Alcala v. Texas Webb County

Full title: Cynthia ALCALA, et al., Plaintiffs, v. TEXAS WEBB COUNTY, et al.…

Court: United States District Court, S.D. Texas

Date published: May 1, 2009

625 F. Supp. 2d 391 (S.D. Tex. 2009)

Opinion

Civil Action No. L-08-0128.

May 1, 2009.

Albert M. Gutierrez, III, Matthew Fisher Wymer, Gutierrez Wymer, P.C., San Antonio, TX, for Plaintiffs.

Kyle Cledys Watson, Goode Casseb et al., Albert Lopez, Attorney at Law, San Antonio, TX, Juan Ramon Flores, Murray Edward Malakoff, Yohana Saucedo, Attorney at Law, Alberto J. Alarcon, Hall Quintanilla Alarcon, Laredo, TX, for Defendants.

MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER

J. SCOTT HACKER, United States Magistrate Judge.

Pending before the Court is Defendants Mary Ethel Novoa and Patricia Barrera's "Motion to Stay Civil Proceedings in this Case" (Dkt. Nos. 45, 56). Defendants move the Court to issue a complete stay of this civil action until the conclusion of Novoa's pending state court trial. Plaintiffs have filed a response to Defendants' Motion and are opposed to a stay. (Dkt. No. 46). After having considered the parties' arguments and the applicable case law, the Court holds that a complete stay of these civil proceedings is unwarranted. However, the Court will GRANT a limited stay to continue as to Defendant Novoa only until May 24, 2009. As such, and as detailed below, Defendants' Motion (Dkt. Nos. 45, 56) is DENIED in part and GRANTED in part.

Background

In January of 1993, Barrera took elected office as Webb County Tax Assessor/Collector and currently serves Webb County in that capacity. (Dkt. No. 12 at ¶ 18). Defendants Novoa, Rosa Hernandez, and Dora Jimenez are supervisors for the Webb County Tax Assessor/Collector's Office (the "WCTAC"). ( Id. at ¶¶ 13-15). Each of the ten Plaintiffs, at one time or another, was an employee with the WCTAC, but either resigned or was terminated.

According to Plaintiffs, beginning in 1994, the WCTAC began to hold a series of raffles sanctioned by Barrera. ( Id. at ¶¶ 19, 21). Allegedly, the "Employee Fund Raffle" became an annual event used to raise money for the WCTAC Christmas party. ( Id. at ¶ 19). Plaintiffs also assert that, by 1996, a separate raffle, the "Rifa Entre Amigos" (or the "Raffle Among Friends"), was being held at the WCTAC three times a year. ( Id. at ¶¶ 21-22). Plaintiffs claim that this particular raffle was for the benefit of Barrera, as the money derived there from was used, in part, to fund Barrera's re-election campaigns and to pay for calendars bearing Barrera's name and title, which were given away annually to WCTAC patrons.¹ ( Id. at ¶ 29).

1 Apparently, these calendars contained the following statement: "Patricia Barrera, Webb County Tax-Assessor-Collector, not printed at taxpayer expense." (Dkt. No. 12 at ¶ 29) (emphasis in original).

All WCTAC employees, including Plaintiffs, were allegedly recruited by Defendants to sell a specific number of raffle booklets for each raffle. ( Id. at ¶¶ 22, 25-28). Plaintiffs assert that participation in the selling of tickets was mandatory and a condition of employment with the WCTAC. ( Id. at ¶¶ 25, 27). Raffle tickets were purportedly sold openly at the WCTAC during regular business hours. ( Id. at ¶¶ 20, 30). According to Plaintiffs, WCTAC employees who were issued tickets were required to sell those tickets, both during work hours and non-work hours, to both WCTAC patrons and to their own family members. ( See id. at ¶ 20). Allegedly, employees themselves had to purchase any tickets that were issued to them but remained unsold by the raffle deadlines. ( Id. at ¶¶ 27-28). Plaintiffs aver that Defendants "enforced participation in the raffles by verbal threats, intimidation and open hostility, including, but not limited to, the threat of termination, the threat that terminated employees would be black-balled from other government and non-government jobs, or other unspecified retaliation." ( Id. at ¶ 23). The money WCTAC employees collected from the sale of raffle tickets was allegedly paid directly to Barrera or one of the Defendant-supervisors. ( Id. at ¶ 34). Plaintiffs also claim that drawings for these raffles occurred openly at the WCTAC. ( Id. at ¶ 35).

Apart from these raffles, Plaintiffs assert that in 2000, Defendants began mandating WCTAC employee participation in football pots (or betting pools). ( Id. at ¶ 36). Supposedly, these pots centered on the outcomes of football games like the Dallas Cowboys' annual Thanksgiving Day game and the Super Bowl. ( Id.). Plaintiffs allege that each square (or stake in the pot) cost twenty dollars, and that each WCTAC employee was required, as a condition of employment, to either purchase one square for him or herself, or to sell two squares. ( Id. at ¶¶ 37, 40). Like participation in the raffles, Defendants purportedly enforced participation in these football pots through threats of termination and retaliation. ( Id. at ¶ 39).

Mandating participation in these raffles and football pots is not the only objectionable activity alleged by Plaintiffs against Defendants. Plaintiffs claim that mandatory re-election campaigning on behalf of Barrera was another condition of employment at the WCTAC. ( Id. at ¶¶ 70-82). According to Plaintiffs, Barrera required that WCTAC employees place Barrera campaign bumper stickers on their cars, maintain a Barrera campaign sign outside their homes, and volunteer at Barrera campaign headquarters. ( Id. at ¶¶ 71, 73, 75). These activities were supposedly enforced, in part, by threats of termination for failure to comply. Several Plaintiffs claim that they were indeed fired for refusing to engage in campaign activity for Barrera. ( Id. at ¶¶ 71, 76-77).

After whistle-blowing by then and former WCTAC employees, including by two of the Plaintiffs, the Attorney General of the State of Texas began to investigate the activities at the WCTAC. ( Id. at ¶¶ 43, 53). On October 11, 2007, pursuant to a search warrant, the Attorney General's office conducted a raid of the WCTAC, which resulted in the seizure of evidence. ( Id. at ¶¶ 44-45; Dkt. No. 45, Ex. B). In the following months, investigators with the Attorney General conducted interviews of WCTAC employees, and some employees were subpoenaed to testify before a Grand Jury. (Dkt. No. 1 at ¶¶ 48, 59, 66). Plaintiffs allege that WCTAC employees were threatened with retaliation by Barrera and the Defendant-supervisors if they spoke to investigators. ( Id. at ¶¶ 49-52, 54-57). Those employees, including one Plaintiff, who testified or were suspected of testifying before the Grand Jury, were purportedly terminated. ( Id. at ¶¶ 67-68).

By early September of 2008, the last of all the above-captioned Plaintiffs had either resigned or had been terminated from the WCTAC. On September 24, 2008, Plaintiffs filed the instant federal civil action against Webb County, Texas, Barrera (in her individual and official capacities), and the Defendant-supervisors, Novoa, Hernandez, and Jimenez (also in their respective individual and official capacities). (Dkt. No. 1). Plaintiffs bring suit, inter alia, pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983, alleging civil rights violations under the First and Fourteenth Amendments of the United States Constitution. (Dkt. No. 12 at ¶ 155). Plaintiffs also allege that Defendants violated various state law offenses.

The same day Plaintiffs filed their lawsuit, Defendant Novoa was indicted in Webb County on state charges of gambling promotion² and engaging in organized criminal activity.³ (Dkt. No. 45, Ex. C). The indictment charges that Novoa:

. . . did unlawfully with intent to establish, maintain, and participate in a combination and in the profits of a combination, said combination consisting of defendant and two or more other persons, commit the Class A misdemeanor offense of Gambling Promotion, and in furtherance of said combination, DEFENDANT, on or about and between May 24, 2006 and May 24, 2007 pursuant to one scheme and continuing course of conduct, did then and there intentionally and knowingly for gain become the custodian of a thing of value bet or offered to be bet, to-wit: money for raffle tickets.

2 More specifically, Novoa is charged with a violation of Texas Penal Code § 47.03(a)(3), which provides that "[a] person commits an offense if he intentionally or knowingly . . . for gain, becomes a custodian of anything of value bet or offered to be bet. . . ." An offense under § 47.03 is a Class A misdemeanor. TEXAS PENAL CODE § 47.03(b).

3 This involves a violation of Texas Penal Code § 71.02(a)(2), which provides that "[a] person commits an offense if, with the intent to establish, maintain, or participate in a combination or in the profits of a combination or as a member of a criminal street gang, he commits or conspires to commit . . . any gambling offense punishable as a Class A misdemeanor. . . ." Because Novoa is also charged with engaging in organized criminal activity, the offense of gambling promotion becomes a state jail felony. TEXAS PENAL CODE § 71.02(b). A Texas state jail felony is punishable, in part, by "confinement in a state jail for any term of not more than two years or less than 180 days" and a fine of not more than $10,000. TEXAS PENAL CODE § 12.35(a), (b).

( Id.). While Novoa is accused of acting with two or more other persons, she is currently the only defendant in this case who has been indicted.

Eventually, Barrera, Novoa, and the other Defendant-supervisors all filed separate answers to Plaintiffs' complaint. With respect to Plaintiffs' claims regarding raffles at the WCTAC, in her answer, Novoa generally admits that raffles, sanctioned by Barrera, took place. (Dkt. No. 28 at ¶¶ 4, 6-7, 9). She also admits that it was known to WCTAC employees that some of the money collected from the "Raffle Among Friends" was used for Barrera's campaigns and for "giveaways" to patrons of the WCTAC. ( Id. at ¶ 12). However, Novoa denies that these raffles constituted "gambling" and that any participation by WCTAC employees was mandatory. ( Id. at ¶¶ 4, 9). She also denies that raffle ticket money collected by the WCTAC employees was paid directly to her. ( Id. at ¶ 13).

In the case of Barrera, she too admits that raffles occurred amongst the WCTAC employees. (Dkt. No. 36 at ¶ 7). Barrera also admits that she would, on occasion, conduct ceremonial drawings for the "Raffle Among Friends," and that part of the monies collected from that raffle "were utilized to pay for calendars and materials which were considered to be promotional in nature." ( Id. at ¶ 9). However, Barrera denies that mandatory gambling was a condition of employment at the WCTAC. ( Id. at ¶ 6). Barrera also denies that raffle ticket money collected by the WCTAC employees was paid directly to her. ( Id. at ¶ 8).

Hernandez and Jimenez deny that raffles ever took place at the WCTAC. (Dkt. No. 30 at ¶ 5; No. 34 at ¶ 2). Jimenez also objects to Plaintiffs' framing of this activity as "gambling" and "sanctioned." (Dkt. No. 34 at ¶ 2). As to most of the rest of Plaintiffs' claims, Jimenez has invoked her privilege against self-incrimination due to the Texas Attorney General's ongoing criminal investigation into the WCTAC. ( Id. at ¶ 5). Jimenez is the only defendant to have invoked her Fifth Amendment rights thus far.

On January 22, 2009, Novoa and Barrera filed this motion requesting that the Court stay the civil proceedings in this case pending completion of the ongoing state criminal action against Novoa. (Dkt. No. 45 at ¶ 3). None of the other Defendants joined in this motion, nor did they file a separate request for a stay. Plaintiffs filed their response in opposition to the stay on January 26, 2009. (Dkt. No. 46).

Discussion

I. Legal Standard

It is not altogether uncommon that a defendant will find himself or herself facing separate civil and criminal prosecutions stemming from the same transaction or occurrence. For instance, this occurs quite often in the securities field, where parallel actions may be brought at the same time by different agencies of the federal government. However, the Supreme Court has established that there exists no general constitutional, statutory, or common law prohibition against the prosecution of parallel criminal and civil actions, even where such actions proceed simultaneously. SEC v. First Fin. Group of Texas, Inc., 659 F.2d 660, 666-67 (5th Cir. 1981) (citing United States v. Kordel, 397 U.S. 1, 11 (1970)). Thus, whether to stay a civil action pending resolution of a parallel criminal prosecution is not a matter of constitutional right, but, rather, one of court discretion, that should be exercised when the interests of justice so require. Kordel, 397 U.S. at 12 n. 27; Dominguez v. Hartford Fin. Servs. Group, Inc., 530 F.Supp.2d 902, 905 (S.D. Tex. 2008). A district court's discretionary authority to stay proceedings stems from its inherent authority to control the disposition of the cases on its own docket "with economy of time and effort for itself, for counsel, and for litigants." Landis v. North American Co., 299 U.S. 248, 254, 57 S.Ct. 163, 81 L.Ed. 153 (1936). These same principles apply where, as in the present case, a state criminal prosecution and a federal civil action are involved. See, e.g., St. Martin v. Jones, 2008 WL 4534398 (E.D. La. Oct. 2, 2008); Agueros v. Vargas, 2008 WL 2937972 (W.D. Tex. July 21, 2008).

There are several reasons why a court may wish to exercise its discretion and stay a parallel civil case. One primary goal of a stay, when a stay is indeed warranted, is to preserve a defendant's Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination and to resolve the conflict he would face between asserting this right and defending the civil action. See SEC v. Dresser Industries, Inc., 628 F.2d 1368, 1376 (D.C. Cir 1980) (en banc), cert. denied, 449 U.S. 993 (1980); see also Trustees of Plumbers and Pipefitters Nat'l Pension Fund v. Transworld Mech., Inc., 886 F.Supp. 1134, 1138 (S.D.N.Y. 1995); see also Heller Healthcare Fin., Inc. v. Boyes, 2002 WL 1558337, at *3 (N.D. Tex. July 15, 2002). Furthermore, a stay may be justified in order to prevent extending criminal discovery beyond the limits of Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 16(b), exposing the defense's theory to the prosecution in advance of trial, or otherwise prejudicing the criminal case. Dresser, 628 F.2d at 1376; Plumbers and Pipefitters, 886 F.Supp. at 1138. The Fifth Circuit has advised that when handling a motion to stay a civil case, a court should be sensitive to the differences between the civil and criminal rules of discovery, noting that "[w]hile the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure have provided a well-stocked battery of discovery procedures, the rules governing criminal discovery are far more restrictive." Campbell v. Eastland, 307 F.2d 478, 487 (5th Cir. 1962). Given these differences:

Judicial discretion and procedural flexibility should be utilized to harmonize the conflicting rules and to prevent the rules and policies applicable to one suit from doing violence to those pertaining to the other. In some situations it may be appropriate to stay the civil proceeding. In others it may be preferable for the civil suit to proceed — unstayed. In the proper case the trial judge should use his discretion to narrow the range of discovery.

Id. (internal citation omitted).

Regardless, "[i]t `is the rule, rather than the exception' that civil and criminal cases proceed together." United States ex rel. Gonzalez v. Fresenius Med. Care N. Am., 571 F.Supp.2d 758, 761 (W.D. Tex. 2008) (quoting IBM v. Brown, 857 F.Supp. 1384, 1387 (C.D. Cal. 1994)). And the complete stay of a pending civil action until the conclusion of a related criminal proceeding is considered to be an "extraordinary remedy." In re Piperi, 137 B.R. 644, 646-47 (Bankr. S.D. Tex. 1991) (citing Weil v. Markowitz, 829 F.2d 166, 174 (D.C. Cir. 1987)); see also Plumbers and Pipefitters, 886 F.Supp. at 1139. One reason for this is that a complete stay is tantamount to a defendant's "blanket assertion" of the Fifth Amendment, which is itself improper. SEC v. Incendy, 936 F.Supp. 952, 957 (S.D. Fla. 1996); see United States v. Little Al, 712 F.2d 133, 134-136 (5th Cir. 1983); see also First Financial, 659 F.2d at 668-69; see also United States v. Goodwin, 625 F.2d 693, 701 (5th Cir. 1980). Generally, a party is required to selectively invoke the privilege against self-incrimination and object with specificity to the information sought from him. First Financial, 659 F.2d at 668. This allows a district court to conduct a particularized inquiry, deciding in connection with each specific area that the questioning party seeks to explore, whether or not the privilege is well-founded. Id. (quoting United States v. Melchor Moreno, 536 F.2d 1042, 1049 (5th Cir. 1976)) (quotation marks omitted). Whether a party is entitled to the protection of the privilege is for the court to decide, not the invoking party. Id.

As far as the civil case is concerned, there is a strong presumption in favor of discovery, and it is the party who moves for a stay that bears the burden of overcoming this presumption. Fresenius Medical, 571 F.Supp.2d at 761 (citing United States v. Gieger Transfer Serv., Inc., 174 F.R.D. 382, 385 (S.D. Miss. 1997)). A district court should stay the civil case only upon a showing of "special circumstances," so as to prevent the defendant from suffering substantial and irreparable prejudice. First Financial, 659 F.2d at 668 (citing Kordel, 397 U.S. at 11-13, 90 S.Ct. 763); Dresser, 628 F.2d at 1377.

In determining whether "special circumstances" warrant a stay, a court must measure the relative weights of competing constitutional and procedural interests. See First Financial, 659 F.2d at 668; see also Wehling v. Columbia Broadcasting System, Inc., 608 F.2d 1084, 1088 (5th Cir. 1979); see also LeBouef v. Global X-Ray, 2008 WL 239752, at *2 (E.D. La. Jan. 29, 2008). Those interests were articulated by District Judge Louis H. Pollak and Magistrate Judge William F. Hall, Jr. in Golden Quality Ice Cream Co., Inc. v. Deerfield Specialty Papers, Inc., 87 F.R.D. 53 (E.D. Pa. 1980). In Golden Quality, the court held that whether to stay a civil action by reason of a pending criminal action involved a balancing of the following interests: (1) the plaintiff's interest in proceeding expeditiously in the civil case, balanced against the potential prejudice to the plaintiff caused by a delay; (2) the defendant's interest and the burden which any particular aspect of the proceedings may impose on him; (3) the court's interest in the management of its cases and the efficient use of judicial resources; (4) the interests of persons not parties to the civil litigation; and (5) the public's interest in the pending civil and criminal litigation. Golden Quality, 87 F.R.D. at 56. Over time, this test has been adopted by other courts and has evolved — some factors have been dropped and others added. Compare Golden Quality Ice Cream Co., Inc. v. Deerfield Specialty Papers, Inc., 87 F.R.D. 53, 56 (E.D. Pa. 1980), with Arden Way Assocs. v. Boesky, 660 F.Supp. 1494, 1497-98 (S.D.N.Y. 1987) (citing Golden Quality, 87 F.R.D. at 56), with Volmar Distribs., Inc. v. New York Post Co., Inc., 152 F.R.D. 36, 39 (S.D.N.Y. 1993) (citing Arden Way, 660 F.Supp. at 1497-98), with Trustees of Plumbers and Pipefitters Nat'l Pension Fund v. Transworld Mech., Inc., 886 F.Supp. 1134, 1139 (S.D.N.Y. 1995) (citing Volmar Distribs., 152 F.R.D. at 39; Parallel Civil and Criminal Proceedings, 129 F.R.D. 201 (Pollack, J.)), with Heller Healthcare Fin., Inc. v. Boyes, 2002 WL 1558337, at *2 (N.D. Tex. July 15, 2002) (citing Plumbers and Pipefitters, 886 F.Supp. at 1139).

The test (or a variation thereof) that is generally used today was first articulated by District Judge Denny Chin in Trustees of Plumbers and Pipefitters Nat'l Pension Fund v. Transworld Mech., Inc., 886 F.Supp. 1134 (S.D.N.Y. 1995). In Plumbers and Pipefitters, the court modified the traditional "balancing of the interests" test developed by the Golden Quality court by weighing two additional factors as part of the analysis: the extent to which the issues in the criminal case overlap with those presented in the civil case; and the status of the criminal case, including whether the defendants have been indicted.⁴ Id. at 1139. District courts in the Fifth Circuit who apply the Plumbers and Pipefitters test consider or weigh the six following factors: (1) the extent to which the issues in the criminal case overlap with those presented in the civil case; (2) the status of the criminal case, including whether the defendant has been indicted; (3) the private interests of the plaintiff in proceeding expeditiously, weighed against the prejudice to the plaintiff caused by a delay; (4) the private interests of and burden on the defendant; (5) the interests of the courts; and (6) the public interest. See, e.g., St. Martin v. Jones, 2008 WL 4534398, at *1 (E.D. La. Oct. 2, 2008); United States ex rel. Gonzalez v. Fresenius Med. Care N. Am., 571 F.Supp.2d 758, 762 (W.D. Tex. 2008); Agueros v. Vargas, 2008 WL 2937972, at *1 (W.D. Tex. July 21, 2008); Akuna Matata Invs., Ltd. v. Texas Nom Ltd. P'ship, 2008 WL 2781198, at *2 (W.D. Tex. April 14, 2008); SEC v. Offill, 2008 WL 958072, at *2 (N.D. Tex. Apr. 9, 2008); United States v. Simcho, 2008 WL 2053953, at *3 (N.D. Tex. Mar. 31, 2008); SEC v. AmeriFirst Funding, Inc., 2008 WL 866065, at *2 (N.D. Tex. Mar. 17, 2008); LeBouef v. Global X-Ray, 2008 WL 239752, at *1 (E.D. La. Jan. 29, 2008); Dominguez v. Hartford Fin. Servs. Group, Inc., 530 F.Supp.2d 902, 905 (S.D. Tex. 2008); Whitney Nat'l Bank v. Air Ambulance ex rel. B C Flight Mgmt., Inc., 2007 WL 1468417, at *2 (S.D. Tex. May 18, 2007); Shaw v. Hardberger, 2007 WL 1465850, at *2 (W.D. Tex. May 16, 2007); Holden Roofing, Inc. v. All States Roofing, Inc., 2007 WL 1173634, at *1 (S.D. Tex. Apr. 18, 2007); State Farm Lloyds v. Wood, 2006 WL 3691115, at *1 (S.D. Tex. Dec. 12, 2006); Lewis v. City of Garland, 2005 WL 2647956, at *2 (N.D. Tex. Oct. 14, 2005); SEC v. Mutuals.com, Inc., 2004 WL 1629929, at *3 (N.D. Tex. July 20, 2004); Frierson v. City of Terrell, 2003 WL 22479217, at *2 (N.D. Tex. Aug. 4, 2003); Librado v. M.S. Carriers, Inc., 2002 WL 31495988, at *1 (N.D. Tex. Nov. 5, 2002); Heller Healthcare Fin., Inc. v. Boyes, 2002 WL 1558337, at *2 (N.D. Tex. July 15, 2002).⁵ Although not usually considered by district courts in the Fifth Circuit, another important factor articulated by the Golden Quality court involves balancing the interests of persons not parties to the civil litigation.

4 The Plumbers and Pipefitters court also dropped one factor, the interests of persons not party to the civil litigation, because it was deemed inapplicable by the court and had not been raised by the parties. Plumbers and Pipefitters, 886 F.Supp. at 1139 n. 7.

5 Plumbers and Pipefitters is the genesis of this test. All the cases cited here either cite Plumbers and Pipefitters directly, or cite a case that cites Plumbers and Pipefitters.

The Court agrees that all of these factors are important in determining whether the stay of a civil case should be granted. However, the Court believes that the two additional factors articulated in Plumbers and Pipefitters — namely, the overlap between the civil and criminal cases and the status of the criminal case — are not independent factors for the Court to consider. Rather, they are factors important in determining how the interests of the parties, the Court, third parties, and the public will be weighed against each other.⁶ In other words, because factors like overlap and the status of the criminal case may substantially impact the interests of the parties, the Court, third parties, and the public, these two factors should be analyzed within the framework of those interests. "This balancing-of-the-interests approach ensures that the rights of both [the defendant and the plaintiff] are taken into consideration before the court decides whose rights predominate." Wehling, 608 F.2d at 1088.

6 The Court is well aware that its own understanding of this six-factor test may differ slightly from that of other district courts. However, the Court views as problematic the balancing of concepts like "overlap of issues" and "status of the criminal case," with concepts like "defendant's interests," "plaintiffs' interests," and the Court's own interests in this matter. In Golden Quality, this test was originally viewed as a balancing of competing interests. Whether there is significant overlap of the issues between the civil and criminal case is an important aspect of the analysis — maybe, even, the most important. But only because it and the "status of the criminal case" will affect how much weight to accord to the competing interests and how those interests are ultimately balanced against each other. Simply stated, the overlap of the criminal and civil cases is not something to "balance," per se, but, rather, something to consider in determining how the balancing of the various interests in a case will play out. Regardless, while the Court's analysis of this test may be different, its application should yield the same result. Arguably, the Court's understanding of this test aligns more closely with the test applied by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, whose test derives directly from the source — the Golden Quality case. See Federal Sav. and Loan Ins. Corp. v. Molinaro, 889 F.2d 899 (9th Cir. 1989) (citing Golden Quality, 87 F.R.D. at 56); see also Keating v. Office of Thrift Supervision, 45 F.3d 322 (9th Cir. 1995) (citing Molinaro, 889 F.2d at 902-03); see also Lizarraga v. City of Nogales Arizona, 2007 WL 215616 (D. Ariz. Jan. 24, 2007) (citing Keating, 45 F.3d at 324-25).

II. Analysis

A. The Balancing of Interests

1. Defendants' Interest

In deciding whether to issue the stay, the Court first considers the interests of the moving defendants.⁷ As previously stated, the Court evaluates those interests primarily by analyzing how overlap and the status of the criminal case may affect those defendants.

7 Because neither Jimenez nor Hernandez seeks to stay this case, the Court will not address the propriety of according such relief as to these particular defendants.

Overlap can be particularly important to a defendant's interests.⁸ For example, a defendant has an interest in preventing a parallel civil action from prejudicing his criminal defense. As noted above, if a court does not stay a parallel civil action, then the civil case might undermine the defendant's Fifth Amendment privilege against self-incrimination by expanding rights of criminal discovery beyond the limits of Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 16(b), by exposing the basis of the defense to the prosecution in advance of criminal trial, or by prejudicing the criminal case through other means. See Dresser, 628 F.2d at 1376. Simply stated, a defendant may be burdened by liberal civil discovery on the same issues as those in the pending criminal case, where discovery would be otherwise limited. See Whitney, 2007 WL 1468417, at *3; see also Campbell, 307 F.2d at 487; see also Dresser, 628 F.2d at 1376.

8 It is said that self-incrimination is more likely to occur the more significant the overlap. See Plumbers and Pipefitters, 886 F.Supp. at 1139. Whether there is overlap between the issues in a criminal and civil action "demands a common-sense, fact-bound analysis." Fresenius Medical, 571 F. Supp.2d at 762 (citing In re Ramu Corp., 903 F.2d 312, 320 (5th Cir. 1990)). A court must read the criminal indictment and the civil complaint side-by-side and determine whether the wrongful conduct alleged in both cases is similar. Plumbers and Pipefitters, 886 F.Supp. at 1139. Courts caution, however, that "a mere relationship between civil and criminal proceedings and the prospect that discovery in the civil case could prejudice the criminal proceeding does not necessarily warrant a stay." Fresenius Medical, 571 F. Supp.2d at 762 (citing In re Ramu Corp., 903 F.2d 312, 320 (5th Cir. 1990)).

A defendant also has an interest in avoiding the quandary of choosing between waiving his Fifth Amendment rights and effectively forfeiting the civil case. Plumbers and Pipefitters, 886 F.Supp. at 1140. A defendant is more likely to face this quandary where the subject matter of both cases overlaps to a significant degree. Id. at 1139 (citing Parallel Proceedings, 129 F.R.D. at 203) ("If there is no overlap, there would be no danger of self-incrimination and accordingly no need for a stay."). As such, a court should consider whether, by allowing the civil case to continue, the defendant can effectively defend the civil lawsuit without being pressured into waiving his Fifth Amendment rights.

Furthermore, the status of the criminal case is important in evaluating a defendant's interest in obtaining a stay in the civil proceedings. In fact, status of the criminal case is pivotal to determining the degree of overlap. Analysis centers upon whether the criminal case is pre-indictment in the investigation stage or post-indictment with a set trial date.

Prior to an indictment, whether the issues will even overlap is a mere "matter of speculation." United States ex rel. Shank v. Lewis Enters., Inc., 2006 WL 1064072, at *4 (S.D. Ill. Apr. 21, 2006); see Square D Co. v. Showmen Supplies, Inc., 2007 WL 1430723, at*4 (N.D. Ind. May 14, 2007). Accordingly, courts generally decline to impose a stay where the defendant is under criminal investigation, but has yet to be indicted. In re CFS, 256 F.Supp.2d at 1237 (citing Sterling Nat. Bank v. A-1 Hotels Int'l, Inc., 175 F.Supp.2d 573, 576 (S.D.N.Y. 2001)); Fresenius Medical, 571 F.Supp.2d at 763 (citing Shank, 2006 WL 1064072, at *3). Indeed, a "pre-indictment motion to stay can be denied on this ground alone." Citibank, N.A. v. Hakim, 1993 WL 481335, at *1 (S.D.N.Y. Nov. 18, 1993).

Post-indictment is when the degree of overlap between a criminal and civil case can most readily be determined. Fresenius Medical, 571 F.Supp.2d at 762. The criminal indictment helps clarify the alleged conduct at issue and can be easily compared against the civil complaint. As such, "[t]he `strongest case' for a stay exists where a party is indicted for a serious offense and must defend a civil action involving the same matter."⁹ Lizarraga v. City of Nogales Arizona, 2007 WL 215616, at *3 (D. Arizona, January 24, 2007) (citing Dresser, 628 F.2d at 1377). It is important to note, however, that even after an indictment has issued, courts are generally split as to the propriety of granting a stay. In re CFS, 256 F.Supp.2d at 1238; see Worldcom, 2002 WL 31729501, at *4. In summary, to warrant a stay, a defendant must make a strong showing that the two proceedings will so overlap that either (1) he cannot protect himself in the civil proceeding by selectively invoking his Fifth Amendment privilege, or (2) effective defense of both [the criminal and civil cases] is impossible. Koester v. American Republic Investments, Inc., 11 F.3d 818, 823 (8th Cir. 1993).

9 A stay is even more appropriate when the federal government has initiated both the civil and criminal proceedings. Brock v. Tolkow, 109 F.R.D. 116, 119 (E.D.N.Y. Dec. 23, 1985); see Square D Co. v. Showmen Supplies, Inc., 2007 WL 1430723, at*4 (N.D. Ind. May 14, 2007); see also Sterling Nat. Bank v. A-1 Hotels Int'l, Inc., 175 F.Supp.2d 573, 578-79 (S.D.N.Y. 2001). Again, this is quite common in the field of securities regulation. There is likely to be complete overlap between a civil suit by the SEC and a parallel criminal prosecution by the DOJ.

a. Novoa

In the case of defendant Novoa, an indictment has been issued, and it is possible to pinpoint the issues at stake with some certainty. At first glance, there does appear to be some degree of overlap between Novoa's criminal prosecution in state court and the instant federal civil action. Novoa is being prosecuted for organized gambling promotion. This allegedly involved Novoa becoming, for gain, the custodian of a thing of value bet or offered to be bet — specifically, money for raffle tickets. In terms of the civil action, Plaintiffs claim, in part, that they were wrongfully required as a condition of employment at the WCTAC to participate in this organized scheme whereby Novoa became the custodian of the thing of value, or the money for the raffle tickets. Furthermore, Plaintiffs claim that they were then retaliated against for cooperating with the Attorney General's investigation into this supposed scheme. Overlap between the two cases would occur, then, with respect to any facts related to Novoa's supposed collection of raffle-ticket money from WCTAC employees.

However, a closer comparison of the criminal indictment and the civil complaint reveals that the wrongful conduct alleged in the civil case is at least one step removed from the wrongful conduct alleged in the criminal case. Whereas in the criminal case, the alleged wrongful conduct centers around the taking and holding of raffle ticket money, the alleged wrongful conduct in the civil case centers around whether WCTAC employment was conditioned on the raising of money through the raffle and the participation in various campaign activities. Liability in the civil case is also based upon an even more tangentially related scenario: whether WCTAC employees were retaliated against for cooperating in an investigation regarding whether employment at the WCTAC was conditioned on the raising of money through the raffle and the participation in various campaign activities. The differences between the wrongful conduct alleged in the civil and criminal cases demonstrates a lack of significant overlap between the two.

The degree of overlap is further reduced by the fact that the prosecutor in the criminal case, namely the State of Texas, is not a party to the civil action. In fact, the potential for prejudice to a criminal defense is diminished where private parties, and not the government, are the plaintiffs in the civil action. Hakim, 1993 WL 481335, at *2. Quite possibly the strongest case for a stay occurs when the federal government has initiated both the civil and criminal proceedings. Brock v. Tolkow, 109 F.R.D. 116, 119 (E.D.N.Y. Dec. 23, 1985); see Square D Co. v. Showmen Supplies, Inc., 2007 WL 1430723, at*4 (N.D. Ind. May 14, 2007); see also Sterling Nat. Bank v. A-1 Hotels Int'l, Inc., 175 F.Supp.2d 573, 578-79 (S.D.N.Y. 2001). "In such circumstances, there is a special danger that the government can effectively undermine rights that would exist in a criminal investigation by conducting a de facto criminal investigation using nominally civil means." Sterling, 175 F.Supp.2d at 579; see Square D, 2007 WL 1430723, at*4 (citing United States ex rel. Shank v. Lewis Enters., Inc., 2006 WL 1064072, at *4 (S.D. Ill. Apr. 21, 2006)) ("The court's concern is the risk of the government's use of the broad scope of civil discovery to obtain information for use in the criminal prosecution."); see also Campbell, 307 F.2d at 487. Arguably, the risks to a defendant's constitutional rights are magnified in such a situation. Sterling, 175 F.Supp.2d at 579. However, the instant civil case has been brought by private entities and is not one "in which the government itself has an opportunity to escalate the pressure on defendants by manipulating simultaneous civil and criminal proceedings, both of which it controls." Id. The private plaintiffs here have interests distinct from those of the Texas government, and "[t]here is no reason to assume that [Plaintiffs'] civil case is simply a stalking horse for the government's criminal inquiry, rather than a good faith effort to obtain compensation for [their] own private injuries." Id.

Because there is no significant overlap between the civil and criminal cases, little concern is raised regarding Novoa's Fifth Amendment rights and her ability to defend the civil and criminal actions. First in terms of the civil case, if Novoa is indeed asked during discovery whether any raffles took place at the WCTAC, or whether she collected any raffle monies, she can admit or deny this, or invoke her Fifth Amendment right not to incriminate herself. Selective invocation of the Fifth Amendment as to such a question would not burden her civil defense. Whether these raffles occurred at the WCTAC, or whether Novoa was the custodian of the raffle monies, is not the wrongful conduct alleged by Plaintiffs. Instead, Plaintiffs would have to prove, in part, for purposes of the civil suit, that Novoa furthered the policy of mandatory participation in these raffles. And even if Novoa were indeed asked whether this was the case, her civil defense would not be unduly burdened through her selective invocation of the Fifth Amendment in response. If the evidence in this case simply consisted of one party's word against the other's, the defendant's invocation of the Fifth Amendment privilege would have the potential to hamper the civil defense. But here, there are literally dozens of witnesses, current and former WCTAC employees, who have seen and experienced what occurred at the WCTAC. (Dkt. No. 45, Exhibit A, Initial Disclosures). As such, if she were to selectively invoke the Fifth Amendment, Novoa's hands will not be tied because there may be any number of witnesses willing to testify on her behalf and support any claims she may make in defense of her suit.

Regardless, there seems to be little reason to believe that Novoa would selectively invoke her Fifth Amendment privilege against self-incrimination as to any questions whatsoever. In her answer to Plaintiffs' complaint, Novoa generally admits that raffles occurred at the WCTAC, and she denies any facts that would give rise to the true basis of liability in this civil action — whether participation in these raffles was mandatory and whether she furthered this policy through any number of means.¹⁰ Simply put, Novoa has denied all of Plaintiffs' allegations as to retaliation or wrongful termination alleged by the former WCTAC employees. Therefore, there does not seem to be anything incriminating about Novoa testifying regarding the legitimate reasons as to why a former employee was terminated or denying any alleged instances of retaliation. In summary, Novoa has failed to show that she would be burdened in the civil suit through selective invocation of her Fifth Amendment right, or that it would be impossible to simultaneously defend the criminal and civil actions.

10 Whether Novoa has already waived her Fifth Amendment privilege by even making these admissions and denials in her answer is a question not presently before the Court. Barrera also makes similar admissions and denials in her respective answer to Plaintiffs' complaint.

b. Barrera

As for Barrera, she has yet to be indicted. The degree of overlap is thus speculative at this point. See Shank, 2006 WL 1064072, at *3; Square D Co., 2007 WL 1430723, at *4. Even assuming that Barrera were to be indicted as one of the individuals alleged to have acted in combination with Novoa, again, there would be no significant overlap of the issues. Furthermore, Barrera would not be burdened in the civil suit through selective invocation of her Fifth Amendment right. Like Novoa, Barrera has the benefit of dozens of witnesses, current and former WCTAC employees, who have seen and experienced what occurred at the WCTAC. Therefore, Barrera cannot show that selective invocation of her Fifth Amendment right would significantly prejudice her civil case. Also, like Novoa, Barrera did not invoke her Fifth Amendment right in her answer. She too generally admits that raffles occurred at the WCTAC and denies that participation in these raffles was mandatory or that a lack of participation in the raffles and other campaign activities led to terminations. Therefore, Barrera, like Novoa, is able to testify that no retaliation occurred and that there were legitimate reasons for any terminations. Finally, Barrera is unable to show that the government is using the civil suit as a means of aiding its prosecution of a criminal action, both because the government is not a party to the civil suit and, in Barrera's case, because no criminal action has yet been initiated.

The Court does note that an investigating officer with the Texas Attorney General Office, Sergeant Alfonso Cavalier, executed an affidavit in support of the WCTAC search warrant, swearing, in part, that Barrera committed the following offense:

Texas Penal Code, Chapter 39.02 Abuse of Official Capacity [by] allowing county employees to participate in football pots on county property during the course of their normal work day, by mandating that county employees sell raffle tickets during business hours while being paid by the county, by allowing the sale of these raffle tickets during business hours while being paid by the county, by allowing the sale of these raffle tickets in a county facility workplace, and personally profiting from the sale of these football pots and raffle tickets being sold by said county employees.¹¹

11 Section 39.02(a) of the Texas Penal Code provides that "a public servant commits an offense if, with intent to obtain a benefit or with intent to harm or defraud another, he intentionally or knowingly: (1) violates a law relating to the public servant's office or employment; or (2) misuses government property, services, personnel, or any other thing of value belonging to the government that has come into the public servant's custody or possession by virtue of the public servant's office or employment." TEXAS PENAL CODE § 39.02(a).

(Dkt. No. 54, Ex. B at pg. 9). While an indictment based on this statement appears to overlap with the civil suit to a greater degree than the conduct alleged in Novoa's indictment, the Court points out that the search warrant was executed back in October 2007 — about eighteen months ago. When the State of Texas initiated a prosecution approximately one year after the execution of that search warrant, it did not indict Barrera on the offense stated in the search warrant. Instead, it indicted Novoa on a separate offense, diminishing the likelihood that Barrera will be indicted based on the conduct stated in the affidavit. If Barrera is indicted and the conduct alleged in that indictment significantly overlaps with the conduct alleged in the civil suit, the Court will reevaluate whether a stay is warranted. At this time, however, the degree of overlap is too speculative to warrant a stay of Barrera's case.¹²

12 The Court also notes that Barrera requests a stay until the conclusion of the criminal case against Novoa. But it is unclear to the Court how the conclusion of Novoa's case would impact Barrera, who has yet to be indicted and who could face prosecution even after Novoa's criminal case has concluded.

2. Plaintiffs' Interests

Overlap, or the lack thereof, is also a concern for Plaintiffs' interests. Because the Plaintiffs are not parties to the criminal case, a delay in their civil case could be prejudicial. When the government is a party to both the civil and criminal actions, a delay in the civil case may not be as significant. For the most part, the government is able to preserve its interests in the civil case through its prosecution of the criminal case. Such may not be the case when the plaintiffs, as they are here, are private parties.

While "[n]ormally, `in evaluating the plaintiff's burden resulting from the stay, courts may insist that the plaintiff establish more prejudice than simply a delay in his right to expeditiously pursue his claim,'" Whitney, 2007 WL 1468417, at *3 (citing In re Adelphia Commc'ns Sec. Litig., 2003 WL 22358819, at *4 (E.D. Pa. May 13, 2003)), courts recognize that delay can lead to the loss of evidence and duly frustrate a plaintiff's ability to put on an effective case. Fresenius Medical, 571 F.Supp.2d at 763; Sidari v. Orleans County, 180 F.R.D. 226, 230 (W.D.N.Y. 1997); SEC v. Brown, 2007 WL 4192000, at *2 (D. Minn. July 16, 2007); Hakim, 1993 WL 481335, at *2. With the passage of time, witnesses become unavailable, memories of conversations and dates fade, and documents can be lost or destroyed. Brown, 2007 WL 4192000, at *2.

This case was filed back in September of 2008; and due to delays, discovery has yet to begin. Of particular concern here, then, is the possibility that further postponing discovery by staying this case will prevent Plaintiffs from obtaining information related to whether employee participation in raffles was mandatory at the WCTAC and whether any of the plaintiffs were terminated for any of the wrongful reasons asserted. The Court expects that if information exists as to the alleged culture or environment of intimidation at the WCTAC, it will most likely have to be elicited through written interrogatories and oral depositions of the plaintiffs and others who took part in or witnessed any liability-creating transactions. Because such information is couched in memory, the integrity of this information is in danger of degrading over time, and here, considerable time has already elapsed since the alleged events that gave rise to this suit took place.¹³ The last of the plaintiffs to have worked at the WCTAC were terminated in early-September, over six months ago. Most of the other plaintiffs resigned or were terminated in early-to-mid 2008, and some in 2007. Thus, because most of the evidence in this case will consist of witness testimony, continued delay will only serve to further prejudice Plaintiffs' ability to obtain discovery.

13 The Court notes that while there is also a danger of losing documentary evidence due to the delay, this would probably not be of great consequence to Plaintiffs' case. Any documents would most likely be relevant only for purposes of establishing that raffles actually took place at the WCTAC. But as already discussed, whether raffles occurred at the WCTAC would not, of itself, establish Defendants' liability in the civil case. Furthermore, Novoa and Barrera generally admit in their answers to the complaint that raffles took place.

Regarding the issuance of an indictment against Novoa, it could be argued that "the prejudice to the plaintiffs in the civil case [would be] reduced since the criminal case [would] likely be quickly resolved due to Speedy Trial Act considerations." See Plumbers and Pipefitters, 886 F.Supp. at 1139. However, such an argument may not have as much force when the criminal defendant faces indictment by the State of Texas versus the federal government. Under the Speedy Trial Act, it is generally required that a federal criminal trial begin within 70 days after a defendant is indicted or makes an initial appearance. See 18 U.S.C. § 3161(c)(1). Thus, after indictment by the federal government, the Speedy Trial Act effectively limits the duration of a stay in a parallel civil case. The State of Texas, on the other hand, has no Speedy Trial Act.¹⁴ Accordingly, where a defendant has been indicted by the State of Texas, there is no statutory mechanism by which to set the possible durational limits of a parallel civil action in federal court.¹⁵

14 In 1987, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals held that the Texas Speedy Trial Act was unconstitutional because it violated principles of separation of powers under the Texas Constitution. Meshell v. State, 739 S.W.2d 246 (Tex.Crim.App. 1987).

15 The Sixth Amendment itself is not effective in defining such limits. "It is . . . impossible to determine with precision when the [ Sixth Amendment right to a speedy trial] has been denied." Barker v. Wingo, 407 U.S. 514, 522 (1972). Whether a defendant has been deprived of this right requires the consideration of several factors, including the length of the delay and whether the defendant has asserted his rights. Id. at 530. A presumption of prejudice against the accused does not trigger until at least one year from arrest or indictment. Doggett v. United States, 505 U.S. 647, 652 n. 1 (1992).

Here, because Novoa has been indicted by the State of Texas, it is difficult for the Court to determine the duration of a possible stay in this civil case. In fact, the indictment against Novoa was issued more than six months ago, and the Court takes judicial notice that Novoa's pending trial, which is currently set for May 18, 2009, has already been reset twice before. As for Barrera, there is no telling when, or even if, she will be indicted. Plaintiffs may have already been prejudiced by the delay that has occurred thus far, let alone by any further delay of an indefinite duration.

3. The Court's Interests

The Court must also balance its own interests. One such interest is in judicial efficiency. "The conviction of a civil defendant as a result of the entry of a plea or following a trial can contribute significantly to the narrowing of issues in dispute in the overlapping civil case and promote settlement of civil litigation not only by that defendant but also by co-defendants who do not face criminal charges." Worldcom, 2002 WL 31729501 at *8. A court, then, must analyze whether, and to what extent, the outcome of the criminal proceeding would serve to simplify or "streamline" the issues and any possible discovery disputes. Of course, this all depends on the degree of overlap between the criminal and civil cases.

Here, there would be little "streamlining." Were the State of Texas to establish Novoa's guilt, this civil case would remain unresolved. Perhaps a criminal conviction against Novoa would establish to some extent, and merely as a threshold matter, that gambling did occur at the WCTAC and that Novoa collected any raffles monies. However, such a conviction would not speak to the actual bases of liability in this civil action. Coercing participation in an organized gambling scheme through threats of retaliatory termination, for example, is not the wrongful conduct for which Novoa has been charged. As such, it would not be addressed by the State in proving its criminal case, nor would it be adjudicated by the criminal tribunal.

The Court does realize that by proceeding with the civil case, there is a possibility that the Court will have to rule on selective claims of Fifth Amendment privilege and objections to specific information requests during the discovery process. However, Novoa and Barrera, the only two defendants moving for a stay, have not shown the Court, thus far, that they would selectively invoke their Fifth Amendment privilege. As already discussed, in their respective answers to the complaint, these defendants have generally admitted that raffles occurred at the WCTAC, and they have denied all other accusations that provide for the true basis of liability in this civil case. Therefore, it does not appear, at this time, that the Court will have to expend any significant amount of time and effort ruling on any claims of privilege.

Another interest for the Court to consider is judicial expediency, whether staying the civil case will interfere with its management of the docket. A court "has an obligation to move its docket, and not let cases languish before it." In re Scrap Metal Antitrust Litig., 2002 WL 31988168, at *7 (N.D. Ohio Nov. 7, 2002). But that is precisely the danger where, as here, a stay could be of indefinite duration. As discussed above, Novoa has been indicted by the State of Texas, which has no speedy trial act. Moreover, no indictment has even been issued in Barrera's case. Postponement of this suit until the conclusion of Barrera's criminal prosecution, if any, "would require this court either to `rely upon fortuitous events to manage its docket,' or to guess what criminal acts [she] might be charged with, and consequently which limitations periods apply to those criminal acts. . . ." Hakim, 1993 WL 481335, at *2 (internal citation omitted).

4. The Public's and Third-Parties' Interests

Finally, the interests of the public and third parties must be considered.¹⁶ The public has an interest in the resolution of disputes with minimal delay, but only to the extent that the integrity of the defendant's rights can be maintained. St. Martin, 2008 WL 4534398, at *3; State Farm Lloyds, 2006 WL 3691115, at *3; Frierson, 2003 WL 21355969, at *4. The degree of overlap is an important consideration in weighing the public's interests. As already discussed, there is no significant overlap between Novoa's criminal prosecution and the civil case, so her rights are not at risk. The status of Barrera's criminal case is also an important consideration. Barrera has not been indicted. Thus, the risk to her rights is presently unclear, and it is impossible to predict exactly when an indictment will be handed up against her, if at all. Here then, because the integrity of Novoa and Barrera's rights can be maintained without a stay, the public's interest in resolving the case with minimal delay weighs against a stay. St. Martin, 2008 WL 4534398, at *3.

16 Typically, district courts have analyzed these two factors separately. Whether these two interests are considered independently or together is immaterial in the overall balancing of interests.

Third parties may also have an interest in resolving this case with minimal delay. Defendants are currently employed at the WCTAC. If Plaintiffs' allegations are true, the other WCTAC employees, who are not plaintiffs in this case, have an interest in not being the victims of threats, retaliation, wrongful termination, or pressure to leave their employment. If Plaintiffs' allegations are false, then Webb County and the WCTAC employees have an interest in exposing the truth promptly.

Conclusion

After considering the various interests in this case, the Court finds that a stay of the entire case is not warranted. As such, the Court DENIES Novoa's and Barrera's request to stay this case in its entirety. All parties should begin discovery immediately. A stay order will be reversed when found to be immoderate or of an indefinite duration. McKnight v. Blanchard, 667 F.2d 477, 479 (5th Cir. 1982). As such, a district court should carefully consider the time reasonably expected for the resolution of the criminal case. See Wedgeworth v. Fibreboard Corp., 706 F.2d 541, 545 (5th Cir. 1998). Since Novoa's next state court date is set for May 18, 2009, the Court will GRANT a limited stay to continue as to Defendant Novoa only until May 24, 2009. During this period, no party should serve interrogatories, requests for admissions, or a notice of deposition on Novoa until May 25, 2009. All other requests for relief in Novoa and Barrera's motion are DENIED.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

OPINION AND ORDER

MICAELA ALVAREZ, District Judge.

On May 25, 2009, Defendant Patricia A. Barrera ("Barrera") through her counsel filed an Emergency Motion in this cause of action.¹ [Dkt. No. 77].² In this Motion, Barrera moves the Court to (1) handle all future pre-trial matters in these cases; (2) vacate Judge Hacker's Opinions of May 1, 2009 and May 15, 2009; and (3) stay all discovery in this case for eleven months. Plaintiff filed a response on May 28, 2009. [Dkt. No. 81]. For the following reasons, the Court DENIES Defendant's Motion of May 25, 2009.

1 The full title of this Motion is "Defendant, Patricia A. Barrera's Opposed Emergency Motion for Stay of Proceedings Pendiente Lite Directed to United States District Judge and Motion to Reconsider Magistrate Judge's Denial of Motion to Stay Proceedings, Motion for Vacation of Magistrate Judge's May 15, 2009 Order and Amended Scheduling Order and Motion for Protective Order and for Rule 26 Scheduling Conference." [Dkt. No. 77].

2 "Dkt. No." refers to the docket number entry for the Court's electronic filing system. The Court will cite to the docket number entries rather than the title of each filing.

I. BACKGROUND AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

In January 1993, Defendant Barrera assumed elected office as Webb County Tax Assessor/Collector. [Dkt. No. 12 at ¶ 18]. Plaintiffs allege that soon thereafter the Webb County Tax Assessor/Collector's Office ("WCTAC"), where they worked, began to hold a series of raffles to raise money. [Id. at ¶¶ 19-22]. According to Plaintiffs, the purpose of one tri-annual raffle, the "Rifa Entre Amigos" ("Raffle Among Friends") was, in part, to benefit Barrera's reelection campaign. [Id. at ¶ 29]. Plaintiffs aver that all employees had to sell a specific number of raffle tickets for the Rifa Entre Amigos. [Id. at ¶¶ 22, 25-28]. WCTAC employees had to sell these tickets during both work and non-work hours. According to Plaintiffs, participation was mandatory and a condition of employment. [Id. at ¶¶ 25, 27]. Defendants, including Barrera, purportedly enforced participation in these raffles through threats of termination and retaliation. [Id. at ¶ 23].

Apart from participation in these raffles, Plaintiffs aver that Defendants began in 2000 requiring WCTAC employee participation in football pots (or betting pools). [Id. at ¶ 36]. Allegedly, WCTAC employees also had to campaign on behalf of Barrera in her re-election campaigns. [Id. at ¶¶ 70-82]. According to Plaintiffs, Barrera required WCTAC employees place campaign bumper stickers on their cars, maintain a campaign sign outside their house, and volunteer at her campaign headquarters. [Id. at ¶¶ 71, 73, 75]. These required campaign activities and football pots allegedly also were enforced by threats of termination and retaliation. [Id. at ¶¶ 39, 71, 76-77]. Indeed, several Plaintiffs claim they were fired for refusing to engage in these activities. [Id. at ¶¶ 71, 77].

In 2007, the State of Texas Attorney General began to investigate the activities at the WCTAC based on "whistle-blowing" by WCTAC employees, including two of the Plaintiffs. [Id. at ¶¶ 43, 53]. Investigators with the Attorney General conducted interviews and issued Grand Jury subpoenas to WCTAC employees. [Id. at ¶¶ 48, 59, 66]. Plaintiffs allege that Barrera and the other individual Defendants threatened them with retaliation if they spoke to the investigators. [Id. at ¶¶ 49-52, 54-57]. According to Plaintiffs, those employees who testified or were suspected of testifying before the Grand Jury were terminated. [Id. at ¶¶ 67-68].

In September 2008, Plaintiffs, ten former employees of WCTAC, filed this instant federal civil cause of action.³ Pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983, Plaintiffs allege Defendants violated their First and Fourteenth Amendments civil rights. [Id. at ¶ 155]. Plaintiffs also allege that Defendants committed several state law offenses. [Id. at ¶¶ 175-194].

3 All ten Plaintiffs had either resigned or been terminated from WCTAC at the time they filed this federal civil suit.

On December 16, 2008, Barrera answered Plaintiffs' Complaint. [Dkt. No. 36]. In her answer, Barrera admits that raffles occurred between the WCTAC employees. [Id. at ¶ 7]. Barrera also states that "part of the monies collected from the ["Rifa entre Amigos"] were utilized to pay for calendars and materials which were considered promotional in nature." [Id. at ¶ 9].

On January 22, 2009, Barrera along with Defendant Mary Ethel Novoa, filed a Motion requesting that the Court stay the civil proceedings in this case pending completion of the ongoing state criminal action against Novoa. [Dkt. No. 45 at ¶ 3]. A state grand jury indicted Novoa with gambling promotion and engaging in organized criminal activity the same day Plaintiffs filed their civil complaint in this lawsuit. [Dkt. No. 45, Ex. C]. On May 1, 2009, in a lengthy, well-reasoned opinion, Magistrate Judge J. Scott Hacker analyzed whether the Court in its discretion should stay all civil proceedings until the conclusion of Novoa's criminal case. [Dkt. No. 67]. Judge Hacker balanced the interests of the Defendants, the Plaintiffs, the Court, and the public. [Id.]. Judge Hacker focused particularly on whether defendants would be unfairly and unduly prejudiced defending this civil action. The simultaneous Texas Attorney General investigation might force them to assert their Fifth Amendment privilege against self-incrimination during discovery. Based on the balancing interests, Judge Hacker, however, determined that a total stay of the case was not warranted. [Id.]. Judge Hacker did grant a limited stay to continue as to Defendant Novoa until May 24, 2009 as she had been criminally indicted. [Id. at 26]. As to all other Defendants, Judge Hacker ordered that discovery begin immediately. [Id.]. Indeed, that same day Judge Hacker issued a proposed scheduling order with deadlines for all pre-trial events, including a discovery deadline. [Dkt. No. 68]. Judge Hacker ordered that the parties make any objections to the proposed deadlines by May 8, 2009. [Id.].

On May 8, 2009, Barrera filed a Motion entitled "Objection to Entry of Scheduling Order, Advisory to Court, and Motion for Rule 26 Scheduling Conference." [Dkt. No 69]. In this motion, Barrera advised the Court that criminal proceedings had been initiated against her four days earlier, on May 4, 2009. [Id. at ¶ 3]. State prosecutors had extended a plea deal to her. [Id. at ¶ 4]. Based on these changed circumstances, Barrera also asked the Court to hold a Rule 26 Scheduling Conference. [Id. at ¶ 5]. At this conference, Barrera asserted that the Court should consider oral argument on a second motion to stay proceedings. [Id.]. Judge Hacker denied Barrera's objections and entered the previously proposed scheduling order. [Dkt. No. 72].

Then, on May 25, 2009, Barrera filed the Emergency Motion currently before the Court. [Dkt. No. 77]. In this Motion, Barrera first moves the Court "to stay all discovery in the matter for an eleven month period of time." [Id. at 1]. This request appears to be a Motion for Reconsideration of Judge Hacker's May 1, 2009 Order denying a complete stay of the civil action as well as a new Motion to Stay Proceedings. On May 15, 2009, the Webb County District Attorney filed a formal three-count Criminal Information and Complaint against Barrera. [Id., Ex. A]. This Criminal Information and Complaint charges that Barrera knowingly (1) used or permitted another to use a building or room for gambling; (2) owned, manufactured, or possessed gambling paraphernalia; and (3) possessed for transfer or did transfer a card, stub, ticket, or check designed to serve as evidence of participation in a lottery. [Id.]. Second, Barrera requests that all "pre-trial matters be handled by the Honorable United States District Judge due to the procedural history of this cause . . . and the actions of the Magistrate Judge . . ." [Id. at 1-2]. Specifically, Barrera objects to Judge Hacker's Opinions of May 1 and May 15, 2009. [Id. at 5-6]. Barrera further asks that the Court to vacate these Orders. The Court will take up this second matter first.

II. DISCUSSION

A. MOTION FOR DISTRICT COURT TO HANDLE ALL PRE-TRIAL MATTERS

In her Motion, Defendant Barrera asks this Court to conduct all future pre-trial matters instead of Magistrate Judge J. Scott Hacker because the "Magistrate Judge's May 1, and May 15, 2009 Memoranda and Opinions clearly demonstrate his inability to handle pre-trial." [Dkt. No. 77 at 5-6]. As permitted under 28 U.S.C. § 636 and Southern District of Texas Local Rule 72, the Court referred all pre-trial non-dispositive matters in this case to Judge Hacker. 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(A) (2006) (stating that a "designated magistrate may hear and determine pretrial matters pending before a district court" with limited exceptions); S.D. TEX. LOCAL R. 72. When a magistrate judge decides a non-dispositive matter, the district judge "must consider timely objections and modify or set aside any part of the order that is clearly erroneous or contrary to law." FED. R. CIV. P. 72(a). Factual findings are clearly erroneous when "the reviewing court upon examination of the entire evidence is left, with the definite and firm conviction that a mistake has been committed." Bolding v. Comm'r of Internal Revenue, 117 F.3d 270, 273 (5th Cir. 1997) (citation omitted); Lahr v. Fulbright Jaworski, L.L.P., 164 F.R.D. 204, 208 (N.D.Tex. 1996). The Court turns to analyzing Defendant Barrera's individual objections to the Magistrate Judge's Opinions of May 1 and May 15, 2009.

1. May 1, 2009 Opinion and Order

The Magistrate Judge's May 1, 2009 Opinion denied Barrera's first Motion to completely stay civil proceedings. [Dkt. No. 67]. Barrera's primary objection to the Opinion is that Judge Hacker has ignored the criminal investigation and subsequent proceedings against Barrera. Barrera contends that Judge Hacker found "the impending criminal proceeding[s] were too speculative" to stay the case. [Dkt. No. 77 at 7]. This is a self-serving simplification of the Opinion's analysis of one balancing factor, Barrera's private interest, in a four-part balancing test.⁴ What Judge Hacker found was that the criminal investigation of Barrera had been ongoing since October 2007 and Barrera had not been indicted as of May 1, 2009. [Dkt. No. 67 at 19-20]. Thus, it was "speculative" to assume that the criminal investigation would significantly overlap with the civil case at that time. Judge Hacker could not have predicted that Barrera would be indicted on May 15, 2009. And for that reason, Judge Hacker added, "If Barrera is indicted and the conduct alleged in that indictment significantly overlaps with the conduct alleged in the civil suit, the Court will reevaluate whether a stay is warranted" — an analysis this Court will undertake in the second part of this Opinion. [Id. at 20]. More importantly, Judge Hacker determined that Barrera had not established that she could not protect herself by selective invocation of her Fifth Amendment privilege. [Id.]. Finally, these were Judge Hacker's conclusions as to only one factor in a four-part test. Judge Hacker also weighed the Plaintiffs', the Court's, and the public's interests in a stay.

4 Barrera does not appear to dispute the applicable legal standards set forth by Judge Hacker. Barrera quotes the six-factor test recited in State Farm Lloyds v. Wood, Civ. No. H-06-503, 2006 WL 3691115, at *1 (S.D. Tex. Dec. 12, 2006), but makes no specific objections to Judge Hacker's four-part balancing of interests test. Judge Hacker's four-part balancing of interest test incorporates all six factors recited in State Farm Lloyds.

Barrera also objects that the May 1, 2009 Opinion focuses too much "upon the factor of the potential (and speculative) prejudice to the Plaintiffs from the potential loss of testimony and evidence." [Dkt. No. 77 at 12]. The May 1, 2009 Opinion, however, does not focus primarily on the prejudice Plaintiffs may suffer by a stay in the civil case. It applies equal weight and analysis to Defendants', Plaintiffs', the Court's, and the public's interests in a stay. [Dkt. No. 67]. Based on its review of the May 1, 2009 Opinion, the Court finds that this Opinion is not clearly erroneous or contrary to law.

2. May 15, 2009 Opinion and Order

Judge Hacker's May 15, 2009 Opinion entered a Scheduling Order for this case and denied Barrera's renewed request to stay this cause of action. [Dkt. No. 72]. Barrera asserts Judge Hacker's "entire basis" for denying this renewed request "was the absence of any criminal proceedings against her." [Dkt. No. 77 at 7]. Barrera continues on to state that "a proffered plea arrangement does not suffice for Hacker to grant a stay of discovery and proceedings. Hacker requires a formal criminal charge." [Id.]. This argument fails to understand the nuances of Judge Hacker's May 15, 2009 Opinion. In the May 15, 2009 Opinion, Judge Hacker acknowledged Barrera's statement that the Texas Attorney General had contacted her about a potential plea agreement. [Dkt. No. 72 at 1].⁵ Judge Hacker just found that Barrera had not established that "she would suffer `substantial and irreparable prejudice' if the civil case were allowed to proceed." [Id. (quoting SEC v. First Fin. Group of Texas, Inc., 659 F.2d 660, 668 (5th Cir. 1981))]. Barrera had not demonstrated that she could not protect herself by selectively invoking her Fifth Amendment privilege in the civil proceeding or that she could not defend both her civil and potential criminal cases simultaneously. [Id. at 1-2]. Judge Hacker's denial of Barrera's renewed request was not just because of the absence of criminal proceedings against Barrera.

5 At one point, Barrera claims that she filed a copy of the proffered plea agreement in the state case under seal for the Court's in camera review. [Dkt. No. 77 at 6]. Barrera's counsel gave the Clerk's Office documents which the Clerk's Office then gave to the Court. The Court, however, did not review them as they were improperly filed. Indeed, the Court handed them back to Counsel at a May 15, 2009 Show Cause Hearing. [Min. Entry of May 13, 2009].

Barrera also insinuates that Judge Hacker should have granted her renewed motion to stay proceedings as a result of the Webb County District Attorney filing a Criminal Information and Complaint against her on May 15, 2009. [Dkt. No. 77 at 7]. Barrera contends that Judge Hacker should have known of these events based on the local media's coverage of the criminal case. [Id.]. Indeed, Barrera asks, whether ". . . Barrera's subsequent arrest on the May 15, 2009 criminal information escapes Hacker's attention? Does Hacker live in a cocoon in spite of the plethora of publicity surrounding Barrera's arrest and booking? Is Hacker completely out of sync with the course of proceedings in the State Criminal Justice System given this publicity?" [Id.]. It is a bedrock principle that it is the parties' obligation to bring forth whatever evidence it wants the Court to consider. It is not Judge Hacker's obligation to follow the daily occurrences in a parallel state criminal case. As the Seventh Circuit has so aptly stated, "Judges are not like pigs, hunting for truffles" or events affecting cases before them. See United States v. Dunkel, 927 F.2d 955, 956 (7th Cir. 1991). Any evidence that Defendant Barrera wanted the Court to consider should have been filed with the Court. Moreover, a court should not rely upon local newspaper articles and news programs, both forms of hearsay, to keep abreast of events affecting a case before it.⁶ These media sources are hearsay evidence that a court cannot properly consider for the truth of the matters asserted. See Pan-Islamic Trade Corp. v. Exxon Corp., 632 F.2d 539, 556-57 (5th Cir. 1980), cert. denied, 454 U.S. 927 (1981).

6 Under Federal Rule of Evidence 201, a Court may take judicial notice of facts "not subject to reasonable dispute in that it is either (1) generally known within the territorial jurisdiction of the trial court or (2) capable of accurate and ready determination by resort to sources whose accuracy cannot reasonably be questioned." FED. R. EVID. 201(b); Taylor v. Charter Med. Corp., 162 F.3d 827, 831 (5th Cir. 1998). Courts have taken judicial notice of official court records and proceedings in other state or federal court cases. United States v. Capua, 656 F.2d 1033, 1038 n. 3 (5th Cir. 1981). But the determination whether to take judicial notice of a fact is discretionary. FED. R. EVID. 201(c). A court only has to take notice of an adjudicative fact when requested by a party and supplied with the necessary information. FED. R. EVID. 201(d). That did not occur here.

Amidst these substantive objections, the Motion attacks Judge Hacker's personal character. At various points, Barrera avers that "[t]his case has become unmanageable for Hacker;" "this former prosecutor is the last Magistrate Judge who should be handling the pre-trial" as well as "[d]oes Judge Hacker live in a cocoon." [Dkt. No. 77 at 4, 7]. The Motion also refers to Judge Hacker as just "Hacker." [Id.]. The Court reminds Counsel to direct objections to an opinion or order to the merits of the opinion or order. Counsel should conduct himself befitting the profession. S.D. TEX. LOCAL R. OF DISCIPLINE 1 ("Lawyers who practice before this Court are required to act as mature and responsible professionals, and the minimum standard of practice shall be the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct."). Counsel is also reminded that the Texas Lawyer's Creed mandates that a lawyer "demonstrate[] respect for the Court . . ." TEXAS LAWYER'S CREED: A MANDATE FOR PROFESSIONALISM (Sup.Ct. of Tex. and Tex. Crim. App. Nov. 1989).

In sum, Defendant Barrera has not established that any part of Judge Hacker's May 1, 2009 or May 15, 2009 Opinions are clearly erroneous or contrary to law. These Opinions do not "clearly demonstrate [Judge Hacker's] inability to handle pre-trial" matters as Barrera asserts. To the contrary, they are meticulously and well-reasoned opinions. Thus, the Court will not withdraw its referral to Judge Hacker of non-dispositive pretrial matters in this case. Accordingly, Barrera's Motion for the district court to handle all pre-trial matters is DENIED.

B. THIRD RENEWED MOTION FOR STAY OF CIVIL CASE

Barrera next moves for a complete stay of this civil case until the criminal case against Barrera has concluded, a period of eleven months by Barrera's estimation. A district court has the discretionary authority to stay a civil case pending resolution of a parallel criminal case if the interests of justice require. SEC v. First Fin. Group of Texas, Inc., 659 F.2d 660, 666-67 (5th Cir. 1981) (citing United States v. Kordel, 397 U.S. 1, 11 (1970)). A stay is not a constitutional right. Kordel, 397 U.S. at 12 n. 27. District Courts within the Fifth Circuit traditionally have applied a six-factor test to determine whether the interests of justice require a stay. These factors are: (1) the extent to which the issues in the criminal case overlap with those presented in the civil case; (2) the status of the criminal case including whether the criminal Defendant has been indicted; (3) the private interests of the plaintiff in proceeding expeditiously, weighed against the prejudice to the plaintiff caused by a delay; (4) the private interests of and burden on the defendant; (5) the interests of the courts; and (6) the public interest. See, e.g., United States ex rel. Gonzalez v. Fresenius Med. Cane N. Am., 571 F.Supp.2d 758, 762 (W.D.Tex. 2008) (citations omitted); Dominguez v. Hartford Fin. Servs. Group, Inc., 530 F.Supp.2d 902, 905 (S.D.Tex. 2008); Holden Roofing, Inc. v. All States Roofing, Inc., Civ. No. H-06-3406, 2007 WL 1173634, at *1 (S.D. Tex. Dec. Apr. 18, 2007); State Farm Lloyds v. Wood, Civ. No. H-06-503, 2006 WL 3691115, at *1 (S.D. Tex. Dec. 12, 2006).

Barrera's request for a stay has been thoroughly addressed by Judge Hacker's well-reasoned Opinion of May 1, 2009. [Dkt. No. 67]. To the extent that Barrera's pending request serves as an objection to the May 1, 2009 Opinion, the Court finds that the Opinion is not clearly erroneous or contrary to law and therefore, adopts it as this Court's Opinion. The Court also adopts the May 1, 2009 Opinion as it relates to the requested stay following Barrera's indictment, with the additional rationale as follows.

Barrera first argues that her personal interests favor a complete stay in the civil case, now that she has been indicted. According to Barrera, the criminal and civil complaints overlap. [Dkt. No. 77 at 10-12]. The Webb County District Attorney indicted Barrera on May 15, 2009 for organized gambling promotion. [Dkt. No. 77, Ex. A]. The Court agrees that there is a degree of overlap between Barrera's criminal prosecution in state court and the instant federal civil action. Both cases involve purported gambling activities that allegedly occurred at the WCTAC office. The Court, however, believes the sixty-day stay in discovery against Barrera granted on May 27, 2009 serves Barrera's personal interests. [Dkt. No. 80]. A complete stay is not necessary here. The Court does not know how long the state criminal case against Barrera will last. Texas does not have a Speedy Trial Act as in the federal system. A sixty-day stay also permits Barrera to investigate her ability and need to invoke the Fifth Amendment privilege during discovery. The Fifth Circuit has advised that a stay order will be reversed when found to be of an indefinite or immoderate duration. McKnight v. Blanchard, 667 F.2d 477, 479 (5th Cir. 1981); see also Landis v. N. Am. Co., 299 U.S. 248, 257 (1936).

Second, Barrera contends that Plaintiffs will not be prejudiced by waiting until the conclusion of the criminal case against Barrera. Barrera states the trial "will be transcribed and there will simply be no loss of testimony or documents." [Dkt. No. 72 at 12-13]. Barrera also implies that Plaintiffs' interests should not be considered: Plaintiffs "were the whistleblowers whose actions culminated in a well-timed civil complaint" filed concurrently with the criminal actions. [Id.]. The Court disagrees and believes that Plaintiffs will be prejudiced by a complete stay. Plaintiffs here are not parties to the criminal case. They do not have the ability to preserve their interests in the civil case through the prosecution of the criminal case, as the Government might. Moreover, Plaintiffs have already waited over eight months in this case to begin discovery. A long delay can lead to a loss of evidence — documents can be misplaced or destroyed and witnesses' memories can fade. In turn, a loss of evidence can frustrate Plaintiffs' abilities to put forth an effective case. Therefore, Plaintiffs' interests militate against a complete stay in this case.

Third, Barrera avers that the Court's and public's interests weigh in favor of a stay. According to Barrera, the Court will have to "frequently intervene in the discovery process to make rulings on claims of Fifth Amendment privileges to now be asserted by Defendant Barrera during the pendency of the parallel state criminal action." [Dkt. No. 72 at 13]. Barrera believes these interventions will be a "burdensome task given this court's heavily congested criminal docket." [Id.]. The Court realizes that it may have to rule on selective claims of Fifth Amendment privilege and objections to specific requests during the discovery process. But Barrera fails to show the Court how she would invoke her Fifth Amendment privilege. Moreover, in her answer, Barrera has already admitted that raffles occurred at the WCTAC. The need for the Court's possible intervention does not outweigh the Court's desire for judicial expediency. A court "has an obligation to move its docket, and not let cases languish before it." In re Scrap Metal Antitrust Litig., Civ. No. 1:02-0844, 2002 WL 31988168, at *7 (N.D. Ohio Nov. 7, 2002). The public also has in interest in the resolution of disputes in a timely manner and the fair treatment of all parties. St. Martin v. Jones, Civ. No. 08-1047, 2008 WL 4534398, at *3 (E.D.La. Oct. 2, 2008).

Based on its analysis of the Defendant's, Plaintiffs', Court's, and public's interests, the Court believes that a stay of the entire case is not necessary or warranted. The Court believes that a 60-day stay in all discovery as to the individual defendants is appropriate. This 60-day stay will permit the individual defendants to understand the criminal charges against them and how to respond appropriately in this civil suit.

III. CONCLUSION

The Court DENIES Defendant Barrera's Motion that this Court (1) handle all future pre-trial matters in this case; (2) vacate Judge Hacker's Opinions of May 1, 2009 and May 15, 2009; and (3) stay all discovery in this case for eleven months.

IT IS SO ORDERED.