Rodriguez v. First Franklin Financial Corporation

Filing 114

ORDER OVERRULING PLAINTIFFS OBJECTION TO MAGISTRATES DISCOVERY ORDER DATED JULY 15, 2009 re 106 Objection filed by Francisco Rodriguez, Claudia P Sierra, Emma J Allen. Signed by Judge James Ware on August 21, 2009. (jwlc1, COURT STAFF) (Filed on 8/21/2009)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 In re First Franklin Financial Corp. Litigation IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA SAN JOSE DIVISION NO. C 08-01515 JW ORDER OVERRULING PLAINTIFFS' OBJECTION TO MAGISTRATE'S DISCOVERY ORDER DATED JULY 15, 2009

United States District Court

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For the Northern District of California

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Presently before the Court is Plaintiffs' Objections to Magistrate's Discovery Order Dated July 15, 2009. (Docket Item No. 106.) Defendant First Franklin filed a timely opposition.1 Plaintiffs filed a timely reply.2 A district court may modify a magistrate judge's ruling on a non-dispositive matter, such as an order permitting certain discovery, if the order is "clearly erroneous" or "contrary to law." 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(A); Fed. R. Civ. P. 72(a); Bahn v. NME Hospitals, Inc., 929 F.2d 1404, 1414 (9th Cir. 1991). Pursuant to Civil Local Rule 72-2, the court may not grant a motion objecting to a magistrate judge's order without first giving the opposing party an opportunity to brief the matter. See Civ. L.R. 72-2. In this case, Plaintiffs object to Judge Lloyd's order allowing Defendant First Franklin to depose Plaintiffs regarding "any and all conversations and exchanges of information between named

Defendant First Franklin Financial Corporation's Opposition to Plaintiffs' Objections. (See Docket Item No. 108.) Reply in Support of Plaintiffs' Objection to Magistrate's Discovery Order Dated July 15, 2009. (See Docket Item No. 113.)
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plaintiff and his or her loan broker" and regarding "income, debts, other assets, and efforts to `resolve' financial problems." (See Docket Item No. 101.) Judge Lloyd found that information regarding Plaintiffs' financial condition, specifically with regard to the accuracy and completeness of information in loan applications or otherwise furnished to the loan broker, could be relevant to Plaintiffs' credibility, each Plaintiff's suitability to be a class representative, and whether there is sufficient commonality and typicality among the putative class members to support class certification. (Id.) Judge Lloyd also found, in light of the liberal discovery permitted under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 26(b)(1), that conversations between a named plaintiff and his or her loan broker could be relevant to the merits. (Id.) Upon reviewing the parties' briefs and Judge Lloyd's Order, the Court does not find clear error in Judge Lloyd's determination that such topics are reasonably calculated to lead to the discovery of admissible evidence. Such information and conversations may contain facts about how each borrower was financially situated as well as any misstatements and omissions to loan brokers, which could be relevant to class certification and the merits of the case. Accordingly, the Court OVERRULES Plaintiffs' Objections to Magistrate's Discovery Order Dated July 15, 2009.

United States District Court

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For the Northern District of California

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Dated: August 21, 2009

JAMES WARE United States District Judge

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THIS IS TO CERTIFY THAT COPIES OF THIS ORDER HAVE BEEN DELIVERED TO: Alan Roth Plutzik [e-mail] Andrew S. Friedman [e-mail] Charles Delbaum [e-mail] Coty Rae Miller [e-mail] David S. Reidy [e-mail] Donna Siegel Moffa [e-mail] Edward W. Ciolko [e-mail] Gary Edward Klein [e-mail] John J. Stoia [e-mail] Joseph A Weeden [e-mail] Joseph H. Meltzer [e-mail] Lisa Diane Fialco [e-mail] Mark Andrew Chavez [e-mail] Nance Felice Becker [e-mail] Peter Anthony Muhic [e-mail] Theodore J. Pintar [e-mail] Tyree P. Jones [e-mail] Wendy Jacobsen Harrison [e-mail] Dated: August 21, 2009 Richard W. Wieking, Clerk By: /s/ JW Chambers Elizabeth Garcia Courtroom Deputy

United States District Court

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For the Northern District of California

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