Flynn v. Sony Electronics, Inc. et al

Filing 59

ORDER Imposing Sanctions on Plaintiff Ronald Flynn for Failing to Attend Early Neutral Evaluation Conference and Setting Further Proceeding. Telephonic Case Management Conference set for 4/21/2011 08:30 AM before Magistrate Judge Ruben B. Brooks. Signed by Magistrate Judge Ruben B. Brooks on 2/25/2011.(knh)

-RBB Flynn v. Sony Electronics, Inc. et al

Doc. 59

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 Plaintiff Ronald Flynn failed to appear at the early neutral evaluation conference in this case ("ENE"), although the Ex Parte Application to Excuse Class Representatives' Personal Appearance at ENE was denied on January 14, 2011 [ECF Nos. 39, 45], and Flynn's Renewed Ex Parte Application to Excuse His Personal Appearance at ENE was denied on January 24, 2011 [ECF No. 48]. a result, the Court issued an order to show cause why Plaintiff Flynn should not be sanctioned. 48.) (Mins., Jan. 24, 2011, ECF No. As In Re SONY VAIO COMPUTER NOTEBOOK TRACKPAD LITIGATION ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) Civil No. 09CV2109 BEN(RBB) ORDER IMPOSING SANCTIONS ON PLAINTIFF RONALD FLYNN FOR FAILING TO ATTEND EARLY NEUTRAL EVALUATION CONFERENCE AND SETTING FURTHER PROCEEDING UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

Flynn was to file any opposition to the order to show cause

by January 31, 2011, and Defendant Sony Electronics, Inc. and Defendants Best Buy Co., Inc. and Best Buy Stores, L.P. ("Best Buy") were to file any reply by February 10, 2011. (Id.)

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On January 31, 2011, Plaintiff Ronald Flynn's Opposition to Order to Show Cause Why Sanctions Should Not Issue re Failure to Appear at ENE was filed [ECF No. 51]. Defendants, on February 10,

2011, each filed a response to Plaintiff's Opposition [ECF Nos. 52, 53]. This Court, on February 14, 2011, requested that counsel for Sony and Best Buy each file a declaration outlining the fees and costs incurred by their clients to address Flynn's Opposition. (Mins., Feb. 14, 2011, ECF No. 55.) Counsel for Sony and Best Buy

submitted their declarations on February 22, 2011 [ECF Nos. 5658]. After considering the filings by the parties, the Court concludes that Plaintiff Ronald Flynn should be sanctioned in the amount, and for the reasons, outlined below. DISCUSSION Without question, this Court has the inherent power to assess sanctions for the "willful disobedience of a court order." Alyeska Pipeline Service Co. v. Wilderness Soc'y, 421 U.S. 240, 258-59 (1975). Rule 16(f) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure

provides that the Court may sanction a party or its attorney if the party "fails to appear at a scheduling or other pretrial conference . . . ." See Fed. R. Civ. P. 16(f). Similarly, the

local rules for the United States District Court for the Southern District of California state that "[s]anctions may be appropriate for the unexcused failure to attend [the ENE conference]." Cal. Civ. L.R. 16.1(c). S.D.

The failure to comply with the Federal

Rules of Civil Procedure or the Court's local rules may be ground

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for "imposition of monetary sanctions or attorneys' fees and costs, and other lesser sanctions." A. S.D. Cal. Civ. L.R. 83.1(a).

Flynn Willfully Failed to Appear

On January 11, 2011, Plaintiffs Christina Egner and Ronald Flynn filed an Ex Parte Application to Excuse Class Representatives' Personal Appearance at ENE [ECF No. 39]. In

their Application, they sought permission to participate in the January 21, 2011 early neutral evaluation conference by phone. (Pls.' Ex Parte Appl. Excuse 4, ECF No. 39.) Attached to the (Id. Decl.

Application was a declaration from Ronald Flynn. Flynn.)

Plaintiff Flynn stated that he is the sole proprietor of

his real estate business, and "[d]uring this time [January] I generally work six to seven days a week . . . ." (Id. at 2.)

Flynn also stated that this period is "critical" to his business, because real estate transactions are "consummated in the second and third quarter." (Id.) In the Application, Plaintiffs

contended that "[t]wo days of cross-country travel . . . will have a detrimental impact on Mr. Flynn's individual business." Ex Parte Appl. Excuse 4, ECF No. 39.) Defendant, Sony Electronics, Inc. filed an Opposition to Plaintiffs' Ex Parte Application [ECF No. 40]. In its Opposition, (Pls.'

Sony pointed out that between November 24, 2010, and December 6, 2010, Plaintiffs' and Sony's counsel discussed Plaintiffs' proposal that Egner and Flynn be excused from attending the early neutral evaluation conference. ECF No. 40.) (Def. Sony Elecs. Inc.'s Opp'n 2,

During these discussions, the reason given for the (Id.) According to Sony,

request was "travel distance."

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"[P]laintiffs did not mention plaintiff Flynn's work schedule . . . as a basis for their request." (Id.)

Defendant, Best Buy, filed its Response to Plaintiffs' Ex Parte Application to Excuse Class Representatives' Personal Appearance [ECF No. 41]. Best Buy did not expressly oppose

Plaintiffs' request to be excused from personally attending the ENE. (Def. Best Buy Co., Inc.'s Resp. 1-2, ECF No. 41.) Instead,

it stated, "If plaintiffs are excused from attending, so too should Best Buy's representative be permitted to participate by phone, and Best Buy pledges to have her available to do so." at 2.) On January 14, 2011, Plaintiffs filed their Reply [ECF No. 44]. After considering all relevant facts and argument of (Id.

counsel, the Court found that Plaintiff Flynn did not show good cause to be excused from attending the January 21, 2011 early neutral evaluation conference. Six days later, on January 20, 2011, at 5:12 p.m., Flynn filed a Renewed Ex Parte Application to Excuse his Personal Appearance at ENE [ECF No. 46], which was scheduled for the next morning, January 21, 2011, at 8:30 a.m. In the Renewed Ex Parte

Application, Plaintiffs' counsel stated, "Ronald Flynn intended to attend the ENE." ECF No. 46.) (Pl. Ronald Flynn's Renewed Ex Parte Appl. 2, In his earlier January

This statement is incorrect.

11, 2011 declaration, Flynn stated, "If necessary I am willing and able to participate via telephone at the January 21, 2011 early neutral evaluation conference." Decl. Flynn 2, ECF No. 39.) (Pls.' Ex Parte Appl. Excuse,

In his subsequent declaration, signed "I had intended

on January 20, 2011, Flynn made his intent clear.

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to appear at the January 21, 2011 conference via teleconferencing." (Decl. Pl. Ronald Flynn Re Personal Appearance at Furthermore, there is no evidence that Flynn

ENE 2, ECF No. 47.)

purchased an airline ticket to travel to San Diego, let alone made a reservation, anytime before the January 21, 2011 conference. did not intend to personally attend the ENE. In his January 20, 2011 declaration, Flynn gave the following reasons to be excused from traveling from Florida to San Diego: Unfortunately I am unable to personally appear because I am closing a commercial real estate transaction today, negotiating a residential real estate purchase contract for my business today, and meeting this evening with out-of-country clients to arrange to show them apartment complexes in Orlando, Bradenton, and Sarasota on Friday, Saturday, and perhaps Sunday. (Id.) Flynn did not establish that he could not accomplish these He

tasks or reschedule them so that he could attend the early neutral evaluation conference. As a result, his renewed request was

denied, and when he did not appear at the conference, an order to show cause why he should not be sanctioned was issued [ECF No. 48]. Plaintiff's Opposition does not address Flynn's unilateral decision not to attend the ENE, knowing that his request to be excused had been denied. Instead, Flynn argues that the

conference was productive, and his absence "did not significantly detract from the efficacy of the conference." Opp'n 2, ECF No. 51.) (Pl. Ronald Flynn's

He argues that his "personal presence would (Id.

not have had a material impact on the conference's outcome." at 3.) Flynn states that his "counsel worked to ensure a

productive conference, and these efforts continue to date."

(Id.)

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He concludes by stating that if sanctions are awarded, they should be nominal and not exceed $100. Both Defendants disagree. (Id. at 5.) Best Buy observes that

"Plaintiff's opposition to the Order to Show Cause focuses little on Mr. Flynn, and not at all on the reasons for his absence. Instead, it focuses on the presence of Plaintiffs' counsel and Plaintiff Egner." (Defs. Best Buy Co., Inc.'s & Best Buy Stores, "[T]here was no good cause for (Id.)

L.P.'s Resp. 2, ECF No. 52.) [Flynn's] failure to appear."

Defendant Sony maintains that "Plaintiff Flynn should be sanctioned because he violated this Court's orders and Local Rules." (Def. Sony Elecs. Inc.'s Reply 2, ECF No. 53.) It

describes the failure to attend the early neutral evaluation conference as a willful failure to comply the Court's orders. (Id.) Sony notes, "Tellingly, plaintiff Flynn's opposition does

not make any attempt to explain his failure to appear at the ENE conference, nor is it supported by any declaration or other evidence." (Id.) Defendant observes that Plaintiff had a

transaction closing "during the day on January 20, 2011, which left him time to travel to San Diego for the ENE conference the following day." (Id. at 3.)

The early neutral evaluation conference was continued to January 21, 2011, from an earlier date because the new date was convenient for all parties and counsel. Parte Appl. Excuse 4, ECF No. 45.) (See Order Den. Pls.' Ex

Nevertheless, less than one

month after the Court's December 15, 2010 order continuing the conference, Plaintiffs asked to be excused from personally appearing. (Pls.' Ex Parte Appl. Excuse, ECF No. 39.) Flynn's

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first request to be excused was denied because he failed to show good cause to be excused from appearing. Parte Appl. Excuse 4, ECF No. 45.) (Order Den. Pls.' Ex

After business hours on

January 20, 2011, at a time when Flynn should already have been en route to San Diego from Florida, he submitted a Renewed Ex Parte Application [ECF No. 46]. The Renewed Ex Parte Application was (Mins., Jan. 21, 2011, ECF No. 48.)

denied on January 21, 2011. B.

The Appropriate Sanction

Plaintiff Ronald Flynn, a resident of Florida, filed this Class Action Complaint in the United States District Court for the Southern District of California. (Compl. 1, 3, ECF No. 1.) Flynn

initiated and intends to prosecute this lawsuit in this district. Accordingly, he voluntarily chose to subject himself to the local rules of this Court and assume the burdens of litigating these claims in a forum far from his home. After the Court denied his

request to be excused from attending the ENE, Flynn unilaterally chose to disregard the Court's order. appear. He simply decided not to

Notably, Plaintiff has not demonstrated that his business

transactions could not have been completed or rescheduled to permit him to travel to San Diego on Thursday afternoon or evening, January 20, 2011, and return to Florida on Friday, January 21, 2011, after the 8:30 a.m. conference. The co-plaintiff in this action, Christine Egner, attended the ENE. Her compliance with the obligation to appear does not

cure Flynn's disregard for the Court's orders and his failure to appear. As a result of Flynn's actions, Sony and Best Buy each incurred fees they otherwise would not have. The declaration

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submitted by counsel for Best Buy establishes that it incurred legal fees of $1,584.00 drafting the Response to Plaintiff Flynn's Opposition to the Order to Show Cause. (Decl. Michael Geibelson Sony

Pursuant Feb. 14, 2011 Min. Order 2, ECF No. 56.)

Electronics submitted declarations from its attorneys showing that it incurred attorneys' fees totaling $3,418.00 in addressing Flynn's Opposition to Order to Show Cause. (Supplemental Decl.

Michelle Doolin Supp. Def. Sony Elecs. Inc.'s Reply 1, ECF No. 57; Supplemental Decl. Leo P. Norton Supp. Def. Sony Elecs. Inc.'s Reply 1, ECF No. 58.) Plaintiff Flynn is to reimburse Sony the

sum of $3,418.00 and reimburse Best Buy the sum of $1,584.00, which represent the reasonable sums each Defendant incurred because of Flynn's failure to appear. The sanction shall be paid Nothing in the

to each Defendant on or before April 18, 2011.

record suggests that Plaintiff Flynn is financially unable to pay these amounts. Consequently, the sanction amounts are to be paid

by Flynn personally and shall not be reimbursed or advanced by counsel for Plaintiffs.

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C.

Further Proceedings

The Court will conduct a telephonic attorneys-only case management conference on April 21, 2011, at 8:30 a.m. The parties

shall lodge a joint discovery plan with the Court by April 18, 2011. Counsel for Plaintiffs is to arrange the call. IT IS SO ORDERED.

February 25, 2011

____________________________ Ruben B. Brooks, Magistrate Judge United States District Court

cc: Judge Benitez All Parties of Record

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