The opinion
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF LOUISIANA
THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF CIVIL ACTION
THE PORT OF NEW ORLEANS
NO. 20-2179
VERSUS
SECTION: “G”
M/V CMA CGM BIANCA et al.
ORDER AND REASONS
This litigation arises from a vessel allision that occurred at a dock facility along the
Mississippi River in New Orleans, Louisiana, resulting in alleged damage to the dock structure
and two loading cranes owned by Plaintiff The Board and Commissioners of the Port of New
Orleans (“Plaintiff”).1 On October 22, 2020, a Scheduling Order was issued.2 Before the Court is
the “Motion to Continue Trial and Pretrial Deadlines” filed by Teucarrier (No. 3) Corp., appearing
in personam and as claimant for the in rem Defendant, the M/V CMA CGM Bianca (collectively,
“Defendants”).3 Considering the motion, the memoranda in support and in opposition, the record,
and the applicable law, the Court grants the motion.
I. Background
A. Factual Background
In the complaint, Plaintiff avers that the M/V CMA CGM Bianca, a vessel allegedly owned
by Teucarrier (No. 3) Corp., “allided with [Plaintiff]’s dock structure and two (2) loading cranes”
1 Rec. Doc. 1 at 2.
2 Rec. Doc. 26.
3 Rec. Doc. 29.
on August 2, 2020, while conducting cargo operations at the Nashville Avenue Terminal.4 Plaintiff
asserts that this allision caused significant damage and would require the Nashville Avenue
Terminal to be closed for repairs for a “substantial amount of time.”5
B. Procedural Background
On August 4, 2020, Plaintiff filed a Complaint in this Court.6 Defendants answered the
Complaint and filed a counterclaim against Plaintiff.7 Additionally, Defendants filed a Third-Party
Complaint and Rule 14(c) tender against Ports America Louisiana, LLC (“Ports America”).8
On August 16, 2021, Defendants filed the instant Motion to Continue.9 Plaintiff filed its
opposition on August 31, 2021.10 On September 9, 2021, with leave of Court, Defendants filed
their reply memorandum in further support of the Motion.11
II. Parties’ Arguments
A. Defendants’ Arguments in Support of the Motion to Continue
In the Motion, Defendants seek to “reset the trial date and pre-trial deadlines.”12 In support
of the Motion, Defendants assert that “[n]o party will suffer substantial injury if the case is
4 Rec. Doc. 1 at 2.
5 Id. at 3.
6 Rec. Doc. 1.
7 Rec. Doc. 10.
8 Rec. Doc. 12.
9 Rec. Doc. 29.
10 Rec. Doc. 35.
11 Rec. Docs. 37, 38.
12 Rec. Doc. 29.
continued.”13 Defendants aver that the underlying incident “occurred approximately one year ago”
and that this action was “commenced just two days later.”14
Additionally, Defendants submit that a related proceeding before this Court bears on the
merits of granting a continuance of the trial.15 Defendants assert that Darre Finney (“Finney”), the
alleged operator of Crane No. 6, filed a claim against the Port of New Orleans for injuries arising
out of this incident.16 Recently, in that case, Finney moved to remand the action to state court,
which Defendants oppose, and Defendants moved to consolidate that case with the instant case.17
Those motions remain pending.18 Defendants contend that, if the two actions are consolidated,
Finney would suffer no prejudice from the trial in this case being continued, “and the Court would
no doubt reset the cases for a single trial.”19
Next, Defendants assert that they would be prejudiced if the trial were not continued
because they would be forced to defend against an unknown and unquantified claim for damages.20
Defendants aver that, “despite diligent efforts to move this case forward by all parties,” Plaintiff
has not responded to Defendants’ “outstanding discovery requests seeking information and
13 Rec. Doc. 29-1 at 6.
14 Id. at 6.
15 Id. at 5, 7.
16 Id. at 5. See also Finney v. Bd. of Comm’rs of the Port of New Orleans, Case No. 21-1186, Rec. Doc. 1-1
at 3.
17 Rec. Doc. 29-1 at 5. See also Finney, Case No. 21-1186, Rec. Docs. 9, 15, 16, 25.
18 Rec. Doc. 29-1 at 5. See also Finney, Case No. 21-1186, Rec. Docs. 9, 25.
19 Rec. Doc. 29-1 at 7.
20 Id. at 7.
documentation about [Plaintiff]’s damages claim.”21 Specifically, Defendants assert that Plaintiff
has not provided any discovery responsive to the amount and dates of Plaintiff’s claimed
damages.22 Defendants aver that, “with discovery and expert report deadlines quickly approaching
. . . there is not sufficient time to take the needed discovery” to adequately defend Plaintiff’s
damages claims.23 Thus, Defendants argue that they will suffer “substantial prejudice” without a
continuance.24
Finally, Defendants assert that, in granting a continuance, the inconvenience to the Court
would be “slight.”25 In support, Defendants note that this case is “relatively new” because “the
underlying events . . . occurr[ed] about one year ago.”26 Moreover, Defendants assert that “the
chances that this matter could be amicably settled” would be greatly increased once Plaintiff’s
damages claims are quantified.27 Accordingly, Defendants assert that they have shown good cause
for the Court to continue the trial date and associated pre-trial deadlines.28 Third-Party Defendant
Ports America “agrees that a continuance is in order.”29
21 Id. at 7–8.
22 Id. at 2–4, 7–8.
23 Id. at 8.
24 Id. Defendants also argue that, if this Court grants the pending Motion to Consolidate in Case No. 21-1186,
the current deadlines would be unworkable for those newly added parties. Id. at 8–9.
25 Id. at 9.
26 Id. at 9.
27 Id.
28 Id.
29 Rec. Doc. 29-1 at 1.
B. Plaintiff’s Arguments in Opposition to the Motion to Continue
Plaintiff opposes the Motion.30 In opposition, Plaintiff argues that it has identified
numerous witnesses with discoverable information to support Plaintiff’s claim for damages.31
Plaintiff contends that “knowing the exact dollar amount” of Plaintiff’s damages is not necessary
for Defendants to proceed with discovery and depositions.32 Plaintiff asserts that Defendants’
claimed “need for further written discovery ignores the extensive written discovery that has already
taken place.”33 Moreover, Plaintiff represents that it has “provided a chart summarizing its specific
damages figure” to Defendants, and, thus, Defendants “have the information that they allege
warrants a continuance.”34
Next, Plaintiff asserts that Defendants do not need a continuance of the trial to adequately
defend Plaintiff’s damages claim, because Plaintiff agreed to a six week continuance of the expert
deadline.35 Plaintiff argues that this continuance alone would be “more than enough time” for the
parties to prepare for trial.36
As to the good cause standard under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 16, Plaintiff submits
that Defendants have not shown good cause.37 First, Plaintiff asserts that Defendants now have the
30 Rec. Doc. 35.
31 Id. at 2.
32 Id. at 3.
33 Id. at 4.
34 Id.
35 Id.
36 Id.
37 Id. at 5.
supporting documentation of Plaintiff’s damages claim.38 Second, Plaintiff avers that it will be
prejudiced if the trial is continued because it will delay Plaintiff’s ability to collect damages from
Defendants.39
Additionally, Plaintiff argues that it is improper for Defendants to cite to and rely on the
pending Motion to Remand and Motion to Consolidate in Finney, because it “presupposes the
Court’s eventual ruling on those pending motions.”40 Plaintiff contests that its opposition to the
Motion to Remand is implicit support for the Motion to Consolidate or a continuance in this
matter.41
Finally, “if the Court is inclined to consider a continuance,” then Plaintiff requests that the
Court instead bifurcate the trial into separate liability and damages trials and preserve the
November 15, 2021 trial date.42 In support, Plaintiff asserts that Defendants “do not allege in their
Motion that additional discovery regarding liability issues is needed.”43 Plaintiff argues that
bifurcation would both provide Defendants more time to address Plaintiff’s damages claims and
promote an amicable settlement once the issue of liability is determined.44 As to Defendants’
argument that the issues of liability and damages overlap, Plaintiff asserts that Defendants can only
provide a “single example” of that overlap.45 Thus, Plaintiff requests that the Court deny
38 Id.
39 Id. at 5–6.
40 Id. at 6.
41 Id.
42 Id. at 7.
43 Id.
44 Id.
45 Id. at 7–8. See also Rec. Doc. 29-1 at 4 n.2 (opposing bifurcation on the basis that “issues of liability and
Defendants’ Motion, or, alternatively, bifurcate the trial and maintain the November 15, 2021 trial
date.46
C. Defendants’ Further Arguments in Support of the Motion to Continue
In response, Defendants assert that Plaintiff’s “tactic” of “waiting until August 16 and 20[,
2021]” to provide documentation of its damages has left Defendants with “virtually no time” to
review and address Plaintiff’s claims for damages.47
As to Plaintiff’s arguments that Defendants have not shown good cause for a continuance,
Defendants assert that Plaintiff cannot claim prejudice if the trial is continued because Plaintiff
caused the delays in turning over information about its claimed damages.48 Defendants argue this
delay is contrary to Plaintiff’s obligation under Rule 26 to provided Defendants with information
about damages “at the outset of litigation.”49 Instead, Defendants assert that Plaintiff waited until
discovery was coming to a close to provide the information.50 Defendants assert that the invoices
provided by Plaintiff “are dated a year or months prior to the date they were produced.”51
Additionally, Defendants assert that the information Plaintiff provided is “incomplete” because it
“does not include any proofs of payment.”52 Finally, Defendants argue that Plaintiff cannot claim
damages overlap”).
46 Rec. Doc. 35 at 8.
47 Rec. Doc. 38 at 1–2.
48 Id. at 2–3.
49 Id. at 3.
50 Id.
51 Id. at 5.
52 Id. Defendants note that Plaintiff contests it is required to show proof of payment. Id.
substantial injury from a continuance because Plaintiff is claiming prejudgment interest.53
Next, Defendants re-iterate that they would suffer prejudice if a continuance were denied.54
Defendants assert that Plaintiff’s damages information remains incomplete.55 Defendants contend
that the witnesses identified by Plaintiff as having discoverable information about damages could
not provide a claim calculation.56 Moreover, Defendants assert that, in the same document
identifying those witnesses, Plaintiff alleged that a claim calculation would be “premature.”57
Defendants also assert that their purported delay in taking depositions was “directly attributable to
[Plaintiff]’s failure to produce documents and answer questions about the claim.”58
Finally, Defendants re-assert that a continuance would cause only “slight” inconvenience
to the Court.59 Defendants aver that “continuing the trial will give the parties the opportunity to
determine whether settlement is possible.”60 Moreover, Defendants argue that Plaintiff’s
bifurcation request “tacitly acknowledges” that this case is not ready to proceed to trial.61
Defendants assert that a bifurcated trial would “greatly increase[] the chances that the parties will
be unable to settle their differences until a full trial on liability occurs.”62 Thus, Defendants submit
53 Id.
54 Id.
55 Id.
56 Id. at 5–6.
57 Id. at 6.
58 Id.
59 Id. at 8.
60 Id.
61 Id.
62 Id.
that good cause exists for a continuance of the trial date and pretrial deadlines.63
III. Law and Analysis
Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 16(b) provides that once a scheduling order has been
entered, it “may be modified only for good cause and with the judge’s consent.”64 The party
seeking a modification “carries the burden of demonstrating good cause.”65 “The good cause
standard requires the ‘party seeking relief to show that the deadlines cannot reasonably be met
despite the diligence of the party needing the extension.’”66As the Fifth Circuit has explained, the
four factors bearing on good cause under Rule 16(b) are: “(1) the explanation for the failure to
timely [comply with the scheduling order]; (2) the importance of the [modification]; (3) potential
prejudice in allowing the [modification]; and (4) the availability of a continuance to cure such
prejudice.”67
Looking to the factors, the Court finds that Defendants have shown good cause to continue
the trial. Plaintiff offers no explanation for why it waited until near the close of discovery to
disclose to Defendants the quantum of damages it had incurred from the incident and from
Plaintiff’s repair efforts. Although the damage assessment may have been “ongoing,” Plaintiff is
under a continuing obligation to update its initial disclosures “in a timely manner” when it “learns
63 Id. at 9.
64 Fed. R. Civ. P. 16(b)(4).
65 Yuspeh v. State Farm Fire & Cas. Co., No. 07-9491, 2008 WL 4758627, at *2 (E.D. La. Oct. 29, 2008)
(Africk, J.).
66 Sw. Bell Tel. Co. v. City of El Paso, 346 F.3d 541, 546 (5th Cir. 2003) (quoting S&W Enters., L.L.C. v.
SouthTrust Bank of Ala., NA, 315 F.3d 533, 535 (5th Cir. 2003); 6A Charles Alan Wright et al., Federal Practice and
Procedure § 1522.1 (2d ed. 1990)).
67 Squyres v. Heico Cos., 782 F.3d 224, 237 (5th Cir. 2015) (citing Meaux Surface Prot., Inc. v. Fogleman,
607 F.3d 161, 167 (5th Cir. 2010)).
that in some material respect the disclosure or response is incomplete.”®
Moreover, Defendants have shown the importance of the continuance. Continuing the trial
will allow Defendants to adequately prepare for a single and complete trial, rather than two
separate trials on liability and damages. Additionally, now that Defendants have more complete
information about the quantum of damages, the parties may be better able to reach a compromise,
especially considering the difference in the security provided (approximately $18 million) and
Plaintiffs summary of damage claim amounts (approximately $4 million). Likewise, the Court
finds that Defendants would suffer substantial prejudice if they were required to complete
discovery in the limited time remaining because of Plaintiffs late disclosure. Finally, Plaintiff has
not shown that it would be unduly prejudiced by a continuance.
IV. Conclusion
For the foregoing reasons,
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that Defendants’ “Motion to Continue Trial and Pretrial
Deadlines””° is GRANTED.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the parties contact the Court’s case manager within
fourteen days of the date of this Order to schedule a new trial date and related deadlines.
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA, this _ Sth day of October, 2021.
drereste: eluate B.
CHIEF JUDGE
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
68 See Rec. Doc. 29-2 at 4 (Plaintiff's Initial Disclosures); Rec. Doc. 35 at 5 (Plaintiff's Opposition); Fed. R.
Civ. P. 26(e)(1)(a).
69 See Rec. Does. 35 at 2; 35-3 at 1.
7 Rec. Doc. 29.
10