Abante Rooter and Plumbing, Inc. v. Triumph Merchant Solutions, LLC. ( 2020 )

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 9 SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 10 Case No.: 20cv754-JAH(BLM) 11 ABANTE ROOTER AND PLUMBING, INC. individually and on behalf of all others 12 similarly situated, ORDER GRANTING IN PART PLAINTIFF’S MOTION TO COMPEL 13 Plaintiff COMPLIANCE WITH SUBPOENAS AND FOR ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE AS TO 14 v. WHY TRIUMPH MERCHANT 15 TRIUMPH MERCHANT SOLUTIONS, LLC, SOLUTIONS, LLC SHOULD NOT BE HELD IN CONTEMPT 16 Defendant. [ECF NO.1] 17 18 19 Currently before the Court is Plaintiff’s April 21, 2020 Motion to Compel Compliance with 20 Subpoenas and for Order to Show Cause as to Why Triumph Merchant Solutions, LLC Should 21 Not Be Held in Contempt. ECF No. 1-2 (“Mot.”). For the reasons set forth below, Plaintiff’s 22 motion is GRANTED IN PART. 23 BACKGROUND 24 This matter stems from an underlying class action in the Northern District of California. 25 Id. at 2. In the Northern District action, Plaintiff alleges violations of the Telephone Consumer 26 Protection Act. Id. The defendant in that matter, Total Merchant Services, LLC, identified 27 Defendant Triumph Merchant Solutions, LLC as the entity that placed telemarketing calls to 28 Plaintiff and the alleged class members on its behalf and stated that “all of Triumph’s call records 1 and related data are within the custody, control, and possession of Triumph.” Id.; see also ECF 2 No. 1-3, Declaration of Taylor T. Smith in Support of Petitioner’s Motion to Compel Compliance 3 with Subpoenas and for Order to Show Cause Why Triumph Merchant Solutions, LLC Should Not 4 be Held in Contempt (“Smith Decl.”) at ¶ 4. 5 On February 4, 2020, Plaintiff issued a Subpoena to Produce Documents, Information, or 6 Objects or to Permit Inspection of Premises in a Civil Action and a Subpoena to Testify at a 7 Deposition in a Civil Action to Triumph. Id. at 2; see also Exh. A. Plaintiff attempted to serve 8 the subpoenas on February 6, 2020 at Triumph’s principal address, but the address is a shared 9 space and the process server was informed that Triumph employees are there by appointment 10 only.1 Id. at 3; see also Smith Decl. at ¶ 9. After locating the address of Triumph’s “organizer, 11 manager, and registered agent, Brandon M. Smith, Esq.,” on February 13, 2020, both subpoenas 12 were served and left with an individual authorized to accept service on behalf of Mr. Smith. Id.; 13 see also Smith Decl. at ¶ 12. Triumph’s deadline to respond to the subpoenas was March 13, 14 2020. Id. When the deadline passed without response, Plaintiff’s counsel sent a letter to Mr. 15 Smith regarding the subpoenas. Id.; see also Smith Decl. at ¶ 14. Mr. Smith did not respond. 16 Id. at 4; see also Smith Decl. at ¶ 15. On April 3, 2020, Plaintiff’s counsel called Mr. Smith and 17 left a voicemail about Triumph’s failure to respond to the subpoenas and on April 6, 2020 18 Plaintiff’s counsel spoke with Mr. Smith’s receptionist and “was assured that his message would 19 be passed along[,]” but Plaintiff’s counsel has not received a response. Id.; see also Smith Decl. 20 at ¶ 17. 21 On April 21, 2020, Plaintiff filed a Motion to Compel Compliance with Subpoenas and for 22 Order to Show Cause Why Triumph Merchant Solutions, LLC Should Not Be Held in Contempt. 23 ECF No. 1. On April 22, 2020, the Court issued an order setting a briefing schedule for the 24 motion requiring (1) Plaintiff to serve a copy of the Court’s order and Plaintiff’s motion, (2) any 25 opposition to the motion to be filed on or before May 22, 2020, and (3) any reply to be filed on 26 27 1 The receptionist also informed the process server that she was not authorized to accept service 28 1 or before June 12, 2020. ECF No. 3. No opposition was filed. See Docket. 2 LEAGL STANDARD 3 Federal Rule of Civil Procedure (“Fed. R. Civ. P.”) 45 establishes the rules for subpoenas 4 served upon individuals and entities that are not parties to the underlying lawsuit. See Fed. R. 5 Civ. P. 45. Serving a subpoena requires delivering a copy to the named person and, if requiring 6 that person's attendance, tendering the fees for one day's attendance and the mileage allowed 7 by law. Fed. R. Civ. P. 45(b)(1). “A subpoena may command a person to attend a trial, hearing, 8 or deposition [] within one hundred miles of where the person resides, is employed, or regularly 9 transacts business in person.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 45(c)(1)(A). “A subpoena may command: [] 10 production of documents, electronically stored information, or tangible things at a place within 11 100 miles of where the person resides, is employed, or regularly transacts business in person.” 12 Fed. R. Civ. P. 45(c)(2)(A). 13 The court for the district where compliance is required may hold in contempt a person 14 who, having been served, fails without adequate excuse to obey the subpoena or an order 15 related to it. Fed. R. Civ. P. 45(g). “Proper subpoenas issued by attorneys on behalf of the 16 court are treated as orders of the Court.” Moore v. Chase, Inc., 2015 WL 5732805, at *2 (E.D. 17 Cal. Sept. 29, 2015). The authority of a federal magistrate judge to exercise this kind of 18 contempt power, however, is established by 28 U.S.C. § 636(e). Under that subsection, 19 magistrate judges are required to refer contempt charges to the district judge with specific 20 certification of all facts supporting any recommendation that a particular individual be held in 21 contempt. See 28 U.S.C. § 636(e)(6)(B)(iii); see also Grimes v. City & County of San Francisco, 22 951 F.2d 236, 240 (9th Cir. 1991). As such, were this Court to determine that Triumph’s conduct 23 warrants a finding of contempt, it is empowered only to recommend to the district judge that 24 such a finding be made. See HM Elecs., Inc. v. R.F. Techs., Inc., 2014 WL 7183493, at *6 (S.D. 25 Cal. Dec. 15, 2014) (“Magistrate judges themselves do not have authority to make any findings 26 of contempt, so must certify their findings to the district judge.”) (citing 28 U.S.C. § 636(e); 27 Bingman v. Ward, 100 F.3d 653, 656–657 (9th Cir. 1996)). 28 To establish civil contempt, a moving party must show by clear and convincing evidence 1 that the opposition violated a specific order of the court. See Moore, 2015 WL 5732805, at *3 2 (citing FTC v. Affordable Media, LLC, 179 F.3d 1228, 1239 (9th Cir. 1999). If the party satisfies 3 that burden, the burden shifts to the other party to show that every possible step was taken to 4 comply with the subpoena and to explain why compliance was not possible. Id. (citing Donovan 5 v. Mazzola, 716 F.2d 1226, 1240 (9th Cir. 1983)). The court may consider a history of 6 noncompliance when considering a party’s explanation as to why compliance was not possible. 7 Id. (citing Stone v. City of San Francisco, 968 F.2d 850, 856–57 (9th Cir. 1992)). If the party’s 8 actions were taken in good faith or based on a reasonable interpretation, that party should not 9 be held in contempt. Id. 10 DISCUSSION 11 Plaintiff requests that the Court issue an order “compelling Triumph to respond to the 12 subject subpoenas and issue an order to show cause for why it should not be held in contempt.”2 13 MTC at 4. Plaintiff further requests that “the Court enter an order compelling Triumph to provide 14 a response to the subpoena to produce documents within fourteen (14) days and to contact 15 Movant’s counsel regarding scheduling a deposition.” Id. at 8. In support, Plaintiff argues that 16 (1) the Court has jurisdiction to enforce the subpoenas, (2) Plaintiff properly served the 17 subpoenas on Triumph, and (3) Triumph has waived any objections to the subpoenas by failing 18 to respond to them in any way. Id. at 4-7. In further support, Plaintiff argues that Triumph’s 19 actions warrant an order to show cause why it should not be held in contempt because it was 20 properly served with the subpoenas, subpoenas are court orders, and violating a court order 21 can warrant contempt sanctions. Id. at 8. Plaintiff notes that Triumph has ignored the 22 subpoenas for two months despite repeated attempts by Plaintiff’s counsel to get in contact 23 24 25 2 The subpoenas at issue seek information about Triumph’s telemarketing practices. Specifically “its calling records, any prior express consent obtained to place the calls, documents related to 26 or mentioning Plaintiff, internal do not call lists, and any steps taken to comply with the TCPA” 27 and for the deposition of Triumphs’ representative regarding the same. Mot. at 3; see also Exh. A. 28 1 regarding the subpoenas and that such “blatant defiance of a Court Order renders contempt 2 sanctions necessary.” Id. at 9. 3 A. Subpoena Compliance 4 If an opposing party fails to file opposition papers or a statement of non-opposition3 in 5 the manner required by CivLR 7.1.e.2, “that failure may constitute a consent to the granting of 6 a motion or other request for ruling by the court.” CivLR 7.1(f)(3)(c). Moreover, “[a] non- 7 party's failure to make timely objections to a Rule 45 subpoena generally results in the finding 8 that any objections have been waived.” On Demand Direct Response, LLC v. McCart-Pollak, 9 2019 WL 1867427, at *1 (D. Nev., Apr. 25, 2019) (citing Moon v. SCP Pool Corp., 232 FRD 633, 10 636 (CD CA 2005) (citing Creative Gifts, Inc. v. UFO, 183 F.R.D. 568, 570 (D.N.M. 1998)); see 11 also F. Subpoena, Rutter Group Prac. Guide Fed. Civ. Pro. Before Trial Ch. 11(IV)-F (“Failure to 12 serve timely objections waives all grounds for objection, including privilege.”) (citing In re DG 13 Acquisition Corp., 151 F3d 75, 81 (2nd Cir. 1998) (privilege against self-incrimination waived by 14 delay) and Moon, 232 FRD at 636)). However, “[i]n unusual circumstances and for good cause, 15 ... the failure to act timely will not bar consideration of objections.” Moon, 232 F.R.D. at 636. 16 Unusual circumstances exist where the subpoena is overbroad on its face and exceeds the 17 bounds of fair discovery and the subpoenaed witness is a non-party acting in good faith. Id. 18 Here, Triumph failed to respond to, comply with, or object to Plaintiff’s subpoenas. 19 Triumph also failed to respond to Plaintiff’s counsel’s efforts to communicate regarding the 20 subpoenas and his efforts to arrange compliance. Finally, Triumph failed to oppose Plaintiff’s 21 motion to compel, file a notice of non-opposition, seek additional time to respond, or 22 acknowledge the instant motion in any way. See Docket. Additionally, a review of Plaintiff’s 23 pleadings indicates that the subpoenas were properly completed, signed, and served. See Mot. 24 at Group Exhibit A; see also Smith Decl. at ¶ ¶ 5-12, Group Exhibit 1, and Group Exhibit C-D. 25 26 3 If a party chooses not to oppose a motion, “the party must file a written statement that the 27 party does not oppose the motion or other request for ruling by the court.” Civil Local Rule (“CivLR”) 7.1(f)(3)(a). 28 1 The Court also has reviewed the subpoenas and determined that they are not overbroad on 2 their faces and they do not exceed the bounds of fair discovery. Accordingly, the Court GRANTS 3 Plaintiff’s motion in part and makes the following findings: 4 1. Triumph has waived its right to object to the subpoenas. 5 2. Plaintiff’s motion to compel compliance with the subpoenas is GRANTED. 6 3. Plaintiff is ORDERED to serve a copy of this order on Triumph. 7 4. Triumph is ORDERED to contact Plaintiff’s counsel via telephone within two 8 weeks of being served with this order regarding the scheduling of the 9 deposition. 10 5. Triumph must provide a complete response to the Subpoena to Produce 11 Documents, Information, or Objects or to Permit Inspection of Premises in a Civil 12 Action within two weeks of being served with this order. 13 6. Triumph’s failure to comply with this order may result in the imposition of 14 sanctions. 15 B. Contempt 16 Fed. R. Civ. P. 45(g) states that “[t]he court for the district where compliance is required- 17 -and also, after a motion is transferred, the issuing court--may hold in contempt a person who, 18 having been served, fails without adequate excuse to obey the subpoena or an order related to 19 it.” The provisions of subdivision (e) of Fed. R. Civ. P. 45 were moved to subdivision (g) as part 20 of the 2013 amendments. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 45 advisory committee notes. The rule was 21 amended to clarify that contempt sanctions may be applied to a person who 22 disobeys a subpoena-related order, as well as one who fails entirely to obey a 23 subpoena. In civil litigation, it would be rare for a court to use contempt sanctions without first ordering compliance with a subpoena, and the order might not require 24 all the compliance sought by the subpoena. Often contempt proceedings will be 25 initiated by an order to show cause, and an order to comply or be held in contempt 26 may modify the subpoena's command. Disobedience of such an order may be treated as contempt. 27 28 Id. 1 The Court declines to issue an order to show cause at this time and Plaintiff's request for 2 |}such an order is DENIED WITHOUT PREJUDICE. If Triumph continues to ignore the 3 |}subpoenas at issue after being served with this order, which clearly requires Triumph’s 4 || compliance with the subpoenas, Plaintiff may contact Chambers for a hearing date to file another 5 ||motion for an order to show cause. 6 IT IS SO ORDERED. - 8 ||Dated: 6/18/2020 lxiobee Mager 9 Hon. Barbara L. ajor 10 United States Maaistrate Judae 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28