Ward v. Cisco Systems, Inc. et al

Filing 93

ORDER granting 90 Motion to Stay. Cisco's compliance with the August 24, 2009 Order is hereby stayed pending a ruling from the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals. Signed by Honorable Jimm Larry Hendren on September 2, 2009. (cap)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT WESTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS TEXARKANA DIVISION JOHN WARD, JR. v. CISCO SYSTEMS, INC. ORDER Now on this 2nd day of September, 2009, comes on for Civil No. 08-4022 DEFENDANT PLAINTIFF

consideration Defendant Cisco Systems, Inc.'s Emergency Motion for Stay Pending Appeal and Brief in Support (doc. 90) and the response thereto. The Court, being well and sufficiently advised, finds and orders as follows: 1. In the instant matter, the plaintiff asserts a claim for

defamation against Cisco Systems, Inc. (hereinafter "Cisco"). The claim for defamation stems from publications on an internet blog ­ www.trolltracker.blogspot.com. The blog was published by

Richard Frenkel,1 who was then employed by Cisco. allegedly accused the plaintiff, an attorney, of

The blog "criminal

conduct, unethical conduct, and conduct unbefitting of an officer of the Court." 2. On March 30, 2009, the Court ruled on Plaintiff Ward's

Motion to Compel Responses to Interrogatory Nos. 1-9 (document #57). The Court's Order of March 30, 2009 (document #60) granted

1

See Frenkel's Declaration of May 11, 2009 (document 63-2).

Ward's motion and ordered Cisco to respond to the interrogatories, as directed within fifteen (15) days. 3. On August 24, 2009, the Court entered an Order ruling on

Plaintiff Ward's Motion to Compel Compliance with the Court's March 30, 2009 Order and For Sanctions (document #61). The Order

(document #89) granted plaintiff's motion in part and ordered Cisco to produce to Ward all documents, emails and written

communications written by or received by Frenkel prior to October 19, 2007. 4. In the instant motion, Cisco now seeks a stay of the

August 24, 2009 Order pending appeal to the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals. Cisco seeks the stay to delay production of the

documents, emails and written communications, which it contends constitute privileged information. 5. In his response to Cisco's motion, Ward argues that he

opposes a stay pending a writ of mandamus, but instead believes the Court should or reconsider pursuant to its a order for clarity and/or for

completeness

suggested

motion

reconsideration by Cisco.

However, considering the fact that

Cisco has now filed its Petition for Writ of Mandamus with the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals, the Court will not reconsider its order at this time and will, instead, await ruling from that Court. Accordingly, the Court finds that the instant motion Cisco's compliance with

should be, and it hereby is, granted. -2-

August 24, 2009 Order is hereby stayed pending a ruling from the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals. IT IS SO ORDERED. /s/ Jimm Larry Hendren JIMM LARRY HENDREN UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

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