Parler Seeks Discovery Stays in Both Fla. TCPA Cases

Parler wants the U.S. District Courts for Northern Florida in Pensacola and for Southern Florida in Miami to postpone the “costly and invasive process” of discovery in both Telephone Consumer Protection Act complaints against the right-leaning social media platform until the courts rule on Parler’s motions to compel arbitration, to transfer the cases to Las Vegas or to dismiss them for failure to state a claim (see 2211220004), said Parler’s separate motions Wednesday to stay discovery (dockets 3:22-cv-21243 and 0:22-cv-61805). The motions pending before the court “may significantly alter the future of this dispute,” it said. Subjecting Parler to discovery in cases that may ultimately be arbitrated, moved to a different venue or dismissed “would be highly prejudicial,” said the motions for stay. Both lawsuits are in the very early stages and a brief discovery stay will not interfere with the timely and orderly administration of the cases or with the plaintiffs' ability to obtain discovery should the courts deny each of Parler's three motions, they said.