Lopez v. Ford Motor Company et al

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United States District Court
Northern District of California
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
RICARDO LOPEZ,
Plaintiff,
v.
FORD MOTOR COMPANY, et al.,
Defendants.
Case No. 24-cv-02155-BLF
ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE RE:
SANCTIONS
On January 27, 2026, Plaintiff filed an opposition to Defendant’s Motion for Partial
Summary Judgment. ECF No. 20. Plaintiff argued that Defendant’s motion should be denied
because “defendant is withholding discovery from plaintiff.” Id. at 4. Specifically, Plaintiff
alleged that “[t]hrough its ongoing obstructive conduct,” Defendant had not produced “[t]he
requested—and outstanding—testimony and documents[.]” Id. Plaintiff’s counsel, Rabiya
Tirmizi, concurrently filed a sworn declaration attesting that “Defendant . . . continues to obstruct
the discovery process, failing to timely either produce a [person most knowledgeable] for the bulk
of relevant deposition testimony or non-privileged documents responsive to Plaintiff’s records
requests.” Tirmizi Decl. ¶ 23, ECF 20-12.
On February 3, 2026, Defendant filed its reply. ECF No. 23. Defendant’s counsel, by
sworn declaration, informed the Court that “[a]t the time of filing his Opposition, Plaintiff had not
conducted any discovery in this case.” Vilchez Decl. ¶ 2, ECF 23-1. Instead, Plaintiff first served
discovery requests and noticed the deposition of Defendant’s person most knowledgeable on
January 28, 2026, the day after filing his opposition. Id. ¶¶ 3–6 & Exs. A–D.
Case 5:24-cv-02155-BLF Document 26 Filed 02/19/26 Page 1 of 2

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United States District Court
Northern District of California
On February 19, 2026, the Court held a hearing on Defendant’s Motion for Partial
Summary Judgment. Ms. Tirmizi did not appear. See ECF No. 25. The Court docket reflects that
Plaintiff received notice of the hearing date on January 13, 2026. See ECF No. 18.
Accordingly, Ms. Tirmizi is ORDERED TO SHOW CAUSE, if any, in writing on or
before March 5, 2026, why monetary sanctions in the amount of $500 should not be imposed for
misrepresenting facts to the Court in violation of Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 11(b) and for
failing to appear as counsel of record for Plaintiff at the February 19, 2026, hearing on
Defendant’s Motion for Partial Summary Judgment. Counsel may request a hearing on this matter
by advising the Court in the March 5, 2026, response to this Order to Show Cause. Absent a
request for hearing, the matter will be submitted on March 5, 2026.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
Dated: February 19, 2026
______________________________________
BETH LABSON FREEMAN
United States District Judge
Case 5:24-cv-02155-BLF Document 26 Filed 02/19/26 Page 2 of 2