Judge Denies Request for Remote Hearing in Marriott Robocall Case

U.S. Magistrate Judge John Anderson for Eastern Virginia in Alexandria denied a motion by the lawyer for Dynasty Marketing Group, a defendant in the Marriott International robocall case (see 2210070013), to appear remotely at a hearing planned for Friday on Marriott’s second motion to compel discovery. Dynasty’s deficient discovery responses remain unverified and uncured,” said Marriott Oct. 21 in a memorandum in support of its second motion to compel. “Considering the significant issues raised” in Marriott’s motion, said Anderson’s order Tuesday (docket 1:21-cv-00610), “the court does not believe that those issues can be adequately addressed in a remote hearing” from either the Fairfax or Powhatan County courthouse where Phillip Griffin, a sole practitioner representing Dynasty, said he has previous commitments. “If these issues cannot be resolved, counsel will need to appear in person to address them,” said Anderson. He’s prepared to postpone the hearing to Nov. 4 if Griffin can’t appear Friday, he said. Marriott is suing for trademark infringement to thwart robocallers impersonating Marriott personnel.