Avalon Hardy v. Michael Kish, et al. — Motion to Stay Denied

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April 24, 2026 Get Citation Alerts Download PDF Add Note

Avalon Hardy v. Michael Kish, et al.

District Court, D. Idaho

• Citations: None known
• Docket Number: 1:23-cv-00306

• Precedential Status: Unknown Status

• Opinion

• Authorities (1)

• Cited By (0)

• Summaries (0)

• Similar Cases (3.8K)

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Trial Court Document

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE DISTRICT OF IDAHO

AVALON HARDY, Case No. 1:23-cv-00306-BLW

Plaintiff, MEMORANDUM DECISION AND
ORDER
v.

MICHAEL KISH, et al.,

Defendants.

Before the Court is Defendants Michael Kish and Troy DeBie’s Motion to Stay
Plaintiff’s Motion to Partially Reconsider Summary Judgment Decision (Dkt. 95). For the
reasons set forth below, the Court will deny the motion but will allow Kish and DeBie to
file a response to Plaintiff’s motion to reconsider by May 11, 2026.
BACKGROUND
This case arises from Avalon Hardy’s arrest in June 2022 at a protest in front of
the Idaho State Capitol. On August 25, 2025, the case proceeded to trial on five claims
against Kish and two claims against DeBie. Two days into trial, the Court declared a
mistrial after DeBie testified that he still retained a never-disclosed video showing Hardy
peaceably protesting beside Kish in a thicket of combative protesters and counter-
protesters, just moments before she allegedly battered him. The Court granted the mistrial
to allow Hardy time to pursue curative discovery and to seek reconsideration of the
Court’s summary judgment ruling in favor of DeBie on Hardy’s deliberate or reckless
suppression of evidence claim against him.

After conducting additional discovery, Hardy has now filed her motion to
reconsider the Court’s ruling on this issue in light of the newly disclosed video, see Dkt.
88. Along with her motion, Hardy has also submitted the declaration of M.G., who
testifies that she saw Kish “stiff-arm” Hardy and says she spoke to Kish and DeBie at the
protest. See Dkt. 94. Rather than responding to Hardy’s motion to reconsider, Defendants
ask the Court to “stay” the motion under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 56(d) to allow

them time to engage in discovery with respect to witness M.G.
ANALYSIS
Rule 56(d) governs motions for summary judgment. It provides that “[i]f a
nonmovant shows by affidavit or declaration that, for specified reasons, it cannot present
facts essential to justify its opposition [to a motion for summary judgment], the court may
... allow time to obtain affidavits or declarations or to take discovery.” Fed. R. Civ. P.

56(d). Here, Hardy has not moved for summary judgment. Instead, she asks the Court to
reconsider its decision granting Defendants’ motion for summary judgment in favor of
DeBie on her deliberate or reckless suppression of evidence claim. It is therefore
questionable whether Rule 56(d) is the proper procedural vehicle for Defendants’ request
to stay Hardy’s motion to reconsider.

But even assuming Rule 56(d) applies, Defendants have failed to make the
requisite showing to justify allowing additional time to conduct discovery. “To prevail on
a request for additional discovery under Rule 56(d), a party must show that (1) it has set
forth in affidavit form the specific facts it hopes to elicit from furtjudgment.ery; (2) the
facts sought exist; and (3) the sought-after facts are essential to oppose summary

judgment.” Irvine v. Cook, 653 F. Supp. 3d 798, 813 (D. Idaho 2023) (quoting Midbrook
Flowerbulbs Holland B.V. v. Holland America Bulb Farms, Inc., 874 F.3d 604, 619–20
(9th Cir. 2017)).
Defendants have failed to identify the specific facts they hope to elicit from further
discovery or to explain why those facts are essential to opposing Hardy’s motion to
reconsider. Instead, they state in conclusory fashion that they need to depose M.G. “to

appropriately respond” to Hardy’s motion, pointing only to M.G.’s declaration testimony
about witnessing Kish stiff-arm Hardy and then speaking to Kish and DeBie. But
Defendants never explain what specific facts M.G.’s deposition would yield or how those
facts would bear on Hardy’s motion to reconsider. If either Kish or DeBie disputes
M.G.’s account, they could simply submit their own declarations. But Defendants face a

catch-22: if they were to claim that M.G.’s testimony is material to Hardy’s now-
dismissed suppression-of-evidence claim against DeBie—and that they dispute it—this
would more likely bolster Hardy’s case for reconsideration than undermine it. Perhaps
this is not lost on Defendants.
In any event, Defendants have not shown sufficient grounds to defer ruling on

Hardy’s motion. Accordingly, the Court will deny Defendants’ motion to stay but will
grant them an extension of time until May 5, 2026, to respond to the motion. In addition,
if Hardy intends to call M.G. as a witness at the retrial of this case, the Court will permit
DeBie and Kish to conduct discovery regarding this newly disclosed witness as it pertains
to trial.!
ORDER
IT IS ORDERED that:
1. Defendants’ Motion to Stay Plaintiff's Motion to Partially Reconsider
Summary Judgment Decision (Dkt. 95) is DENIED.
2. Defendants are granted an extension to file a response to Hardy’s motion to
reconsider until May 11, 2026.

Ae DATED: April 24, 2026
BP Warne I
+e J
Licht USS. District Court Judge

' Hardy has filed a motion for protective order as it relates to M.G. Any discovery related to M.G. must comply with
the terms of Hardy's requested protective order pending the Court's ruling on that motion.
MEMORANDUM DECISION AND ORDER - 4