Meridian Capital Ventures LLC v. Capital City Energy Group, Inc.

Filing 40

REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION - The Court RECOMMENDS that this action be dismissed and that 37 MOTION for Judgment as a Matter of Law be DENIED as MOOT. Objections to R&R due by 3/9/2017. Signed by Magistrate Judge Kimberly A. Jolson on 2/23/2017. (agm)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF OHIO
EASTERN DIVISION
MERIDIAN CAPITAL VENTURES, LLC,
Plaintiff,
v.

Civil Action 2:16-mc-36
Judge Michael H. Watson
Magistrate Judge Jolson

CAPITAL CITY ENERGY GROUP, INC.,
Defendant.
REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION
In an Opinion and Order issued on January 30, 2017, this Court denied Plaintiff’s Motion
for the Appointment of a Receiver. (Doc. 2 at 7). In addition, the Court ordered Defendant to
refrain from making any transfers or incurring any obligations outside the normal course of
business until an agreement could be reached on the terms of the required notice and/or a process
relating to future transfer of material assets. (Id.). The Court ordered the parties to meet and
confer on that agreement and file a joint status report concerning the status of that agreement
within fourteen days. (Id.). The joint status report was also to include an outline of the
remaining issues and a proposal as to how to proceed in this case. (Id.). Finally, the Court
advised the parties that they may, within fourteen days, file and serve on the opposing party a
motion for reconsideration by a District Judge. (Id. at 8 (citing 28 U.S.C. §636(b)(1)(A), Rule
72(a), Fed. R. Civ. P.; Eastern Division Order No. 91-3, pt. I., F., 5)).
Plaintiff did not file a motion for reconsideration by a District Judge, and the parties did
not, as required by this Court’s Opinion and Order, file a joint status report. Instead, Defendant
filed a Motion for Judgment as a Matter of Law, asserting that Plaintiff “decline[d] to
participate” in creating a joint status report. (Doc. 37). Almost immediately, Plaintiff filed a

response to Defendant’s Motion, clarifying that it declined to participate because it did not feel
that an agreement on required notice and/or a process relating to future transfer of material assets
“is a useful or acceptable solution.” (Doc. 38 at 1). Plaintiff elaborated, stating “[w]hile the
Plaintiff appreciates the Court’s effort to find a resolution, the proposed one does nothing to help
the Plaintiff or to right the fraud perpetrated by the Defendant, which is why Plaintiff elected not
to participate.” (Id.). Based on the email attached to the response, it appeared to this Court that
Plaintiff is pursuing alternative means of collecting its judgment. (Id., PAGEID #: 445).
Because there appeared to be no issues remaining for this Court’s resolution, on February
14, 2017, this Court issued an Order directing Plaintiff to show cause within seven days why this
case should not be dismissed. (Doc. 39). The Court warned Plaintiff that if it failed to make
such a showing, this action could be dismissed without prejudice for failure to prosecute. (Id.).
More than seven days have passed since the Court issued its Order, and Plaintiff has not
filed a response or sought an extension of time in order to do so. Thus, it appears that Plaintiff
no longer intends to pursue this action. The Court may dismiss an action for failure to prosecute
under its inherent power to control its docket, see Link v. Wabash R.R. Co., 370 U.S. 626, 629
(1962), or under Rule 41(b) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. Based upon the foregoing,
the Court RECOMMENDS that this action be dismissed. Further, the Court recommends that
the Motion for Judgment as a Matter of Law be DENIED as MOOT. (Doc. 37).
Procedure on Objections to Report and Recommendation
If any party objects to this Report and Recommendation, that party may, within fourteen
(14) days of the date of this Report, file and serve on all parties written objections to those
specific proposed findings or recommendations to which objection is made, together with
supporting authority for the objection(s).

A Judge of this Court shall make a de novo

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determination of those portions of the Report or specified proposed findings or recommendations
to which objection is made. Upon proper objections, a Judge of this Court may accept, reject, or
modify, in whole or in part, the findings or recommendations made herein, may receive further
evidence or may recommit this matter to the Magistrate Judge with instructions. 28 U.S.C.
§ 636(b)(1).
The parties are specifically advised that failure to object to the Report and
Recommendation will result in a waiver of the right to have the District Judge review the Report
and Recommendation de novo, and also operates as a waiver of the right to appeal the decision of
the District Court adopting the Report and Recommendation. See Thomas v. Arn, 474 U.S. 140
(1985); United States v. Walters, 638 F.2d 947 (6th Cir. 1981).
IT IS SO ORDERED.

Date: February 23, 2017

/s/ Kimberly A. Jolson
KIMBERLY A. JOLSON
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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