Rankin v. Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office et al

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF LOUISIANA
BOBBY RANKIN 	CIVIL ACTION
VERSUS 	NO. 25-623
JEFFERSON PARISH SHERIFF’S
OFFICE ET AL.
SECTION “R” (2)
ORDER AND REASONS
Before the Court is the joint motion of plaintiffs and defendant to
amend the scheduling order. 1 The parties argue additional time for discovery
is necessary because the scope of Plaintiff’s claims was only recently made
clear. 2 	Plaintiff brought this lawsuit on March 31, 2025, 3 and he filed his
third amended complaint on January 26, 2026.4 	Trial is presently set for
August 10, 2026, and pre-trial deadlines are currently set throughout the
Spring and Summer of 2026. 5 	The parties aver that this motion will not
prejudice any party, and that no previous extensions have been sought. 6
1 	R. Doc. 51.
2 	Id. at ¶ 7.
3 	R. Doc. 1.
4 	R. Doc. 44.
5 	R. Doc. 19.
6 	R. Doc. 51 at ¶¶ 9-10.
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Rule 16(b) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure provides that “[a]
scheduling order may be modified only for good cause and with the judge’s
consent.” 	Fed. R. Civ. P. 16(b)(4). 	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.” S&W Enter., L.L.C.
v. SouthTrust Bank of Ala., NA, 315 F.3d 533, 535 (5th Cir. 2003) (internal
citations omitted). 	Whether to grant or deny a continuance is within the
sound discretion of the trial court. 	United States v. Alix, 86 F.3d 429, 434
(5th Cir. 1996). 	In deciding whether to grant a continuance, the Court’s
“judgment range is exceedingly wide, for . . . [it] must consider not only the
facts of the particular case but also all of the demands on counsel’s time and
the court’s.” 	Streber v. Hunter, 221 F.3d 701, 736 (5th Cir. 2000) (quoting
HC Gun & Knife Shows, Inc. v. City of Houston, 201 F.3d 544, 549-50 (5th
Cir. 2000) (internal quotation marks omitted)).
The Court finds that the parties have shown good cause to continue the
trial and unexpired associated deadlines. Accordingly, the Court continues
the trial and associated unexpired deadlines to be reset at a scheduling
conference held BY TELEPHONE on APRIL 30, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. The
parties shall call in for the teleconference using phone number (833) 990-
9400, Access Code: 124518418. 	The Court will be represented by its Case
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Manager at the scheduling conference. 	All deadlines that have already
expired are not reset.
New Orleans, Louisiana, this 20th day of March, 2026.
_____________________
SARAH S. VANCE
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
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