Michelle M. Pettit

How Judge Pettit rules, drawn from 18 signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.

Court
United States District Court for the Southern District of California
Position
magistrate
Commissioned
2023-07-24
Education
United States Naval Academy (B.S., with distinction); Vanderbilt University Law School (J.D., 2001; Order of the Coif; Managing Editor, Vanderbilt Law Review)
Signed orders read
18

How Judge Pettit decides

Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.

Procedural preferences

In Kachele, she treated discovery before the Rule 26(f) conference as premature and emphasized that early discovery requires leave of court.

“The Court reminds the parties that discovery is generally not available until after the Rule 26(f) conference and any early discovery requires leave of court.”

Cautions

For requests to seal entire merits-related filings, Pettit expects the movant to explain why targeted redaction cannot protect the asserted interest.

“And if the movant wishes to seal an entire document, they must show that their compelling interest cannot be protected by redacting only the sensitive portions of said document.”

Signed rulings

A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.

Green v. Lizarraga
3:22-cv-01175-DMS-MMP · 2025-10-21
Summary judgment (defendant) Granted in part

“On October 21, 2025, the Court adopted United States Magistrate Judge Michelle M. Pettit's Report and Recommendation to grant in part and deny in part Defendants' Motion for Summary Judgment. (ECF No. 103.)”

Buenviaje v. Wal-Mart Associates, Inc.
3:23-cv-01938-W-MMP · 2024-10-25
Motion to modify scheduling order (plaintiff) Denied

“the Court DENIES the Joint Motion, ECF No. 19, and DENIES Plaintiff's motion to extend the expert designation deadline, ECF No. 22. ... Plaintiff has failed to show reasonable diligence in complying with the July 12, 2024 expert designation deadline ... is dispositive of the Rule 16(b) good cause analysis.”

Duell v. O'Malley
3:24-cv-00884-WQH-MMP · 2024-07-02
Motion to proceed in forma pauperis (petitioner) Denied

“For the reasons set forth below, the Court RECOMMENDS the Motion be DENIED without prejudice.”

4WEB, Inc. et al. v. NuVasive, Inc.
3:24-cv-01021-JLS-MMP · 2025-03-17
Motion to compel discovery (plaintiff) Granted in part

“The Court RESOLVES the Joint Motion for Determination of 4WEB's Discovery Dispute ECF Nos. 132, 133 as follows: 1. The Court GRANTS 4WEB's motion to compel as to RFPs 2 and 40 ... 4. The Court DENIES 4WEB's motion to compel as to RFPs 55, 33, 50, and 56. 5. The Court GRANTS IN PART and DENIES IN PART 4WEB's motion to compel as to RFPs 26, 27, 28, 31, and 45.”

4WEB, Inc. et al. v. NuVasive, Inc.
3:24-cv-01021-JLS-MMP · 2025-05-20
Motion to file under seal (plaintiff) Granted

“Accordingly, the Court GRANTS 4WEB's motion, ECF No. 158, and DIRECTS the Clerk to file under seal the proposed sealed documents lodged as ECF No. 159.”

Samaniego v. Morfin
3:24-cv-01442-TWR-MMP · 2026-03-16
Motion for continuance (plaintiff) Granted in part

“For good cause, the Court SETS the following briefing schedule: 1. Defendant shall file an opposition to Plaintiff's motion no later than March 30, 2026 ... 2. Plaintiff may file a reply to Defendant's opposition no later than April 20, 2026.”

Rosales v. Martinez
3:25-cv-00841-RSH-MMP · 2025-08-12
Motion for reconsideration (plaintiff) Denied

“For the reasons stated above, the Court finds Plaintiff has not met his burden of establishing exceptional circumstances to justify the appointment of counsel under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(1) and therefore DENIES Plaintiff's motion for reconsideration. ECF Nos. 8, 11.”

Smarter HOA Solutions Inc. v. Peña et al.
3:24-cv-01781-JAH-MMP · 2025-08-08
Motion for protective order (defendant) Granted in part

“For the above reasons, the Court DENIES IN SUBSTANTIAL PART Defendant Peña's motion for protective order, ECF No. 34.”

Alfonso S. v. Social Security Administration
3:24-cv-02354-MMP · 2025-03-10
Motion to proceed in forma pauperis (plaintiff) Denied

“Thus, the Court DENIES Plaintiff's motion without prejudice.”

Sua sponte screening dismissal (court_sua_sponte) Granted

“The Court DISMISSES without prejudice Plaintiff's complaints [ECF No. 1] with leave to amend.”

Blain v. Liberty Mutual Fire Insurance Company
3:22-cv-00970-AJB-MMP · 2024-12-18
Motion to file under seal (plaintiff_and_defendant) Granted in part

“1. The Court GRANTS in part and DENIES in part without prejudice Document Numbers 81 and 91 ... 2. The Court DENIES without prejudice Document Numbers 100, 112, 116, and 124.”

David C. v. Commissioner of Social Security
3:23-cv-0655-WQH-MMP · 2024-07-31
Social security appeal (plaintiff) Granted

“For the reasons set forth above, IT IS HEREBY RECOMMENDED that the District Judge issue an Order: (1) approving and adopting this R&R, and (2) reversing the Commissioner's decision, and (3) remanding the matter for further administrative proceedings consistent with this opinion.”

NuWave, LLC v. Guangdong Enaiter Electrical Appliance Co. Ltd.
3:24-mc-01934-MMP · 2025-03-07
Motions to stay (judgment_debtor) Denied

“Enaiter fails to raise a legitimate basis to stay the third-party examination of Mirama; accordingly, the Court DENIES the motion to stay.”

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