Gomez v. J. Jacobo Farm Labor Contractor, Inc.

Opinion

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 9 EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 10

11 MARISOL GOMEZ, individually and on ) Case No.: 1:15-cv-01489 JLT BAM behalf of herself and all others similarly ) 12 situated, ) ORDER DISMISSING THE CLAIMS OF ) PLANTIFF IGNACIO ORSORIO-CRUZ 13 Plaintiff, ) PURSUANT TO RULE 25 OF THE FEDERAL ) 14 v. ) RULES OF CIVIL PROCEDURE ) 15 J. JACOBO FARM LABOR ) CONTRACTOR, INC., ) 16 ) Defendant. ) 17 )

18 Marisol Gomez and Ignacio Osorio-Cruz state claims on behalf of themselves and others 19 similarly situated, seeking to hold the defendants liable for violations of California wage and hour 20 laws and the federal Agricultural Workers Protection Act. (See generally Docs. 1, 95.) After Class 21 Counsel reported that Mr. Osorio-Cruz is deceased, the Court ordered counsel to comply with the 22 requirements of Rule 25 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, including identifying his nonparty 23 successor or representative and serving the notice. (Doc. 190-1 at 6, n.6; Doc. 192.) 24 Class Counsel filed the “Notice of Suggestion of Death upon the Record” on April 25, 2024. 25 (Doc. 193.) On May 14, 2024, Counsel served the notice upon the Jose Osorio, the adult son of Mr. 26 Osorio-Cruz as the legal successor and filed proof of service with the Court. (Docs. 197, 197-1 at 7.) 27 Pursuant to Rule 25(a)(1) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, an action may continue with 28 a decedent’s successor or representative. However, a decedent’s successor or representative must file 1 motion for substitution to proceed. “If the motion is not made within 90 days after service of a 2 || statement noting the death, the action by or against the decedent must be dismissed.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 3 25(a)(1). Thus, there are two requirements under Rule 25(a) for the 90-day period to be triggered: a 4 || formal notice of suggestion of death must be (1) filed on the record and (2) served upon other parties 5 || and the nonparty successor or representative. Barlow v. Ground, 39 F.3d 231, 233 (9th Cir. 1994). I: 6 || the requirements of Rule 25(a)(1) are met, “[t]he substituted party steps into the same position as [the 7 || original party.” Hilao v. Estate of Marcos, 103 F.3d 762, 766 (9th Cir. 1996). 8 Class Counsel filed “Notice of Suggestion of Death of Plaintiff’ with the Court on April 25, 9 || 2024. (Doc. 193.) The 90-day period began to run when Plaintiff's successor-in-interest received 10 || service on May 14, 2024. See Barlow, 39 F.3d at 233; see also Silas v. Sheriff of Broward Cnty., 55 11 || F.4th 872, 876 (11th Cir. 2022) (“nonparties must be notified to begin the 90-day period provided by 12 || Rule 25(a)(1)”); Summerfield v. Fackrell, 2012 WL 113281, at *2 (E.D. Cal. Jan. 11, 2012) (before tl 13 || 90-day period begins to run, the suggestion of death must be filed on the record and served to the oth 14 || parties); see also Barlow v. Ground, 39 F.3d 231, 233 (9th Cir. 1994). Thus, any motion to substitute 15 || was due no later than August 12, 2024. Because a motion was not filed, the claims of Mr. Osorio-Cr 16 || must be dismissed. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 25(a)(1). Based upon the foregoing, the Court ORDERS: 17 1. The claims of Plaintiff Ignacio Osorio-Cruz are DISMISSED pursuant to Rule □□□□□□□ 18 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. 19 2. The action SHALL proceed with Marisol Gomez as the sole named plaintiff and 20 previously appointed class representative. 21 22 IT IS SO ORDERED. 23 || Dated: _ August 14, 2024 Cerin | Tower 24 TED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE 25 26 27 28