Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-casd-3_13-cv-00753/USCOURTS-casd-3_13-cv-00753-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 422
Nature of Suit: Bankruptcy Appeals Rule 28 USC 158
Cause of Action: 28:0158 Notice of Appeal re Bankruptcy Matter (BAP)

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

JAMES R. ARABIA,

Appellant,

v.

CWMBS, INC., et al.

Appellees.

 

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Case Nos. 3:13-cv-0746-GPC-WVG

 3:13-cv-0753-GPC-WVG

ORDER GRANTING

APPELLANT’S REQUEST FOR

CONSOLIDATION AND

DENYING AS MOOT

APPELLANT’S EX PARTE

APPLICATION FOR

CONCURRENT BRIEFING

SCHEDULES

On March 28, 2013, appellant debtorJamesR. Arabia (“Appellant”), proceeding

pro se, filed two notices of appeal from the United States Bankruptcy Court for the

Southern District of California. One appeal was assigned to Judge Moskowitz (case

no. 3:13-cv-0753-BLM-MDD) (“753 Case”); the other was assigned to thisCourt (case

no. 3:13-cv-0746-GPC-WVG) (“746 Case”). Judge Moskowitz and this Court set

different briefing schedules in each case. 

On April 19, 2013, Appellant filed, in the 753 Case, a notice of related cases and

request for expedited consideration of transfer and consolidation with the 746 Case. 

On April 25, 2013, the 753 Case was deemed related to the 746 Case and transferred

to this Court pursuant to the Low-Number Rule (new case no. 3:13-cv-0753-GPC3:13-cv-0746-GPC-WVG

Case 3:13-cv-00753-GPC-WVG Document 13 Filed 05/03/13 Page 1 of 3
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WVG). On May 1, 2013, Appellant filed, in the 746 Case, an ex parte application

requesting concurrent briefing schedules.

Having reviewed Appellant’s request for consolidation and ex parte application

for concurrent briefing schedules, along with the notices of appeal and related

documents filed in each case, the Court will consolidate the cases.

Consolidation is within the broad discretion of the district court. In re Air Crash

Disaster at Florida Everglades, 549 F.2d 1006, 1013-14 (5th Cir. 1977). Under

Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 42(a), this Court can consolidate cases that “involve

a common question of law or fact.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 42(a). A district court may sua

sponte consolidate actions as part of its broad discretion to manage its caseload. In re

Adams Apple, 829 F.2d 1484, 1487 (9th Cir. 1987); see also Devlin v. Transp.

Commc’ns. Int’l Union, 175 F.3d 121, 130 (2d Cir. 1999). The rule should be

employed as “a valuable and important tool of judicial administration.” Devlin, 175

F.3d at 130 (quotation omitted). 

Here, the appeals arise from the same bankruptcy case, involve the same parties,

and call for determination of the same or substantially identical questions of law. The

746 Case arises from the bankruptcy court’s order denying Appellant’s motion for

turnover, and the 753 Case arises from the bankruptcy court’s order remanding a

portion of Appellant’s bankruptcy case for a determination of the issues underlying

Appellant’s motion for turnover. Thus, the Court finds it appropriate to GRANT

Appellant’s requestfor consolidation. Accordingly, ITIS HEREBY ORDERED that

the 746 Case is consolidated with the 753 Case. The 746 Case is the lead case; thus,

the Court DIRECTS the parties to file all future documents solely in the 746 Case. 

The the parties need not refer to the 753 Case on any of those filings.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the briefing schedule thatJudge Moskowitz

set in the 753 Case is VACATED. Thus, the briefing schedule set in the lead case will

govern the briefing in these consolidated cases. Appellant’s ex parte application for

/ / /

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concurrent briefing schedules is therefore DENIED AS MOOT.

DATED: May 3, 2013

HON. GONZALO P. CURIEL

United States District Judge

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Case 3:13-cv-00753-GPC-WVG Document 13 Filed 05/03/13 Page 3 of 3