Barcelona Equipment, Inc. v. David Boland, Inc. et al
Filing
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ORDER denying #38 Motion to Sever; IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that a status conference July 10, 2012 at 1:30 p.m. in person to establish a scheduling order for these matters Signed by Judge Stanwood R. Duval, Jr. (Reference: 11cv2983) (swd)
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF LOUISIANA
BARCELONA EQUIPMENT, INC.
VERSUS
CIVIL ACTION
NO. 11-2183
TARGET CONSTRUCTION, INC. ET AL.
SECTION “K”(5)
FILING APPLICABLE TO C.A. NO. 11-2983
ORDER AND REASONS
Before the Court is a Motion to Sever Civil Action No. 11-2983 (Doc. 38) from five
other cases that have been consolidated under Barcelona Equipment, Inc. v. Target Construction,
Inc., et al., Civil Action No. 11-2183. This motion was filed by plaintiffs, United States of
America for the Use and Benefit of Big “B” Services, LLC, and Big “B” Services, LLC doing
business as Barrois Welding Services (“Barrois”). All of the consolidated cases arise out of two
United States Army Corps of Engineers projects, the Louisiana Lakefront Airport T-Walls (LPV)
bearing Contract Number W912P8-10-C-0026 (“the Airport Contract”) and the Louisiana
Segnette Park Floodwall (WBV-24) bearing Contract Number W912P8-10-0079 (“the Segnette
Contract”). With respect to both projects, David Boland agreed to perform certain work with
respect to them and a payment bond was obtained for the work from Travelers Casualty and
Surety Company of America. Target Construction, Inc. (“Target”) and Boland then entered into
a Subcontract Agreement for each project and Western Surety delivered a private payment bond
in favor of Target relative to those subcontracts. Target thereafter entered into one or more
subcontract agreements with various vendors. These cases all concern non-payment for work
done under these subcontracts.
Barrois contends, “Although it appears from a review of the respective Complaints that
the consolidated cases involve claims related to, inter alia, the Bayou Segnette Project and the
Lakefront Airport Project, the commonality ends there. The Barrois civil action does not involve
common questions of law or fact with the other matters which would warrant consolidation.”
Barrois thus maintains that its complaint should stand alone. This position misses the mark.
Rule 42(a) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure provide:
(a)
Consolidation. If actions before the court involve a common question of law or
fact, the court may:
(1)
join for hearing or trial any or all matters at issue in the action;
(2)
consolidate the actions; or
(3)
issue any other orders to avoid unnecessary cost or delay.
Likewise, this Court’s Local Rule 3.1.1 provides:
To promote judicial economy, conserve judicial resources, and avoid potential
forum shopping and conflicting court rulings, all actions described in LR 3.1 must
be transferred to the section with the lowest docket number. . . .
Local Rule 3.1 provides such transfer as “[w]hen a civil matter, commenced in or removed to the
court, involves subject matter that comprises all or a material part of the subject matter or
operative facts of another action, . . .” LR3.1. It is based upon these rules that the Barrois case
transferred and then consolidated with the other cases concerning these two projects and the
relevant subcontracts in this Court.
Clearly, there are common questions of fact and law dealing with the execution of these
contracts and the alleged non-payment therefor. At a minimum, discovery and any motion
practice should be undertaken in a consolidated setting. This course of action will save time and
effort and promote judicial economy and resources. As such, this Court shall exercise its
discretion and will refuse to sever this case. In re Air Crash Disaster at Florida Everglades on
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December 29, 1972, 549 F.2d 1006, 1012-1014. If after the close of discovery and such motion
practice, it becomes clear that a consolidated trial would not be efficient, the Court may then
consider such a severance. But, for now, the motion to sever is without merit. Accordingly,
IT IS ORDERED that the Motion to Sever Civil Action No. 11-2983 (Doc. 38) is
DENIED.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that a status conference July 10, 2012 at 1:30 p.m. in
person to establish a scheduling order for these matters.
New Orleans, Louisiana, this 21st day of June, 2012.
STANWOOD R. DUVAL, JR.
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT JUDGE
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