Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_06-cv-02918/USCOURTS-caed-2_06-cv-02918-1/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
Rachel Billini
Defendant
Monique Diaz
Defendant
Nicole Diaz
Defendant
Pablo Diaz
Defendant
Regina Diaz
Defendant
Tiara Diaz
Defendant
Metropolitan Life Insurance Company
Plaintiff

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 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

----oo0oo----

METROPOLITAN LIFE INSURANCE

COMPANY,

Plaintiff-in-Interpleader,

v. NO. CIV. S-06-02918 WBS KJM

RACHEL BILLINI; MONIQUE DIAZ;

NICOLE DIAZ; PABLO DIAZ;

REGINA DIAZ; TIARA DIAZ; and

DOES 1 through 10, inclusive,

Claimants-in-Interpleader

----oo0oo----

STATUS (PRETRIAL SCHEDULING) ORDER

After reviewing the parties' Joint Status Report, the

court hereby vacates the Status (Pretrial Scheduling) Conference

scheduled for February 12, 2007, and makes the following findings

and orders without needing to consult with the parties any

further.

I. SERVICE OF PROCESS

All named defendants have been served, with the

exception of claimant Rachel Billini. To date plaintiff has not

been able to locate this claimant's whereabouts but will

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continue attempts to locate her. Within 60 days from the date of

this order, plaintiff shall either (1) effect service upon Rachel

Billini, (2) dismiss the action as against her only, (3) dismiss

the entire action without prejudice, or (4) file a statement as

to why this court has jurisdiction to resolve this interpleader

action without Rachel Billini before the court. As to the served

claimants, responsive pleadings are due February 27, 2007. Other

than as stated above, no further service is permitted without

leave of court, good cause having been shown under Fed. R. Civ.

P. 16(b).

II. JOINDER OF PARTIES/AMENDMENTS

No further joinder of parties or amendments to

pleadings is permitted except with leave of court, good cause

having been shown under Fed. R. Civ. P. 16(b). See Johnson v.

Mammoth Recreations, Inc., 975 F.2d 604 (9th Cir. 1992).

III. JURISDICTION/VENUE

Jurisdiction is predicated upon 29 U.S.C. § 1001 et

seq. (the Employee Retirement Income Security Act). Venue is

undisputed and is hereby found to be proper.

IV. DISCOVERY

The plaintiff states that initial disclosures required

by Fed. R. Civ. P. 26 (a)(1) will be served no later than

February 20, 2007.

Defendants state that they may wish to conduct

discovery regarding MetLife's handling of their claim under the

subject policy. Defendants also indicate that they may seek

discovery from defendant Billini as to her claim for life

insurance benefits under said policy. If any party seeks

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discovery, as to which any other party believes they are not

entitled to conduct, appropriate relief may be sought from the

assigned Magistrate Judge. 

All discovery, including depositions for preservation

of testimony, is left open, save and except that it shall be so

conducted as to be completed by August 31, 2007. The word

"completed" means that all discovery shall have been conducted so

that all depositions have been taken and any disputes relevant to

discovery shall have been resolved by appropriate order if

necessary and, where discovery has been ordered, the order has

been obeyed. All motions to compel discovery must be noticed on

the magistrate judge's calendar in accordance with the local

rules of this court and so that such motions may be heard (and

any resulting orders obeyed) not later than August 31, 2007.

V. MOTION HEARING SCHEDULE

Plaintiff MetLife anticipates filing a motion for

discharge and dismissal with prejudice pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §

2361, to be filed within 60 days of the date this order is filed. 

All other motions, except motions for continuances, temporary

restraining orders or other emergency applications, shall be

filed on or before October 26, 2007. All motions shall be noticed

for the next available hearing date. Counsel are cautioned to

refer to the local rules regarding the requirements for noticing

and opposing such motions on the court's regularly scheduled law

and motion calendar. 

VI. FINAL PRETRIAL CONFERENCE 

The Final Pretrial Conference is set for January 14,

2008 at l:30 p.m. in Courtroom No. 5. The conference shall be

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attended by at least one of the attorneys who will conduct the

trial for each of the parties and by any unrepresented parties. 

Counsel for all parties are to be fully prepared for

trial at the time of the Pretrial Conference, with no matters

remaining to be accomplished except production of witnesses for

oral testimony. Counsel shall file separate pretrial statements,

and are referred to Local Rules 16-281 and 16-282 relating to the

contents of and time for filing those statements. In addition to

those subjects listed in Local Rule 16-281(b), the parties are to

provide the court with: (1) a plain, concise statement which

identifies every non-discovery motion which has been made to the

court, and its resolution; (2) a list of the remaining claims as

against each defendant; and (3) the estimated number of trial

days.

In providing the plain, concise statements of

undisputed facts and disputed factual issues contemplated by

Local Rule 16-281(b)(3)-(4), the parties shall emphasize the

claims that remain at issue, and any remaining affirmatively pled

defenses thereto. If the case is to be tried to a jury, the

parties shall also prepare a succinct statement of the case,

which is appropriate for the court to read to the jury.

VII. TRIAL SETTING

The court trial is set for March 25, 2008 at 9:00

a.m. in Courtroom No. 5. 

VIII. SETTLEMENT CONFERENCE

A Settlement Conference will be set at the time of the

Pretrial Conference.

All parties should be prepared to advise the court

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whether they will stipulate to the trial judge acting as

settlement judge and waive disqualification by virtue thereof.

Counsel are instructed to have a principal with full

settlement authority present at the Settlement Conference or to

be fully authorized to settle the matter on any terms. At least

seven calendar days before the Settlement Conference counsel for

each party shall submit a confidential Settlement Conference

Statement for review by the settlement judge. If the settlement

judge is not the trial judge, the Settlement Conference

Statements shall not be filed and will not otherwise be disclosed

to the trial judge.

IX. MODIFICATIONS TO SCHEDULING ORDER

Any requests to modify the dates or terms of this

Scheduling Order, except requests to change the dates of the

final Pretrial Conference or trial, may be heard and decided by

the assigned Magistrate Judge. All requests to change the dates

of the Pretrial Conference and/or trial shall be heard and

decided only by the undersigned judge.

DATED: February 6, 2007

 

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