Opinion
21-cv-10170
11-20-2024
NICHOLAS GAROUFALIS, Plaintiff, v. COUNTY OF WAYNE, et al., Defendants.
ORDER (1) STAYING ACTION AND (2) ADMINISTRATIVELY TERMINATING ALL PENDING MOTIONS (ECF NOS. 111-120)
MATTHEW F. LEITMAN UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
Now pending before the Court are ten motions for summary judgment and one motion in limine filed by the Defendants. (See Motions, ECF Nos. 111-120.) The Court scheduled a hearing on all of the motions for January 23, 2025. (See Notice of Hearing, ECF No. 146.)
On November 15, 2024, Defendant Wellpath, LLC filed a notice in this action in which it informed the Court that (1) it had declared bankruptcy under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code and (2) the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas had issued an order to stay proceedings in this action in light of Wellpath's bankruptcy. (See Notice, ECF No. 148.) On November 20, 2024, the Court held an on-the-record status conference with counsel for all parties to discuss the impact, if any, of Wellpath's bankruptcy on this case.
Following a constructive discussion on the record, counsel and the Court agreed that the most efficient path forward is as follows. The Court will STAY this action until further order of the Court. In addition, the Court will ADJOURN its previously scheduled hearing date and administratively TERMINATE all pending motions (ECF Nos. 111-120) WITHOUT PREJUDICE. Those motions may be reinstated, if necessary, once the Court and parties receive further clarity on the impact of Wellpath's bankruptcy on this action. Counsel for Plaintiff Nicholas Garoufalis shall keep the Court updated on any effort Garoufalis may take to try to lift the stay issued by the Bankruptcy Court, and, when appropriate, the Court will convene a status conference with counsel to discuss next steps in this action.
IT IS SO ORDERED.