Opinion
Case No. 2:20-cv-00124-CW
04-19-2021
BRADLEY LIGGETT, Plaintiff, v. UTAH HIGHER EDUCATION ASSISTANCE AUTHORITY, Defendant.
MEMORANDUM DECISION AND ORDER GRANTING MOTION FOR PROTECTIVE ORDER AND STAY OF DISCOVERY District Judge Clark Waddoups Chief Magistrate Judge Dustin B. Pead
This matter is before the court on Defendant's Motion for a Protective Order and Stay of Discovery pending the issuance of a scheduling order. (ECF No. 10.) Defendant filed the motion on March 30, 2021, and to date, there has been no opposition filed by Plaintiff. For good cause shown and on account of no opposition being filed, the court will grant Defendant's motion.
This case is referred to the undersigned from District Judge Clark Waddoups pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636 (b)(1)(A). (ECF No. 3.)
Local Rule 7-1(b)(3) provides that any opposition "must be filed within 14 days after service of the motion".
The court elects to decide the motion on the basis of the written memoranda. DUCivR 7-1(f).
Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 26(d) provides, "A party may not seek discovery from any source before the parties have conferred as required by Rule 26(f)". Fed. R. Civ. P. 26. Rule 26(f) provides the structure for planning discovery. After receiving the parties' report filed under Rule 26(f), the court enters a scheduling order that governs the case. This order provides limits and deadlines for the discovery process, and helps a court supervise the proceedings. See United States v. Carrigan, 804 F.2d 599, 603 (10th Cir. 1986) (noting that a court has "inherent power to control and supervise its own proceedings"); United States v. Paup, 933 F.3d 1226, 1232 (10th Cir. 2019) (providing that the "'district court may need to suppress evidence that did not comply with discovery orders to maintain the integrity and schedule of the court'") (quoting United States v. Wicker, 848 F.2d 1059, 1061 (10th Cir. 1988)).
As of the date of this order there has been no scheduling order entered in this case. And, on the present facts before it, the court finds there is no reason to commence discovery until a scheduling order is entered. Accordingly, Defendant's Motion is GRANTED.
The parties, including Plaintiff, are directed to comply with the Order to Propose Schedule that the court entered previously. (ECF No. 4.)
DATED this 19 April 2021.
/s/_________
Dustin B. Pead
United States Magistrate Judge