Hussain v. Sullivan Buick-Cadillac-GMC Truck, Inc.

Filing 72

ORDER denying without prejudice 57 Motion to Compel. Plaintiff may file a renewed motion to compel if Stratics' motion to vacate and dismiss is resolved in Plaintiff's favor. Signed by Magistrate Judge Philip R. Lammens on 11/19/2020. (SA)

Case 5:20-cv-00038-JSM-PRL Document 72 Filed 11/19/20 Page 1 of 2 PageID 539

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
MIDDLE DISTRICT OF FLORIDA
OCALA DIVISION
SHABANA HUSSAIN, individually and
on behalf of all others similarly situated,
Plaintiff,
v.

Case No: 5:20-cv-38-Oc-30PRL

SULLIVAN BUICK-CADILLAC-GMC
TRUCK, INC., SYNERGY
MARKETING ADVISORS, INC. D/B/A
SYNERGY RESOURCE ADVISORS and
STRATICS NETWORKS, INC.,
Defendants.

ORDER
Before the court is Plaintiff’s motion to compel Defendant Stratics Networks, Inc. to
respond to outstanding discovery requests. (Doc. 57). Stratics did not respond to the motion and
the time for doing so has expired. According to the emails attached to the motion, Stratics is not
participating in the litigation because its motion to vacate and dismiss for lack of personal
jurisdiction is still pending before the court. (Doc. 57-3). Stratics represented that if the motion is
denied, it will begin to participate in the litigation.
Typically, the filing of a motion to dismiss does not stay discovery. See Middle District of
Florida Discovery Handbook (2015) at 5. If a defendant seeks to avoid responding to discovery,
the proper mechanism is the filing of a protective order. Id. at 22. For the sake of consistency,
however, this court will follow the course taken in a parallel case under the same facts in the
Orlando Division. See Toney v. Advantage Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep, Inc., Case No. 6:20-cv-182, Doc.
75 (M.D. Fla. October 30, 2020).

Case 5:20-cv-00038-JSM-PRL Document 72 Filed 11/19/20 Page 2 of 2 PageID 540

Accordingly, Plaintiff’s motion to compel (Doc. 57) is denied without prejudice. Plaintiff
may file a renewed motion to compel if Stratics’ motion to vacate and dismiss is resolved in
Plaintiff’s favor.
DONE and ORDERED in Ocala, Florida on November 19, 2020.

Copies furnished to:
Counsel of Record
Unrepresented Parties

-2-