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1 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA Case No: 19-md-02913-WHO Case Name: In Re: Juul Labs, Inc., (San Francisco Unified School District v. Juul (Case No. 20-cv-8117-WHO) TRIAL SHEET, EXHIBIT and WITNESS LIST JUDGE: PLAINTIFF ATTORNEYS: DEFENSE ATTORNEYS: William H. Orrick Sarah London, Dena Sharp, and Thomas Cartmell Beth Wilkinson, Brian Stekloff, and John Massaro TRIAL DATE: 04/28/2023 REPORTER: CLERK: 8:03 a.m. to 1:27 p.m. 5 hours and 24 minutes Debra Pas Jean Davis PLF NO. DEF NO. TIME OFFERED ID REC DESCRIPTION 8:03 a.m. In camera conference conducted. Counsel London, Sharp, Wilkinson, Stekloff and Massaro present. Motions and objections discussed. Exhibits 5079 and 5140 will be barred from admission. Counsel should meet and confer as to appropriate examination of witness Pritzker. 8:20 a.m. Court in recess 8:31 a.m. Court in session (jurors present) Testimony of William F. Gifford, Jr. presented by way of video deposition excerpts continues (Pl: 12 mins, Def: 16 mins) 9:00 a.m. Plaintiff announces exhibits admitted pursuant to stipulated order of the Court (Cartmell) 74 9:01 a.m. X 12/06/2018 Email from Brian Blaylock to Jwappler, et al. Re: BoD Portal presentations 75 9:01 a.m. X 12/13/2017 Email from Brian Blaylock to Howard Willard et al. Re: Updated Project Tree presentation 642 9:01 a.m. X 05/10/2018 Email from Brian Blaylock to Howard Willard et al. Re: Project Tree - BOD Full presentation 643 9:01 a.m. X Kaplan, B. et al. "The Youth e-cigarette epidemic: New estimates of JUUL Labs revenue from youth users in the US" Tobacco Induced Diseases, March 2, 2021 1633 9:01 a.m. X 10/04/2018 Email from Murray Garnick to Howard Willard et al. Re: Thoughts about tomorrow's Board call and Attachment 76 9:01 a.m. X 10/15/2018 Email from Paige Magness to Howard Willard et al. Re: Town Hall Plan w-Draft Script for October Townhall 644 9:01 a.m. X 10/25/2018 Email from Howard Willard to Nicholas Pritzker et al. Re: Altria Response to FDA Letter 1838 9:01 a.m. X 12/20/2018 Altria Makes $12.8 Billion Minority Investment in JUUL to Accelerate Harm Reduction and Drive Growth - Business Wire 2898 9:01 a.m. X 1/5/2019 Email from Todd Walker to Murray Garnick Re: Re: FDA action items/Juul coordination Case 3:19-md-02913-WHO Document 3994 Filed 04/28/23 Page 1 of 5 2 Case No: 19-md-02913-WHO Case Name: Madison County Publice Schools v. In Re: Juul Labs, Inc., Marketing, Sales Practices Date: April 28, 2023 Courtroom Deputy: Jean Davis - Court Reporter: Debra Pas EXHIBIT and WITNESS LIST CONTINUED PLF NO. DEF NO. TIME OFFERED ID REC DESCRIPTION 645 9:01 a.m. X 01/06/2019 Email from Murray Garnick to Howard Willard et al. Re: Juul proposal 712 9:01 a.m. X Services Agreement - Altria Group, Inc. and JUUL Labs, Inc. - 12/20/2018 77 9:01 a.m. X 02/14/2019 Email from Murray Garnick to Howard Willard and William Gifford Re: Early Impact: JUUL 646 9:01 a.m. X 09/26/2018 Email from 'ALCS Investor Relations Information Delivery' to Howard Willard et al. Re: Analyst Comments 1868 9:01 a.m. X 6/28/2018 Email from Dinya Devitre to William Gifford Re: Jefferies - Tobacco - Nielsen US cigarette industry vols - stop with all the negativity -- 06.26.18.pdf 647 9:01 a.m. X 10/31/2018 Email from William Gifford to Murray Garnick Re: Publication of First Youth Juul Usage Data 1992 9:01 a.m. X 11/1/2018 Email from Elizabeth Mountjoy to ALCS team Re: FW: Analyst Comments 2910 9:01 a.m. X 11/13/2018 JUUL Labs Action Plan - Message from Kevin Burns 9:02 a.m. Plaintiff indicates that “trial exhibit 31023” was omitted from the announcement (deposition exhibit 31023 is trial exhibit 1868) 9:02 a.m. Testimony of Howard Arnold Willard, III presented by way of video deposition excerpts 10:00 a.m. Jurors excused 10:01 a.m. Admission of Exhibit 965 discussed outside the presence of the jurors 10:04 a.m. Exhibit 47 discussed; exhibit is admitted by stipulation 10:06 a.m. Court in recess 10:21 a.m. Court in session (jurors present) Continuing testimony of Howard Arnold Williard, III presented by way of video deposition excerpts (Pl: 1 hr, 3 mins, Def: 31 mins) 11:01 a.m. Plaintiff announces exhibits admitted pursuant to stipulated order of the Court (Cartmell) 3302 11:01 a.m. X 1/2/2020 Richter, R. Has Smoking Lost Its Cool? https://www.statista.com/chart/20385/cigarette-sales-in-theunited-states/ 988 11:01 a.m. X Foundation for a Smoke-Free World website homepage Case 3:19-md-02913-WHO Document 3994 Filed 04/28/23 Page 2 of 5 3 Case No: 19-md-02913-WHO Case Name: In Re: Juul Labs, Inc., (San Francisco Unified School District v. Juul (Case No. 20-cv-8117-WHO) Date: April 28, 2023 Courtroom Deputy: Jean Davis - Court Reporter: Debra Pas EXHIBIT and WITNESS LIST CONTINUED PLF NO. DEF NO. TIME OFFERED ID REC DESCRIPTION 992 11:01 a.m. X 06/02/2017 Email from D. Wise to J. Wappler et al. Re: Project Tree Draft 994 11:01 a.m. X Email from B. Chambers to Howard Willard et al. re: Draft 3 year Strategic Plan Board of Directors Presentation 952 956 11:01 a.m. X 2/27/2019 Email from S. Quigley to Howard Willard, et al. Re: March 2019 Executive Summit Agenda and Logistics 42 11:01 a.m. X 10/15/2019 Letter from Justin P. Hedge to James E. Abell III, Esq. Re: Request for Additional Information and Documentary Materials Issued to Altria Group, Inc., No. 20190791 23 11:01 a.m. X JUUL Teen Tabulations - Percent Appealing to Teens (Flavors) 961 11:01 a.m. X 10/17/2018 Email from Paige Magness to Howard Willard, et al. Re: October Town Hall Plan 965 11:01 a.m. X 09/15/2019 Email from Paige Magness to Howard Willard Re: HAW Video Outline 9.15.2019 249 11:01 a.m. X 10/4/2018 Outline re: Three topics: Restructuring, FDA, and Tree (Notes for board call) 971 11:01 a.m. X 09/12/2018 Statement from FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, M.D., on new steps to address epidemic of youth ecigarette use 972 11:02 a.m. X 09/12/2018 letter from FDA to Howard Willard Re: MarkTen 195 11:02 a.m. X 10/02/2018 Email from Murray Garnick to William Gifford and Kevin Crosthwaite Re: Draft Outline - Engagement with Commissioner Gottlieb 368 11:02 a.m. X DRAFT Outline for Meeting with Commissioner Gottlieb, October 18, 2018 - Altria 46 11:02 a.m. X 10/4/2018 Outline re: Three topics: Restructuring, FDA, and Tree (Notes for board call) 998 11:02 a.m. X 10/14/2018 Email from Anthony Reale to Howard Willard et al. Re: Tree Term Sheet. 975 11:02 a.m. X 10/18/2018 Email from Murray Garnick to Howard Willard Re: Antitrust council 12 11:02 a.m. X 10/25/2018 Letter from Howard Willard to Scott Gottlieb Re: underage use of e-vapor products 72 11:02 a.m. X 10/30/2018 Email from Murray Garnick to Howard Willard Re: FDA Update 2925 11:02 a.m. X 2/6/2019 Letter from Scott Gottlieb to Howard Willard Case 3:19-md-02913-WHO Document 3994 Filed 04/28/23 Page 3 of 5 4 980 11:02 a.m. X 7/28/2017 Email from W. Hilsman to J. Dillard, et al. Re: Commissioner Gottlieb's Prepared Remarks from today's announcements 982 11:02 a.m. X 10/31/2018 FDA Statement from FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, M.D., on meetings with industry related to the agency's ongoing policy 983 11:02 a.m. X 11/13/2018 JUUL Labs Action Plan - Message from Kevin Burns 984 11:02 a.m. X 03/04/2019 Email from Paige Magness to Murray Garnick et al. Re: Approach to FDA Announcements on E-Vapor 985 11:02 a.m. X 03/13/2019 Statement from FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, M.D., on advancing new policies aimed at preventing youth access to, and appeal of, flavored tobacco 987 11:02 a.m. X 11/15/2018 Email from Joe Murillo to M. Garnick, et al. Re: Statement from FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, M.D., on Proposed new steps to protect youth by preventing access to flavored tobacco products and banning menthol in cigarettes 989 11:03 a.m. X 12/11/2018 Email from Brian Blaylock to William Gifford et al. Re: Project Tree (DEC BoD updated 12.11 Final) and Discussion Materials - Eagle (BoD 12.11) 11:03 a.m. Plaintiff reads stipulation of parties to the jury (Cartmell) 11:03 a.m. Testimony of James Xu presented by way of video deposition excerpts (Pl: 15 mins, Def: 6 mins) 11:25 a.m. Plaintiff announces exhibits admitted pursuant to stipulated order of the Court (Cartmell) 1017 11:25 a.m. X 4/1/2019 Email from James Xu to Russell Rogers et al. Re: meeting on continued discussion to resolve serious issues created for Avail by Altria's shift in strategy 2740 11:25 a.m. X 12/7/2015 Investment Agreement between Altria Ventures, Inc. and Avail Vapor, LLCYRBS 11:26 a.m. Plaintiff direct examination of Erica Lingrell (Sharp) 5074 11:50 a.m. X X (no objection) 11:55 a.m. Jurors excused; court in recess 12:09 a.m. Court in session (jurors out) Plaintiff counsel provides brief overview of afternoon schedule. 12: 11 a.m. Jurors seated Plaintiff direct examination of Erica Lingrell continues (Sharp) 5077 12:16 a.m. X X Vaping 101 For Middle School What to know and What to do Micelle Rait and Lynda Boyer-Chu TUPE Nurse Facilitators, SFUSD School Year 2019-20 (no objection) 12:29 p.m. Defense cross examination of Erica Lingrell (Stekloff) 7076 12:34 p.m. X X Email 08/21/2019 (no objection) 6249 12:38 p.m. X X Email 11/25/2019 (objection overruled) 7115 12:45 p.m. X X YRBS Survey results report (no objection) Case 3:19-md-02913-WHO Document 3994 Filed 04/28/23 Page 4 of 5 5 7116 12:45 p.m. X X YRBS Survey results report (no objection) 7117 12:45 p.m. X X YRBS Survey results report (no objection) 12:53 p.m. Plaintiff redirect of Erica Lingrell (Sharp) 1:00 p.m. Defense follow up examination of Erica Lingrell (Stekloff) 1:01 p.m. Plaintiff follow up examination of Erica Lingrell (Sharp) 1:01 p.m. Witness excused 1:03 p.m. Plaintiff direct examination of Madeline Cho (Sharp) 5117 1:15 p.m. X X 2/7/2020 Email from Nina H. Mayer to Susan C. Saunders Re: New Bathroom Policy (no objection) 1:20 p.m. Defense waives cross examination 1:20 p.m. The Court reminds jurors of the Court’s admonitions as to their conduct. 1:25 p.m. Jurors dismissed 1:27 p.m. Court in recess Plaintiff time at start of day: 27 hours, 50 minutes Time used 04/28/2023: 2 hours, 53 minutes Time remaining: 24 hours, 57 minutes Defendant total time: 35 hours, 55 minutes Time used 04/28/2023: 1 hour 18 minutes Time remaining: 34 hours, 37 minutes Case 3:19-md-02913-WHO Document 3994 Filed 04/28/23 Page 5 of 5
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 United States District Court For the Northern District of California IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA ROBERT CURTIS, Plaintiff, v. STEVE SHAPIRO, et al., Defendants / No. C-05-3883 MMC ORDER CERTIFYING APPEAL NOT TAKEN IN GOOD FAITH; DENYING PLAINTIFF’S APPLICATION TO FILE APPEAL IN FORMA PAUPERIS Before the Court is plaintiff Robert Curtis’s (“Curtis”) application to proceed in forma pauperis, filed November 23, 2005. As Curtis, on November 14, 2005, filed a notice of appeal of the Court’s October 26, 2005 order dismissing the instant action with prejudice, the Court construes the instant application as a motion to proceed in forma pauperis on appeal. The Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure require that such motion be decided by the district court. See Fed. R. App. 24(a)(1). A party seeking to proceed in forma pauperis on appeal must file an affidavit showing the party’s “inability to pay or to give security for fees and costs,” claiming “an entitlement to redress,” and stating “the issues that the party intends to present on appeal.” See Fed. R. App. P. 24(a)(1). Curtis has not submitted an affidavit claiming an entitlement to redress and stating the issues he intends to present on appeal. Case 3:05-cv-03883-MMC Document 11 Filed 11/28/05 Page 1 of 2 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 2 Even if Curtis had complied with Rule 24(a)(1), however, the Court would deny his application. Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(3), “[a]n appeal may not be taken in forma pauperis if the trial court certifies in writing that it is not taken in good faith.” See 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(3). “Good faith” requires that the applicant seek review of an issue that is not frivolous. See Coppedge v. United States, 369 U.S. 438, 445 (1962). For the reasons set forth in the Court’s October 26, 2005 order dismissing the instant action, Curtis may not evade the dismissal of actions he filed in the District of Oregon by refiling an essentially identical complaint in this Court. Accordingly, the Court hereby CERTIFIES that Curtis’s appeal is not taken in good faith and, consequently, his application to file his appeal in forma pauperis is hereby DENIED. IT IS SO ORDERED. Dated: November 28, 2005 MAXINE M. CHESNEY United States District Judge Case 3:05-cv-03883-MMC Document 11 Filed 11/28/05 Page 2 of 2
PRO HAC VICE APPLICATION & ORDER October 2012 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA Plaintiff(s), v. Defendant(s). ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) Case No: _______________ APPLICATION FOR ADMISSION OF ATTORNEY PRO HAC VICE (CIVIL LOCAL RULE 11-3) I, , an active member in good standing of the bar of , hereby respectfully apply for admission to practice pro hac vice in the Northern District of California representing: in the above-entitled action. My local co-counsel in this case is __________________________________, an attorney who is a member of the bar of this Court in good standing and who maintains an office within the State of California. MY ADDRESS OF RECORD: LOCAL CO-COUNSEL’S ADDRESS OF RECORD: MY TELEPHONE # OF RECORD: LOCAL CO-COUNSEL’S TELEPHONE # OF RECORD: MY EMAIL ADDRESS OF RECORD: LOCAL CO-COUNSEL’S EMAIL ADDRESS OF RECORD: I am an active member in good standing of a United States Court or of the highest court of another State or the District of Columbia, as indicated above; my bar number is: . A true and correct copy of a certificate of good standing or equivalent official document from said bar is attached to this application. I agree to familiarize myself with, and abide by, the Local Rules of this Court, especially the Standards of Professional Conduct for attorneys and the Alternative Dispute Resolution Local Rules. I declare under penalty of perjury that the foregoing is true and correct. Dated: APPLICANT ORDER GRANTING APPLICATION FOR ADMISSION OF ATTORNEY PRO HAC VICE IT IS HEREBY ORDERED THAT the application of is granted, subject to the terms and conditions of Civil L.R. 11-3. All papers filed by the attorney must indicate appearance pro hac vice. Service of papers upon, and communication with, local co-counsel designated in the application will constitute notice to the party. Dated: UNITED STATES DISTRICT/MAGISTRATE JUDGE Reset Form In re Hard Disk Drive Suspension Assemblies Antitrust Litigation 19-md-2918 This Document Relates To: All Actions Alexander James Scolnik /s/ Alexander James Scolnik Alexander James Scolnik New York TDK Corp. and related entities C. Cecilia Wang Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP 101 Park Avenue New York, NY 10178 Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP One Market Street, Spear Tower San Francisco, CA 94105 (212) 309-6051 (415) 442-1000 [email protected] [email protected] 4940789 06/02/20 p y UNITED STATES DISTRICT/MAGISTRA June 9, 2020 Case 3:19-md-02918-MMC Document 234 Filed 06/09/20 Page 1 of 2 Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York First Judicial Department I, Susanna Rojas, Clerk of the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York, First Judicial Department, certify that Alexander James Scolnik was duly licensed and admitted to practice as an Attorney and Counsellor at Law in all the courts of the State of New York on June 15, 2011, has duly taken and subscribed the oath of office prescribed by law, has been enrolled in the Roll of Attorneys and Counsellors at Law on file in my office, has duly registered with the administrative office of the courts, and according to the records of this court is in good standing as an attorney and counsellor at law. In Witness Thereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of this court on May 29, 2020 Clerk of the Court 4119 Case 3:19-md-02918-MMC Document 234 Filed 06/09/20 Page 2 of 2
United States District Court For the Northern District of California 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 United States District Court For the Northern District of California NOT FOR CITATION UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA PATRICK DEMARC SAMPSON, Petitioner, vs. MIKES KNOWLES, Warden, Respondent. / No. C 05-3825 PJH (PR) ORDER GRANTING RESPONDENT'S MOTION TO DISMISS; RULINGS This is a habeas case filed pro se by a state prisoner. Respondent has moved to dismiss the petition on grounds that it is barred by the statute of limitations. Petitioner has resisted the motion and the time for respondent to reply has passed, so it is now ready for ruling. Also before the court for ruling are several motions by petitioner. DISCUSSION 1. Petitioner's motions for appointment of counsel The right to counsel provided in the Sixth Amendment does not apply in habeas corpus actions. Knaubert v. Goldsmith, 791 F.2d 722, 728 (9th Cir. 1986). However, 18 U.S.C. § 3006A(a)(2)(B) authorizes appointment of counsel to represent a habeas petitioner whenever "the court determines that the interests of justice so require and such person is financially unable to obtain representation." The decision to appoint counsel is committed to the discretion of the district court. Chaney v. Lewis, 801 F.2d 1191, 1196 (9th Cir. 1986). Petitioner has presented his claims adequately in the petition, and has done a good job opposing the motion to dismiss, given the facts he has to work with. The interests of justice do not require appointment of counsel. The motions for appointment of counsel will Case 4:05-cv-03825-PJH Document 25 Filed 03/13/07 Page 1 of 7 United States District Court For the Northern District of California 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 2 be denied. 2. Petitioner's other motions Petitioner moves for leave to amend his petition to add a claim. Because no responsive pleading had been filed when he filed his amendment, it is an amendment as of right. See Fed. R.Civ.P. 15(a). The motion will be denied as unnecessary. Petitioner's "Motion for Relief from Default" refers to his "default" of not filing the petition on time, that is, it is his opposition to the motion to dismiss. As a motion, it will be denied. As to petitioner's motion for entry of default against respondent, respondent' s motion for an extension of time was granted and the motion to dismiss filed within the time as extended, so the motion for default will be denied. 3. Motion to dismiss a. Basic calculation The statute of limitations is codified at 28 U.S.C. § 2244(d). Petitions filed by prisoners challenging non-capital state convictions or sentences must be filed within one year of the latest of the date on which: (1) the judgment became final after the conclusion of direct review or the time passed for seeking direct review; (2) an impediment to filing an application created by unconstitutional state action was removed, if such action prevented petitioner from filing; (3) the constitutional right asserted was recognized by the Supreme Court, if the right was newly recognized by the Supreme Court and made retroactive to cases on collateral review; or (4) the factual predicate of the claim could have been discovered through the exercise of due diligence. 28 U.S.C. § 2244(d)(1). Time during which a properly filed application for state post-conviction or other collateral review is pending is excluded from the one-year time limit. Id. § 2244(d)(2). Petitioner's conviction became final on September 10, 2002. His federal petition therefore was due by September 10, 2003, absent tolling or a different starting date for the limitations period. See Patterson v. Stewart, 251 F.3d 1243, 1246 (9th Cir. 2001) (applying “anniversary method” to habeas limitations period; absent any tolling, the expiration date of Case 4:05-cv-03825-PJH Document 25 Filed 03/13/07 Page 2 of 7 United States District Court For the Northern District of California 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 3 the limitation period will be the same date as the triggering event but in the following year). His first state habeas petition was filed on May 25, 2003, about eight months after the limitations period began running. This stopped the clock until the last petition was denied by the California Supreme Court on September 29, 2004. This federal petition was not filed until August 3, 2005, about ten months after tolling ended. These dates are not disputed by petitioner. With eight months of the period having been used before petitioner started state collateral proceedings, and ten months having passed after completion of them before the petition was filed, this petition is clearly untimely, absent other considerations. Petitioner contends in his opposition that he was so caught up in investigations he was undertaking to support the claims he raised in the petition that he "must have lost time," and that he was not abusing the legal system by his delay. This may be an attempt to claim equitable tolling. b. Equitable tolling The one-year limitation period can be equitably tolled because § 2244(d) is a statute of limitations and not a jurisdictional bar. Calderon v. United States District Court (Beeler), 128 F.3d 1283, 1288 (9th Cir. 1997), overruled in part on other grounds by Calderon v. United States District Court (Kelly), 163 F.3d 530 (9th Cir. 1998) (en banc). Equitable tolling will not be available in most cases because extensions of time should be granted only if "extraordinary circumstances beyond a prisoner's control make it impossible to file a petition on time." Beeler, 128 F.3d at 1288 (citation and internal quotation marks omitted). The petitioner bears the burden of showing that this "extraordinary exclusion" should apply to him. Miranda v. Castro, 292 F.3d 1063, 1065 (9th Cir. 2002). He must establish two elements in order to be granted equitable tolling: “(1) that he has been pursuing his rights diligently, and (2) that some extraordinary circumstance stood in his way.” Rasberry v. Garcia, 448 F.3d 1150, 1153 (9th Cir. 2006) (quoting Pace v. DiGuglielmo, 544 U.S. 408, 419 (2005)). The prisoner also must show that “the ‘extraordinary circumstances’ were the cause of his untimeliness.” Spitsyn v. Moore, 345 F.3d 796, 799 (9th Cir. 2003). Case 4:05-cv-03825-PJH Document 25 Filed 03/13/07 Page 3 of 7 United States District Court For the Northern District of California 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 4 Petitioner's contention that he was so absorbed in his investigation that he just lost track of time is far from meeting these stringent requirements. Equitable tolling does not apply. See Beeler, 128 F.3d 1283 at 1288-89 (stating that equitable tolling “will not be available in most cases” and expressing confidence that district courts will “take seriously Congress's desire to accelerate the federal habeas process, and will only authorize extensions when this high hurdle ["extraordinary circumstances"] is surmounted.”). c. Actual innocence Petitioner also contends that he is "actually innocent." The Ninth Circuit has stated in dictum that the actual innocence gateway established in Schlup v. Delo, 513 U.S. 298 (1995), may be available to a petitioner whose petition is otherwise barred by AEDPA’s limitations period. See Majoy v. Roe, 296 F.3d 770, 776-77 (9th Cir. 2002) (implying that unavailability of actual innocence gateway would raise serious constitutional concerns and remanding to district court for a determination of whether actual innocence claim was established before deciding whether gateway is available under AEDPA). The “actual innocence” or “miscarriage of justice” exception arose in the context of procedural bars: If a state prisoner cannot meet the cause and prejudice standard to escape a procedural bar, a federal court may still hear the merits of the successive, abusive or procedurally defaulted claims if failure to hear the claims would constitute a "miscarriage of justice." Sawyer v. Whitley, 505 U.S. 333, 339-340 (1992) (citations omitted); see also Majoy, 296 F.3d at 776-77. In the traditional understanding of habeas corpus, a "miscarriage of justice" occurs whenever a conviction or sentence is secured in violation of a constitutional right. See Smith v. Murray, 477 U.S. at 543-44. However, the Supreme Court limits the "miscarriage of justice" exception to habeas petitioners who can show that "a constitutional violation has probably resulted in the conviction of one who is actually innocent." Schlup v. Delo, 513 U.S. 298, 327 (1995) (citing Murray v. Carrier, 477 U.S. at 496); see, e.g., Wildman v. Johnson, 261 F.3d 832, 842-43 (9th Cir. 2001) (petitioner must establish factual innocence in order to show that a fundamental miscarriage of justice would result from application of procedural default). Under this Case 4:05-cv-03825-PJH Document 25 Filed 03/13/07 Page 4 of 7 United States District Court For the Northern District of California 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 5 exception, a petitioner may establish a procedural "gateway" permitting review of defaulted claims if he or she demonstrates "actual innocence." Schlup, 513 U.S. at 316 & n.32. Thus, [i]f a petitioner . . . presents evidence of innocence so strong that a court cannot have confidence in the outcome of the trial unless the court is also satisfied that the trial was free of non-harmless constitutional error, the petitioner should be allowed to pass through the gateway and argue the merits of his underlying claim. Id. at 316. "To be credible, such an actual innocence claim requires petitioner to support his allegations of constitutional error with new reliable evidence--whether it be exculpatory scientific evidence, trustworthy eyewitness accounts, or critical physical evidence--that was not presented at trial." Schlup, 513 U.S. at 324. The "new" evidence need not be newly available, just newly presented -- that is, evidence that was not presented at trial. Griffin v. Johnson, 350 F.3d 956, 961 (9th Cir. 2003). It is not enough that the new evidence show the existence of reasonable doubt; rather, petitioner must show "that it is more likely than not that no ‘reasonable juror’ would have convicted him." Schlup, 513 U.S. at 329. As the Ninth Circuit has stated, "the test is whether, with the new evidence, it is more likely than not that no reasonable juror would have found [p]etitioner guilty." Van Buskirk v. Baldwin, 265 F.3d 1080, 1084 (9th Cir. 2001). Thus, "actual innocence" means factual innocence, not merely legal insufficiency. Bousley v. United States, 523 U.S. 614, 623-24 (1998) (citing Sawyer, 505 U.S. at 339). A petitioner need not always affirmatively show physical evidence that he or she did not commit the crime. Gandarela v. Johnson, 286 F.3d 1080, 1086 (9th Cir. 2002). A petitioner may pass through the Schlup gateway by producing evidence "that significantly undermines or impeaches the credibility of witnesses presented at trial, if all the evidence, including new evidence, makes it 'more likely than not that no reasonable juror would have found petitioner guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.'" Id. (quoting Schlup, 513 U.S. at 327). Petitioner contends that he has always asserted his innocence and presents a conclusory claim that the facts alleged in the petition show that he is indeed actually Case 4:05-cv-03825-PJH Document 25 Filed 03/13/07 Page 5 of 7 United States District Court For the Northern District of California 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 6 innocent. The allegations of the petition are, of course, not proof of anything. This is far from meeting the demanding standard set out above. The actual innocence exception, assuming it exists, does not apply. d. Starting date for limitations period Petitioner also refers to newly discovered evidence uncovered in the investigation which led to his supplemental petition filed on May 25, 2006. This might be an attempt to claim that as to the issue in the supplemental petition the limitations period should not have begun running until the evidence was discovered. One of the possible starting dates for the limitations period provided in the statute is "the date on which the factual predicate of the claim or claims presented could have been discovered through the exercise of due diligence." See 28 U.S.C. § 2244(d)(1)(D). The claim petitioner raises in the supplemental petition is that defense counsel was ineffective in waiving his right to be present at an in camera review of possibly impeaching materials from the arresting officer's personnel file. Petitioner has completely failed to establish that he exercised due diligence to discover this fact; indeed, he provides no information except that he did not discover it until May 12, 2006. Obviously, this does not go to whether he was diligent in attempting to discover it. The supplemental petition also contains a reference to "new evidence." In a section headed "Exhibits B" on the last page of the supplemental petition, petitioner refers to an attached copy of a newspaper story which appeared in the San Jose Mercury News contending that many persons had been convicted in cases where the prosecutor misstated the law or the evidence. The exhibit includes a page of the story listing defendants in whose cases the paper says there was "questionable conduct," and the list includes petitioner. Even if he intended to add this as a separate claim in this proceeding, which is by no means clear, petitioner has not established due diligence – he presumably was present at the trial, and therefore knows what the prosecutor did or did not do before the jury. This court also notes that several claims of prosecutorial misconduct were raised in petitioner's Case 4:05-cv-03825-PJH Document 25 Filed 03/13/07 Page 6 of 7 United States District Court For the Northern District of California 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 7 direct appeal, and that the California Court of Appeal concluded that the prosecutor committed misconduct but that it was not prejudicial. See People v. Sampson, 2002 WL 462279 at *12-16 (Cal. App. 2002). This may well be the misconduct to which the newspaper article refers; it simply is not possible to tell, because the copies provided by petitioner do not contain any discussion of his case. If the newspaper story is a reference to the same misconduct, petitioner obviously was aware of it long before May 12, 2006. Petitioner has failed to show that a starting date for the limitations period other than completion of direct review should apply. CONCLUSION Petitioner's motion for leave to amend was filed before a responsive pleading, so is an amendment as of right. His motion (document number 7 on the docket) is DENIED as unnecessary. His motions for appointment of counsel (documents 8 and 10) and for entry of default (document 13) are DENIED for the reasons set out above. His motion for relief from default (document 21) is actually his opposition to the motion to dismiss; considered as a motion, it is DENIED. Respondent’s motion to dismiss (document 18) is GRANTED. The petition is DISMISSED. The clerk shall close the file. IT IS SO ORDERED. Dated: March 13, 2007. PHYLLIS J. HAMILTON United States District Judge G:\PRO-SE\PJH\HC.05\SAMPSON825.DSM Case 4:05-cv-03825-PJH Document 25 Filed 03/13/07 Page 7 of 7
NOTICE OF APPEARANCE OF DEVIN S. ANDERSON CASE NO. 19-MD-02913-WHO 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 Devin S. Anderson KIRKLAND & ELLIS LLP 1301 Pennsylvania Ave., NW Washington, D.C., 20004 Telephone: (202) 389-5000 Email: [email protected] UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA SAN FRANCISCO DIVISION IN RE JUUL LABS, INC., MARKETING, SALES PRACTICES, AND PRODUCTS LIABILITY LITIGATION This Document Relates to: ALL ACTIONS Case No. 19-md-02913-WHO NOTICE OF APPEARANCE OF DEVIN S. ANDERSON Judge: Honorable William H. Orrick Case 3:19-md-02913-WHO Document 3798 Filed 02/16/23 Page 1 of 3 - 2 - NOTICE OF APPEARANCE OF DEVIN S. ANDERSON CASE NO. 19-MD-02913-WHO 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 Dated: February 16, 2023 Respectfully submitted, By: /s/ Devin S. Anderson Devin S. Anderson KIRKLAND & ELLIS LLP 1301 Pennsylvania Ave., NW Washington, D.C., 20004 Telephone: (202) 389-5000 Email: [email protected] TO THE COURT, THE PARTIES, AND ALL COUNSEL OF RECORD: PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that DEVIN S. ANDERSON of the law firm of Kirkland & Ellis LLP hereby enters an appearance as counsel for all Defendants represented by Kirkland & Ellis LLP and hereby requests that all notices given or required to be given, and all papers filed or served or required to be served in the above-captioned matter, be provided and served upon: Devin S. Anderson KIRKLAND & ELLIS LLP 1301 Pennsylvania Ave., NW Washington, D.C., 20004 Telephone: (202) 389-5000 Email: [email protected] Case 3:19-md-02913-WHO Document 3798 Filed 02/16/23 Page 2 of 3 - 3 - NOTICE OF APPEARANCE OF DEVIN S. ANDERSON CASE NO. 19-MD-02913-WHO 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE I hereby certify that on February 16, 2023, I electronically filed the foregoing document with the Clerk of the Court using the CM/ECF system, which will automatically send notification of the filing to all counsel of record. By: /s/ Devin S. Anderson Devin S. Anderson Case 3:19-md-02913-WHO Document 3798 Filed 02/16/23 Page 3 of 3
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA IN RE JUUL LABS, INC., MARKETING, ) SALES PRACTICES, AND PRODUCTS ) LIABILITY LITIGATION, ) ) ) ) ______________________________________) Case No. 3:19-MD-02913-WHO APPLICATION FOR ADMISSION OF ATTORNEY PRO HAC VICE (CIVIL LOCAL RULE 11-3) I, Gregor J. Schwinghammer, Jr., an active member in good standing of the bar of Florida hereby respectfully apply for admission to practice pro hac vice in the Northern District of California representing: JUUL Labs, Inc. in the above-entitled action. My local co-counsel in this case is waived through prior order of the Court, an attorney who is a member of the bar of this Court in good standing and who maintains an office within the State of California. MY ADDRESS OF RECORD: LOCAL CO-COUNSEL’S ADDRESS OF RECORD: 777 S. Flagler Drive N/A Suite 500 East Tower West Palm Beach, Florida 33401 MY TELEPHONE # OF RECORD: LOCAL CO-COUNSEL’S TELEPHONE # OF RECORD: 561-650-0594 N/A MY EMAIL ADDRESS OF RECORD: LOCAL CO-COUNSEL’S EMAIL ADDRESS OF [email protected] RECORD: N/A I am an active member in good standing of a United States Court or of the highest court of another State or the District of Columbia, as indicated above; my bar number is 90158. A true and correct copy of a certificate of good standing or equivalent official document from said bar is attached to this application. I have been granted pro hac vice admission by the Court 0 times in the 12 months preceding this application. I agree to familiarize myself with, and abide by, the Local Rules of this Court, especially the Standards of Professional Conduct for attorneys and the Alternative Dispute Resolution Local rules. Case 3:19-md-02913-WHO Document 4244 Filed 05/21/24 Page 1 of 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 I declare under penalty of perjury that the foregoing is true and correct. Dated: May 21, 2024 /s/ Gregor J. Schwinghammer, Jr. APPLICANT Case 3:19-md-02913-WHO Document 4244 Filed 05/21/24 Page 2 of 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 ORDER GRANTING APPLICATION FOR ADMISSION OF ATTORNEY PRO HAC VICE IT IS HEREBY ORDERED THAT the application of Gregor J. Schwinghammer, Jr. is granted, subject to the terms and conditions of Civil L.R. 11-3. All papers filed by the attorney must indicate appearance pro hac vice. Service of papers upon, and communication with, local co-counsel designated in the application will constitute notice to the party. Dated: ________________________________ UNITED STATES DISTRICT/MAGISTRATE JUDGE ACTIVE:22448423.1 Case 3:19-md-02913-WHO Document 4244 Filed 05/21/24 Page 3 of 3
- Objection filing for Juul settlement 1 message ClaimClam Support <[email protected]> To: [email protected] To whom it may concern, RECEIVED JUL 31 2023 ... CLERK, U.S. DISTRICT COURT NORTH DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA Thu, Jul 20, 2023 at 8:33 AM I, Michelle Powers, respectfully object to the Juul settlement Please reference the below information for my objection. 1. My full name, address, telephone number, and email address; Full name: Michelle Powers Address: 6603 Cooper Meadows Rd . Westerville, OH 43081 Telephone number: 16146073792 Email address: [email protected] 2. The case name and number: In re JUUL Labs, Inc. Marketing, Sales Practices, and Products Liability Litigation, No. 19- md-02913-WHO (N.D. Cal.); 3. Documentation demonstrating that I am a member of the Class and/or this statement, followed by my signature: •1 declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the United States of America that [Insert your name) is a member of the Class:; Month, day, and year I first purchased JUUL Products: 02/10/2018 Month, day, and year I last purchased JUUL Products: 06/21/2021 NUMBER of Products I Purchased on Average in a Year from a retailer other than the JUUL website: • JUUL Pods (4 pack): 4 • JUUL Pods (2 pack): 3 • Starter Kit (Device, USB Charger, 4 JUUL Pods): 1 • Starter Kit {Device, use Charger, 2 JUUL Pods): 1 • Basic Kit/Device Kit (Device plus USB Charger): 1 • USB Charger: 1 • Charging Case: 2 •1 declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the United States of America that Michelle Powers Is a member of the Class: Signature: /a/Michelle Powers 4. A written statement of all grounds for my objection, including any legal support for the objection; My agent, ClaimClam, has infonned me that the Settlement Administrator is rejecting my submitted claim due to it being submitted by an agent. Case 3:19-md-02913-WHO Document 4093 Filed 07/31/23 Page 1 of 3 I respectfully object, and ask the Court to deny the settlement, unless the Settlement Administrator takes an interpretation that allows claims submitted by an authorized agent. I find the class action claims filing process to be unduly burdensome, namely figuring out which settlements I'm eligible for, making the filing, and receiving the payment. I would not have known about the Juul settlement if not for my agent. They also made the filing easier for me by simplifying the language and breaking it down into smaller, more manageable pieces. I also rely on my agent to collect my payment and ensure that I receive it, in addition to being responsive and looking out for my interests. I urge the Court to preserve the agent-principal relationship in the consumer class action context, as well as my freedom to choose how I wish to participate. 5. Copies of any papers, briefs, or other documents your objection is based on; NIA 6. The name, address, email address, and telephone number of every attorney representing me; NIA 7. A statement saying whether I and/or my attorney intend to appear at the Anal Approval Hearing and, if so, a list of all persons, If any, who will be called to testify In support of the objection. I, Michelle Powers, intend to appear at the Final Approval Hearing. Sincerely, Case 3:19-md-02913-WHO Document 4093 Filed 07/31/23 Page 2 of 3 f ~r ~() ~ ~ vJ \) 5~ ~ t{ ~m m ;~ ~ (..- C: ci5C'. ;;_i (/) r- ~ 0 ~~ ~ m tot ::0 . c5g -I cJ>. .- < o ::..:i N I ..,... ;Q = l o S?i N f{1 u-> •. (") a (.I.I ~', O 0 c<'.) o c ~~ ~ : ;;; Case 3:19-md-02913-WHO Document 4093 Filed 07/31/23 Page 3 of 3
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 United States District Court Northern District of California UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA ,15(-88//$%6,1&0$5.(7,1* 6$/(635$&7,&(6$1'352'8&76 /,$%,/,7</,7,*$7,21 Case No. APPLICATION FOR ADMISSION OF ATTORNEY PRO HAC VICE (CIVIL LOCAL RULE 11-3) I, , an active member in good standing of the bar of , hereby respectfully apply for admission to practice pro hac vice in the Northern District of California representing: in the above-entitled action. My local co-counsel in this case is , an attorney who is a member of the bar of this Court in good standing and who maintains an office within the State of California. Local co-counsel’s bar number is: _________________. MY ADDRESS OF RECORD LOCAL CO-COUNSEL’S ADDRESS OF RECORD MY TELEPHONE # OF RECORD LOCAL CO-COUNSEL’S TELEPHONE # OF RECORD MY EMAIL ADDRESS OF RECORD LOCAL CO-COUNSEL’S EMAIL ADDRESS OF RECORD I am an active member in good standing of a United States Court or of the highest court of another State or the District of Columbia, as indicated above; my bar number is: . A true and correct copy of a certificate of good standing or equivalent official document from said bar is attached to this application. I have been granted pro hac vice admission by the Court _______ times in the 12 months preceding this application. +R\RXQJ+XK1LFKRODV3ULW]NHUDQG5LD]9DODQL ZDLYHGWKURXJKSULRURUGHURIWKHFRXUW .HOORJJ+DQVHQ7RGG)LJHO )UHGHULFN3//& 06WUHHW1:6XLWH:DVKLQJWRQ'& 3:19-MD-02913-who Andrew Skaras District of Columbia N/A (202) 326-7900 [email protected] 90004011 1 N/A Case 3:19-md-02913-WHO Document 4302 Filed 09/17/24 Page 1 of 2 Updated 11/2021 2 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 United States District Court Northern District of California APPLICANT UNITED STATES DISTRICT/MAGISTRATE JUDGE ORDER GRANTING APPLICATION FOR ADMISSION OF ATTORNEY PRO HAC VICE IT IS HEREBY ORDERED THAT the application of Andrew Skaras is granted, subject to the terms and conditions of Civil L.R. 11-3. All papers filed by the attorney must indicate appearance pro hac vice. Service of papers upon, and communication with, local cocounsel designated in the application will constitute notice to the party. Dated: 9/17/2024 I agree to familiarize myself with, and abide by, the Local Rules of this Court, especially the Standards of Professional Conduct for attorneys and the Alternative Dispute Resolution Local Rules. I declare under penalty of perjury that the foregoing is true and correct. Dated: 9/17/2024 Andrew Skaras Case 3:19-md-02913-WHO Document 4302 Filed 09/17/24 Page 2 of 2
The Florida Bar 651 East Jefferson Street Tallahassee, FL 32399-2300 Joshua E. Doyle Executive Director 850/561-5600 www.FLORIDABAR.org State of Florida ) County of Leon ) In Re: 1018179 Sarah J. Foster Schlesinger Law Offices 1212 SE 3rd Ave Ft Lauderdale, FL 33316-1906 I CERTIFY THE FOLLOWING: I am the custodian of membership records of The Florida Bar. Membership records of The Florida Bar indicate that The Florida Bar member listed above was admitted to practice law in the state of Florida on September 16, 2019. The Florida Bar member above is an active member in good standing of The Florida Bar who is eligible to practice law in the state of Florida. Dated this 16th day of September, 2024. Cynthia B. Jackson, CFO Administration Division The Florida Bar PG:R10 CTM-305608 Case 3:19-md-02913-WHO Document 4303-2 Filed 09/17/24 Page 1 of 1
1 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA Case No: 19-md-02913-WHO Case Name: In Re: Juul Labs, Inc., (San Francisco Unified School District v. Juul (Case No. 20-cv-8117-WHO) TRIAL SHEET, EXHIBIT and WITNESS LIST JUDGE: PLAINTIFF ATTORNEYS: DEFENSE ATTORNEYS: William H. Orrick Sarah London, Dena Sharp, and Andrew Kaufman Beth Wilkinson, Brian Stekloff, and Alyssa Bohanan TRIAL DATE: 04/25/2023 REPORTER: CLERK: 8:00 a.m. to 1:33 p.m. 5 hours, 33 minutes Ana Dub Jean Davis PLF NO. DEF NO. TIME OFFERED ID REC DESCRIPTION 8:00 a.m. Court in session (jurors out) Grunberg slides discussed. Lawyers cautioned to avoid mention of events that have occurred since the close of discovery. Objections to exhibits and deposition designations discussed. Agreed upon special instruction provided to the Court. 8:18 a.m Court in recess 8:35 a.m. Jurors seated. Special instruction regarding Multidistict Litigation provided by the Court. 8:36 a.m. Plaintiff direct examination of Neil Everett Grunberg continues (London) 1118 8:38 a.m. X X How Tobacco smoke causes disease: The Biology and Behavior Basis for Smoking - Attributable Disease - A report of the Surgeon General 2010 (no objection) 1613 9:12 a.m. X X 2012 Surgeon General Report: Preventing Tobacco Use Among Youth and Young Adults [Full Report] (no objection) 1527 9:38 a.m. X X 2020 Surgeon General Report: Smoking Cessation [Full Report] (no objection) 10:02 a.m. Jurors excused 10:03 a.m. Court in recess 10:18 a.m. Court in session (jurors present) Plaintiff direct examination of Neil Everett Grunberg continues (London) 102 10:33 a.m. X X Preventing Tobacco Use Among Youth and Young Adults - A Report of the Surgeon General. 2012. CDC (no objection) 10:44 a.m. Sidebar 2061 11:39 a.m. X X 2012 Surgeon General Report: Executive Summary (objection overruled) Case 3:19-md-02913-WHO Document 3961 Filed 04/25/23 Page 1 of 2 2 Case No: 19-md-02913-WHO Case Name: Madison County Publice Schools v. In Re: Juul Labs, Inc., Marketing, Sales Practices Date: April 25, 2023 Courtroom Deputy: Jean Davis - Court Reporter: Ana Dub EXHIBIT and WITNESS LIST CONTINUED PLF NO. DEF NO. TIME OFFERED ID REC DESCRIPTION 11:47 a.m. Jurors and witness excused 11:48 a.m. Counsel heard as to scope of examination (international vs US only) 11:57 a.m. Court in recess 12:05 p.m. Court in session (jurors present) Plaintiff direct examination of Neil Everett Grunberg continues (London) 1614 12:06 X X 2014 Surgeon General Report: The Health Consequences of Smoking - 50 Years of Progress [Full Report] (objection overruled) 12:06 a.m. Defense cross examination of Neil Everett Grunberg (Stekloff) 12:17 p.m. Court advises jurors of stipulated facts agreed upon by counsel 12:20 p.m. Defense cross examination of Neil Everett Grunberg continues (Stekloff) 6138 12:32 p.m. X X JLI Action Plan (no objection) 6540 1:06 p.m. X X Gilman et al., Characterization of Temperature Regulation and HPHC Profile of a Nicotine-Salt Based ENDS Product (no objection) 7066 1:10 p.m. X X FDA document (no objection) 6479 1:15 p.m. X X Wynne amd Waaka, Acute use of nicotine salt-based ENDS and combusted cigarettes, Poster for Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco 24th Annual Meeting (no objection) 6313 1:20 p.m. X X ALCS presentation re JUUL Overview (no objection) 7065 1:28 p.m. X Science Advances article (published to jurors without objection) 1:32 p.m Jurors excused 1:33 p.m. Court in recess Plaintiff time at start of day: 37 hours, 6 minutes Time used 04/25/2023: 2 hours, 50 minutes Time remaining: 34 hours, 14 minutes Defendant total time: 39 hours, 5 minutes Time used 04/25/2023: 1 hour, 30 minutes* Time remaining: 37 hours, 35 minutes *4 minutes charged to defendant for sidebar Case 3:19-md-02913-WHO Document 3961 Filed 04/25/23 Page 2 of 2
EXHIBIT D Case 3:19-md-02913-WHO Document 4235-4 Filed 05/13/24 Page 1 of 3 Case 3:19-md-02913-WHO Document 4235-4 Filed 05/13/24 Page 2 of 3 Case 3:19-md-02913-WHO Document 4235-4 Filed 05/13/24 Page 3 of 3
Case 3:05-cv-03883-MMC Document 7 Filed 10/26/05 Page 1 of 20 Case 3:05-cv-03883-MMC Document 7 Filed 10/26/05 Page 2 of 20 Case 3:05-cv-03883-MMC Document 7 Filed 10/26/05 Page 3 of 20 Case 3:05-cv-03883-MMC Document 7 Filed 10/26/05 Page 4 of 20 Case 3:05-cv-03883-MMC Document 7 Filed 10/26/05 Page 5 of 20 Case 3:05-cv-03883-MMC Document 7 Filed 10/26/05 Page 6 of 20 Case 3:05-cv-03883-MMC Document 7 Filed 10/26/05 Page 7 of 20 Case 3:05-cv-03883-MMC Document 7 Filed 10/26/05 Page 8 of 20 Case 3:05-cv-03883-MMC Document 7 Filed 10/26/05 Page 9 of 20 Case 3:05-cv-03883-MMC Document 7 Filed 10/26/05 Page 10 of 20 Case 3:05-cv-03883-MMC Document 7 Filed 10/26/05 Page 11 of 20 Case 3:05-cv-03883-MMC Document 7 Filed 10/26/05 Page 12 of 20 Case 3:05-cv-03883-MMC Document 7 Filed 10/26/05 Page 13 of 20 Case 3:05-cv-03883-MMC Document 7 Filed 10/26/05 Page 14 of 20 Case 3:05-cv-03883-MMC Document 7 Filed 10/26/05 Page 15 of 20 Case 3:05-cv-03883-MMC Document 7 Filed 10/26/05 Page 16 of 20 Case 3:05-cv-03883-MMC Document 7 Filed 10/26/05 Page 17 of 20 Case 3:05-cv-03883-MMC Document 7 Filed 10/26/05 Page 18 of 20 Case 3:05-cv-03883-MMC Document 7 Filed 10/26/05 Page 19 of 20 Case 3:05-cv-03883-MMC Document 7 Filed 10/26/05 Page 20 of 20
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 Apple’s Answer and Counterclaims - 1 - Case No.: 3:19-cv-6352-EMC SHOOK, HARDY & BACON L.L.P. Jason M. Richardson One Montgomery, Suite 2600 San Francisco, California 94104 Telephone: 415.544.1900 Facsimile: 415.391.0281 Trent Webb (admitted pro hac vice) Ryan J. Schletzbaum (admitted pro hac vice) Lauren E. Douville (admitted pro hac vice) Maxwell C. McGraw (admitted pro hac vice) 2555 Grand Blvd. Kansas City, MO 64108 Attorneys for Apple Inc. UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA SAN JOSE DIVISION APPLE INC., Plaintiff, v. PRINCEPS INTERFACE TECHNOLOGIES LLC and PRINCEPS SECONDUS LLC, Defendants. Case No.: 3:19-cv-6352-EMC APPLE INC.’S ANSWER AND COUNTERCLAIMS TO COUNTERCLAIMANT PRINCEPS SECUNDUS LLC’S AMENDED COUNTERCLAIMS PRINCEPS SECUNDUS LLC, Counterclaim-Plaintiff, v. APPLE INC., Counter-Defendant. APPLE INC., Counterclaim-Plaintiff, v. PRINCEPS SECONDUS LLC, Counterclaim-Defendant. Case 3:19-cv-06352-EMC Document 60 Filed 05/11/20 Page 1 of 9 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 Apple’s Answer and Counterclaims - 2 - Case No.: 3:19-cv-6352-EMC Counter-Defendant Apple Inc. (“Apple”) files this Answer and Counterclaims to Counterclaim-Plaintiff Princeps Secundus, LLC’s (“Princeps II”) Amended Counterclaims (“Counterclaims”). Except as expressly admitted below, Apple denies each and every allegation set forth in the Counterclaims. Apple responds to the numbered paragraphs of the Counterclaims and the prayer for relief as follows: NATURE OF THE ACTION 1. Apple admits that Princeps II purports to bring a counterclaim for patent infringement arising under the patent laws of the United States, 35 U.S.C. §§ 1 et seq. Apple denies that Princeps II states a meritorious claim for patent infringement against Apple and denies that it has infringed the asserted patent in this District or elsewhere. THE PARTIES 2. Apple lacks sufficient information to form a belief as to the truth of the allegations in Paragraph 2 of the Counterclaims and on that basis denies them. 3. Apple admits that it is organized under the laws of the state of California having a principal place of business at One Apple Park Way, Cupertino, California 95014. Apple admits that it has regular and established places of business in this District including Apple Stores that sell Apple-branded products. Apple denies the remaining allegation in Paragraph 3, including specifically denying that Apple retail stores sold and/or sell infringing products in this District or elsewhere. JURISDICTION AND VENUE 4. Apple admits that this Court has subject matter jurisdiction over meritorious actions for patent infringement generally under 28 U.S.C. § 1331 and 1338(a). Apple denies that Princeps II states a meritorious claim for patent infringement against Apple and denies it has infringed the asserted patent in this District or elsewhere. 5. Apple admits the allegations in Paragraph 5. 6. Apple admits that it conducts business in this District and that it is not challenging personal jurisdiction in this matter. Apple denies the remaining allegations in Paragraph 6, Case 3:19-cv-06352-EMC Document 60 Filed 05/11/20 Page 2 of 9 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 Apple’s Answer and Counterclaims - 3 - Case No.: 3:19-cv-6352-EMC including denying any and all allegations that Apple has infringed the asserted patent in this District or elsewhere. 7. Apple admits that it distributes, offers for sale, and sells Apple products in the United States and in this District, and that it is not challenging personal jurisdiction in this matter. Apple denies the remaining allegations in Paragraph 7, including denying any and all allegations that Apple has infringed the asserted patent in this District or elsewhere. 8. Apple admits that it transacts business in this District and that it is not challenging personal jurisdiction in this matter. Apple denies the remaining allegations in Paragraph 8, including denying any and all allegations that Apple has infringed the asserted patent in this District or elsewhere. BACKGROUND 9. Apple admits that Exhibit A to the Counterclaims appears on its face to be an uncertified copy of U.S. Patent No. 6,703,963 (“the ‘963 patent”). Apple further admits that the face of the ‘963 patent lists Timothy B. Higginson as the inventor of the ‘963 patent. Apple is without sufficient information to form a belief of the truth of the remaining allegations in Paragraph 9 and on that basis denies them. 10. Apple admits that the face of the’963 patent states that provisional patent application No. 60/323,680 was filed on September 20, 2001. Apple lacks sufficient information to form a belief as to the truth of the remaining allegations set forth in Paragraph 10 and on that basis denies them. 11. Apple admits that Paragraph 11 includes language that appears in the specification of the ‘963 patent. Apple lacks sufficient information to form a belief as to the truth of the remaining allegations set forth in Paragraph 11 of the Counterclaims and on that basis denies them. 12. Apple admits that Paragraph 12 includes language that appears in the specification of the ‘963 patent. Apple lacks sufficient information to form a belief as to the truth of the remaining allegations set forth in Paragraph 12 of the Counterclaims and on that basis denies them. Case 3:19-cv-06352-EMC Document 60 Filed 05/11/20 Page 3 of 9 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 Apple’s Answer and Counterclaims - 4 - Case No.: 3:19-cv-6352-EMC Technological Innovation 13. Apple admits that Paragraph 13 includes language that appears in the specification of the ‘963 patent. Apple denies the remaining allegations in Paragraph 13 of the Counterclaims. 14. Apple denies the allegations set forth in Paragraph 14 of the Counterclaims. 15. Apple denies the allegations set forth in Paragraph 15 of the Counterclaims. 16. Apple denies the allegations set forth in Paragraph 16 of the Counterclaims. 17. Apple denies the allegations set forth in Paragraph 17 of the Counterclaims. 18. Apple denies the allegations set forth in Paragraph 18 of the Counterclaims. COUNT I - INFRINGEMENT OF U.S. PATENT NO. 6,703,963 19. Apple incorporates by reference each of its responses set forth in Paragraphs 1-18 above as if fully set forth herein. 20. Apple admits that the face of the ‘963 patent bears a “Date of Patent” of March 9, 2004 and is titled “Universal Keyboard.” Apple lacks sufficient information to form a belief as to the truth of the remaining allegations set forth in Paragraph 20 of the Counterclaims and on that basis denies them. 21. Apple denies any allegation of infringement of the ‘963 patent. Apple lacks sufficient information to form a belief as to the truth of any remaining allegations set forth in Paragraph 21 of the Counterclaims and on that basis denies them. 22. Apple admits that Exhibits A-1 and A-2 appear to be Princeps II’s preliminary and exemplary claim charts. Apple denies the remainder of the allegations in Paragraph 22, and specifically denies that it has committed any acts of infringement. 23. Apple denies the allegations of Paragraph 23, and specifically denies that it committed any acts of infringement. 24. Apple admits that it was served with a complaint in the District of Delaware identifying the ‘963 patent on or around June 18, 2019. Apple denies the remaining allegations of Paragraph 24, and specifically denies that it committed any acts of infringement. Case 3:19-cv-06352-EMC Document 60 Filed 05/11/20 Page 4 of 9 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 Apple’s Answer and Counterclaims - 5 - Case No.: 3:19-cv-6352-EMC 25. Apple denies the allegations of Paragraph 25, and specifically denies that it committed any acts of infringement. 26. Apple admits that it is a for-profit organization. Apple denies the remaining allegations of Paragraph 26, and specifically denies that it committed any acts of infringement. 27. Apple denies the allegations of Paragraph 27, and specifically denies that it has committed any act of infringement. 28. Paragraph 28 does not contain facts that Apple must admit or deny. To the extent Paragraph 28 contains any allegations that require a response, Apple denies them and specifically denies that it committed any acts of infringement. JURY DEMAND 29. Paragraph 29 does not contain facts that Apple must admit or deny. PRAYER FOR RELIEF 30. Princeps II’s prayers for relief (A)-(D) each contain a request for relief to which no response is required. To the extent that a response is required to Princeps II’s prayer for relief, Apple denies that Princeps II is entitled to any relief from Apple in connection with the Counterclaims including, without limitation, the relief specified in Princeps II’s prayer for relief contained in Paragraph 34(A)-(D). APPLE’S DEFENSES Apple pleads the following defenses to Counterclaim-Plaintiff’s Counterclaim. Apple reserves the right to amend its Answer to add additional defenses not presented herein, including but not limited to those defenses revealed during discovery. Without admitting or acknowledging that Apple bears the burden of proof as to any of the following, based on information and belief, Apple asserts the following defenses: FIRST DEFENSE One or more of the claims of the ‘963 patent are invalid for failure to meet the conditions of patentability and/or otherwise comply with one or more provisions of 35 U.S.C. §§ 101 et seq., Case 3:19-cv-06352-EMC Document 60 Filed 05/11/20 Page 5 of 9 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 Apple’s Answer and Counterclaims - 6 - Case No.: 3:19-cv-6352-EMC including 35 U.S.C. §§ 101, 102, 103 and/or 112. Apple incorporates the allegations in its counterclaims. SECOND DEFENSE Apple has not directly or indirectly infringed, either literally or under the doctrine of equivalents, any valid claim of the ‘963 patent. Apple incorporates the allegations in its declaratory judgment complaint. THIRD DEFENSE Counterclaim-Plaintiff’s claims for infringement of the ‘963 patent are barred, in whole or in part, by the doctrines of prosecution history estoppel and/or prosecution disclaimer due to representations, amendments, arguments, and admissions made to the United States Patent and Trademark Office during prosecution of the ‘963 patent. FOURTH DEFENSE Counterclaim-Plaintiff’s claims for alleged damages or costs are barred, in whole or in part, by 35 U.S.C. § 288. FIFTH DEFENSE Counterclaim-Plaintiff’s pleading fails to state a claim for patent infringement or to state a claim upon which relief can be granted. COUNTERCLAIMS Apple incorporates by reference its above responses as if fully set forth herein. In accordance with Rule 13 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, Apple asserts the following counterclaims against Princeps II. PARTIES 1. Apple is a California corporation having its principal place of business at 1 Apple Park Way, Cupertino, California 95014. 2. On information and belief, Counterclaim-Defendant Princeps Secundus LLC is a limited liability company organized under the laws of the State of Delaware with a place of Case 3:19-cv-06352-EMC Document 60 Filed 05/11/20 Page 6 of 9 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 Apple’s Answer and Counterclaims - 7 - Case No.: 3:19-cv-6352-EMC business at Princeps Secundus LLC, 261 West 35th Street, Suite No. 1003, New York, New York 10001. JURISDICTION AND VENUE 3. The Court has subject matter jurisdiction over this action pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 1331 and 1338(a) because this action involves claims arising under the patent laws of the United States, 35 U.S.C. § 1, et seq., and under the Federal Declaratory Judgment Act, 28 U.S.C. §§ 2201 and 2202. 4. Princeps II has consented to this Court’s personal jurisdiction by asserting counterclaims for patent infringement against Apple in this Court. 5. Venue is proper in this Court pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 1391(b) and 1391(c). COUNT I (Declaration of Invalidity of U.S. Patent No. 6,703,963) 6. Apple repeats and realleges Paragraphs 1 through 5 of this Counterclaim. 7. None of the asserted claims of the ‘963 patent are valid because the claims fail to meet the conditions of patentability and/or otherwise comply with one or more provisions of 35 U.S.C. § 101 et seq., including 35 U.S.C. §§ 101, 102, 103, and/or 112. 8. For example, at least claim 1 of the ‘963 patent is invalid as anticipated and/or obvious under 35 U.S.C. §§102 and/or 103 in view of at least U.S. Patent No. 6,597,374 to Baker, Sanchez, and Tobey, alone or in combination with other prior art. The ‘374 Patent was filed on November 12, 1998 and discloses an input device with a “functional mode control for selecting a first functional mode of operation” (e.g., touchscreen 16 or wheel 24 in Figure 1 for selecting a first functional mode among multiple functional modes, e.g., “Watch TV,” “Watch DVD,” or “Watch a Video,” etc.). The ‘374 Patent further discloses “a domain control for selecting one of multiple domain levels within the first functional mode” (e.g., soft buttons 94 and 96 to select among multiple domain levels, e.g., “Page 1 of 2” or “Page 2 of 2” as reflected in Figures 6A and 6B). The ‘374 Patent further discloses “a plurality of input keys, separate and distinct from the domain control” (e.g., soft buttons depicted in Figures 6A and 6B). The ‘374 Patent discloses a “functionCase 3:19-cv-06352-EMC Document 60 Filed 05/11/20 Page 7 of 9 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 Apple’s Answer and Counterclaims - 8 - Case No.: 3:19-cv-6352-EMC specific display indicating a domain-level value associated with each input key” (e.g., “8” in Figure 6A and “Mute” in Figure 6B). And the aforementioned input keys (soft buttons) are presented simultaneously with the domain controls (e.g., buttons 94/96). Attached as Exhibit 1 is a true and correct copy of the ‘374 Patent. 9. Additionally, all asserted claims of the ‘963 patent are invalid because they claim patent-ineligible subject matter in violation of 35 U.S.C. § 101 and Alice Corp. Pty. Ltd. v. CLS Bank International, 573 U.S. 208 (2014). First, the claims at issue are directed to “patent-ineligible concepts,” id., including the abstract idea of displaying and using a keyboard with multiple input values assigned to each key. Keyboards have existed for well over one hundred years. Having a mobile computer perform the functions of a keyboard does not transform this abstract idea into one that is patentable. Second, the asserted claims “both individually and ‘as an ordered combination,’” do not “transform the nature of the claim into a patent-eligible application.” Id. (quoting Mayo, 566 U.S. at 75-80). More specifically, the claims do not contain an “inventive concept’—i.e., an element or combination of elements that is sufficient to ensure that the patent in practice amounts to significantly more than a patent upon the ineligible concept itself. Id. at 235 (quoting Mayo, 566 U.S. at 72-73). Again, the claims recite nothing more than a keyboard with keys that can represent more than one character. Typewriters and QWERTY keyboards have long had this functionality. The claims do not improve the functionality of a computer. The asserted claims likewise do not claim any improvements to the alleged disadvantages of any of the prior art. However, even if the claims did recite any such improvements, e.g., a keyboard smaller than prior art QWERTY keyboards, they would still not contain an inventive concept under step 2 of Alice. 10. Paragraph 22 of Princeps II’s Counterclaims asserts that Apple has infringed and continues to infringe at least claim 1 of the ‘963 Patent. 11. There exists a substantial controversy of sufficient immediacy and reality to warrant the issuance of a declaratory judgment as to whether the asserted claims of the ‘963 patent are valid. 12. Apple is entitled to a judicial determination that the asserted claims, including at least claim 1, of the ‘963 patent are invalid. Case 3:19-cv-06352-EMC Document 60 Filed 05/11/20 Page 8 of 9 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 Apple’s Answer and Counterclaims - 9 - Case No.: 3:19-cv-6352-EMC PRAYER FOR RELIEF WHEREFORE, Apple respectfully requests entry of judgment in its favor and against Counterclaim-plaintiff as follows: A. Enter judgment declaring that each asserted claim in the ‘963 patent is invalid; B. That the Court find this to be an exceptional case under 35 U.S.C. § 285, entitling Apple to an award of reasonable attorney’s fees; C. That the Court award Apple its costs associated with this case; D. For such other and further relief as the Court may deem just, proper, and equitable. May 11, 2020 Respectfully Submitted SHOOK, HARDY & BACON L.L.P. By: /s/ Ryan J. Schletzbaum Attorney for Apple Inc. Case 3:19-cv-06352-EMC Document 60 Filed 05/11/20 Page 9 of 9
Exhibit D Case 3:19-md-02913-WHO Document 3817-4 Filed 02/24/23 Page 1 of 9 1 Juror Questionnaire NAME (Please print): 1. Gender: Age: Place of birth: 2. a. City/neighborhood where you live: For how long? 3. a. What is the last level of education you completed? ❑ Grade school or less ❑ Some college (no degree) ❑ Some high school ❑ 2-year Associate of Arts degree ❑ High school graduate ❑ 4-year College graduate (Major: ) ❑ Technical/Business School ❑ Post graduate study (Major/degree: ) b. What schools did you attend? c. Please list any certificates or degrees you have obtained: 4. What is your employment status? ❑ Employed full time ❑ Running household ❑ Retired for year(s) ❑ Employed part-time ❑ Unemployed ❑ Full time student ❑ Other: 5. Please list the primary jobs you have had in the past, beginning with your current or most recent employment. If retired or unemployed, please indicate the last job you had. Dates of Employment Employer Occupation Duties 6. Do you currently or have you ever had any management or supervisory responsibilities? ❑ Yes ❑ No If Yes, was it: ❑ Senior management ❑ Middle management ❑ Entry-level management Please explain, including which job(s), your duties, and how many people you supervise(d): 7. Do you currently or have you ever served on a board of directors? ❑ Yes ❑ No Please describe when, for what entity, and your duties: ___________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ 8. What is your marital status? ❑ Single, never married ❑ Married for years ❑ Divorced/Separated ❑ Living with partner ❑ Widowed/Widower ❑ Other: Case 3:19-md-02913-WHO Document 3817-4 Filed 02/24/23 Page 2 of 9 Case 3:19-md-02913-WHO Document 3599 Filed 10/14/22 Page 1 of 8 2 9. What is your spouse/partner’s primary employment status? ❑ Employed full time ❑ Running Household ❑ Retired for year(s) ❑ Employed part-time ❑ Unemployed ❑ Full-time Student ❑ Other: 10. Please list the jobs your spouse/partner has had in the past, beginning their current or most recent employment. If retired or unemployed, please indicate the last job they had. Dates of Employment Employer Occupation Duties 11. If you have any children, please fill in the list below. Gender Age Do they live with you? Education Occupation /School Attending If married, list their Spouse’s Occupation ❑ Yes ❑ No ❑ Yes ❑ No ❑ Yes ❑ No ❑ Yes ❑ No 12. If there are any other adults (besides spouse/partner and children) in your household, please provide their employment information below. If any are retired or unemployed, please indicate the last job they had. Relationship Age Occupation Employer 13. What are/were your parents’ occupations? (List even if retired or deceased) Mother: Father: Guardian: 14. What social, political, civic, church, trade or other organizations are you associated with? 15. Have you or has anyone close to you ever owned your own business or operated a franchise? ❑ Yes ❑ No If Yes, please explain, including type of business, number of employees, whether still operating, and/or how it ended: Was the business ever sued or was a claim ever brought against it? ❑ Yes ❑ No If Yes, please explain: Case 3:19-md-02913-WHO Document 3817-4 Filed 02/24/23 Page 3 of 9 Case 3:19-md-02913-WHO Document 3599 Filed 10/14/22 Page 2 of 8 3 16. Do you or anyone close to you have a financial interest in, work for, own stock in, or otherwise have a financial relationship with any of the following: JUUL Labs, Inc. ❑ Yes ❑ No Altria Group, Inc. ❑ Yes ❑ No Philip Morris USA ❑ Yes ❑ No Pax Labs ❑ Yes ❑ No Tao, LLC ❑ Yes ❑ No Tao Invest. LLC ❑ Yes ❑ No Tao Capital Partners ❑ Yes ❑ No JL Special, LLC ❑ Yes ❑ No Kataly Foundation ❑ Yes ❑ No Global Asset Capital ❑ Yes ❑ No If Yes, please explain: 17. Do you or anyone close to you work for the San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD)? ❑ Yes ❑ No If Yes, please explain: 18. Have you or has anyone close to you worked for the San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) in the past? ❑ Yes ❑ No If Yes, please explain: 19. Do you or anyone close to you have any children currently attending school in the San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD)? ❑ Yes ❑ No If Yes, please explain, including which schools: 20. Did you, your partner or your children (if applicable) attend any SFUSD schools in the past? ❑ Yes ❑ No If Yes, please explain, including who/relationship to you, and which schools: When was the last time you/your partner/children attended a SFUSD school? 21. What is your opinion of the San Francisco Unified School District? ❑ Positive ❑ Negative ❑ No Opinion Please explain: 22. What is your opinion of JUUL Labs, Inc.? ❑ Positive ❑ Negative ❑ No Opinion Please explain: 23. What is your opinion of Altria (meaning Altria Group Inc., Philip Morris USA, Inc. and Altria-related entities)? ❑ Positive ❑ Negative ❑ No Opinion Please explain: Case 3:19-md-02913-WHO Document 3817-4 Filed 02/24/23 Page 4 of 9 Case 3:19-md-02913-WHO Document 3599 Filed 10/14/22 Page 3 of 8 4 24. Do you, a family member, or someone close to you have expertise or ever had any training, courses or worked in or around the following areas? Addiction ❑ Yes, self ❑ Yes, family ❑ Yes, someone close Advertising ❑ Yes, self ❑ Yes, family ❑ Yes, someone close Convenience Store ❑ Yes, self ❑ Yes, family ❑ Yes, someone close Counselling ❑ Yes, self ❑ Yes, family ❑ Yes, someone close Engineering ❑ Yes, self ❑ Yes, family ❑ Yes, someone close Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ❑ Yes, self ❑ Yes, family ❑ Yes, someone close Education/Teaching/Administration ❑ Yes, self ❑ Yes, family ❑ Yes, someone close Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ❑ Yes, self ❑ Yes, family ❑ Yes, someone close Finance/Investments ❑ Yes, self ❑ Yes, family ❑ Yes, someone close Insurance/Claims ❑ Yes, self ❑ Yes, family ❑ Yes, someone close Legal ❑ Yes, self ❑ Yes, family ❑ Yes, someone close Marketing ❑ Yes, self ❑ Yes, family ❑ Yes, someone close Psychology ❑ Yes, self ❑ Yes, family ❑ Yes, someone close Research and Development ❑ Yes, self ❑ Yes, family ❑ Yes, someone close Social Media ❑ Yes, self ❑ Yes, family ❑ Yes, someone close Social Work Yes, self Yes, family Yes, someone close Technology/Software/Hardware ❑ Yes, self ❑ Yes, family ❑ Yes, someone close Tobacco Industry ❑ Yes, self ❑ Yes, family ❑ Yes, someone close Product Design/Development ❑ Yes, self ❑ Yes, family ❑ Yes, someone close If Yes to any of the above, please explain: 25. Which best describes your cigarette smoking history? ❑ Current smoker ❑ Former smoker ❑ Never smoked If current smoker, how many per day? ________ If current smoker, have you tried to quit smoking in the past? ❑ Yes ❑ No If former smoker, how many per day? ________ When did you quit? ________ 26. Did your parents/guardians smoke cigarettes when you were growing up? ❑ Yes ❑ No If Yes, please explain: Did they ever quit smoking? ❑ Yes ❑ No If Yes, how old were you when they quit? Case 3:19-md-02913-WHO Document 3817-4 Filed 02/24/23 Page 5 of 9 Case 3:19-md-02913-WHO Document 3599 Filed 10/14/22 Page 4 of 8 5 27. Does anyone close to you currently smoke cigarettes? ❑ Yes ❑ No If Yes, please explain, including who/relationship to you, how long they have smoked, and how much they smoke: Has the person tried to quit smoking in the past? ❑ Yes ❑ No ❑ Don’t Know 28. Do you currently use electronic cigarettes / vape devices? ❑ Yes ❑ No Have you used electronic cigarettes / vape devices in the past? ❑ Yes ❑ No If Yes, to either, how often per day? How old were you when you started? ________ How long have/did you used electronic cigarettes / vape devices? What brand(s) of electronic-cigarettes / vape devices have you used? Did you/do you use any flavored electronic cigarettes / vape products? ❑ Yes ❑ No If Yes, which flavor(s)? Have you ever tried to quit? ❑ Yes ❑ No If Yes, how many times 29. Has anyone close to you used electronic cigarettes / vape devices? ❑ Yes ❑ No If Yes, please explain: Who/ Relationship to you: Age? Current or former? How often per day? For how Long? Brand(s) / Flavors: Did they formerly smoke traditional cigarettes? ` 30. Have you read, seen, or heard anything about JUUL brand e-cigarettes? ❑ Yes ❑ No If Yes, please explain: __________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ 31. Have you ever served on a jury before? ❑ Yes ❑ No If Yes, please complete for each case: Civil or Criminal Nature of the Case When/Where Verdict Reached? Foreperson? ❑ Civil ❑ Crim. ❑ Yes ❑ No ❑ Yes ❑ No ❑ Civil ❑ Crim. ❑ Yes ❑ No ❑ Yes ❑ No ❑ Civil ❑ Crim. ❑ Yes ❑ No ❑ Yes ❑ No 32. Have you or anyone in your family ever been sued by anyone, even in small claims court? ❑ Yes ❑ No Case 3:19-md-02913-WHO Document 3817-4 Filed 02/24/23 Page 6 of 9 Case 3:19-md-02913-WHO Document 3599 Filed 10/14/22 Page 5 of 8 6 If Yes, please explain, including who, the nature of claim, and outcome: Were you satisfied with the result? ❑ Yes ❑ No Please explain: 33. Have you or anyone in your family ever sued anyone, even in small claims court? ❑ Yes ❑ No If Yes, please explain, including who, the nature of claim, and outcome: Were you satisfied with the result? ❑ Yes ❑ No Please explain: 34. Have you recently suffered a significant emotional or financial loss (of a loved one, a job, home, or other)? ❑ Yes ❑ No If Yes, please explain: 35. Have you or anyone close to you ever been a witness, given a deposition and/or testified in any proceeding? ❑ Yes ❑ No If Yes, please explain: 36. Do you support caps or limits on the amount of money juries can award in civil cases? ❑ Yes ❑ No If Yes, please explain: 37. Punitive damages are money damages awarded against defendants in civil lawsuits to punish bad conduct and prevent future bad behavior. What is your opinion about punitive damages? ❑ Positive ❑ Negative Please explain: 38. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements: a. Most lawsuits today are about people looking for “deep pockets.” ❑ Strongly Agree ❑ Agree ❑ Disagree ❑ Strongly Disagree b. There is nothing wrong with corporations trying to make as much profit as they can. ❑ Strongly Agree ❑ Agree ❑ Disagree ❑ Strongly Disagree c. Consumer product lawsuits only drive up costs and do little good. ❑ Strongly Agree ❑ Agree ❑ Disagree ❑ Strongly Disagree 39. Do you have any physical or medical problems that would affect your service as a juror in this case? ❑ Yes ❑ No If Yes, please explain: Case 3:19-md-02913-WHO Document 3817-4 Filed 02/24/23 Page 7 of 9 Case 3:19-md-02913-WHO Document 3599 Filed 10/14/22 Page 6 of 8 7 40. Do you have any ethical, religious, political, or other beliefs or opinions that would affect your ability to be a juror in this case? ❑ Yes ❑ No If Yes, please explain: 41. Is there any other information that you would like the Court to know about your ability to serve as an impartial juror in this case? ❑ Yes ❑ No If Yes, please explain: 42. Please carefully read the following list of names and place a check mark by the names of any of the individuals that you personally know, think you may know, or have any type of affiliation or relationship with: o Adam Bowen o James Monsees o Riaz Valani o Nicholas Pritzker o Hoyoung Huh o[all trial witnesses] o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o If you checked any of the above, please explain your relationship with any of the names you checked: Case 3:19-md-02913-WHO Document 3817-4 Filed 02/24/23 Page 8 of 9 Case 3:19-md-02913-WHO Document 3599 Filed 10/14/22 Page 7 of 8 8 Thank you for your honest and complete answers. Before returning this questionnaire, please check to see if you have skipped any questions and respond to those questions. Be sure to write “Private” next to any questions that you would prefer to take up with the judge and attorneys outside the presence of the other prospective jurors. I certify, under penalty of perjury, that the answers given above are true and correct. Dated: Signature of Juror Case 3:19-md-02913-WHO Document 3817-4 Filed 02/24/23 Page 9 of 9 Case 3:19-md-02913-WHO Document 3599 Filed 10/14/22 Page 8 of 8
Case 3:19-cv-06361-RS Document 394 Filed 11/09/23 Page 1 of 8 Case 3:19-cv-06361-RS Document 394 Filed 11/09/23 Page 2 of 8 Case 3:19-cv-06361-RS Document 394 Filed 11/09/23 Page 3 of 8 4 for comment or input, the attorney-client privilege attaches to the draft and remains intact even after the final document is disclosed,” id., even if “[the] document [was] prepared for a business purpose,” In re Premera Blue Cross Customer Data Sec. Breach Litig., 329 F.R.D. 656, 662 (D. Or. 2019). Contrary to BRS’s contention, “[t]he determination of what information should be disclosed for compliance [with securities laws and regulations] is not merely a business operation, but a legal concern.” Roth v. Aon Corp., 254 F.R.D. 538, 541 (N.D. Ill. 2009). Thus, communications for the purpose of receiving or rendering legal advice relating to “crafting a proxy statement that complies with securities laws” are privileged. NECA-IBEW Pension Tr. Fund v. Precision Castparts Corp., 2019 WL 4750251, at *2 (D. Or. Sept. 27, 2019). “Counsel [may also] render[] legal advice throughout the process of structuring and implementing [a] transaction.” U.S. v. ChevronTexaco Corp., 241 F. Supp. 2d 1065, 1069 (N.D. Cal. 2002). Here, the at-issue portions of the documents at Log Nos. 1887–89, 4816, 4941, 10185, 10228, and 13741 contain and/or reveal Uber’s attorney-client communications for the purpose of receiving or providing legal advice regarding regulatory disclosures or filings, including compliance with SEC regulations regarding financial reporting. That the portions concern Uber’s business (or may implicate accounting issues) is irrelevant. “A client is entitled to hire a lawyer, and have his secrets kept, for legal advice regarding the client’s business affairs.” U.S. v. Chen, 99 F.3d 1495, 1501 (9th Cir. 1996); see also Staley v. Gilead Scis., Inc., 2021 WL 4318403, at *2 (N.D. Cal. July 16, 2021) (“[P]rivilege can still obtain even where a business decision is implicated.”). BRS’s characterization of the email chains at Log Nos. 4941 and 10228 as “primarily between non-attorneys” is a red herring; the targeted redactions at issue are in emails from an attorney or describe discussions with the attorney. Similarly, BRS’s complaint that the request for legal advice is not explicit is irrelevant; a privileged “request for legal advice need not be express.” Gramercy Grp., Inc. v. D.A. Builders, LLC, 2017 WL 5179530, at *3 (D. Haw. Nov. 8, 2017); see also Karl Storz Endoscopy-Am., Inc. v Stryker Corp., 2010 WL 727220, at *2 (N.D. Cal. Mar. 1, 2010). BRS’s argument that Log Nos. 4816 and 10185 are not privileged because an in-house lawyer is merely copied likewise fails. The in-house lawyer was explicitly addressed in the first email in the chain. And even if he was not, non-lawyer communications are privileged if, for example, they discuss the “intent to seek legal advice about a particular issue,” Datel Holdings Ltd. v. Microsoft Corp., 2011 WL 866993, at *5 (N.D. Cal. Mar. 11, 2011), or had “the purposes of transmitting information to legal counsel so they may provide legal advice,” Stevens v. Corelogic, Inc., 2016 WL 397936, at *7 (S.D. Cal. Feb. 2, 2016), which is contrary to BRS’s misreading of Eventbrite, Inc. v. M.R.G. Concerts Ltd., 2021 WL 3286827, at *2 (N.D. Cal. Aug. 2, 2021). BRS’s attempt to characterize the attorney communications at Log Nos. 1887-89 as merely relating to “segment reporting” ignores that segment reporting implicates SEC disclosure issues for which Uber needed legal advice. Unlike in Anastasion v. Credit Serv. of Logan, Inc., 2010 WL 94008, at *2 (D. Utah Jan. 8, 2010), these materials are not just mere “financial summaries,” and unlike in LightGuard Sys., Inc. v. Spot Devices, Inc., 281 F.R.D. 593, 605 (D. Nev. 2012), there are no waiver issues and no dispute that these are confidential communications with attorneys. These issues “require[d] a knowledge of [] law beyond that possessed by [accountants]” and thus make the “lawyer’s assistance . . . legal in nature.” Roseville Emps.’ Ret. Sys. v. Apple Inc., 2022 WL 3083000, at *10 n.5 (N.D. Cal. Aug. 3, 2022). The redaction in Log No. 13741 is likewise proper because it involves legal advice regarding Uber’s IPO and preparation of required regulatory filings. Finally, BRS’s reliance on Dolby and Shenwick is inappropriate because the documents here involve attorney-client communications for purposes of obtaining legal advice. Case 3:19-cv-06361-RS Document 394 Filed 11/09/23 Page 4 of 8 5 See Dolby, 402 F. Supp. 3d at 872 (communication related to business impact of removing certain technology from a product); Shenwick, 2018 WL 5750119, at *2. Communications about factual information to obtain or render legal advice are privileged. Information compiled by non-attorneys “for the purpose of seeking legal advice and later communicated to counsel are protected by [the] attorney-client privilege.” AT&T Corp. v. Microsoft Corp., 2003 WL 21212614, at *3 (N.D. Cal. Apr. 18, 2003) (citation omitted); see also U.S. ex rel. Schmuckley v. Rite Aid Corp., 2023 WL 425841, at *2 (E.D. Cal. Jan. 26, 2023) (collecting cases); Roseville, 2022 WL 3083000, at *25. The same is true for “communications about facts that relate to potential legal liability” of the type at issue here. See Roseville, 2022 WL 3083000, at *14; see also Fox v. Shinseki, 2013 WL 11319070, at *5-6 (N.D. Cal. June 11, 2013). And it is wrong to state that “PowerPoints and excel sheets are simply not privileged.” See, e.g., Hart v. TWC Prod. & Tech. LLC, 2022 WL 1529407, at *2 (N.D. Cal. Apr. 11, 2022); U.S. v. Electron Hydro LLC, 2021 WL 1909800, at *9 (W.D. Wash. May 12, 2021). The redacted portions of the documents at Log Nos. 1998, 14326 and 14345 contain and/or reveal attorney-client communications for the purpose of receiving or providing legal advice regarding regulatory disclosures or filings, including compliance with SEC regulations regarding financial reporting. The redacted portions of Log No. 9497 contain and/or reveal attorney-client communications for the purpose of receiving or providing legal advice regarding passenger safety issues that could give rise to potential legal liability. Log No. 1998 is privileged regardless of whether the redactions are under the “Action/Event/Meeting” column because “[m]aterials . . . that reflect matters about which the client intends to seek legal advice are comparable to notes a client would make to prepare for a meeting with her lawyer . . . . It would undermine the purpose of the attorneyclient privilege not to extend protection to such notes.” ChevronTexaco, 241 F. Supp. 2d at 1077. The same goes for the redactions in Log No. 9497. The “overall tenor” and contents of Log No. 14326 clearly indicate that they relate to SEC disclosures and compliance—underlying requests or provisions of legal advice and discussions of factual information embedded in such communications are protected by the attorney-client privilege. See Karl, 2010 WL 727220, at *2. And the redacted material at Log No. 14345 “directly [and] indirectly reveal[s] communications of a confidential nature by [Uber] to [its] attorney[s].” U.S. v. Christensen, 828 F.3d 763, 802 (9th Cir. 2015). These documents were not prepared in the normal course of business and do not constitute mere factual information. Instead, they were prepared at the direction of counsel, or for purposes of seeking or providing legal advice, and are protected from disclosure by the attorney-client privilege. See, e.g., AT&T, 2003 WL 21212614, at *3 (documents containing factual analysis privileged because they addressed matters upon which party intended to seek legal advice). BRS’s own cases reinforce this point. See Upjohn, 449 U.S. at 395–96 (“[T]he protection of the privilege extends . . . to communications . . . . A fact is one thing and a communication concerning that fact is an entirely different thing.”) (citation and quotation marks omitted); Dolby, 402 F. Supp. 3d at 869 (analysis or opinions about facts for the purpose of seeking legal advice are privileged). In sum, BRS’s challenges to the Log are baseless and fail to demonstrate any need for in camera review. See AT&T, 2003 WL 21212614, at *8; see also In re Grand Jury Investigation, 974 F.2d 1068, 1075 (9th Cir. 1992). If the Court is nevertheless inclined to entertain BRS’s challenges or request for in camera review, Uber respectfully requests full briefing of the dispute. Case 3:19-cv-06361-RS Document 394 Filed 11/09/23 Page 5 of 8 6 BRS’s counsel and counsel for Uber attest that they have met and conferred regarding these discovery issues, with the last meet and confer occurring on November 8, 2023. Uber requests oral argument. BRS believes this matter should be decided on the written submission herein, or via in camera review of the limited documents being presented to this Court. Case 3:19-cv-06361-RS Document 394 Filed 11/09/23 Page 6 of 8 7 Respectfully submitted, LABATON SUCHAROW LLP By: /s/ Alfred L. Fatale III Jonathan Gardner (admitted pro hac vice) Alfred L. Fatale III (admitted pro hac vice) Joseph N. Cotilletta (admitted pro hac vice) Beth C. Khinchuk (admitted pro hac vice) Charles J. Stiene (admitted pro hac vice) 140 Broadway New York, NY 10005 Telephone: (212) 907-0700 Facsimile: (212) 818-0477 Email: [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Lead Counsel for the Class LEVI & KORSINSKY LLP Gregory M. Nespole (admitted pro hac vice) 55 Broadway, 10th Floor New York, NY 10006 Telephone: (212) 363-7500 Facsimile: (212) 363-1294 Email: [email protected] -andAdam M. Apton (SBN 316506) 388 Market Street, Suite 1300 San Francisco, CA 94111 Telephone: (415) 373-1671 Facsimile: (415) 484-1294 Email: [email protected] Liaison Counsel for Lead Plaintiff Boston Retirement System SHEARMAN & STERLING LLP By: /s/ Daniel H.R. Laguardia Daniel H.R. Laguardia (SBN 314654) 535 Mission Street, 25th Floor San Francisco, CA 94105-2997 Telephone: (415) 616-1100 Facsimile: (415) 616-1199 Email: [email protected] -andPaula Anderson (admitted pro hac vice) Agnès Dunogué (admitted pro hac vice) Dennis D. Kitt (admitted pro hac vice) 599 Lexington Avenue New York, NY 10022-6069 Telephone: 212.848.4000 Facsimile: 212.848.7179 Email: [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Attorneys for Defendants Uber Technologies, Inc., Dara Khosrowshahi, Nelson Chai, Glen Ceremony, Ronald Sugar, Ursula Burns, Garrett Camp, Matt Cohler, Ryan Graves, Arianna Huffington, Travis Kalanick, Wan Ling Martello, Yasir AlRumayyan, John Thain, and David Trujillo Cc: All Counsel of Record (via ECF) Case 3:19-cv-06361-RS Document 394 Filed 11/09/23 Page 7 of 8 8 ECF ATTESTATION Pursuant to Civil L.R. 5-1(i)(3), the filer attests that concurrence in the filing of this document has been obtained from each of the other signatories thereto. Executed this 9th day of November, 2023. /s/ Alfred L. Fatale III Case 3:19-cv-06361-RS Document 394 Filed 11/09/23 Page 8 of 8
JLI’s Consolidated Plaintiff Fact Sheet Update For Case Management Conference 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA IN RE: JUUL LABS, INC., MARKETING SALES PRACTICE AND PRODUCTS LIABILITY LITIGATION This Document Relates to All Plaintiffs Identified in Exhibit A 3:19-md-02913 (WHO) Hon. William H. Orrick JUUL LABS, INC.’S CONSOLIDATED PLAINTIFF FACT SHEET UPDATE FOR CASE MANAGEMENT CONFERENCE Per the Court’s August 21, 2020, Minute Entry following the Case Management Conference held on the same date (Dkt No. 915), Defendant Juul Labs, Inc. (“JLI”) hereby provides a consolidated update informing the Court as to the status of each plaintiff identified in JLI’s Motions to Dismiss Without Prejudice for Failure to Submit Discovery Required by Case Management Order Nos. 8 and 14 that are noticed for hearing at the June 17, 2022, Case Management Conference. The plaintiffs identified in Exhibit A were included in JLI’s Motions to Dismiss Without Prejudice filed on 7/18/2022 (Dkt. 3348) and 8/8/2022 (Dkt. 3376). Case 3:19-md-02913-WHO Document 3442 Filed 09/09/22 Page 1 of 3 2 JLI’s Consolidated Plaintiff Fact Sheet Update For Case Management Conference 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 Dated: September 9, 2022 /s/ Pierce N. Giboney Pierce N. Giboney, FL Bar 124704 GUNSTER, YOAKLEY & STEWART, P.A. 1 Independent Drive, Suite 2300 Jacksonville, FL 32202 Telephone: (904) 350-7177 Facsimile: (904) 354-2170 [email protected] (pro hac vice) /s/ Renee D. Smith/ Renee D. Smith KIRKLAND & ELLIS LLP 300 North LaSalle Chicago, IL 60654-3406 Telephone: (312) 862-2000 Facsimile: (312) 862-2200 [email protected] Peter A. Farrell, P.C. KIRKLAND & ELLIS LLP 1301 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W. Washington, DC 20004 Telephone: (202) 389-5000 Facsimile: (202) 389-5200 [email protected] Gregory P. Stone (SBN 78329) [email protected] Bethany W. Kristovich (SBN 241891) [email protected] John M. Gildersleeve (SBN 284618) [email protected] MUNGER, TOLLES & OLSON LLP 350 South Grand Avenue, 50th Floor Los Angeles, CA 90071-3426 Telephone: (213) 683-9100 Facsimile: (213) 687-3702 Attorneys for Defendant Juul Labs, Inc. Case 3:19-md-02913-WHO Document 3442 Filed 09/09/22 Page 2 of 3 JLI’s Consolidated Plaintiff Fact Sheet Update For Case Management Conference 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE I hereby certify that on September 9, 2022, I electronically served the foregoing Consolidated Plaintiff Fact Sheet Update for Case Management Conference on all counsel of record in this action using the CM/ECF system. /s/ Pierce N. Giboney Pierce N. Giboney Case 3:19-md-02913-WHO Document 3442 Filed 09/09/22 Page 3 of 3
UNITED STATES JUDICIAL PANEL on MULTIDISTRICT LITIGATION IN RE: JUUL LABS, INC., MARKETING, SALES PRACTICES, AND PRODUCTS LIABILITY LITIGATION MDL No. 2913 (SEE ATTACHED SCHEDULE) CONDITIONAL TRANSFER ORDER (CTO −27) On October 2, 2019, the Panel transferred 5 civil action(s) to the United States District Court for the Northern District of California for coordinated or consolidated pretrial proceedings pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1407. See 396 F.Supp.3d 1366 (J.P.M.L. 2019). Since that time, 162 additional action(s) have been transferred to the Northern District of California. With the consent of that court, all such actions have been assigned to the Honorable William H. Orrick, III. It appears that the action(s) on this conditional transfer order involve questions of fact that are common to the actions previously transferred to the Northern District of California and assigned to Judge Orrick. Pursuant to Rule 7.1 of the Rules of Procedure of the United States Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation, the action(s) on the attached schedule are transferred under 28 U.S.C. § 1407 to the Northern District of California for the reasons stated in the order of October 2, 2019, and, with the consent of that court, assigned to the Honorable William H. Orrick, III. This order does not become effective until it is filed in the Office of the Clerk of the United States District Court for the Northern District of California. The transmittal of this order to said Clerk shall be stayed 7 days from the entry thereof. If any party files a notice of opposition with the Clerk of the Panel within this 7−day period, the stay will be continued until further order of the Panel. FOR THE PANEL: John W. Nichols Clerk of the Panel Apr 08, 2020 Case 3:19-md-02913-WHO Document 444 Filed 04/13/20 Page 1 of 2 IN RE: JUUL LABS, INC., MARKETING, SALES PRACTICES, AND PRODUCTS LIABILITY LITIGATION MDL No. 2913 SCHEDULE CTO−27 − TAG−ALONG ACTIONS DIST DIV. C.A.NO. CASE CAPTION FLORIDA MIDDLE FLM 6 20−00536 McKnight et al v. Juul Labs, Inc. et al Case 3:19-md-02913-WHO Document 444 Filed 04/13/20 Page 2 of 2
KELLER ROHRBACK L.L.P. ■ 1201 THIRD AVENUE, SUITE 3200, SEATTLE, WA 98101-3052 | TELEPHONE: (206) 623-1900 | FACSIMILE: (206) 623-3384 ■ SEATTLE PHOENIX NEW YORK OAKLAND MISSOULA SANTA BARBARA WWW.KELLERROHRBACK.COM | WWW.KRCOMPLEXLIT.COM January 29, 2021 VIA ELECTRONIC FILING CM/ECF The Honorable William H. Orrick United States District Court, N.D. California 450 Golden Gate Avenue San Francisco, CA 94102 Re: In re: Juul Labs Inc., Marketing, Sales Practices, and Products Liability Litigation, 19-md-02913-WHO / Plaintiffs’ Response to Defendants’ Government Entity Bellwether Sequencing Proposal Dear Judge Orrick: This Court has repeatedly provided guidance that for reasons of efficiency and judicial economy, the initial bellwether trials should focus on cases that it can try. See ECF No. 1125 at 1-2; Transcript of Videoconference Proceedings, January 15, 2021 at 8:1-3. Plaintiffs have heeded the Court’s guidance and are proposing four Wave 1 bellwethers all triable by this Court. Defendants’ have ignored the Court by proposing three Wave 1 bellwethers, none of which can be tried by Your Honor without raising Lexecon issues. Plaintiffs are proposing that Wave 1 consist of four government entity cases: San Francisco Unified School District, Livermore Valley Joint Unified School District, Tucson Unified School District and King County. Two of these entities – San Francisco and Livermore – are located in the Northern District of California and can be tried by Your Honor. The Tucson and King County cases can be remanded back to their home districts, the District of Arizona and the Western District of Washington, respectively, where Your Honor can also sit by designation and try them without any Lexecon issues. See In re Motor Fuel Temperature Sales Practice Litigation, 711 F.3d 1050, 1053 (9th Circ. 2013) (rejecting argument that allowing an MDL judge to sit by designation and try a remanded case raises Lexecon issues: “Lexecon dealt with venue, not judicial case assignment”); 15 Wright & Miller, Federal Practice & Procedure § 3866.2, n.29 (4th ed.) (“28 U.S.C.A. § 292 permits an intercircuit or intracircuit assignment of judges, which would permit the assignment of the transferee MDL judge to the transferor district to oversee trial.”). Unlike intercircuit assignments, which require the approval of the Chief Justice of the United States and a Certificate of Necessity from either the chief judge or presiding justice of the home district’s circuit, intracircuit assignments like this one may be made by the chief judge “in the public interest.” Compare 28 U.S.C.A. § 292(d) (intercircuit assignments) with 28 U.S.C.A. § 292(b) (intracircuit assignments). The public interest in judicial efficiency and economy is clearly served by MDL judges sitting by designation to try cases in transferor courts that cannot be resolved pretrial.1 See In re Motor Fuel, 711 F.3d at 1053 (noting comments from 1 Plaintiffs recognize that there is conflicting authority over intercircuit assignments, though the weight of authority permits and encourages these assignments in the interests of judicial efficiency. Compare In re Motor Fuel Temperature Sales Practice Litigation, 711 F.3d 1050 (9th Circ. 2013) (declining to permit intercircuit assignment) with Edward F. Sherman, WHEN REMAND IS APPROPRIATE IN MULTIDISTRICT LITIGATION, 75 La. L. Rev. 455, 460 (2014) (noting that intercircuit assignments “are Case 3:19-md-02913-WHO Document 1349 Filed 01/29/21 Page 1 of 3 Honorable Judge Orrick KELLER ROHRBACK L.L.P. January 29, 2021 Page 2 Judge Motz, former chair of the Committee on Intercircuit Assignments, emphasizing the benefits to judicial efficiency by permitting MDL judges to sit by designation). In contrast to the Plaintiffs, Defendants have proposed one case, the City of Rochester, that some of the Defendants suggest may be triable by Your Honor in the Northern District of California because it was directly filed in the District. But Plaintiffs note that the Altria Defendants are only joining in portions of Defendants’ submission that proposes each side select three cases and identifies the three Defendant cases that would comprise Wave 1. ECF No. 1336 fn. 1. The Altria Defendants are not joining Defendants’ statement that this case is triable by Your Honor, and will presumably seek to raise Lexecon issues, and possibly jurisdictional issues, to avoid a trial in this District. Defendants also seek to justify their picks by paying lip service to the argument that their picks are somehow representative of the larger pool and hence will advance this litigation. As explained in Plaintiffs’ initial submission, this is incorrect. Defendants’ alleged focus on “geographic diversity” ignores the distribution of government entity cases. Resolving the only case filed in New Hampshire (the City of Rochester) or the only case filed in Wyoming (Natrona School District) will do little to assist in the resolution of the majority of cases in the MDL. Moreover, none of Defendants’ bellwethers are from the jurisdictions identified as briefing bellwethers, whereas both California and Arizona are state laws that were already subject to extensive motion practice. Plaintiffs’ proposed bellwethers also come from states where a number of schools and/or other government entities have filed suit, ensuring that resolution of Plaintiffs’ selections will give the parties information about other, similar cases in the MDL. For example, because many of the Government Entity Plaintiffs are from California, resolving any issues specific to California law would be efficient. No trial dates are set in the JCCP as of now. It is quite possible that this Court will try its first bellwether trials before that proceeding. Given the limitations on the government entity bellwethers selected by Defendants there is nothing unfair about placing all of these bellwethers into Wave 2. The Court has been clear that it is focused on cases that it can try, and Defendants’ decision to ignore this guidance has consequences. Plaintiffs are proposing government entity bellwethers that are consistent with the case schedule set by the Court which provides for five trials starting in early 2022. Defendants’ proposal makes clear that they have no interest in any government entity trials occurring next year and are instead advocating that the Court and the parties expend valuable resources completing discovery far in advance on cases that cannot be tried on the Court’s schedule. often granted routinely by circuit chief judges”); Hon. Eduardo C. Robreno, THE FEDERAL ASBESTOS PRODUCT LIABILITY MULTIDISTRICT LITIGATION (MDL-875): BLACK HOLE OR NEW PARADIGM?, 23 Widener L.J. 97, 146-47 (2013) (intercircuit assignment process is routinely utilized “to ensure a remanded case is not placed at the ‘end of the line’ or otherwise delayed for trial for lack of an available judge.”). Regardless, this does not apply to intracircuit assignments of the type contemplated here. Case 3:19-md-02913-WHO Document 1349 Filed 01/29/21 Page 2 of 3 Honorable Judge Orrick KELLER ROHRBACK L.L.P. January 29, 2021 Page 3 Sincerely, /s/ Dean Kawamoto /s/ Sarah R. London /s/ Dena C. Sharp /s/ Ellen Relkin Co-Lead Counsel for Plaintiffs cc: MDL Counsel of Record 4817-9230-5882, v. 3 Case 3:19-md-02913-WHO Document 1349 Filed 01/29/21 Page 3 of 3
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 United States District Court Northern District of California UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA BOSTON RETIREMENT SYSTEM, Individually and on behalf of all others similarly situated, Plaintiff, v. UBER TECHNOLOGIES, INC., et al., Defendants. Case No. 19-cv-06361-RS (DMR) ORDER ON JULY 19, 2023 JOINT DISCOVERY LETTER Re: Dkt. No. 303 The parties filed a joint discovery letter on July 19, 2023 in which Defendants seek an order staying 16 “apex” depositions, and Lead Plaintiff cross-moves to compel those depositions. [Docket No. 303 (“JDL”).]1 On July 27, 2023, the court ordered the parties to submit additional information regarding each potential deponent. [Docket No. 305.] On August 31, 2023, the parties timely submitted a helpful 80-page summary chart setting forth each side’s factual support for their position on each proposed deponent. [Docket No. 318.] On September 12, 2023, at the court’s request, the parties filed a joint letter updating their respective positions in light of the summary discovery set forth in their chart. [Docket No. 330.] Having reviewed the parties’ detailed evidence and arguments, the court finds that this matter is suitable for resolution without a hearing. Civ. L.R. 7-1(b). For the following reasons, Defendants’ request to stay the depositions is denied, and Lead Plaintiff’s request is granted in part.2 1 Defendants assert that all 16 individuals qualify as “apex” deponents. Lead Plaintiff does not challenge this assertion. 2 Lead Plaintiff also filed two related administrative motions to consider whether another party’s material should be sealed. [Docket Nos. 302, 319.] Defendants filed statements in support of those motions. [Docket Nos. 304, 325.] In the first motion, Lead Plaintiff seeks to seal excerpts of 11 documents cited in the JDL, but states that it does not believe that any of the designated information satisfies the definition of “confidential” under the protective order in this case. In Case 3:19-cv-06361-RS Document 337 Filed 09/19/23 Page 1 of 6 2 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 United States District Court Northern District of California “When a party seeks the deposition of a high-level executive (a so-called ‘apex’ deposition), courts have observed that such discovery creates a tremendous potential for abuse or harassment.” Apple Inc. v. Samsung Elecs. Co., Ltd, 282 F.R.D. 259, 263 (N.D. Cal. 2012). Accordingly, the court has discretion to limit discovery “where the discovery sought can be obtained from some other source that is more convenient, less burdensome, or less expensive.” Id. (quotation omitted). However, concerns about a party’s potential use of an apex deposition for the purposes of harassment must be balanced with the liberal discovery provisions of the Federal Rules. See Blankenship v. Hearst Corp., 519 F.2d 418, 429 (9th Cir. 1975) (“[A] strong showing is required before a party will be denied entirely the right to take a deposition.”). The party seeking to avoid an apex deposition bears the burden of showing good cause for why the deposition should not be allowed. In re Transpacific Passenger Air Transportation Antitrust Litig., No. 07-cv-05634-CRB (DMR), 2014 WL 939287, at *2 (N.D. Cal. Mar. 6, 2014); see also Hunt v. Cont’l Cas. Co., No. 13-cv-05966-HSG, 2015 WL 1518067, at *2 (N.D. Cal. Apr. 3, 2015) (stating that the party resisting an apex deposition must show that “extraordinary circumstances” exist that preclude taking the deposition altogether). In considering whether to permit an apex deposition, courts examine whether the proposed their statement, Defendants explain they only seek to seal excerpts from 9 of the cited documents. [Docket No. 304 at 5.] For good cause shown, Lead Plaintiff’s motion is granted in part and denied in part. By September 26, 2023, Lead Plaintiff is directed to re-file a version of the JDL consistent with the redactions proposed in Defendants’ statement. In the second motion, Lead Plaintiff seeks to seal the entirety of the summary chart as confidential, but again states that it does not believe that any of the designated information satisfies the definition of “confidential” under the protective order. In their statement, Defendants explain they only seek to seal specific portions of the summary chart, which fall under the following categories of “commercially sensitive and proprietary information”: 1) business strategy and corporate decision making, 2) confidential marketing strategy, and 3) regulatory strategy and passenger safety information. [Docket No. 325 at 3-11.] For good cause shown, Lead Plaintiff’s motion is granted in part and denied in part. By September 26, 2023, Lead Plaintiff is directed to re-file a version of the summary chart consistent with the redactions proposed in Defendants’ statement. In granting these two sealing motions, the court applies the Ninth Circuit’s lower good cause standard to sealed discovery documents attached to non-dispositive motions. Krieger v. Atheros Commc’ns, Inc., No. 11-CV-00640-LHK, 2011 WL 2550831, at *1 n.1 (N.D. Cal. June 25, 2011) (citing Kamakana v. City and County of Honolulu, 447 F.3d 1172, 1178 (9th Cir. 2006)). Case 3:19-cv-06361-RS Document 337 Filed 09/19/23 Page 2 of 6 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 United States District Court Northern District of California deponent possesses first-hand knowledge of “important, relevant, and material facts.” First United Methodist Church of San Jose v. Atl. Mut. Ins. Co., No. 95-cv-2243-DLJ, 1995 WL 566026, at *2 (N.D. Cal. Sept. 19, 1995). “The party seeking to take the deposition need not prove conclusively that the deponent certainly has unique non-repetitive information; rather, where a corporate officer may have any first-hand knowledge of relevant facts, the deposition should be allowed.” In re Apple Iphone Antitrust Litig., No. 11CV06714YGRTSH, 2021 WL 485709, at *5 (N.D. Cal. Jan. 26, 2021) (emphasis added) (quotation marks and citation omitted). Courts also consider whether the party seeking the apex deposition has obtained the information sought through other discovery or less intrusive means. See In re Transpacific Passenger, 2014 WL 939287, at *5 (noting that the party seeking discovery is not required to exhaust other means of discovery before taking an apex deposition, but that exhaustion is an important consideration for the court). “If it appears unlikely that [the apex witness] has percipient knowledge of material facts, or if there are other witnesses who could testify to those facts from a similar vantage point, there is more reason to question whether the deposition is being sought for abusive rather than appropriate fact-finding purposes.” Id. at *3. In the summary chart, for each potential deponent, Lead Plaintiff provided (1) the deponent’s name; (2) the deponent’s title; (3) bullet points summarizing what Lead Plaintiff characterizes as that deponent’s unique, first-hand, non-repetitive percipient knowledge of relevant facts; and (4) bullet points enumerating the steps taken to obtain the information sought through other discovery or less intrusive means. In the same chart, Defendants submitted bullet points summarizing the facts that they assert constitute good cause for precluding or at least limiting each deposition. Namely, Defendants described why each deponent lacks first-hand, unique knowledge regarding the relevant issues, how others could testify to the same issues from a similar vantage point, and the specific prejudice or harm that would result from the deposition. In assessing the propriety and length of the proposed depositions, the court first analyzed whether each proposed deponent possesses first-hand knowledge of “important, relevant, and material facts” in order to assess whether the deposition was being sought for abusive rather than legitimate fact-finding purposes. In so doing, the court generally considered: 1) whether the Case 3:19-cv-06361-RS Document 337 Filed 09/19/23 Page 3 of 6 4 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 United States District Court Northern District of California deponent is an individual defendant;32) the deponent’s degree of ‘apex-ness’; 4 3) the deponent’s role(s) at Uber during the relevant time period and his or her alleged personal involvement in or knowledge of information relevant to the claims at issue, including involvement by outside directors in relevant committees; and 5) the extent of the deponent’s institutional knowledge of Uber, given the underlying allegation that the offering materials “proudly proclaimed: ‘It is a new day at Uber’” – differentiating between “2017 Uber and the purportedly new and reformed Uber of today” – while failing to disclose the truth about the company’s (i) business model and growth strategy; (ii) passenger safety issues; and (iii) financial condition. [Docket No. 137 (Second Amended Complaint) ¶¶ 153, 155, 156.] As part of its analysis, the court also considered other steps taken by Lead Plaintiff to obtain the information sought – notably, interrogatories, requests for admission, requests for production, and other witness testimony – as well as all arguments proffered by Defendants to explain why the deposition should not be allowed or should be limited. Taking the above factors into account, and based on a detailed review of the parties’ evidence, the court finds that Lead Plaintiff has established that the 16 depositions at issue are all justified with the following time limitations: - Dara Khosrowshahi (Chief Executive Officer, Board Member, and Individual Defendant): Lead Plaintiff may depose Khosrowshahi for 7 hours. 3 In considering this factor, the court is mindful that there is no bright-line exception to the apex doctrine for named defendants because such an exception “would be inconsistent with [the doctrine’s] aim of thwarting harassment.” Myun-Uk Choi v. Tower Rsch. Cap. LLC, No. 14-CV9912 (KMW), 2019 WL 6271324, at *2 (S.D.N.Y. Nov. 25, 2019) (affirming magistrate judge’s order preventing named defendant’s deposition where plaintiffs had failed to come forward with any evidence that the defendant had knowledge of any of the claims or defenses in the case or information that could not easily be obtained through other discovery). As part of this analysis, the court considered the individual defendant’s level of involvement in the challenged conduct (and therefore their percipient knowledge of the same), as well as their potential testimony to defend against the claims made against them. 4 See In re Apple Iphone Antitrust Litig., 2021 WL 485709, at *4 (noting that senior vice presidents may have important, high-ranking jobs, but they are “not a CEO or head of an agency” and therefore “less is required to justify their depositions,” given their “lesser degree of apexness.”). “[T]he apex ‘doctrine’s common application to the classic paradigm of a single-hierarchy corporate structure [is] ill-suited to determining apex status . . . in the case of a large, multinational corporation . . . For ‘[a] company of global proportions,’ ‘the two-prong test for firsthand, non-repetitive knowledge and for the party’s attention to other, less intrusive discovery methods,’ must also be measured against ‘the person’s degree of ‘apex-ness’ in relation to these factors.’” Id. (quoting Apple Inc. v, 282 F.R.D. at 263)). Case 3:19-cv-06361-RS Document 337 Filed 09/19/23 Page 4 of 6 5 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 United States District Court Northern District of California - Nelson Chai (Chief Financial Officer and Individual Defendant): Lead Plaintiff may depose Chai for 7 hours. - Gus Fuldner (Vice President, Safety and Insurance), Jill Hazelbaker (Senior Vice President, Marking and Public Affairs), and Andrew Macdonald (Vice President, Americas Operations and Global Business Development): The facts submitted by the parties suggest that there is some overlap between the knowledge of these three important non-Defendant witnesses. Therefore, Lead Plaintiff may select two of these three witnesses for depositions of 7 hours each. In the alternative, Lead Plaintiff may choose to depose all three witnesses for no more than 5 hours each. - Ronald Sugar (Chairman of the Board and Individual Defendant): Lead Plaintiff may depose Sugar for no more than 5 hours. - John Thain (Board Member and Individual Defendant): Lead Plaintiff may depose Thain for no more than 5 hours. - Travis Kalanick (Co-founder, former CEO, Board Member, and Individual Defendant): Lead Plaintiff may depose Kalanick for no more than 3 hours. - Garrett Camp (Co-founder, Board Member, and Individual Defendant): Lead Plaintiff may depose Camp for no more than 2.5 hours. - Ryan Graves (Board Member and Individual Defendant): Lead Plaintiff may depose Graves for no more than 2.5 hours. - Arianna Huffington (Board Member and Individual Defendant): Lead Plaintiff may depose Huffington for no more than 2.5 hours. - David Trujillo (Board Member and Individual Defendant): Lead Plaintiff may depose Trujillo for no more than 2.5 hours. - Ursula Burns (Board Member and Individual Defendant): Lead Plaintiff may depose Burns for no more than 2 hours. - Matt Cohler (Board Member and Individual Defendant): Lead Plaintiff may depose Cohler for no more than 2 hours. - Wan Ling Martello (Board Member and Individual Defendant): Lead Plaintiff may Case 3:19-cv-06361-RS Document 337 Filed 09/19/23 Page 5 of 6 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 United States District Court Northern District of California depose Martello for no more than 2 hours. - Yasir Al-Rumayyan (Board Member and Individual Defendant): Lead Plaintiff may depose Al-Rumayyan for no more than 2 hours. The depositions shall take place by December 20, 2023.5 IT IS SO ORDERED. Dated: September 19, 2023 ______________________________________ Donna M. Ryu Chief Magistrate Judge 5 The current discovery deadline is 9/20/23. The order does not extend that deadline; this court does not have the authority to do so. The 12/20/23 deadline only applies to the 16 depositions addressed in this discrete discovery dispute. Case 3:19-cv-06361-RS Document 337 Filed 09/19/23 Page 6 of 6
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 United States District Court Northern District of California UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA BOSTON RETIREMENT SYSTEM, et al., Plaintiffs, v. UBER TECHNOLOGIES, INC., et al., Defendants. Case No. 19-cv-06361-RS ORDER GRANTING MOTION FOR CLASS CERTIFICATION I. Introduction In this putative securities class action arising from the initial public offering (“IPO”) for Defendant Uber Technologies, Inc. (“Uber”), Plaintiff Boston Retirement System (“BRS”) and four individual plaintiffs bring a motion for class certification and seek appointment as class representatives. Defendants oppose the motion, arguing that BRS and the other named plaintiffs do not satisfy the typicality and adequacy requirements of Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 23(a)(3) and 23(a)(4), and that the predominance and superiority requirements of Rule 23(b)(3) are not met. For all the foregoing reasons, the motion for class certification is granted. Defendants’ affirmative defense of actual knowledge does not defeat certification, because the actual knowledge asserted concerns pieces of information disseminated in news stories, rather than the full scope of the issues Uber faced that Plaintiff avers were not disclosed until after the IPO. Further, the proposed class representatives and counsel have demonstrated that they will adequately serve the class. Case 3:19-cv-06361-RS Document 217 Filed 07/26/22 Page 1 of 8 ORDER GRANTING MOTION FOR CLASS CERTIFICATION CASE NO. 19-cv-06361-RS 2 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 United States District Court Northern District of California II. Factual and Procedural Background Uber is a transportation company which provides on demand rides and food delivery. The company was founded in San Francisco in 2009 and has since expanded globally. On May 10, 2019, Uber conducted its IPO, in which it sold 180,000,000 shares of common stock to the public. The IPO was priced at $45 per share and generated nearly $8 billion in proceeds for Uber. The IPO was conducted pursuant to several documents filed by defendants with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including an April 11, 2019 Registration Statement on Form S-1, which, after amendment, was declared effective by the SEC on May 5, 2019. See ECF No. 86-1 (“RS”). BRS purchased Uber’s common stock in the IPO, and from an underwriter of the IPO, pursuant to the offering documents, including the RS. At the time BRS purchased this stock, only Uber shares offered in the IPO were available in the market. Uber’s share price subsequently declined from $45 to an all-time low of $25.99 on November 14, 2019. This action was brought, alleging violations of Sections 11, 12(a)(2), and 15 of the Securities Act, 15 U.S.C. §§ 77k, 77I(a)(2), and 77o. In January 2020, BRS was appointed lead plaintiff. The named defendants are Uber, several of its past and present executives, and the underwriters of its IPO. On August 7, 2020, Defendants’ motion to dismiss was denied, as Plaintiff had adequately stated claims that Defendants omitted material facts concerning the legality (or lack thereof) of Uber’s business model, its passenger safety record, and its financial condition. On May 14, 2021, Plaintiff filed a Second Amended Class Action Complaint (“SAC”), adding four new proposed class representatives. Defendants moved to dismiss the claims of these new plaintiffs, and the motion was denied on October 1, 2021. The order denying the motion to dismiss claims brought by the new plaintiffs noted, however, “[t]he addition of named plaintiffs in the Second Amended Complaint does not automatically morph them into additional court-designated Lead Plaintiffs” and that the Court would “consider any concerns about the involvement of too many law firms, and the related concern of overgeneration of fees, at the class certification stage.” Order Denying Motion to Dismiss, p.7. On October 29, 2021, BRS filed this motion for class certification. BRS seeks certification Case 3:19-cv-06361-RS Document 217 Filed 07/26/22 Page 2 of 8 ORDER GRANTING MOTION FOR CLASS CERTIFICATION CASE NO. 19-cv-06361-RS 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 United States District Court Northern District of California of the following proposed class: All persons and entities that purchased or otherwise acquired Uber’s publicly traded common stock pursuant and/or traceable to the Offering Documents for Uber’s IPO, and who were damaged thereby. Excluded from the Class are: (i) Defendants and the Individual Defendants’ immediate family members; (ii) the officers, directors, affiliates, and subsidiaries of Uber and the Underwriter Defendants, at all relevant times, (iii) Uber’s affiliates and employee retirement and/or benefit plan(s) and their participants or beneficiaries to the extent they purchased or acquired Uber common stock pursuant or traceable to the Offering Documents through any such plan(s); (iv) any entity in which Defendants have or had a controlling interest; and (v) the legal representatives, heirs, successors, or assigns of any such excluded person or entity. Motion for Class Certification, p. 2-3. BRS and four of the named plaintiffs added to the Second Amended Complaint—David Messinger, Salvatore Toronto, and Irving S. and Judith Braun—seek appointment as Class Representatives.1 Defendants oppose the motion. III. Legal Standard Class actions are governed by Rule 23 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, which represents more than a mere pleading standard. To obtain class certification, plaintiffs bear the burden of showing they have met each of the four requirements of Rule 23(a) and at least one subsection of Rule 23(b). Zinser v. Accufix Research Inst., Inc., 253 F.3d 1180, 1186, amended by 273 F.3d 1266 (9th Cir. 2001). “A party seeking class certification must affirmatively demonstrate . . . compliance with the Rule[.]” Wal–Mart Stores, Inc. v. Dukes, 564 U.S. 338, 350 (2011). Rule 23(a) provides that a court may certify a class only if: “(1) the class is so numerous that joinder of all members is impracticable; (2) there are questions of law or fact common to the class; (3) the claims or defenses of the representative parties are typical of the claims or defenses of the class; and (4) the representative parties will fairly and adequately protect the interests of the class.” These requirements are commonly referred to as numerosity, commonality, typicality, and adequacy of representation. Mazza v. Am. Honda Motor Co., Inc., 666 F.3d 581, 588 (9th Cir. 1 Joseph Cianci was named as a new plaintiff in the SAC, but does not seek appointment as Class Representative. Case 3:19-cv-06361-RS Document 217 Filed 07/26/22 Page 3 of 8 ORDER GRANTING MOTION FOR CLASS CERTIFICATION CASE NO. 19-cv-06361-RS 4 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 United States District Court Northern District of California 2012). If all four Rule 23(a) prerequisites are satisfied, a court must also find that plaintiffs “satisfy through evidentiary proof” at least one of the three subsections of Rule 23(b). Comcast Corp. v. Behrend, 569 U.S. 27, 33 (2013). Rule 23(b)(3) requires that “the questions of law or fact common to class members predominate over any questions affecting only individual members, and that a class action is superior to other available methods for fairly and efficiently adjudicating the controversy.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 23(b)(3). IV. Discussion2 Defendants challenge whether Plaintiff has met the adequacy and typicality requirements of Rule 23(a) and the predominance and superiority requirements of Rule 23(b)(3). As the discussion of predominance and superiority helps resolve the concerns about adequacy and typicality, the Rule 23(b)(3) requirements are discussed first. Since Defendants have not challenged numerosity or commonality under Rule 23(a), those requirements are not addressed. 2 Defendants’ motion to file a sur-reply is denied, as the issues addressed in the sur-reply are not necessary to decide the motion for class certification. The administrative motions to file materials under seal, see Dkt. Nos. 189, 205, are denied in part and granted in part. The motion at Dkt. No. 189 is a motion from Defendants to consider whether another party’s material should be sealed. Plaintiff filed a statement in support of the motion, outlining limited pieces of information that should be sealed. The motion to file under seal is granted as to those limited pieces of information. Nonparty Zevenbergen Capital Investments LLC (“ZCI”) filed a statement in support of the motion seeking to seal all materials it had designated as confidential, maintaining that those materials are trade secrets. These designations, however, seem to cover a wide variety of materials, and lead to numerous redactions in Defendants’ opposition—including for sentences which simply state what information ZCI was or was not aware of concerning Uber. The motion is therefore denied without prejudice as to ZCI’s designations. ZCI may provide a more limited list of designations, bearing in mind the limitations outlined in Civil Local Rule 79-5. Next, the motion at Dkt. No. 205 is a motion from Plaintiff to consider whether Defendants’ or ZCI’s materials should be sealed. Defendants filed a statement seeking the redaction of only a small number of lines of deposition transcript. The motion is therefore granted as to this information. ZCI did not file a response, and normally a nonresponse is deemed a statement that it does not object to the unsealing of any information at issue in the administrative motion. See Civil Local Rule 79-5(f)(3). It is noted, however, that information that ZCI seeks to maintain under seal in the other administrative motion appears to overlap with information in this administrative motion. ZCI’s revised statement of materials to be sealed should therefore address both Dkt. No. 189 and No. 205. ZCI’s revised submission should be filed within fourteen days of this Order. After ZCI’s revised submission and an order on the propriety of sealing, Plaintiff and Defendants will be directed to file new versions of the materials reflecting the approved redactions on the public docket. Case 3:19-cv-06361-RS Document 217 Filed 07/26/22 Page 4 of 8 ORDER GRANTING MOTION FOR CLASS CERTIFICATION CASE NO. 19-cv-06361-RS 5 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 United States District Court Northern District of California A. Predominance and Superiority Defendants argue that issues concerning each plaintiff’s actual knowledge of allegedly omitted information preclude Plaintiff from satisfying the predominance and superiority requirements of Rule 23(b)(3). Actual knowledge is a defense to claims under Sections 11 and 12. See 15 U.S.C. § 77k(a) (stating that a plaintiff does not establish liability if “it is proved that at the time of such acquisition he knew of such untruth or omission”); id. at 77I(a)(2) (requiring that “the purchaser not know[] of such untruth or omission”). Predominance concerns in connection with affirmative defenses may be considered at class certification for affirmative defenses the defendant “has actually advanced and for which it has presented evidence.” True Health Chiropractic, Inc. v. McKesson Corp., 896 F.3d 923, 931 (9th Cir. 2018). As another district court has noted, “in some circumstances individualized issues regarding knowledge can be sufficient to defeat class certification in Section 11 and 12(a)(2) cases.” Vignola v. Fat Brands, Inc., No. CV187469PSGPLAX, 2020 WL 1934976, at *5 (C.D. Cal. Mar. 13, 2020) (citing cases). Issues of actual knowledge do not defeat class certification here. Defendants have presented evidence in the form of deposition testimony from various employees of BRS’s investment manager, ZCI, showing that some employees had knowledge of pieces of information related to the alleged omissions. Separate and apart from issues of whether knowledge of individual ZCI employees may be imputed to BRS, rather than only ZCI’s knowledge, the awareness of snippets of information do not defeat predominance. In a securities class action against fellow rideshare operator Lyft, another court in this district rejected the contention that some knowledge about the problems Lyft faced concerning sexual assaults defeated predominance. As stated in the order granting class certification in that case, “the declarations concerning the sexual assault issue reflect a general awareness that Lyft was subject to some allegations of sexual assault, rather than any knowledge about the alleged magnitude of the problem.” In re Lyft Inc. Sec. Litig., No. 19-CV-02690-HSG, 2021 WL 3711470, at *6 (N.D. Cal. Aug. 20, 2021). Similarly here, each of the pieces of knowledge identified by Defendants go to the awareness of a general issue, not the magnitude of the problems alleged in the SAC. Defendants also argue that individual issues of actual knowledge give rise to Case 3:19-cv-06361-RS Document 217 Filed 07/26/22 Page 5 of 8 ORDER GRANTING MOTION FOR CLASS CERTIFICATION CASE NO. 19-cv-06361-RS 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 United States District Court Northern District of California individualized issues of causation which will predominate over common issues and create conflicts within the class, and that Comcast v. Behrend, 569 U.S. 27 (2013) prohibits class-wide treatment of the causation issues in this case. Given that Defendants have failed to establish that actual knowledge will preclude class certification, these issues similarly do not preclude certification. The absence of loss causation, also referred to as negative causation, is an affirmative defense for which Defendants have the burden. Hildes v. Arthur Andersen LLP, 734 F.3d 854, 860 (9th Cir. 2013). Defendants have not established that individualized issues with negative causation will predominate over common questions, and “[t]he causes of the [Uber] stock declines are factual questions suitable for resolution on a class-wide basis.” In re Facebook, Inc., IPO Sec. & Derivative Litig., 312 F.R.D. 332, 350 (S.D.N.Y. 2015). Further, Comcast does not prevent certification. “The Ninth Circuit reads Comcast to demand only that plaintiffs be able to show that their damages stemmed from the defendant’s actions that created the legal liability.” Hatamian v. Advanced Micro Devices, Inc., No. 14-CV00226 YGR, 2016 WL 1042502, at *8 (N.D. Cal. Mar. 16, 2016) (internal quotation marks and citation omitted). Defendant points to no securities class action in which the concerns from Comcast prevented certification; indeed, many courts have held that “Comcast is simply inapposite to Section 11 actions, where damages reflect liability by statutory formula.” New Jersey Carpenters Health Fund v. Royal Bank of Scotland Grp., PLC, No. 08-CV-5310 (DAB), 2016 WL 7409840 (S.D.N.Y. Nov. 4, 2016) (internal quotation marks and citation omitted). In short, Plaintiff has established predominance and superiority. B. Adequacy To determine whether named plaintiffs will adequately represent a class, courts must resolve two questions: “(1) do the named plaintiffs and their counsel have any conflicts of interest with other class members and (2) will the named plaintiffs and their counsel prosecute the action vigorously on behalf of the class?” Ellis v. Costco Wholesale Corp., 657 F.3d 970, 985 (9th Cir. 2011) (internal quotation marks and citation omitted). Defendants only invoke the latter concern.3 3 To the extent that Defendants are concerned with conflicts within the class concerning causation, that concern is addressed in the discussion of predominance and superiority. Case 3:19-cv-06361-RS Document 217 Filed 07/26/22 Page 6 of 8 ORDER GRANTING MOTION FOR CLASS CERTIFICATION CASE NO. 19-cv-06361-RS 7 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 United States District Court Northern District of California Defendants argue that the proposed class representatives are not adequate because they are not controlling this litigation, arguing that “Lead Plaintiff BRS has shown an inability (or unwillingness) to control its lawyers or legal costs” and citing to the proposed participation of ten law firms on the plaintiff side in this case. Opposition to Motion for Class Certification, p.35. Defendants similarly argue that the proposed individual class representatives “have abdicated responsibility for running this case to counsel[.]” Id. at 37. Defendants assert a higher bar to establishing adequacy than is required in this circuit. “While it is true that plaintiffs must offer affirmative evidence demonstrating that they satisfy the requirements of Rule 23(a), the evidentiary burden upon plaintiffs is low; a class representative will be deemed inadequate only if startlingly unfamiliar with the case[.]” In re Silver Wheaton Corp. Sec. Litig., No. 215CV05146CASJEMX, 2017 WL 2039171, at *8 (C.D. Cal. May 11, 2017) (internal quotation marks and citations omitted). Here, the proposed class representatives more than surpass this standard, and “satisfy the requirement that plaintiffs present some affirmative evidence that they are familiar with this case, the claims within it, and the role of a class representative.” Id. As for the number of proposed class representatives, the PSLRA does not dictate that there may only be one class representative. “[T]he PSLRA does not in any way prohibit the addition of named plaintiffs to aid the lead plaintiff in representing a class. Rather, the proposed class and Class Representatives are to be reviewed according to the standards of Rule 23, without any deference to the earlier determinations made in the appointment of Lead Plaintiffs.” In re Twitter Inc. Sec. Litig., 326 F.R.D. 619, 627 (N.D. Cal. 2018) (internal quotation marks and citation omitted). As for the concern about the involvement of numerous law firms, only one firm— Labaton Sucharow—seeks to serve as Lead Counsel. Labaton Sucharow has demonstrated experience in litigating securities class actions and has an incentive to avoid duplication of efforts amongst the firms it will draw on for support; indeed, any payments to other firms will be from attorney’s fees due to Labaton Sucharow, should it be awarded any fees. In short, Plaintiff has established that the proposed class representatives and Lead Counsel are adequate. Case 3:19-cv-06361-RS Document 217 Filed 07/26/22 Page 7 of 8 ORDER GRANTING MOTION FOR CLASS CERTIFICATION CASE NO. 19-cv-06361-RS 8 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 United States District Court Northern District of California C. Typicality Defendants argue that the proposed class representatives are not typical because they are subject to unique actual knowledge defenses, and that this is a basis to deny certification even if the Court rejects the similar arguments concerning predominance and superiority. This argument is rejected for the same reasons as the predominance and superiority requirements. It is very probable that given the high profile nature of Uber and its IPO, some members of the class became aware of information disseminated in the news media concerning the omissions Plaintiff has averred. Plaintiff’s theory of this case, however, is that the pre-IPO information available in the news did not reach the full scope of the alleged omissions. Thus, the actual knowledge defenses as to the proposed class representatives are not so unique to these plaintiffs that they defeat typicality. Typicality is therefore satisfied. V. Conclusion For all the foregoing reasons, the motion for class certification is granted. BRS, David Messinger, Salvatore Toronto, and Irving S. and Judith Braun are appointed as class representatives, and Labaton Sucharow is appointed as class counsel. IT IS SO ORDERED. Dated: July 26, 2022 ______________________________________ RICHARD SEEBORG Chief United States District Judge Case 3:19-cv-06361-RS Document 217 Filed 07/26/22 Page 8 of 8
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