Sams v. The Centers, Inc.

Filing 24

ORDER denying 22 Motion to Compel. See Order for details. Signed by Magistrate Judge Philip R. Lammens on 2/29/2016. (JWM)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
MIDDLE DISTRICT OF FLORIDA
OCALA DIVISION
MELANIE SAMS,
Plaintiff,
v.

Case No: 5:15-cv-124-Oc-30PRL

THE CENTERS, INC.
Defendant.

ORDER
This case comes before the Court for consideration of Defendant’s Motion to Compel (Doc.
22), to which Plaintiff has responded (Doc. 23). Upon review of the parties briefs, however, it is
immediately apparent that counsel for the Defendant has not fully complied with the letter or spirit
of Local Rule 3.01(g), which requires a moving party to confer with the opposing party in a good
faith effort to resolve the issues raised by the motion. Defendant’s motion fails to contain the
certificate required by Local Rule 3.01(g), and Plaintiff responds that “Defendant’s counsel has
never attempted to call or discuss or confer with the undersigned.” Importantly, the parties’ briefs
make it obvious that the discovery dispute is a matter of lack of communication, and the dispute
could be easily resolved or narrowed with good faith communications between counsel.
Accordingly, Defendant’s motion (Doc. 22) is DENIED. Defendant is advised that the
Court will not entertain a renewed motion to compel on the same grounds as those raised in
Defendant’s motion unless Defendant’s counsel demonstrates that, prior to making the motion,
counsel fully complied with Local Rule 3.01(g) and conferred either in person or via telephone
and specifically discussed each and every discovery request in dispute.

Further, the Court observes that this is not the first time that counsel for Defendant, Maria
Santoro, has neglected to comply with the Local Rules. Previously, the undersigned was obliged
to strike Defendant’s repeated filings of discovery material, which are not permitted under the
Local Rules. (Doc. 17). Ms. Santoro is reminded that attorneys admitted to practice in this
district must read and familiarize themselves with the Local Rules of the Middle District of Florida.
DONE and ORDERED in Ocala, Florida on February 29, 2016.

Copies furnished to:
Counsel of Record
Unrepresented Parties

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