Iantosca v. Benistar Administrative Services, Inc.

797 F. Supp. 2d 184, 2011 WL 4043582, 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 83810

• Court: District Court, D. Massachusetts
• Decided: August 1, 2011
• Docket: Civil Action 08-11785-NMG
• Status: Published

Opinion

ORDER

GORTON, District Judge.

This case arises from the plaintiffs’ effort to recover a multimillion dollar Massachusetts state court judgment against some of the defendants. The parties are once again embroiled in a dispute over depositions that plaintiffs desire to conduct. In its most recent Memorandum & Order, in February, 2011 (Docket No. 207), the Court held that certain defendants must appear for their depositions before March 31, 2011 and that, if they were not fully compliant, sanctions would be imposed. Plaintiffs have now moved, once again, to compel those same persons to appear for their depositions and defendants have filed a corresponding motion for a protective order with respect to one of the sought-after deponents.

With respect to the related pending motions to dismiss filed by defendants, the Court has appraised them sufficiently to determine that they do not preclude favorable consideration of plaintiffs motion to compel. The motions will, however, remain under advisement for the time being.

Plaintiffs motion to compel (Docket No. 232) is ALLOWED and defendants are hereby directed to complete the noticed depositions in Massachusetts or Connecticut on or before July 31, 2011. Defendants’ corresponding motion for a protective order (Docket No. 224) is DENIED. If defendants fail to comply with this order, the defaulting deponents, whomever they are, shall appear in this Court on August 4, 2011, at 3:00 p.m. to show cause why they should not be held in contempt.

The Court also imposes upon the defendants sanctions in the amount of $7,000 to be paid to the plaintiffs to reimburse them for attorney’s fees and costs associated with their motion to compel.

So ordered.

MEMORANDUM & ORDER

This case arises from the plaintiffs’ effort to recover a multimillion dollar Massachusetts state court judgment against some of the defendants. The pending motions involve the ongoing discovery dispute related to depositions of the defendants. In February, 2011, upon consideration of a motion by plaintiffs, the Court held that certain defendants were required to appear for their depositions before March 31, 2011 and that, if they were not fully compliant, sanctions would be imposed. In June, 2011, however, plaintiffs moved, once again, to compel those same persons to appear for their depositions and defendants filed a corresponding motion for a protective order with respect to one of the prospective deponents, Molly Carpenter.

On July 7, 2011, the Court allowed plaintiffs motion to compel and directed defendants to complete the noticed depositions in Massachusetts or Connecticut on or before July 31, 2011. Defendants’ counter-motion for a protective order was denied. The Court stated that, if defendants failed to comply with its latest order, the defaulting deponents would appear in this Court on Thursday, August 4, 2011, at 3:00 p.m. to show cause why they should not be held in contempt of this Court. The Court also imposed upon the defendants sanctions in the amount of $7,000 to be paid to the plaintiffs to reimburse them for attorney’s fees and costs incurred with respect to their motion to compel.

In a sealed motion, defendant Daniel Carpenter now seeks reconsideration of the Court’s July 7, 2011 Order and a protective order staying the remainder of his deposition and any further discovery directed at him. The Court is persuaded by Carpenter’s new, intervening argument and, as such, his Motion for Reconsideration and Protective Order (Docket No. 241) is ALLOWED. The protective order encompasses all future discovery sought to be elicited from Mr. Carpenter and will be vacated upon the occurrence of either a jury verdict of acquittal, dismissal of the charges or sentencing in United States v. Carpenter, Criminal Action No. 04-cr-10029-GAO.

Carpenter’s motion to stay discovery (Docket No. 243) is DENIED and all other discovery will proceed according to the scheduling order. The Court’s reconsideration of its July 7, 2011 Order applies to Carpenter only. Unless they have already completed their depositions, all other persons subject to this Court’s July 7, 2011 Order will appear in this Court on Thursday, August 4, 2011, at 3:00 p.m. to show cause why they should not be held in contempt of this Court.