Opinion ID: 39693
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Denial of Motion to Extend the Response Time

Text: 22 There is no dispute that the action proceeded according to the Scheduling Order entered by the district court at the action's outset. Also undisputed is the fact that Baker engaged in no discovery until the last days of the allotted period. Baker's discovery requests fell within the range of time allowed by the schedule but were too late to produce results for use in the summary judgment briefing. Baker's chief complaint is that the schedule set the deadline to respond to a motion for summary judgment before the close of discovery. The district court treated Baker's request to extend the response time as a motion under FED R. CIV. P. 56(f). 8 The district court's order is reviewed for abuse of discretion. See Deep East Tex. Reg'l Narcotics Trafficking Task Force, 379 F.3d at 308. 23 Baker maintains that the district court abused its discretion in refusing to extend the response time in light of the fact that discovery was still open. Baker's argument fails because Rule 56 does not require that any discovery take place before summary judgment can be granted. Washington v. Allstate Ins. Co., 901 F.2d 1281, 1285 (5th Cir.1990) (emphasis added). As a result, in a motion to extend the time to respond to a motion for summary judgment, the simple claim that discovery has not closed is insufficient. A trial court cannot rule on a summary judgment motion where adequate discovery has been denied a party, see Brown v. Miss. Valley State Univ., 311 F.3d 328, 333 (5th Cir.2002), but any party claiming the need for additional discovery 9 to defend against a motion for summary judgment must make a sufficient showing under FED R. CIV. P. 56(f), see id. at 333 n. 5. 24 For a party to mandate relief under Rule 56(f), the party must show both why it is currently unable to present evidence creating a genuine issue of fact and how a continuance would enable the party to present such evidence. The ... party may not simply rely on vague assertions that additional discovery will produce needed, but unspecified, facts in opposition to summary judgment. Access Telecom, Inc. v. MCI Telecomm. Corp., 197 F.3d 694, 719-20 (5th Cir.1999) (internal citations and quotations omitted). Baker argues that the extension would not be oppressive or disruptive to the trial process, but she has not made the required showing under Rule 56(f) to merit the requested relief. Moreover, another criteria for relief under Rule 56(f) is that the movant must have exercised due diligence in discovery. See Wichita Falls Office Assocs. v. Banc One Corp., 978 F.2d 915, 919 (5th Cir.1992) ([T]he trial court need not aid non-movants who have occasioned their own predicament through sloth.). Again, Baker's actions justify denial of the requested relief. Baker did not initiate discovery until the last days of the allotted time. By that time, any responses were not required until after the summary judgment briefing schedule was completed. Baker knew (or should have known) the briefing schedule and the discovery period. Nevertheless, she failed to act diligently in the pursuit of evidence. Her problem is one of her own making; Rule 56(f) precludes appellate relief in this situation. 25 As Baker points out, the district court could have granted the additional time to respond. However, given the wide latitude in discovery and the fact that the parties were (or should have been) aware of the schedule and its implications, the district court was within its discretion to enforce the schedule and deny an extension of time to respond. Ultimately, Baker did not articulate a sufficient showing to demand relief under the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.