Opinion
07-cv-451-bbc.
June 20, 2008
ORDER
On June 18, 2008, this court held a telephonic motion hearing to discuss defendants' motion for protection (dkt. 310) and plaintiffs' motion to compel discovery (dkt. 314). Both sides were represented by counsel.
I alerted the parties that Judge Crabb will be deciding both of the substantive discovery motions in a written order to follow. I denied defendants' request for appointment of a special master and denied defendants' request for a deadline extension. In order to accelerate the pace of discovery in this slow-moving case, I advised the parties that the court is available on an expedited basis for telephonic hearings to resolve discovery disputes. The parties may file a joint letter with the court indicating the nature of the dispute and what relief each side seeks from the court. That will be sufficient to trigger a telephonic motion hearing with the court — the length of which shall not exceed 30 minutes — at which the parties may present their positions and obtain a ruling from the court.
Judge Crabb will review a transcript of the June 18 hearing in addition to reviewing the parties' written submissions. Judge Crabb will not entertain further oral argument on either motion, but will rule based on the record before the court as of June 20, 2008, the date defendants' opposition is due to plaintiffs' motion to compel.