Toro v. Heimies Haberdashery, Inc.

Background

The court issued a notice stating that this case had been reassigned to Judge Jessica G. L. Clarke. The opinion does not describe the underlying claims or defenses.

What the Court Ordered

Unless the court orders otherwise, all prior orders, dates, and deadlines remain in effect. The court adjourned the initial pretrial conference that had been scheduled for September 22, 2023, and changed Heimie’s Haberdashery, Inc.’s deadline to answer or otherwise respond to the complaint to September 13, 2023.

The court scheduled the initial pretrial conference for September 27, 2023, at 11:00 a.m., to be held remotely through Microsoft Teams. Counsel must confer beforehand about settlement and other matters covered by the federal rule governing initial case-management conferences. One week before the conference, the parties must file a joint letter and a proposed civil case-management plan and scheduling order. The joint letter must address, among other things, whether the conference is necessary, the nature and issues of the case, jurisdiction and venue, deadlines, outstanding motions, discovery, settlement discussions, and other matters that could help move the case toward settlement or trial.

The order also provides procedures for requesting extensions or adjournments. Counsel who had appeared by the date of the order must notify counsel who had not appeared—or, if necessary, the party personally—by sending a copy of the order and the judge’s individual rules and practices, and must file proof of that notice.

Disposition and Effect

This was a procedural scheduling and reassignment order. It did not resolve any claim, defense, motion, or class-certification issue on the merits. The order affected the parties’ deadlines and conference obligations and directed counsel regarding case administration.