Shirley Ducote, Austin Ducote, and Shelby Ducote v. Caterpillar Inc., et al.

Summary

The court denied Caterpillar Inc.'s motion to reconsider an order extending the deadline for the Ducotes to disclose expert reports. Applying Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 16(b)(4) and 54(b), the court found that the Ducotes had shown good cause, diligence, and sufficient justification for the extension, and that any prejudice to Caterpillar was outweighed by the other factors.

Holdings

1. Plaintiffs established good cause under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 16(b)(4) for extending their expert-report disclosure deadline because their explanation was sufficient, they acted diligently, the extension was important, and any prejudice to Caterpillar was outweighed by the other factors.
2. Reconsideration was unwarranted because, after reexamining the issue and the parties' briefing, the court continued to find good cause for the extension and no sufficient reason to alter its prior order.

Questions Presented

1. Whether the court should reconsider its interlocutory order extending plaintiffs' expert-report disclosure deadline.
2. Whether plaintiffs demonstrated good cause under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 16(b)(4) for modifying the scheduling order.

Disposition

other