Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_06-cv-00050/USCOURTS-caed-1_06-cv-00050-3/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
Gerald Avila
Plaintiff
Tom Souza
Plaintiff
Turlock Irrigation District
Defendant

Document Text:

LITTLER MENDELSON 

A PR OF ESS ION A L COR POR A T IO N

2520 Ve n tu r e Oa k s Wa y 

Su ite 390 

Sa c r am e n to , CA 95833 . 4227 

916 . 830 . 7200 

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 

 

Firmwide:81886681.1 017072.1039 Case No. 06-CV-00050-OWW-SMS

STIPULATION TO BIFURCATE CASE 

THEODORA R. LEE, Bar No. 129892 

LITTLER MENDELSON 

A Professional Corporation 

650 California Street, 20th Floor 

San Francisco, CA 94108.2693 

Telephone: 415.433.1940 

MATTHEW J. RUGGLES, Bar No. 173052 

LITTLER MENDELSON 

A Professional Corporation 

2520 Venture Oaks Way, Suite 390 

Sacramento, CA 95833.4227 

Telephone: 916.830.7200 

Attorneys for Defendant 

TURLOCK IRRIGATION DISTRICT 

MIKE ARIAS, Bar No. 115385 

MARK A. OZZELLO, Bar No. 116595 

ARIAS, OZZELLO & GIGNAC, LLP 

6701 Center Drive West, Suite 1400 

Los Angeles, CA 90045 

Telephone: 310.670.1600 

Attorney for Plaintiffs 

GERALD AVILA AND TOM SOUZA 

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 

GERALD AVILA, an individual; TOM 

SOUZA, an individual; on behalf of 

themselves and all others similarly situated, 

Plaintiffs, 

v. 

TURLOCK IRRIGATION DISTRICT, a 

California Public Agency, and DOES 1 

through 10, inclusive, 

Defendant. 

Case No. 06-CV-00050-OWW-SMS 

STIPULATION TO BIFURCATE CASE 

AND MODIFY SCHEDULING ORDER; 

ORDER 

PDF created with pdfFactory trial version www.pdffactory.com

Case 1:06-cv-00050-OWW -SMS Document 49 Filed 02/27/07 Page 1 of 5
LITTLER MENDELSON 

A PR OF ESS ION A L COR POR A T IO N

2520 Ve n tu r e Oa k s Wa y 

Su ite 390 

Sa c r am e n to , CA 95833 . 4227 

916 . 830 . 7200 

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 

 

Firmwide:81886681.1 017072.1039 1. Case No. 06-CV-00050-OWW-SMS

STIPULATION TO BIFURCATE CASE 

Plaintiffs Gerald Avila and Tom Souza, and Defendant Turlock Irrigation District, by 

and through their attorneys of record, hereby stipulate and agree as follows: 

1. The court’s November 27, 2006 ruling on Defendant Turlock Irrigation 

District’s motion for summary judgment granted partial summary judgment, but denied partial 

summary judgment to Defendant Turlock Irrigation District on application of the irrigation 

exemption under 29 U.S.C. section 213(b)(12). Section 213(b)(12) provides an exemption to the 

overtime provisions of the Fair Labor Standard Act that applies to: 

any employee employed in agriculture or in connection with the 

operation or maintenance of ditches, canals, reservoirs, or waterways, 

not owned or operated for profit, or operated on a sharecrop basis, and 

which are used exclusively for supply and storing of water, at least 90 

percent of which was ultimately delivered for agricultural purposes 

during the preceding calendar year. 

Defendant Turlock Irrigation District contends the unresolved issue regarding application of the 

irrigation exemption under 29 U.S.C. section 213(b)(12) is not genuinely disputed and can be proven 

by the District in an evidentiary hearing through approximately 2-3 witnesses and accompanying 

documentation; 

2. Pursuant to Rule 42(b) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, the court has 

the discretion to bifurcate this case when separate trials on any claim or issue will be conducive to 

expedition and economy. The parties agree that litigation and resolution of the potential application 

of the irrigation exemption under 29 U.S.C section 213(b)(12) before litigation and resolution of the 

other merits of the case will be conducive to expedition and economy because if the irrigation 

exemption applies, it will completely resolve Plaintiffs’ and the conditionally-certified class claim 

for underpayment of overtime wages under the Fair Labor Standards Act. 

3. To permit the efficient and economical resolution of this issue, the parties 

stipulate and agree and jointly request that the court issue an order as follows: 

a. an order bifurcating this case so that the parties have ninety (90) days from the 

date of the order to conduct discovery limited to the unresolved issue of application of the irrigation 

exemption under 29 U.S.C. section 213(b)(12). Discovery during this period shall be limited to 

discovery that is relevant to, or potentially will lead to the discovery of admissible evidence 

PDF created with pdfFactory trial version www.pdffactory.com

Case 1:06-cv-00050-OWW -SMS Document 49 Filed 02/27/07 Page 2 of 5
LITTLER MENDELSON 

A PR OF ESS ION A L COR POR A T IO N

2520 Ve n tu r e Oa k s Wa y 

Su ite 390 

Sa c r am e n to , CA 95833 . 4227 

916 . 830 . 7200 

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 

 

Firmwide:81886681.1 017072.1039 2. Case No. 06-CV-00050-OWW-SMS

STIPULATION TO BIFURCATE CASE 

concerning, application of the irrigation exemption to the Plaintiffs and the conditionally-certified 

class of Power Control Center Operators and Apprentice Power Control Center Operators employed 

by Defendant Turlock Irrigation District; 

b. setting a separate trial date on the unresolved issue of application of the 

irrigation exemption under 29 U.S.C. section 213(b)(12) approximately one hundred and twenty 

days (120) from the date of the order. The parties estimate that a trial on this issue will take no 

longer than two (2) court days. Plaintiffs do not waive any right to appeal the court’s ruling on the 

District’s motion for summary judgment by entering into this stipulation; 

c. if the court rules that the irrigation exemption under 29 U.S.C. section 

213(b)(12) does not apply to Plaintiffs and the conditionally-certified class of Power Control Center 

Operators and Apprentice Power Control Center Operators employed by the District, then discovery 

shall be reopened for a period of six months from the court’s decision to finish discovery on the 

merits. By entering into this stipulation, the parties do not agree to waive their right to conduct 

discovery on any issue, subject to the limitation(s) described above; and 

d. pre-trial and trial dates be modified following the court’s decision, as 

appropriate, including but not limited to the dates for expert disclosures. 

IT IS SO STIPULATED. 

Dated: January 19, 2007 

/s/ Matthew J. Ruggles 

THEODORA R. LEE 

MATTHEW J. RUGGLES 

LITTLER MENDELSON 

A Professional Corporation 

Attorneys for Defendant 

TURLOCK IRRIGATION DISTRICT 

Dated: January 19, 2007 

/s/ Mark A. Ozzello (authorized 01/19/2007) 

MARK A. OZZELLO 

ARIAS, OZZELLO & GIGNAC, LLP 

Attorneys for Plaintiffs 

GERALD AVILA AND TOM SOUZA 

PDF created with pdfFactory trial version www.pdffactory.com

Case 1:06-cv-00050-OWW -SMS Document 49 Filed 02/27/07 Page 3 of 5
LITTLER MENDELSON 

A PR OF ESS ION A L COR POR A T IO N

2520 Ve n tu r e Oa k s Wa y 

Su ite 390 

Sa c r am e n to , CA 95833 . 4227 

916 . 830 . 7200 

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 

 

Firmwide:81886681.1 017072.1039 3. Case No. 06-CV-00050-OWW-SMS

STIPULATION TO BIFURCATE CASE 

ORDER

Based on the parties’ Stipulation to Bifurcate Case and Modify the Scheduling Order, the 

Court rules as follows: 

1. The court finds that bifurcation of this case pursuant to Rule 42(b) of the Federal 

Rules of Civil Procedure on the unresolved issue of application of the irrigation exemption under 29 

U.S.C. section 213(b)(12) order will be conducive to expedition and economy because determination 

of the potential application of the irrigation exemption under 29 U.S.C. section 213(b)(12) could 

completely resolve this case. 

2. It is therefore ordered that this case shall be bifurcated as follows: 

a. the parties have ninety (90) days from the date of the order to conduct 

discovery limited to the unresolved issue of application of the irrigation exemption under 29 U.S.C. 

section 213(b)(12). Discovery during this period shall be limited to discovery that is relevant to, or 

potentially will lead to the discovery of admissible evidence concerning, application of the irrigation 

exemption to the Plaintiffs and the conditionally-certified class of Power Control Center Operators 

and Apprentice Power Control Center Operators employed by Defendant Turlock Irrigation District; 

b. a separate trial limited to the unresolved issue of application of the irrigation 

exemption under 29 U.S.C. section 213(b)(12) shall be held beginning at 9:00 a.m. on June 26, 2007. 

c. if the court rules that the irrigation exemption under 29 U.S.C. section 

213(b)(12) does not apply to Plaintiffs and the conditionally-certified class of Power Control Center 

Operators and Apprentice Power Control Center Operators employed by the District, then discovery 

shall be reopened for a period of six months from the court’s decision to finish discovery on the 

merits. 

d. the Discovery Cut-off date set on February 2, 2007 is VACATED and is 

hereby rescheduled for January 26, 2008. 

e. the Non-Dispositive Motion Filing Deadline set on February 15, 2007 is 

VACATED and is hereby rescheduled for February 11, 2008. 

PDF created with pdfFactory trial version www.pdffactory.com

Case 1:06-cv-00050-OWW -SMS Document 49 Filed 02/27/07 Page 4 of 5
LITTLER MENDELSON 

A PR OF ESS ION A L COR POR A T IO N

2520 Ve n tu r e Oa k s Wa y 

Su ite 390 

Sa c r am e n to , CA 95833 . 4227 

916 . 830 . 7200 

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 

 

Firmwide:81886681.1 017072.1039 4. Case No. 06-CV-00050-OWW-SMS

STIPULATION TO BIFURCATE CASE 

f. the Dispositive Motion Filing Deadline set on March 2, 2007 is VACATED 

and is hereby rescheduled for February 29, 2008. 

g. the date for Initial Expert Disclosures is hereby scheduled for November 23, 

2007. 

h. the date for Rebuttal Expert Disclosures is hereby scheduled for December 21, 

2007. 

i. the Mandatory Settlement Conference presently scheduled for March 8, 2007 

is VACATED and is hereby rescheduled for January 30, 2008 at 10:00 a.m. 

j. the final Pre-trial Conference presently scheduled for May 21, 2007 is 

VACATED and is hereby rescheduled for May 5, 2008 at 11:00 a.m. 

k. the Trial date presently scheduled for June 26, 2007 is VACATED and is 

hereby rescheduled for June 10, 2008 at 9:00 a.m. 

IT IS SO ORDERED. 

DATED: 2/24/2007 /s/ Oliver W. Wanger 

 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT JUDGE 

PDF created with pdfFactory trial version www.pdffactory.com

Case 1:06-cv-00050-OWW -SMS Document 49 Filed 02/27/07 Page 5 of 5