1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 9 FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 10 11 GIBRALTER, LLC, et al., Case No. 1:24-cv-00174-KES-CDB
12 Plaintiffs, ORDER GRANTING UNOPPOSED MOTION TO AMEND THE COMPLAINT AND 13 v. DIRECTING SERVICE 14 DMS FLOWERS, LLC, et al., (Doc. 81) 15 Defendants. ORDER GRANTING UNOPPOSED MOTION 16 TO AMEND THE CROSSCLAIM AND DIRECTING SERVICE 17
18 (Doc. 84)
19 7-DAY DEADLINE
20 21 Pending before the Court are the unopposed motions of Plaintiffs Gibralter, LLC 22 (“Gibralter”) and Divinely, Inc. (“Divinely”) (collectively, “Plaintiffs”) to amend the complaint, 23 filed on January 20, 2025 (Doc. 81), and the unopposed motion of Defendant Daniel Andrade 24 (“Andrade”) to amend the crossclaim, filed on January 21, 2025 (Doc. 84). The Court addresses 25 the motions in turn below. 26 I. Relevant Background 27 On February 6, 2024, Plaintiffs initiated this action with the filing of a complaint in which they seek relief for trademark infringement and related claims under 15 U.S. C. §§ 1501 et seq. 1 (“Lanham Act”) and state law. (Doc. 1). Plaintiffs’ claims are based on allegations that 2 Defendants DMS Flowers, LLC (“DMS”), Andrade, Maria Pantoja, and Samantha Andrade 3 (collectively, “Defendants”) unlawfully infringed Plaintiffs’ registered trademark “Bloomingful” 4 (the “MARK”). (Doc. 68 at 2). 5 In his answer to Plaintiffs’ complaint (filed while appearing pro se), Andrade asserted a 6 “crossclaim complaint” against Teleflora, a corporation doing business in Bakersfield, California. 7 (Docs. 38, 39). In the purported crossclaim against Teleflora, Andrade alleges that he purchased 8 a business called “All My Love Fresh Flowers” in June 2023. (Doc. 39 ¶ 8). Upon purchasing 9 the business, Andrade “changed the name to ‘Bloomingful’ while in escrow.” (Id. at ¶ 9). 10 Andrade alleges he was unaware that “Bloomingful” was a trademarked name and that he 11 advertised the grand opening of his new store through various media, including radio. (Id. at ¶ 12 39); (Doc. 1 at ¶ 40). Andrade alleges his business model involves receiving orders from 13 Teleflora. (Doc. 39 ¶¶ 4, 14). Andrade alleges that around the time of the grand opening in June 14 2023, he “was informed that he could not use the name ‘Bloomingful.’” (Id. at ¶ 10). Andrade 15 acknowledges that Plaintiff Gibralter owns the trademark for “Bloomingful.” (Id. at ¶ 18). 16 Andrade claims he promptly changed the business name to DMS LLC. (Id. at ¶ 11); see (Doc. 1 17 at ¶ 18) (“As of November 9, 2023, DMS Flowers, LLC is a California Limited Liability 18 Company and on information and belief is the new business name of Bloomingful Flowers 19 LLC…”). Andrade claims Teleflora was supposed to remove the previous name from their 20 advertisements when informed of the trademark issue. (Doc. 39 at ¶ 14). Andrade alleges he 21 “specifically requested that Teleflora make this change around December 12, 2023.” (Id. at ¶ 16). 22 Andrade claims Teleflora complied with his request around February 24, 2024. (Id.). 23 In the Court’s order granting Andrade’s motion to set aside default as to him only (Doc. 24 44), the Court acknowledged Andrade’s attempt to join non-party Teleflora to this action by way 25 of his “cross complaint” asserting various causes of action against Teleflora generally relating to 26 Plaintiffs’ trademark infringement allegations. (Doc. 44 at 9); see (Doc. 39). The Court noted 27 that Teleflora was not currently a party to this action and directed Plaintiffs and Andrade to meet 1 report their respective views concerning whether Teleflora must or should be added to the action. 2 (Id.) (“Joinder of parties is governed by Rule 19 and 20 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. 3 See Fed. R. Civ. P. 13(h).”). 4 On November 14, 2024, Plaintiffs filed the first amended scheduling report. (Doc. 64). 5 Therein, Plaintiffs represented they met and conferred with Andrade, then-appearing pro se, on 6 October 26, 2024. (Id. at 2). The parties noted that “it is unclear whether the Cross-Complaint 7 has been [deemed filed or] served on Teleflora.” (Id. at 3, 10). Plaintiffs represented that “the 8 damages in Plaintiffs’ Motion [requesting entry of default judgment against the three named 9 defaulting Defendants] are based upon the reimbursement/indemnification damages Defendant 10 [Andrade] is seeking against Teleflora.” (Id. at 3); (see id. at 10) (“Defendant has filed a Cross- 11 Complaint only against Teleflora seeking $100,000.00 as reimbursement/indemnification. 12 Teleflora is a floral transdelivery platform upon which Defendant has an ecommerce store.”). 13 On November 21, 2024, the Court convened for the scheduling conference with Plaintiffs’ 14 counsel and Defendants Daniel Andrade, Samantha Andrade, and Maria Pantoja present. (Doc. 15 65). The following day, the Court entered the scheduling order and therein ordered the parties to 16 make a joint filing addressing the issue of Rule 19 and Rule 20 as to whether purported 17 Defendant/Cross-Defendant Teleflora should or must be added to the case. (Doc. 68 at 3). The 18 parties filed the joint supplemental statement in response to the Court’s order on December 6, 19 2024. (Doc. 77). 20 On December 30, 2024, the Court granted the parties’ construed joint motion for joinder 21 of putative Defendant/Cross-Defendant Teleflora under either Rule 19(a)(1)(A) and (B) as a 22 required party or under Rule 20(a)(2) as a permissive party. (Doc. 78). A summons issued as to 23 Teleflora the same day and the Court directed Defendant Andrade to effect service of process 24 within 45 days and promptly file proofs of service. (Id. at 7); (Doc. 79). 25 On January 20, 2025, Plaintiffs filed the instant, unopposed motion to amend the 26 complaint with the proposed first amended complaint attached as “Exhibit 1” to the incorporated 27 declaration of counsel Laurie Doucet Normandin (Doc. 81); the following day, Defendants filed 1 the instant, unopposed motion to amend the crossclaim with the proposed first amended 2 crossclaim attached as “Exhibit A” to the declaration of counsel H. Larry Elam (Docs. 84, 84-1). 3 II. Governing Authority 4 Rule 15 provides that a plaintiff may amend the complaint only by leave of the court or by 5 written consent of the adverse party if the amendment is sought more than 21 days after the filing 6 of a responsive pleading or a motion to dismiss. Fed. R. Civ. P. 15(a). “Rule 15(a) is very 7 liberal” and a court should freely give leave to amend when “justice so requires.” 8 AmerisourceBergen Corp. v. Dialysist West, Inc., 465 F.3d 946, 951 (9th Cir. 2006); see Chodos 9 v. W. Publ. Co., 292 F.3d 992, 1003 (9th Cir. 2002) (“it is generally our policy to permit 10 amendment with ‘extreme liberality’”) (quoting Morongo Band of Mission Indians v. Rose, 893 11 F.2d 1074, 1079 (9th Cir.1990)). 12 Granting or denying leave to amend a complaint under Rule 15 is within the discretion of 13 the court. Swanson v. United States Forest Service, 87 F.3d 339, 343 (9th Cir. 1996). “In 14 exercising this discretion, a court must be guided by the underlying purpose of Rule 15 to 15 facilitate decision on the merits, rather than on the pleadings or technicalities.” United States v.
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1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 9 FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 10 11 GIBRALTER, LLC, et al., Case No. 1:24-cv-00174-KES-CDB
12 Plaintiffs, ORDER GRANTING UNOPPOSED MOTION TO AMEND THE COMPLAINT AND 13 v. DIRECTING SERVICE 14 DMS FLOWERS, LLC, et al., (Doc. 81) 15 Defendants. ORDER GRANTING UNOPPOSED MOTION 16 TO AMEND THE CROSSCLAIM AND DIRECTING SERVICE 17
18 (Doc. 84)
19 7-DAY DEADLINE
20 21 Pending before the Court are the unopposed motions of Plaintiffs Gibralter, LLC 22 (“Gibralter”) and Divinely, Inc. (“Divinely”) (collectively, “Plaintiffs”) to amend the complaint, 23 filed on January 20, 2025 (Doc. 81), and the unopposed motion of Defendant Daniel Andrade 24 (“Andrade”) to amend the crossclaim, filed on January 21, 2025 (Doc. 84). The Court addresses 25 the motions in turn below. 26 I. Relevant Background 27 On February 6, 2024, Plaintiffs initiated this action with the filing of a complaint in which they seek relief for trademark infringement and related claims under 15 U.S. C. §§ 1501 et seq. 1 (“Lanham Act”) and state law. (Doc. 1). Plaintiffs’ claims are based on allegations that 2 Defendants DMS Flowers, LLC (“DMS”), Andrade, Maria Pantoja, and Samantha Andrade 3 (collectively, “Defendants”) unlawfully infringed Plaintiffs’ registered trademark “Bloomingful” 4 (the “MARK”). (Doc. 68 at 2). 5 In his answer to Plaintiffs’ complaint (filed while appearing pro se), Andrade asserted a 6 “crossclaim complaint” against Teleflora, a corporation doing business in Bakersfield, California. 7 (Docs. 38, 39). In the purported crossclaim against Teleflora, Andrade alleges that he purchased 8 a business called “All My Love Fresh Flowers” in June 2023. (Doc. 39 ¶ 8). Upon purchasing 9 the business, Andrade “changed the name to ‘Bloomingful’ while in escrow.” (Id. at ¶ 9). 10 Andrade alleges he was unaware that “Bloomingful” was a trademarked name and that he 11 advertised the grand opening of his new store through various media, including radio. (Id. at ¶ 12 39); (Doc. 1 at ¶ 40). Andrade alleges his business model involves receiving orders from 13 Teleflora. (Doc. 39 ¶¶ 4, 14). Andrade alleges that around the time of the grand opening in June 14 2023, he “was informed that he could not use the name ‘Bloomingful.’” (Id. at ¶ 10). Andrade 15 acknowledges that Plaintiff Gibralter owns the trademark for “Bloomingful.” (Id. at ¶ 18). 16 Andrade claims he promptly changed the business name to DMS LLC. (Id. at ¶ 11); see (Doc. 1 17 at ¶ 18) (“As of November 9, 2023, DMS Flowers, LLC is a California Limited Liability 18 Company and on information and belief is the new business name of Bloomingful Flowers 19 LLC…”). Andrade claims Teleflora was supposed to remove the previous name from their 20 advertisements when informed of the trademark issue. (Doc. 39 at ¶ 14). Andrade alleges he 21 “specifically requested that Teleflora make this change around December 12, 2023.” (Id. at ¶ 16). 22 Andrade claims Teleflora complied with his request around February 24, 2024. (Id.). 23 In the Court’s order granting Andrade’s motion to set aside default as to him only (Doc. 24 44), the Court acknowledged Andrade’s attempt to join non-party Teleflora to this action by way 25 of his “cross complaint” asserting various causes of action against Teleflora generally relating to 26 Plaintiffs’ trademark infringement allegations. (Doc. 44 at 9); see (Doc. 39). The Court noted 27 that Teleflora was not currently a party to this action and directed Plaintiffs and Andrade to meet 1 report their respective views concerning whether Teleflora must or should be added to the action. 2 (Id.) (“Joinder of parties is governed by Rule 19 and 20 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. 3 See Fed. R. Civ. P. 13(h).”). 4 On November 14, 2024, Plaintiffs filed the first amended scheduling report. (Doc. 64). 5 Therein, Plaintiffs represented they met and conferred with Andrade, then-appearing pro se, on 6 October 26, 2024. (Id. at 2). The parties noted that “it is unclear whether the Cross-Complaint 7 has been [deemed filed or] served on Teleflora.” (Id. at 3, 10). Plaintiffs represented that “the 8 damages in Plaintiffs’ Motion [requesting entry of default judgment against the three named 9 defaulting Defendants] are based upon the reimbursement/indemnification damages Defendant 10 [Andrade] is seeking against Teleflora.” (Id. at 3); (see id. at 10) (“Defendant has filed a Cross- 11 Complaint only against Teleflora seeking $100,000.00 as reimbursement/indemnification. 12 Teleflora is a floral transdelivery platform upon which Defendant has an ecommerce store.”). 13 On November 21, 2024, the Court convened for the scheduling conference with Plaintiffs’ 14 counsel and Defendants Daniel Andrade, Samantha Andrade, and Maria Pantoja present. (Doc. 15 65). The following day, the Court entered the scheduling order and therein ordered the parties to 16 make a joint filing addressing the issue of Rule 19 and Rule 20 as to whether purported 17 Defendant/Cross-Defendant Teleflora should or must be added to the case. (Doc. 68 at 3). The 18 parties filed the joint supplemental statement in response to the Court’s order on December 6, 19 2024. (Doc. 77). 20 On December 30, 2024, the Court granted the parties’ construed joint motion for joinder 21 of putative Defendant/Cross-Defendant Teleflora under either Rule 19(a)(1)(A) and (B) as a 22 required party or under Rule 20(a)(2) as a permissive party. (Doc. 78). A summons issued as to 23 Teleflora the same day and the Court directed Defendant Andrade to effect service of process 24 within 45 days and promptly file proofs of service. (Id. at 7); (Doc. 79). 25 On January 20, 2025, Plaintiffs filed the instant, unopposed motion to amend the 26 complaint with the proposed first amended complaint attached as “Exhibit 1” to the incorporated 27 declaration of counsel Laurie Doucet Normandin (Doc. 81); the following day, Defendants filed 1 the instant, unopposed motion to amend the crossclaim with the proposed first amended 2 crossclaim attached as “Exhibit A” to the declaration of counsel H. Larry Elam (Docs. 84, 84-1). 3 II. Governing Authority 4 Rule 15 provides that a plaintiff may amend the complaint only by leave of the court or by 5 written consent of the adverse party if the amendment is sought more than 21 days after the filing 6 of a responsive pleading or a motion to dismiss. Fed. R. Civ. P. 15(a). “Rule 15(a) is very 7 liberal” and a court should freely give leave to amend when “justice so requires.” 8 AmerisourceBergen Corp. v. Dialysist West, Inc., 465 F.3d 946, 951 (9th Cir. 2006); see Chodos 9 v. W. Publ. Co., 292 F.3d 992, 1003 (9th Cir. 2002) (“it is generally our policy to permit 10 amendment with ‘extreme liberality’”) (quoting Morongo Band of Mission Indians v. Rose, 893 11 F.2d 1074, 1079 (9th Cir.1990)). 12 Granting or denying leave to amend a complaint under Rule 15 is within the discretion of 13 the court. Swanson v. United States Forest Service, 87 F.3d 339, 343 (9th Cir. 1996). “In 14 exercising this discretion, a court must be guided by the underlying purpose of Rule 15 to 15 facilitate decision on the merits, rather than on the pleadings or technicalities.” United States v. 16 Webb, 655 F.2d 977, 979 (9th Cir, 1981); Chudacoff v. Univ. Med. Ctr., 649 F.3d 1143, 1152 (9th 17 Cir. 2011) (“refusing Chudacoff leave to amend a technical pleading error, albeit one he should 18 have noticed earlier, would run contrary to Rule 15(a)’s intent.”). 19 A court ordinarily considers five factors to assess whether to grant leave to amend: “(1) 20 bad faith; (2) undue delay; (3) prejudice to the opposing party; (4) futility of amendment; and (5) 21 whether the plaintiff has previously amended his complaint.” Nunes v. Ashcroft, 375 F.3d 805, 22 808 (9th Cir. 2004). In conducting this five-factor analysis, the court generally grants all 23 inferences in favor of permitting amendment. Griggs v. Pace Am. Group, Inc., 170 F.3d 877, 880 24 (9th Cir. 1999). Moreover, the court must be mindful that, for each of these factors, the party 25 opposing amendment has the burden of showing that amendment is not warranted. DCD 26 Programs, Ltd. v. Leighton, 833 F.2d 183, 187 (9th Cir. 1987). 27 /// 1 III. Plaintiffs’ Motion to Amend the Complaint (Doc. 81) 2 The Court addresses the relevant Nunes factors below. 3 A. Bad Faith 4 A motion to amend is made in bad faith where there is “evidence in the record which 5 would indicate a wrongful motive” on the part of the litigant requesting leave to amend. DCD 6 Programs, 833 F.2d at 187; Wizards of the Coast LLC v. Cryptozoic Entm’t LLC, 309 F.R.D. 645, 7 651 (W.D. Wash. 2015) (“In the context of a motion for leave to amend, ‘bad faith’ means acting 8 with intent to deceive, harass, mislead, delay, or disrupt.”) (citing Leon v. IDX Sys. Corp., 464 9 F.3d 951, 961 (9th Cir. 2006)). 10 Here, there is insufficient information before the Court to conclude that Plaintiffs harbor a 11 wrongful motive in requesting leave to amend. Plaintiffs represent that the amending of the 12 complaint is “not proposed in bad faith[.]” (Doc. 81 at 2). Plaintiffs appears to move this 13 litigation forward by seeking to amend the complaint only as to Defendant/Cross-Defendant 14 Teleflora in light of the Court’s joinder of that party. (Id. at 1) (“Plaintiffs … move … to amend 15 the complaint and substitute Defendant Teleflora [] for John Doe 1.”). Accordingly, this factor 16 weighs in favor of amendment. 17 B. Undue Delay 18 By itself, a showing of undue delay is insufficient to deny leave to amend pleadings. 19 Howey v. United States, 481 F.2d 1187, 1191 (9th Cir. 1973); DCD Programs, 833 F.2d at 186. 20 However, in combination with other factors, delay may be sufficient to deny amendment. Webb, 21 655 F.2d at 979-80; see Lockheed Martin Corp. v. Network Solutions Inc., 194 F.3d 980, 986 (9th 22 Cir. 1999) (substantial delay, while not dispositive, is relevant to whether to permit amendment). 23 In assessing whether there exists undue delay, a court shall consider if “the moving party knew or 24 should have known the facts and theories raised by the amendment in the original pleading.” 25 Jackson v. Bank of Hawaii, 902 F.2d 1385, 1388 (9th Cir. 1990) (citations omitted). The mere 26 fact that a party fails to offer a reason for not moving to amend earlier does not in itself constitute 27 an adequate basis for denying leave to amend. Howey, 481 F.2d at 1190-91. Whether there has 1 from the time the moving party obtained relevant facts; (2) whether discovery has closed; and (3) 2 proximity to the trial date. Texaco, Inc. v. Ponsoldt, 939 F.2d 794, 798-99 (9th Cir. 1991). 3 Here, Plaintiffs represent that “the amending of [the] complaint is not the product of 4 undue delay” as “Plaintiffs’ deadline for filing pleading amendments is January 20, 2025” and the 5 Court “granted the parties’ construed order to add Teleflora as a Defendant on December 30, 6 2024.” (Doc. 81 at 2). Because Plaintiffs timely filed the motion to amend the complaint after 7 Teleflora was joined to this action, this factor weighs in favor of amendment. 8 C. Prejudice to Opposing Party 9 The most critical factor in determining whether to grant leave to amend is prejudice to the 10 opposing party. Eminence Capital, 316 F.3d at 1052. The burden of showing prejudice is on the 11 party opposing an amendment to the complaint. DCD Programs, Ltd., 833 F.2d at 187. There is 12 a presumption in favor of granting leave to amend where prejudice is not shown under Rule 15(a). 13 Eminence Capital, 316 F.3d at 1052. 14 Here, Defendants did not oppose Plaintiffs’ motion to amend the complaint nor have 15 Defendants shown any prejudice would result from permitting amendment of the complaint. 16 Plaintiffs represent that amendment of the complaint “is not prejudicial to the opposing party” as 17 Defendant Andrade “has had a chance to answer” the complaint and “no claims against 18 Defendant [] Andrade have been altered.” (Doc. 81 at 1). Plaintiffs represent the only changes 19 Plaintiffs have made are “in relation to Teleflora.” (Id. at 2). Thus, this factor weighs in favor of 20 amendment. 21 D. Prior Amendments 22 The Court’s discretion to deny leave to amend is “particularly broad” where a party has 23 previously amended the pleading. Allen v. Beverly Hills, 911 F.2d 367, 373 (9th Cir. 1990). 24 Here, Plaintiffs’ proposed amendments would constitute the first amendment to the pleadings. 25 (Doc. 81). Thus, this factor weighs in favor of granting leave to amend. 26 E. Futility of Amendment 27 A court may deny leave to amend if the proposed amendment is futile or would be subject 1 amendment is futile if the complaint clearly could not be saved by amendment. United States v. 2 Corinthian Colleges, 655 F.3d 984, 995 (9th Cir. 2011). However, denial of leave to amend on 3 futility grounds is “rare.” Zurich Am. Ins. Co. of Illinois v. VForce Inc., No. 2:18-cv-02066-TLN- 4 CKD, 2020 WL 2732046, at *3 (E.D. Cal. May 26, 2020) (citing Netbula, LLC v. Distinct Corp., 5 212 F.R.D. 534, 539 (N.D. Cal. 2003)). “Ordinarily, ‘courts will defer consideration of 6 challenges to the merits of a proposed amended pleading until after leave to amend is granted and 7 the amended pleading is filed.”’ (Id.). 8 Here, Plaintiffs represent that amendment of the complaint is not futile as the parties 9 “agreed that to have complete relief, Teleflora must be joined[.]” (Doc. 81 at 2). Plaintiffs 10 represent that by amending the complaint “and substituting Teleflora LLC for John Doe 1, 11 Plaintiffs will be able to pursue complete relief.” (Id.). Because the Court finds that amendment 12 would not be futile, this factor weighs in favor of amendment. 13 Because the Nunes factors all weigh in favor of amendment, the Court will grant 14 Plaintiffs’ motion to amend the complaint. 15 IV. Defendant Daniel Andrade’s Motion to Amend the Crossclaim (Doc. 84) 16 The Court now turns to Defendant Daniel Andrade’s motion to amend the crossclaim and 17 addresses the relevant Nunes factors. Andrade represents that the Nunes factors “favors granting 18 Andrade leave to amend” his crossclaim as the request “is made in good faith in pursuit of claims 19 based on the resolution of the Plaintiffs’ Complaint[.]” (Doc. 84 at 6). Andrade represents that 20 “given that there is merit to the claims, permitting [him] to amend” his crossclaim to add “the 21 Contributory Trademark Infringement, and Equitable Indemnity claims would not be futile.” 22 (Id.). Andrade further represents that “none of the parties will be prejudiced by the additional 23 claims” and Plaintiff[s are] already in this action and Cross-Defendant Teleflora has never been 24 served with the crossclaim and discovery has not commenced.” (Id.). Andrade represents he “is 25 acting diligently in litigating this action and in bring this motion[.]” (Id. at 3). 26 Here, Andrade’s timely motion is unopposed, and Plaintiffs do not show the motion is 27 made in bad faith, with undue delay, or with prejudice to them. The motion is Andrade’s first 1 | Teleflora as a Defendant/Cross-Defendant in this action. Thus, the Court finds the Nunes factors 2 | all weigh in favor of granting amendment of the crossclaims. 3] V. Conclusion and Order 4 Based on the foregoing, it is hereby ORDERED: 5 1. Plaintiffs’ motion to amend the complaint (Doc. 81) is GRANTED; 6 2. Within seven (7) days of entry of this order, Plaintiffs shall file a first amended 7 complaint electronically as a standalone docket entry in this case, upon which the first 8 amended complaint shall become the operative complaint; 9 3. Within 30 days of filing of the first amended complaint, Plaintiffs shall effect service 10 of summons (see Doc. 79) and complaint upon Defendant/Cross-Defendant Teleflora 11 and promptly file proof of service; 12 4. Defendant Daniel Andrade’s motion to amend the crossclaim (Doc. 84) is 13 GRANTED; 14 5. Within seven (7) days of entry of this order, Defendant Daniel Andrade shall file a 15 first amended crossclaim electronically as a standalone docket entry in this case, upon 16 which the first amended crossclaim shall become the operative crossclaim; 17 6. Within 30 days of filing of the first amended crossclaim, Defendant Daniel Andrade 18 shall effect service of the crossclaim upon Defendant/Cross-Defendant Teleflora and 19 promptly file proof of service; and 20 7. Within 14 days from Defendant/Cross-Defendant Teleflora’s appearance in this 21 action, the parties shall meet and confer and file a joint status report addressing the 22 further scheduling of this action. 23 Any failure by the parties to timely comply with this order will result in the 24 | imposition of sanctions, including and up to a recommendation to dismiss this action. 2) | IT IS SO ORDERED. 26 | } ) Bo Dated: _ March 24, 2025 27 UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE 28