Court Opinion

ID: 9350637
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-12-27 22:00:38.531461+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:57:40.389489
License: Public Domain

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
                           FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

 KASIM KURD, et al.,
        Plaintiffs
        v.                                               Civil Action No. 18-1117 (CKK)
 REPUBLIC OF TURKEY, et al.,
         Defendants.

                         MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER
                                (December 27, 2022)

       This case arises out of events that took place at a May 16, 2017 protest over Turkish

President Recep Erdogan’s visit to the District of Columbia. Plaintiffs were protesting President

Erdogan’s policies when they allege that they were attacked by Turkish security forces and

civilian supporters of President Erdogan in two altercations outside the Turkish Ambassador’s

Residence and one altercation near the Turkish Embassy. These attacks form the basis of

Plaintiffs’ various claims against multiple Defendants who include the Republic of Turkey,

individual members of the Turkish security forces, and civilian Defendants, including Ahmet

Cengizhan Dereci and Mahmut Sami Ellialti. Dereci and Ellialti are among those who were also

indicted in connection to the May 16, 2017 incident. See ECF No. 171 at 2, 5.

       Now pending before the Court is Defendants Ahmet Cengizhan Dereci and Mahmut Sami

Ellialti’s [171] Joint Motion for Stay. Defendants move for a stay until February 9, 2023, which

is two weeks after the next hearing set for January 26, 2023 in the parallel criminal proceedings

against them. ECF No. 171 at 1, 5; see Docket Entry, United States v. Ahmet Cengizhan Dereci,

No. 2017 CF3 014903 (D.C. Super. Ct. Oct. 19, 2022) (scheduling felony arraignment for Jan.

26, 2023); Docket Entry, United States v. Mahmut Sami Ellialti, No. 2017 CF3 014899 (D.C.

Super. Ct. Oct. 19, 2022) (same).
       The Court GRANTS Defendants’ Joint Motion for Stay and ORDERS that the

proceedings in this matter against Ahmet Cengizhan Dereci and Mahmut Sami Ellialti be

STAYED until February 9, 2023.

                                     II. LEGAL STANDARD

       It is well-established that a district court has discretionary authority to stay a civil

proceeding pending the outcome of a parallel criminal case when the interests of justice so

require. See United States v. Kordel, 397 U.S. 1, 12 n. 27 (1970); Landis v. N. Am. Co., 299 U.S.

248, 254 (1936). This authority allows a court to “stay civil proceedings, postpone civil

discovery or impose protective orders and conditions when the interests of justice seem to

require such action.” Sec. & Exchange Comm’n v. Dresser Indus. Inc., 628 F.2d 1368, 1375

(D.C. Cir. 1980) (en banc), cert. denied, 449 U.S. 993 (1980). Courts are afforded this discretion

because the denial of a stay could impair a party’s Fifth Amendment privilege against self-

incrimination, extend criminal discovery beyond the limits set forth in Federal Rule of Criminal

Procedure 16(b), expose the defense’s theory to the prosecution in advance of trial, or otherwise

prejudice the criminal case. Id. at 1376.

        In determining whether to stay a civil proceeding pending the outcome of a related

criminal proceeding, courts customarily weigh the following factors: “1) the relationship

between the civil and criminal actions; 2) the burden on the court; 3) the hardships or inequalities

the parties would face if a stay was granted; and 4) the duration of the requested stay.” Doe v.

Sipper, 869 F. Supp. 2d 113, 116 (D.D.C. 2012) (JEB). “The court must make such

determinations in the light of the particular circumstances of the case.” Dresser Indus. Inc., 628

F.2d at 1375.
                                         III. DISCUSSION

       The Court finds that the four factors noted above counsel in favor of granting Defendants’

Joint Motion for Stay.

   A. Relationship Between Civil and Criminal Actions

       As for the first factor, the D.C. Circuit has recognized that “the strongest case for

deferring civil proceedings until after completion of criminal proceedings is where,” as here, “a

party under indictment for a serious offense is required to defend a civil or administrative action

involving the same matter.” Dresser Indus., Inc., 628 F.2d at 1375–76. “If both cases proceeded

at the same time, this could implicate Defendant’s Fifth Amendment rights.” Sipper, 869 F.

Supp. 2d at 116.

       Here, the civil and criminal actions indisputably stem from the same event––the May 16,

2017 protest––and Defendants have already been indicted. ECF No. 171, Ex. A (indictment); see

Estate of Gaither ex rel. Gaither v. D.C., No. Civ. A. 03-1458, 2005 WL 3272130, at *4 (D.D.C.

Dec. 5, 2005) (CKK) (where “there has been an indictment secured against criminal

defendants… the case for a stay [is] a stronger one than had that not been the case”). As this

factor is “often viewed as the most significant factor in the balancing test,” id., the Court finds

that this weighs heavily in favor of a stay.

   B. Burden on the Court

       The next factor also weighs in favor of a stay. As noted by various courts and mentioned

by Defendants, a stay of discovery in a civil case until the resolution of a criminal case may well

later streamline discovery in the civil case. See Sipper, 869 F. Supp. 2d at 117; Estate of Gaither

ex rel. Gaither at *4 (collecting cases); ECF No. 171 at 7–8. Such streamlining is likely to be the

case here which, in addition to potentially rebounding to a plaintiff’s benefit, will also ease the
burden on the Court by avoiding unnecessary litigation and facilitating judicial economy. See

Estate of Gaither ex rel. Gaither at *4, *6.

       Plaintiffs argue that staying this matter will lead to piecemeal litigation, which strains the

Court’s resources, as this case is proceeding to discovery against at least three other individual

Defendants. ECF No. 172 at 9. However, Plaintiffs’ contention rests on their belief that

Defendants are seeking an indefinite stay, which, as will be discussed below, is inaccurate. A

delay of just over one month (until February 9, 2023) for Dereci and Ellialti will not cause

discovery to become wildly asynchronous in relation to the other individual Defendants.

   C. Hardships or Inequalities if Stay is Granted

       The balance of hardships faced by the parties should a stay be granted favors Defendants

for one main reason: discovery in this civil case could impact the criminal case to a significant

degree. Discovery here could possibly implicate the Fifth Amendment rights of Dereci and

Ellialti, which courts have recognized to be a “significant” “dilemma.” Sipper, 869 F. Supp. 2d

at 117. Notwithstanding the fact that there is “ample video evidence” of the May 6 events, ECF

No. 172 at 10, that does not mean that Defendants would not testify, as Plaintiffs try to argue.

Moreover, starting discovery in this case might unintentionally aid the indicted criminal

defendants, who could obtain more information through civil discovery than they are entitled to

under the criminal rules of discovery. See Estate of Gaither ex rel. Gaither at *5; Twenty First

Century Corp. v. LaBianca, 801 F. Supp. 1007, 1010 (E.D.N.Y. 1992) (“Allowing civil discovery

to proceed… may afford defendants an opportunity to which they are not entitled under the

governing criminal discovery rules.”).

       On the other side, the potential harm to Plaintiffs is not as great. Plaintiffs argue that a

stay will continue to delay the prosecution of their claims and emphasize that they “remain
without compensation for their injuries now four-and-a-half years into this litigation.” ECF No.

172 at 9. The Court does acknowledge that this case has progressed slowly, with various stays

having already been granted, and that further extended delay weighs against the public interest in

halting Plaintiffs from prosecuting their claims. The Court also recognizes that “[w]henever

possible courts should avoid… drawn-out proceedings.” Rohr Industries, Inc. v. Washington

Metropolitan Area Transit Auth’y, 720 F.2d 1319, 1327 (D.C. Cir. 1982) (citations omitted).

However, a delay of less than two additional months, when several years have already passed, is

relatively insignificant. Cf. Estate of Gaither ex rel. Gaither at *4 (finding a delay of three

months, when thirty-five months had passed, to be relatively insignificant).

   D. Duration of Requested Stay

       Plaintiffs focus on this final factor in challenging Defendants’ Motion to Stay; however,

the Court finds that this factor, too, favors granting a stay. Plaintiffs argue that Defendants’

request is for “what is effectively an indefinite stay.” ECF No. 172 at 1. However, Defendants

explicitly only request a stay through February 9, 2023, ECF No. 171 at 1, which is now just

over one month away. Defendants do acknowledge that “the proposed stay would likely need to

be revisited” upon its expiration. ECF No. 171 at 8. However, such a potential, future motion is

not before the Court at this time.

       As the primary basis for their motion, Defendants explain that after the January 26, 2023

hearing, they “will have a significantly clearer picture of how the criminal proceedings will

continue.” Id. at 5. In recent months, the government has dismissed charges against various

other individuals who had been indicted for conduct on May 6, 2017. ECF No. 175 at 2.

Additionally, Defendants indicate that it now “seems likely” that they can enter the United

States, id., whereas throughout the criminal case to date, Defendants have been unable to travel
to the District of Columbia to stand trial, ECF No. 171 at 4. Furthermore, Defendants represent

that even if that is not the case, “the newly assigned judge will decide on January 26, 2023, how

the criminal cases should proceed.” ECF No. 175 at 2.

       Plaintiffs contend that Defendants’ narrative is speculative. ECF No. 172 at 6. They also

argue that “a stay is inappropriate when the criminal proceedings have an uncertain end date––let

alone, as here, an uncertain start date.” Id. at 5–7. The Court acknowledges that there is an

uncertain end date and that Defendants’ criminal proceedings have faced numerous challenges in

moving forward. See generally United States v. Ahmet Cengizhan Dereci, No. 2017 CF3

014903; United States v. Mahmut Sami Ellialti, No. 2017 CF3 014899. However, Plaintiffs are

incorrect in arguing that there is an uncertain start date; rather, Defendants have been indicted

and have participated in the litigation. See, e.g., Docket Entry, United States v. Ahmet Cengizhan

Dereci, No. 2017 CF3 014903 (D.C. Super. Ct. Apr. 21, 2022) (indicating that “representations

were made by govt and defense…” and that defendant “appeared via WebEx”) (emphasis added);

Docket Entry, United States v. Mahmut Sami Ellialti, No. 2017 CF3 014899 (D.C. Super. Ct. Apr.

21, 2022) (same).

        Plaintiffs also compare this case to others in which civil defendants sought a stay

“pending the outcome of the criminal proceedings” entirely. Id. at 7 (quoting Skinner v. Armet

Armored Vehicles, Inc., No. 4:12–cv–00045, 2015 WL 540156 (W.D. Va. Feb. 10, 2015). That is

not the case here; again, Defendants are only moving for a stay through February 9, 2023, not

until the conclusion of their criminal proceedings.

       Accordingly, the Court finds that the short duration of the requested stay also weighs in

favor of Defendants. The Court does note that should Defendants ask for an additional stay after

February 9, 2023, the Court will be very unlikely to grant an indefinite stay. See Sipper, 896 F.
Supp. 2d at 118 (“A stay with a limited duration, as presented here, is more likely to be granted

than an indefinite one.”). The Court will also be wary of granting additional stays that, though

finite, will together amount to a near-indefinite one. Plaintiffs deserve resolution of their claims

and an extended delay weighs against both Plaintiffs’ interest and the public interest, as the Court

has noted previously. See Memorandum Opinion & Order, ECF No. 157 at 8; Minute Order,

October 17, 2022. The Court is granting the pending motion to provide Defendants with an

opportunity to assess the status of their parallel criminal proceedings, after which point the Court

expects this civil matter to resume progression.

                               IV. CONCLUSION AND ORDER

       The Court GRANTS Defendants’ [171] Joint Motion for Stay and ORDERS that the

proceedings against them be STAYED until FEBRUARY 9, 2023.

       The Court also CONTINUES the status conference set for January 6, 2023 until

FEBRUARY 17, 2023 at 1:30 pm via Zoom videoconference.

       SO ORDERED.

                                                         /s/
                                                      COLLEEN KOLLAR-KOTELLY
                                                      United States District Judge