MERRITT et al v. AMEDISYS INC et al

Filing 78

ORDER CORRECTING DATE - Wednesday, May 29, 2024 at 11 AM at the Albany Courthouse. re 77 Order, Order on Motion to Stay. Ordered by US DISTRICT JUDGE W LOUIS SANDS on 4/15/2024. (ksl)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE MIDDLE DISTRICT OF GEORGIA
VALDOSTA DIVISION
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
ex rel. CHANDRA MERRITT,
Plaintiff,
v.
AMEDISYS, INC., et al.,
Defendants.

:
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
:

CASE NO.: 7:21-CV-00017 (WLS)

ORDER
Before the Court are Defendants’ Motion for Protective Order (Doc. 73) and Motion
in Limine (Doc. 75), and Plaintiff’s Motion to Stay Discovery (Doc. 74) and Motion for
Status Conference with the Court (Doc. 76).
Upon review of the Motions, the Court finds that an in-person hearing is necessary as
to Defendants’ Motion for Protective Order (Doc. 73), Motion in Limine (Doc. 75), as well
as Plaintiff’s Motion for Status Conference with the Court (Doc. 76). Therefore, Lead
Counsel for both Parties are hereby ORDERED to attend an in-person hearing in the
Albany Courthouse on Wednesday, May 29, 2024, at 11 AM. To be clear, this hearing
shall be in-person—a request for telephonic or zoom appearance shall be denied.
Next, Plaintiffs’ Motion to Stay Discovery (Doc. 74) pending resolution of other
pending motions is GRANTED. “[D]istrict courts have inherent, discretionary authority to
issue stays in many circumstances. . . .” Advanced Bodycare Sols., LLC. v. Thione Intern., Inc., 524
F.3d 1235, 1241 (11th Cir. 2008). This discretionary authority is broad. Clinton v. Jones, 520
U.S. 681, 683 (1997). It includes granting a motion to stay if the court’s resolution of the
pending motions disposes of the case or narrows down the issues. See Jones v. Bank of Am.
Corp., 2013 WL 565770, at *2 (M.D. Ga. Oct. 15, 2013).

1

Here, the Court finds Plaintiffs’ request to stay discovery (Doc. 74) is reasonable for
good cause shown and reasons provided therein. The Court agrees with Plaintiffs that
discovery needs to be stayed in the instant case until the resolutions of the pending Motions
(Docs. 73, 75, 76) have been made. Thus, Plaintiffs’ Motion to Stay Discovery (Doc. 74) is
GRANTED. Counsel shall be prepared to present argument and relevant support thereof as
to the discovery issues at the hearing.
CONCLUSION
In sum, an in-person hearing with both Parties’ Lead Counsel shall take place on
Wednesday, May 29, 2024 at 11 AM at the Albany Courthouse regarding Motion for
Protective Order (Doc. 73), Motion in Limine (Doc. 75), and Motion for Status Conference
(Doc. 76). In addition, Plaintiff’s Motion to Stay Discovery (Doc. 74) is GRANTED. All
discovery in the above-styled matter is hereby STAYED pending the Court’s ruling on the
pending Motions (Docs. 73; 75; 76).
SO ORDERED, this 15th day of April 2024.
/s/ W. Louis Sands
W. LOUIS SANDS, SR. JUDGE
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

2