Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-casd-3_08-cv-00118/USCOURTS-casd-3_08-cv-00118-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 190
Nature of Suit: Other Contract Actions
Cause of Action: 28:1332 Diversity-Breach of Contract

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1 08CV0118 BTM (BLM)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

5TH AVENUE PARTNERS, LLC, ET. AL.,

Plaintiff,

CASE NO. 08CV0118 BTM (BLM)

ORDER DENYING MOTION TO

vs. DISMISS AND STAYING CASE

THE SETAI GROUP, LLC, ET. AL. ,

Defendant.

Defendants, The Setai Group, Jonathan Breene and John Conroy, have moved to

dismiss, or in the alternative, to stay or transfer the case based on the first-to-file rule.

Defendants point out that another case involving the same parties and many of the same

claims has already been filed in federal court in the Southern District of Florida. Plaintiffs,

5th Avenue Partners, LLC, Steve Rebeill and Tom Benjamin, do not dispute that the

previously filed lawsuit in Florida involves the same parties and same claims as the instant

suit. Instead, Plaintiffs argue that the first to file rule should not be given deference in this

case because The Setai Group, Breene and Convoy (the defendants in this action) filed the

first suit in a blatant attempt to forum shop when neither venue nor jurisdiction correctly lies

in the Southern District of Florida. 

On April 1, 2008, Judge King in the Southern District of Florida held oral argument on

a motion to dismiss based on lack of jurisdiction and venue. It appears from the transcript

that Judge King denied the motion to dismiss on the ground that the complaint was well-pled

in alleging jurisdiction and venue but made no finding as to the truth of the facts asserted in

Case 3:08-cv-00118-BTM-BLM Document 25 Filed 05/22/08 Page 1 of 2
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2 08CV0118 BTM (BLM)

the complaint. (Ex. A, p.45-46) Instead, Judge King stated that the truth of the factual

allegations establishing jurisdiction and venue would be examined as part of the preliminary

injunction hearing scheduled in June of 2008. (Id.) The Court will stay this action pending

Judge King’s ruling on venue and jurisdiction. Any party that contends that Judge King has

reached a definitive ruling on venue and jurisdiction shall submit proof of such a decision

within 10 days of receipt of that order.

Defendants’ motion to dismiss or transfer this case is DENIED without prejudice.

Defendants’ alternative request to stay the case is GRANTED. Plaintiffs’ request for oral

argument on this motion is DENIED. 

IT IS SO ORDERED. 

DATED: May 22, 2008

Honorable Barry Ted Moskowitz

United States District Judge

 

Case 3:08-cv-00118-BTM-BLM Document 25 Filed 05/22/08 Page 2 of 2