Tapia v. NaphCare Inc

Opinion

THE HONORABLE KYMBERLY K. EVANSON WESTERN DISTRICT OF WASHINGTON

JAVIER TAPIA, No. 2:22-cv-01141

Plaintiff, STIPULATED MOTION AND ORDER TO AMEND THE CASE v. SCHEDULE NAPHCARE, INC., and PIERCE COUNTY,

Defendants. Pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 16(b)(4) and Local Civil Rule 16(b)(6), all parties in this action jointly move the Court for entry of an order extending the remaining case deadlines. The parties believe that there is good cause to extend the trial date, and related pretrial deadlines, as the proposed schedule will ensure efficiency and conserve judicial resources. “The decision to modify a scheduling order is within the broad discretion of the district court,” and the Court may do so on a showing of good cause. White v. Ethicon, Inc., No. 20-952 , 2022 WL 596407, at *1 (W.D. Wash. Feb. 28, 2022); Fed. R. Civ. P. 16(b)(4); see also LCR 16(b)(6). The good cause standard “primarily considers the diligence of the party seeking amendment.” Ginzkey v. Nat’l Sec. Corp., No. 18-1773, 2022 WL 1110976, at *1 (W.D. Wash. Mar. 10, 2022) (quoting Johnson v. Mammoth Recreations, Inc., 975 F.2d 604, 609 (9th Cir. 1992)). Good cause exists where the “schedule . . . cannot reasonably be met despite the diligence of the parties seeking the extension.” Johnson, 975 F.2d at 609 (citing Fed. R. Civ. P. 16 advisory committee’s notes (1983 amendment)). The rule is intended to “accomplish effective pretrial procedures and to avoid wasting the time of the parties, counsel, and the court.” LCR 16(b)(4). The Court’s Scheduling Order does not explicitly set forth deadlines for expert discovery and Daubert motions. Dkt. No. 50 at 1. Good cause exists to extend the deadlines for dispositive motions and other pretrial deadlines as the parties’ ability to prepare motions for summary judgment, necessarily depends on the parties’ ability to develop a complete factual record and assess the adequacy of the expert testimony. Accordingly, the extension will “accomplish effective pretrial procedures,” and ensure the efficiency of trial, which will, in turn, “avoid wasting the time of the parties, counsel, and the court.” LCR 16(b)(4). Further, Defendants NaphCare and Pierce County believe good cause exists to sequence Daubert motions and motions for summary judgment so that the Court can determine what expert opinions are admissible before the parties submit dispositive motions, which will rely heavily on expert opinions. Should the current schedule not provide the Court time to resolve the Daubert motions in advance of the deadline to file motions for summary judgment, Defendants reserve their right to request a further extension of the deadline to file motions for summary judgment. Plaintiff does not believe such sequencing is necessary or beneficial. Good cause, therefore, exists to extend the deadlines for dispositive motions, and extend the remaining case deadlines as follows: Perkins Coie LLP Current Date Proposed New Date Deadline for Expert Disclosures and March 15, 2024 Reports Deadline for Rebuttal Expert April 15, 2024 Disclosures and Reports Discovery Cut-Off March 15, 2024 May 15, 2024 Deadline to File Daubert Motions April 15, 2024 June 10, 2024 Mediation to be Completed April 1, 2024 July 1, 2024 Deadline to File Motions for April 15, 2024 September 16, 2024 Summary Judgment Motions in Limine July 5, 2024 November 29, 2024 Pretrial Order July 5, 2024 November 29, 2024 Proposed Verdict Forms, Voir Dire, July 8, 2024 December 2, 2024 and Jury Instructions Trial Briefs July 11, 2024 December 5, 2024 Jury Trial July 15, 2024 December 9, 2024

Perkins Coie LLP DATED October 25, 2023 s/ David. A. Perez David A. Perez, WSBA No. 43959 Juliana Bennington, WSBA No. 60357 Jedidiah K.R. Blake, WSBA No. 59610 Perkins Coie LLP 1201 Third Avenue, Suite 4900 Seattle, WA 98101-3099 Telephone: 206.359.8000 Facsimile: 206.359.9000 E-mail: Dperez@perkinscoie.com JBennington@perkinscoie.com JBlake@perkinscoie.com

Jacob Dean (Admitted Pro Hac Vice) Perkins Coie LLP 1888 Century Park East, Suite 1700 Los Angeles, CA 90067-1721 Telephone: 310.788.3365 Facsimile: 310.788.3365 E-mail: JacobDean@perkinscoie.com

Attorneys for Defendant NaphCare, Inc. s/ Kristal M. Cowger_____________________ Kristal M. Cowger, WSBA # 43079 Pierce County Prosecuting Attorney 930 Tacoma Avenue South, Suite 946 Tacoma, WA 98402-2102 Telephone: 253.798.4265 Email: kristal.cowger@piercecountywa.gov

Attorney for Defendant Pierce County

s/ Ryan Dreveskracht_____________________ Ryan Dreveskracht, WSBA No. 42593 Corinne Sebren, WSBA No. 58777 Galanda Broadman, PLLC 8606 35th Avenue NE, Ste. L1 P. O. Box 15146 Seattle, WA 98115 Telephone: 206.909.3842 Facsimile: 206.299.7690 E-mail: ryan@galandabroadman.com E-mail: corinne@galandabroadman.com

Attorneys for Plaintiff Perkins Coie LLP Dated this 26th day of October, 2023 A Kymberly K. Evanson United States District Judge

Presented by:

s/ David. A. Perez_____________ David A. Perez, WSBA No. 43959 Juliana Bennington, WSBA No. 60357 Jedidiah K.R. Blake, WSBA No. 59610 Perkins Coie LLP 1201 Third Avenue, Suite 4900 Seattle, WA 98101-3099 Telephone: 206.359.8000 Facsimile: 206.359.9000 E-mail: Dperez@perkinscoie.com JBennington@perkinscoie.com JBlake@perkinscoie.com Jacob Dean (Admitted Pro Hac Vice) Perkins Coie LLP 1888 Century Park East, Suite 1700 Los Angeles, CA 90067-1721 Telephone: 310.788.3365 Facsimile: 310.788.3365 Email: JacobDean@perkinscoie.com

Attorneys for Defendant NaphCare, Inc.

s/ Kristal M. Cowger_______________ Kristal M. Cowger, WSBA # 43079 Pierce County Prosecuting Attorney 930 Tacoma Avenue South, Suite 946 Tacoma, WA 98402-2102 Telephone: 253.798.4265 Email: kristal.cowger@piercecountywa.gov

Attorney for Defendant Pierce County Perkins Coie LLP

s/ Ryan Dreveskracht_______________ Ryan Dreveskracht, WSBA No. 42593 Corinne Sebren, WSBA No. 58777 Galanda Broadman, PLLC 8606 35th Avenue NE, Ste. L1 P. O. Box 15146 Seattle, WA 98115 Telephone: 206.909.3842 Facsimile: 206.299.7690 E-mail: ryan@galandabroadman.com E-mail: corinne@galandabroadman.com

Attorneys for Plaintiff Perkins Coie LLP