A&E Television Networks, LLC et al v. Pivot Point Entertainment, LLC et al

Filing 224

ORDER re: 206 MOTION to Strike and Preclude. On May 2, 2013, Plaintiffs filed a motion requesting that certain of Defendant Pivot Point's pre-trial filings be struck and that Pivot Point be precluded from presenting certain direct testimony. ( Dkt. Nos. 206-208) The basis for Plaintiffs' motion was that Pivot Point had failed to abide by the deadlines set in this Court's scheduling order, (Dkt. No. 200), or by the terms of this Court's Individual Practices in Civil Cases. Al though Plaintiffs' motion did not specifically request that the testimony of Alice Barmore-Smith Chapman ("Ms. Chapman") be precluded, they did note, in support of their motion, that Pivot Point "relies on the planned testimony of persons for whom it should have submitted, but failed to submit, affidavits pursuant to Rule 5(D)(iii) [of this Court's Individual Practices], including [Ms.] Chapman.... " (P1. Br. 3). Under the facts and circumstances, wherein Pivot Poin t failed to comply with the Court's original order regarding pretrial submissions, failed to abide by the terms of the Court's order regarding the submission of Ms. Chapman's testimony, and failed to abide by the Court's Individua l Practices regarding requests for adjournment, the Court concludes that, pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 37(b), sanctions are appropriate. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 37(b); see also Southern New England Telephone Co. v. Global NAPs Inc., 624 F. 3d 123, 144 (2d Cir. 2010) (discussing Rule 37(b) sanctions and noting that "[t]he district court is free to consider the full record in the case in order to select the appropriate sanction" (internal quotations omitted). Having considered all relevant factors, see Global NAPs Inc. (quoting Aqiwal v. Mid Island Mortg. Corp., 555 F.3d 298, 302 (2d Cir. 2009)), the Court concludes and SO ORDERS that the just result in this case is to preclude Defendants from presenting Ms. Chapman's testimony and from calling her as a witness at trial. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 37(b); see also Scherbakoskiy v. Da Capo Al Fine, Ltd., 490 F.3d 130, 135 (2d Cir. 2007). (Signed by Judge Alison J. Nathan on 6/11/2013) (ft) Modified on 6/11/2013 (ft).

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