Milburn et al v. Hudgens et al (TV3)

Filing 29

ORDER: The Joint Motions Consolidating Cases for Purposes of Discovery [Docs. 22 and 20], filed in Milburn and Swisher, respectively, are GRANTED. Signed by Magistrate Judge H Bruce Guyton on 9/7/17. (JBR)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF TENNESSEE
AT KNOXVILLE
CHRIS MILBURN, and ANITA MILBURN,

)
)
Plaintiffs,
)
)
v.
)
No. 3:17-CV-35-TAV-HBG
)
HUGH D. HUDGENS, et al.,
)
)
Defendants.
)
_____________________________________________________________________________
RANDY SWISHER, SR., and PATRICIA
SWISHER,
Plaintiffs,
v.
DAVID WILLIAMS, et al.,
Defendants.

)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)

No. 3:17-CV-74-HBG

ORDER
These cases are before the undersigned pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636, the Federal Rules of
Civil Procedure, and Standing Order 13-02. Further, Swisher v. Williams, No. 3:17-CV-74 has
been consented to the undersigned pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(c) and Rule 73(b) of the Federal
Rules of Civil Procedure for all further proceedings, including entry of judgment [Doc. 13].
Now before the Court are two Joint Motions Consolidating Cases for Purposes of
Discovery [Docs. 22 and 20], filed in Milburn and Swisher, respectively. The Joint Motions
request that the cases be consolidated for purposes of discovery only.
The Court has reviewed the pleadings in both of these cases and finds the requests welltaken. The Court finds that Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 42(a) permits the Court to consolidate

cases that present common questions of law or fact. The Court finds that these cases present
common questions of law and fact and they involve similar parties. The Court finds that it is
appropriate to consolidate the two actions for purposes of discovery. See also Fed. R. Civ. P.
42(a)(3) (stating that the court may issue any other orders to avoid unnecessary cost or delay).
Furthermore, it appears that consolidation of discovery would further the interests of judicial
administration and economy because the evidence in each case may overlap. See Fed. R. Civ. P.
1 (explaining that the Rules “should be construed, administered, and employed by the court and
the parties to secure the just, speedy, and inexpensive determination of every action and
proceeding”). Accordingly, the Joint Motions Consolidating Cases for Purposes of Discovery
[Docs. 22 and 20], filed in Milburn and Swisher, respectively, are GRANTED.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
ENTER:

United States Magistrate Judge

2