Boatner v. SSPS, LLC

Background

Plaintiff filed a putative class action challenging the legality of various social gaming websites operated by the Operator Defendants. The opinion identifies the Operator Defendants as SSPS, LLC, doing business as Sportzino; SCPS LLC, doing business as Zula Casino; and Social Gaming LLC, doing business as Fortune Coins. It identifies Blazesoft Ltd. and Blazegames, Inc. as Affiliate Defendants.

Defendants said they would respond to the complaint with a motion to compel arbitration and to pause the case while arbitration is considered. The Affiliate Defendants also planned to seek dismissal for lack of personal jurisdiction, meaning they would argue that the court lacks authority over them. Defendants asked to postpone the initial pretrial conference and to hold a conference about pausing discovery while those motions were pending. Plaintiff opposed pausing discovery and proposed limiting discovery to issues concerning personal jurisdiction and arbitration.

Ruling

The court denied Defendants’ request to postpone the initial pretrial conference. The conference will proceed as scheduled by Microsoft Teams on June 17, 2025. The order does not decide whether arbitration is required, whether the court has personal jurisdiction over any Defendant, or whether discovery will be paused. Instead, Judge Dale E. Ho reserved judgment on Defendants’ remaining requests for relief.

Effect of the Order

The initial pretrial conference remains scheduled. The opinion does not state that the court granted or denied the request to pause discovery, and it does not resolve the anticipated arbitration or personal-jurisdiction motions.