WATSON et al v. KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE
NORTHERN DISTRICT OF FLORIDA
PENSACOLA DIVISION
BENJAMIN WATSON, JR., et al.,
Plaintiffs,
vs. 	Case No.: 3:21cv329-MCR-ZCB
KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA,
Defendant.
____________________________________/
ORDER
Plaintiffs have moved to compel discovery responses from the FBI,
the U.S. Department of State, and the U.S. Department of the Navy.
(Doc. 111). Contrary to Local Rule 7.1(C), the motion does not include a
certificate of conferral.1 	Accordingly, the motion (Doc. 111) is DENIED
without prejudice.
The Court further ORDERS as follows:
1. 	Plaintiffs’ 	counsel 	and 	the 	Government’s 	counsel2 	are
1 Local Rule 7.1(C) provides that a “motion or supporting memorandum
must include a certificate—under a separate heading—confirming that
the moving party complied with the attorney-conference requirement of
Local Rule 7.1(B) and setting out the results.” N.D. Fla. Loc. R. 7.1(C).
2 	By 	statute, 	the 	United 	States 	Attorney 	shall 	“defend, 	for 	the
Government, all civil actions, suits or proceedings in which the United
States is concerned.” 28 U.S.C. § 547(2).
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required to confer via telephone, videoconference, or in-person before the
motion is re-filed. 	During that conferral, counsel for the parties must
work in good faith to resolve their dispute. That conferral must occur on
or before June 4, 2026.
2. 	If the conferral does not result in a resolution of the dispute
and Plaintiffs elect to re-file their motion to compel, the motion must
include a certificate of conferral as required by the Local Rules. 	That
certificate of conferral must include the date of the conferral, how that
conferral occurred, and the length of the conferral.
3. 	The Clerk of Court shall serve a copy of this order and the
motion to compel (Doc. 111) on the United States Attorney for the
Northern District of Florida.
SO ORDERED this 29th day of May 2026.
s/
Zachary C. Bolitho
Zachary C. Bolitho
United States Magistrate Judge
Case 3:21-cv-00329-MCR-ZCB Document 112 Filed 05/29/26 Page 2 of 2