Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_07-cv-00890/USCOURTS-caed-2_07-cv-00890-1/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
Chicago Title Company
Defendant
Coldwell Banker Elite
Defendant
James Friedman
Defendant
Susan Friedman
Defendant
Golden Horizon Mortgage
Defendant
Nbank Mortgage
Defendant
Stewart Title Company
Defendant
Daisy Turczynski
Plaintiff

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 On June 14, 2007, defendant Nbank Mortgage filed a motion to dismiss scheduled for 1

hearing July 26, 2007, based in part on its assertion the parties did not enter into a contract. By

order filed June 18, 2007, the court moved the hearing to August 30, 2007, to permit adequate

time for the U.S. Marshal to serve process upon all defendants. On July 16, 2007, defendants

James and Susan Friedman filed a motion to dismiss scheduled for hearing August 16, 2007,

based on their assertion these matters were resolved in state court, at least as to the Friedmans. 

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

DAISY TURCZYNSKI,

Plaintiff, No. CIV S-07-0890 DFL GGH PS

vs.

JAMES FRIEDMAN, individually, ORDER and

SUSAN FRIEDMAN, individually, ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE

STEWART TITLE COMPANY,

CHICAGO TITLE COMPANY, 

GOLDEN HORIZON MORTGAGE,

nBANK MORTGAGE, COLDWELL

BANKER ELITE, DOES 1 through 10, 

inclusive,

Defendants.

 /

Presently pending on this court’s law and motion calendar are Nbank Mortgage’s

motion to dismiss scheduled for hearing August 30, 2007, and the Friedmans’ motion to dismiss

scheduled for hearing August 16, 2007. On July 13, 2007, plaintiff filed a “Notice of 1

Case 2:07-cv-00890-RRB-GGH Document 31 Filed 07/24/07 Page 1 of 3
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Unavailability” for the period August 19, 2007 through September 14, 2007, explaining only that

she will be “temporarily absent and unavailable” during that period, and requesting “that no

motions or other actions requiring a response be scheduled during that time.” On July 13, 2007,

defendant Nbank Mortgage filed a “Notice of Opposition” to plaintiff’s anticipated

unavailability.

Plaintiff’s unilateral notice of unavailability for a period encompassing a

previously scheduled hearing, without any demonstration of good cause or previous attempt to

stipulate to another hearing date, is unacceptable. Notices of unavailability are generally

disfavored in federal court, particularly for lengthy periods. Even in California state court

practice, where such notices are generally accepted, their purpose is to prevent the scheduling of

matters during a party’s disclosed absence, not to suspend previously scheduled matters. See

Tenderloin Housing Clinic, Inc. v. Sparks, 8 Cal. App. 4th 299 (1992). Plaintiff’s asserted

inability to attend a hearing that was scheduled nearly one month earlier, without demonstration

of good cause, appears to be an improper litigation tactic. This implication weighs particularly

heavy in this case where plaintiff initiated this action, obtained a waiver of the filing fee and

obtained the assistance of the U.S. Marshal in serving process upon defendants, and in which

plaintiff’s briefing implies a sense of urgency in these proceedings, due in part to plaintiff’s age

and health. Plaintiff shall therefore be ordered to demonstrate good cause for her asserted

unavailability.

Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that plaintiff shall, within ten days of

the filing date of this order, show good cause in writing for her asserted unavailability August 19,

2007 through September 14, 2007, as set forth in her Notice of Unavailability filed July 11, 2007. 

Plaintiff shall set forth the reasons for her anticipated absence and all supporting documentation. 

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the hearing on the Friedmans’ motion to

dismiss, filed July 16, 2007, is moved from August 16, 2007 to August 30, 2007, and will be 

\\\\\

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heard in tandem with Nbank Mortgage’s motion to dismiss, absent plaintiff’s demonstration of

good cause to again reschedule both matters.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

DATED: 7/24/07

/s/ Gregory G. Hollows

___________________________

GREGORY G. HOLLOWS

 U. S. MAGISTRATE JUDGE

GGH5:turc0890.avail.

Case 2:07-cv-00890-RRB-GGH Document 31 Filed 07/24/07 Page 3 of 3