Thompson v. Dignity Health

• Court: District Court, D. Arizona
• Decided: August 5, 2021
• Docket: 2:17-cv-01607
• Status: Unknown

Opinion

1 WO 2 3 4 5 6 IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 7 FOR THE DISTRICT OF ARIZONA

9 Emmitt Thompson, No. CV-17-01607-PHX-ROS

10 Plaintiff, ORDER

11 v.

12 Dignity Health,

13 Defendant. 14 15 Plaintiff Dr. Emmitt Thompson (“Dr. Thompson”) was a medical resident at 16 Defendant Dignity Health’s Barrow Neurological Institute (“Dignity”) for the 2015–2016 17 academic year. Throughout the year, Dr. Thompson experienced employment difficulties, 18 including being subject to discipline. Dr. Thompson was not, however, placed on formal 19 probation. At the end of the year, Dr. Thompson’s contract was not renewed. After leaving 20 Dignity, Dr. Thomson applied for a California medical license. As part of the application 21 process, Dr. Suraj Muley, the Program Director at Dignity, filled out a Certificate of 22 Completion. On the Certificate, Dr. Muley indicated Dr. Thompson had been placed on 23 probation and terminated, dismissed, or expelled. Dr. Thompson alleges these statements 24 defamed him and delayed his licensure in California. Dignity now moves for summary 25 judgment on Dr. Thompson’s defamation claim. For the reasons below, Dignity’s motion 26 will be denied. 27 BACKGROUND 28 Unless otherwise noted, the following facts are undisputed. In May 2015, Dr. 1 Thompson entered a contract to be a resident at Dignity for the 2015–2016 academic year. 2 (Doc. 130 at 1). At the end of the contract term, he could be reappointed as a resident if he 3 successfully completed the year and his Program Director recommended. (Doc. 130 at 1). 4 The contract allowed Dignity to terminate Dr. Thompson “at any time” if he did not 5 satisfactorily perform his duties and obligations. (Doc. 130 at 1). 6 During his year at Dignity, Dr. Thompson experienced problems. Between 7 December 2015 and January 2016, Dr. Thompson received written discipline three times. 8 (Doc. 130 at 1). At the end of January 2016, Dr. Thompson’s supervisors informed him 9 that his contract would not be renewed at the end of the academic year. (Doc. 130 at 1–2). 10 But after Dr. Thompson appealed, Dignity reduced the nonrenewal decision to a 11 performance improvement plan (“PIP”) effective March 22, 2016. (Doc. 130 at 2). Through 12 the PIP, Dr. Thompson agreed to take certain measures to improve in four areas (medical 13 knowledge, patient care, professionalism, and practice-based learning). (Doc. 130 at 2). Dr. 14 Thompson remained on “Concern Status” through April 2016, meaning there were 15 “significant deficiencies . . . in [his] performance,” which Dignity would try to “remediate” 16 without reporting Dr. Thompson to the board or the Accreditation Council for Graduate 17 Medical Education (“ACGME”). (Doc. 130 at 2). 18 Eventually though, on May 12, 2016, the Clinical Competency Committee decided 19 again not to renew Dr. Thompson’s contract. (Doc. 130 at 2). Program Director Dr. Suraj 20 Muley and Associate Program Director Dr. Courtney Schusse notified Dr. Thompson of 21 the non-renewal on May 31, 2016. (Doc. 130 at 3). On June 9, 2016, Dr. Thompson 22 appealed the second non-renewal decision, asserting some attending physicians were 23 biased against him, were “intent on exaggerating [his] shortcomings,” and that one 24 attending physician in particular made a “false” assertion about him.1 (Doc. 130 at 3). But 25 the appeal was denied as untimely. (Doc. 85 at 9). Dr. Thompson did not receive credit for 26 the residency year. (Doc. 130 at 5). It is unclear precisely when Dr. Thompson stopped 27 working at Dignity. (Docs. 130 at 3; 135 at 2). Regardless, the parties agree he was paid

28 1 As will be relevant later, the allegedly biased attending physicians do not include Dr. Muley. 1 through June 30, 2016, the date his contract expired. (Docs. 130 at 3; 135 at 5). 2 After leaving Dignity, Dr. Thompson applied for a California medical license. (Doc. 3 130 at 3). In the application, he signed a declaration stating:

4 I hereby authorize all hospitals, institutions or organizations, my references, personal physicians, employers (past, present, 5 and future), or business and professional associates (past, present, and future) . . . to release to the Medical Board of 6 California or its successors any information, files or records, including . . . educational records . . . requested by the Board 7 in connection with this application. 8 (Doc. 130 at 3). 9 As requested by the Medical Board of California (“Board”) and as was his duty as 10 Program Director, Dr. Muley prepared and signed a Certificate of Completion 11 (“Certificate”) for Dr. Thompson on October 31, 2016. (Docs. 130 at 3; 135 at 5). Dr. 12 Muley claims he never previously filled out a licensing form “in a problem situation.” 13 (Doc. 130 at 4). On the Certificate, Dr. Muley marked the box indicating Dr. Thompson 14 had been placed on probation and “terminated, dismissed or expelled.” (Doc. 130 at 3–4). 15 Dr. Muley also marked a box to indicate “the program decline[d] to renew or offer the 16 applicant postgraduate training program contract for a following year.” (Doc. 85-1 at 230). 17 Nearly eighteen months later and after this case was filed, on April 30, 2018, Dignity sent 18 a new Certificate to the Board omitting any mention of probation or termination, but stating 19 the following:

20 Dr. Thompson began his second year of residency and first year of neurology training at Barrow Neurological Institute 21 (“BNI”) in Phoenix, Arizona on July 1, 2015. Dr. Thompson was placed on a Performance Improvement Plan effective 22 March 22, 2016, which included a modified rotation schedule. On May 31, 2016, BNI informed Dr. Thompson that his 23 residency contract would not be renewed. Dr. Thompson was paid for the remainder of the 2015-2016 academic year, but 24 was not given credit for the 2015-2016 academic year. 25 (Doc. 135-1 at 14). 26 The parties view Dr. Muley’s initial Certificate quite differently. Both Dignity and 27 Dr. Muley consider nonrenewal to be synonymous with termination because residency is 28 normally a three-year program. (Doc. 130 at 4). They also describe Dr. Thompson as 1 “terminated” because they allege he had to stop working on May 31, 2016.2 And they 2 consider the PIP as a form of probation. (Doc. 130 at 4). 3 On the contrary, Dr. Thompson submits Dr. Muley’s two Resident Fellow/Action 4 Forms (“Action Forms”) from December 2015. Those forms had a list of escalating options 5 to address performance deficiencies. The list consisted of Verbal Counseling, Written 6 Action Plan, Concern Status, Recommend Probation, and Recommend Termination. In 7 completing these two forms, Dr. Muley did not check the boxes indicating he was 8 recommending probation or termination. (Doc. 135 at 3). In an “Action Plan” drafted in 9 February 2016, Dr. Muley noted Dr. Thompson faced the possibility of “formal probation” 10 and “termination” for further professional misconduct. (Doc. 93-1 at 45). On the March 11 2016 PIP, Dr. Muley again failed to check the boxes recommending probation or 12 termination. (Doc. 135 at 3). Thus, Dr. Muley completed three forms explicitly stating 13 probation and termination required approval by the Graduate Medical Education 14 Committee and would have to be reported to the Arizona Medical Board. (Doc. 135 at 4). 15 Dr. Muley also testified that recommending probation and termination were more severe 16 than an action plan and that he knew approval from another official before placing a 17 resident on probation was required. (Doc. 135-1 at 6). The emails, meeting minutes, and 18 other documentary evidence surrounding Dr. Thompson’s non-renewal make no reference 19 to placing him on probation or termination. (Doc. 135 at 4–5). In fact, Dr. Muley wrote in 20 an email, “[w]e should for sure let him finish his contract or at least pay him through June 21 30th.” (Doc. 93-2 at 61). 22 On October 11, 2017, Dr. Thompson filed an amended complaint in this action, 23 alleging racial discrimination in violation of Title VII and 42 U.S.C. § 1981, breach of 24 contract, and defamation. (Doc. 29). On March 5, 2019, the Court granted summary 25 judgment for Dignity on all claims. (Doc. 100). In granting summary judgment on Dr. 26 Thompson’s defamation claim, the Court held Dr. Muley’s allegedly defamatory 27 statements, that Dr. Thompson was placed on probation and termination, were 28 2 As mentioned above, the precise date Dr. Thompson stopped working is disputed. 1 “substantially true,” which is an absolute defense to defamation. (Doc. 100 at 17–19). 2 However, on August 28, 2020, the Ninth Circuit reversed explaining “the meaning of [the 3 relevant] terms,” i.e., contract nonrenewal, termination, discipline, and probation, “may be 4 subject to different interpretations,” so “it was inappropriate . . . to resolve this question on 5 a summary judgment motion.” Thompson v. Dignity Health, 823 F. App’x 527, 531 (9th 6 Cir. 2020) (citation omitted). Now, Dignity seeks summary judgment on defamation 7 because it argues an absolute or qualified privilege applies and Dr. Thompson cannot prove 8 defamation per se or economic damages. 9 LEGAL STANDARD 10 The moving party is entitled to summary judgment if the evidence, viewed in the 11 light most favorable to the non-moving party, shows “there is no genuine dispute as to any 12 material fact” and the moving party “is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.” Fed. R. 13 Civ. P. 56(a); see also Ellison v. Robertson, 357 F.3d 1072, 1075 (9th Cir. 2004); Margolis 14 v. Ryan, 140 F.3d 850, 852 (9th Cir. 1998). At summary judgment, the court cannot weigh 15 the evidence nor make credibility determinations. Dominguez-Curry v. Nevada Transp. 16 Dep’t, 424 F.3d 1027, 1035 (9th Cir. 2005). The moving party initially bears the burden of 17 proving the absence of a genuine dispute of material fact. Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 18 U.S. 317, 321–25 (1986). To do so, “[t]he moving party must either produce evidence 19 negating an essential element of the non-moving party’s claim or defense or show that the 20 non-moving party does not have enough evidence of an essential element to carry its 21 ultimate burden of persuasion at trial.” Nissan Fire & Marine Ins. Co. v. Fritz Companies, 22 Inc., 210 F.3d 1099, 1102 (9th Cir. 2000). The burden then shifts to the non-moving party 23 to demonstrate the existence of a factual dispute that might affect the outcome of the suit. 24 Saddiq v. Trinity Servs. Grp., 198 F. Supp. 3d 1051, 1055 (D. Ariz. 2016). Non-movants 25 “must show a genuine issue of material fact by presenting affirmative evidence from which 26 a jury could find in his favor.” F.T.C. v. Stefanchik, 559 F.3d 924, 929 (9th Cir. 2009) 27 (emphasis in original) (citing Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, 447 U.S. 242, 257 (1986). “A 28 non-movant’s bald assertions or a mere scintilla of evidence in his favor are both 1 insufficient to withstand summary judgment.” Id. (citing Galen v. Cty. of Los Angeles, 477 2 F.3d 652, 658 (9th Cir. 2007)). 3 Regarding the evidence, the district court “need consider only the cited materials.” 4 Fed. R. Civ. P 56(c)(3). Thus, “where the evidence is not set forth in the opposing papers 5 with adequate references so that it could conveniently be found” “[t]he district court need 6 not examine the entire file for evidence establishing a genuine issue of fact.” Wyatt Tech. 7 Corp. v. Smithson, 345 F. App’x 236, 239 (9th Cir. 2009) (quoting Carmen v. San Fran. 8 Unified Sch. Dist., 237 F.3d 1026, 1031 (9th Cir. 2001)). That said, the district court may 9 consider materials in the record not cited by the parties. Fed. R. Civ. P 56(c)(3). 10 DISCUSSION 11 Dignity seeks summary judgment on Dr. Thompson’s defamation claim based on 12 an absolute privilege, a conditional privilege, the inapplicability of defamation per se, or 13 the unavailability of economic damages. (Doc. 129). 14 I. Privileges 15 The existence of a privilege in a defamation case is a question of law decided by the 16 Court. Green Acres Trust v. London, 141 Ariz. 609, 613 (Ariz. 1984). “To determine if a 17 privilege, absolute or qualified, exists, [Arizona courts] first examine the applicable case 18 law,” but “[i]f no clear answer is obtained, then [Arizona courts] look to the Restatement 19 for guidance.” Burns v. Davis, 196 Ariz. 155, 159 (Ct. App. 1999). 20 A. Absolute Privilege of Consent 21 Dignity Health argues Dr. Thompson consented to the publication of the statements, 22 thus barring a defamation claim absolutely. (Doc. 129 at 3). Dignity argues Dr. 23 Thompson’s authorization for hospitals “to release to the Medical Board of California or 24 its successors any information, files or records, including . . . educational records . . . 25 requested by the Board in connection with this application” constituted consent to Dr. 26 Muley’s probation and termination statements. (Doc. 129 at 3–5). 27 “Consent is a complete defense to defamation.” Mullenaux v. Graham Cty., 207 28 Ariz. 1, 7 (Ct. App. 2004) (citation omitted). Consent requires the plaintiff at least “has 1 reason to know that [the consented-to statements] may be defamatory.” Restatement 2 (Second) of Torts § 583 cmt. d (1977). Essentially, for consent to apply, the plaintiff must 3 be able to anticipate the defamatory statements. 4 The parties have not pointed to any helpful Arizona case law. However, a Northern 5 District of Illinois court applied Arizona law in a strikingly similar situation. In Chi v. 6 Loyola University Medical Center, the district court held a doctor consented to defamation 7 by signing an authorization and release allowing his former employer to provide 8 information to a new employer about his performance. No. 10 C 6292, 2013 WL 422868 9 (N.D. Ill. Feb. 1, 2013). In providing information to the new employer, the doctor’s former 10 program director stated that he could not recommend the doctor. Id. The district court 11 applied section 583 of the Restatement to determine whether the doctor had reason to know 12 his former program director’s statements might be defamatory. Id. at *6. The court 13 explained, the Restatement “does not appear to provide a privilege for defamatory 14 statements that the plaintiff had no reason to anticipate.” Id. at *7. But because the doctor 15 had testified that his program director lied and held personal bias against him, the court 16 held the doctor could anticipate the program director’s statements might be defamatory and 17 the consent privilege barred defamation. 18 The facts here differ. Dignity offers no evidence to show Dr. Thompson had reason 19 to know Dr. Muley might make the express and explicit statements about probation and 20 termination. Although Dr. Thompson previously alleged that some attending physicians 21 harbored bias against him, exaggerated his shortcomings, and made a false assertion about 22 him, those allegations did not involve actions by Dr. Muley. Moreover, those allegations 23 were relevant to why Dr. Thompson received written discipline, was placed on a PIP, and 24 that his contract was not renewed. But they were not relevant to whether Dr. Thompson 25 was ever placed on probation or terminated. 26 Dignity argues the discipline, PIP, and nonrenewal were sufficient for Dr. 27 Thompson to have reason to know Dr. Muley’s statements might be defamatory. (Doc. 136 28 at 3–4). Of course, Dr. Thompson could anticipate that Dr. Muley would report the 1 discipline, PIP, and nonrenewal. But Dignity fails to explain why those true occurrences 2 would require Dr. Thompson to anticipate that Dr. Muley would make every possible false 3 statement. In short, Dr. Thompson had no reason to know Dr. Muley might say Dr. 4 Thompson was placed on probation and terminated. As a result, Dr. Thompson did not 5 consent, and Dignity’s motion will be denied on this issue. 6 B. Qualified Privileges 7 Next, Dignity asserts a qualified privilege, either the “protection of interest of 8 recipient privilege,” which protects disclosures of information that affect a sufficiently 9 important interest of the recipient, or the “common interest privilege,” which protects 10 disclosures of information that another party with a common interest is entitled to know, 11 applies. Restatement (Second) of Torts §§ 595, 596 (1977). “In general, Arizona law 12 establishes a two-part analysis for determining whether a qualified privilege exists.” Green 13 Acres Tr. v. London, 141 Ariz. 609, 616 (1984). “The court must first determine whether a 14 privileged occasion arose, and, if so, whether the occasion for the privilege was abused.” 15 Id. (citation omitted). “Whether a privileged occasion arose is a question of law for the 16 court, and whether the occasion for the privilege was abused is a question of fact for the 17 jury.” Id. (citation omitted). 18 Dr. Thompson concedes at least one of the qualified privileges apply. (Doc. 134 at 19 9). However, he argues a material dispute of fact exists as to whether the privilege was 20 abused. “Once a defendant demonstrates that a conditional privilege may apply, the 21 plaintiff may then prove an abuse of that privilege either by proving publication with 22 ‘actual malice’ or by demonstrating excessive publication.” Green Acres Tr., 141 Ariz. at 23 616 (citation omitted). “An abuse through actual malice occurs when the speaker makes a 24 statement knowing it is false or with reckless disregard of whether it is false.”3 Burns v. 25 Davis, 196 Ariz. 155, 164 (Ct. App. 1999) (citation omitted). The plaintiff must prove 26 actual malice by clear and convincing evidence. Selby v. Savard, 134 Ariz. 222, 225 (1982) 27 3 “Reckless disregard as to truth or falsity exists when there is a high degree of awareness 28 of probable falsity or serious doubt as to the truth of the statement.” Restatement (Second) of Torts § 600, comment b (1977). 1 (citation omitted). “[T]he proof of ‘actual malice’ calls a defendant’s state of mind into 2 question, and does not readily lend itself to summary disposition.” Id. (citation omitted). 3 Nor is the fact that a defendant has alleged “subjective belief in the truth of the matter 4 published” sufficient to escape liability, because “proof of the necessary state of mind 5 could be in the form of objective circumstances from which the ultimate fact could be 6 inferred.” Id. (citation omitted). 7 Here, Dr. Thompson argues Dr. Muley’s statements were made with actual malice. 8 Viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to Dr. Thompson, a material dispute of 9 fact exists as to whether Dr. Muley had actual malice. Dr. Muley filled out several Action 10 Forms and the PIP without checking the boxes that recommended probation or termination. 11 (Doc. 135 at 3). On one of the Action Forms, Dr. Muley explicitly raised the possibility of 12 imposing “formal probation” and “termination” in the future. (Doc. 93-1 at 45). Dr. Muley 13 also testified that he knew probation and termination were more severe than an action plan 14 and probation required approval from the DIO. (Doc. 135-1 at 6). Both probation and 15 termination decisions required reporting to the Arizona Medical Board. (Doc. 135 at 4). 16 Dr. Muley did not request approval from the DIO or make any such reports to the Arizona 17 Medical Board. At the end of Dr. Thompson’s employment, Dr. Muley decided Dr. 18 Thompson should be allowed to finish his contract or at least be paid through the end of it. 19 (Doc. 93-2 at 61). Moreover, on the Certificate, Dr. Muley marked boxes indicating Dr. 20 Thompson was subject to discipline and that his contract had not been renewed. (Doc. 85- 21 1 at 230). Having marked those boxes, Dr. Muley additionally indicated Dr. Thompson had 22 been placed on probation and terminated. (Doc. 85-1 at 230). 23 Essentially, the evidence could establish that probation and termination are terms of 24 art in the medical community with very specific meanings distinct from other forms of 25 discipline and contract nonrenewal. If a jury makes that inference, the evidence may be 26 sufficient to show Dr. Muley knew Dr. Thompson was not subject to probation and 27 termination. Thus, drawing all inferences in Dr. Thompson’s favor, the undisputed, 28 circumstantial evidence could create an inference that Dr. Muley either knew the 1 statements’ falsity or acted with reckless disregard of whether they were false. A 2 reasonable jury could find, by clear and convincing evidence, Dr. Muley abused the 3 qualified privilege by publication with actual malice. 4 Dignity, however, argues Dr. Thompson cannot establish actual malice. In support, 5 Dignity provides evidence that Dr. Muley honestly believed the probation and termination 6 statements were true. But the Arizona Supreme Court has held, subjective belief in the truth 7 of the matter published may not be sufficient to escape liability as objective circumstantial 8 evidence can prove actual malice. Selby, 134 Ariz. at 225. This is a jury question in this 9 particular case. Moreover, the Arizona Supreme Court has been clear that abuse of a 10 qualified privilege can rarely be resolved at summary judgment. Id. Accordingly, there is 11 a material dispute as to whether Dr. Muley abused the qualified privilege, and the motion 12 will be denied on this issue. 13 II. Economic Damages 14 Finally, Dignity seeks summary judgment on Dr. Thompson’s defamation per se 15 claim and the availability of economic damages. Both arguments are raised for the first 16 time on summary judgment. 17 Dignity first argues the probation and termination statements cannot, as a matter of 18 law, constitute defamation per se. 19 According to Arizona law, libel, the written form of defamation, is classified as 20 either per se or per quod. Boswell v. Phoenix Newspapers, 152 Ariz. 1, 6 n.4 (Ct. App. 21 1985), approved as supplemented, 152 Ariz. 9 (1986). A communication is libel per se if 22 on its face it tends “to impeach one’s honesty, integrity, or reputation.” Id. If a 23 communication “is libelous only by considering extrinsic information, then it is considered 24 libel per quod.” Id. Libel per quod requires a plaintiff plead pecuniary damages, while libel 25 per se does not. Id. 26 Here, Dr. Muley specifically stated that Dr. Thompson was “terminated, dismissed, 27 or expelled” and “placed on probation.” (Doc. 85-1 at 230–31). Dignity argues these 28 statements require extrinsic information before impeaching Dr. Thompson’s honesty, 1 integrity, or reputation. The Court disagrees. It is common sense that a statement that a 2 medical resident was placed on probation and terminated, dismissed, or expelled goes 3 directly to that resident’s reputation. Accordingly, the statements may constitute 4 defamation per se. 5 Because defamation per se does not require evidence of pecuniary damages, the 6 Court need not address Dignity’s argument about the availability of economic damages, 7 and the motion will be denied on this issue. 8 Accordingly, 9 IT IS ORDERED the motion for summary judgment (Doc. 129) is DENIED. 10 IT IS FURTHER ORDERED all Motions in Limine are due December 6, 2021. 11 Responses are due ten days afterward. No replies are permitted unless ordered by the Court. 12 Prior to filing any Motion in Limine, the parties must confer and discuss the contents of 13 each planned motion. No Motion in Limine should be filed if the other party does not 14 oppose the relief requested. 15 IT IS FURTHER ORDERED the Joint Proposed Pretrial Order, if not already 16 filed, is due December 13, 2021. 17 IT IS FURTHER ORDERED the parties shall review the Court’s standard Juror 18 Questionnaire (available on the Court’s website) and file NO MORE THAN FIVE 19 STANDARD PROPOSED QUESTIONS EACH to be added to the standard Juror 20 Questionnaire with the Court’s approval no later than December 13, 2021. Each proposed 21 question shall stand alone and shall not contain sub-parts. 22 IT IS FURTHER ORDERED the parties shall file a Joint Statement of the Case, 23 of no more than a few short sentences for the Juror Questionnaire, no later than December 24 13, 2021. 25 IT IS FURTHER ORDERED the parties shall file a second Joint Statement of the 26 Case, of no more than two short paragraphs to be read to the jury, no later than January 27 10, 2022. 28 IT IS FURTHER ORDERED no later than January 10, 2022, the parties shall 1 file and submit via email (silver_chambers@azd.uscourts.gov) in Word format proposed 2 Jury Instructions in compliance with the procedures available on the Court’s website, 3 including but not limited to: 1) a joint set of proposed jury instructions where the parties’ 4 instructions agree; 2) a separate set of instructions (one for each party) where the parties 5 do not agree; and 3) legal authority supporting all proposed instructions whether the parties 6 agree or not. Where the parties do not agree, the opposing party shall clearly state its 7 objection to the proposed instruction and the proposing party shall clearly state its response. 8 IT IS FURTHER ORDERED the parties shall jointly file a proposed form of 9 verdict, or if the parties do not agree, they may separately file proposed forms of verdict 10 no later than January 10, 2022. 11 IT IS FURTHER ORDERED no later than January 10, 2022, the parties shall 12 deliver to chambers excerpts of the deposition testimony they propose to present at trial, in 13 compliance with the procedures available on the Court’s website (found in Deposition 14 Designation Procedure for Judge Silver), including but not limited to: Plaintiffs 15 highlighting in yellow the portions they wish to offer and Defendants highlighting in blue 16 those portions they wish to offer. If either party objects to the proposed testimony, a 17 specific and concise objection (e.g., “Relevance, Rule 402”) shall be placed in the margin 18 adjacent to the proposed testimony. 19 IT IS FURTHER ORDERED a final pretrial conference is set for February 8, 20 2022 at 10 a.m., at which time the Court will review Juror Questionnaires. The parties 21 shall meet and confer prior to this date regarding the Juror Questionnaires and email to the 22 Courtroom Deputy no later than noon on February 7, 2022 a list of any jurors they agree 23 should be stricken for cause, along with any objections to jurors they do not agree should 24 be stricken for cause. The parties shall not file this list. The Court will rule on any 25 disputed jurors at the final pretrial conference. 26 The parties will be supplied a disk containing the questionnaires approximately 27 one week prior to the final pretrial conference. Counsel shall bring a copy of the 28 questionnaires to the conference for review. Counsel are required to return the disk 1 || to the Courtroom Deputy and destroy all copies of the questionnaires no later than 2|| the last day of trial. 3 IT IS FURTHER ORDERED trial to a jury is set for February 15, 2022 at 8:30 a.m, Estimated length of trial is 3 days. 5 IT IS FURTHER ORDERED the parties shall comply with the Exhibit Procedures 6|| found on the Court’s website at www.azd.uscourts.gov / Judges’ Information / Orders, 7\| Forms & Procedures for Hon. Roslyn O. Silver. 8 Dated this 5th day of August, 2021. 9 fo .

Honorable Roslyn ©. Silver 2 Senior United States District Judge 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28

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