Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_24-cv-00197/USCOURTS-caed-1_24-cv-00197-0/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
Thomas Loy Dixon
Plaintiff
Tractor Supply Company
Defendant

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1 

 

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 

THOMAS LOY DIXON, 

Plaintiff, 

v. 

 

TRACTOR SUPPLY COMPANY, 

Defendant. 

 

CASE NO. 1:24-CV-00197-JLT-EPG 

SCHEDULING CONFERENCE ORDER 

Initial Disclosures: 5/28/2024 

Nonexpert 

Discovery Cutoff: 3/28/2025 

Expert 

Disclosure: 4/28/2025 

Rebuttal Expert 

Disclosure: 5/28/2025 

Expert 

Discovery Cutoff: 7/14/2025 

Dispositive Motion 

Filing Deadline: 8/28/2025 

Settlement Conf.: Date: Not Set 

Mid-Discovery Conf: Date: 12/2/2024 

 Time: 10:00 a.m. 

 Dept:10 

Pretrial Conf.: Date: 1/5/2026 

 Time:1:30 p.m. 

 Dept: 4 

Jury Trial: Date: 3/10/2026 

 Time:8:30 a.m. 

 Dept. 4 

 

 

Case 1:24-cv-00197-JLT-EPG Document 13 Filed 05/14/24 Page 1 of 7
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This Court conducted a scheduling conference on May 14, 2024. Counsel Ellis Robin 

appeared telephonically on behalf of Plaintiff. Counsel Michael Carruth appeared telephonically 

on behalf of Defendant. Pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 16(b), this Court sets a schedule for this action. 

I. Amendment To The Parties’ Pleadings 

The parties are advised that the filing of motions and/or stipulations requesting leave to 

amend the pleadings does not imply good cause to modify the existing schedule. Fed. R. Civ. P. 

16(b)(4); see also Johnson v. Mammoth Recreations, Inc., 975 F. 2d 604, 609 (9th Cir. 1992). 

Moreover, any request for amendment under Fed. R. Civ. P. 15(a) must not be: (1) prejudicial to 

the opposing party; (2) the product of undue delay; (3) proposed in bad faith; or (4) futile. See

Foman v. Davis, 371 U.S. 178, 182 (1962). 

II. Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(a)(1) 

 Initial disclosures are due May 28, 2024. 

III. Discovery Cutoffs And Limits 

All non-expert discovery shall be completed no later than March 28, 2025. Initial expert 

witness disclosures shall be served no later than April 28, 2025. Rebuttal expert witness 

disclosures shall be served no later than May 28, 2025. Such disclosures must be made pursuant 

to Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(a)(2)(A), (B) and (C), and shall include all information required 

thereunder. In addition, Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(b)(4) and Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(e) specifically apply to 

discovery relating to expert witnesses and their opinions. Each expert witness must be fully 

prepared to be examined on all subjects and opinions included in the disclosures. Failure to comply 

with these requirements will result in the imposition of appropriate sanctions, including the 

preclusion of the expert’s testimony, or of other evidence offered through the expert. 

All expert discovery shall be completed no later than July 14, 2025. The parties are advised 

that motions to compel must be filed in advance of the discovery deadlines so that the Court may 

grant effective relief within the allotted discovery time. A party’s failure to have a discovery 

dispute heard sufficiently in advance of the discovery cutoff may result in denial of the motion as 

untimely. 

/// 

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 A Mid-Discovery Status Conference is set for December 2, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. in 

Courtroom 10, before Magistrate Judge Erica P. Grosjean. At least seven (7) days before the 

conference, the parties are directed to file a joint report, of up to five (5) pages, outlining the 

status of the case, any additional discovery still planned, potential for settlement, and any other 

issues pending that would benefit from the Court’s assistance/direction. The parties are permitted 

to appear telephonically and may do so by dialing 1-888-251-2909 and entering access code 

1024453. Alternatively, parties and counsel may appear in person. If one or more parties wish to 

appear in person, they shall email Michelle Rooney, Courtroom Deputy Clerk, at 

mrooney@caed.uscourts.gov at least 24 hours before the conference so that a notation can be 

placed on the Court’s calendar. 

IV. Pretrial Motion Schedule 

A. General Information Regarding Filing Motions 

The parties are advised that unless prior leave of the Court is obtained before the filing 

deadline,1 all moving and opposition briefs or legal memoranda, including joint statements of 

discovery disputes, filed in civil cases before Magistrate Judge Grosjean, shall not exceed twentyfive (25) pages. Reply briefs by the moving party shall not exceed ten (10) pages. These page 

limits do not include exhibits. Courtesy copies for any filing in excess of twenty-five pages (25) 

(including exhibits) shall also be delivered to chambers via US mail, or hand delivery, at the time 

the filing is electronically filed. The party submitting the courtesy copy shall ensure that the docket 

identification number is listed on the copy. When scheduling motions (other than discovery 

motions) the parties shall comply with Local Rule 230. 

Counsel or pro se parties may appear and argue motions by telephone, provided a request 

to so do is made to Michelle Rooney, Magistrate Judge Grosjean’s Courtroom Deputy (unless prior 

permission has been given by the judge), no later than five (5) court days before the noticed hearing 

date. Requests can be made by emailing Ms. Rooney at mrooney@caed.uscourts.gov. If the parties 

are appearing telephonically, each party shall dial 1-888- 251-2909 and enter access code 1024453. 

/// 

1

 Parties may seek leave through a telephonic conference among all parties and the Court, or by short motion. 

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1. Informal Discovery Conference

In order to file a motion involving a discovery dispute, see Fed. R. Civ. P. 26 through 37 

and 45,2 a party must receive permission from the Court following an informal telephonic 

discovery dispute conference. However, non-parties challenging a subpoena under Fed. R. Civ. 

P. 45 are not required to request an informal conference before filing a motion. A party wishing 

to schedule such a conference should contact chambers to receive available dates. The Court will 

schedule the conference as soon as possible, taking into consideration the urgency of the issue. 

Prior to the conference, the parties shall simultaneously file an Informal Discovery 

Dispute Letter Brief, outlining their positions regarding the dispute. Such briefs shall be no 

longer than three pages single-spaced, and may include up to five pages of exhibits. The Court 

will provide the date and time the Letter Briefs are due at the time the conference is scheduled. 

At the time of conference, the parties shall dial 1-888-251-2909 and enter access code 

1024453. The Court will not issue a formal ruling at that time. Nevertheless, the Court will attempt 

to provide guidance to the parties to narrow or dispose of the dispute. If no resolution can be 

reached without formal motion practice, the Court will authorize the filing of a formal discovery 

motion. 

2. Filing a Discovery Motion 

If a discovery motion, see Fed. R. Civ. P. 26 through 37 and 45, is brought after receiving 

permission from the Court, the parties must prepare and file a Joint Statement re: Discovery 

Disagreement (“Joint Statement”) as required by Local Rule 251.3 In scheduling such motions, 

Magistrate Judge Grosjean may grant applications for an order shortening time pursuant to Local 

Rule 144(e). If a party does not obtain an order shortening time, the notice of motion must 

comply with Local Rule 251. 

A Joint Statement not to exceed twenty-five (25) pages must be filed at least fourteen (14) 

days before the scheduled hearing date. Prior to the filing of the Joint Statement, the parties must 

meet and confer as set forth in Local Rule 251(b). Motions may be removed from the Court’s 

2

 The Court construes “discovery dispute” broadly, which includes, but is not limited to, disputes regarding written 

discovery, oral depositions, physical and mental examinations, and protective orders. 

3

 Certain limited exceptions from filing the required Joint Statement are outlined in Local Rule 251(e). 

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calendar if the Joint Statement is not timely filed, or if courtesy copies are not timely delivered. 

B. Dispositive Motions 

All Dispositive Pre-Trial Motions shall be served and filed no later than August 28, 2025, 

and will be heard before the Honorable Jennifer L. Thurston, United States District Court Judge. 

In scheduling such motions, the parties shall comply with Fed. R. Civ. P. 56 and Local Rules 230 

and 260. 

Motions for Summary Judgment or Summary Adjudication 

At least 21 days before filing a motion for summary judgment or motion for summary 

adjudication, the parties are ORDERED to meet and confer, in person or by telephone, to discuss 

the issues to be raised in the motion. 

The purpose of the meeting shall be to: 1) avoid filing motions for summary judgment where 

a question of fact exists; 2) determine whether the respondent agrees that the motion has merit in 

whole or in part; 3) discuss whether issues can be resolved without the necessity of briefing; 4) 

narrow the issues for review by the court; 5) explore the possibility of settlement before the parties 

incur the expense of briefing a motion; and 6) to develop a joint statement of undisputed facts. 

The moving party SHALL initiate the meeting and SHALL provide a complete, proposed 

statement of undisputed facts at least five days before the conference. The finalized joint 

statement of undisputed facts SHALL include all facts that the parties agree, for purposes of the 

motion, may be deemed true. In addition to the requirements of Local Rule 260, the moving party 

shall file the joint statement of undisputed facts. 

In the notice of motion, the moving party SHALL certify that the parties have met and 

conferred as ordered above or set forth a statement of good cause for the failure to meet and confer. 

Failure to comply may result in the motion being stricken.

V. Settlement Conference

Although one has not been set at this time, the parties may file a joint written request for a 

settlement conference if they believe that such a conference would be fruitful. 

VI. Pretrial Conference 

The pretrial conference is set for January 5, 2026, at 1:30 p.m. in Courtroom 4, before the 

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Honorable Judge Jennifer L. Thurston, United States District Court Judge. The parties are directed 

to file a Joint Pretrial Statement that complies with the requirements of this Court’s Local 

Rule 281(a)(2). The parties are further directed to submit a digital copy of their pretrial statement 

in Word format via email at JLTorders@caed.uscourts.gov. 

Counsels’ attention is directed to Rules 281 and 282 of the Local Rules of Practice for the 

Eastern District of California, as to the obligations of counsel in preparing for the pre-trial 

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. 

VII. Trial Date 

The trial is set for March 10, 2026, at 8:30 a.m. in Courtroom 4 before the Honorable 

Jennifer L. Thurston, United States District Court Judge. 

A. This is a JURY trial. 

B. Counsels’ Estimate of Trial Time: 5-7 days. 

C. Counsels’ attention is directed to Local Rules of Practice for the Eastern District of 

California, Rule 285. 

VIII. Request for Bifurcation, Appointment of Special Master, or other Techniques to 

Shorten Trial 

Not requested. 

IX. Related Matters Pending 

There is no related litigation. 

X. Compliance with Federal Procedures 

All counsel are expected to familiarize themselves with the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 

and the Local Rules of the Eastern District of California and to keep abreast of any amendments 

thereto. The Court requires strict compliance with these rules. Sanctions will be imposed for failure 

to follow the rules as provided in both the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and the Local Rules of 

the Eastern District of California. 

/// 

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XI. Effect Of This Order 

This order represents the Court and the parties’ best estimated schedule to complete this 

case. Any party unable to comply with the dates outlined in this order shall immediately file an 

appropriate motion or stipulation identifying the requested modification(s). 

The dates set in this order are firm and will not be modified absent a showing of good 

cause even if the request to modify is made by stipulation. Stipulations extending the deadlines 

contained herein will not be considered unless they are accompanied by affidavits or declarations, 

and where appropriate attached exhibits, which establish good cause for granting the relief 

requested. Due to the impacted nature of the civil case docket, this Court disfavors requests to 

modify established dates. 

Failure to comply with this order may result in the imposition of sanctions. 

IT IS SO ORDERED. 

Dated: May 14, 2024 /s/

 UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE 

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