Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-4_09-md-02029/USCOURTS-cand-4_09-md-02029-20/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 410
Nature of Suit: Antitrust
Cause of Action: 15:15 Antitrust Litigation

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United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

IN RE: ONLINE DVD RENTAL 

ANTITRUST LITIGATION No. M 09-2029 PJH

_______________________________/

ORDER DENYING DEFENDANTS’

ADMINISTRATIVE MOTION

This Document Relates to:

ALL ACTIONS

_______________________________/

Before the court is defendants’ administrative motion for entry of an order modifying

the case schedule in order to coordinate the hearings on motions for class certification in

the Netflix and Blockbuster cases, and additionally requesting an evidentiary hearing on

class certification issues pertaining to both putative classes. Having reviewed the

defendants’ papers, and plaintiffs’ opposition thereto, the court hereby DENIES defendants’

motion, for the following reasons:

With respect to defendants’ request to coordinate class certification hearings, the

court agrees with plaintiffs that deferring the Netflix motion pending resolution of pertinent

discovery issues and the setting of a feasible certification schedule in the Blockbuster

cases, would result in an unfair delay to the Netflix plaintiffs. In addition, holding both

hearings simultaneously is likely to unnecessarily complicate, rather than streamline, the

issues for the court’s consideration. Furthermore, precisely because of any overlap

between the two motions that defendants highlight, class certification in the Blockbuster

cases is likely to be less complicated than class certification in the Netflix cases, since any

overlapping issues are likely to have been resolved in the Netflix cases. Thus, individual

resolution of each class certification motion is preferable to the court. 

Case 4:09-md-02029-PJH Document 181 Filed 08/03/10 Page 1 of 2
United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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Having so determined, a class certification schedule in the Blockbuster cases

remains to be set. To that end, the parties are further ORDERED to meet and confer

following the filing of this order, and to submit a proposed stipulated briefing schedule with

respect to class certification in the Blockbuster cases no later than August 31, 2010. If the

parties are unable to agree on a proposed briefing schedule, they may contact the

undersigned’s courtroom deputy and request a further case management conference. 

 Finally, with respect to defendants’ independent request for an evidentiary hearing

to be held in connection with class certification issues, the court does not find such a

hearing to be either necessary or helpful at this time. If, after the court has fully considered

the parties’ papers and heard argument on the motions, it becomes clear that an

evidentiary hearing is warranted, the court may reconsider its denial of defendants’ request

at that time. 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: August 3, 2010 ______________________________

PHYLLIS J. HAMILTON

United States District Judge

Case 4:09-md-02029-PJH Document 181 Filed 08/03/10 Page 2 of 2