In an order filed Thursday, Magistrate Judge Keri L. Holleb Hotaling ruled that discovery regarding the class-wide claims in Besnier v. MB Global Logistics, Inc. is stayed pending the court’s decision on Defendants’ Motions to Dismiss and Plaintiff’s Motion for Conditional Certification.
The order grants the stay only as to the collective action claims. Discovery will proceed solely for the four individually named plaintiffs, with the fact discovery deadline extended by 30 days to June 18, 2026.
Defendants MB Global Logistics, Inc. and Zemaitis argued that a stay would simplify the issues and reduce litigation burden, pointing to their argument that Plaintiffs executed agreements containing class-action waivers.
The court noted that the issues raised could potentially be dispositive, citing Rodriguez v. Ford Motor Company, which supports staying discovery when a motion to dismiss can resolve a threshold issue.
The court found that a stay would not prejudice the Plaintiffs, noting that discovery had been ongoing for several months and Plaintiffs already had a fully briefed Motion for Conditional Certification pending.
“Plaintiffs have not identified any witnesses or documents at risk of being lost if discovery is stayed,” Hotaling wrote.
The court also granted Defendants’ unopposed Motion to Extend Discovery, resetting the joint status report date from May 19, 2026, to June 22, 2026.
The case is pending before Magistrate Judge Keri L. Holleb Hotaling in the Northern District of Illinois.