Stephanie Spears v. Thermo Fisher Scientific

Summary

The United States District Court for the District of Kansas grants Thermo Fisher Scientific’s motion to continue the trial because defense counsel’s scheduling conflicts, an additional damages issue, and a discovery dispute support a continuance under the applicable factors. The court resets the trial for October 6, 2026, and grants plaintiff’s motion to file a response out of time while warning plaintiff about future filing deadlines.

Holdings

1. The court granted the motion to continue the trial because the applicable factors, considered collectively, favored a continuance to address defense counsel's scheduling conflicts, the late-breaking damages issue, and the related discovery dispute.
2. The court granted plaintiff's motion for leave to file her response out of time because defendant did not oppose it.

Questions Presented

1. Whether good cause existed to continue the July 7, 2026 trial under the four-factor test governing trial continuances.
2. Whether plaintiff should be permitted to file her response out of time.

Disposition

other