Filed: Mar. 29, 2017
Latest Update: Mar. 29, 2017
Summary: ORDER ROBERT J. CONRAD, Jr. , District Judge . THIS MATTER is before the Court on Defendant's Motion to Stay, (Doc. No. 160), and Platintiff's Motion for Summary Judgment, (Doc. No. 157). Defendant asks the Court to stay this matter pending resolution of his collateral attack on his criminal conviction, which has yet to be filed. This matter was stayed several years pending the criminal prosecutions of those involved in the Black Diamond Ponzi scheme. (Doc. No. 69: Order). The direct appe
Summary: ORDER ROBERT J. CONRAD, Jr. , District Judge . THIS MATTER is before the Court on Defendant's Motion to Stay, (Doc. No. 160), and Platintiff's Motion for Summary Judgment, (Doc. No. 157). Defendant asks the Court to stay this matter pending resolution of his collateral attack on his criminal conviction, which has yet to be filed. This matter was stayed several years pending the criminal prosecutions of those involved in the Black Diamond Ponzi scheme. (Doc. No. 69: Order). The direct appea..
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ORDER
ROBERT J. CONRAD, Jr., District Judge.
THIS MATTER is before the Court on Defendant's Motion to Stay, (Doc. No. 160), and Platintiff's Motion for Summary Judgment, (Doc. No. 157).
Defendant asks the Court to stay this matter pending resolution of his collateral attack on his criminal conviction, which has yet to be filed. This matter was stayed several years pending the criminal prosecutions of those involved in the Black Diamond Ponzi scheme. (Doc. No. 69: Order). The direct appeals of all criminal defendants are complete and the Court previously lifted the stay in this matter in 2015. (Doc. No. 130). The Court finds that Defendant may assert any defenses he has in this civil action without prejudice to his collateral attack on his criminal conviction. Therefore, the Court will deny Defendant's motion to stay.
In accordance with Roseboro v. Garrison, 528 F.2d 309 (4th Cir. 1975), the Court advises Defendant, who is proceeding pro se, of the heavy burden that he carries in responding to Plaintiff's Motion for Summary Judgment.
Summary judgment shall be granted "if the movant shows that there is no genuine dispute as to any material fact and the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law." FED. R. CIV. P. 56(a). A factual dispute is genuine "if the evidence is such that a reasonable jury could return a verdict for the nonmoving party." Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 248 (1986). A fact is material only if it might affect the outcome of the suit under governing law. Id.
The movant has the "initial responsibility of informing the district court of the basis for its motion, and identifying those portions of the pleadings, depositions, answers to interrogatories, and admissions on file, together with the affidavits, if any, which it believes demonstrate the absence of a genuine issue of material fact." Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 323 (1986) (internal citations omitted).
Once this initial burden is met, the burden shifts to the nonmoving party. The nonmoving party "must set forth specific facts showing that there is a genuine issue for trial." Id. at 322 n.3. The nonmoving party may not rely upon mere allegations or denials of allegations in his pleadings to defeat a motion for summary judgment. Id. at 324. The nonmoving party must present sufficient evidence from which "a reasonable jury could return a verdict for the nonmoving party." Anderson, 477 U.S. at 248; accord Sylvia Dev. Corp. v. Calvert County, Md., 48 F.3d 810, 818 (4th Cir. 1995).
If Defendant has any evidence to offer to show that there is a genuine issue for trial, he must now present it to this Court in a form which would otherwise be admissible at trial, i.e., in the form of affidavits or unsworn declarations. Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 56(c) provides that:
(1) Supporting Factual Positions. A party asserting that a fact cannot be or is genuinely disputed must support the assertion by:
(A) citing to particular parts of materials in the record, including depositions, documents, electronically stored information, affidavits or declarations, stipulations (including those made for purposes of the motion only), admissions, interrogatory answers, or other materials; or
(B) showing that the materials cited do not establish the absence or presence of a genuine dispute, or that an adverse party cannot produce admissible evidence to support the fact.
(2) Objection That a Fact Is NotSupported by Admissible Evidence. A party may object that the material cited to support or dispute a fact cannot be presented in a form that would be admissible in evidence.
(3) Materials Not Cited. The court need consider only the cited materials, but it may consider other materials in the record.
(4) Affidavits or Declarations. An affidavit or declaration used to support or oppose a motion must be made on personal knowledge, set out facts that would be admissible in evidence, and show that the affiant or declarant is competent to testify on the matters stated.
An affidavit is a written statement under oath; that is, a statement prepared in writing and sworn before a notary public. An unsworn statement, made and signed under the penalty of perjury, may also be submitted. Affidavits or statements must be presented by Defendant to this Court no later than fourteen (14) days from the date of this Order. Defendant's failure to respond may result in Plaintiff being granted the relief it seeks by way of summary judgment.
IT IS, THEREFORE, ORDERED that:
1. Defendant's Motion to Stay, (Doc. No. 160), is DENIED;
2. pro se Defendant shall have fourteen (14) days from the date of this Order, to file his response, including any evidence, to Plaintiff's Motion for Summary Judgment; and
3. the Clerk is directed to send copies of this Order and Notice to counsel for the Plaintiff; and to pro se Defendant, that is, Jonathan Davey, Reg. No. 27328-058, FCI Elkton, P.O. Box 10, Lisbon, OH 44432.
