Bistline et al v. Jeffs et al

Filing 158

MEMORANDUM DECISION AND ORDER striking trial date of 9/26/2022. It is further ORDERED that Plaintiffs submit a proffer of their alleged damages by September 12, 2022. Upon review of that proffer, the Court will determine whether to use the September 26, 2022 date for a hearing under Rule 55(b)(2). Signed by Judge Ted Stewart on 8/24/22. (alf)

Case 2:16-cv-00788-TS-DBP Document 158 Filed 08/24/22 PageID.2936 Page 1 of 2

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF UTAH
ALICIA ROHBOCK; RUBY JESSOP;
SUSAN BROADBENT; GINA
ROHBOCK; NOLAN BARLOW; JASON
BLACK; MAY MUSSER; HOLLY
BISTLINE; LAWRENCE BARLOW;
STEVEN DOCKSTADER; MARVIN
COOKE; HELEN BARLOW; VERGEL
BARLOW; CAROLE JESSOP; BRIELL
LIBERTAE DECKER, fka LYNETTE
WARNER; AMY NIELSON; SARAH
ALLRED; THOMAS JEFFS; and
JANETTA JESSOP,

MEMORANDUM DECISION AND
ORDER

Plaintiffs,
v.

Case No. 2:16-CV-788 TS

WARREN STEED JEFFS, RODNEY R.
PARKER; SNOW CHRISTENSEN &
MARTINEAU, P.C.; DAVID SLAGLE;
JOHN R. LUND; MAX WHEELER;
DAVID SLAUGHTER; ANDREW
MORSE; RICHARD VAN WAGONER;
FREDERICK GEDICKS; JOHN GATES;
and John Does I through X,

District Judge Ted Stewart

Defendants.
This matter is set for a jury trial to begin on September 26, 2022. Warren Steed Jeffs, the
sole remaining defendant, is in default leaving only the issue of damages. Under such
circumstances, Plaintiffs have no statutory or constitutional right to a jury trial. 1 Rather, the

1

Olcott v. Del. Flood Co., 327 F.3d 1115, 1124 (10th Cir. 2003); see also Dierschke v.
O'Cheskey, 975 F.2d 181, 185 (5th Cir.1992) (“[I]n a default case neither the plaintiff nor the
defendant has a constitutional right to a jury trial on the issue of damages.”); Adriana Int’l Corp.
v. Thoeren, 913 F.2d 1406, 1414 (9th Cir. 1990).
1

Case 2:16-cv-00788-TS-DBP Document 158 Filed 08/24/22 PageID.2937 Page 2 of 2

Court may conduct a hearing to determine the amount of damages. 2 The Court finds that it is not
in the interests of justice to conduct a jury trial on damages in this case. It is therefore
ORDERED that the trial date is STRICKEN. It is further
ORDERED that Plaintiffs submit a proffer of their alleged damages by September 12,
2022. Upon review of that proffer, the Court will determine whether to use the September 26,
2022 date for a hearing under Rule 55(b)(2).
DATED this 24th day of August, 2022.
BY THE COURT:

Ted Stewart
United States District Judge

2

Fed. R. Civ. P. 55(b)(2)(B).
2