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39
Case 5:05-cv-01526-TS-MLH Document 39 Filed 06/27/2006 Page 1 of 22
Dockets.Justia.com
Case 5:05-cv-01526-TS-MLH Document 39 Filed 06/27/2006 Page 2 of 22
A. Plaintiff's Failure to Properly and Efficiently Meet and Confer for the Rule
26 Statement
On June 7th, 2006 FriendFinder’s counsel, Ira P. Rothken, faxed Plaintiff's counsel
a letter requesting a phone conference for 3 pm PST to meet and confer regarding the
Rule 26 Statement (See Exhibit 000001). On June 8th, 2006, Plaintiff's counsel advised
via a return fax that he had already “met and conferred” with FriendFinder's local counsel
(See Exhibit 000001). Given that Plaintiff’s counsel failed to include FriendFinder’s lead
counsel in the meet and confer process this set up the following chain of events.
2. There was a failure to include each side’s lead counsel in the meet and
confer process on important issues.
On June 21st FriendFinder’s counsel, after converting Plaintiff’s version to an
editable format and providing a revised draft Rule 26 Statement in electronic format to
Plaintiff’s counsel (See Exhibit 000003-000005) gets an e-mail from Plaintiff’s counsel
indicating that he refused to agree to the revised version and that he cannot cut and paste
it (See Exhibit 000006). FriendFinder’s counsel then writes to Plaintiff’s counsel the
following e-mail (which was not attached to Plaintiff’s exhibits but attached herein as
2
Case 5:05-cv-01526-TS-MLH Document 39 Filed 06/27/2006 Page 3 of 22
Exhibit 000007)) which sums up the problems the parties have had to date
communicating on substantive issues in the case:
3
Case 5:05-cv-01526-TS-MLH Document 39 Filed 06/27/2006 Page 4 of 22
The parties did not have any “real” meet and confer on the above issues. While
plaintiff’s counsel did write a minimalist response to the above in an e-mail response later
that day it is hard to discern where the parties agree and disagree and why and what the
parties will jointly recommend to the Court if anything i.e. stay. Indeed, it is hard to plan
a schedule for discovery and litigation when issues of stay, volume of discovery, who if
anyone else may be joined, and the entry of a two tiered confidentiality order all up in the
air and un-discussed.
This insufficient meet and confer process stems from Plaintiff’s counsel using
informal discussions with local counsel on more than one occasion as a method of
avoiding substantive meet and confer with FriendFinder’s lead counsel. This sort of
technique was used prior to plaintiff filing her motion to strike FriendFinder’s answer.
(See Order of the Court filed on April 4, 2006 at pages 2-3.)
4
Case 5:05-cv-01526-TS-MLH Document 39 Filed 06/27/2006 Page 5 of 22
David,
Ira P. Rothken
Plaintiff’s counsel by not following the guidance in the e-mail shown above or
providing such e-mail to the Court in its exhibits instead provided this court with a
misleading statement of what occurred.
In light of the fact that plaintiff’s counsel was unwilling to allow FriendFinder’s
counsel to e-file the Joint Rule 26 Statement under some theory that he was closer to the
Courthouse (See Exhibit 000009) Plaintiff’s counsel was then entrusted by
5
Case 5:05-cv-01526-TS-MLH Document 39 Filed 06/27/2006 Page 6 of 22
Respectfully submitted,
Local Counsel:
Ira P. Rothken (T.A. - Pro Hac Vice, Cal. Bar 160029) Bennett L. Politz (LSBA Bar No. 10573)
ROTHKEN LAW FIRM LLP Booth Lockard Politz & LeSage LLC
3 Hamilton Landing, Suite 224 920 Pierremont Road, Suite 103
Novato, California 94949 P. O. Drawer 1092
Tel: (415) 924-4250 Shreveport, LA 71163
Fax: (415) 924-2905 (318) 222-2333
Email: ira@techfirm.com (318) 221-1035 (fax)
email: blp@blpld.com
6
Case 5:05-cv-01526-TS-MLH Document 39 Filed 06/27/2006 Page 7 of 22
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
I hereby certify that on June 27, 2006, a copy of the foregoing DEFENDANT
VARIOUS, INC.’s MEMORANDUM REGARDING RULE 26F JOINT CASE
MANAGEMENT REPORT was filed electronically with the Clerk of Court using the
CM/ECF system. Notice of this filing will be sent to Ira P. Rothken and Bennett L.
Politz by operation of the court’s electronic filing system. I also certify that I have faxed
and mailed by United States Postal Service, postage prepaid, this filing to the following
non-CM/ECF participants:
David A Szwak
Bodenheimer Jones & Szwak
401 Market St Ste 240
Shreveport, LA 71101
Fax No. (318) 221-6555
7
Case 5:05-cv-01526-TS-MLH Document 39 Filed 06/27/2006 Page 8 of 22
Fkc,NE, (4l518a4'425Q
f^xt (4 | 51 8e4.egqr5
EMAIL; lRa(Ot€cHFrnM.c'Jl'i
wcBi |l/$rllt/,TgeHFT|qM,co'9
Juac 7, 2006
11IA FACSIMILE
David A Szwak
Bodenheimcr Jones & Szwak
509 Market St Ste 730
Shreveport,LA 71101
Tcl: 318-221-6444
Fax:318-221-5555
Pursuantto the Court's order of May 4, 2006, a copy of which is attachtd for your
reference,that the parties were to mcet and co4fel on this caseby today. ordinarily, thc
plaintiff initiates such mc€t and confer. Since we have T!!:1td from yow office ou this mattcr'
wc suggestthat wi m€et a:rfliggier on Thursday, June 8, 2006 at 3:00 P'rn Pacific Time-
Irh ?. Rothker
lra P. Rothken
From: BJKS1507@aol.com
Sent: Thursday, June15,200612:49PM
To: lra P. Rothken; ira@techflrm.org;
ira@techfirm.comi com;blp@blpld
blpld@softdisk com
Cc: jared@techfirm.corn;hal@techfirm.com
v. Various,
Subject:Re:ShellyLandry-Bell et al
12:26:33
dated6/15/2006
In a message Time,ira@techfirm.net
PMCentralDaylight writes:
, ar-----
is howwe do it in everyother
) 1 et"aseemailustheWordfilesowe canmakeeditswithredlines....that
I I Feoeralcase -.thanks,
t
lra P, Rothken
David,
lra P, Rothken
RothkenLaw Firm
ira@techfirm.cqm
www.,techfirm.com
415-9244250
I]NITED STATESDISTRICTCOURT
IN AND FORTHEWESTERNDISTRICTOF LOUISIANA
Division
ShrevePort
SHELLY LANDRY-BELL,
Plaintiff,
Versus
Civil Action No.
cv05-1526-s
RULE 26[F]CASEMANAGEMENTREPORT
A meetingofcounsel,David Savak, for plaintiff, and Ben Politz, was held on June7, 2006,by
telephone.
]. NATURE OF PLAINTIFF''SCLAIMS
3. INITIAL DISCLOSURES
The partieshavenot exchanged initialdisclosures yet but aie orderedto do so by July 2liI, 2006unlessth€ caseis
dismissed is
or stay entered givendefendant Wilhelm's ov€rseas militarydutyandunavailability andthenotionthathe is
or neiessaryparty to this case,Notlvithstandingthe abovethe Various Incorporated/FriendFiDder
likely an indispensable
defendantshavedonea diligent searih and havealreadyproducedto plaintiffs counselany and all iftemal documenls
withjntheirpossession, cusiody,or controlit wasab!eto discem(aftercommunications with plaintiffs counsel)were
allegedlyrelatedto plaintjff
4. JURISDICTION
6. DISCOVERY ISSUES
In anyevent,VariousbeLieves
expedition. thatthe issueofstay or dismissalin lightofdefendantWilhelm's
before
shouldbe decided
mititaryunavailabiliry discoverycommences.
B. The partiesproposea period ofat teast180daysfor completionof discoverywith that periodrunningfrom the
7. MOTION PRACTICE
9. TRIAL BY MAGISTRATE
at this tjrne.
All partiesdo not consentto trial by Magistrate-Judge
lra P. Rothken
From: BJKS1507@aol.com
June21,20067:41AM
Sent: Wednesday,
To: fra P, Rothken;i@@techfirm.com;
irc@tecnfttm.org; blp@blpldcom
blpld@softdisk.com;
Gc: jared@techf,rm,com;hal@techfirm.com
v. Various,
Subject:Re:ShellyLandry-Bell et al
datedgn120Q6214223AM CentralDaylight
ln a message netwrites:
Time,ira@techfirm,
it to death.
youhavetakena verysimplereportandover-lawyered
ustas I suspected,
DavidA. SzwaK
Bodenheimer,Jones& Szwak
509 MarketStreet,7th Floor
BankBuilding
UnitedMercantile
Louisiana
Shreveport, 71101
318-221-6444
Fax221€555
www.bjslaw.com
**
www.MyFaircredit.com
" Checkoutthe DisputeForum
www.maxedoutmovie.com/indexl.html
** CheckOut"l\4axedOut,"the movie/documentary by Trueworks
PremieresMarch11,2006,at theSouthBy SouthwestFilmFestival
Checkouttheclipsat thesite;I am in the movie!
lra P. Rothken
David,
We providedthe text to you in both the bodyof the e-mail(whereyou can cut and paste)as well as in rtf format.
tf you thlnkwe haveoverlawyered it justtell me wherewe disagreeanddo this in a normalmannerandwe are
happyto makechangesto the shortdocumentif uponreflection we wrotesomethinginapplicable.
Again,we are not so arrogantas to saythatour revisions to the jointdocumentare a workof art but giventhe
notionthat you to
have refused meet and confer with us in any substantiveway we were forcedto reviseit so teh
Courtcouldhearbothsideson importantcasemanagement issuesuntilwe heardbackfromyou on the points
we raisedand yourclient'spositionto see wherewe agreeand disagree.
I You snoutOcatlme andwe can go througheachof the issuesby phoneat 10 am PSTtimetodayor if you do not
t wantto talkvou c€n markup eachsectionwith"plaintiffspositions" and "Friendfinder's positions" and e-mailit
backto us ahdwe makesureeachof our viewsare accuratelyrepresented whatever they may be.
"un
tn any eventpleaselet us knowtodayyourviewson why thiscaseshouldnot be stayedor dismissedif Mr.
Wilhelmis in the militaryand unavailibleoverseasgiventhe statutethatprotectssuchmilltarypersonsfromcivil
and giventhathe is likelyan indispendable
litjgation partyto a casewherehe is the allegeddefamor.Alsokindly
adiriseus on whatdiscoveryyou thinkyourclientwill needand why in lightof the CDA immunitystatuteas we
are unableto futtyunderstand yourwriting- in othercaseswe havehad involvingthe CDAthat survivedthe
pleadingstagetheiudge(s)haveorderedthe partiesto meetand conferin a pragmaticsenseto decidein good
iaithwh;t nairowdiscovery"matters"and is proportional and can changethe outcome(by removingthe
immunity) anddid notallowa fishingexpedition. Further,kindlyadviseus on who yourclientmay add to the
caseand why.Alsoadviseif yourclientis amenableto a two tieredconfidentiality orderandif you can provide
an exemplarior our review and edit.Please advise us on the above and let us knowlf you will be callingat 10
am PSTtodayso we can be available, Thanks.
lra P. Rothken
RothkenLaw Firm
ira@techfirt0.c.9m
www,tPchfirm.gorl
FromruKS1507@aol.com BJKS1507@aol.com]
[mailto:
Sent: Wed6/2t120067:40 Al4
To: Ira P.Rothken;
ira@techfirm.com;ira@techfirm.org; blp@blpld.com
blpld@softdisk.com;
Cc:jared@techfirm.com;
hal@techfirm.com
subject: Re:ShellyLandry-Bell et al
v. Varlous,
lra P. Rothken
David,
Thiswouldbeeasierif youwouldgeton thephonewithus- we includedthatwe madea jurydemand; thatthe
discovery miy Oecnallldlfli?EB a stayithatplaintiffbelievesit ne6dscertain
finaldateis impacted
discovery;
andothertweaksto makethedocument moreaccurate.
Canyoukindlyanswer thequestions sowe cangetyourclient's
I askedyouin an emailthismorning position
priorto filingthisdocument
andbeforetheconference theyareagainbelow-- please
withhishonor....here
advisesowe havesomeprocedural cooperation
evenifwe disagree ontheresults
of theissuesraised.
"lnanyeventpleaseletusknowtodayyourviewsonwhythiscaseshouldnotbe stayedor dismissed if Mr.
Wilhelm is in themilitary
andunavailable overseas giventhestatute thatproteats persons
suchmilitary from
civillitigation andgiventhathe is likelyan lndispendable partyto a ca$ewherehe is thealleged defamor. Also
kindlyadviseusonwhatdiscovery youthinkyourclientwillneedandwhyin ljghtof theCDAimmunity
slatuteaswe areunable to iullyunderstand yourwrlting- in othercaseswe havehadinvolving theCDAthat
survived thepleading stagethejudge(s) haveordered theparties to meetandconferin a pragmaticsenseto
decidein goodFaith whatnarrow discovery andis proportional
"matters" andcanchangetheoutcome (by
removing theimmunity) anddidnotallowa ishingexpedition. Further, kindlyadviseus onwhoyourclientmay
addtothecaseandwhy.Alsoadviseif yourclientis amenable orderandif you
to a twotieredconfidentiality
canprovide anexemplar forourreviewandedit."
lra P. Rothken
DavidA. Szwak
Bodenheimer.Jones& Szwak
509 MarketStreet,7th Floor
UnitedMercantile
BankBuilding
Shreveport,
Louisiana 71101
318-221-6444
Fax 221-6555
www,bjslaw.com
*
www.lvlyFairCredit.com
** Checkout the DisouteForum
www,maxedoutmovie.comiindexl.html
*. CheckOut "MaxedOut,"the movie/documentary
by Trueworks
4:34:01PMCentralDaylight
dated6t21nOOd
fn a message writes:
Time,ira@techflrm.net
'l
/Whv roulOI sendmvsiqnature to Califomiato befiledherein Shreveportby tomorrow? Thatmakes no
\ sen-r".Please send-me a faxedsignatureas I willbefi.ingthedocumentin thecoun'soutboxafrer5:00p.m. \
lf
toO"y. youlailto sendyoursigniture
it willbefiledwith an asto whyanda complete
explanation copyot tne
J /
emails.
f
DavidA. Szwak
Bodenheimer,Jones& Szwak
509 MarketStrcet,7th Floor
BankBuilding
UnitedMercantile
Shreveport,
Louisiana 71101
318-2214444
F2D<221$555
www.bislaw.com
*"
www.MyFairCredii.com
- Checkout the DisputeForum
www.maxedoutmovie.corn/indext, html
* CheckOut "MaxedOut,"lhe movie/documentary by Trueworks
PremieresMarch 11, 2006, d tfle Soulh By SouthwestFilm Festival
Checkout the clipsat the site; I am in the movie!
-7"
Wednesday,June21,2006 AmericaOr ine: BJKS1507
lra P. Rothken
David,
I havenowlearnedthatyouprinted - whenyourAdobeAcrobat
it incorrectly vieweropensandyouhitprintin
you
theprintwindow needto select print document WITH and
markups it will changeI made
printthemarkup
to changethedateto June21sI.-..,lhanks,
lraP. Rothken
We agreedlo June21it and lwrote you an emailsayingthatand then i useda programwe havecalledNitro
pDF 6 takethe previously signedPDFandeditthe datewithinthe PDFto June21stand thatis how it came
out namely it mabe the cliange in the PDFbut unbeknownstto us not in the printedversionof the PDF....you
thenaskedfor clarittcation and I toldyou June21st....you
thenfurthercomplained and I toldyou to writeit in on
.l thenaskedyou whereare yourinitialdisclosures
the one I signed,.. and you havenot providedthemto us
eventhoughtheyare due today.
lra P. Rothken
writes:
5:18:36Pl\4CentralDaylightTlme' ira@techfirm.net
In a messagedated6l?1l2Qo6
David,
lra P. Rothken
Thankyou for youremail, I haveretainedthe curious.pdfflleyou sentwhichwouldnot printthe visible
alterati6nof th; date, I wouldlikefor you to explainhow and why you wouldemailme a .pdffileand showa
markthroughandtypeoverto correctyourrepeatedeffodto altera court-imposed deadlineyet whenwe try to
printthe file-,the ovbilaiO"June"textdoesnot printand retainsthe improper"July"remark?Wereyou
lra P, Rothken
David,
Prinler
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lra P. Rothken
you wanted.
l overwroteit to say June21st.....like
DavidA. Szwak
Bodenheimer, Jones& Szwak
509 MarketStreet.7th Floor
UnitedMercantile BankBuilding
Shreveport, Louisiana
71101
318-221-6444
Fax 221$555
y'/vw.bjsLq.W,.Aom
www.MyFairCredit.com **
.* Checkout the DisputeForum
www,maxedoutmovie.com/indexl.html
*- CheckOut "MaxedOut,"the movieidocumentary by Trueworks
PremieresMarch11,2006,at the SouthBy SouthwestFilmFestival
Checkout the clipsat the site:I am in the movie!
lra P. Rothken
David,
From:UKS1507@aol.com [mailto:BJKS1507@aol.com]
Sent: Wednesday,June2lt 20062:77PM
To: Ira P.Rothken;ira@techfirm.com;
ira@techfirm.org; blp@blpld.com
Cc:jared@techfirm.com;hal@techfirm.com
Subiect: Re:ShellyLandry-Bell et al Finalfor Signature
v. Various,
ln a messagedated612112006 3:25:51PMCentral
Daylight writes:
Time,ira@techfirm.net
Besideswe already responded to yoursubpoena
soyouhavealltheVarious
internal
document
related
allegedly to plaintiff.
Wearetheoneswhowillbe moreimpacted by notgetting
yourclient's
disclosures
rightaway.
lra, We have not receivedany documentsfrom you. You need to complyor be preparedto have a motionfiled
in connectionwithyourfailureto do as ordered.Yourcavalierresponsesare notappreciated.
DavidA. Szwak
Bodenheimer.Jones& Szwak
509 MarketStreet,7th Floor
BankBuilding
UnitedMercantile
Louisiana
Shreveport, 71101
318-221-6444
Fax221-6555
uA&w.bjslaw.com
www.MyFaircredit.com "'
"* Checkout the DisputeForum
www.maxedoutmovie.com/indexl,html
** CheckOut "lvlaxedOut,"the movie/documentary by Trueworks
PremieresMarch1'1,2006,at the SouthBy SouthwestFilmFest,val
Checkout the cliosat the site:I am in the moviel