TAHERI v. BAYER CORPORATION

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE MIDDLE DISTRICT OF GEORGIA
VALDOSTA DIVISION
KRISTEN TAHERI,
Plaintiff,
v.
BAYER CORPORATION,
Defendant.
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CASE NO:
7:25-cv-40–WLS
FIRST AMENDED DISCOVERY/SCHEDULING ORDER
Before the Court is Defendant Bayer Corporation’s (“Bayer”) Motion for Bifurcated
Discovery (Doc. 17) (“Motion”) which was timely filed on June 26, 2026.1 Therein, Bayer
requests that the Discovery/Scheduling Order (Doc. 16) entered May 27, 2026, be amended
to bifurcate discovery into two phases: (1) discovery on causation-related issues; and (2) if
necessary, discovery on liability, damages, and any other remaining issues. Bayer’s proposed
bifurcated discovery schedule is attached to its Motion. (See Doc. 17-3). Plaintiff has not filed
a response to the Motion, and the time for such response has lapsed. Therefore, the Motion
is ripe for decision.
Upon full review of the Motion and the Record, the Court finds the Motion is well
taken. Accordingly, Bayer’s Motion for Bifurcated Discovery (Doc. 17) is GRANTED. The
Discovery/Scheduling Order (Doc. 16) is amended as follows:
1) 	Discovery in this case will be bifurcated into two phases: Phase 1 for discovery
on causation-related issues; and Phase 2, if necessary, for discovery on liability, damages, and
any other remaining issues. To avoid multiple depositions of the same witness and for
efficiency and a reduction in costs, if the testimony of a witness involves information relevant
to both phases of discovery, the witness may be examined on all pertinent topics in one
deposition. Phase 1 of discovery is open. Phase 2 of discovery, except as stated herein, has not
begun.
1 Per the Court’s Discovery/Scheduling Order (Doc. 16), Bayer was given until June 26, 2026, within which to
file a motion to bifurcate discovery.
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2) 	Phase 1 discovery will be completed by Tuesday, March 23, 2027, unless
extended by the Court for good cause shown upon timely written motion by either party.
3) 	Unless Phase 1 discovery is extended, all motions relating to causation must be
filed no later than Friday, April 23, 2027. In the event Phase 1 discovery is extended, all
motions relating to causation must be filed no later than thirty (30) days after the close of any
extended Phase 1 discovery period.
4) 	If necessary, each party must serve upon other parties, disclosures relating to
expert witnesses on causation, as required by Rule 26(a)(2)(A)–(B) of the Federal Rules of Civil
Procedure, by the following dates:
a. 	Plaintiff’s case-in-chief: Tuesday, January 19, 2027;
b. 	Defendant’s case-in-chief: Monday, February 22, 2027; and
c. 	Parties’ rebuttal experts: Monday, March 8, 2027.
5) 	Any motion challenging the qualification(s) of any expert witness to offer
opinion testimony related to causation, raised under Daubert or Rules 104(a), 702, and 703 of
the Federal Rules of Evidence, must be filed no later than:
a. 	Friday, April 23, 2027, if the motion is filed by a party in connection with
the party’s dispositive motion. However, in the event Phase 1 discovery is
extended, all such motions must be filed no later than thirty (30) days after
the close of Phase 1 discovery; or
b. 	Friday May 14, 2027, if the motion is made by a party in response to a
dispositive motion. However, in the event Phase 1 discovery is extended,
the motion must be filed no later than twenty-one (21) days after the
dispositive motion deadline.
6) 	If necessary, Phase 2 of discovery will open on the day the Court rules upon
dispositive and Rule 702 motions pertaining to causation.
7) 	In the event Phase 2 of discovery opens, the Parties are directed to submit,
within seven (7) days of entry of the Court’s order ruling on dispositive and other motions, if
any, pertaining to causation, an Amended Proposed Discovery Schedule setting forth the
remaining case deadlines.
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8) 	All remaining terms of the Court’s Discovery/Scheduling Order (Doc. 16) shall
remain in effect.
SO ORDERED, this 24th day of July 2026.
/s/ W. Louis Sands
W. LOUIS SANDS, SR. JUDGE
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
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