Walsh Securities, Inc. v. Cristo Property Management, Ltd., 7 F.Supp.2d 523 (D.N.J. 1998)
Practice Areas: Professional Liability
Mortgagee filed action against several defendants concerning allegedly fraudulent real estate transactions. Several defendants filed motion to stay proceedings pending outcome of related criminal investigations. The District Court, Bassler, J., held that grant of stay of all interrogatory and deposition discovery was warranted by similarity of issues in civil and criminal proceedings, serious Fifth Amendment concerns about self-incrimination if civil trial continued, absence of prejudice to mortgagee from delay, burden on defendants without stay, and public interest in favor of stay.