Cardenas v. Zurich American Insurance Company

District Court, D. Nevada·Decided August 15, 2025·No. 2:25-cv-00993·Unknown

Opinion

Amy M. Samberg (NV Bar No. 10212) amy.samberg@clydeco.us Dylan P. Todd (NV Bar No. 10456) dylan.todd@clydeco.us 7251 W. Lake Mead Blvd., Suite 430 Las Vegas NV 89128 Telephone: 725-248-2900 Attorneys for Defendant Zurich American Insurance Company UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT DISTRICT OF NEVADA ANNA B. CARDENAS, as representative of the CASE NO.: 2:25-cv-00993-RFB-DJA Estate of MICHELLE CARDENAS, [PROPOSED] JOINT DISCOVERY Plaintiff, PLAN AND SCHEDULING v. AMAZON.COM, INC., a foreign corporation; SPECIAL SCHEDULING COMPANY, a foreign corporation, SUBMITTED IN COMPLIANCE Defendants. WITH LR 26-1(b) Plaintiff ANNA B. CARDENAS, as representative of the Estate of MICHELLE CARDENAS (“Plaintiff”) and Defendants AMAZON LOGISTICS, INC. (erroneously sued and served as AMAZON.COM, INC.) (“Amazon”) and ZURICH AMERICAN INSURANCE COMPANY (“Zurich”) ( collectively “Defendants”), by and through their attorneys, pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 26(f) and Local Rule 26-1, hereby agree to the following [Proposed] Joint Discovery Plan and Scheduling Order for the Court’s approval as follows: I. INTRODUCTION/PRELIMINARY MATTER This is an action for breach of contract that also includes bad faith causes of action against Zurich for its denial of Plaintiff’s underinsured motorist (“UIM”) claim. Plaintiff was an Amazon delivery driver who was involved in an auto accident with non-party driver Ryan Swift, for which Plaintiff is alleged to have sustained injuries. Zurich contends that coverage is not afforded to Plaintiff for her UIM claim based on the terms and conditions of the Zurich insurance policy. Plaintiff filed suit against Zurich, and her employer Amazon, in relation to the Zurich’s coverage position. The specifics of the coverage position at issue is whether Plaintiff is entitled to coverage under the Zurich insurance policy even though she was not the driver of the vehicle at the time of the accident. Plaintiff asserts that if there is no coverage through Zurich, then Plaintiff’s recourse would be against Amazon for failing to provide UIM coverage for a motor vehicle collision, contrary to Amazon’s website advertisement for delivery drivers. Though this lawsuit involves extracontractual claims, the parties believe that this case would benefit by first addressing Zurich’s coverage position. Zurich plans on filing a Motion for Summary Judgment early on in the discovery process. Under Nevada law, the interpretation of an insurance contract is a question of law for the Court to determine based on the words of the insurance policy itself. Starr Surplus Lines Ins. Co. v. Eighth Judicial Dist. Court, 535 P.3d 254, 267 (2023). As such, the parties understand that the Court will need only to examine Plaintiff’s driving status at the time of the accident with the express terms and condition of the insurance policy in order to issue a ruling on Zurich’s coverage position. The proposed discovery schedule below contemplates an initial 180-day discovery timeline in accordance with LR 26. However, the parties wish to advise the Court that upon the filing of Zurich’s motion for summary judgment, the parties will file a stipulation and order for a formal stay of discovery pending the outcome of Zurich’s motion. This will allow the parties to avoid unnecessary litigation and costs and expenses in discovery and potential motion practice on issues that would be moot depending on the Court’s summary judgment ruling. Zurich anticipates filing its motion for summary judgment on the coverage issue within 45-60 days of the filing of this report. Prior to that time, the parties will make their initial disclosures in accordance with Rule 26, to include among other things, a complete copy of the insurance policy and the facts surrounding Plaintiff’s status as a passenger in the vehicle at the time of the accident. The parties do not intend to conduct depositions or other discovery related to other non-coverage matters during that time as they are not relevant to the coverage position that will be before the Court. / / / A. Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(f) Conferences On July 9, 2025, the parties held the conference to discuss issues required by Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(f) and LR 26-1. Dylan P. Todd, Esq. of Clyde & Co US LLP appeared for Zurich; Priscilla L.O’Briant, Esq. of Tyson & Mendes, LLP appeared for Amazon; and Brian M. Boyer, Esq. of the Injury Firm/Las Vegas appeared for Plaintiff. B. Discovery Plan: The parties propose to the Court the following discovery plan: 1. Initial Disclosures: The Parties will make their initial FRCP 26 disclosures by Thursday, August 21, 2025. The parties determined that additional time was needed to prepare initial disclosures as they have been in discussions on narrowing the claims and scope of this litigation in order to work towards a case resolution. 2. Discovery Cut-Off Date: The discovery cut-off will be January 5, 2026. This date is one hundred eighty (180) days from the date of the Rule 26 Conference. 3. Amending the Pleadings and Adding Parties: All motions to amend the pleadings or to add parties shall be filed not later than October 7, 2025, which is ninety (90) days prior to the discovery cut-off date. 4. Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(a)(2) Disclosures (Experts): The parties shall disclose expert witness(es) sixty (60) days prior to the discovery cut-off date, November 6, 2025. The parties further agree that disclosure of their respective rebuttal experts will be no later than December 5, 2025, which is thirty (30) days after the initial disclosure of their experts. 5. Dispositive Motions: Dispositive motions shall be filed no later than thirty (30)days after the discovery cut-off date, or February 4, 2026. 6. Pre-Trial Order: The joint pretrial order shall be filed no later than thirty (30) days after the dispositive motion deadline, March 4, 2026. In the event dispositive motions are filed, the date for filing the joint pretrial order shall be suspended until thirty (30) days after decision of the dispositive motion or further order of the Court. / / / / / / 7. Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(a)(3) Pretrial Disclosures: These disclosures and any objections to them shall be made in the joint pretrial order. Unless the court orders otherwise, these disclosures must be made at least thirty (30) days before trial. 8. Alternative Dispute Resolution: The parties certify that they met and conferred about the possibility of using alternative dispute resolution processes and agree that mediation, arbitration and/or neutral evaluation at this stage would be premature. The parties are currently working to narrow the claims and will revisit the matter after the first round of discovery concludes. 9. Alternative Form of Case Disposition: The parties certify that they considered consent to trial by a magistrate judge under 28 U.S.C. §636(c) and Fed. R. Civ. P. 73 and use of the Short Trial Program (General Order 2013-01). The parties will proceed with the standard trial program as governed by the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and the Local Rules of the Court. a 14 10. Electronic Evidence: The parties have not

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Cardenas v. Zurich American Insurance Company, (D. Nev. 2025).

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