Reynoso v. Dreamland Security Services Inc.

Nature of the Order

This is a notice of reassignment and case-management order. The case was reassigned to Jessica G. L. Clarke, United States District Judge. The opinion does not state the underlying claims, the defendants’ defenses, or the parties’ positions on the merits.

Deadlines and Conference

Unless the court later ordered otherwise, all existing dates and deadlines remained in effect after reassignment. The court rescheduled the post-discovery conference for November 30, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. The conference was to be held before Judge Clarke through Microsoft Teams.

Required Joint Letter

The parties were ordered to file a joint letter on the electronic docket by September 8, 2023. The letter could not exceed five pages, although an appendix containing lengthy jurisdictional information would not count toward that limit. The letter had to address:

- counsel’s names and current contact information; - the nature of the case, principal defenses, and major legal and factual issues; - why federal jurisdiction and venue were proper, including required citizenship information for entities in diversity cases; - all existing deadlines and cutoff dates; - previously scheduled conferences that had not occurred; - outstanding motions and the relief requested; - pending appeals; - completed and remaining discovery, including depositions and discovery needed for meaningful settlement discussions; - the status of prior settlement discussions without stating exact offers or demands; - whether the parties had considered settlement conferences, the District’s Mediation Program, or a private mediator; - the estimated trial length; and - any other information that could help move the case toward settlement or trial.

If the case had been settled or otherwise terminated, counsel did not have to file the letter or appear at the conference if a stipulation of discontinuance, voluntary dismissal, or other proof of termination was filed on the docket before the conference date.

Extensions and Adjournments

The court stated that a request to extend a deadline or postpone a conference had to be made through a letter-motion filed on the electronic docket at least 48 hours before the deadline or conference. The request had to identify the original and requested new dates, prior extension requests and their outcomes, the reason for the request, the opposing party’s position, and, when relevant, the next scheduled court appearance. Unless the parties were notified that the conference had been postponed, it would occur as scheduled.

Disposition and Classification

The court entered a procedural case-management order. It did not grant or deny a merits motion, dismiss any claim, or decide the underlying legal issues. Judge Clarke ordered the status update and adjusted the conference date while leaving the other deadlines unchanged.