Safe Streets Alliance et al v. Alternative Holistic Healing, LLC et al

MOTION to Consolidate Cases

D. Colo.February 23, 2015

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLORADO ________________________________ ) SAFE STREETS ALLIANCE, et al., ) ) Plaintiffs, ) ) v. ) No. 15-349-REB-CBS ) ALTERNATIVE HOLISTIC ) HEALING, LLC, et al., ) ) Defendants. ) ________________________________ ) PLAINTIFFS’ MOTION TO CONSOLIDATE Pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 42(a) and D.C.COLO.LCivR 42.1, Plaintiffs the Safe Streets Alliance, Phillis Windy Hope Reilly, and Michael P. Reilly move to consolidate this action with Safe Streets Alliance v. Medical Marijuana of the Rockies, LLC, No. 15-350. The one plaintiff that is unique to the other action-New Vision Hotels Two, LLC-agrees that these two suits should be consolidated.1 This motion is consistent with the notices of related cases the plaintiffs in both cases filed concurrently with their complaints. See Notice of Related Cases, Safe Streets Alliance v. Alternative Holistic Healing, LLC, No. 15-349 (D. Colo. Feb. 19, 2015), Doc. 3; Notice 1 Because Plaintiffs are still in the process of serving summonses on the Defendants, it was impracticable for Plaintiffs to confer with opposing counsel regarding this motion as contemplated by D.C.COLO.LCivR 7.1(a). Plaintiffs did not wait for opposing counsel to enter appearances before making this motion in view of D.C.COLO.LCivR 42.1’s admonition that “[a] motion to consolidate shall be given priority.” 1 Case 1:15-cv-00349-REB-CBS Document 9 Filed 02/23/15 USDC Colorado Page 1 of 7 of Related Cases, Safe Streets Alliance v. Medical Marijuana of the Rockies, LLC, No. 15-350 (D. Colo. Feb. 19, 2015), Doc. 3. Where two cases “involve a common question of law or fact,” FED. R. CIV. P. 42(a), the Federal Rules give this Court discretion to consolidate them “so that the business of the court may be dispatched with expedition and economy while providing justice to the parties.” Ressler v. Boeing Co., 2011 WL 5037193, at *1 (D. Colo. Oct. 24, 2011). The two suits at issue here present several common questions of law and fact that can be most efficiently resolved before a single judge under a single briefing schedule. Specifically, both cases concern whether those who commercially cultivate and sell recreational marijuana as authorized by Colorado law may be held liable under 18 U.S.C. § 1964 for treble damages, costs, attorneys’ fees, and appropriate injunctive relief in a suit brought by injured businesses and property owners. Consolidation would serve the interest of judicial economy and minimize the cost of litigating these cases. Both cases were filed on the same day and are in the same procedural posture. See Firstier Bank, Kimball, Neb. v. FDIC ex rel. Firstier Bank, Louisville, Colo., 2012 WL 1621008, at *2 (D. Colo. May 8, 2012) (granting motion to consolidate where cases were “in the early stages of litigation, and consolidati[on] [would] not complicate or delay the proceedings”). Plaintiffs in both cases have the same counsel. See Johnson v. Celotex Corp., 899 F.2d 1281, 1285 (2d Cir. 1990) (finding consolidation appropriate in part because “all plaintiffs were represented by the same counsel”); MSPBO, LLC v. Adidas N. Am., Inc., 2014 WL 349102, at * 1 (D. Colo. Jan. 30, 2013) (similar). And the defendants in both cases are likely to make similar 2 Case 1:15-cv-00349-REB-CBS Document 9 Filed 02/23/15 USDC Colorado Page 2 of 7 arguments. Phatrat Tech., Inc. v. Timex Corp., 2007 WL 683969, at *1 (D. Colo. Mar. 1, 2007) (consolidating cases in view of “similar defenses in both suits”). Under these circumstances, the Court should exercise its discretion and consolidate these cases. Date: February 23, 2015 Respectfully submitted, s/David H. Thompson David H. Thompson Counsel of Record COOPER & KIRK, PLLC 1523 New Hampshire Avenue, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20036 (202) 220-9600 (202) 220-9601 (fax) dthompson@cooperkirk.com Of Counsel: Charles J. Cooper Michael W. Kirk Howard C. Nielson, Jr. Peter A. Patterson Brian W. Barnes COOPER & KIRK, PLLC 1523 New Hampshire Avenue, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20036 (202) 220-9600 (202) 220-9601 (fax) Counsel for Plaintiffs 3 Case 1:15-cv-00349-REB-CBS Document 9 Filed 02/23/15 USDC Colorado Page 3 of 7 CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE I hereby certify that on February 23, 2015, a true and correct copy of Plaintiffs’ Motion to Consolidate was filed electronically and, pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 5(b)(2)(C), was also served by First Class U.S. Mail upon the following parties: Alternative Holistic Healing, LLC d/b/a Rocky Mountain Organic 5412 Highway 119, Unit B Black Hawk, CO 80422 Joseph R. Licata 1300 70th Avenue Denver, CO 80221 Jason M. Licata 212 Elk Place Black Hawk, CO 80422 6480 Pickney, LLC 3275 S. Clermont Street Denver, CO 80222 Parker Walton 3275 S. Clermont Street Denver, CO 80222 Camp Feel Good, LLC c/o Law Office of Craig Small, LLC 595 Canyon Boulevard Boulder, CO 80302, United States Roger Guzman P.O. Box 1743 Evergreen, CO 80437 Blackhawk Development Corporation c/o James V. Pearson 390 Union Boulevard, Suite 250 Lakewood, CO 80228 4 Case 1:15-cv-00349-REB-CBS Document 9 Filed 02/23/15 USDC Colorado Page 4 of 7 Washington International Insurance Co. 475 N. Martingale Road #850 Schaumburg, IL 60173 David L. Patch 17100 Highway 115 Florence, CO 81226 Patch Construction, LLC 17100 Highway 115 Florence, CO 81226 John W. Hickenlooper, Jr., Governor of Colorado 136 State Capitol Denver, CO 80203 Barbara J. Brohl Executive Director Colorado Department of Revenue 1375 Sherman Street Denver, CO 80261 W. Lewis Koski Director Colorado Marijuana Enforcement Division 455 Sherman Street, Suite 390 Denver, CO 80203 Pueblo County Commission 215 W. 10th Street Pueblo, CO 81003 Pueblo County Liquor & Marijuana Licensing Board 215 W. 10th Street Pueblo, CO 81003 5 Case 1:15-cv-00349-REB-CBS Document 9 Filed 02/23/15 USDC Colorado Page 5 of 7 The following parties in Safe Streets Alliance v. Medical Marijuana of the Rockies, LLC, No. 15-350, were also served via First Class U.S. Mail: Medical Marijuana of the Rockies, LLC c/o Gerald Jay Olson 720 Summit Boulevard, Suite 101A Frisco, CO 80443 Gerald Jay Olson 85 Wheeler Place, #209 Copper Mountain, CO 80443 The Managers, Inc. 1121 Dillon Dam Road Frisco, CO 80443 Robert L. Haussman 213 Highwood Terrace Frisco, CO 80443 Christine Voutour 14 Alpine Drive Frisco, CO 80443 David Katz P.O. Box 10000, Suite 257 Silverthorne, CO 80498 Dirk Fowler 507 Main Street Frisco, CO 80443 Bank of the West 1000 N. Summit Boulevard Frisco, CO 80443 Merchants Bonding Co. c/o Larry Taylor 2100 Fleur Drive Des Moines, IA 50321 Accounting Specialists, Inc. 1 West 1st Street Nederland, CO 80466 6 Case 1:15-cv-00349-REB-CBS Document 9 Filed 02/23/15 USDC Colorado Page 6 of 7 Michael Massa 1 West 1st Street Nederland, CO 80466 s/ Brian W. Barnes BRIAN W. BARNES 7 Case 1:15-cv-00349-REB-CBS Document 9 Filed 02/23/15 USDC Colorado Page 7 of 7