Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_06-cv-00980/USCOURTS-caed-1_06-cv-00980-1/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
Aiwa America, Inc.
Defendant
Aiwa Strategic Accounts Partnership, Inc.
Defendant
Circuit City Stores West Coast, Inc.
Defendant
Circuit City Stores, Inc.
Defendant
Janelle Harcrow
Plaintiff
Robert Harcrow
Plaintiff
Sony Corporation of America
Defendant
Sony Electronics, Inc.
Defendant

Document Text:

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

1

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

ROBERT HARCROW, JANELLE HARCROW,

a Minor, by and through her

Guardian Ad Litem, Robert

Harcrow,

Plaintiffs,

v.

SONY CORPORATION OF AMERICA, a

New York Corporation, SONY

ELECTRONICS, INC., a Delaware

corporation, AIWA STRATEGIC

ACCOUNTS PARTNERSHIP, INC., a

Delaware corporation, CIRCUIT

CITY STORES, INC., a Virginia

corporation, and DOES 1 through

100, inclusive,

Defendants.

 

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

1:06-cv-0980 OWW SMS

ORDER AFTER SCHEDULING

CONFERENCE 

Further Scheduling

Conference: 2/9/07 8:45

Ctrm. 3 

I. Date of Scheduling Conference.

January 4, 2007.

II. Appearances Of Counsel.

Kapetan Brothers by Peter N. Kapetan, Esq., appeared on

behalf of Plaintiffs.

Lewis, Brisbois, Bisgaard & Smith LLP by Jason Chermela,

Esq., appeared on behalf of Defendant AIWA America, Inc. and

Case 1:06-cv-00980-OWW -SMS Document 17 Filed 01/10/07 Page 1 of 4
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

2

Defendant Circuit City Stores, Inc.

III. Summary of Pleadings. 

1. On June 8, 2006, Plaintiff filed the present case in

the Superior Court of the State of California, County of Fresno,

naming as Defendants Sony Corporation of America, Sony

Electronics, Inc., AIWA Strategic Accounts Partnership, Inc.,

Circuit City Stores, Inc., and Does 1 through 100. Plaintiffs’

counsel discovered that Defendants Sony Corporation of America,

Sony Electronics, Inc., and AIWA Strategic Accounts Partnership,

Inc., were erroneously sued and that the correct Defendant was

AIWA America, Inc. The parties subsequently entered into a

stipulation which was filed with this Court on or about October

11, 2006, that AIWA America, Inc., was the property party. 

Defendants removed the civil action to federal court pursuant to

28 U.S.C. § 1441(b) (diversity jurisdiction) and filed their

answers to the complaint. Plaintiffs’ complaint alleges causes

of action based on the following: strict products liability;

strict liability design defects-consumer expectation tests;

negligence, negligent infliction of emotional distress; and

breach of warranty.

2. Plaintiff Robert Harcrow is the father of Plaintiff

Janelle Harcrow. On December 23, 1998, Plaintiffs purchased an

AIWA mini-component stereo from the Circuit City Store in Fresno,

California. Plaintiffs contend that they did not alter the

stereo system in any way and used it in a safe and prudent

manner. On January 18, 2005, Plaintiff Janelle Harcrow was

playing the AIWA mini-component stereo at the Plaintiffs’ home in

Fresno. Plaintiff Janelle Harcrow had left her bedroom for

Case 1:06-cv-00980-OWW -SMS Document 17 Filed 01/10/07 Page 2 of 4
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

3

approximately 30 minutes when she heard a loud popping sound and

smelled smoke. When she re-entered the bedroom she saw that the

stereo system was on fire. Plaintiff Robert Harcrow ran into the

bedroom and subsequently retrieved a shovel to lift the burning

stereo. Plaintiff Robert Harcrow was able to lift the burning

stereo with a shovel and throw it out the window so the fire

would not spread inside the house. Plaintiffs allege that as a

result of the incident, Plaintiff Robert Harcrow suffered smoke

inhalation. Additionally, a portion of the stereo’s plastic

casing melted and fell onto the outside portion of Plaintiff

Robert Harcrow’s left foot, burning him severely. Plaintiffs’

allege damages including, but not limited to, physical, mental

and emotional distress damages, property damages, and loss of

earning and earning capacity.

IV. Orders Re Amendments To Pleadings.

1. As set forth in the Stipulation entered between the

parties, Plaintiffs will dismiss without prejudice the following

defendants: Sony Corporation of America, Sony Electronics, Inc.,

and AIWA Strategic Accounts Partnership, Inc. Plaintiff will add

as a Defendant AIWA America, Inc. Additionally, Plaintiffs have

discovered that Defendant Circuit City Stores, Inc. is an

incorrect Defendant and that the proper Defendant is Circuit City

Stores West Coast, Inc. Plaintiffs intend to seek leave to amend

the complaint if this information is correct. It should be noted

that Circuit City Stores West Coast, Inc., is a California

corporation and thus, there would not be complete diversity for

jurisdictional purposes. Thereafter, Plaintiffs will seek to

have the case remanded to state court pursuant to 28 U.S.C.

Case 1:06-cv-00980-OWW -SMS Document 17 Filed 01/10/07 Page 3 of 4
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

4

§ 1447.

2. In the event the parties do not stipulate to amending

the complaint to designate the correct parties, Plaintiff shall

file a motion to amend the complaint within twenty (20) days, on

or before January 25, 2007. 

V. Further Scheduling Conference.

1. Because there is a possibility that federal

jurisdiction may be destroyed by the addition of a proper party

Defendant, the parties believe it is in their best interests and

the interests of justice to conserve the resources of the parties

to continue this scheduling conference to February 9, 2007, at

8:45 a.m. to determine whether this case will proceed in this

Court. 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: January 9, 2007 /s/ Oliver W. Wanger 

emm0d6 UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

Case 1:06-cv-00980-OWW -SMS Document 17 Filed 01/10/07 Page 4 of 4