United States of America v. Schmidt et al

Filing 43

ORDER granting govt's 36 Motion to Compel signed by Judge Robert S. Lasnik.(RS) cc Schmidt

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1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT WESTERN DISTRICT OF WASHINGTON AT SEATTLE _______________________________________ ) UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, ) ) Plaintiff, ) v. ) ) WILLIAM P. SCHMIDT, et al., ) ) Defendants. ) _______________________________________) Case No. C16-0985RSL ORDER GRANTING PLAINTIFF’S MOTION TO COMPEL DISCOVERY 13 This matter comes before the Court on the “United States of America’s Motion to Compel 14 Initial Disclosures and Discovery Responses from William P. Schmidt.” Dkt. # 36. Mr. Schmidt 15 has refused to provide initial disclosures or respond to discovery on the grounds that the Court 16 lacks subject matter jurisdiction over the United States’ claims and/or personal jurisdiction over 17 him. As a general matter, the assertion of a defense or the filing of a dispositive motion does not 18 relieve a litigant of his or her discovery obligations. The federal discovery rules impose clear 19 duties to disclose, both pursuant to Rule 26(a)(1) and in response to formal discovery requests. 20 The rules do not provide an automatic stay of the initial disclosures or discovery if a motion to 21 dismiss is filed: such motions are often unsuccessful and a stay could cause unnecessary and 22 significant delays at the outset of the litigation. In order to obtain a stay of discovery, defendant 23 is generally required to show that it is entitled to a protective order under Rule 26(c). Mr. 24 Schmidt makes no attempt to show that responding to discovery would cause him “annoyance, 25 embarrassment, oppression, or undue burden or expense” for purposes of Rule 26(c). 26 ORDER GRANTING PLAINTIFF’S MOTION TO COMPEL DISCOVERY 1 Rather, defendant argues that his jurisdictional challenge automatically stays discovery 2 because a lack of jurisdiction deprives the Court of the power to hear and decide any aspect of 3 the case. In order to have such an effect, the jurisdictional challenge must be colorable, meaning 4 that it must at least appear to be correct or justified. In this case, the Court has found that Mr. 5 Schmidt’s various jurisdictional arguments have been repeatedly rejected by courts throughout 6 the country and are frivolous. The Court’s power to hear and decide the federal government’s 7 claim for unpaid federal income taxes is not reasonably subject to dispute, and Mr. Schmidt 8 offers no facts which would give rise to a plausible inference that the Court lacks jurisdiction 9 over his person or the property that is located in this district. The assertion of a frivolous 10 jurisdictional challenge does not stall federal litigation. Mr. Schmidt should have provided initial 11 disclosures and discovery responses in a timely manner and will be required to do so now. 12 13 For all of the foregoing reasons, plaintiff’s motion to compel is GRANTED. Mr. Schmidt 14 shall, within fourteen days of the date of this Order, provide initial disclosures and complete and 15 accurate responses to the United States’ First Interrogatories and First Requests for Production. 16 Failure to make initial disclosures and/or to provide adequate responses to the discovery requests 17 may bar Mr. Schmidt from introducing evidence or presenting the testimony of witnesses that 18 should have been disclosed. The Court declines to require reimbursement of costs at this 19 juncture, but will revisit the issue if plaintiff is again forced to seek Court intervention to compel 20 Mr. Schmidt’s participation in this matter 21 DATED this 17th day of August, 2017. 22 23 A 24 Robert S. Lasnik United States District Judge 25 26 ORDER GRANTING PLAINTIFF’S MOTION TO COMPEL DISCOVERY -2-

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