Knox v. Bissell Companies, Inc.

Filing 48

ORDER Plaintiff has until and inclusive of 11/3/16 to file and serve response and any supporting documents to Defendant's 43 MOTION for Summary Judgment . Signed by District Judge Max O. Cogburn, Jr on 10/12/16. (Pro se litigant served by US Mail.)(ssh)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
WESTERN DISTRICT OF NORTH CAROLINA
CHARLOTTE DIVISION
DOCKET NO. 3:14-cv-00424-MOC-DSC
DEBORAH KNOX,

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Plaintiff,
v.
BISSELL COMPANIES, INC., aka
BALLANTYNE HOTEL & LODGE
Defendant.

ORDER

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THIS MATTER is before the court on defendant’s Motion for Summary Judgment
(#43), as to which the court will advise plaintiff.
In accordance with Roseboro v. Garrison, 528 F.2d 309 (4th Cir. 1975), plaintiff, who is
proceeding pro se, is cautioned that she carries a heavy burden in responding to a motion for
summary judgment. Rule 56(a), Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, provides:
A party may move for summary judgment, identifying each claim or defense — or
the part of each claim or defense — on which summary judgment is sought. The
court shall grant summary judgment if the movant shows that there is no genuine
dispute as to any material fact and the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of
law. The court should state on the record the reasons for granting or denying the
motion.
Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(a). The rule goes on to provide procedures for plaintiff to use in responding to a
Motion for Summary Judgment:
(c) Procedures.
(1) Supporting Factual Positions. A party asserting that a fact
cannot be or is genuinely disputed must support the assertion by:
(A) citing to particular parts of materials in the record, including
depositions, documents, electronically stored information, affidavits
or declarations, stipulations (including those made for purposes of
the motion only), admissions, interrogatory answers, or other
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materials; or
(B) showing that the materials cited do not establish the absence or
presence of a genuine dispute, or that an adverse party cannot
produce admissible evidence to support the fact.
(2) Objection That a Fact Is Not Supported by Admissible
Evidence. A party may object that the material cited to support or
dispute a fact cannot be presented in a form that would be admissible
in evidence.
(3) Materials Not Cited. The court need consider only the cited
materials, but it may consider other materials in the record.
(4) Affidavits or Declarations. An affidavit or declaration used to
support or oppose a motion must be made on personal knowledge,
set out facts that would be admissible in evidence, and show that the
affiant or declarant is competent to testify on the matters stated.
Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(c). This language means that if the plaintiff has any evidence to offer to show
that there is a genuine issue for trial, plaintiff must now present it to this court in a form which
would otherwise be admissible at trial, i.e., in the form of affidavits or unsworn declarations. An
affidavit is a written statement under oath; that is, a statement prepared in writing and sworn before
a notary public. An unsworn statement, made and signed under the penalty of perjury, may also
be submitted. Affidavits or statements must be presented by plaintiff to this court within the time
provided in this Order for a response and served on counsel for the moving party as evidenced in
a certificate of service attached to plaintiff’s response. Failure to respond may result in summary
judgment being entered against plaintiff by reason of default.
The plaintiff is also advised of defendant’s contention that Bissell Companies, Inc. may
not be the proper party in this case. Def. Motion for Summary Judgment 1 (ECF #43). The court
takes no position on this argument at this time. The pro se plaintiff is hereby provided further
notice of this argument as well as the need to respond to the defendant’s Motion currently before
the court.
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Given that this is a pro se plaintiff, plaintiff will be given additional time to respond to
defendant’s Motion for Summary Judgment (#43).

ORDER
IT IS, THEREFORE, ORDERED that plaintiff has until, and inclusive of, November 3,
2016

to file and serve her response and any supporting exhibits, including affidavits, to

defendant’s Motion for Summary Judgment (#43).
Signed: October 12, 2016

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