Opinion
22-cv-274-MMA (KSC)
12-16-2022
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION, Plaintiff, v. ANDREW T.E. COLDICUTT, Defendant.
ORDER GRANTING MOTION TO STAY [DOC. NO. 28]
HON. MICHAEL M. ANELLO United States District Judge.
Plaintiff Securities and Exchange Commission (“Plaintiff”) filed this action alleging violations of federal securities law against Defendant Andrew T.E. Coldicutt (“Defendant”). See Doc. No. 1. Defendant now moves to stay this action pending resolution of the parallel criminal proceeding in this district, USA v. Coldicutt, 22-CR-1881-JO. See Doc. No. 28. Plaintiff filed a statement of non-opposition to Defendant's motion. See Doc. No. 31. The Court finds this matter suitable for determination on the papers and without oral argument pursuant to Civil Local Rule 7.1.d.1.
Defendant has withdrawn his request for oral argument on the motion to stay. See Doc. No. 30.
A court may decide to stay a civil case in the face of parallel criminal proceedings depending on the particular circumstances and competing interests. Federal Sav. & Loan Ins. Corp. v. Molinaro, 889 F.2d 899, 902-03 (9th Cir. 1989); Keating v. Office of Thrift Supervision, 45 F.3d 322, 324 (9th Cir. 1995) (citing SEC v. Dresser Indus., 628 F.2d 1368, 1375 (D.C. Cir. 1980)). Here, Defendant urges that: “[t]here is no dispute that the criminal action and this civil action overlap and arise out of the same operative facts”; if both actions are allowed to proceed concurrently, he will be severely prejudiced as “[t]he risk of self-incrimination facing [him] is clear and he [is] likely to invoke the Fifth Amendment in response to any discovery or question in this action”; “the SEC cannot show that it will suffer any meaningful prejudice from any delay”; “staying this matter would conserve Court resources by eliminating the need to relitigate issues and streamline discovery”; and “though the public and third parties may have an interest in maintaining and securing functioning markets, that interest will not be eroded if a stay is granted.” Doc. No. 28-1 at 4-7.
The Court agrees that the relevant factors support granting a stay. Therefore, upon due consideration, good cause appearing, the Court GRANTS Defendant's motion to stay. The parties shall jointly file a status report within five (5) days of the resolution of the criminal matter.
IT IS SO ORDERED.