Claude D. Williams Jr. v. FCA US LLC; and Does 1 through 10, inclusive

Summary

This Status (Pretrial Scheduling) Order in a federal Song-Beverly action establishes case-management deadlines and procedures. It sets deadlines for disclosures, expert reports, discovery, motions, the final pretrial conference, settlement proceedings, and a jury trial, and is dated December 1, 2025.

Holdings

1. All defendants had been served, and no further service was permitted without leave of court upon a showing of good cause.
2. No further joinder of parties or amendments to pleadings would be permitted except with leave of court and a showing of good cause.
3. For purposes of the scheduling order, the court recognized diversity jurisdiction as predicated on diverse citizenship and an amount in controversy exceeding $75,000, while preserving plaintiff's ability to file a motion to remand; venue was found proper and undisputed.
4. The parties were required to exchange initial disclosures, disclose experts and reports by specified dates, complete discovery by March 16, 2027, and file motions by March 29, 2027, subject to stated exceptions and the court's local rules.

Questions Presented

1. What case-management deadlines and restrictions should govern service, joinder, amendments, discovery, motion practice, pretrial proceedings, settlement, and trial?
2. Whether the court should recognize diversity jurisdiction and proper venue for scheduling purposes while preserving plaintiff's ability to seek remand.

Disposition

other