Case: Buckley v. Chicago Tribune, LLC

Buckley v. Chicago Tribune

Buckley v. Chicago Tribune

COMPLAINT filed by Darcel Rockett, Stacey Wescott, Christy Gutowski, Terrence James, Madeline Buckley, Colleen Kujawa, Deanese Williams; Jury Demand. Filing fee $ 405, receipt number AILNDC-21975059. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet)(Cole, Kevin) (Entered: 05/16/2024)

1 Civil Cover Sheet

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MINUTE entry before the Honorable Thomas M. Durkin: By 7/25/2024, the parties are to file a joint status report. The parties may refer to the format detailed on the Court's website under New and Reassigned cases. Mailed notice. (ecw, ) (Entered: 05/16/2024)

case assigned

clerk's notice

CASE ASSIGNED to the Honorable Thomas M. Durkin. Designated as Magistrate Judge the Honorable Gabriel A. Fuentes. Case assignment: Random assignment. (Civil Category 3). (jcc, )

CLERK'S NOTICE: Pursuant to Local Rule 73.1(b), a United States Magistrate Judge of this court is available to conduct all proceedings in this civil action. If all parties consent to have the currently assigned United States Magistrate Judge conduct all proceedings in this case, including trial, the entry of final judgment, and all post-trial proceedings, all parties must sign their names on the attached Consent To form. This consent form is eligible for filing only if executed by all parties. The parties can also express their consent to jurisdiction by a magistrate judge in any joint filing, including the Joint Initial Status Report or proposed Case Management Order. (jcc, )

MOTION for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice Filing fee $ 150, receipt number AILNDC-21982365. (Morrison, Michael) (Entered: 05/19/2024)

MOTION for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice Filing fee $ 150, receipt number AILNDC-21982371. (Gil, Jacqueline) (Entered: 05/19/2024)

MINUTE entry before the Honorable Thomas M. Durkin: Motions to appear pro hac vice 3 4 are granted. Attorneys Michael Morrison and Jacqueline Gil for plaintiffs added. Mailed notice. (ecw, ) (Entered: 05/20/2024)

SUMMONS Issued as to Defendants Alden Global Capital, Chicago Tribune, LLC, Tribune Publishing Company (smb, )

WAIVER OF SERVICE returned executed by Darcel Rockett, Stacey Wescott, Christy Gutowski, Terrence James, Madeline Buckley, Colleen Kujawa, Deanese Williams. Chicago Tribune, LLC waiver sent on 6/13/2024, answer due 8/12/2024. (Cole, Kevin) (Entered: 06/14/2024)

SUMMONS Returned Executed by Darcel Rockett, Stacey Wescott, Christy Gutowski, Terrence James, Madeline Buckley, Colleen Kujawa, Deanese Williams as to Alden Global Capital on 6/12/2024, answer due 7/3/2024. (Cole, Kevin) (Entered: 06/19/2024)

SUMMONS Returned Executed by Darcel Rockett, Stacey Wescott, Christy Gutowski, Terrence James, Madeline Buckley, Colleen Kujawa, Deanese Williams as to Tribune Publishing Company on 6/12/2024, answer due 7/3/2024. (Cole, Kevin) (Entered: 06/19/2024)

ATTORNEY Appearance for Defendant Alden Global Capital by David Andrew Gordon (Gordon, David) (Entered: 07/02/2024)

ATTORNEY Appearance for Defendant Alden Global Capital by Robert Johnson, III (Johnson, Robert) (Entered: 07/02/2024)

NOTIFICATION of Affiliates pursuant to Local Rule 3.2 by Alden Global Capital (Gordon, David) (Entered: 07/02/2024)

MOTION by Defendant Alden Global Capital for extension of time to extend time to respond to complaint (Gordon, David) (Entered: 07/02/2024)

MINUTE entry before the Honorable Thomas M. Durkin: Defendant Alden Global Capital LLC's uncontested motion for extension of time to respond to the complaint 9 is granted. Alden's responsive pleading deadline is extended to 8/12/2024. The 7/25/2024 joint status report deadline is extended to 8/26/2024. Mailed notice. (ecw, ) (Entered: 07/03/2024)

MOTION for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice Filing fee $ 150, receipt number AILNDC-22210024. (Mackay, Aimee) (Entered: 07/03/2024)

MINUTE entry before the Honorable Thomas M. Durkin: Motion to appear pro hac vice 14 is granted. Attorney Aimee Grace Mackay for Alden Global Capital added. Mailed notice. (ecw, ) (Entered: 07/03/2024)

ATTORNEY Appearance for Defendants Chicago Tribune, LLC, Tribune Publishing Company by Andrew S. Rosenman (Rosenman, Andrew) (Entered: 07/03/2024)

MOTION by Defendant Tribune Publishing Company for extension of time to respond to the Complaint (unopposed) (Rosenman, Andrew) (Docket Text Modified by Clerk's Office) Modified on 7/8/2024 (aee, ). (Entered: 07/03/2024)

MINUTE entry before the Honorable Thomas M. Durkin: Unopposed motion for extension of time 17 is granted. Tribune Publishing Company is to file its response to the Complaint by 8/12/2024. Mailed notice. (ecw, ) (Entered: 07/03/2024)

MINUTE entry before the Honorable Thomas M. Durkin: Judge Durkin was a partner at Mayer Brown until January 2013. He is acquainted with and friendly with the defense attorney of record, but is not a close personal friend. This order is entered as a matter of disclosure and the court does not believe it is a basis for recusal. But if any party believes such a motion is appropriate the court will consider it. Mailed notice. (ecw, ) (Entered: 08/07/2024)

MOTION by Defendant Alden Global Capital to dismiss Plaintiffs' complaint (Gordon, David) (Entered: 08/12/2024)

MEMORANDUM by Alden Global Capital in support of motion to dismiss 20 (Gordon, David) (Entered: 08/12/2024)

MOTION by Defendants Chicago Tribune, LLC, Tribune Publishing Company to dismiss and to Strike Class Allegations (Rosenman, Andrew) (Entered: 08/12/2024)

MEMORANDUM by Chicago Tribune, LLC, Tribune Publishing Company in support of motion to dismiss 22 and to Strike Class Allegations (Rosenman, Andrew) (Entered: 08/12/2024)

DECLARATION of Jean Nechvatal regarding memorandum in support of motion 23 (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A, # 2 Exhibit B, # 3 Exhibit C, # 4 Exhibit D, # 5 Exhibit E, # 6 Exhibit F, # 7 Exhibit G)(Rosenman, Andrew) (Entered: 08/12/2024)

MINUTE entry before the Honorable Thomas M. Durkin: The Court enters the following agreed briefing schedule as to the motions to dismiss 20, 22 : Plaintiffs' responses are due by 9/26/2024; Defendants' replies are due by 10/17/2024. Mailed notice. (ecw, ) (Entered: 08/13/2024)

STATUS Report (Joint) by Chicago Tribune, LLC, Tribune Publishing Company (Rosenman, Andrew) (Entered: 08/26/2024)

MINUTE entry before the Honorable Thomas M. Durkin: The Court has reviewed the parties' joint status report 26 . Defendants' request for a stay of discovery pending the Court's ruling on the motions to dismiss needs to be made by a formal motion. Defendants should confer with Plaintiffs before filing such a motion, and if Plaintiffs oppose a stay, the parties should propose a briefing schedule on the motion. Mailed notice. (ecw, ) (Entered: 08/30/2024)

MEMORANDUM by Madeline Buckley, Christy Gutowski, Terrence James, Colleen Kujawa, Darcel Rockett, Stacey Wescott, Deanese Williams in Opposition to motion to dismiss 20 (Attachments: # 1 Declaration OF MICHAEL MORRISON IN OPPOSITION TO DEFENDANTS CHICAGO TRIBUNE, LLC, TRIBUNE PUBLISHING COMPANY, AND ALDEN GLOBAL CAPITAL'S MOTION TO DISMISS AND MOTION TO STRIKE)(Morrison, Michael) (Entered: 09/26/2024)

MEMORANDUM by Madeline Buckley, Christy Gutowski, Terrence James, Colleen Kujawa, Darcel Rockett, Stacey Wescott, Deanese Williams in Opposition to motion to dismiss 22 (Attachments: # 1 Declaration OF MICHAEL MORRISON IN OPPOSITION TO DEFENDANTS CHICAGO TRIBUNE, LLC, TRIBUNE PUBLISHING COMPANY, AND ALDEN GLOBAL CAPITAL'S MOTION TO DISMISS AND MOTION TO STRIKE)(Morrison, Michael) (Entered: 09/26/2024)

RESPONSE by Madeline Buckley, Christy Gutowski, Terrence James, Colleen Kujawa, Darcel Rockett, Stacey Wescott, Deanese Williamsin Opposition to MOTION by Defendant Alden Global Capital to dismiss Plaintiffs' complaint 20, MOTION by Defendants Chicago Tribune, LLC, Tribune Publishing Company to dismiss and to Strike Class Allegations 22 REQUEST FOR JUDICIAL NOTICE (Attachments: # 1 Declaration OF MICHAEL MORRISON IN OPPOSITION TO DEFENDANTS CHICAGO TRIBUNE, LLC, TRIBUNE PUBLISHING COMPANY, AND ALDEN GLOBAL CAPITAL'S MOTION TO DISMISS AND MOTION TO STRIKE)(Morrison, Michael) (Entered: 09/26/2024)

MEMORANDUM by Alden Global Capital in support of motion to dismiss 20 (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A)(Gordon, David) (Entered: 10/17/2024)

REPLY by Tribune Publishing Company, Chicago Tribune, LLC to MOTION by Defendants Chicago Tribune, LLC, Tribune Publishing Company to dismiss and to Strike Class Allegations 22 (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A, # 2 Exhibit B)(Rosenman, Andrew) (Entered: 10/17/2024)

MOTION by Plaintiffs Madeline Buckley, Terrence James, Stacey Wescott, Colleen Kujawa, Deanese Williams, Darcel Rockett, Christy Gutowski for leave to file COMPLIANT OPPOSITION BRIEF, OR, IN THE ALTERNATIVE, FILE A BRIEF IN EXCESS OF 15 PAGES (Attachments: # 1 Notice of Filing PLAINTIFFS APPLICATION FOR PERMISSION TO FILE COMPLIANT OPPOSITION BRIEF, OR, IN THE ALTERNATIVE, FILE A BRIEF IN EXCESS OF 15 PAGES, # 2 Declaration PLAINTIFFS APPLICATION FOR PERMISSION TO FILE COMPLIANT OPPOSITION BRIEF, OR, IN THE ALTERNATIVE, FILE A BRIEF IN EXCESS OF 15 PAGES)(Gil, Jacqueline) (Entered: 10/23/2024)

MINUTE entry before the Honorable Thomas M. Durkin: The Court grants Plaintiffs' motion 33 for leave to file a brief in excess of 15 pages. The opposition brief at Dkt No. 29 will stand as filed. By the same token, the Court denies Defendants' request to strike the brief. Although the brief did not comply with Local Rules 5.2(e) and 7.1, and a violation of either of those Local Rules is a sufficient basis for striking a brief in its entirety, striking the brief here would be "a disproportionate response to the nature of the violations at issue." See Young v. Control Sols., LLC, No. 15-CV-3162, 2017 WL 2633679, at *1 (N.D. Ill. June 19, 2017) (declining to strike plaintiff's opposition brief that had line spacing of 1.49 lines). The Court cautions Plaintiffs' counsel, however, that they must comply with all Local Rules moving forward. If Defendants believe they need additional pages to reply to Plaintiffs' opposition brief, they should seek leave to file an amended, enlarged reply or surreply. If Defendants do not seek said leave by 11/5/2024, the Court will consider the briefing complete and rule on the motions to dismiss. Mailed notice. (ecw, ) (Entered: 10/24/2024)

MINUTE entry before the Honorable Thomas M. Durkin: Oral argument on the motions to dismiss set for 1/30/2025 at 10:00 a.m. in courtroom 1441. Mailed notice. (ecw, ) (Entered: 12/19/2024)

ANNUAL REMINDER: Pursuant to Local Rule 3.2 (Notification of Affiliates), any nongovernmental party, other than an individual or sole proprietorship, must file a statement identifying all its affiliates known to the party after diligent review or, if the party has identified no affiliates, then a statement reflecting that fact must be filed. An affiliate is defined as follows: any entity or individual owning, directly or indirectly (through ownership of one or more other entities), 5% or more of a party. The statement is to be electronically filed as a PDF in conjunction with entering the affiliates in CM/ECF as prompted. As a reminder to counsel, parties must supplement their statements of affiliates within thirty (30) days of any change in the information previously reported. This minute order is being issued to all counsel of record to remind counsel of their obligation to provide updated information as to additional affiliates if such updating is necessary. If counsel has any questions regarding this process, this LINK will provide additional information. Signed by the Honorable Virginia M. Kendall on 12/27/2024: Mailed notice. (tg, ) (Entered: 12/30/2024)

ATTORNEY Appearance for Defendant Alden Global Capital by Hussin Javier Kordi (Kordi, Hussin) (Entered: 12/30/2024)

MOTION by Attorney Aimee Grace Mackay to withdraw as attorney for Alden Global Capital. No party information provided (Gordon, David) (Entered: 01/08/2025)

MINUTE entry before the Honorable Thomas M. Durkin: Motion to withdraw as attorney 38 is granted. Attorney Aimee Grace Mackay terminated. Mailed notice. (exr, ) (Entered: 01/10/2025)

MINUTE entry before the Honorable Thomas M. Durkin: Oral argument on the motions to dismiss held on 1/30/2025. Mailed notice. (ecw, ) (Entered: 01/31/2025)

MEMORANDUM Opinion and Order: For the reasons stated in the attached order, the Court grants in part and denies in part Defendants' motions to dismiss and denies the motion to strike. The EPA and IEPA claims are dismissed without prejudice. Plaintiffs shall file an amended complaint by March 11, 2025. The amended complaint should include the allegations proposed in the declaration attached to Plaintiffs' opposition brief and any other factual allegations they believe will remedy the deficiencies identified herein and support their claims. Signed by the Honorable Thomas M. Durkin on 2/11/2025. Mailed notice. (ecw, ) (Entered: 02/11/2025)

TRANSCRIPT OF PROCEEDINGS held on 01/30/2025 before the Honorable Thomas M. Durkin. Oral Argument. Order Number: 50937. Court Reporter Contact Information: Elia E. Carrion, EECarrionOfficialTranscript@gmail.com, 312.408.7782. IMPORTANT: The transcript may be viewed at the court's public terminal or purchased through the Court Reporter/Transcriber before the deadline for Release of Transcript Restriction. After that date it may be obtained through the Court Reporter/Transcriber or PACER. For further information on the redaction process, see the Court's web site at www.ilnd.uscourts.gov under Quick Links select Policy Regarding the Availability of Transcripts of Court Proceedings. Redaction Request due 3/4/2025. Redacted Transcript Deadline set for 3/14/2025. Release of Transcript Restriction set for 5/12/2025. (Carrion, Elia) (Entered: 02/11/2025)

FIRST AMENDED complaint by Darcel Rockett, Stacey Wescott, Christy Gutowski, Terrence James, Madeline Buckley, Colleen Kujawa, Deanese Williams against All Defendants (Morrison, Michael) (Entered: 03/11/2025)

MOTION by Defendants Alden Global Capital, Chicago Tribune, LLC, Tribune Publishing Company for extension of time to file response/reply (Defendants' Unopposed Motion for Extension of Time to Respond to Plaintiffs' First Amended Complaint) (Rosenman, Andrew) (Entered: 03/20/2025)

MINUTE entry before the Honorable Thomas M. Durkin: Unopposed motion for extension of time to respond to Plaintiffs' first amended complaint 44 is granted. Defendants are to file their respective responses to the first amended complaint by 4/18/2025. Mailed notice. (ecw, ) (Entered: 03/20/2025)

ATTORNEY Appearance for Defendants Chicago Tribune, LLC, Tribune Publishing Company by Marcia E. Goodman (Goodman, Marcia) (Entered: 03/24/2025)

ATTORNEY Appearance for Defendants Chicago Tribune, LLC, Tribune Publishing Company by Kyla J Miller (Miller, Kyla) (Entered: 03/24/2025)

MOTION for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice Filing fee $ 150, receipt number AILNDC-23249718. (Zadikany, Ruth) (Entered: 03/24/2025)

MINUTE entry before the Honorable Thomas M. Durkin: Motion to appear pro hac vice 48 is granted. Attorney Ruth Zadikany for Chicago Tribune, LLC, Tribune Publishing Company added. Mailed notice. (ecw, ) (Entered: 03/24/2025)

ATTORNEY Appearance for Defendant Alden Global Capital by Teresa Lynn Reuter (Reuter, Teresa) (Entered: 03/24/2025)

ANSWER to amended complaint by Alden Global Capital(Reuter, Teresa) (Entered: 04/18/2025)

ANSWER to amended complaint and Affirmative and Other Defenses by Chicago Tribune, LLC, Tribune Publishing Company(Rosenman, Andrew) (Entered: 04/18/2025)

Pursuant to Local Rule 72.1, this case is hereby referred to the calendar of Honorable Gabriel A. Fuentes for the purpose of holding proceedings related to: discovery supervision. Mailed notice. (ecw, ) (Entered: 05/12/2025)

MINUTE entry before the Honorable Gabriel A. Fuentes: This matter having been referred to the magistrate judge for discovery supervision (doc. # 53 ), the Court directs the parties to confer under Rule 26(f) and file a joint status report with an agreed or contested discovery schedule by noon on 5/20/25 in advance of an initial status hearing set for the 9 a.m. status call on 5/21/25 in Courtroom 1342 of the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse. The parties are directed to review the Court's Standing Order for Civil Cases Before Magistrate Judge Fuentes, its advisory Appendix, and the Top Ten Ways to Defeat Settlement, all available on the Court's website. Mailed notice. (lxk, ) (Entered: 05/13/2025)

MINUTE entry before the Honorable Gabriel A. Fuentes: At the request of counsel and by agreement, the 5/21/25 initial status hearing is reset for 9 a.m. on 5/22/25. DATE CHANGE ONLY. Mailed notice. (lxk, ) (Entered: 05/15/2025)

STATUS Report (Joint) by Chicago Tribune, LLC, Tribune Publishing Company Presented before Magistrate Judge (Goodman, Marcia) (Entered: 05/20/2025)

MINUTE entry before the Honorable Gabriel A. Fuentes: Initial status hearing upon referral held. Plaintiffs' counsel makes an oral motion for leave to appear by telephone. That motion is granted without objection. Oral motion from Defendants Chicago Tribune, LLC and Tribune Publishing Company to bifurcate discovery. That motion is entered and continued. The parties are directed to confer further, and respective briefs on the motion or a joint status report from the parties are to be filed by noon on 6/12/25. Mailed notice. (lxk, ) (Entered: 05/22/2025)

ORAL MOTION by Plaintiffs' counsel for leave to appear by telephone. (lxk, )

Bifurcate

Appear

ORAL MOTION by Defendants Chicago Tribune, LLC, Tribune Publishing Company to bifurcate discovery. (lxk, )

MINUTE entry before the Honorable Gabriel A. Fuentes: Rather than have the oral motion for bifurcation of class certification discovery sitting on the docket and not yet ruled upon pending further conferral (doc # 57 ), for hygienic reasons the Court denies that pending oral motion without prejudice with the parties having full leave to file any bifurcation motion and briefing (or report) as they wish by the Court's previously set 6/12/25 deadline, with the arguments in the 5/20/25 status report (doc. # 56 ) already duly noted and under consideration. Mailed notice. (lxk, ) (Entered: 05/29/2025)

MOTION by Defendants Chicago Tribune, LLC, Tribune Publishing Company for extension of time (Joint Motion for Extension of Time to Provide the Court with an Updated Status with Respect to Defendants' Pending Motion to Bifurcate Discovery) Presented before Magistrate Judge (Goodman, Marcia) (Entered: 06/12/2025)

MINUTE entry before the Honorable Gabriel A. Fuentes: On review of the parties' joint motion for extension of time (doc. # 59 ), that motion is granted for good cause shown. The parties have full leave to file any bifurcation motion and briefing (or report) as they wish by noon on 7/11/25. Mailed notice (ber, ) (Entered: 07/03/2025)

MOTION by Plaintiffs Madeline Buckley, Christy Gutowski, Terrence James, Colleen Kujawa, Darcel Rockett, Stacey Wescott, Deanese Williams to bifurcate SECOND JOINT MOTION FOR EXTENSION OF TIME TO PROVIDE THE COURT WITH AN UPDATED STATUS WITH RESPECT TO DEFENDANTS PENDING MOTION TO BIFURCATE DISCOVERY Presented before District Judge (Morrison, Michael) (Entered: 07/10/2025)

MINUTE entry before the Honorable Gabriel A. Fuentes: On review of the parties' second joint motion for extension of time (doc. # 61 ), falling within the scope of the referral to the magistrate judge (doc. # 53 ), that motion is granted for good cause shown. The parties have full leave to file any bifurcation motion and briefing (or report) as they wish by noon on 8/8/25. Mailed notice. (lxk, ) (Entered: 07/11/2025)

NOTICE by All Plaintiffs (Attachments: # 1 Affidavit CONSENT TO JOIN FORM NO. 1, # 2 Affidavit CONSENT TO JOIN FORM NO. 2, # 3 Affidavit CONSENT TO JOIN FORM NO. 3, # 4 Affidavit CONSENT TO JOIN FORM NO. 4, # 5 Affidavit CONSENT TO JOIN FORM NO. 5, # 6 Affidavit CONSENT TO JOIN FORM NO. 6, # 7 Affidavit CONSENT TO JOIN FORM NO. 7, # 8 Affidavit CONSENT TO JOIN FORM NO. 8, # 9 Affidavit CONSENT TO JOIN FORM NO. 9, # 10 Affidavit CONSENT TO JOIN FORM NO. 10, # 11 Affidavit CONSENT TO JOIN FORM NO. 11, # 12 Affidavit CONSENT TO JOIN FORM NO. 12, # 13 Affidavit CONSENT TO JOIN FORM NO. 13, # 14 Affidavit CONSENT TO JOIN FORM NO. 14, # 15 Affidavit CONSENT TO JOIN FORM NO. 15, # 16 Appendix CONSENT TO JOIN FORM NO. 16, # 17 Affidavit CONSENT TO JOIN FORM NO. 17, # 18 Affidavit CONSENT TO JOIN FORM NO. 18, # 19 Affidavit CONSENT TO JOIN FORM NO. 19, # 20 Affidavit CONSENT TO JOIN FORM NO. 20, # 21 Affidavit CONSENT TO JOIN FORM NO. 21, # 22 Affidavit CONSENT TO JOIN FORM NO. 22, # 23 Affidavit CONSENT TO JOIN FORM NO. 23, # 24 Affidavit CONSENT TO JOIN FORM NO. 24, # 25 Affidavit CONSENT TO JOIN FORM NO. 25, # 26 Affidavit CONSENT TO JOIN FORM NO. 26, # 27 Affidavit CONSENT TO JOIN FORM NO., # 28 Affidavit CONSENT TO JOIN FORM NO. 28, # 29 Affidavit CONSENT TO JOIN FORM NO., # 30 Affidavit CONSENT TO JOIN FORM NO. 30, # 31 Affidavit CONSENT TO JOIN FORM NO. 31, # 32 Affidavit CONSENT TO JOIN FORM NO. 32, # 33 Affidavit CONSENT TO JOIN FORM NO. 33, # 34 Affidavit CONSENT TO JOIN FORM NO. 34, # 35 Affidavit CONSENT TO JOIN FORM NO. 35, # 36 Affidavit CONSENT TO JOIN FORM NO. 36, # 37 Affidavit CONSENT TO JOIN FORM NO. 37, # 38 Affidavit CONSENT TO JOIN FORM NO. 38, # 39 Affidavit CONSENT TO JOIN FORM NO. 39, # 40 Affidavit CONSENT TO JOIN FORM NO. 40, # 41 Affidavit CONSENT TO JOIN FORM NO. 41)(Morrison, Michael) (Entered: 07/17/2025)

MOTION by Plaintiffs Madeline Buckley, Christy Gutowski, Terrence James, Colleen Kujawa, Darcel Rockett, Stacey Wescott, Deanese Williams for protective order Presented before Magistrate Judge (Morrison, Michael) (Entered: 07/30/2025)

MINUTE entry before the Honorable Gabriel A. Fuentes: On review of the document filed as Plaintiffs' motion for protective order (doc. # 64 ), the motion is entered and continued, and the Court notes that the document filed was not a motion but was in fact a proposed agreed order. Accordingly, the Court kindly requests the parties file on the docket an agreed motion for protective order and submit the proposed agreed order in Word format to the Court's Proposed Order email box at Proposed_Order_Fuentes@ilnd.uscourts.gov. Mailed notice. (lxk, ) (Entered: 07/31/2025)

MOTION by Plaintiffs Madeline Buckley, Christy Gutowski, Terrence James, Colleen Kujawa, Darcel Rockett, Stacey Wescott, Deanese Williams for order JOINT MOTION FOR ENTRY OF CONFIDENTIALITY ORDER Presented before District Judge (Morrison, Michael) (Entered: 08/04/2025)

MINUTE entry before the Honorable Gabriel A. Fuentes: The parties' joint motion for protective order (doc. # 66 ) is within the scope of the referral to the magistrate judge and is granted. Enter Agreed Confidentiality Order. In addition to the language in Paragraph 7 of the Agreed Confidentiality Order entered today, the parties are advised that motions to seal will not be granted as to discovery documents filed with the Court unless the request complies with the common law of this Circuit. See Bond v. Utreras, 585 F.3d 1061, 1073 (7th Cir. 2009) (noting that public "has a presumptive right to access discovery materials that are filed with the court"); Baxter Int'l, Inc. v. Abbott Labs., 297 F.3d 544, 545-46 (7th Cir. 2002) (stating that filed discovery documents "that influence or underpin the judicial decision are open to public inspection unless they meet the definition of trade secrets or other categories of bona fide long-term confidentiality... In civil litigation only trade secrets, information covered by a recognized privilege (such as the attorney-client privilege), and information required by statute to be maintained in confidence (such as the name of a minor victim of sexual assault) is entitled to be kept secret"); Union Oil Co. of Cal. v. Leavell, 220 F.3d 562, 567-68 (7th Cir. 2000) ("Many a litigant would prefer that the subject matter of a case... be kept from the curious (including its business rivals and customers), but the tradition that litigation is open to the public is of very long standing."); Citizens First Nat'l Bank of Princeton v. Cincinnati Ins. Co., 178 F.3d 943, 945-46 (7th Cir. 1999) (warning courts not to allow parties "to seal whatever they want" and urging them to apply "a neutral balancing of the relevant interests" in connection with any good-cause determination presented by a motion to seal). Parties moving to seal are directed to review the foregoing case law, and any motion to seal will be taken by the Court as a certification that the movant has read the applicable case law and has ensured that it is making a good-faith argument that the document in question qualifies for sealing under the Seventh Circuit's stringent standards. Further, as to Paragraph 5(b)(7), this is a highly restrictive provision which prevents counsel even from showing designated material to a prospective witness during an interview or during deposition preparation, and the Court is open to a motion to lift or modify it as necessary, while under Paragraph 5(b)(9), the parties may reach their own agreement(s) to allow such use of designated material in this fashion. Mailed notice. (lxk, ) (Entered: 08/05/2025)

CONFIDENTIALITY Order. Signed by the Honorable Gabriel A. Fuentes on 8/5/2025. Mailed notice. (lxk, ) (Entered: 08/05/2025)

MOTION by Plaintiffs Madeline Buckley, Christy Gutowski, Terrence James, Colleen Kujawa, Darcel Rockett, Stacey Wescott, Deanese Williams for extension of time THIRD JOINT MOTION FOR EXTENSION OF TIME TO PROVIDE THE COURT WITH AN UPDATED STATUS WITH RESPECT TO DEFENDANTS PENDING MOTION TO BIFURCATE DISCOVERY Presented before District Judge (Morrison, Michael) (Entered: 08/07/2025)

MINUTE entry before the Honorable Gabriel A. Fuentes: On review of the parties' third joint motion for extension of time (doc. # 69 ), falling within the scope of the referral to the magistrate judge (doc. # 53 ), that motion is granted for good cause shown. The parties have full leave to file any bifurcation motion and briefing (or report) as they wish by noon on 9/16/25. Mailed notice. (lxk, ) (Entered: 08/11/2025)

Extension of Time

Order on Motion for Extension of Time