Merritt

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 10 IAN MERRITT, Case No.: 3:23-cv-01031-CAB-KSC

Plaintiff,

ORDER DENYING EX PARTE

v. MOTION JONATHAN COGLEY, et al., Defendants. 16 On January 28, 2025, the jury in this matter found in favor of Plaintiff Ian Merritt. [Doc. No. 143.] On February 13, 2025, Defendant Jonathan Cogley filed this ex parte motion seeking leave to conduct juror interviews. [Doc. No. 148.] Plaintiff Ian Merritt filed a response in opposition. [Doc. No. 149.] For the reasons set forth below, Defendant’s motion is DENIED. I. BACKGROUND Defendant seeks leave from the Court to interview the jury to explore whether the jury “consulted extraneous prejudicial information.” [Doc. No. 148 at 7.] Defendant’s proffered basis is that (1) Plaintiff’s counsel made repeated references to Defendant’s wealth allegedly in violation of a motion in limine and (2) that the awarded damages were so …