Guldenstein et al v. Merit Energy Company LLC

Filing 67

ORDER Adopting Magistrate Judge's 63 Report and Recommendation Concerning Plaintiff's March 13, 2017 Response and Imposing Sanctions Against Plaintiff's Counsel Pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 11(c). Signed by District Judge Linda V. Parker. (RLou)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF MICHIGAN
SOUTHERN DIVISION
ROBERT GULDENSTEIN and
KAREN GULDENSTEIN,
Plaintiffs,

Civil Case No. 15-14181
Honorable Linda V. Parker

v.
MERIT ENERGY CO., LLC,
Defendant.
/
ORDER ADOPTING MAGISTRATE JUDGE’S APRIL 18, 2017
REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION CONCERNING PLAINTIFF’S
MARCH 13, 2017 RESPONSE AND IMPOSING SANCTIONS AGAINST
PLAINTIFF’S COUNSEL PURSUANT TO FEDERAL RULE OF CIVIL
PROCEDURE 11(c)
Plaintiffs filed this personal injury lawsuit on November 30, 2015. The
matter presently is before the Court on Magistrate Judge Anthony P. Patti’s April
18, 2017 Report and Recommendation, recommending sanctions against Plaintiff’s
counsel in the amount of $1,000.00 pursuant to Rule 11(c) of the Federal Rules of
Civil Procedure. (ECF No. 63.) Magistrate Judge Patti recommends sanctions
against Plaintiff’s counsel based on counsel’s misrepresentation of key facts
relevant to Defendant’s February 27, 2017 motion to strike expert witnesses. (Id.
at 4.)

At the conclusion of his R&R, Magistrate Judge Patti advises the parties that
they may object to and seek review of the R&R within fourteen days of service
upon them. (Id.) He further specifically advises the parties that “[f]ailure to file
specific objections constitutes a waiver of any further right to appeal.” (Id.)
Neither party filed objections to the R&R.
The Court has reviewed Magistrate Judge Patti’s April 18, 2017 R&R and
concurs with his recommendation. The Court therefore adopts the R&R. While
Magistrate Judge Patti does not identify whether he intended to impose sanctions
against both of Plaintiff’s attorneys, the Court believes that sanctions are
appropriate against only attorney Gerald V. Padilla and the law firm representing
Plaintiff. Gerald Padilla signed the offending brief misrepresenting the late-named
expert witnesses as treating doctors and appeared at the hearing where this
misrepresentation was repeated. Rule 11(c)(1) states that, “[a]bsent exceptional
circumstances, a law firm must be held jointly responsible for a violation
committed by its partner, associate, or employee.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 11(c)(1).
Accordingly,
IT IS ORDERED that Gerald V. Padilla and the Padilla Law Group are
ordered to pay a penalty of $1,000.00 into the court pursuant to Federal Rule of
Civil Procedure 11(c). Such penalty shall be paid within fourteen (14) days by
check or money order made payable to the “Clerk of the Court” with “Case No.
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15-cv-14181” included on the memo line. Payment may be delivered in person or
via mail to: Clerk of the Court, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of
Michigan, 231 W. Lafayette Blvd., Detroit, MI 48226.
s/ Linda V. Parker
LINDA V. PARKER
U.S. DISTRICT JUDGE
Dated: May 11, 2017

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