Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-3_97-cv-04617/USCOURTS-cand-3_97-cv-04617-3/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 410
Nature of Suit: Antitrust
Cause of Action: 15:1 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

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

THEME PROMOTIONS, INC, 

a California Corporation, d/b/a

THEME CO-OP PROMOTIONS,

Plaintiff and

Counterdefendant,

v

NEWS AMERICA MARKETING FSI, INC,

a Delaware Corporation,

Defendant and 

Counterclaimant. /

No C 97-4617 VRW

ORDER

Defendant News America Marketing FSI, Inc, has filed a

motion for administrative relief from the motion for attorney fees

filed by plaintiff Theme Promotions, Inc. Doc #539. Specifically,

News America requests that the court defer adjudicating Theme’s fee

petition pending News America’s appeal and Theme’s corresponding

cross-appeal to the Ninth Circuit. Theme opposes on the grounds

that (1) the “Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, this Court’s local

rules and pertinent case authority all warrant —— indeed require ——

proceeding with the motion as scheduled” and (2) the matter should

Case 3:97-cv-04617-VRW Document 541 Filed 08/15/06 Page 1 of 3
United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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be decided while the litigation is still fresh in the minds of the

parties and the court (notwithstanding that trial commenced

approximately one year ago). Doc #541.

The court disagrees with Theme’s assessment of the legal

landscape. The advisory committee note to the 1993 amendments to

FRCP 54(d) provide: “If an appeal of the merits of the case is

taken, the court may rule on the claim for fees, may defer its

ruling on the motion, or may deny the motion without prejudice,

directing * * * a new period for filing after the appeal has been

resolved.” See also, for example, Tancredi v Metropolitan Life

Insurance Co, 378 F3d 220, 223, 225-26 (2d Cir 2004). In short,

whether to proceed with Theme’s fee motion forthwith or to defer

pending appeal is a matter committed to the court’s discretion. 

In this case, deferral is the prudent, efficient course

given the number of issues involved in the appeal, disposition of

which could result in either wasted or duplicated effort if the

court were to proceed to Theme’s motion at this juncture. Further,

this nine-year litigation has made an impression on the court

unlikely to fade before resolution of the parties’ appeals.

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Case 3:97-cv-04617-VRW Document 541 Filed 08/15/06 Page 2 of 3
United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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News America’s motion for administrative relief is

GRANTED. Consistent with FRCP 54(d), adjudication of Theme’s

motion for attorney fees is hereby DEFERRED. The clerk is DIRECTED

to terminate Theme’s motion for attorney fees, Doc #506, as an

administrative matter. Theme may re-notice its motion within

fourteen days of issuance of appellate mandate, in which event the

parties may submit further briefing to the extent necessary in

light of the disposition of the issues on appeal.

SO ORDERED.

 

VAUGHN R WALKER

United States District Chief Judge

Case 3:97-cv-04617-VRW Document 541 Filed 08/15/06 Page 3 of 3