GINA M. GROH, Chief District Judge.
Currently pending before the Court is Defendant National Better Living Association, Inc.'s ("NBLA") unopposed Motion for Entry of Final Judgment [ECF No. 195], filed on August 5, 2015. For the following reasons, the Court
On July 22, 2015, this Court entered an Order granting in part NBLA's Motion to Dismiss for lack of personal jurisdiction. ECF No. 183. In accordance with its Order, the Court also dismissed NBLA as a party from the above action.
In its Motion for Entry of Final Judgment, NBLA contends that this Court's Order granting NBLA's Motion to Dismiss under Rule 12(b)(2) is considered "final" for the purpose of entering final certification under Rule 54(b) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. NBLA further states that there is no just reason for delay in entering final certification.
Based on a review of the law that applies to the issue presently before the Court and a review of NBLA's arguments in its Motion, this Court finds that NBLA's Motion should be granted.
Pursuant to Rule 54(b) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, when multiple parties are involved in an action, "the court may direct entry of final judgment as to one or more, but fewer than all, claims or parties only if the court expressly determines that there is no just reason for delay." Fed. R. Civ. P. 54(b). One purpose of final certification under Rule 54(b) is "to provide relief to litigants that would suffer undue hardship if final judgment [were] not entered on the adjudicated claim prior to the resolution of the unadjudicated claims."
In order for a court to enter final certification under Rule 54(b), two requirements must be met.
However, even if these two requirements are met, a court should not automatically enter final certification under Rule 54(b).
It is readily apparent to this Court that it is dealing with a final judgment. An order dismissing a party due to lack of personal jurisdiction is an ultimate disposition as to the claims against that party.
What is not so readily apparent is whether or not there is any just reason for delay in entering final certification as to NBLA. As outlined above, there are five factors that the Court should consider in determining whether there is any just reason for delay in entering final certification under Rule 54(b).
The first factor in determining whether there is any just reason for delay in entering final certification is the relationship between the adjudicated and unadjudicated claims. On July 22, 2015, this Court granted in part NBLA's Motion to Dismiss. Specifically, the Court granted NBLA's Motion to Dismiss based upon lack of personal jurisdiction. NBLA is no longer a named party in the above-styled matter and, hence, no claims as to NBLA exist. Therefore, this factor is in favor of granting NBLA final certification.
The second factor to consider is the possibility that the need for review could be mooted by future developments in this Court. Here, Defendant NBLA filed a motion to dismiss for lack of personal jurisdiction. The Court subsequently granted that Motion. Defendant NBLA is the party that is presently moving this Court to grant final certification under Rule 54(b).
There is not presently, and will not be in the future, any need for review in regard to claims against NBLA in this matter as NBLA was dismissed as a party in this case, due to lack of personal jurisdiction, on July 22, 2015. Therefore, this second factor is irrelevant.
The third factor to consider is the possibility that the reviewing court might be obliged to consider the same issue a second time. If there were an appeal based on any of the remaining claims in this case, the issue of whether or not this Court has personal jurisdiction over NBLA is not an issue that the Fourth Circuit would have to reconsider.
The fourth factor to consider is the presence or absence of a claim or counterclaim that could result in a set-off against the judgment sought to be made final. Here, there were never any cross-claims or counterclaims filed as to NBLA. Further, NBLA was dismissed from the case due to lack of personal jurisdiction. No claims exist that could result in a set-off against the judgment sought to be made final. Therefore, this fourth factor is in favor of granting Rule 54(b) final certification.
Finally, after considering the remaining miscellaneous factors, this Court finds that delay, economic and solvency concerns, shortening the time of trial, frivolity of competing claims and expense are not applicable considerations regarding the present issue before the Court.
Accordingly, the Court
The Clerk is