Hillie v. Webster et al

Filing 14

ORDER in case 4:17-cv-00070-DMB-RP; granting (7) Motion to Consolidate Cases in case 4:17-cv-00135-DMB-JMV. Signed by Magistrate Judge Jane M. Virden on 10/26/17. Associated Cases: 4:17-cv-00070-DMB-RP, 4:17-cv-00135-DMB-JMV (tab)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF MISSISSIPPI
GREENVILLE DIVISION

GREGORY MARQUE HILLIE

PETITIONER

V.

NO. 4:17CV70-DMB-RP
LEAD CASE, CONSOLIDATED

JUDGE CHARLES WEBSTER and
JUDGE LINDA COLEMAN

RESPONDENTS

CONSOLIDATED WITH

GREGORY MARQUE HILLIE
V.

PETITIONER
NO. 4:17CV135-DMB-JMV

SHERIFF KEVIN WILLIAMS and
ATTORNEY GENERAL OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI

RESPONDENTS

ORDER GRANTING MOTION TO CONSOLIDATE
Respondents have filed a motion requesting the court consolidate the instant action with
Petitioner’s earlier-filed action, docketed in Cause No. 4:17cv70-DMB-RP. Petitioner opposes
the motion on the grounds that the magistrate judge in the later-filed action should be required to
conduct an independent investigation of the facts of the petition. See Docs. #8 & 9.
The court is authorized to consolidate actions with common questions of law or fact. See
Fed. R. Civ. P. 42. Hillie’s earlier-filed action contains claims similar to those in the instant
complaint, and the two petitions challenge the same charges pending against Petitioner in the
Bolivar County Circuit Court. The court finds that the difference in the petitions is minimal, and
consolidation is warranted in the interests of judicial economy.

It is, therefore, ORDERED
That Respondents’ motion [7] is GRANTED, and that civil action number 4:17cv135DMB-JMV, entitled Gregory Marque Hillie v. Sheriff Kevin Williams and the Attorney General
of the State of Mississippi is hereby consolidated with civil action number 4:17cv70-DMB-RP,
entitled Gregory Marque Hillie v. Judge Charles Webster and Judge Linda Coleman, with
4:17cv70-DMB-RP serving as the lead case.
The parties and counsel are directed to indicate in the caption of all documents filed with
the court the lead case number and consolidated case number. The word “CONSOLIDATED”
must appear directly under the lead case number. All documents must be docketed and filed in
the lead case unless the court directs otherwise. The parties and counsel are responsible for
accurately and correctly following these requirements in all filings, whether manual or via the
court’s electronic case management system.
THIS the 26th day of October, 2017.

s/ Jane M. Virden
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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