Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-3_07-cv-00739/USCOURTS-cand-3_07-cv-00739-3/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 890
Nature of Suit: Other Statutory Actions
Cause of Action: 15:1681 Fair Credit Reporting Act

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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

JENNIFER LOPEZ, individually and on behalf

of all others similarly situated,

Plaintiff,

 v.

THE GYMBOREE CORPORATION and DOES

1-10,

Defendants. /

No. C 07-0087 SI

Member Case No. 07-739 SI

Related Case No. 07-2270 SI

ORDER GRANTING PLAINTIFFS’

MOTION FOR STAY

Plaintiffs’ motion for stay is scheduled for a hearing on November 2, 2007. Pursuant to Civil

Local Rule 7-1(b), the Court determines that the matter is appropriate for resolution without oral

argument, and VACATES the hearing.

Plaintiffs seek a stay of this action pending the Ninth Circuit’s resolution of Soualian v.

International Coffee & Tea, LLC. As the parties are aware, the Ninth Circuit has agreed to review the

denial of class certification in Soualian, a FACTA case similar to the instant consolidated cases.

Plaintiffs argue that a stay is in the interest of judicial economy and will avoid hardship to the parties

because Soualian will provide guidance regarding the propriety of class certification in this case.

Defendant opposes a stay, and accuses plaintiffs’ counsel of engaging in gamemanship by waiting until

the eve of the class certification filing deadline to request a stay. Defendant also argues that the Ninth

Circuit’s decision will not necessarily be “determinative” of class certification issues in this case, and

that defendant will be prejudiced by a stay because it has expended considerable resources preparing

to oppose plaintiffs’ upcoming class certification motion. 

The decision whether to stay proceedings is committed to the discretion of the Court. See Rohan

Case 3:07-cv-00739-SI Document 31 Filed 11/01/07 Page 1 of 2
United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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ex rel. Gates v. Woodford, 334 F.3d 803, 817 (9th Cir. 2003). The Court finds that it is in the interest

of judicial economy to stay this case pending the decision in Soualian. The Court agrees with plaintiffs

that the Ninth Circuit’s decision is likely to illuminate the issues surrounding class certification in these

consolidated cases, and that it will aid both the Court and the parties to be informed by the Ninth

Circuit’s reasoning. The Court is not persuaded by defendant’s argument that it is preferable to

adjudicate plaintiffs’ motion for class certification prior to the Ninth Circuit’s decision in Soualian. 

Accordingly, the Court GRANTS plaintiffs’ motion for stay and STAYS this action until the

Ninth Circuit issues a decision in Soualian. (Docket No. 69). After the Ninth Circuit issues a decision

in Soualian, the Court will hold a case management conference to discuss resuming litigation in these

cases.

 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: November 1, 2007 

SUSAN ILLSTON

United States District Judge

Case 3:07-cv-00739-SI Document 31 Filed 11/01/07 Page 2 of 2