Caekaert et al v. Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York, Inc. et al

Filing 318

ORDER granting in part 287 Motion for Sanctions. Plaintiffs Tracey Caekaert and Camillia Mapley' s Motion for Sanctions is GRANTED as to WTNY's failure to comply with the Order and the need for a remedy, and DENIED as to Plaintiffs' requested remedy. Within 30 days of this order, Plaintiffs' counsel shall file a pleading setting forth the amount of expenses and attorney's fees recoverable for their work finding the attached exhibits not disclosed to them in discovery and preparing the instant motion. Plaintiffs' counsel also shall file an affidavit itemizing those expenses and fees within 30 days of this order. WTNY shall have 14 days thereafter to respond. The Court will then issue a second order, specifying the amount of the sanctions award and setting the time of payment. Signed by Judge Susan P. Watters on 2/6/2024. (EMH)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF MONTANA
BILLINGS DIVISION

TRACY CAEKAERT and CAMILLIA
MAPLEY,

CV 20-52-BLG-SPW

Plaintiffs,
ORDER
vs.

WATCHTOWER BIBLE AND

TRACT SOCIETY OF NEW YORK,

INC., and WATCH TOWER BIBLE
AND TRACT SOCIERY OF

PENNSYLVANIA,INC.
Defendants.

Before the Court is Plaintiffs Tracy Caekaert and Camillia Mapley's Motion

for Sanctions. (Doc. 287). Plaintiffs seek sanctions against Watchtower Bible and

Tract Society of New York, Inc. ("WTNY") pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil
Procedure 37(b)(2)(A) for allegedly violating the Court's August 24, 2021 Order
Granting Plaintiffs' Motion to Compel Jurisdictional Discovery Responses(Doc.85,
hereinafter "Order"). (Doc. 287). Plaintiffs contend WTNY violated the Order's

requirement that WTNY "fully and completely" respond to Interrogatories 9 and 15
because WTNY omitted substantial information concerning the Jehovah's

Witnesses Governing Body and the relationships among several of the
organization's entities that Plaintiffs later discovered on their own. (Doc. 288 at 1-

10). As for the appropriate remedy if sanctions are warranted. Plaintiffs ask the