United States v. Dillon Supply Co.

314 F. Supp. 956, 1969 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 9300, 2 Empl. Prac. Dec. (CCH) 10,053, 2 Fair Empl. Prac. Cas. (BNA) 21
CourtDistrict Court, E.D. North Carolina
DecidedJuly 2, 1969
DocketCiv. A. No. 1972
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 314 F. Supp. 956 (United States v. Dillon Supply Co.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, E.D. North Carolina primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
United States v. Dillon Supply Co., 314 F. Supp. 956, 1969 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 9300, 2 Empl. Prac. Dec. (CCH) 10,053, 2 Fair Empl. Prac. Cas. (BNA) 21 (E.D.N.C. 1969).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM ORDER

KELLAM, District Judge.

The complaint in this action was filed February 27, 1967. On March 17, 1967, defendant filed a motion to strike and a motion for a more definite statement. On April 10, 1967, plaintiff filed its memorandum in opposition to said motions. On April 21, 1967, counsel were directed to appear on May 4, 1967, for argument on said motions, and notified the case was calendared for trial on a day certain during the week of May 22, 1967. At the hearing on May 4, 1967, the motions to strike and for a more definite statement were denied, and defendants ordered to answer within 30 days. Defendant filed its answer May 31, 1967.

By order of February 19, 1968, filed February 20, 1968, counsel were notified by Judge Robert W. Hemphill, sitting by designation, that a pre-trial conference would be held in this case April 9, 1968, which directed counsel to confer and produce at the conference a written stipulation of (1) issues, (2) all uncontested facts, (3) names and addresses of all expert or qualified witnesses and their undisputed qualifications, (4) a list of all witnesses, (5) all exhibits, (6) the authority or admissibility of exhibits, with objections, etc. This order further provided that “[Sjince it is anticipated that all discovery has been completed, counsel will justify any failure to complete and/or any necessity of further time for [957]*957discovery.” On March 7, 1967, Judge Hemphill wrote defendant’s counsel with copy to plaintiff’s counsel, “discovery time should only be continued for cause.” [Italics by Judge Hemphill].

At the pre-trial conference of April 9, 1968, plaintiff filed a list of witnesses containing 24 names. By order of that date Judge Hemphill granted plaintiff and defendant an additional 30 days for taking discovery. Counsel were further directed within 15 days from date of completion of discovery to (1) “meet, confer, and provide the information directed in the pre-trial order filed February 20, 1968,” and (2) “counsel will be noticed by opposite counsel of any statistician supposed to be called as a witness” giving information about his qualifications, etc.

On June 10, 1968, defendant’s counsel wrote plaintiff’s counsel calling attention to Judge Hemphill’s order of April 9, 1968, and to the fact that at the attorneys’ conference of May 24, 1968, held pursuant to direction of the Court’s order (1) plaintiff had not furnished copy of its exhibits or listed a statistician who might be called as a witness; (2) that the stipulations agreed upon which had been written and forwarded on May 28, 1968, to plaintiff’s counsel for signature had not been returned; (3) that the plaintiff had failed to furnish a witness list; and (4) plaintiff’s counsel were advised that objection would be made to the use of any exhibit which had not been previously submitted. Subsequent thereto the stipulation previously agreed to was revised by plaintiff’s counsel and returned by letter of June 14, 1968. By letter of June 18th, defendant’s counsel protested saying that if the stipulation was to be changed, it should be done in a conference between all counsel, and suggested the parties “meet as promptly as possible.”

The file reflects no further action until the entry of the order of December 9, 1968, scheduling a pretrial conference on January 29, 1969.1 This order provided that if time for taking discovery had not expired, time for discovery would terminate within 45 days from that date, and that counsel should confer at least ten days prior to the date of the pre-trial conference and: (a) stipulate all facts and issues not in dispute, (b) stipulate all exhibits to be offered in evidence, which were to be presented at the pretrial conference, (c) list all witnesses, with a statement of whether an eye-witness, etc., and (d) agree on a statement of contentions of each party, the issues, etc. Plaintiff’s counsel was required to prepare the pre-trial order incorporating all such matters, and other matters called for in the order, and submit it to the Court at the pre-trial conference.

Counsel appeared at the conference but plaintiff’s counsel did not present the pre-trial order. Chief Judge Walter E. Hoffman, who conducted the conference, was unable to obtain any reasonable explanation for such failure, and directed counsel not to leave Raleigh, North Carolina, until a pre-trial order had been prepared. At the end of the following day, counsel advised the Court they had been in conference the entire day and there was prospect of agreeing upon a disposition of the ease without further proceedings, whereupon the Court re-scheduled a pre-trial conference at Norfolk, Virginia, for February 20, 1969. On date of February 7, 1969, plaintiff’s counsel advised it would not agree to a disposition of the action.

On February 11, 1969, plaintiff’s counsel forwarded to Judge Hoffman a motion (1) for a limited discovery period, and (2) to change the place of holding trial.2 Plaintiff’s letter of transmittal stated that “a disposition of the mat[958]*958ters raised in our motions will facilitate the holding of a productive pre-trial in this ease.” Judge Hoffman in an order of February 14, 1969, directed that the motions be filed and set forth that the Court “never [italics by Judge Hoffman] suggested or ordered this case transferred to Norfolk, Virginia, for trial on May 23, 1969,” and that there “was never any consideration or discussion of taking such action;” that the only reference to a hearing in Norfolk “was due to the fact that counsel were not prepared with respect to a final pre-trial conference order which should have been presented to the Court on January 29, 1969.” 3

On February 20, 1969, the Court heard argument on plaintiff’s motion for (a) further discovery and (b) a verbal motion that day made to permit it to file what plaintiff referred to as P/T Exhibit 4. The reasons therefor are set out in that order and in the record.

Under the provisions of the Local Rules for the Eastern District of North Carolina,4 all discovery must be completed “within four months after the case is at issue.”5 Judge Hemphill’s order of February 19, 1968, fixing date for pretrial on April 9, 1968, set forth it was anticipated all discovery had been completed and required counsel justify failure to complete. By Judge Hemphill’s order of April 9, 1968, time for discovery was extended for 30 days. No request was made for further extension, nor, following the entry of the order of December 9, 1968, fixing date of pretrial for January 29, 1969, did plaintiff seek an extension for discovery. It made such a request at the pre-trial conference of January 29, 1969. On that date counsel were advised the case was scheduled for trial for May 23, 1969. The parties had previously taken discovery of some twenty-five to thirty witnesses. There had been ample time for discovery. Plaintiff had not complied with the previous orders relative to discovery; if plaintiff was granted additional time, then the same right should be granted defendant. Such would probably bring about requests for additional exhibits, witnesses, probable amendments to the pleadings, further motions, interrogatories, and so on, and a probable request for a postponement of the date of trial.

The same applied to P/T Exhibit 4. Plaintiff had made no attempt to comply with any of the pre-trial orders.

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314 F. Supp. 956, 1969 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 9300, 2 Empl. Prac. Dec. (CCH) 10,053, 2 Fair Empl. Prac. Cas. (BNA) 21, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/united-states-v-dillon-supply-co-nced-1969.