Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-casd-3_04-cv-00535/USCOURTS-casd-3_04-cv-00535-5/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 820
Nature of Suit: Copyright
Cause of Action: 17:101 Copyright Infringement

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- 1 - 04cv0535

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

EXCELSIOR COLLEGE,

Plaintiff,

CASE NO. 04CV0535WQH

ORDER

vs.

CHARLES M. FRYE; PROFESSIONAL

DEVELOPMENT SYSTEMS SCHOOL OF

HEALTH SCIENCES, a California

corporation; and WEST HAVEN

UNIVERSITY, Inc.,

Defendants.

Hayes, Judge:

The matter before the Court is the Ex Parte Request to stay this action to initiate

contempt proceedings in the Bankruptcy Court filed by Defendant Charles M. Frye (#477).

On November 14, 2006, the jury rendered its verdict against the Defendants Charles

M. Frye, and Professional Development Systems School of Health Sciences and in favor of

Plaintiff Excelsior. (Doc. # 368). 

On November 22, 2006, Defendant Frye filed a Chapter 7 voluntary petition for relief

in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Central District of California. 

On March 23, 2007, this Court entered a “Final Judgment and Permanent Injunction”

awarding damages against Defendant Charles M. Frye and Defendant West Haven University

on Counts I, II, and III for copyright infringement; against Defendants Charles M. Frye and

Professional Development Systems School of Health Sciences on Count IV and VI for

copyright infringement and trade secret misappropriation. (Doc. # 417). Plaintiff Excelsior

Case 3:04-cv-00535-WQH-LSP Document 489 Filed 09/19/08 Page 1 of 2
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- 2 - 04cv0535

College filed a complaint in the bankruptcy proceeding to determine the dischargeability of

the judgment debt in this case.

On July 3, 2007, Defendant Charles M. Frye filed a Notice of Appeal from the Final

Judgment and the denial of the Defendant’s post-trial motions. This appeal remains pending

before the Court of Appeals. 

On October 30, 2007, the Bankruptcy Court issued a ruling granting Excelsior College

a nondischargeable judgment on Counts I, II, III, IV and VI of the judgment in this case,

totaling $6,564,984.62. 

On February 13, 2008, final judgment was entered in the Bankruptcy Court in favor of

Excelsior College and the Bankruptcy Court ordered that the obligations to Excelsior College

in the judgment in this case are excepted from any discharge injunction. 

On May 20, 2008, Plaintiff Excelsior College filed a Motion to compel post-judgment

discovery (Doc. # 470). This matter was referred to the Magistrate Judge.

On June 18, 2008, Defendant Charles Frye filed a Motion requesting that this Court

“stay in proceedings relative to ‘Plaintiff Excelsior College’s Motion to Compel’ ... to permit

a contempt proceeding to be brought against Plaintiff Excelsior College ... in the United States

Bankruptcy Court, Central District of California ... for violating the Discharge Order.” (Doc.

# 477 at 1). Plaintiff Excelsior College opposes a stay.

RULING OF THE COURT

The District Court has the inherent power to stay its proceedings. See Landis v. North

American Co., 299 U.S.. 248, 254 (1936). Defendant Frye has not stated any facts or law to

support a stay in the matter. IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that Ex Parte Request to stay this

action to initiate contempt proceedings in the Bankruptcy Court filed by Defendant Charles

M. Frye (#477) is denied.

DATED: September 19, 2008

WILLIAM Q. HAYES

United States District Judge

Case 3:04-cv-00535-WQH-LSP Document 489 Filed 09/19/08 Page 2 of 2