1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 10 SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 11 12 ERLINDA BELANGUE, Case No.: 23-cv-01850-W-JLB

13 Plaintiff,

ORDER REGARDING MOTIONS TO

14 v. AMEND THE SCHEDULING

ORDER

15 COSTCO WHOLESALE

CORPORATION, et al., 16 [ECF Nos. 39; 40] Defendants. 17 18 19 Before the Court are Defendant’s Motion to Amend the Scheduling Order 20 (ECF No. 39) and Plaintiff’s Motion to Amend the Scheduling Order (ECF No. 40). The 21 Court finds good cause to amend the expert disclosures deadline and the rebuttal expert 22 disclosure deadline by 30 days each and the deadline to complete expert discovery by 21 23 days for all parties. Accordingly, Defendant’s Motion (ECF No. 39) is GRANTED in 24 part, Plaintiff’s Motion (ECF No. 40) is GRANTED, and IT IS HEREBY ORDERED: 25 1. By August 14, 2024, each party shall comply with the disclosure provisions 26 in Rule 26(a)(2)(A) and (B) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. This disclosure 27 requirement applies to all persons retained or specially employed to provide expert 28 testimony, or whose duties as an employee of the party regularly involve the giving of 1 expert testimony. Except as provided in the paragraph below, any party that fails to 2 make these disclosures shall not, absent substantial justification, be permitted to use 3 evidence or testimony not disclosed at any hearing or at the time of trial. In addition, 4 the Court may impose sanctions as permitted by Fed. R. Civ. P. 37(c). 5 2. Any party shall supplement its disclosure regarding contradictory or rebuttal 6 evidence under Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 26(a)(2)(D) and 26(e) by 7 August 28, 2024. 8 3. All expert discovery shall be completed by all parties by September 16, 2024. 9 The parties shall comply with the same procedures set forth in the paragraph governing 10 fact discovery. 11 4. Failure to comply with this section or any other discovery order of the court 12 may result in the sanctions provided for in Fed. R. Civ. P. 37, including a prohibition on 13 the introduction of experts or other designated matters in evidence. 14 5. All other pretrial motions must be filed by September 23, 2024. Counsel for 15 the moving party must obtain a motion hearing date from the law clerk of the judge who 16 will hear the motion. The period of time between the date you request a motion date and 17 the hearing date may vary from one district judge to another. Please plan accordingly. 18 Failure to make a timely request for a motion date may result in the motion not being heard. 19 Motions in limine are to be filed as directed in the Local Rules, or as otherwise set by the 20 district judge. 21 6. A Mandatory Settlement Conference (“MSC”) will be held by video 22 conference1 on September 16, 2024, at 1:45 PM before Magistrate Judge Jill L. 23

24 1 If any party believes the MSC is more likely to be successful if conducted in-person, 25 that party shall meet and confer on the issue with the other parties. After meeting and conferring, and no later than 60 days before the MSC, the parties shall leave a joint 26 voicemail with chambers at (619) 557-6624 indicating which of the parties requests an in- 27 person MSC. In the voicemail, the parties shall leave three mutually available dates for a telephonic status conference to discuss whether the MSC should be held in-person. The 28 1 Burkhardt. Mandatory directions for participating in the MSC by video conference 2 are attached hereto. The purpose of the MSC is to permit an informal, candid discussion 3 between the attorneys, parties, and the settlement judge of every aspect of the lawsuit in an 4 effort to achieve a mediated resolution of the case. All MSC discussions will be off the 5 record, privileged, and confidential. See CivLR 16.3.h. 6 Pursuant to Civil Local Rule 16.3, all party representatives and claims adjusters for 7 insured defendants with full and unlimited authority2 to negotiate and enter into a binding 8 settlement, as well as the principal attorney(s) responsible for the litigation, must be present 9 and legally and factually prepared to discuss and resolve the case at the MSC. In the case 10 of an entity, an authorized representative of the entity who is not retained outside counsel 11 must be present and must have discretionary authority to commit the entity to pay an 12 amount up to the amount of the Plaintiff’s prayer (excluding punitive damages prayers). 13 The purpose of this requirement is to have representatives present who can settle the case 14 during the course of the conference without consulting a superior. 15 Counsel for a United States government entity may be excused from this 16 requirement so long as the government attorney who attends the MSC conference (1) has 17 primary responsibility for handling the case, and (2) may negotiate settlement offers which 18 the attorney is willing to recommend to the government official having ultimate settlement 19 authority. 20 /// 21 22 23 2 “Full authority to settle” means that the individuals at the settlement conference must be authorized to fully explore settlement options and to agree at that time to any settlement 24 terms acceptable to the parties. Heileman Brewing Co., Inc. v. Joseph Oat Corp., 871 F.2d 25 648 (7th Cir. 1989). The person needs to have “unfettered discretion and authority” to change the settlement position of a party. Pitman v. Brinker Int’l., Inc., 216 F.R.D. 481, 26 485–86 (D. Ariz. 2003). The purpose of requiring a person with unlimited settlement 27 authority to attend the conference includes that the person’s view of the case may be altered during the face-to-face conference. Id. at 486. A limited or a sum certain of authority is 28 1 Failure to attend the MSC or obtain proper excuse will be considered grounds 2 for sanctions. 3 7. No later than 21 days before the MSC, the parties shall exchange formal 4 settlement proposals, as required by § III.A. of Judge Burkhardt’s Civil Chambers Rules. 5 No later than 14 days before the MSC, the parties shall meet and confer in person or 6 telephonically, as required by § III.B. of Judge Burkhardt’s Civil Chambers Rules. 7 8. No later than September 6, 2024, counsel (and any unrepresented parties) 8 shall lodge confidential MSC statements with Judge Burkhardt’s chambers via e-mail at 9 efile_Burkhardt@casd.uscourts.gov. The parties’ MSC statements shall comply with § 10 III.C. of Judge Burkhardt’s Civil Chambers Rules. 11 9. Pursuant to Civil Local Rule 7.1.f.3.c, if an opposing party fails to file 12 opposition papers in the time and manner required by Civil Local Rule 7.1.e.2, that failure 13 may constitute a consent to the granting of a motion or other request for ruling by the court. 14 Accordingly, all parties are ordered to abide by the terms of Local Rule 7.1.e.2 or otherwise 15 face the prospect of any pretrial motion being granted as an unopposed motion pursuant to 16 Civil Local Rule 7.1.f.3.c. Should either party choose to file or oppose a motion for 17 summary judgment or partial summary judgment, no Separate Statement of Disputed or 18 Undisputed Facts is required. 19 10. Despite the requirements of Civil Local Rule 16.1.f.2, neither party is required 20 to file a Memorandum of Contentions of Fact and Law at any time. The parties shall instead 21 focus their efforts on drafting and submitting a proposed pretrial order by the time and date 22 specified by Civil Local Rule 16.1.f.6.b. The proposed pretrial order shall comply with 23 Civil Local Rule 16.1.f.6 and the Standing Order in Civil Cases issued by the assigned 24 district judge. 25 11. Counsel shall comply with the pre-trial disclosure requirements of Fed. R. 26 Civ. P. 26(a)(3) by December 23, 2024. Failure to comply with these disclosure 27 requirements could result in evidence preclusion or other sanctions under Fed. R. Civ. P. 28 37. 1 12. Counsel shall meet and take the action required by Civil Local Rule 16.1.f.4 2 by December 30, 2024. At this meeting, counsel shall discuss and attempt to enter into 3 stipulations and agreements resulting in simplification of the triable issues. Counsel shall 4 exchange copies and/or display all exhibits other than those to be used for impeachment. 5 The exhibits shall be prepared in accordance with Civil Local Rule 16.1.f.4.c. Counsel 6 shall note any objections they have to any other parties’ Pretrial Disclosures under Fed. R. 7 Civ. P. 26(a)(3). Counsel shall cooperate in the preparation of the proposed pretrial 8 conference order. 9 13. Counsel for Plaintiff will be responsible for preparing the pretrial order and 10 arranging the meetings of counsel pursuant to Civil Local Rule 16.1.f. By 11 January 6, 2025, Plaintiff’s counsel must provide opposing counsel with the proposed 12 pretrial order for review and approval. Opposing counsel must communicate promptly 13 with Plaintiff’s attorney concerning any objections to form or content of the pretrial order, 14 and both parties shall attempt promptly to resolve their differences, if any, concerning the 15 order. 16 14. The Proposed Final Pretrial Conference Order, including objections to any 17 other parties’ Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(a)(3) Pretrial Disclosures shall be prepared, served and 18 lodged with the assigned district judge by January 13, 2025, and shall be in the form 19 prescribed in and comply with Civil Local Rule 16.1.f.6. 20 15. In addition to submitting the proposed final pretrial conference order, the 21 parties are further ordered to separately submit informal letter briefs, not exceeding two 22 single spaced pages, served on opposing counsel and received in the chambers of 23 Judge Thomas J. Whelan, United States District Judge (and not filed with the Clerk’s 24 Office) by 2:30 PM on January 22, 2025. 25 The letter brief should be a relatively informal and straightforward document. The 26 letter brief should outline a short, concise and objective factual summary of the party’s case 27 in chief, the number of hours/days each party intends to expend at trial, the approximate 28 number of witnesses, whether certain witnesses will be coming in from out of town, the | ||number of testifying expert witnesses, whether any unique demonstrative exhibits may be 2 || presented, the number of proposed motions in limine that may be filed, precisely when the 3 || parties would be prepared to submit their in limine papers (and whether the parties have 4 and conferred with respect to in limine issues), the issue of proposed jury instructions 5 ||and when the parties intend to submit them before trial, and voir dire issues, either party’s 6 || preference as to what date(s) the trial should begin and any other pertinent information that 7 || either party may deem useful to assist the Court in the execution of the pretrial conference 8 || and in setting the matter for trial. 9 16. The final Pretrial Conference is scheduled on the calendar of the 10 || Honorable Thomas J. Whelan on January 27, 2025 at 10:30 AM. 11 17. The parties must review the chambers’ rules for the assigned district judge 12 magistrate judge. 13 18.

1 Mandatory Directions for Zoom Video Conference Participation 2 1. The Court will use its official ZoomGov video conferencing account to hold 3 the MSC. IF YOU ARE UNFAMILIAR WITH ZOOM: Zoom is available on 4 computers through a download on the Zoom website (https://zoom.us/meetings) or on 5 mobile devices through the installation of a free app.3 Joining a Zoom conference does not 6 require creating a Zoom account, but it does require downloading the .exe file (if using a 7 computer) or the app (if using a mobile device). Participants are encouraged to create an 8 account, install Zoom and familiarize themselves with Zoom in advance of the MSC.4 9 There is a cost-free option for creating a Zoom account. 10 2. Prior to the start of the MSC, the Court will e-mail each MSC participant an 11 invitation to join a Zoom video conference. Again, if possible, participants are encouraged 12 to use laptops or desktop computers for the video conference, as mobile devices often offer 13 inferior performance. Because Zoom may quickly deplete the battery of a participant’s 14 device, each participant should ensure that her or his device is plugged in or that a charging 15 cable is readily available during the video conference. Participants shall join the video 16 conference by following the ZoomGov Meeting hyperlink in the invitation. Participants 17 who do not have Zoom already installed on their device when they click on the 18 ZoomGov Meeting hyperlink will be prompted to download and install Zoom before 19 proceeding. Zoom may then prompt participants to enter the password included in the 20 invitation. All participants will be placed in a waiting room until the MSC begins. 21 3. Each participant should plan to join the Zoom video conference at least 22 5 minutes before the start of the MSC to ensure that the MSC begins on time. 23 4. Zoom’s functionalities will allow the Court to conduct the MSC as it 24 ordinarily would conduct an in-person MSC. That is, the Court will begin the MSC with 25

26 3 If possible, participants are encouraged to use laptops or desktop computers for the 27 video conference, as mobile devices often offer inferior performance. 4 For help getting started with Zoom, visit: https://support.zoom.us/hc/en- 28 1 all participants joined together in a main session. After an initial discussion in the main 2 session, the Court will divide participants into separate, confidential sessions, which Zoom 3 calls Breakout Rooms.5 In a Breakout Room, the Court will be able to communicate with 4 participants from a single party in confidence. Breakout Rooms will also allow parties and 5 counsel to communicate confidentially without the Court. 6 5. As previously stated, MSCs are confidential court proceedings. All attendees 7 must participate from a private and stable location where no individual who is not a party, 8 a party representative, or an attorney for a party can overhear the proceedings. All 9 attendees must be prepared to devote their full attention to the MSC as if they were 10 attending in person. This means that attendees must clear their schedules of all conflicts 11 for the entire period of the MSC.6 Attendees may not participate from a moving car or a 12 public space. 13 6. All participants are expected to display the same level of professionalism and 14 civility as they would at an in-person court proceeding. See CivLR 2.1; J. Burkhardt’s Civ. 15 Chambers R. § I. 16 17 18

19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 5 For more information on what to expect when participating in a Zoom Breakout Room, visit: https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/articles/115005769646 28