Abadi v. Apple, Inc.

Background

Aaron Abadi filed a complaint alleging six causes of action arising from a September 2021 incident in which he was denied entry to Apple World Trade Center without a face mask. The filing describes his claims as involving alleged medical disability and challenges to the necessity and wisdom of Apple’s mask requirements during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The parties had already begun discovery. The case-management schedule set deadlines for document requests, depositions, nonparty subpoenas, expert reports, expert depositions, and completion of discovery. The filing states that initial written discovery was complete and that Apple had taken Abadi’s deposition on January 11, 2024.

Apple filed a motion to dismiss the complaint in its entirety on August 21, 2023. On January 18, 2024, the court issued a report and recommendation recommending dismissal of the complaint. The opinion text does not state that the report and recommendation had been adopted or that the motion to dismiss had been decided.

Request to Stay Discovery

Apple asked the court to stay all discovery until the motion to dismiss was resolved. In the alternative, Apple requested a 60-day extension of the discovery deadlines. Apple argued that the motion to dismiss presented substantial grounds for dismissal, that expert discovery would be costly and time-consuming, and that Abadi would not suffer unfair prejudice from a temporary delay. Apple also stated that medical records had not been produced because Abadi did not want to provide the requested health-information authorizations, so Apple might need to subpoena those records.

Ruling

The court granted the application. All discovery in the matter was stayed pending resolution of Apple’s motion to dismiss. The Clerk of Court was directed to terminate the motion at ECF No. 22. Judge Paul Gardephe’s ruling addressed discovery only; it did not resolve the motion to dismiss or decide the merits of Abadi’s claims.