Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_15-cv-00321/USCOURTS-caed-1_15-cv-00321-30/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
G.P.P., Inc.
Counter Defendant
Guardian Innovative Solutions
Plaintiff
Guardian Protection Products, Inc.
Counter Claimant
RPM Wood Finishes Group, Inc.
Defendant

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

G.P.P., INC. d/b/a GUARDIAN 

INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS, 

Plaintiff,

v.

GUARDIAN PROTECTION PRODUCTS, 

INC., RPM WOOD FINISHES GROUP, 

INC.,

Defendants.

_____________________________________/

Case No. 1:15-cv-00321-SKO

ORDER FOLLOWING TELEPHONIC 

CONFERENCE

GUARDIAN PROTECTION PRODUCTS, 

INC., 

Counterclaimant,

v.

G.P.P., INC. d/b/a GUARDIAN 

INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS,

Counter-defendant.

_____________________________________/

On January 16, 2020, the Court held a telephonic conference to discuss setting both the 

remanded claims for trial and a settlement conference in the case. Colleen Bal, Esq. and John Flynn, 

Case 1:15-cv-00321-SKO Document 355 Filed 01/17/20 Page 1 of 3
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Esq., appeared on behalf of Plaintiff/Counter-defendant G.P.P., Inc. d/b/a Guardian Innovative 

Solutions (“GIS”). Calvin Davis, Esq., and Aaron Rudin, Esq., appeared on behalf of 

Defendant/Counterclaimant Guardian Protection Products, Inc. (“Guardian”). Following the 

conference, the Court hereby ORDERS as follows:

1. A Settlement Conference is SET for March 19, 2020, at 1:30 P.M., in Bakersfield, 

California, 510 19th Street before Magistrate Judge Jennifer L. Thurston. The parties shall advise 

the Court as soon as is practicable, but in any event no later than March 5, 2020, whether they intend 

to proceed with private mediation in lieu of the Settlement Conference.

2. The Pretrial Conference is SET for July 22, 2020, at 3:30 P.M. in Courtroom 7 before the 

Honorable Sheila K. Oberto, United States Magistrate Judge. The parties are ordered to file a Joint 

Pretrial Statement pursuant to Local Rule 281(a)(2). The parties are further directed to submit a 

digital copy of their Pretrial Statement in Word format, directly to Magistrate Judge Oberto’s 

chambers by email at SKOorders@caed.uscourts.gov. Counsel’s attention is directed to Rules 281 

and 282 of the Local Rules for the Eastern District of California, as to the obligations of counsel in 

preparing for the Pretrial Conference. The Court will insist upon strict compliance with those rules. 

In addition to the matters set forth in the Local Rules the Joint Pretrial Statement shall include a 

Joint Statement of the case to be used by the Court to explain the nature of the case to the jury during 

voir dire.

3. Jury trial is SET for September 8, 2020, at 8:30 a.m. in Courtroom 7 before the Honorable 

Sheila K. Oberto, United States Magistrate Judge. Counsel’s attention is directed to Local Rule 285 

for the Eastern District of California.

4. GIS’s request to file a Motion for Leave to File a Supplemental Pleading Pursuant to

Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 15(d) is GRANTED. The Ninth Circuit remanded for trial the 

issues of whether the Florida, Alabama, and Tennessee Agreements require GIS to meet per-territory

or aggregate purchase quotas and whether those Agreements were breached by Guardian’s alleged 

wrongful termination. (See Doc. 344 at 3). Those issues may also pertain to Pennsylvania, the Cook 

County, the Mid-Atlantic, the Indiana, and the Midwest Agreements, thus addressing them at this 

juncture may promote judicial efficiency and economy. See Planned Parenthood of S. Arizona v. 

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Neely, 130 F.3d 400, 402 (9th Cir. 1997). Accordingly, GIS is permitted to file a motion for leave 

to supplement the Second Amended Complaint (Doc. 67) to allege claims for breach of contract as 

a result of Guardian’s alleged post-trial conduct of wrongfully terminating the Pennsylvania, the 

Cook County, the Mid-Atlantic, the Indiana, and the Midwest Agreements.

5. GIS shall file its motion for leave to file a supplemental pleading by no later than February 

10, 2020. Guardian SHALL file its opposition by no later than March 2, 2020. An optional reply 

brief may be filed March 9, 2020. The Court shall set a hearing, if it deems appropriate, once the 

briefing is completed. Otherwise, the motion will be deemed submitted as of that date.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: January 17, 2020 /s/ Sheila K. Oberto .

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 1:15-cv-00321-SKO Document 355 Filed 01/17/20 Page 3 of 3