Kaul v. Christopher J. Christe, Esq. et al

Filing 100

LETTER ORDER/OPINION that the subpoenas are quashed and leave to file a motion to compel is denied w/out prejudice. Signed by Magistrate Judge Steven C. Mannion on 8/23/16. (DD, )

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
DISTRICT OF NEW JERSEY

Chambers of

Martin Luther King Jr, Federal Bldg.
& U.S. Courthouse
50 Walnut Street
Newark, NJ 07102
[phone]

STEVEN C. MANNION
United States Magistrate Judge

August 23, 2016
LETTER ORDER/OPINION

Re:

Kaul v. Christie, et al.
Civil Action No. 16-2364 (KM) (SCM)

Dear Mr. Kaul:
The Court is in receipt of four letters, three from party Defendants and one from a nonparty to the present matter.1 The letters request the same relief, namely that compliance with
subpoena requests you appear to have issued be held in abeyance pending dispositive motion
practice. On August 22, 2016, you wrote two letters to the Court. The first letter objects to your
adversaries’ request, and the second letter requests permission to file a motion to compel
compliance with a subpoena you issued.2 After review of the parties’ submissions, the
subpoenas are quashed and leave to file a motion to compel is denied without prejudice.
The rules governing civil procedure mandate that all rules be “employed by the court and
the parties to secure the just, speedy, and inexpensive determination of every action and

(ECF Docket Entry (“D.E.”) 91-93 and 95). Two of the four letters were submitted by counsel
for the same party Defendants.
1

2

(D.E. 96 and 97).

proceeding.”3 Your efforts to serve subpoenas and a motion to compel production at this time do
not comport with the “just, speedy, and inexpensive determination of” this action.
Subpoenas are tools for obtaining discovery and discovery does not begin until the Court
enters a scheduling order which allows for discovery after an initial scheduling conference.4 An
initial scheduling conference is usually scheduled within 60 days of the filing of an initial
answer, unless deferred by the Magistrate Judge due to the pendency of a dispositive or other
motion.5 There has been no initial scheduling conference in this case and defendants have until
September 9, 2016 to respond to the Amended Complaint.6 Thus, no party may serve subpoenas
or a discovery motion at this time.
Additionally, only attorneys and the Clerk of the Court may issue subpoenas.7 Therefore,
even after discovery begins you are not authorized to issue a subpoena except through the Clerk
of the Court or an attorney. Any and all subpoenas that have been propounded by you are hereby
quashed, and your request to file a motion to compel is denied without prejudice.
IT IS SO ORDERED.

8/23/2016 12:03:49 PM

Original: Clerk of the Court
Hon. Kevin McNulty, U.S.D.J.
cc: All parties
3

See Fed.R.Civ.P. 1.
See Fed.R.Civ.P. 26(f).
5
See L. Civ. R. 16(a)(1).
6
(D.E. 76).
7
See Fed.R.Civ.P. 45(a)(3).
4