Zapata v. Ricketts et al

Filing 19

ORDER that the plaintiff's motion for an extension of time (filing 18 ) is granted as set forth above. The Clerk of the Court shall mail a copy of this Order to plaintiff's address of record. Ordered by Judge John M. Gerrard. (Copy mailed to pro se party) (LAC)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF NEBRASKA
JOHN LECHER-ZAPATA,
Plaintiff,

4:17-CV-3076

vs.
ORDER
PETE RICKETTS, Governor of the
State of Nebraska and DOUG
PETERSON, Attorney General for the
State of Nebraska,
Defendants.
This matter is before the Court on the plaintiff's motion for an
extension of time to respond to the defendant's request for sanctions. Filing
18. The plaintiff's motion will be granted in part, as described below.
The plaintiff, John Lecher-Zapata, alleges constitutional violations
against Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts and Nebraska Attorney General
Doug Peterson. Filing 1 at 1. On July 25, 2017, the defendants filed a motion
to dismiss the plaintiff's complaint under Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(1) and 12(b)(6).
Filing 8 at 1. Then, on August 17, the defendants filed a motion for sanctions
under Fed. R. Civ. P. 11, seeking payment from the plaintiff of "part or all of
the reasonable attorney's fees and other expenses" resulting from this
litigation. See, filing 16; filing 17 at 5.
The plaintiff, in his current motion, has two requests of the Court.
First, he requests that the Court stay its consideration of the Rule 11 motion
until after it has resolved the defendants' motion to dismiss. Second, he seeks
an additional 60 days from the time the Court rules on the defendants'
motion to dismiss to respond to the defendants' motion for sanctions.

The plaintiff's request for additional time to respond to the defendants'
motion for sanctions will be granted. But the Court need not set an official
briefing schedule at this point. Rather, the Court will provide the parties
further instruction on the defendants' Rule 11 motion when it rules on the
pending motion to dismiss. In other words, if a response is required, the
plaintiff will be notified of that fact, and provided sufficient time to present
his arguments. But in the meantime, the plaintiff's response, to the extent he
intends to file one, is not necessary.
IT IS ORDERED:
1.

The plaintiff's motion for an extension of time (filing 18) is
granted as set forth above.

2.

The Clerk of the Court shall mail a copy of this Order to
plaintiff's address of record.

Dated this 1st day of September, 2017.
BY THE COURT:

John M. Gerrard
United States District Judge

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