Michelle M. Lopez v. Sundt Construction, Inc., et al.

Summary

This document is a scheduling order issued by the United States District Court for the Eastern District of California in Lopez v. Sundt Construction, Inc., et al., No. 2:25-cv-02412-DAD-AC. It establishes deadlines for disclosures, fact and expert discovery, motions, settlement, the final pretrial conference, and jury trial, with a final pretrial conference set for July 12, 2027, and trial set for September 14, 2027.

Holdings

1. The court may issue the scheduling order without consulting the parties at a scheduling conference because the parties' joint status report provided a sufficient basis under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 16(b)(1)(B); the initial scheduling conference was therefore vacated.
2. After entry of the scheduling order, no further joinder of parties or amendment of pleadings is permitted without leave of court and a showing of good cause; a request to amend or a stipulation alone does not establish good cause.
3. A magistrate judge's discovery ruling is subject to modification by the district court only upon a showing that the ruling is clearly erroneous or contrary to law.

Questions Presented

1. Whether the court could issue a scheduling order without consulting the parties at a scheduling conference.
2. What deadlines and procedures should govern service, joinder, amendment of pleadings, discovery, motions, settlement, pretrial proceedings, and trial.
3. What standard governs district-court review of discovery rulings by the assigned magistrate judge.

Disposition

other