Opinion
Case No. 18-C-1669 Case No. 19-C-520 Case No. 19-C-951
01-06-2020
JACQUELYN A. VANDEHEY, individually and on behalf of all others similarly situated, Plaintiff, v. CLIENT SERVICES, INC., Defendant. MELISSA ARNDT, individually and on behalf of all others similarly situated, Plaintiff, v. CLIENT SERVICES, INC., Defendant. JOSEPH DEGROOT, individually and on behalf of all others similarly situated, Plaintiff, v. CLIENT SERVICES, INC., Defendant.
DECISION AND ORDER
Plaintiffs in Vandehey v. Client Services, Inc., Case No. 18-C-1669 (E.D. Wis.), Arndt v. Client Services, Inc., Case No. 19-C-520 (E.D. Wis.), and Degroot v. Client Services, Inc., Case No. 19-C-951, move this court to consolidate the cases. For the following reasons, the motion will be denied.
Consolidation is governed by Rule 42(a) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. "If actions before the court involve a common question of law or fact, the court may: (1) join for hearing or trial any or all matters at issue in the actions; (2) consolidate the actions; or (3) issue any other orders to avoid unnecessary cost or delay." Fed. R. Civ. P. 42(a). "District courts enjoy substantial discretion in deciding whether and to what extent to consolidate cases." Hall v. Hall, 138 S. Ct. 1118, 1131 (2018). In considering whether to consolidate cases, the court generally balances judicial economy concerns with any countervailing considerations of equity. See United States v. Knauer, 149 F.2d 519, 520 (7th Cir. 1945).
Despite the presence of similar issues in these cases and the fact that they involve the same defendant, the court finds that Plaintiffs' request for consolidation comes much too late. Plaintiffs, who are represented by the same counsel, were aware of the similarities in these cases but did not file the motion to consolidate until the day dispositive motions were due in Vandehey. Consolidation will not serve the interests of judicial economy due to the disparity between the procedural posture of the cases. In Vandehey, discovery has concluded, a class has been certified, and Defendant filed a dispositive motion. In Arndt, discovery is not yet complete, and the dispositive motion deadlines have not passed. Degroot is in relatively early stages, procedurally, as a motion to dismiss is currently pending. While a difference in procedural stages is not an automatic bar to consolidation, Werner v. Satterlee, Stephens, Burke & Burke, 797 F. Supp. 1196, 1212 (S.D.N.Y. 1992), it appears consolidation at this point would add, rather than reduce, the potential for confusion and waste of resources. In particular, consolidation would delay the disposition of Vandehey and prejudice the parties in that case.
IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that Plaintiffs' motion to consolidate is DENIED.
Dated at Green Bay, Wisconsin this 6th day of January, 2020.
s/ William C. Griesbach
William C. Griesbach, District Judge
United States District Court