Ford v. Audrey Signs Inc.

What the order did

The case was reassigned to Judge Jessica G. L. Clarke. The court directed that all prior orders, dates, and deadlines would remain in effect unless the court later ordered otherwise. The court identified one exception: the status conference previously scheduled for October 23, 2023, was rescheduled to October 31, 2023, at 2:00 p.m., to be held remotely through Microsoft Teams.

Required joint letter

The parties were ordered to file a joint letter on the electronic docket no later than one week before the status conference. The letter may not exceed five pages, subject to any appendix containing lengthy citizenship information. It must provide updated information about counsel, the nature and major issues of the case, the basis for federal jurisdiction and venue, existing deadlines, scheduled conferences, outstanding motions, appeals, completed and remaining discovery, settlement discussions, possible alternative dispute resolution, estimated trial length, and other information that could help move the case toward settlement or trial.

Other instructions and effect

If the case had already been settled or otherwise terminated, counsel would not need to file the letter or attend the conference if proof of termination was filed on the docket before the deadline. Requests to extend deadlines or adjourn the conference had to be made by letter-motion filed on the electronic docket at least 48 hours before the relevant deadline or conference and had to include the information specified by the court.

This was a case-management and scheduling order. It did not decide the merits of the claims brought by Ethan Ryan Ford and Emilio Gomez, including claims asserted on behalf of Fair Labor Standards Act collective plaintiffs and a class.