THE DEDUCTIBLE(S) SHALL APPLY TO THE NAMED INSURED FOR 

ALL COSTS INCURRED BY US ON BEHALF OF ANY INSURED FOR 

ADJUSTING, LEGAL AND RELATED EXPENSES AS WELL AS ANY 

PAYMENTS MADE BY US TOWARD THE SETTLEMENT OF EACH AND 

EVERY CLAIM. 

2. ALL OF THE OTHER TERMS AND PROVISIONS OF THIS POLICY, 

INCLUDING THOSE WITH RESPECT TO AN INSURED'S OBLIGATIONS 

UPON AN OCCURRENCE OR CLAIM AND OUR RIGHT TO 

INVESTIGATE, DEFEND, NEGOTIATE AND/OR SETTLE ANY CLAIM 

OR SUIT, APPLY IRRESPECTIVE OF THE APPLICATION OF THE 

DEDUCTIBLE(S). 

3. THE NAMED INSURED SHALL CONTRIBUTE THE AMOUNT OF THE 

DEDUCTIBLE(S) WITHIN TEN (10) DAYS FROM THE DATE OF 

REQUEST BY US OR OUR REPRESENTATIVE. THE REQUEST FOR 

PAYMENT OF THE DEDUCTIBLE(S) HEREIN SET FORTH SHALL BE 

SENT TO THE NAMED INSURED BY ORDINARY MAIL ADDRESSED 

TO THE FIRST NAMED INSURED AT THE ADDRESS LISTED IN THE 

POLICY. THE TEN (10) DAYS SHALL BEGIN TO APPLY FROM THE 

POSTMARK OF THE LETTER BEARING SUCH REQUEST. FAILURE OF 

THE NAMED INSURED TO PAY THE AMOUNT OF THE 

DEDUCTIBLE(S) WITHIN TEN (10) DAYS AS HEREIN SET FORTH 

SHALL VOID THE POLICY WITH RESPECT TO THE CLAIM(S) 

INVOLVED.... 

2. PROBUILDERS has alleged in its complaint at Paragraph 7: 

Aranciba, Alan et al. v. Littrell Homes, Inc., Madera County Superior 

Court Case No. MCV 051183 ("the Aranciba action") and related cross-actions, 

concerning LITTRELL HOMES work on the construction of single family 

residences in the City of Chowchilla, County of Madera, State of California. 

Significantly, there were individual homeowners for at least thirty-four (34) 

homes who alleged construction defect claims against LITTRELL HOMES, and 

 1

 WES 1500093 effective from September 16, 2002 to September 16, 2003 policy. 

2

 APG 4500148 effective September 16, 2003 to September 16, 2004 and APG 5002066 effective September 

16, 2004 to September 16, 2005 policies. 

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1505766v.1JOINT STIPULATION CONCERNING SCHEDULING CONFERENCE AND [PROPOSED] ORDER THEREON

 

each house allegedly contained defective work performed by LITTRELL 

HOMES. 

3. The parties dispute whether a deductible applies under the above quoted language to 

obligate LITTRELL to pay one deductible for the Aranciba lawsuit against LITTRELL, or whether 

one deductible applies to each Homeowner seeking damages in the Aranciba lawsuit. 

4. The Parties have conferred about discovery, and recognize that for trial, it will be 

necessary to conduct claims discovery regarding accepting the defense and payments made under the 

terms of the policy and allocation of payments to different claimants, if any. 

5. The Parties recognize, however, that the interpretation of the policy is a legal 

determination made by the court, and that the balance of the case can be efficiently handled and 

tried, if necessary. However, settlement of the damages payable, if any, will based on confirming 

the correct numbers and performing an accounting analysis once the issue of how many deductibles 

apply. 

6. The Parties therefore believe that Cross Motions for Partial Summary Judgment, 

based on stipulated facts and exhibits, would be the most efficient means to resolve this case. 

7. Counsel have met and conferred regarding the facts necessary to make the motions, 

and though not finalized, have made significant progress. Counsel recognizes the court’s need to 

keep the case moving, and therefore agrees, and recommends that the court order as follows: 

 a. Continue the currently set date to requiring a Rule 26(F) joint status report. 

 b. That a status report be filed by the parties confirming whether or not they have 

reached an agreement to proceed by cross motions for partial summary judgment under Rule 56 no 

later than March 1, 2016. 

 c. In the event that the parties report to the court that agreement has been 

reached on March 1, 2016, then the Court order that their respective Motion for Partial Summary 

Judgment -- related to the interpretation of PROBUILDERS’ deductible endorsement -- be filed no 

later than April 1, 2016. Briefing and Oral Argument, if any, shall be handled per the FRCP and the 

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1505766v.1JOINT STIPULATION CONCERNING SCHEDULING CONFERENCE AND [PROPOSED] ORDER THEREON

 

Order RE Filing Requirements for Cases Assigned to Judge Mendez. The parties will provide a 

status report compliant with Rule 26(f) following the final ruling on the parties’ cross motions. 

 d. If the parties report to the court on March 1, 2016 that no agreement has been 

reached, then the parties shall file their Rule 26(f) Joint Status Report by March 15, 2016 as required 

by the Court’s order of January 8, 2016 (Doc 17) 

 DATED: October 6, 2015 WILSON, ELSER, MOSKOWITZ, 

EDELMAN & DICKER, LLP 

 By: /s/ John H. Podesta 

 John H. Podesta 

 John T. Burnite 

 Attorneys for Plaintiff 

 PROBUILDERS SPECIALTY 

 INSURANCE COMPANY, RRG 

DATED: January 21, 2016 POWELL & POOLE, LLP 

 By: /s/ Mathew Backowski 

 

 Attorneys for Defendants 

LITTRELL HOMES, INC., L&L 

CONSTRUCTION DBA: LITTRELL 

HOMES, and ROBERT LITTTRELL 

The Court, having reviewed this Stipulation of the Parties, and finding good cause 

therefore, hereby ORDERS: 

1. The parties are to file a status report no later than March 1, 2016, reporting whether 

agreement has been reached concerning stipulated facts and/or agreed exhibits for use in Cross 

Motions for Partial Summary Judgment concerning the application of the PROBUILDERS 

deductible to the Aranciba action. 

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1505766v.1JOINT STIPULATION CONCERNING SCHEDULING CONFERENCE AND [PROPOSED] ORDER THEREON

 

2. If agreement is reached on stipulated facts, as confirmed in the status report filed on 

March 1, 2016, then the parties are to file their respective Motions for Partial Summary Judgment 

by April 1, 2016, subject to the following: 

 a. The motions will address the following issue only: “Does the Deductible 

Endorsement in each of the PROBUILDERS’ policies apply to the Aranciba action such that only 

one deductible is owed by LITTRELL to PROBUILDERS, or does the Endorsement require 

payment by LITTRELL to PROBUILDERS for one deductible as to the owner of each home 

involved in the Aranciba action. Stated differently, does the PROBUILDERS’ policy “per claim” 

deductible apply to each lawsuit seeking damages, or to each owner of a house that sought 

damages in the Aranciba action? 

 b. PLAINTIFF PROBUILDERS is directed to file the stipulated facts and 

agreed exhibits with its motion, rather than having each party file them; 

 c. The requirement of a Separate Statement of Undisputed Facts does not 

apply. However, all other rules and procedures apply, including Doc 17-1 in this action, entitled 

ORDER RE FILING REQUIREMENTS FOR CASES ASSIGNED TO JUDGE MENDEZ. 

 d. All other Court Dates and required filings shall be vacated pending the final 

determination of the Motions. 

3. If no agreement is reached for proceeding for cross motions for partial summary 

judgment, as confirmed in the status report filed on March 1, 2016, then the Parties are directed to 

prepare and file a Joint Status Report as required by this Court’s Order dated January 8, 2016 (Doc 

17) by no later than March 15, 2016. 

Dated: 1/29/2016 

 /s/ John A. Mendez_______________________ 

 Hon. John A. Mendez, US District Court Judge 

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