Hernandez Gomez v. The GEO Group, Inc.

• Court: District Court, E.D. California
• Decided: July 10, 2023
• Docket: 1:22-cv-00868
• Status: Unknown

Opinion

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 9 FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 10 11 JOSE HERNANDEZ GOMEZ, et al. Case No. 1:22-cv-00868-ADA-CDB

12 Plaintiffs, ORDER GRANTING DEFENDANT’S MOTION TO STAY 13 v. 14 (Doc. 19) THE GEO GROUP, INC. 15 Defendant. 90-DAY DEADLINE 16 17 18 Pending before the Court is Defendant The Geo Group, Inc.’s (“Defendant”) motion to 19 stay (Doc. 19), Plaintiffs Jose Ruben Hernandez Gomez, Salesh Prasad, Guillermo Medina Reyes, 20 Edgar Sanchez, Adan Castillo Merino, Oliva Sierra Ivan, Fidel Garcia, Issac Cardona Hernandez, 21 and Pedro Jesus Figueroa Padilla’s (collectively “Plaintiffs”) opposition (Doc. 23), and 22 Defendant’s reply (Doc. 28). For the reasons explained herein, Defendant’s motion to stay shall 23 be granted.1 24

25 1 Although the assigned district judge noticed the parties of her intent to decide the motion without oral argument (see Doc. 19), a magistrate judge is authorized to determine motions to 26 stay proceedings pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(A) as long as the resulting order does not effectively deny the ultimate relief sought in the case. S.E.C. v. CMKM Diamonds, Inc., 729 F.3d 27 1248, 1259-60 (9th Cir. 2013). Since the decision issued herein does not result in the denial of the ultimate relief sought in this case, the undersigned has the authority to determine the pending 1 Background 2 On July 13, 2022, Plaintiffs filed a complaint for declaratory and injunctive relief and 3 damages against Defendant. (Doc. 1). On September 19, 2022, Defendant filed the instant 4 motion to stay. (Doc. 19). Defendant requests an order to stay all proceedings in this matter 5 pending the Ninth Circuit’s decision on the related appeals in Nwauzor v. GEO Group, Inc., No. 6 21-36024; and Washington v. GEO Group, Inc., No. 21-36025 (hereinafter collectively the 7 “Washington Appeals”). Id. at 1. On October 3, 2023, Plaintiffs filed an opposition to 8 Defendant’s motion to stay. (Doc. 23). Plaintiffs argue the Court should deny the stay as it 9 would unduly harm Plaintiffs, unduly benefit Defendant, and not serve the interests of judicial 10 economy and conservation of judicial resources. Id. Plaintiffs filed a reply to Plaintiff’s 11 opposition on October 13, 2022. (Doc. 28). 12 Separately, on October 4, 2022, Plaintiffs filed a first amended complaint. (Doc. 24). On 13 November 8, 2022, Plaintiffs filed a motion to amend to correct a factual error identified in their 14 First Amended Complaint regarding the notice Plaintiffs provided to Defendant under the 15 California Private Attorney General Act, California Labor Code §§ 2698-2699.8. (Doc. 36). On 16 December 16, 2023, the Court issued an order granting Plaintiffs’ motion to amend and Plaintiffs 17 filed a second amended complaint (“SAC”) on December 23, 2022. (Docs. 45-46). 18 On January 6, 2023, Defendant filed a motion to dismiss. (Doc. 47). Defendant argues 19 Plaintiffs’ claims must be dismissed because Defendant is immune from suit. Id. at 2. 20 Specifically, Defendant argues its immunity stems from derivative sovereign immunity and 21 intergovernmental immunity, and preemption. Id. at 2-12. On January 13, 2023, Plaintiffs filed 22 an opposition to Defendant’s motion to dismiss and Defendant filed a reply on January 23, 2023. 23 (Docs. 49-50). Thereafter, the parties fully briefed a motion for leave to file-sur-reply in 24 opposition to Defendant’s motion to dismiss. (Docs. 52, 54-56). 25 On May 18, 2023, Plaintiffs filed a motion for partial class certification and a motion for 26 summary judgment. (Docs. 57-60). On May 30, 2023, the Court ordered on the parties’ 27 stipulation an extension of the briefing deadlines on the motions for summary judgment and class 1 On June 22, 2023, Defendant filed a request for status conference to discuss the pending 2 motions before the Court. (Doc. 67). The next day, Plaintiffs filed a response to Defendant’s 3 request. (Doc. 69). On June 29, 2023, the Court held a status conference and considered the 4 parties’ positions and arguments regarding the pending motions. (Doc. 74). 5 Legal Standard 6 The power to stay proceedings is “incidental to the power inherent in every court to 7 control the disposition of the causes on its docket with economy of time and effort for itself, for 8 counsel, and litigants.” Landis v. N. Am. Co., 299 U.S. 248, 254-55 (1936); accord CMAX v. 9 Hall, 300 F.2d 265, 268 (9th Cir. 1962). A court may enter a stay “pending resolution of 10 independent proceedings which bear upon the case…whether the separate proceedings are 11 judicial, administrative, or arbitral in character,” and granting the stay “does not require that the 12 issues in such proceedings are necessarily controlling of the action before the court.” 13 Mediterranean Enters., Inc. v. Ssangyong Corp., 708 F.2d 1458, 1465 (9th Cir. 1983) (quotation 14 and citation omitted). In granting a stay, a court must weigh “the length of the stay against the 15 strength of the justification given for it.” Yong v. I.N.S., 208 F.3d 1116, 1119 (9th Cir. 2000). “If 16 a stay is especially long or its term is indefinite, [courts] require a greater showing to justify it.” 17 Id. 18 The party seeking such a stay must “make out a clear case of hardship or inequity in being 19 required to go forward if there is even a fair possibility that the stay for which he prays will work 20 damage to [someone] else.” Landis, 299 U.S. at 255. Three factors guide the Court’s 21 determination of whether a stay is appropriate: “(1) the possible damage which may result from 22 the granting of a stay, (2) the hardship or inequity which a party may suffer in being required to 23 go forward, and (3) the orderly course of justice measured in terms of the simplifying or 24 complicating of issues, proof, and questions of which could be expected to result from a stay.” 25 CMAX, 300 F.2d at 268 (citing Landis, 299 U.S. at 254-55). 26 Discussion 27 Defendant has moved to stay this action on the grounds that (1) there would be limited 1 if a stay is not entered, and (3) a stay would promote judicial economy because the Washington 2 Appeals will impact law governing this case. The Court addresses each argument in turn. 3 1. Harm to Plaintiffs 4 First, the Court considers the possible damage accompanying the granting of a stay. 5 Defendant presents several arguments demonstrating why a stay pending the resolution of the 6 Washington Appeals will not harm Plaintiffs. (Doc. 19 at 12-13). Defendant states that this case 7 is in its initial stages and a short delay to await the Ninth Circuit’s controlling opinion would not 8 cause any harm or undue burden. Id. at 12. Defendant notes in a similar case, Novoa, et al. v. 9 The GEO Group, Inc., No. 17-2514 JGB (SHKx), 2022 WL 2189624 (C.D. Cal. Mar. 31, 2022), 10 District Judge Jesus G. Bernal determined similar Plaintiffs would not suffer a hardship if the 11 case was stayed pending a decision from the Ninth Circuit. Id. Further, Defendant argues any 12 damages Plaintiffs may accrue during the stay will be compensable and Plaintiffs “will retain full 13 autonomy not to participate in the Voluntary Work Program (“VWP”) at issue. Id. at 7. 14 In their opposition, Plaintiffs claim they will be prejudiced if this Court grants a stay. 15 (Doc. 23 at 8-10). Plaintiffs argue they will continue to be subject to unsanitary and intolerably 16 filthy conditions of confinement, exploited by Defendant’s VWP, vulnerable to retaliatory and 17 unwarranted disciplinary infractions, and interference with their immigration cases while this 18 matter is stayed. Id. at 8-9. Further, Plaintiffs assert that since they face the possibility of 19 deportation, a delay could complicate and burden the litigation. Id. at 9-10. 20 The Court notes a stay could inevitably result in some harm to Plaintiffs due to Plaintiffs’ 21 claims of intolerable conditions of confinement, forced labor, and possible deportation. However, 22 the Court finds any possible damage from a stay is minimal because the Ninth Circuit is set to 23 resolve the Washington Appeals. On January 11, 2022, the Ninth Circuit consolidated the 24 Washington Appeals and set a briefing schedule. Nwauzor v. GEO Group, Inc., No. 21-36024 25 (9th Cir. 2021) (Doc. 17). Thereafter, the relevant parties filed briefs and the Ninth Circuit held 26 oral arguments. Nwauzor, No. 21-36024 (Docs. 18, 36, 39, 86). On March 7, 2023, the Ninth 27 Circuit certified three questions to the Washington Supreme Court. Nwauzor, No. 21-36024 1 submit an amicus curiae brief setting forth its current views on the constitutional defenses 2 asserted by Defendant GEO Group, Inc.—intergovernmental immunity, derivative sovereign 3 immunity, and preemption. Nwauzor, No. 21-36024 (Doc. 95). 4 It appears the Ninth Circuit’s ruling will impact this action. Waiting for the Ninth 5 Circuit’s decision will allow this Court to adjudicate the issues before it with far greater certainty. 6 Because the Ninth Circuit’s resolution of the Washington Appeals will likely occur following an 7 opinion by the Washington Supreme Court and briefing from the DOJ, the stay will have a finite 8 duration, and the potential damage of a stay will be minimized. See Rizvanovic v. UPS, Inc., No. 9 1:21-cv-01278-BAK (SKO), 2022 WL 1190263, at *5 (E.D. Cal. April 21, 2022) (finding 10 minimal risk of prejudice from a stay as the Supreme Court already heard oral arguments in a 11 pending case that would impact the instant case, and the stay of the action could conclude within 12 a reasonable period); cf. Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Ala. v. Unity Outpatient Surgery Ctr., Inc., 13 490 F.3d 718, 724 (9th Cir. 2007) (finding a potential delay of five or six years, or longer, as 14 “indefinite” and “lengthy”). 15 2. Hardship to Defendant 16 The next Landis factor looks to the hardship and inequity to the moving party. The 17 movant for a stay “must make out a clear case of hardship or inequity in being required to go 18 forward, if there is even a fair possibility that the stay for which he prays will work damage to 19 someone else.” Landis, 299 U.S. 248 at 255. Defendant claims it will suffer significant prejudice 20 and hardship if a stay is not entered. (Doc. 19 at 13-15). Specifically, Defendant asserts in the 21 absence of the Ninth Circuit’s ruling on the Washington Appeals it would be forced to begin the 22 process of costly discovery and motions practice for issues that may be rendered moot in the near 23 future. Id. at 14. 24 In contrast, Plaintiff argues Defendant has failed to put forth any genuine or sufficient 25 claim or hardship or inequity that requires a stay of this action. (Doc. 23 at 10-12). Plaintiff 26 asserts the fact Defendant may have to expend time and money on this litigation is not sufficient 27 reason to stay this case. Id. at 11. Plaintiff also contends the Court should question Defendant’s 1 claim it will suffer undue harm as its “overly aggressive and wasteful litigation practices to date 2 belie its arguments.” Id. at 12. 3 Plaintiff’s opposition is persuasive. The Ninth Circuit has held that “being required to 4 defend a suit, without more, does not constitute a ‘clear case of hardship or inequity’ within the 5 meaning of Landis.” Lockyer v. Mirant Corp., 398 F.3d 1098, 1112 (9th Cir. 2005). Defendant 6 does not articulate any actual hardship, separate from having to defend this lawsuit if the court 7 denies the stay. See Aliphcom v. Fitbit, Inc., 154 F. Supp. 3d 933, 938 (N.D. Cal. 2023) (finding 8 hardship to moving party if stay denied was neutral where the only hardship established was 9 moving forward with the litigation). Therefore, this factor weighs in favor of Plaintiffs. 10 3. Judicial Time and Resources 11 Lastly, the Court looks to how a stay may simplify or complicate the issues. The Court 12 must consider “the orderly course of justice measured in terms of the simplifying or complicating 13 issues, proof, and questions of law which could be expected to result from a stay.” CMAX, 300 14 F.2d at 268. Defendant again argues the Ninth Circuit’s ruling in the Washington Appeals is 15 likely to resolve the application of various immunity principles relevant to this case. (Doc. 19 at 16 15-18). Defendant contends the Ninth Circuit’s opinion could eliminate some or all of Plaintiff’s 17 claims. Id. at 18. Defendant again cites to Novoa as persuasive authority that a stay was 18 appropriate. Id. at 16. 19 Plaintiffs assert a stay would not serve the interest of judicial economy. (Doc. 23 at 12- 20 16). Plaintiffs argue the claims at issue in the Washington Appeals rely on the interpretation of 21 what constitutes an employment relationship under Washington state law while this action relies 22 on California law. Id. at 13-14. Plaintiffs aver this action is materially different from the claims 23 raised in Novoa and the Washington Appeals. Id. at 14-15. Plaintiffs also contend the Ninth 24 Circuit has already addressed Defendant’s “asserted preemption and direct 25 regulation/intergovernmental immunity defenses, [and Defendant] is doomed to lose.” Id. at 15. 26 As this Court noted above, the Washington Appeals are relevant to this litigation. The 27 Ninth Circuit has expressly asked the DOJ to weigh in on Defendant’s intergovernmental 1 ruling will likely provide this Court with substantial guidance that will materially impact the 2 pending dispositive motions before this Court. Waiting for a decision to issue in the Washington 3 Appeals cases will “avoid exhausting judicial resources to decide things like motions to dismiss, 4 motions for class certification, and any possible discovery-related matters or summary judgment 5 motions to follow which may prove fruitless.” See e.g., Canady v. Bridgecrest Acceptance Corp., 6 No. 19-cv-04738-PHX-DWL, 2020 WL 5249263, at *3 (D. Ariz. Sep. 3, 2020) (internal 7 quotations and citation omitted). 8 * * * * * 9 Having weighed the parties’ arguments and the competing interests, the Court concludes a 10 stay is appropriate. There is a slight risk of harm to Plaintiffs. However, that risk does not 11 outweigh the interests of efficiency and judicial economy that will be served by staying this 12 action as the forthcoming Washington Appeals decision may significantly impact the instant 13 action – including the parties’ pending motions to dismiss, for class certification, and for 14 summary judgment. 15 Conclusion and Order 16 Based on the foregoing, the CMAX factors set forth by the Ninth Circuit weigh in favor of 17 granting a stay of this action. 18 Accordingly, it is HEREBY ORDERED Defendant’s motion for stay (Doc. 19) is 19 GRANTED pending the appellate proceedings in Nwauzor v. GEO Group, Inc., No. 3:17-cv- 20 05769-RJB (W.D. Wash.), appeal docketed, No. 21-36024 (9th Cir. Jan. 11, 2022), and 21 Washington v. GEO Group, Inc., No. 3:17-cv-05806-RJB (W.D. Wash.), appeal docketed, No. 22 21-36025 (9th Cir. Jan.11, 2022). 23 Further, it is HEREBY ORDERED that the parties shall file a joint report addressing the 24 status of these cases 90 days from the date of entry of this order, and thereafter, every 90 days and 25 within 14 days of the aforementioned cases being ruled upon by the Ninth Circuit. 26 / / / 27 / / / 1 The parties’ final joint report upon the resolution of any case must set forth the parties’ 2 || positions as to the case’s impact on this instant litigation and whether the stay should be 3 | maintained or lifted. 4 | IT IS SO ORDERED. >| Dated: _ July 7, 2023 | bo 6 UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28