Case ID: f-appx_161/html/0875-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "PER CURIAM:", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Walter OWENS, Bonita Gray, as next friend, mother and natural guardian of and on behalf of Jozette Gray, Augatha Croft, next friend, mother and natural guardian of above named plaintiffs Dantavis Croft, Jennifer Croft, Niesha Croft and Robert L. Croft, Plaintiffs-Appellants, Alicia Wynn, as next friend, mother and natural guardian of and on behalf of Jaylen Wynn, et al., Plaintiffs, Otis Adams, and all of the persons listed, Intervenor-Plaintiff, v. MONSANTO COMPANY, Defendant-Appellee.
    No. 05-13258
    Non-Argument Calendar.
    United States Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit.
    Jan. 5, 2006.
    Kimberly J. Johnson, Atlanta, GA, for Walter Owens, Bonita Gray, Augatha Croft.
    Ralph I. Knowles, Jr., Robert E. Shields, David S. Hagy, Doffermyre Shields Canfield Knowles & Devine, Atlanta, GA, for Augatha Croft.
    
      William S. Cox, III, Lightfoot, Franklin & White, L.L.C., W. Staneil Starnes, Starnes & Atchison, Birmingham, AL, for Monsanto Company.
    Before TJOFLAT, ANDERSON and CARNES, Circuit Judges.
   PER CURIAM:

The controversy in this case was settled in April 2001. As requested in the settlement agreement, the district court retained jurisdiction to enforce the settlement, including its Most Favored Nations Clause (“MNF”). In October 2003, plaintiffs, the appellants here, moved the court to enforce the MNF clause. They asked the court for leave to conduct discovery and thereafter an evidentiary hearing before the court ruled on their motion. The court granted their motion in part and awarded plaintiffs an additional $1,337,352.20, which the defendant, appellee here, paid into the court’s registry.

Plaintiffs appealed the court’s order, and we affirmed. Owens v. Monsanto Co., 116 Fed.Appx. 249 (Table). 11th Cir. (Ala.) Aug. 19, 2004, reh’g en banc denied, 123 Fed. Appx. 388 (Table), 11th Cir. (Ala.), Oct. 15, 2004. We found “no abuse of discretion in the district court’s refusal to allow the requested discovery prior to ruling on the merits or its refusal to hold an evidentiary hearing. The contracts at issue are unambiguous. We find no error in the court’s interpretation of the relevant provisions [, including the MNF clause,] and thus in its decision ordering [Monsanto] to pay ... $1,337,352.20.”

This case is back before us because the district court, in a comprehensive order entered on June 2, 2005, Doc. 287, enjoined plaintiffs from, in the court’s view, attempting to challenge the court’s October 2003 order which we affirmed on August 19, 2004. Plaintiffs appeal, contending that the court abused its discretion in entering the injunction, in-refusing to recuse, and in disallowing discovery and refusing to hold an evidentiary hearing. For the reasons stated in the June 2 order, we conclude that the court acted well within its discretion in entering the injunction and in denying plaintiffs’ request for discovery and an evidentiary hearing. We also find no. abuse of discretion in the court’s refusal to recuse.

AFFIRMED.