Robyn Parker v. Universal Protection Service, LP., d/b/a Allied Universal Security Services, Detention Officer Regal, City of Tulsa, Oklahoma

District Court, N.D. Oklahoma·Decided August 3, 2026·No. 4:25-cv-00068·Unknown

Opinion

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF OKLAHOMA

ROBYN PARKER, ) ) Plaintiff, ) ) v. ) Case No. 25-CV-068-JFH-MTS ) UNIVERSAL PROTECTION ) SERVICE, LP., d/b/a ALLIED ) UNIVERSAL SECURITY SERVICES, ) DETENTION OFFICER REGAL, ) CITY OF TULSA, OKLAHOMA ) ) Defendants. )

OPINION AND ORDER Before the Court are Defendant Universal Protection Service, L.P.’s Motion to Complete the 30(b)(6) Deposition Out of Time (Docket No. 70), and Plaintiff Robyn Parker’s Motion to Compel Additional Examination Pursuant to Rule 30(b)(6). (Docket No. 73). After considering the parties’ briefing on the matter, arguments by counsel at the hearing, and the applicable caselaw, the Court hereby DENIES Defendant’s Motion (Docket No. 70), and GRANTS IN PART and DENIES IN PART Plaintiff’s Motion (Docket No. 73). Background This case was properly removed to this Court on February 11, 2025. (Docket No. 2). On March 14, 2025, Plaintiff Robyn Parker (“Plaintiff”) and Defendants Universal Protection Service, L.P. (“Defendant”) and City of Tulsa, Oklahoma (“Co-Defendant”) filed their Joint Status Report wherein they requested a discovery cutoff date of November 11, 2025. (Docket No. 19 at 3). A scheduling conference was held on June 11, 2025, during which the parties discussed the discovery cutoff deadline. (Docket No. 31). Based on a discussion with the parties and the Court’s review, a discovery deadline of March 31, 2026, was entered. (Docket Nos. 31, 32). On March 10, 2026, the parties filed a Joint Motion to Extend All Scheduling Order Deadlines requesting that the Court extend the discovery deadline to June 29, 2026. (Docket No. 45 at 4). The Court entered an Amended Scheduling Order on March 12, 2026, extending discovery to June 29, 2026, and cautioned that no further extensions would be granted.1 (Docket No. 46).

Despite the Court’s warning about further extensions, Plaintiff and Defendant each filed their own motions seeking additional time.2 (Docket Nos. 59, 60). Defendant filed its Motion to Extend Certain Scheduling Order Deadlines on June 18, 2026, requesting additional time on two of the deadlines including an additional thirty days for discovery.3 (Docket No. 59 at 2). That same day, Plaintiff filed her Motion to Extend Scheduling Order Deadlines by Ninety Days requesting that all deadlines be extended by ninety days, with a discovery deadline of September 28, 2026. (Docket No. 60 at 4). The Court held a hearing on both motions and entered its Order on June 24, 2026. (Docket Nos. 62, 63). Based in part on Defendant’s failure to provide documents in a timely manner, the Court extended certain deadlines. (See Docket No. 62). Notably, the Court permitted Plaintiff to complete the deposition of Defendant’s corporate

representative out of time but imposed a deadline of July 17, 2026, to do so. Id. at 1. The Court also previously instructed the parties at the hearing that if they anticipated any issues arising regarding the deposition, they should file a motion for protective order prior to the deposition. (Docket No. 63).

1 With the entry of the Amended Scheduling Order, the parties were provided one year and three weeks to complete discovery. Id.

2 Co-Defendant did not object to either request for extension. (See Docket Nos. 59 at1; 60 at 3).

3 Specifically, Defendant requested an extension of the new discovery cutoff date to July 29, 2026, and the dispositive motions and Daubert motions deadline to August 13, 2026. Id. On June 29, 2026, Defendant filed its Motion for Protective Order Regarding Plaintiff’s Rule 30(b)(6) Deposition Notice. (Docket No. 64). Plaintiff filed her Response in Opposition to Motion on July 1, 2026. (Docket No. 65). After reviewing the parties’ briefing, the Court entered an Order on July 2, 2026, setting forth the topics to be addressed in the corporate representative

deposition. (Docket No. 66). Thereafter, on July 21, 2026, Defendant filed its Motion to Complete the 30(b)(6) Deposition Out of Time. (Docket No. 70). Defendant argues that it should be permitted to cross- examine its corporate representative out of time, essentially citing three reasons why the motion should be granted. Id. at 2-3. First, Plaintiff’s direct examination of the corporate representative took six hours and forty-two minutes, leaving only eighteen minutes for cross-examination. Id. at 2. Second, Defendant could not extend questioning past a certain time due to a preexisting childcare issue that he had “notified everyone present of earlier in the day.” Id. Third, Defendant contends that “it became evident during the deposition that Mr. [William] Kilby did not possess sufficient knowledge to give complete answers to all the extensive questions he was asked

concerning the identified topics of inquiry.” Id. On July 26, 2026, Plaintiff filed her Motion to Compel Additional Examination Pursuant to Rule 30(b)(6). (Docket No. 73). Plaintiff posits that she should be permitted to complete the examination of Defendant’s corporate representative as to Topics 10, 11, 15, and 16 and requests reasonable costs and fees associated with bringing her motion. Id. at 6. She argues that Mr. Kilby was “clearly unprepared to give meaningful testimony regarding Topics 10, 11, 15, and 16[,]” and “wholly unprepared to testify regarding these topics.” Id. at 4. Plaintiff asserts that the Court should compel Defendant to “produce an additional designee with adequate knowledge” and impose sanctions for Defendant’s failure to properly prepare Mr. Kilby as its 30(b)(6) witness. Id. at 4-5. The Court held a hearing on July 28, 2026, addressing both motions. (Docket No. 74). As such, both motions are ripe for review. Discussion For too long, depositions have been treated as an adversarial battlefield rather than the fact-

finding tool intended by the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. Obsessed with “winning” the deposition, counsel often resorts to obstructive tactics. Constant interruptions, leading and suggestive objections, and arguments on the record have become the norm rather than the exception. As a result, this important discovery tool has turned into a frustrating waste of time for the attorneys, the parties, and the court system. Moreover, it denigrates the entire purpose of Rule 1 and Rule 30. This case is no exception and serves to highlight the worst practices in a deposition. This is a relatively straightforward civil rights case alleging excessive use of force by a public entity. (See Docket No. 2). There are no complex issues and the attorneys who have entered appearances are experienced litigators who have handled similar cases in the past. Despite this, the attorneys delayed actively prosecuting this case which, in part, forms the genesis of this current

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Robyn Parker v. Universal Protection Service, LP., d/b/a Allied Universal Security Services, Detention Officer Regal, City of Tulsa, Oklahoma, (N.D. Okla. 2026).

Robyn Parker v. Universal Protection Service, LP., d/b/a Allied Universal Security Services, Detention Officer Regal, City of Tulsa, Oklahoma (Robyn Parker v. Universal Protection Service, LP., d/b/a Allied Universal Security Services, Detention Officer Regal, City of Tulsa, Oklahoma) — published by Counsel Stack Legal Research, free access to 12M+ legal documents.

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