Opinion
2:11-cv-02259-GEB-CKD
10-25-2011
WALTER WRIGHT, Plaintiff, v. BRAKE MASTERS SYSTEMS, INC., a corporation, and DOES 1-100, inclusive, Defendant.
STATUS (PRETRIAL SCHEDULING)
ORDER
The status (pretrial scheduling) conference scheduled for hearing on November 7, 2011, is vacated since the parties' Joint Status Report filed on October 21, 2011 ("JSR") indicates the following Order should issue.
DOE DEFENDANTS, SERVICE, JOINDER OF ADDITIONAL PARTIES, AMENDMENT
Plaintiff indicates in the JSR that he "will identify Doe Defendants by March 30, 2012." (JSR 2:8.) However, Plaintiff does not explain why this could not occur earlier. Therefore, Plaintiff has until January 17, 2012, to file a motion in which leave is sought under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 15(a) to file an Amended Complaint substituting a named defendant in place of a Doe defendant. The referenced motion must be noticed for hearing on the Court's earliest available law and motion date.
No further service, joinder of parties, or amendments to pleadings is permitted, except with leave of Court for good cause shown. If leave is not sought as stated, Does 1 through 100 will be automatically dismissed from this action.
ADDED DEFENDANT'S OPPORTUNITY TO SEEK AMENDMENT OF THIS ORDER
If Plaintiff substitutes a named defendant in place of a Doe defendant, a copy of this Order shall be served on that defendant concurrently with the service of process.
That defendant has 30 days after said service within which to file a "Notice of Proposed Modification of Status Order." Although a newly-joined party's proposed modification filed within this thirty day period will not have to meet the good cause standard, no further amendments will be permitted, except with leave of Court for good cause shown.
DISCOVERY
All discovery shall be completed by October 31, 2012. In this context, "completed" means that all discovery shall have been conducted so that all depositions have been taken and any disputes relative to discovery shall have been resolved by appropriate orders, if necessary, and, where discovery has been ordered, the order has been complied with or, alternatively, the time allowed for such compliance shall have expired.
Each party shall comply with Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 26(a)(2)(B) and (C)'s initial expert witness disclosure requirements on or before June 29, 2012, and any contradictory and/or rebuttal expert disclosure authorized under Rule 26(a)(2)(D)(ii) on or before July 31, 2012.
MOTION HEARING SCHEDULE
The last hearing date for a motion is December 17, 2012, commencing at 9:00 a.m. A motion shall be briefed as prescribed in Local Rule 230.
This time deadline does not apply to motions for continuances, temporary restraining orders, emergency applications, or motions under Rule 16(e) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.
The parties are cautioned that an untimely motion characterized as a motion in limine may be summarily denied. A motion in limine addresses the admissibility of evidence.
FINAL PRETRIAL CONFERENCE
The final pretrial conference is set for February 25, 2013, at 11:00 a.m. The parties are cautioned that the lead attorney who WILL TRY THE CASE for each party shall attend the final pretrial conference. In addition, all persons representing themselves and appearing in propria persona must attend the pretrial conference.
The parties are warned that non-trial worthy issues could be eliminated sua sponte "[i]f the pretrial conference discloses that no material facts are in dispute and that the undisputed facts entitle one of the parties to judgment as a matter of law." Portsmouth Square v. S'holders Protective Comm., 770 F.2d 866, 869 (9th Cir. 1985).
The parties shall file a JOINT pretrial statement no later than seven (7) calendar days prior to the final pretrial conference. The joint pretrial statement shall specify the issues for trial, including a description of each theory of liability and affirmative defense, and shall estimate the length of the trial. The Court uses the parties' joint pretrial statement to prepare its final pretrial order and could issue the final pretrial order without holding the scheduled final pretrial conference. See Mizwicki v. Helwig, 196 F.3d 828, 833 (7th Cir. 1999) ("There is no requirement that the court hold a pretrial conference.").
If a trial by jury has been preserved, the joint pretrial statement shall also state how much time each party desires for voir dire, opening statements, and closing arguments.
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If possible, at the time of filing the joint pretrial statement counsel shall also email it in a format compatible with WordPerfect to: geborders@caed.uscourts.gov.
TRIAL SETTING
Trial shall commence at 9:00 a.m. on May 21, 2013.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
GARLAND E. BURRELL, JR.
United States District Judge