Socorro Diaz, Et Al.: Read This Order Carefully. It Differs in Some Respects From The Local Rules

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The key takeaways are that this document outlines the procedures and requirements for an upcoming scheduling conference in a civil case in a US District Court in California. It provides instructions to counsel on submitting a joint report and preparing for the conference.

At the scheduling conference, the court will set deadlines for amending pleadings, hearing motions, and completing discovery. The conference is held to discuss and establish a discovery plan and case schedule pursuant to Rule 16(b) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.

The parties are required to meet and confer on a discovery plan at least 21 days before the scheduling conference and submit a joint report, called a 'Joint Rule 26(f) Report,' to the court at least 14 days before the conference. This report must discuss specific topics like the claims and defenses, jurisdiction, damages and insurance coverage.

Case 5:16-cv-01518-JGB-DTB Document 26 Filed 08/18/16 Page 1 of 7 Page ID #:209

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8 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
CENTRAL DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
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10 SOCORRO DIAZ , et al. CASE NO:
5:16−cv−01518−JGB−DTB
11 Plaintiff(s),
ORDER SETTING SCHEDULING
12 v. CONFERENCE
GB INLAND PROPERTIES, LLC , et al.
13 Date: October 3, 2016
Time: 11:00 AM
14 Location: Courtroom 1
3470 Twelfth Street
15 Defendant(s). Riverside, California 92501
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18 READ THIS ORDER CAREFULLY. IT DIFFERS IN
19 SOME RESPECTS FROM THE LOCAL RULES.
20 This case has been assigned to Judge Jesus G. Bernal. This matter is set
21 for a scheduling conference on the above date. If plaintiff has not already served
22 the operative complaint on all defendants, plaintiff promptly shall do so and shall
23 file proofs of service within three days thereafter. Defendants also timely shall

24 serve and file their responsive pleadings and file proofs of service within three

25 days thereafter. At the scheduling conference, the Court will set a date by which
26 motions to amend the pleadings or add parties must be heard.

27 The conference will be held pursuant to Rule 16(b) of the Federal Rules

28 of Civil Procedure. The parties are reminded of their obligations under Rule 26(f)

Revised − July 2013 −1−


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to confer on a discovery plan not later than 21 days before the scheduling
2 conference and to e−file a "Joint Rule 26(f) Report" with the Court not later than
3 14 days before the conference. Mandatory paper chambers copies of the Joint
4 Rule 26(f) Report must be delivered to Judge Bernal's drop box outside the door

5 of Courtroom 1 by 5:00 p.m. on the first court day following the e−filing.
6 The Court encourages counsel to begin to conduct discovery actively before
7 the Scheduling Conference. At the very least, the parties shall comply fully with
8 the letter and spirit of Rule 26(a) and thereby obtain and produce most of what
9 would be produced in the early stage of discovery, because at the Scheduling
10 Conference the Court will impose strict deadlines to complete discovery.
11 This Court does not exempt parties appearing in propria persona from
12 compliance with any of the Local Rules, including Local Rule 16. "Counsel," as

13 used in this order, includes parties appearing in propria persona.


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15 1. Joint Rule 26(f) Report
16 The Joint Rule 26(f) Report, which shall be filed not later than 14 days
17 before the scheduling conference, shall be drafted by plaintiff (unless the parties

18 agree otherwise), but shall be submitted and signed jointly. "Jointly" contemplates

19 a single report, regardless of how many separately−represented parties there are.

20 The Joint Rule 26(f) Report shall specify the date of the scheduling conference
21 on the caption page. It shall report on all matters described below, which include
22 those required to be discussed by Rule 26(f) and L.R. 26:
23 a. Statement of the Case: A short synopsis (not to exceed two pages)
24 of the main claims, counterclaims and affirmative defenses.

25 b. Subject Matter Jurisdiction: A statement of the specific basis of

26 federal jurisdiction, including supplemental jurisdiction.


27 c. Legal Issues: A brief description of the key legal issues, including
28 any unusual substantive, procedural or evidentiary issues.

Revised − July 2013 −2−


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d. Parties, Evidence, etc.: A list of parties, witnesses and key
2 documents on the main issues in the case. For conflict purposes,
3 corporate parties must identify all subsidiaries, parents and affiliates.
4 e. Damages: The realistic range of provable damages.

5 f. Insurance: Whether there is insurance coverage, the extent of


6 of coverage and whether there is a reservation of rights.
7 g. Motions: A statement of the likelihood of motions seeking to add
8 other parties or claims, file amended pleadings, transfer venue, etc.
9 h. Manual for Complex Litigation: Whether all or part of the
10 procedures of the Manual for Complex Litigation should be utilized.
11 i. Status of Discovery: A discussion of the present state of discovery,
12 including a summary of completed discovery.

13 j. Discovery Plan: A detailed discovery plan, as contemplated by Rule


14 26(f). State what, if any, changes in the disclosures under Rule 26(a)
15 should be made, the subjects on which discovery may be needed
16 and whether discovery should be conducted in phases or otherwise
17 be limited, whether applicable limitations should be changed or other

18 limitations imposed, and whether the Court should enter other orders.

19 A statement that discovery will be conducted as to all claims and

20 defenses, or other vague description, is not acceptable.


21 k. Discovery Cut−off: A proposed discovery cut−off date. This means
22 the final day for completion of discovery, including resolution of all
23 discovery motions.
24 l. Expert Discovery: Proposed dates for expert witness disclosures

25 (initial and rebuttal) and expert discovery cut−off under Rule 26(a) (2).

26 m. Dispositive Motions: A description of the issues or claims that any


27 any party believes may be determined by motion for summary
28 judgment or motion in limine.

Revised − July 2013 −3−


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n. Settlement/Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR): A statement of
2 what settlement discussions or written communications have occurred
3 (excluding any statement of the terms discussed). If counsel have
4 received a Notice to Parties of Court−Directed ADR Program (Form

5 ADR−08), the case presumptively will be referred to the Court


6 Mediation Panel or private mediation (at the parties' expense). If
7 the parties jointly desire a settlement conference with the assigned
8 magistrate judge, they should so indicate in their report. No case
9 will proceed to trial unless all parties, including an officer (with full
10 authority to settle the case) of all corporate parties, have appeared
11 at an ADR proceeding.
12 o. Trial Estimate: A realistic estimate of the time required for trial and

13 whether trial will be by jury or by court. Each side should specify


14 (by number, not by name) how many witnesses it contemplates
15 calling.
16 p. Trial Counsel: The name(s) of the attorney(s) who will try the case.
17 q. Independent Expert or Master: Whether this is a case where the

18 Court should consider appointing a master pursuant to Rule 53 or

19 an independent scientific expert.

20 r. Timetable: Complete the Schedule of Pretrial and Trial Dates


21 form attached as Exhibit A to this Order and attach it to the
22 Joint Rule 26(f) Report. Each side should write in the month,
23 day, and year it requests for each event. At the conference, the
24 Court will review this form with counsel. Each entry proposing

25 Court dates shall fall on a Monday, except the trial date, which

26 is a Tuesday. Counsel should insure that requested dates do


27 not fall on a holiday. In appropriate cases the Court will order
28 different dates after it hears from counsel. The discovery cut−off

Revised − July 2013 −4−


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date is the last day by which all depositions must be completed,
2 responses to previously−served written discovery must be provided,
3 and motions concerning discovery disputes must be heard. The
4 cut−off date for motions is the last date on which motions may be

5 heard, not filed.


6 s. Other Issues: A statement of any other issues affecting the
7 status or management of the case (e.g., unusually complicated
8 technical or technological issues, disputes over protective orders,
9 extraordinarily voluminous document production, non−English
10 speaking witnesses, ADA−related issues, discovery in foreign
11 jurisdictions, etc.) and any proposals concerning severance,
12 bifurcation, or other ordering of proof.

13 The Joint Rule 26(f) Report should set forth the above−described
14 information under section headings corresponding to those in this Order.
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16 2. Scheduling Conference
17 Scheduling conferences will be held in Courtroom 1, 3470 Twelfth Street,

18 Riverside, California. Counsel shall comply with the following:

19 a. Participation: Lead trial counsel for all parties must be present.

20 Counsel must be prepared to discuss the substantive issues in the

21 case and authorized to address scheduling with the Court and

22 opposing counsel.
23 b. Continuances: A continuance of the scheduling conference will be
24 granted only for good cause.

25 3. Notice to be Provided by Counsel

26 Plaintiff's counsel or, if plaintiff is appearing pro se, defendant's counsel,

27 shall provide this Order to any parties who first appear after the date of this Order
28 and to parties who are known to exist but have not yet entered appearances.

Revised − July 2013 −5−


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4. Court's Website
2 Copies of this and all other orders of this Court that may become
3 applicable to this case are available on the Central District of California website,
4 at www.cacd.uscourts.gov, under "Judge's Procedures and Schedules." Copies

5 of the Local Rules are available on the website.¹


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IT IS SO ORDERED.
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8 Dated: August 18, 2016
9
Jesus G. Bernal
10 United States District Judge

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¹ They may also be purchased from one of the following:
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Los Angeles Daily Journal West Publishing Company Metropolitan News
915 East First Street 50 West Kellogg Blvd. 210 South Spring Street
28 Los Angeles, CA 90012 St. Paul, MN 55164−9979 Los Angeles, CA 90012

Revised − July 2013 −6−


Case 5:16-cv-01518-JGB-DTB Document 26 Filed 08/18/16 Page 7 of 7 Page ID #:215

JUDGE JESUS B. BERNAL


EXHIBIT A: SCHEDULE OF PRETRIAL AND TRIAL DATES WORKSHEET

Case No.

Case Name
Plaintiff(s)' Defendant(s)' Court's
Matter Request Request Order
mo/day/year mo/day/year
Jury Trial or Court Trial
(Tuesday at 9:00 a.m.)
Length: ______ Days

Final Pretrial Conference [L.R. 16] and


Hearing on Motions In Limine
(Monday − two (2) weeks before trial
date)

Last Date to Conduct Settlement


Conference

Last Date to Hear Non−discovery Motions


(Monday at 9:00 a.m.)

All Discovery Cut−Off (including hearing


all discovery motions)

Expert Disclosure (Rebuttal)

Expert Disclosure (Initial)

Last Date to Amend Pleadings


or Add Parties

ADR [L.R. 16−15] Settlement Choice:


Attorney Settlement Officer Panel

Private Mediation
Magistrate Judge

Revised − July 2013 −7−

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