Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_15-cv-02624/USCOURTS-caed-2_15-cv-02624-1/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
Community Loans of America, Inc.
Counter Claimant
Fast Auto Loans, Inc.
Counter Claimant
Fast Auto and Payday Loans
Defendant
Robert Reich
Counter Claimant
Keyeanna Saunders
Counter Defendant

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

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KEYEANNA SAUNDERS, suing 

individually and by and on 

behalf of all others 

similarly situated, and the 

general public,

Plaintiffs,

v.

FAST AUTO LOANS, INC., a 

California Corporation dba 

FAST AUTO AND PAYDAY LOANS; 

COMMUNITY LOANS OF AMERICA, 

INC., a Georgia Corporation; 

and ROBERT REICH, an 

individual,

Defendants.

CIV. NO. 2:15-2624 WBS CKD

ORDER

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The court has considered defense counsel’s request to 

appear by telephone at the April 25, 2016 status conference and 

hearing on plaintiff’s motions to strike and dismiss, (Docket No. 

12). 

Case 2:15-cv-02624-WBS-CKD Document 13 Filed 04/12/16 Page 1 of 2
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The recent revisions to the Federal Rules of Civil 

Procedure emphasize that, when appropriate, the court should work 

closely with the parties to encourage proportional discovery and 

efficient resolution. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 1 (“These rules . . . 

should be construed, administered, and employed by the court and 

the parties to secure the just, speedy, and inexpensive 

determination of every action and proceeding.” (emphasis added)).

The changes to Rule 16 specifically encourage the court

to hold in-person status conferences with the parties’ attorneys, 

rather than consulting by phone, mail, or other means. Fed. R. 

Civ. P. 16(b)(1)(B); id. R. 16 Advisory Committee’s note to 2015 

amendment (“The provision for consulting at a scheduling 

conference by ‘telephone, mail, or other means’ is deleted. A 

scheduling conference is more effective if the court and parties 

engage in direct simultaneous communication.”). 

Specifically, the attorneys’ personal appearance at the 

hearing is important in this case because the court will also 

hear plaintiff’s motions to strike defendants’ forty-one 

affirmative defenses and dismiss defendants’ four counterclaims 

at the same time. The voluminous number of affirmative defenses 

and counterclaims could significantly impact the management of 

this case and subsequent discovery and, as a result, warrant 

careful consideration at the hearing. 

IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that counsel’s request to 

appear by phone be, and the same hereby is, DENIED. 

Dated: April 12, 2016

Case 2:15-cv-02624-WBS-CKD Document 13 Filed 04/12/16 Page 2 of 2