Opinion ID: 3065217
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The Depies Group’s Requested “Remedy”

Text: [9] Having determined that the district court’s decision to appoint Girard Gibbs was clear error justifying a writ of mandamus, we are confronted with the Depies Group’s assertion that the proper remedy is to remand to the district court with instructions to reassess the appointment of lead plaintiff. We decline to consider the merits of whether the district court erred in refusing to appoint the Depies Group as lead plaintiff because it is outside the scope of the mandamus petition. In its response to Cohen’s petition for mandamus, the Depies Group raises the argument that the district court erred in appointing lead plaintiff. Cohen’s petition in no way challenged the appointment of lead plaintiff. The Depies Group cite no authority that they may permissibly raise such an entirely distinct issue5 in their response to Cohen’s petition 5 The Depies Group’s assertion at oral argument that these issues are related because the district court may have “co-joined” the selection of Cohen as lead plaintiff with the selection of Girard Gibbs as lead counsel is entirely speculative and unsupported by the record. Regardless, even were this the case it would not excuse the Depies Group’s failure to properly assert its challenge to Cohen’s appointment as lead plaintiff. 14924 COHEN v. UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT and we are aware of none that so hold. See Fed R. App. Proc. 21; cf. In re Buskin Assoc., Inc., 864 F.2d 241, 247-48 (1st Cir. 1989) (explaining that mandamus neither contemplates nor permits the filing of counterclaims). They also make no attempt to satisfy the Bauman factors or demonstrate that they are entitled to a writ of mandamus, despite our precedent that mandamus is the proper vehicle to challenge the appointment of lead plaintiff at this stage in the litigation absent certification of an interlocutory appeal. See Cavanaugh, 306 F.3d at 730, 739; Z-Seven, 231 F.3d at 1218-20. Rather, it appears that the Depies Group, by couching its arguments in terms of a “remedy,” attempts to avoid the need to file a petition and the strict requirements for a writ of mandamus, and invites this court to disregard the same. We decline the invitation. Cf. DeGeorge, 219 F.3d at 935 (explaining that the strict rules governing mandamus prevent parties from “eviscerat[ing] the statutory scheme established by Congress to strictly circumscribe piecemeal appeal”) (quotation omitted); In re Bushkin, 864 F.2d at 247-48.