Rukhsanah L. Singh

“the Court will adopt the Magistrate Judge's Recommendation to sua sponte dismiss without prejudice Plaintiffs' NJLAD claim (Count VII) for lack of subject matter jurisdiction. ... Plaintiffs are to submit their First Amended Complaint by January 13, 2023.”

“removal cannot be based on a purported federal question raised in counterclaims, particularly where those counterclaims were not yet even asserted at the time of removal. ... this Court respectfully recommends that this action be remanded.”

“the Court strains to find that the B&M Defendants had an objectively reasonable basis in removing the underlying state court proceeding ... this Court recommends that Plaintiff's request for the award of fees be granted.”

“the Court exercises its discretion and GRANTS Plaintiffs' Motion ... joinder of Mr. Zaentz is appropriate under 28 U.S.C. § 1447(e).”

“Plaintiffs' application to file a second amended complaint is DENIED in part and GRANTED in part. Should Plaintiffs wish to pursue their misappropriation of trade secrets claims, they are directed to file that complaint as a separate action in this Court, with a designation that it is related to the instant case.”

“the undersigned respectfully recommends that the Court grant Platte River's Motion to Strike the fraud affirmative defense asserted in the MCS Defendants' Nineteenth Affirmative Defense.”

“the undersigned recommends that the Court deny the MCS Defendants' request, in the alternative, for leave to amend.”

“The Court approves the Class Action Settlement of the above-captioned actions, as set forth in the Agreement, which includes a release, and other terms, as fair, just, reasonable, and adequate as to the Parties.”

“The Court has reviewed Class Counsel's petition for attorneys' fees and costs of $34,425.00. The Court finds that Class Counsel's petition is fair and reasonable.”

“the Court cannot conclude on this record that Plaintiff is motivated more by the desire to defeat federal jurisdiction than by the desire to assert colorable direct claims against the Proposed Defendants. ... ORDERED that Plaintiff's Motion to Amend (Doc. No. 17) is GRANTED; and it is further ORDERED that, upon the filing of the First Amended Complaint, this matter shall be REMANDED to the Superior Court of New Jersey, Middlesex County.”

“Pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 23(e), the settlement of this action, as embodied in the terms of the Settlement Agreement, is hereby finally approved as a fair, reasonable, and adequate settlement of this case ... This action is hereby dismissed with prejudice and without taxable costs to any Party.”

“The Court approves the request from Settlement Class Counsel ... for attorney's fees in the total amount of $258,333.33 and out-of-pocket expenses in the total amount of $6,639.00. ... The Court approves a $15,000 incentive award to the named plaintiff, Advantage Medical Associates, P.A., for serving as the Settlement Class Representative.”

“Therefore, for the reasons discussed above, and for good cause shown, the Court grants J&J's Motion and disqualifies Beasley Allen and Mr. Birchfield as counsel for Plaintiffs. A separate Order will follow consistent with this Opinion. ... ORDERED that J&J's Motion to Disqualify Beasley Allen is hereby GRANTED”

“For the foregoing reasons, Beasley Allen has failed to establish that a stay of the Disqualification Order pending its appeal is warranted. It has not shown a likelihood of success on the merits or irreparable harm would likely ensue. Moreover, a careful balancing of the equities as well as the public interest weigh against a stay. Accordingly, for good cause shown, IT IS on this 26th day of May 2026 hereby ORDERED that Beasley Allen Crow Methvin Portis & Miles, P.C. and Andy D. Birchfield's Motion for a Stay of the Court's Order of Disqualification (Doc. No. 44439) is DENIED”

“Express Scripts, no doubt, at some point will stop its review and then validate its TAR model. Reasonableness and proportionality factors will determine the appropriate stopping point. ... ORDERED that Express Scripts shall proceed with its TAR workflow in accordance with the above; and it is further ORDERED that the Clerk of the Court shall TERMINATE the informal motion pending at Docket Entry Number 440”

“The Court agrees with Defendants: hyperlinks are not the same as traditional attachments. ... Accordingly, considering the need for efficient and effective discovery, within the Court's discretion, the Court adopts Defendants' proposed language as to family relationships and hyperlinks in the ESI Protocol. ... IT IS on this 28th day of May 2024 hereby ORDERED that the parties are directed to prepare a final proposed ESI Protocol consistent with this Opinion and Order and shall file the proposed ESI Protocol by no later than June 10, 2024”