In a civil motions calendar held on February 24, 2024, the court addressed case 2024 cv 00515, involving plaintiffs Martis Ferguson and defendants Richard Jones and Matthew Jones. The primary focus of the hearing was on motions to stay discovery, a protective order, and a motion to dismiss filed by the defendants.

Chris Ferguson represented the plaintiffs, while the defendants were represented by Rhett Ryecroft and Andrew Davidson for Matthew Jones, and John Turck for Richard Jones. Additionally, Greg Brock appeared on behalf of the unnamed insurance company, Insure Max, which filed a motion to dismiss. However, the court noted that the plaintiff had not yet responded to this motion, suggesting that it may not be appropriate for the court to rule on it at this time.

The defendants' motion to stay discovery was based on a related criminal investigation stemming from a motor vehicle accident, suspected to be a hit-and-run. Matthew Jones, one of the defendants, has retained a criminal defense attorney due to the ongoing investigation, which has not resulted in any charges or indictments thus far. The defense argued that proceeding with discovery could potentially lead to self-incrimination for Jones, invoking Fifth Amendment protections.

The court learned that the accident occurred on October 27, 2023, and the defense expressed concerns that any deposition could elicit information regarding who was driving the vehicle at the time of the incident, which could be critical to the potential criminal case. The defense indicated that they are attempting to wait out the statute of limitations or seek a definitive resolution from prosecutors regarding any charges.

The hearing highlighted the complexities of navigating civil and criminal proceedings simultaneously, particularly in cases involving potential self-incrimination. The court's decision on the motions will be pivotal in determining how the case proceeds in light of the ongoing investigation.