Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-3_15-cv-05683/USCOURTS-cand-3_15-cv-05683-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 370
Nature of Suit: Other Fraud
Cause of Action: 42:1396 - Tort Negligence

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS 

MATTHEW SMITH, individually and 

on behalf of all others similarly situated, 

 

Plaintiff, 

 

v. 

VOLKSWAGEN GROUP OF AMERICA, INC., 

A New Jersey Corporation, 

Defendant. Case No. 15-cv-1053-DRH-PMF 

ORDER 

HERNDON, District Judge: 

Now before the Court is Defendant Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.’s 

motion to stay proceedings in this case before this Court until the MDL panel 

issues a decision on whether to consolidate the Volkswagen “Clean Diesel” 

emissions cases (Doc. 9). For the reasons stated below, the motion is GRANTED. 

The Court is unaware, at this point in time, whether the defendant has been 

the subject of a court ordered litigation hold in any of the myriad of cases filed 

around the country relative to the issues brought before the Court in the 

complaint filed in this case (Doc. 1). Regardless of whether that is the current 

state of the record in one, more or no jurisdictions, or a matter in which the 

parties have simply relied upon the common law for guidance, this Court hereby 

places a corporate-wide litigation hold on all documents, electronically stored 

information, computers (including desktops, laptops, tablets, personal digital 

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assistants and any and all computers of any description), custodial files, cell 

phones (on which the option to save texts and emails should be engaged). 

Further, to the extent that independent contractors have the same type of 

items as heretofore referred and the defendant has the contractual ability to 

control these items and information, it shall direct that holds be placed on the 

above described items. The hold is limited to matters which are relevant to the 

allegations in the complaint. The intent of the hold is to be broad based, not 

narrow in scope, and questions of interpretation shall be addressed to the Court, 

not self-determination. To the extent that other litigation holds by other courts are 

broader than this hold, such holds shall prevail over this hold. To the extent that 

the defendant knows of information, documents or data sources not specified in 

this hold, which the common law would require be the subject of a litigation hold, 

defendant shall subject it to a hold. 

As for the plaintiff, a litigation hold of a similar nature is hereby placed on 

him. Although, it is unlikely that plaintiff has information in similar formats, to 

the extent that plaintiff has any stored information, paper records, digital records, 

repair records of any kind, emails, sales records, or any records that are relevant 

to repairs, relevant changes, damages or any other relevant information regarding 

the subject matter vehicle(s), it remains the subject of the litigation hold placed on 

the plaintiff. These holds will remain in effect until this order is superseded by 

further order of this Court or a transferee Court. 

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In light of the clear indication that this action will be assigned for 

consolidation in a MDL transfer, discovery is STAYED pending an order from the 

Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (Panel). Once the Panel acts, either by 

transferring this action or denying consolidation, this stay automatically 

terminates on the date of such order of the Panel. 

IT IS SO ORDERED. 

Signed this 18th day of November, 2015. 

 

 United States District Judge

Digitally signed 

by Judge David 

R. Herndon 

Date: 2015.11.18 

12:29:03 -06'00'

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