University of Washington v. United States Department of Homeland Security

Opinion

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5 6 7 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 8 WESTERN DISTRICT OF WASHINGTON AT SEATTLE 9 10 UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON et al., CASE NO. 2:24-cv-01872-LK 11 Plaintiffs, ORDER GRANTING STIPULATED 12 v. MOTION TO STAY DEADLINES HOMELAND SECURITY et al., 14 Defendants. 15 16 This matter comes before the Court on the parties’ stipulated motion to stay the deadlines 17 for the parties’ cross-motions for summary judgment in this Freedom of Information Act (“FOIA”) 18 case. Dkt. No. 22. The parties ask that all briefing deadlines be stayed for a period of 60 days while 19 they attempt to resolve this dispute. Id. at 1–2. For the reasons explained below, the motion is 20 granted. 21 “[T]he power to stay proceedings is incidental to the power inherent in every court to 22 control the disposition of the causes on its docket with economy of time and effort for itself, for 23 counsel, and for litigants.” Landis v. N. Am. Co., 299 U.S. 248, 254 (1936). The Court “may order 24 1 a stay of the action pursuant to its power to control its docket and calendar and to provide for a 2 just determination of the cases pending before it.” Leyva v. Certified Grocers of Cal., Ltd., 593 3 F.2d 857, 864 (9th Cir. 1979). In considering whether to grant a stay, courts consider several 4 factors, including “the possible damage which may result,” “the hardship or inequity which a party

5 may suffer in being required to go forward,” and “the orderly course of justice[.]” CMAX, Inc. v. 6 Hall, 300 F.2d 265, 268 (9th Cir. 1962). A stay is appropriate here based on the nature of the 7 upcoming case deadlines: a resolution would moot the need for the parties to file their cross- 8 motions for summary judgment. A stay will not cause any damage, nor any hardship or inequity 9 to any party, and will promote the orderly course of justice. 10 The Court thus GRANTS the parties’ motion. Dkt. No. 22. All upcoming case deadlines in 11 the Court’s briefing schedule, Dkt. No. 21, are stayed for 60 days. At the conclusion of the 60-day 12 period, the parties must file a joint status report. 13 Dated this 24th day of June, 2025. 14 A

15 Lauren King United States District Judge 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24