Free Motion to Dismiss - Rule 41(b) - District Court of Federal Claims - federal

Case 1:01-cv-00495-EGB

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IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF FEDERAL CLAIMS KENT CHRISTOFFERSON, et al., Plaintiffs, v. THE UNITED STATES, Defendant. ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

No. 01-495C (Judge Bruggink)

DEFENDANT'S UNOPPOSED MOTION TO DISMISS WITH PREJUDICE CLAIMS OF CALIFORNIA PLAINTIFFS AND CONSENTERS Pursuant to RCFC 41(b), defendant, the United States, respectfully requests the Court to dismiss, with prejudice, the claims of all consenters from the Concord, California Local Census Office ("LCO"), who failed to report for their depositions or respond to interrogatories; and the claims of Stephen Ryerson and Marcus Ortiz, who have since represented that they do not wish to pursue their claims. BACKGROUND This case purports to be a collective action brought by former employees of the Bureau of the Census alleging claims for unpaid overtime pursuant to the Fair Labor Standards Act, 29 U.S.C. § 207, et seq. These former employees performed field duties during the 2000 decennial census. They worked in Local Census Offices throughout the United States. In May 2003, the Court ordered the parties to prepare for trial the claims of all consenters who had worked in the Concord, California LCO. The close of discovery and trial date on these claims were originally set for August 2003. Thereafter, those dates were extended. A final trial date was set for March 29 - April 2, 2004. Discovery closed by March 22, 2004. During the discovery period, both parties exchanged interrogatories and document requests and conducted depositions. Defendant served interrogatories and document requests on

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all consenters from the Concord, CA LCO. Despite allowing the plaintiffs ample time to respond, some of the consenters responded to the written discovery. Defendant served notices of deposition on each of those who had responded to written discovery. Not all of the consenters who had responded to written discovery appeared for their depositions. In fact, some consenters scheduled and rescheduled their depositions, failing to appear on the scheduled date without notice to defendants. DISCUSSION RCFC 41(b) specifies that upon failure to "comply with these rules or any order of court," a plaintiff may be dismissed. The dismissal may result from a defendant's motion or it may be entered sua sponte. The United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit affirmed a sua sponte dismissal in Kadin Corp. v. United States, 782 F.2d 175, 176 (Fed. Cir. 1986), cert. denied, 106 S. Ct. 2895 (1986). In that case, this Court, sua sponte, dismissed the plaintiff's case for failure to prosecute, after plaintiff responded to the court's show cause order one day after the due date. On appeal, the court of appeals found no abuse of discretion, explaining: Although dismissal is a harsh sanction, we cannot say that the Claims Court abused its discretion in dismissing the complaint here. As noted the Appellant repeatedly and without valid justification ignored both court-imposed deadlines and court rules. The appellant's entire course of conduct reflected a callous disregard for the rules and regulations of the court and fell far short of the obligations an attorney owes to a court before which he is conducting litigation. 782 F.2d at 176. The Supreme Court also has recognized the necessity of this sanction in Link v. Wabash R.R. Co., 370 U.S. 626, 629, reh'g denied, 371 U.S. 873 (1962): The authority of a federal trial court to dismiss a plaintiff's action -2-

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with prejudice because of his failure to prosecute cannot seriously be doubted. The power to invoke this sanction is necessary in order to prevent undue delays in the disposition of pending cases and to avoid congestion in calendars of the District Courts. The practicality of this holding has been echoed repeatedly by federal appeals courts in dismissing the action of a party whose course of conduct prevents the resolution of the case: If Claims Court judges are to discharge their heavy responsibilities effectively, their power to dismiss, in situations such as the one before us, must be more than theoretical. Kadin Corp. v. United States, 782 F.2d at 177, quoting Automated Datatron Inc. v. Woodcock, 659 F.2d 1168, 1170 (D.C. Cir. 1981). By failing to participate in the litigation of their claims within the ample period set by the Court, these Concord consenters who failed to respond fully to discovery have failed to prosecute their claims. Stephen Ryerson and Marcus Ortiz, have explicitly stated their intent to no longer pursue their claims ­ Mr. Ryerson did so when he appeared for his deposition in 2004 and Mr. Ortiz did so recently when discussing settlement with his attorneys. A complete list of the consenters whose claims should be dismissed with prejudice because of their failure to participate in this action are attached hereto as Exhibit A. CONCLUSION For these reasons, defendant respectfully requests that the Court dismiss with prejudice the claims of the consenters listed in Exhibit A as well as the claims of Stephen Ryerson and Marcus Ortiz.

Respectfully submitted, PETER D. KEISLER Assistant Attorney General -3-

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JEANNE E. DAVIDSON Director OF COUNSEL: RAYNA G. ELLER, ESQ. Senior Attorney Office of the General Counsel Department of Commerce Bureau of the Census Suitland MD 20746-24 STEVEN J. GILLINGHAM Assistant Director Commercial Litigation Branch Civil Division Department of Justice 1100 L St. NW Attn: Classification Unit 8th Floor Washington, D.C. 20530 Tele: (202) 616-2311 Attorneys for Defendant September 7, 2007

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CERTIFICATE OF FILING I hereby certify that on September 10, 2007, a copy of the foregoing was filed electronically. I understand that notice of this filing will be sent to all parties by operation of the Court's electronic filing system. Parties may access this filing through the Court's system. s/ Steven J. Gillingham

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ATTACHMENT (List of Concord Plaintiffs To Be Dismissed By Filing Set and Bates Number) Name Sharon James Edward Joseph Marheysha Nicholas Jared Margarita Harold Glenda Travis Frank Charles Marilynne Tracy Lynne Joy Victor Gabriel Louis Sheena Tasha Anita Virgilio James Vivian Theresa Vicki Frederick Warren Maria William Loretta Violeta Brandy Rhonda Jessica Brenda Sue Dewayne Eugene Elizabeth Joseph M.I. L. D. F. A. Last Name Baldwin Barkley Barreuther Bennett Bilal Biondi Crabtree Delgado Douros Driggers Gaskin Grimley Maxwell Mellander Muldrow Oliver Roush Ryerson Sandoval Schrepel Scott Slaughter Stamps Vestal Zand Amachree Anderson Autumn Baker Barney Bartlow Becker Benavides Bigornia Bingham Borreani Cabaddu CarrollCarlson Chambers Coleman De Lance Dickey Dominguez Bates Number 000039 000042 000043 000052 000056 000057 000100 000113 000121 000122 000152 000161 000256 000266 000278 000288 000320 000325 000330 000333 000336 000348 000361 000393 000428 000435 000436 000440 000444 000447 000448 000449 000451 000455 000456 000458 000461 000467 000469 000474 000486 000491 000495 Set Set 1 Set 1 Set 1 Set 1 Set 1 Set 1 Set 1 Set 1 Set 1 Set 1 Set 1 Set 1 Set 1 Set 1 Set 1 Set 1 Set 1 Set 1 Set 1 Set 1 Set 1 Set 1 Set 1 Set 1 Set 1 Set 2 Set 2 Set 2 Set 2 Set 2 Set 2 Set 2 Set 2 Set 2 Set 2 Set 2 Set 2 Set 2 Set 2 Set 2 Set 2 Set 2 Set 2 Date of Filing 2/15/02 2/15/02 2/15/02 2/15/02 2/15/02 2/15/02 2/15/02 2/15/02 2/15/02 2/15/02 2/15/02 2/15/02 2/15/02 2/15/02 2/15/02 2/15/02 2/15/02 2/15/02 2/15/02 2/15/02 2/15/02 2/15/02 2/15/02 2/15/02 2/15/02 2/15/02 2/15/02 2/15/02 2/15/02 2/15/02 2/15/02 2/15/02 2/15/02 2/15/02 2/15/02 2/15/02 2/15/02 2/15/02 2/15/02 2/15/02 2/15/02 2/15/02 2/15/02

P. C. C. W. R. J. L. C. D. M. W. M. Nicole J.

T. I.

B. H. A. B. L.

C. E.

A. A. D.

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Name James Collin Lucilia Carol Gerthe Pamela Willie Jason Robyn Brenda Elliot Arlene Ronald Darlene Carolyn James Stephen Julie Deborah Sheri Mary Patrick Olga Lillean Shawona Donald Duncan Fredda Pamela Chat Jerome Rochelle Marcus Nancy Jennifer Damarys Dione F.

M.I.

Last Name Dugan Farr Fauolo Ferrara Fitzwater Ford Foster Fox Garcia Gayles Gelb Grimes Hamilton Harris Hill Horton, Jr. Hung Huy Jessee Johnson Jones Kidwell Lara Leite Lillard Limas Mac Kellar Matthews Meeds Mingkwan Nedd Oldfield Ortiz Palmer Purzycki Rivas ShelbourneThomas SnipesObinna Song Tillman Traylor Truog

Bates Number 000499 000502 000503 000505 000507 000508 000509 000510 000513 000515 000516 000523 000525 000528 000534 000539 000543 000544 000550 000555 000558 000560 000569 000576 000581 000582 000588 000593 000598 000599 000604 000608 000610 000613 000622 000631 000640

Set Set 2 Set 2 Set 2 Set 2 Set 2 Set 2 Set 2 Set 2 Set 2 Set 2 Set 2 Set 2 Set 2 Set 2 Set 2 Set 2 Set 2 Set 2 Set 2 Set 2 Set 2 Set 2 Set 2 Set 2 Set 2 Set 2 Set 2 Set 2 Set 2 Set 2 Set 2 Set 2 Set 2 Set 2 Set 2 Set 2 Set 2

Date of Filing 2/15/02 2/15/02 2/15/02 2/15/02 2/15/02 2/15/02 2/15/02 2/15/02 2/15/02 2/15/02 2/15/02 2/15/02 2/15/02 2/15/02 2/15/02 2/15/02 2/15/02 2/15/02 2/15/02 2/15/02 2/15/02 2/15/02 2/15/02 2/15/02 2/15/02 2/15/02 2/15/02 2/15/02 2/15/02 2/15/02 2/15/02 2/15/02 2/15/02 2/15/02 2/15/02 2/15/02 2/15/02

B. S. S. B. S. M. D. S. J. L.

R. L.

A. R. L. H. D. A.

S. L. J.

Tina Joon Linda Christine Kathy

000645 000647 000657 000659 000661

Set 2 Set 2 Set 2 Set 2 Set 2

2/15/02 2/15/02 2/15/02 2/15/02 2/15/02

K. J. Parsons

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Name Lisa Pauline Theresa Joseph Terrell Alice Paul Paul Ingrid Vicki Diane Larry Verna Frank Cathleen Robert Clarence Carlene Rosie Robert Troy Melissa Barbara Kimberly Mary William Francis Marianela Jeffrey Maurice Kathryn Katherine Agustin Vickie Karen Pamela Kimberly April Sadie Maria Kristen Magda Michael John Lisa Loreon Lisa Mona Brooke Ener

M.I.

Last Name Weatherly

Bates Number 000669 000670 000671 000672 000674 000675 000676 000678 000682 000683 000687 000691 000705 000706 000711 000719 000720 000723 000732 000735 000737 000738 000739 000748 000751 000761 000763 000765 000766 000767 000771 000775 000782 000791 000792 000795 000796 000808 000811 000813 000825 000829 000831 000833 000835 000841 000844 000848 000852 000858 -3-

Set Set 2 Set 2 Set 2 Set 2 Set 2 Set 2 Set 2 Set 2 Set 3 Set 3 Set 3 Set 3 Set 3 Set 3 Set 3 Set 3 Set 3 Set 3 Set 3 Set 3 Set 3 Set 3 Set 3 Set 3 Set 3 Set 3 Set 3 Set 3 Set 3 Set 3 Set 3 Set 3 Set 3 Set 3 Set 3 Set 3 Set 3 Set 3 Set 3 Set 3 Set 4 Set 4 Set 4 Set 4 Set 4 Set 4 Set 4 Set 4 Set 4 Set 4

Date of Filing 2/15/02 2/15/02 2/15/02 2/15/02 2/15/02 2/15/02 2/15/02 2/15/02 2/26/02 2/26/02 2/26/02 2/26/02 2/26/02 2/26/02 2/26/02 2/26/02 2/26/02 2/26/02 2/26/02 2/26/02 2/26/02 2/26/02 2/26/02 2/26/02 2/26/02 2/26/02 2/26/02 2/26/02 2/26/02 2/26/02 2/26/02 2/26/02 2/26/02 2/26/02 2/26/02 2/26/02 2/26/02 2/26/02 2/26/02 2/26/02 2/26/02 2/26/02 2/26/02 2/26/02 2/26/02 2/26/02 2/26/02 2/26/02 2/26/02 2/26/02

T. A. E. J. A. K. J. A. L. R. O. L. J. V. K. J.

L. R. F. G.

E. J. R. K.

M. J. L. M. L. E. E. F. J. C. J. N.

Webber Wenger Wilson Woodard Wright Wright Yee Alvarez Autrey Barclay Bernstein Castro Chao Daffer Doolittle Durant Einevoll Gardner Halpin Harper Harris Hartman Jenkins Jones Longmire Lynch MarshallDiaz Marzluft McCarthy Melone Murphy Nodal Price Puckett Reim Roberts Smith Stull Urena Anderson Bazalar Bomagat Borden Bowers Callahan Castro Clark Colwell Cueva

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Name Lolita Cecelia Michelle

M.I. M. L.

Last Name Cueva Dawson Elliott (fka Dethke) Fisher Goodman Havlovick Holden Houze Johnsen Jones Karinen Katz Lindemann Mariani Miles Mollenbernd Moore, Jr.

Bates Number 000859 000860 000865

Set Set 4 Set 4 Set 4

Date of Filing 2/26/02 2/26/02 2/26/02

Jessica David Barbara Sandra Danny Jana Sheila Valerie Jean-Pierre Elsie Jane June Deloris Mark Claire Ruby Raymond Anita Na'Imah Khadijah Johnnie Laura Adrienne Isabel Monica Cassandra John Scott Susan Eric Felicia Michael Lawrence Diane James Shawn

C. W. A. O. B. L. D.

000871 000877 000885 000891 000893 000898 000899 000902 000903 000917 000920 000928 000932 000933 000937 000942 000953 000958 000962 000963 000972 000975 000976 000978 000980 000985 000986 000991 001003 001005 001019 001021 001022 001029 001032 001033

Set 4 Set 4 Set 4 Set 4 Set 4 Set 4 Set 4 Set 4 Set 4 Set 4 Set 4 Set 4 Set 4 Set 4 Set 4 Set 4 Set 4 Set 4 Set 4 Set 4 Set 4 Set 4 Set 4 Set 4 Set 4 Set 4 Set 4 Set 4 Set 5 Set 5 Set 5 Set 5 Set 5 Set 5 Set 5 Set 5

2/26/02 2/26/02 2/26/02 2/26/02 2/26/02 2/26/02 2/26/02 2/26/02 2/26/02 2/26/02 2/26/02 2/26/02 2/26/02 2/26/02 2/26/02 2/26/02 2/26/02 2/26/02 2/26/02 2/26/02 2/26/02 2/26/02 2/26/02 2/26/02 2/26/02 2/26/02 2/26/02 2/26/02 3/5/02 3/5/02 3/5/02 3/5/02 3/5/02 3/5/02 3/5/02 3/5/02

E. C. F. A.

L. A. M. A. M.

Nims Overton Reisen Rodriguez Salahudin Sami Starr Thom de Perez Thomas Tsang Valencia Walker Walker Weston Abbott Alexander Burrell Calica Cecchini Cordell Dean DeLaTorre

L.

L. C. H. L. D. R. D. R. F. P.

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Name Anna Freda Sh'Vaughn Richard Ralph Jeanne Maria Toots Cheryl Natasha Mareatha Cornelia Debbie B.J. Hasina Joshua John Peter Jody(Johann a Paulette Barbara Lary Darlene Doyle Garrett Genevia Denise Jacqueline Clovetta Lavory Carol Elba Leroy Norita Eric Stephanie Clarence John Ronda Cindy Edward

M.I. M. E. P.

Last Name Evans Evans Heath Horn Howard Keef Madrid McDonough McGrath Parra RigginsHarris ScottBenjamin Smith Spencer Talbert Tiffee Wheaton Wu Zweers Bretan Buckley Buckley Dehn Dunham Griffiths Hernandez Justice Linn Mack Manuel McAfee Soto Urenda West Besag Cezario Cormier Hart Hart Rose Thompson

Bates Number 001037 001038 001044 001048 001049 001054 001062 001064 001065 001074 001077 001086 001088 001090 001094 001096 001103 001107 001108 001111 001114 001115 001125 001126 001136 001139 001142 001147 001149 001153 001154 001168 001171 001174 001181 001182 001186 001189 001190 001213 001215

Set Set 5 Set 5 Set 5 Set 5 Set 5 Set 5 Set 5 Set 5 Set 5 Set 5 Set 5 Set 5 Set 5 Set 5 Set 5 Set 5 Set 5 Set 5 Set 5 Set 6 Set 6 Set 6 Set 6 Set 6 Set 6 Set 6 Set 6 Set 6 Set 6 Set 6 Set 6 Set 6 Set 6 Set 6 Set 7 Set 7 Set 7 Set 7 Set 7 Set 7 Set 7

Date of Filing 3/5/02 3/5/02 3/5/02 3/5/02 3/5/02 3/5/02 3/5/02 3/5/02 3/5/02 3/5/02 3/5/02 3/5/02 3/5/02 3/5/02 3/5/02 3/5/02 3/5/02 3/5/02 3/5/02 3/19/02 3/19/02 3/19/02 3/19/02 3/19/02 3/19/02 3/19/02 3/19/02 3/19/02 3/19/02 3/19/02 3/19/02 3/19/02 3/19/02 3/19/02 4/2/02 4/2/02 4/2/02 4/2/02 4/2/02 4/2/02 4/2/02

A. S. K. V. L. M.

L.

G. J. R. E. P. R. L.

A. O. J. C. C. N. A. R. J. W.

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Name Hjalmar Jeanne Michelle Edith Gregory J Anna M Lynett P Walter Lemelle Gloria Wendy Pamela Jeannine Paul Robert Total

M.I. A.

Last Name Isabelle, Jr. Keef Francis Henderson Brock Avant Wilson Williams Ingrid Ousborn Cooper Cecchini Sue Harper Leighten

Bates Number 001241 001276 001355 002333 002536 002785 002791 003397 004690 007697 007751 07812 07813 07814 07826

Set Set 8 Set 9 Set 11 Set 13 Set 14 Set 15 Set 15 Set 16 Set 20 Set 28 Set 32 Set 38 Set 38 Set 38 Set 41

Date of Filing 4/9/02 4/16/02 4/2902 5/16/02 5/29/02 6/11/02 6/11/02 6/19/02 7/23/02 11/22/02 6/9/03 9/22/03 9/22/03 9/22/03 10/31/03

E.

L J. W. L 230

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