Judge: Elaine Lu, Case: BC714168, Date: 2025-05-22 Tentative Ruling

Case Number: BC714168    Hearing Date: May 22, 2025    Dept: 9

The Court has reviewed the Joint Status Report filed on 5/15/25.

In their Joint Status Report, the parties indicate that Defendant has agreed to produce payroll and timekeeping records for putative class members prior to an anticipated mediation which the parties are seeking to reschedule to occur in August 2025.  To the extent that classwide documents and data are produced in advance of mediation, the Parties agree that such materials may be used for litigation purposes.  The Court encourages (but does not require or order) the parties to include a verification with each production of discovery so that if the mediation is unsuccessful, the parties will not have to duplicate or repeat this exchange of discovery.

The Joint Statement indicates that in the event that the anticipated mediation is unsuccessful, the only remaining piece of formal discovery will be the deposition of Defendant’s Person Most Qualified, which will be scheduled to take place immediately following mediation, if necessary.

By no later than 8/29/25, the parties must file a further Joint Status Report re mediation efforts.  The non-appearance case review re mediation efforts is continued to 9/8/25 at 8:30 am in Department 9 at the Spring Street Courthouse.

The Parties do not oppose setting October 30, 2025 as the deadline for Plaintiff to file the motion for class certification.  Accordingly, the Court hereby sets October 30, 2025 as a firm deadline for Plaintiff to file the motion for class certification.  In light of the age of the case, the Court is not inclined to extend this deadline absent an affirmative showing of good cause, including evidence demonstrating unanticipated and unavoidable delay for preparing such motion.

By no later than 10/30/25, Plaintiff must file his motion for class certification.  The Court hereby sets a non-appearance case review re filing of motion for class certification for 11/6/25 at 8:30 am in Department 9 at the Spring Street Courthouse.

The Court reminds the parties that they must contact the JA in Department 9 to obtain a hearing date and briefing schedule for any motion, including any motion for class certification or any motion for approval of class action settlement.

Plaintiff is ordered to give formal notice to all parties and file proof of service of such.