Argo v. Experian Information Solutions, Inc. et al

Filing 36

ORDER denying 32 Motion to Consolidate Cases. Signed by Judge Edward J. Davila on 2/6/2017. (ejdlc1S, COURT STAFF) (Filed on 2/6/2017)

Download PDF
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 8 NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 9 SAN JOSE DIVISION 10 11 JENNIFER ARGO, Case No. 5:16-cv-03321-EJD United States District Court Northern District of California Plaintiff, 12 ORDER DENYING MOTION TO CONSOLIDATE v. 13 14 EXPERIAN INFORMATION SOLUTIONS, INC., Defendant. 15 16 Re: Dkt. No. 32 Defendants and well-known credit reporting agencies Experian Information Solutions, Inc. 17 and, where named, Equifax Inc. (collectively, the “CRAs”), move under Federal Rule of Civil 18 Procedure 42(a) for an order consolidating the above-entitled action with over one hundred other 19 cases pending in this district, all of which share a common plaintiff’s lawyer and arise from 20 similar legal theories and factual allegations concerning inaccurate or misleading credit reporting. 21 The court has received written opposition to the motion. 22 This matter is suitable for decision without oral argument, and the associated motion 23 hearing is therefore VACATED. Civ. L.R. 7-1(b). As to the arguments raised in the CRAs’ 24 motion, the court finds, concludes and orders as follows: 25 1. Rule 42(a) provides that “[w]hen actions involving a common question of law or 26 fact are pending before the court,” those actions may be coordinated through “a joint hearing or 27 trial of any or all the matters in issue in the actions,” through consolidation, or by any other 28 1 Case No.: 5:16-cv-03321-EJD ORDER DENYING MOTION TO CONSOLIDATE 1 method designed “to avoid unnecessary cost or delay.” “The district court has broad discretion 2 under this rule to consolidate cases pending in the same district.” Investors Research Co. v. 3 United States Dist. Ct. for Cent. Dist. of California, 877 F.2d 777 (9th Cir. 1989); accord Young v. 4 City of Augusta, 59 F.3d 1160, 1169 (11th Cir. 1995) (“We have found no cases, however, in 5 which a court’s refusal to order consolidation has been overturned.”); Garity v. APWU Nat’l 6 Labor Org., 828 F.3d 848, 855-56 (9th Cir. 2016) (“[D]istrict courts have ‘broad discretion’ to 7 consolidate complaints, . . . but is not required to, consolidate actions . . . .”). To determine 8 whether consolidation is appropriate, the district court “weighs the saving of time and effort 9 consolidation would produce against any inconvenience, delay, or expense that it would cause.” 10 United States District Court Northern District of California 11 Huene v. United States, 743 F.2d 703, 704 (9th Cir. 1984). 2. The CRAs argue that because of their similarities, consolidation of all cases before 12 one judge “will result in substantial savings of time and expense for the Court and the parties.” 13 The court, however, disagrees that the potential positive effects of consolidation outweigh the 14 negative ones. While it is true, as the CRAs point out, that Plaintiff’s counsel has employed 15 largely identical, formulaic pleadings in each of the several cases filed in this district, that fact 16 does not strongly favor consolidation under these particular circumstances. Despite the way they 17 are presented by counsel, the undersigned’s extensive experience with these actions has revealed 18 that the specific factual allegations relevant to each plaintiff’s claims is unique enough such that 19 consolidation before one judge would not result in substantial benefit to the parties or the court. 20 Indeed, doing so would unnecessarily inconvenience and overburden one member of this court. 21 Moreover, consolidation of all the actions for joint discovery and other pre-trial matters would 22 inevitably delay resolution of those simpler ones that do not require either extensive discovery or 23 case management. 24 3. Furthermore, it is worth noting that the actions have not been related according to 25 Civil Local Rule 3-12, which in this district seems a necessary precursor to consolidation. Also, 26 the undersigned and several colleagues have already made efforts to coordinate their own cases to 27 the extent possible with jointly-schedule motion hearings, scheduling conferences, and trial dates 28 2 Case No.: 5:16-cv-03321-EJD ORDER DENYING MOTION TO CONSOLIDATE 1 2 to increase efficiency and convenience, and to minimize costs and other burdens. Thus, having considered the relevant factors, the court finds that consolidation of the cases 3 identified by the CRAs would not satisfy the purpose of Rule 42(a), particularly when individual 4 judicial efforts are already being made to avoid unnecessary cost and delay. Accordingly, the 5 CRAs’ motion is DENIED. 6 7 8 9 10 IT IS SO ORDERED. Dated: February 6, 2017 ______________________________________ EDWARD J. DAVILA United States District Judge United States District Court Northern District of California 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 3 Case No.: 5:16-cv-03321-EJD ORDER DENYING MOTION TO CONSOLIDATE

Disclaimer: Justia Dockets & Filings provides public litigation records from the federal appellate and district courts. These filings and docket sheets should not be considered findings of fact or liability, nor do they necessarily reflect the view of Justia.


Why Is My Information Online?