Opinion
CIV. NO. 2:16-00158 WBS AC CIV. NO. 2:16-01211 MCE CKD
06-06-2016
SHASTA LINEN SUPPLY, INC., a California corporation and all those similarly situated, Plaintiffs, v. APPLIED UNDERWRITERS INC., a Nebraska Corporation; APPLIED UNDERWRITERS CAPTIVE RISK ASSURANCE COMPANY, INC., A British Virgin Islands company; CALIFORNIA INSURANCE COMPANY, a registered California insurance company; APPLIED RISK SERVICES, INC., a Nebraska Corporation, Defendants. PET FOOD EXPRESS LTD., a California corporation and all those similarly situated, Plaintiffs, v. APPLIED UNDERWRITERS INC.; APPLIED UNDERWRITERS CAPTIVE RISK ASSURANCE COMPANY, INC.; CALIFORNIA INSURANCE COMPANY, INC., and Does 1-50, inclusive, Defendants.
Examination of the above-entitled actions reveals that these actions are related within the meaning of Local Rule 123(a) because both actions involve putative class actions involving the same potential class members, same defendants, and the same or similar facts, claims, and questions of law and fact. Accordingly, the assignment of the matters to the same judge is likely to effect a substantial saving of judicial effort and is also likely to be convenient for the parties.
The parties should be aware that relating the cases under Local Rule 123 merely has the result that both actions are assigned to the same judge; no consolidation of the actions is effected. Under the regular practice of this court, related cases are generally assigned to the judge to whom the first filed action was assigned.
IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that the actions denominated Shasta Linen Supply, Inc. v. Applied Underwriters, Inc. et al., 2:16-cv-00158 WBS AC, and Pet Food Express Ltd. v. Applied Underwriters Inc. et al., No 2:16-cv-01211 MCE CKD, be, and the same hereby are, deemed related and the case denominated Pet Food Express Ltd. v. Applied Underwriters Inc. et al., No 2:16-cv-01211 MCE CKD, shall be reassigned to the Honorable WILLIAM B. SHUBB and Magistrate Judge ALLISON CLAIRE. Any dates currently set in the reassigned case only are hereby VACATED. Henceforth, the caption on documents filed in the reassigned case shall be shown as Pet Food Express Ltd. v. Applied Underwriters Inc. et al., No 2:16-cv-01211 WBS AC.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Clerk of the Court make appropriated adjustment in the assignment of civil cases to compensate for this reassignment. Dated: June 6, 2016
/s/_________
WILLIAM B. SHUBB
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE