Cooper v. Niagara Community Action Program

Filing 19

ORDER OF MAGISTRATE JUDGE HUGH B. SCOTTORDER granting 14 Motion to CompelPlaintiff to immediately produce initial disclosures. Defendant shall file an application for recovery of its reasonable motion expenses within ten (10) days of entry of this Order. So Ordered. Signed by Hon. Hugh B. Scott on 1/14/2009. (DRH)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT WESTERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK DAVID COOPER, Plaintiff,

Hon. Hugh B. Scott v. 08CV468S Order NIAGARA COMMUNITY ACTION PROGRAM, Defendant.

Before the Court is defendant's motion to compel production of plaintiff's initial disclosures, pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(a)(1)(effective Dec. 1, 2007), and for reimbursement of its reasonable motion expenses, including attorney's fees, pursuant to Rule 37(a) (Docket No. 141). Responses to this motion were due by January 6, 2009, and any reply was due by January 13, 2009, with the motion deemed submitted (without oral argument) on January 13, 2009 (Docket No. 17). Plaintiff, however, has not filed a response. BACKGROUND This is a Title VII action, in which plaintiff alleges discrimination based upon race, as well as discrimination under the New York State Human Rights Law, and violations of the Equal Pay Act and New York Labor Law (see Docket No. 1, Compl.). Plaintiff had not served his initial disclosure prior to the Scheduling Conference and, on October 15, 2008, at that conference

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In support of its motion, defendant filed its attorney's declaration with exhibits, Docket

No. 15.

(see Docket No. 11) plaintiff's counsel there represented that this disclosure would be forthcoming (Docket No. 15, Def. Atty. Decl. ¶ 2). On October 23, 2008, defendant served discovery demands, noting that the initial disclosure had not been served and wrote to plaintiff's counsel on November 12, 2008, repeating its request for that disclosure (id. ¶¶ 3, 4, Exs. A, B). Defendant thus filed this motion to compel immediate production of that initial disclosure, pursuant to Rule 26(a)(1) and 37(a)(2)(A) and (a)(4)(A)2 (Docket No. 14). DISCUSSION Discovery under the Federal Rules is intended to reveal relevant documents and testimony, but this process is supposed to occur with a minimum of judicial intervention. See 8A Charles A. Wright, Arthur R. Miller & Richard L. Marcus, Federal Practice and Procedure § 2288, at 655-65 (Civil 2d ed. 1994). Unless otherwise exempted by the Federal Rules, a party "must, without awaiting a discovery request" provide certain initial disclosures to the opponent, Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(a)(1)(A) (effective Dec. 1, 2007). Initial disclosure includes producing the names, known addresses and telephone numbers of persons having discoverable information, "a copy­or a description by category and location­of all documents, electronically stored information, and tangible things that the disclosing party has in its possession, custody, or control and may use to support its claims or defenses," and a computation of damages, Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(a)(1)(A)(i), (ii), (iii). Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 37(a) allows a party to apply to the Court for an Order compelling disclosure, Fed. R. Civ. P. 37(a)(3)(A) (effective Dec. 1, 2007), with that motion including a certification that the movant in good faith conferred or attempted to
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Currently Rule 37(a)(3)(A) and (a)(5)(A) (effective Dec. 1, 2007). 2

confer with the party not making the disclosure to secure that disclosure without court intervention. Fed. R. Civ. P. 37(a)(1). Here, plaintiff failed to make these initial disclosures despite representations that such disclosures would be provided. Plaintiff did not explain this failure to produce and did not respond to this motion to compel. Defendant fulfilled its obligation to certify its good faith efforts in attempting to obtain this disclosure short of the present motion. Thus, defendant's motion to compel is granted; plaintiff shall immediately produce his initial disclosures in accordance with Rule 26(a). As the prevailing movant for a discovery motion, under Rule 37(a)(5)(A) and (a)(3)(A) (party seeking disclosure may move to compel and for appropriate sanctions) defendant is entitled to recover its reasonable motion expenses (including attorney's fees). Defense counsel shall file an application for recovery of these reasonable expenses within ten (10) days of entry of this Order. CONCLUSION For the reasons stated above, defendant's motion to compel plaintiff to produce initial disclosure (Docket No. 14) is granted. Defendant's motion for reimbursement of its reasonable motion expenses, including attorney's fees is also granted; defendant is to submit an affidavit of

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its reasonable costs associated with this motion within ten (10) days of entry of this Order and the Court will determine the amount of those reasonable costs. So Ordered.

/s/ Hugh B. Scott
Honorable Hugh B. Scott United States Magistrate Judge Dated: Buffalo, New York January 14, 2009

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