Kramer v. American Bank & Trust Co.

MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER

Jeffrey Cole, UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

I

INTRODUCTION

The American Bank and Trust Company, N.A. (the Bank) has moved to disqualify plaintiffs’ counsel, Ari Karen. [# 141]. Judge Lee has referred the motion here for resolution. [# 147]. 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(A); Rule 72(a), Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.

Regrettably, disqualification motions have become common tools in litigation, often being used for purely strategic purposes and to harass. See Richardson-Merrell, Inc. v. Roller, 472 U.S. 424, 436, 105 S.Ct. 2757, 86 L.Ed.2d 340 (1985); In re BellSouth Corp.,…