Cambridge University Press et al v. Patton et al

Filing 473

MOTION to Stay Execution of the Judgment Awarding Attorneys' Fees and Costs Pending Appeal, Notice of Unopposed Bond Amount with Brief In Support by Cambridge University Press, Oxford University Press, Inc., Sage Publications, Inc.. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order Granting Plaintiffs' Motion for Stay of Execution of the Judgment Awarding Attorneys' Fees and Costs Pending Appeal, # 2 Text of Proposed Order Authorizing Wire Transfer)(Rains, John)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF GEORGIA
ATLANTA DIVISION
CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY PRESS,
OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS, INC.,
and SAGE PUBLICATIONS, INC.,

Civil Action No. 1:08-CV-1425-ODE

Plaintiffs,
- v. –
MARK P. BECKER, in his official
capacity as Georgia State University
President, et. al.
Defendants.

PLAINTIFFS’ MOTION FOR STAY OF EXECUTION OF THE
JUDGMENT AWARDING ATTORNEYS’ FEES AND COSTS PENDING
APPEAL, NOTICE OF UNOPPOSED BOND AMOUNT, AND
MEMORANDUM OF LAW IN SUPPORT
Plaintiffs Cambridge University Press, Oxford University Press, Inc., and
SAGE Publications, Inc. (collectively, “Plaintiffs”) hereby move under Rule 62(d)
of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure for stay of execution of that portion of the
September 30, 2012 judgment that awards Defendants attorneys’ fees and costs
pending appeal.

1017367.1

ARGUMENT
Pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 62(d), “the appellant may obtain
a stay by supersedeas bond” of the judgment pending appeal. Fed. R. Civ. P.
62(d). “The purpose of a supersedeas bond is to preserve the status quo while
protecting the non-appealing party’s rights pending appeal.” Prudential Ins. Co. of
Am. v. Boyd, 781 F.2d 1494, 1498 (11th Cir. 1986). “[A] party taking an appeal
from the District Court is entitled to a stay of a money judgment as a matter of
right if he posts a bond in accordance with Fed. R. Civ. P. 62(d).” Am. Mfrs. Mut.
Ins. Co. v. Am. Broad. -Paramount Theatres, Inc., 87 S. Ct. 1, 3 (1966); see United
States v. Wylie, 730 F.2d 1401, 1402 n.2 (11th Cir. 1984) (“[Rule] 62(d) allows for
a stay pending appeal if the appellant files a supersedeas bond. The stay is a
matter of right.” (emphasis added)). 1

1

Accord Hickey v. Columbus Consol. Gov't, 4:07-CV-96 CDL, 2011 WL 882110
at *1, *7 (M.D. Ga. Mar. 10, 2011) (“Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 62(d) allows
an appellant to obtain an automatic stay of execution of judgment pending an
appeal by posting a bond.”); Goolsby v. Astrue, 507-CV-183-CAR, 2010 WL
339786, at *1 (M.D. Ga. Jan. 21, 2010) (“When a party appeals a district court's
judgment, the party is entitled to stay of a money judgment as a matter of right if
he posts a bond under rule 62(d).”); Rashad v. Fulton Cnty. Dep’t of Health &
Wellness, 1:05-CV-01658-JOF, 2010 WL 2821845 at *1, *4 (N.D. Ga. July 15,
2010) (“Under Rule 62(d), [appellant] has the right to a stay of execution of the
monetary portion of the judgment, pursuant to the posting of a supersedeas bond in
an amount approved by this court.”); Hicks v. Battle, 5:03-CV-307CAR, 2008 WL
150676 at *1, *3 (M.D. Ga. Jan. 14, 2008) (“When a party appeals a district court's

1017367.1

2

Plaintiffs request a stay of the judgment only insofar as the judgment awards
Defendants attorneys’ fees in the amount of $2,861,348.71 and costs in the amount
of $85,746.39. See, e.g., 11 C. Wright & A. Miller, FEDERAL PRACTICE

AND

PROCEDURE § 2905 (2d ed. 2004) (stating that, when appeal is taken from a
judgment in an action for an injunction, “a supersedeas stays the money award but
not that part of the judgment that deals with injunctive relief”). Where, as here, the
appellant appeals the fees and costs order, the posting of a supersedeas bond
“entitle[s the appellant] to a stay [of the fees award] as a matter of right.” ACLU of
Nev. v. Masto, 670 F.3d 1046, 1066 (9th Cir. 2012); see also Standard Dredging
Corp. v. Henderson, 150 F.2d 78, 79-80 (5th Cir. 1945) (affirming that Rule 62(d)
stays costs portion of a judgment in an action for injunctive relief).2
While Rule 62(d) does not specify the amount of the bond, it “usually will
be set in an amount that will permit satisfaction of the judgment in full, together
judgment, the party is entitled to stay of a money judgment as a matter of right if
he posts a bond under rule 62(d).”).
2
See Bonner v. City of Prichard, 661 F.2d 1206, 1209 (11th Cir. 1981) (en banc)
(holding that decisions of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
prior to October 1, 1981 are binding as precedent in the Eleventh Circuit). Rule
62(d) authorizes a stay of an award of attorneys’ fees and costs just as it authorizes
a stay of a money judgment. See Masto, 670 F.3d at 1052, 1066-67; e.g., Pugach
v. M & T Mortg. Corp., No. 2:05-CV-02498, 2008 WL 2640465, at *1 (E.D.N.Y.
July 3, 2008) (in judgment awarding only attorneys’ fees and costs under False
Claims Act, 31 U.S.C. § 3730(d)(4), appellant “can obtain a stay as a matter of
right under Rule 62(d) by posting a bond to secure the amount of the judgment”).
1017367.1

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with costs, interest, and damages for delay.” 11 Wright & Miller, § 2905; see
Eagle Hosp. Physicians LLC v. SRG Consulting, Inc., No. 1:04-CV-1015, 2009
WL 1658174 (N.D. Ga. June 12, 2009). In accordance with Local Rule 65,
Plaintiffs are prepared to provide security by cash deposit with the Court in the
amount of $3,271,275 (111% of the full amount of the award of attorneys’ fees and
costs). See N.D. Ga. LR 65.1.1(C)(1) (stating that surety is satisfied by “[a] cash
deposit equal to the amount of the bond”). Defendants consent to this amount.
Based on the most recent one-year constant maturity Treasury yield 3 of 0.18%,
interest on the award over two years (a conservative estimate of the duration of the
appellate process) would amount to $10,609.54. The amount of Plaintiffs’ deposit
is therefore well above what is required by Rule 62(d).
CONCLUSION
For the foregoing reasons, Plaintiffs respectfully request an order staying
execution of that portion of the September 30, 2012 judgment awarding
Defendants attorneys’ fees and costs pending appeal and for an order directing the
3

According to 28 U.S.C.§ 1961: “Interest shall be allowed on any money judgment
in a civil case recovered in a district court. . . . Such interest shall be calculated
from the date of the entry of the judgment, at a rate equal to the weekly average 1year constant maturity Treasury yield, as published by the Board of Governors of
the Federal Reserve System, for the calendar week preceding the date of the
judgment.” (citation omitted).

1017367.1

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Clerk to accept Plaintiffs’ cash transfer of $3,271,275 in lieu of a bond for deposit
in the Commercial Registry of the Court for the Northern District of Georgia.
Respectfully submitted this 18th day of October, 2012.

/s/ John H. Rains IV
Edward B. Krugman
Georgia Bar No. 429927
John H. Rains IV
Georgia Bar No. 556052
BONDURANT, MIXSON & ELMORE, LLP
1201 West Peachtree Street NW
Suite 3900
Atlanta, Georgia 30309
[phone]
R. Bruce Rich (pro hac vice)
Randi Singer (pro hac vice)
Jonathan Bloom (pro hac vice)
Todd D. Larson (pro hac vice)
WEIL, GOTSHAL & MANGES LLP
767 Fifth Avenue
New York, New York 10153
Attorneys for Plaintiffs

1017367.1

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CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
I hereby certify that I have this day filed the foregoing PLAINTIFFS’
MOTION FOR STAY OF EXECUTION OF THE JUDGMENT
AWARDING ATTORNEYS’ FEES AND COSTS PENDING APPEAL,
NOTICE OF UNOPPOSED BOND AMOUNT, AND MEMORANDUM OF
LAW IN SUPPORT with the Clerk of Court using the CM/ECF filing system
which will send e-mail notification of such filing to opposing counsel as follows:
John W. Harbin, Esq.
Natasha H. Moffitt, Esq.
Mary Katherine Bates, Esq.
KING & SPALDING LLP
1180 Peachtree Street
Atlanta, Georgia 30309

Anthony B. Askew, Esq.
Stephen M. Schaetzel, Esq.
MCKEON, MEUNIER, CARLIN &
CURFMAN, LLC
817 W. Peachtree Street, Suite 900
Atlanta, Georgia 30308

Katrina M. Quicker, Esq.
Richard W. Miller, Esq.
BALLARD SPAHR, LLP
999 Peachtree Street, Suite 1000
Atlanta, Georgia 30309

Mary Jo Volkert, Esq.
Assistant State Attorney General
40 Capitol Square
Atlanta, Georgia 30334

This 18th day of October, 2012.
/s/ John H. Rains IV
John H. Rains IV

1017367.1

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