In re Credit Protection Ass'n

190 F. Supp. 3d 1342, 2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 71774, 2016 WL 3101832

Opinion

ORDER DENYING TRANSFER

Sarah S. Vance, Chair

Before the Panel:

* Common defendant Credit Protection Association, L.P. (CPA) moves under 28 U.S.C. § 1407 to centralize eight actions in the Northern District of Texas. The eight actions are pending in the Northern District of Texas (two actions), the District of Arizona, the Middle District of Florida (three actions), the Southern District of Florida, and the Southern District of Texas, as listed on the attached Schedule A. Responding plaintiffs oppose centralization.

1

On the basis of the papers filed and the hearing session held, we deny CPA’s motion. These actions share certain factual issues arising from allegations that CPA violated the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, and, in some cases, state statutory law, by using an automatic dialing system to repeatedly make debt collection calls to plaintiffs’ cell phones without their express consent. These factual issues, while common, ■ appear to be relatively straightforward, and discovery is unlikely to be unusually burdensome or time-consuming. Moreover, in two of the actions in the Middle District of Florida, discovery is set to close in early August. Centralization at this late juncture thus appears unlikely to result in substantial efficiencies.²

In seeking centralization, CPA cites, inter alia, the parties’ protracted and sometimes contentious negotiations' concerning the scheduling of a general Rule 30(b)(6) deposition and the deposition of CPA’s former in-house counsel. Indeed, the record indicates that the relationship between the two sides’ lawyers has beén less than amicable.³ Be that as it may, the Panel does not function as an attorney disciplinary authority, and Section 1407 does riot contemplate centralization for the purpose' of curbing arguably questionable conduct on the part of counsel. To the extent, if any, that the lawyers on either side of this litigation have legitimate grounds to object to their opponents’ tactics in prosecuting or defending these cases, the Federal Rules provide recourse.

IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that the motion for centralization of these actions is denied.

SCHEDULE A

MDL No. 2716 — IN RE: CREDIT PROTECTION ASSOCIATION, L.P., TELEPHONE CONSUMER PROTECTION ACT (TCPA) LITIGATION

District of Arizona

HERMANSON v. CREDIT PROTECTION ASSOCIATION LP,

CÍA. No. 2:15-02049

Middle District of Florida

BLOUNT, ET AL. v. CREDIT PROTECTION ASSOCIATION, LP,

C.A. No. 8:15-01309

RUSSO, ET AL. v. CREDIT PROTECTION ASSOCIATION, LP,

C.A. No.-8:15-02636

MONTANEZ, ET AL. v. CREDIT PROTECTION ASSOCIATION, LP,

C.A. No. 8:16-00267

Southern District of Florida

ALANIA v. CREDIT PROTECTION ASSOCIATION, LP,

C.A. No. 1:16-21072

Northern District of Texas

ADAMS, ET AL. v. CREDIT PROTECTION ASSOCIATION LP,

C.A. No. 3:15-03239

WATSON, ET AL. v. CREDIT PROTECTION ASSOCIATION LP,

C.A. No. 3:16-00064

Southern District of Texas

MORRIS, ET AL. v. CREDIT PROTECTION ASSOCIATION, LP,

C.A. No. 3:15-00154

Judge Lewis A, Kaplan and Judge Catherine D. Perry took no part in the decision of this matter.

1

. The Panel has been informed of one additional related federal, action, which is pending in the Northern District of Texas.

2

. See, e.g., In re: Lifewatch, Inc., Tel Consnmer Prot. Act. (TCPA) Litig., 140 F.Supp.3d 1342, 1344 (J.P.M.L.2015) (denying centralization, in part because of the procedural disparity of the subject actions).

3

. All plaintiffs who are represented by counsel are represented by the same law firm, and a single law firm is coordinating CPA’s defense in all actions,