Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_24-cv-01416/USCOURTS-caed-1_24-cv-01416-0/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
Leland Browden
Plaintiff
CJ Berry Well Services Management, LLC
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

LELAND BROWDEN,

Plaintiff,

v.

CJ BERRY WELL SERVICES 

MANAGEMENT, LLC,

Defendant.

Case No. 1:24-cv-01416-JLT-CDB

ORDER ON STIPULATION STAYING 

ACTION PENDING RULING ON 

DEFENDANT’S MOTION TO COMPEL 

ARBITRATION IN RELATED ACTION 

(Doc. 4)

ORDER VACATING FEBRUARY 18, 2025 

SCHEDULING CONFERENCE

(Doc. 2)

ORDER DIRECTING COUNSEL TO FILE A 

NOTICE OF RELATED CASES IN 

COMPLIANCE WITH LOCAL RULE 123

7-DAY DEADLINE

Background

On October 21, 2024, Plaintiff Leland Browden (“Plaintiff”) initiated this action with the 

filing of a complaint in Kern County Superior Court against Defendant CJ Berry Well Services 

Management, LLC (“Defendant”), Case No. BCV-24-103581 (the “State Court Action”), alleging 

claims for retaliation, failure to prevent discrimination and harassment, wrongful termination, 

negligent infliction of emotional distress, and unfair competition. (Docs. 1-1, 4 at 2). On 

November 20, 2024, Defendant timely removed the action to this Court. (Doc. 1). The parties 

Case 1:24-cv-01416-JLT-CDB Document 5 Filed 12/16/24 Page 1 of 3
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

attest that Defendant “related this removed action to the putative wage and hour class action 

Plaintiff previously filed against Defendant through his same counsel, which is pending before this 

Court bearing Case No. 1:24-cv-00418-JLT-CDB (hereafter ‘Browden I’)[.]” (Doc. 4 at 2). 

However, it appears Defendant did not file a notice of relation in this Court following removal, 

but, instead, noticed the relation of the two actions in state court.

Stipulated Request to Stay

Pending before the Court is the parties’ stipulated request for order staying all proceedings 

pending resolution of Defendant’s motion to compel individual arbitration (“MTCIA”) in Browden 

v. CJ Berry Wells Services Management, LLC, E.D. Cal. Case No. 1:24-00418-JLT-CDB 

(“Browden I”), which the parties attest was fully briefed on August 26, 2024. (Doc. 4 at 2); 

(Browden I, Docs. 7, 9, 11). In the Browden I MTCIA, Defendant asserts that Plaintiff’s claims 

are subject to individual arbitration pursuant to the Dispute Resolution Policy (“DRP”) Plaintiff 

entered into with Defendant. (Doc. 4 at 2). The parties represent that Defendant has met and 

conferred with Plaintiff on an intended motion to compel arbitration with respect to the 

employment-discrimination and wrongful termination claims asserted in this action on the grounds 

that the claims are similarly subject to individual and final binding arbitration pursuant DRP 

Plaintiff entered into with Defendant. (Id.). The parties represent that they have conferred and 

agree that the outcome pending the MTCIA in Browden I may be relevant to or determinative of 

the arbitration issue in this action and in light of the foregoing, good cause exists to stay all 

proceedings in this action pending the Court’s ruling on the Browden I MTCIA, as it would be 

judicially efficient and would conserve resources of the Court and the parties. (Doc. 4 at 2). The 

parties represent that following a ruling on the Browden I MTCIA, the parties will meet and confer 

in good faith regarding next steps including, without limitation, whether any further law or motion 

practice is needed in this case pertaining to Defendant’s assertion that Plaintiff is bound to arbitrate 

the claims asserted herein. (Id.).

Based on the parties’ representation that the instant action is related to previously filed 

Browden I action involving the same parties as here, Defendant’s counsel will be directed to file a 

Notice of Related Cases in accordance with Local Rule 123(b) in this action and in the Browden I

Case 1:24-cv-01416-JLT-CDB Document 5 Filed 12/16/24 Page 2 of 3
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

matter. See Local Rule 123(b) (“Counsel who has reason to believe that an action on file . . may 

be related to another action on file (whether or not dismissed or otherwise terminated) shall 

promptly file in each action and serve on all parties in each action a Notice of Related Cases.”). 

For good cause shown in the parties’ stipulation, and the pending decision on Defendant’s 

MTCIA in Browden I, which the parties agree may be relevant to or determinative of the 

anticipated arbitration issue in this action, this action will be stayed pending the Court’s 

determination of Defendant’s MTCIA in Browden I.

Conclusion and Order

Accordingly, in light of the parties’ representations and good cause appearing, IT IS 

HEREBY ORDERED:

1. This action is STAYED pending the Court’s ruling on Defendant’s motion to compel

individual arbitration (“MTCIA”) in the Browden I Action;

2. Defendant’s Counsel is DIRECTED to file within 7 days of the entry of this order either

(a) a notice of related cases in this action and in the Browden I action in compliance with

Local Rule 123, or (b) a report indicating why a notice of related cases should not be filed;

3. The parties are DIRECTED to file a joint status report within 14 days following the ruling

on the MTCIA in Browden I regarding next steps including, without limitation, whether

any law and motion practice is necessary in this case regarding whether Plaintiff is bound

to arbitrate his claims asserted herein based on the arbitration agreement at issue in the

Browden I MTCIA; and

4. The scheduling conference set for February 18, 2025 (Doc. 2) is VACATED, to be reset

as necessary following the filing of the joint status report.

IT IS SO ORDERED. 

Dated: December 13, 2024 

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 1:24-cv-01416-JLT-CDB Document 5 Filed 12/16/24 Page 3 of 3