Rubenstein et al v. Scripps Health, No. 3:2021cv01135 - Document 12 (S.D. Cal. 2021)
Court Description: Order Granting in Part Joint Motion to Consolidate; Granting Joint Motion to Appoint Interim Lead Class Counsel; and Denying Joint Motion to Appoint Steering Committee and Liaison Counsel. The hearing set on October 8, 2021 shall be vacated. Signed by Judge Gonzalo P. Curiel on 10/5/21. (dlg)
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1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 9 SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 10 11 12 MICHAEL RUBENSTEIN AND RICHARD MACHADO, individually and on behalf of all others similarly situated, 13 14 15 16 Case No.: 21cv1135-GPC(MSB) 21cv1143-GPC(MSB) 21cv1238-GPC(MSB) Plaintiffs, v. ORDER: SCRIPPS HEALTH, 1) GRANTING IN PART JOINT MOTION TO CONSOLIDATE; Defendant. 17 2) GRANTING JOINT MOTION TO APPOINT INTERIM LEAD CLASS COUNSEL; AND 18 19 20 3) DENYING JOINT MOTION TO APPOINT STEERING COMMITTEE AND LIAISON COUNSEL 21 22 23 [Dkt. No. 8.] 24 25 Before the Court are Plaintiffs Michael Rubenstein, Richard Machado, Kate 26 Rasmuzzen, and James Garren’s (collectively “Majority Group Plaintiffs”) joint motion to 27 consolidate related cases as well as the appointment of interim lead class counsel pursuant 28 1 21cv1135-GPC(MSB) 21cv1143-GPC(MSB) 21cv1238-GPC(MSB) 1 to Federal Rules of Civil Procedure (“Rule”) 42 and 23(g) and Rule 7.2 of the Local Rules.1 2 (Dkt. No. 8.) No opposition was filed. Majority Group Plaintiffs represent that Defendant 3 Scripps Health (“Defendant” or “Scripps Health”) agrees to consolidation of all cases and 4 the proposed initial case schedule and takes no position on the appointment of Majority 5 Group Plaintiffs’ proposed interim lead class counsel. (Dkt. No. 16 at 7.2) 6 A. Motion to Consolidate 7 Rule 42(a) provides that “[i]f actions before the court involve a common question of 8 law or fact, the court may: (1) join for hearing or trial any or all matters at issue in the 9 actions; (2) consolidate the actions; or (3) issue any other orders to avoid unnecessary cost 10 or delay. Fed. R. Civ. P. 42(a). “To determine whether to consolidate, a court weighs the 11 interest of judicial convenience against the potential for delay, confusion and prejudice 12 caused by consolidation.” In re Oreck Corp. Halo Vacuum & Air Purifiers Mktg. & Sales 13 Prac. Litig., 282 F.R.D. 486, 490 (C.D. Cal. 2012) (citing Southwest Marine, Inc. v. Triple 14 A Mach. Shop, Inc., 720 F. Supp. 805, 807 (N.D. Cal. 1989)). A district court has “broad 15 discretion” in determining whether or not to consolidate actions. See id.; see also Zhu v. 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 1 This joint motion was originally filed on July 23, 2021 in Case No. 21cv1143-GPC(MSB), which was subsequently rejected on discrepancy on August 25, 2021. (Case No. 21cv1143-GPC(MSB), Dkt. Nos. 11, 15.) At the time, the joint motion indicated that Plaintiff David J. Ruben in Case No. 21cv1231GPC(MSB) did not agree to the proposed leadership structure and opposed the motion. (Id., Dkt. Nos. 11, 16 at 7 & n.3.) When the discrepancy was filed on August 25, 2021, David J. Ruben in Case No. 21cv1231-GPC(MSB) had filed a notice of voluntary dismissal on July 29, 2021 and the case was closed. (Case No. 21cv1231-H(MSB), Dkt. No. 6.) In the discrepancy, the Court directed Plaintiffs to refile their joint motion with “all current cases proposed to be consolidated and should include any other related cases that have recently been filed, (e.g., 21cv1358-GPC(MSB).” (Case No. 21cv1143GPC(MSB), Dkt. No. 15.) However, on August 25, 2021, Plaintiffs merely re-filed their original joint motion which still asserts that David J. Ruben opposes the motion. (Id., Dkt. No. 16.) Majority Group Plaintiffs also failed to indicate whether Plaintiff Madelyn Rosen in Case No. 21cv1358-GPC(MSB) consents to the joint motion. Therefore, because it is not clear whether Madelyn Rosen has been notified of this joint motion or whether she objects or consents to the joint motion, the Court does not consider her case as part of this joint motion. 2 Page numbers are based on the CM/ECF pagination. 2 21cv1135-GPC(MSB) 21cv1143-GPC(MSB) 21cv1238-GPC(MSB) 1 UCBH Holdings, Inc., 682 F. Supp. 2d 1049, 1052 (N.D. Cal. 2010) (citing Southwest 2 Marine, 720 F. Supp. at 806-07). 3 The operative class action complaints brought by the Majority Group Plaintiffs all 4 concern the ransomware attack and data breach suffered by Scripps Health around April 5 29, 2021. Due to the data breach, the cyber hackers gained access to personal and medical 6 information of over 147,000 individuals stored on Defendant’s computer servers. Plaintiffs 7 allege that Defendant failed to adequately protect its network servers. Accordingly, 8 because all cases involve the same underlying facts and substantially similar questions of 9 law, consolidation would promote the interest of judicial efficiency and avoid duplication 10 in the prosecution or resolution of the cases. As such, the Court GRANTS the Majority 11 Group Plaintiffs’ unopposed motion to consolidate the related cases of Rubenstein v. 12 Scripps Health, 3:21-cv-01135-GPC-MSB; Rasmuzzen et al. v. Scripps Health, 3:21-cv- 13 01143-GPC-MSB, and Garren v. Scripps Health, 3:21-cv-01238-GPC-MSB. 14 Majority Group Plaintiffs also move to consolidate any and all related cases 15 subsequently filed, transferred or removed to this district. (Dkt. No. 16 at 7.) At this time, 16 because any “future” cases are speculative, the Court DENIES the Majority Group 17 Plaintiffs’ request. Instead, if a case arising out of the same questions of law and fact is 18 filed, transferred or removed to this district, and qualifies as a related case, it will be 19 transferred to the undersigned judge based on the low number rule. See S.D. Civ. Local. 20 R. 40.1(e)-(i). Once transferred to the undersigned judge, the parties may move for 21 consolidation. See Kristin Haley v. Macy’s Inc., Case Nos. 15-cv-06033-HSG, 16-cv- 22 01252-HSG, 16-cv-02850-HSG, 16-cv-03341-SBA, 2016 WL 4676617, at *3 (N.D. Cal. 23 Sept. 7, 2016) (“At this time, the Court cannot determine whether consolidation of any 24 future cases is appropriate” and denied motion without prejudice); Kivenson v. U.S. Trust 25 Corp., N.A. Case No. CV 02-382 DT (RCx), 2002 WL 35651302, at *4 (C.D. Cal. July 22, 26 2002) (declining to issue order consolidating all future filed or transferred cases because 27 such cases are unknown and not pending). 28 3 21cv1135-GPC(MSB) 21cv1143-GPC(MSB) 21cv1238-GPC(MSB) 1 B. 2 and Liaison Counsel Motion for Appointment of Interim Lead Class Counsel, Steering Committee 3 Majority Group Plaintiffs move the Court to appoint William B. Federman of 4 Federman & Sherwood as Interim Lead Class Counsel, to appoint one attorney from each 5 of the other filed cases to establish Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee, and if the Court 6 chooses, to appoint Bibianne Fell of Fell Law as Liaison Counsel. (Dkt. No. 16.) No 7 opposition has been filed. 8 Rule 23(g)(3) provides that a court may designate an interim counsel prior to 9 certifying a class. Fed. R. Civ. P. 23(g)(3) (“The court may designate interim counsel to 10 act on behalf of a putative class before determining whether to certify the action as a class 11 action.”). “[D]esignation of interim counsel clarifies responsibility for protecting the 12 interests of the class during precertification activities, such as making and responding to 13 motions, conducting any necessary discovery, moving for class certification, and 14 negotiating settlement.” Manual for Complex Litig., § 21.11 (4th ed. 2004). Courts look 15 to the Rule 23(g)(1)(A) factors in determining whether interim class counsel should be 16 designated. White v. Experian Info. Sols., 993 F. Supp. 2d 1154, 1169 (C.D. Cal. 2014) 17 (“Interim counsel can only be appointed if that counsel is adequate under the Rule 18 23(g)(1) factors and will ‘fairly and adequately represent the interests of the class’ under 19 Rule 23(g)(4).”); In re Seagate Tech. LLC Litig., Case No. 16-cv-00523-RMW 2016 WL 20 3401989, at *2 (N.D. Cal. June 21, 2016) (“Although Rule 23(g)(3) does not provide a 21 standard for appointment of interim counsel, courts typically look to the factors used in 22 determining the adequacy of class counsel under Rule 23(g)(1)(A).”). 23 Rule 23(g)(1)(A) requires that courts consider the following factors in appointing 24 class counsel: “(i) the work counsel has done in identifying or investigating potential 25 claims in the action; (ii) counsel’s experience in handling class actions, other complex 26 litigation, and the types of claims asserted in the action; (iii) counsel’s knowledge of the 27 applicable law; and (iv) the resources that counsel will commit to representing the class.” 28 4 21cv1135-GPC(MSB) 21cv1143-GPC(MSB) 21cv1238-GPC(MSB) 1 Fed. R. Civ. P. 23(g)(1)(A). Rule 23(g)(4) also requires that class counsel “must fairly 2 and adequately represent the interests of the class.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 23(g)(4). 3 Here, Mr. Federman has four decades of experience in complex litigation such as 4 class actions and include data breach litigation. (Dkt. No. 16 at 17-18; Dkt. No. 16-1, Ex. 5 1, Federman & Sherwood CV.) He also has knowledge about complex e-discovery 6 issues. (Dkt. No. 16 at 17-18.) He currently serves as co-lead counsel in a consolidated, 7 multi-party medical records data breach case in this district, In Re: Solara Med. Supplies 8 Data Breach Litig., Case No. 19-cv-2284-H-KSC. (Id. at 17.) He has also worked with 9 defense counsel in other similar data breach matters and other complex cases. (Id. at 18.) 10 In this litigation, Mr. Federman and his firm has already used substantial resources to 11 investigate the facts surrounding the data breach, such as its cause, Defendant’s public 12 statements after the breach, potential and actual damages caused by the data breach and 13 consumer experiences concerning information compromised in the breach. (Id. at 16.) 14 He has also spent significant time researching the law to draft a detailed complaint and 15 interviewed multiple potential plaintiffs as well as potential expert witnesses. (Id.) He 16 and his firm continue to conduct work on this case by reviewing consumer complaints 17 about the data breach, communicating with putative class members, continuing 18 investigation of the data breach and the scope of its consequences and coordinating with 19 defense counsel to ensure efficient prosecution of the three cases including an initial 20 agreed upon case schedule, preparing and circulating for comment a proposed ESI 21 protocol and proposed protective order. (Id. at 16-17.) Mr. Federman indicates that his 22 firm does not use outside sources to fund litigation expenses and has invested in excess of 23 $1 million in expense to maximize the plaintiffs’ recovery. (Id. at 18.) Counsel also 24 states he is committed to pursuing the best interests of the proposed class in an efficient 25 manner and understands the investment of time and resources necessary to pursue this 26 action to successful resolution. (Id. at 21.) 27 28 5 21cv1135-GPC(MSB) 21cv1143-GPC(MSB) 21cv1238-GPC(MSB) 1 Based on this, the Court finds that the Rule 23(g) factors have been satisfied and 2 GRANTS the Majority Group Plaintiffs’ joint motion to appoint William B. Federman of 3 Federman & Sherwood as Interim Lead Class Counsel. 4 Majority Group Plaintiffs also seek the appointment of a Steering Committee to 5 include the counsel in the other two cases, Scott Cole of Scott Cole & Associates, PA 6 CV, and Kelly Keenan Moran of WeissLaw LLP. (Dkt. No. 16 at 18-20.) 7 “[Steering] Committees are most commonly needed when group members’ 8 interests and positions are sufficiently dissimilar to justify giving them representation in 9 decision making.” Manual for Complex Litig., § 10.221 (4th ed. 2004). Because 10 “[c]ommittees of counsel can sometimes lead to substantially increased costs, [counsel] 11 should try to avoid unnecessary duplication of efforts and control fees and expenses.” Id. 12 In this case, Majority Group Plaintiffs seek the appointment of a Steering 13 Committee to include one attorney from each filed action because it will clarify the 14 attorneys’ roles and responsibilities and formally designate them to act in the best 15 interests of the proposed class and assures defense counsel that they are dealing with the 16 correct representatives of the proposed class. (Dkt. No. 16 at 14.) Establishing a 17 Steering Committee will also provide gender and geographic diversity. (Id.) 18 The reasons provided do not justify the need for a Steering Committee. Majority 19 Group Plaintiffs fail to explain how the interests of the Steering Committee are dissimilar 20 or diverge and necessary to protect their interests. See Aberin v. American Honda Motor 21 Co., Inc., Case No.16-cv-04384-JST, 2017 WL 3641793, at *2 (N.D. Cal. Aug. 24, 2017) 22 (“Courts within this circuit routinely deny requests for appointment of executive 23 committees where a plaintiff fails to demonstrate that such an appointment is necessary.”) 24 (collecting cases). In Aberin, the district court denied the appointment of an executive 25 committee because the plaintiffs did not address or demonstrate that the interests of the 26 class diverge or were dissimilar and noted that the consolidated action only comprised of 27 two suits with “substantively identical” claims and just because there was more than one 28 6 21cv1135-GPC(MSB) 21cv1143-GPC(MSB) 21cv1238-GPC(MSB) 1 plaintiff group did not warrant the appointment of an executive committee if their 2 interests were not divergent or dissimilar. Id. Similar to Aberin, in this case, Majority 3 Group Plaintiffs do not explain how the interests of the Steering Committee are dissimilar 4 to the interests of the class and the Majority Group Plaintiffs involve three cases 5 involving the same identical facts with similar legal issues. The appointment of a 6 Steering Committee would not be economical and not benefit the proposed class. 7 Lead counsel is already “[c]harged with formulating (in consultation with other 8 counsel) and presenting positions on substantive and procedural issues during the 9 litigation. Typically they act for the group—either personally or by coordinating the 10 efforts of others—in presenting written and oral arguments and suggestions to the court, 11 working with opposing counsel in developing and implementing a litigation plan, 12 initiating and organizing discovery requests and responses, conducting the principal 13 examination of deponents, employing expert.” Manual for Complex Litig., § 10.221 (4th 14 ed. 2004). Majority Group Plaintiffs propose that a Steering Committee is needed so that 15 Interim Lead Class Counsel can consult and coordinate with other counsel regarding the 16 prosecution of the action; however, that role is already included in the lead class 17 counsel’s duties. Moreover, the purpose of selecting a lead counsel is to limit the number 18 of law firms for economy and efficiency. Including a counsel from each of the 19 consolidated cases would defeat the purpose of appointing an Interim Lead Class 20 Counsel. In conclusion, the Court DENIES Majority Group Plaintiffs’ motion to appoint 21 a Steering Committee. 22 The Majority Group Plaintiffs also propose that “if the Court chooses to appoint a 23 liaison counsel,” then it should select Bibianne Fell of Fell Law. (Dkt. No. 16 at 6.) A 24 court, in its discretion, may appoint interim liaison counsel to assist interim lead counsel 25 primarily with administrative matters. See Walker v. Discover Fin. Servs., No. 10–cv– 26 6994, 2011 WL 2160889, at *3 (N.D. Ill. May 26, 2011); see also Manual for Complex 27 Litig., § 10.221 (4th ed. 2004). Liaison counsel generally assists lead counsel with 28 7 21cv1135-GPC(MSB) 21cv1143-GPC(MSB) 21cv1238-GPC(MSB) 1 administrative matters, such as filings, communications with the court and other counsel, 2 convening meetings of counsel, assuring compliance with local rules, and attending 3 hearings. See Walker, 2011 WL 2160889, at *5; see also Manual for Complex Litig., § 4 10.221 (4th ed. 2004). 5 Majority Group Plaintiffs fail to provide any reasons why liaison counsel should be 6 appointed and the Court does not see the justification for one at this time. The three 7 consolidated cases arise out of the same facts and involve similar causes of action. The 8 consolidated action is not complex or unwieldly involving many lawsuits with an 9 unmanageable number of attorneys and does not justify administrative support by a 10 liaison counsel. See In re Oxford Health Plans, Inc. Sec. Lit., 182 F.R.D. 42 (1998) 11 (granting co-lead counsel, an executive committee, and liaison counsel in a 52-action 12 consolidated action); State of N.J. Dep't of Env’t Prot. v. Gloucester Env’t Mgmt. Servs., 13 Inc., 138 F.R.D. 421, 429 (D.N.J. 1991) (“Placement into a Liaison Group may be 14 required where it is reasonable to do so, in advancing the fair and efficient management 15 of a complex multi-party case.”); Vaughn v. American Honda Motor Co., Inc., Civil 16 Action No. 2:04-CV-142 (TJW) 2007 WL 2220924, at *1 (E.D. Tex. July 31, 2007) 17 (“this is not a complex situation where there are numerous lawyers that need to be 18 organized nor where the Court requires assistance in communicating with other 19 counsel.”); see also Clair v. DeLuca, 232 F.R.D. 523, 527-28 (W.D. Pa. 2006) (courts 20 have found “qualified lead counsel should surely be capable of performing the ministerial 21 tasks typically assigned to liaison counsel.”). Thus, the Court DENIES Majority Group 22 Plaintiffs’ motion to appoint liaison counsel. 23 /// 24 /// 25 /// 26 /// 27 /// 28 8 21cv1135-GPC(MSB) 21cv1143-GPC(MSB) 21cv1238-GPC(MSB) 1 Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that: 2 1. The following Related Actions are hereby consolidated for all pre-trial 3 proceedings (the “Consolidated Action”): 4 5 6 7 8 9 Abbreviated Case Name Rubenstein et al. v. Scripps Health Rasmuzzen v. Scripps Health Garren v. Scripps Health Case No. 3:21-cv-01135-GPC-MSB 3:21-cv-01143-GPC-MSB 3:21-cv-01238-GPC-MSB Date Filed June 21, 2021 June 21, 2021 July 8, 2021 2. Every pleading filed in the Consolidated Action must be filed solely in Case No. 21cv1135-GPC(MSB) and shall bear the following caption: 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA In Re: SCRIPPS HEALTH DATA SECURITY BREACH LITIGATION ______________________________ ) Case No. 3:21-cv-01135-GPC-MSB ) ) ) ) CLASS ACTION ) ) ) ) ) ) 3. Plaintiffs shall file a Consolidated Class Action Complaint within fourteen (14) days of this Order, with Defendant’s anticipated Motion to Dismiss to be filed within thirty (30) days of the filing of the Consolidated Class Action Complaint, and Plaintiffs’ reply brief to be filed fourteen (14) days thereafter. 23 24 25 26 27 28 9 21cv1135-GPC(MSB) 21cv1143-GPC(MSB) 21cv1238-GPC(MSB) INTERIM LEAD CLASS COUNSEL 1 2 1. The Court, in accordance with Rule 23(g) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, 3 hereby appoints William B. Federman of Federman & Sherwood as Interim Lead 4 Counsel. 5 6 2. The responsibilities pertaining to Mr. Federman as Interim Lead Counsel are forth as follows: 7 Mr. Federman’s Responsibilities as Interim Lead Counsel 8 a) To determine and present (in briefs, oral argument, or such other fashion as may 9 be appropriate, personally or by a designee) to the Court and opposing parties 10 the position of Plaintiffs and putative class members on all matters arising 11 during pretrial proceedings; 12 b) To coordinate the initiation and conduct of discovery on behalf of Plaintiffs and 13 putative class members, consistent with the requirements of Fed. R. Civ. P. 14 26(b)(1), 26(b)(2), and 26(g), including the preparation of joint interrogatories 15 and requests for the production of documents and the examination of witnesses 16 in depositions; 17 18 c) To coordinate discovery efforts with other counsel to ensure that discovery is conducted in an efficient, orderly, and non-duplicative manner; 19 d) To conduct settlement negotiations on behalf of Plaintiffs and putative class 20 members, and, where appropriate, to present any proposed settlements to the 21 Court on behalf of putative class members; 22 e) To delegate specific tasks to other counsel, in a manner designed to ensure that 23 pretrial preparation for Plaintiffs and the putative class is conducted efficiently 24 and effectively; 25 f) To enter into stipulations with opposing counsel (after such consultations with 26 other counsel as may be appropriate) as necessary for the conduct of the 27 litigation; 28 10 21cv1135-GPC(MSB) 21cv1143-GPC(MSB) 21cv1238-GPC(MSB) 1 g) To prepare and distribute status reports to any other law firms that might seek to 2 represent the putative class; 3 h) To maintain adequate time and disbursement records covering services for all 4 Plaintiffs’ counsel in the proposed Consolidated Action; 5 i) To monitor the activities of any other law firms that might seek to represent 6 putative class members to ensure that schedules are met, and unnecessary 7 expenditures of time and funds are avoided; 8 j) To perform such other duties as may be incidental to the proper prosecution and 9 coordination of pretrial activities on behalf of Plaintiff and the putative class or 10 authorized by further order of this Court and 11 k) With court approval, appoint additional committees, as necessary, including but 12 not limited to, expert, discovery, trial, and settlement committees. 13 CONCLUSION 14 The Court GRANTS the Majority Group Plaintiffs’ Motion and consolidates the 15 Related Cases of Rubenstein et al. v. Scripps Health, 3:21-cv-01135-GPC-MSB; 16 Rasmuzzen v. Scripps Health, 3:21-cv-01143-GPC-MSB; and Garren v. Scripps Health, 17 3:21-cv-01238-GPC-MSB and designates In re: Scripps Health Data Breach Litigation, 18 Case No: 3:21-cv-01135-GPC-MSB as the lead case, and all further filings shall be made 19 in that case. The Court DENIES the Majority Group Plaintiffs’ motion to consolidate any 20 and all related cases subsequently filed, transferred or removed to this district. 21 Furthermore, the Court GRANTS the Majority Group Plaintiffs’ motion to appoint 22 William B. Federman as interim lead class counsel for Plaintiffs and DENIES Majority 23 Group Plaintiffs’ motion to appoint a Steering Committee and Liaison Counsel. 24 /// 25 /// 26 /// 27 /// 28 11 21cv1135-GPC(MSB) 21cv1143-GPC(MSB) 21cv1238-GPC(MSB) 1 The hearing set on October 8, 2021 shall be vacated. 2 IT IS SO ORDERED. 3 4 Dated: October 5, 2021 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 12 21cv1135-GPC(MSB) 21cv1143-GPC(MSB) 21cv1238-GPC(MSB)
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