Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-5_19-mc-80191/USCOURTS-cand-5_19-mc-80191-1/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 890
Nature of Suit: Other Statutory Actions
Cause of Action: Civil Miscellaneous Case

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United States District Court

Northern District of California

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

SAN JOSE DIVISION

IN RE APPLICATION OF MING YANG, 

PETITIONER, FOR AN ORDER 

PURSUANT TO 28 U.S.C. § 1782 TO 

TAKE DISCOVERY FOR USE IN 

FOREIGN PROCEEDINGS, PURSUANT 

TO THE FEDERAL RULES OF CIVIL 

PROCEDURE, OF RESPONDENT LEO 

GU, AS TRUSTEE OF THE GU FAMILY 

TRUST

Case No.19-mc-80191-VKD 

ORDER DENYING MOTION TO 

RELATE CASES

Re: Dkt. No. 8

In this proceeding, applicant Ming Yang seeks an order pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1782 

authorizing service of a subpoena for discovery from Leo Gu as Trustee of the Gu Family Trust 

(“Gu Trust”) for use in a proceeding before the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court of the British 

Virgin Islands (“BVI Court”). Dkt. No. 1. On August 16, 2019, Mr. Yang filed a notice of related 

case in which he asks the Court to relate this case to a later filed proceeding captioned In re 

Application of Ming Yang, Petitioner, for an Order Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1782 to Take 

Discovery for Use in Foreign Proceedings, Pursuant to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, of 

Respondent Qiming Venture Partners, Case No. 5:19-mc-80192-NC (N.D. Cal.) (“the Qiming 

Action”). Dkt. No. 8. The Court construes that notice as an administrative motion to relate the 

cases pursuant to Civil Local Rule 3-12(b). The Court denies the motion.

Mr. Yang filed his motion to relate cases only after receiving a favorable ruling in the 

Qiming Action. Compare Dkt. No. 8 (filed on August 16, 2019) with In re Application of Ming 

Yang, Petitioner, for an Order Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1782 to Take Discovery for Use in Foreign 

Proceedings, Pursuant to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, of Respondent Qiming Venture 

Partners (“In re Appl. of Ming Yang”), No. 5:19-mc-80192-NC, Dkt. No. 2 (N.D. Cal. Aug. 15, 

Case 5:19-mc-80191-VKD Document 12 Filed 08/19/19 Page 1 of 2
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United States District Court

Northern District of California

2019) (filed on August 15, 2019). Mr. Yang contends that both actions “concern substantially the 

same parties, property, transaction, or events” because they both seek discovery for use in the 

same foreign litigation before the BVI Court. Dkt. No. 8 at 1. 

As Mr. Yang has already obtained the relief he seeks in this proceeding and in the Qiming 

Action with respect to his respective applications, relation of the cases at this point will not avoid 

any burden or duplication with respect to those applications. Civ. L.R. 3-12(a)(2); Dkt. No. 11; In 

re Appl. of Ming Yang, No. 5:19-mc-80192-NC, Dkt. No. 2 (N.D. Cal. Aug. 15, 2019). It is 

possible that the subpoena recipients—the Gu Trust and Qiming Ventures1—may challenge their 

respective subpoenas following service, resulting in additional motion practice before the Court. 

However, the resolution of any such disputes likely will depend on facts and circumstances 

specific to the Gu Trust or Qiming Ventures, respectively, and is unlikely to require duplication of 

effort by the Court.

Accordingly, for the reasons described above, Mr. Yang’s motion to relate cases is denied.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: August 19, 2019

VIRGINIA K. DEMARCHI

United States Magistrate Judge

 

1 The Court understands that the Gu Trust and Qiming Ventures are unrelated non-parties in the 

lawsuit Mr. Yang has filed in the BVI Court.

Case 5:19-mc-80191-VKD Document 12 Filed 08/19/19 Page 2 of 2