Bluebell Business Limited v. Jones

Filing 51

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER granting 48 Plaintiff's Motion to Compel; Plaintiff's request for attorneys' fees is denied at this time. Signed by Magistrate Judge Beth P. Gesner on 9/18/2018. (cags, Deputy Clerk)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
DISTRICT OF MARYLAND
CHAMBERS OF
BETH P. GESNER
CHIEF UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
[e-mail]

101 WEST LOMBARD STREET
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND 21201
[phone]
[phone] FAX

September 18, 2018
Andrew Lynch Cole, Esq.
LeClairRyan
410 Severn Avenue
Building C, Ste. 216
Annapolis, MD 21403
Subject:

Michael Jones, Pro Se
1455 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W., Ste. 400
Washington, DC 20004

Bluebell Business Limited v. Jones
Civil No.: RDB-17-2150

Dear Mr. Jones and Mr. Cole:
This case was referred to me by Judge Bennett for all discovery and related scheduling,
pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(c) and Local Rule 301, on September 10, 2018. (ECF No. 50.) I
understand that Mr. Jones is proceeding without counsel in this case. This case will move
forward with Mr. Jones acting as his own attorney, pro se, unless and until counsel enters an
appearance on his behalf.
Mr. Jones is hereby advised that discovery—the exchange of documents and information
between the parties—is a fundamental part of a lawsuit. In federal court, discovery is governed
generally by Rule 26 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. In order for this case to proceed, the
parties must satisfy their obligations under the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, the Local Rules of
this court, and applicable case law. 1 Under Rule 26, “Parties may obtain discovery regarding any
non-privileged matter that is relevant to any party’s claim or defense and proportional to the needs of
the case…” Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(b)(1).

Currently pending is plaintiff’s Motion to Compel Responses to Interrogatories and
Request for Attorneys’ Fees (“Motion to Compel”) (ECF No. 48). For the reasons stated below,
plaintiff’s Motion to Compel is granted, but plaintiff’s request for attorneys’ fees is denied at this
time.
Plaintiff has served Mr. Jones with Plaintiff’s First Interrogatories to Defendant. (ECF No.
48-1). Plaintiff alleges that Mr. Jones has not responded to plaintiff’s interrogatories. (ECF No.
48 at 2). As a pro se party, Mr. Jones is required to answer all discovery requests even if he does
not have an attorney. Mr. Jones is hereby ordered to provide complete and non-evasive
responses to plaintiff’s interrogatories. Mr. Jones is directed to do so no later than Friday,
September 28, 2018.
1

I call the parties’ attention to the People’s Law Library of Maryland, linked through the court’s website, which
provides information and limited assistance to people representing themselves in this Court.
See:
http://www.mdd.uscourts.gov/finding-legal-assistance (click on “Programs that Will Help You Represent Yourself
in Court”).

Bluebell Business Limited v. Jones
Civil No.: RDB-17-2150
September 18, 2018
Page 2
Accordingly, by Friday, September 28, 2018, Mr. Jones is ORDERED to:
1. Provide complete and non-evasive responses to plaintiff’s interrogatories. The
answers must be true, correct, and to the best of Mr. Jones’ knowledge, information,
and belief.
2. Attach the following statement to and sign your answers to all Interrogatories:
“I do hereby swear or affirm under penalty of perjury that the
foregoing answers to interrogatories are true and correct to the
best of my knowledge, information, and belief.”
_________________________
Michael Jones
Please be advised that if Mr. Jones does not comply with this Order, he may be subject to
sanctions pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 37. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 37.
Notwithstanding the informal nature of this letter, it is an Order of the court and will be
docketed accordingly.
Very truly yours,

/s/
Beth P. Gesner
Chief United States Magistrate Judge