Tämä on FBI:n tutkinta-asiakirja Epstein Files -aineistosta (FBI VOL00009). Teksti on purettu koneellisesti alkuperäisestä PDF-tiedostosta. Hae lisää asiakirjoja →
FBI VOL00009
EFTA00177847
210 sivua
Sivu 21 / 210
EL-AD RESIDENCES AT MIRAMAR CONDOS. MT. HAWLEY 1265 Cite as 716 2,..Supp.2d 1257 (S.D.Fhe. 2010) Court will not expand its jurisdiction to engage in an investigation of Rosenbaum.0 C. Motion for Protective Order Residences' Motion for Protective Order is also denied. Residences has not provid- ed this Court with information to support its claim that Rosenbaum has disclosed its confidential attorney-client communica- tions. The Motion can only be understood as Garfinkel's and Katzman's personal complaints about Rosenbaum, and to the extent they ask this Court to enjoin Rosenbaum, a non-party, from prospective violations of the attorney-client privilege, that motion is denied.15 The Court will address Garfinkel's and Katzman's claims of privilege consistent with its ruling on the Motion to Intervene. D. Request for Judicial Action Rosenbaum, and the Defendant insur- ers, would both like this Court to step beyond the four corners of this lawsuit and investigate various possibilities of fraud upon this and other Courts. The proposed areas of inquiry include: (1) Romain's ap- parent perjury, either at the March 30 deposition, or earlier depositions; (2) whether Garfinkel or Katzman improperly persuaded Romain to recant his sworn ac- cusations against them; (3) whether Gar- finkel, Katzman or their consultants en- gaged in fraud by helping their clients to submit false insurance claims. This al- leged misconduct is serious, and this Order should not be misconstrued to suggest oth- erwise. This Court nevertheless declines to en- gage in a free-ranging inquiry into matters 14. If the Court felt that such an inquiry were appropriate, it would not limit the Inquiry to Rosenbaum's alleged transgressions, but would include within its scope the serious allegations of misconduct by Garfinkel and 14317.man. pending before other courts, as those courts are best suited to manage their own proceedings. Allegations of inflated insur- ance claims, kickbacks and improper busi- ness relationships between lawyers and consultants have been raised in the course of similar litigation before other courts, where they have been addressed in the context of those proceedings without hav- ing to embark on a sweeping investigation. The only new information here is Romain's March 30 deposition testimony in which he recanted his earlier accusations of miscon- duct by Garfinkel and others, and Rosen- baum's disclosure, at the April 16 hearing, of Katzman's alleged suggestion that Ro- main could be paid to recant that testimo- ny. These developments, without doubt, are extraordinary. They do not require this Court, however, to broadly investigate matters before other courts and issue rul- ings that may limit how other courts deal with this evidence, if at all, in the cases before them. As for this case, this Court can address evidence of fraud, perjury and other mis- conduct as necessary to resolve the issues here. For example, whether Residences submitted inflated damage claims is rele- vant to Defendants' defense that the policy is void. Exactly what evidence bears on this defense and may be submitted to a jury, can be decided with pre-trial motions and at trial. As already noted, to the extent misconduct exceeds the bounds of this litigation there are other forums and authorities to address them. The point is that this Court has proce- dural mechanisms in place that allow it to IS. The Court strongly rejects the request that this Court enjoin Rosenbaum from "appear- ing In any case or taking any action adverse to Alan Garfinkel or any of his former clients In any case where allegations of Ken Romain are, directly or indirectly at issue," as a mis- use of Its power. [See DE 122, pp. 17-181 EFTA00177867
Sivu 22 / 210
1266 716 FEDERAL SUPPLEMENT, 2d SERIES consider these issues, as necessary to bring this case to a just conclusion. Given those mechanisms, this Court will not ex- ercise its discretion to make an extraordi- nary and unnecessary use of its power. III. CONCLUSION For the foregoing reasons, it is hereby ORDERED that: 1. Residences' Request for Judicial In- quiry [DE 103] is DENIED. 2. The Defendants' Joint Statement Requesting a Broad Judicial Inquiry [DE 121] is DENIED. 8. Residences' Motion for Protective Order [DE 122] is DENIED. 4. Garfmkel's and Katzman's Motion to Intervene [DE 126) is GRANTED. 6. Garfinkel's and Katzman's Motion to Convene A Sealed and Limited Ancillary Proceeding [DE 130] is DENIED. 6. Garfinkel's and Katzman's Motion for Hearing [DE 132] is DENIED. 7. Westchester's Motion for Extension of Time to Respond [DE 146) is DENIED as moot. Donna Katz MAPLES, Plaintiff, 1. UHS OF GEORGIA, INC., UHS of Geor- gia Holdings, Inc., and UHS of Peach- ford, L.P., doing business as Peach- ford BHS of Atlanta, Defendants. Civil Action No. 1:09-CV-01964—WEJ. United States District Court, N.D. Georgia, Atlanta Division. May 3, 2010. Background: Former employee brought action against her former employer, alleg- ing employer eliminated her part-time nurse position in violation of Age Discrimi- nation in Employment Act (ADEA). Em- ployer moved for summary Judgment. Holdings: The District Court, Walter E. Johnson, United States Magistrate Judge, held that: (1) employee failed to establish prima facie case of disparate treatment, and (2) employee failed to demonstrate pre- text. Motion granted. 1. Civil Rights 6=1210 To establish a disparate-treatment claim under the ADEA, an employee must prove that age was the but-for cause of the employer's adverse decision. Age Dis- crimination in Employment Act of 1967, § 4(a)(1), 29 U.S.C.A. § 623(a)(1). 2. Civil Rights 6=1672 The ADEA does not permit a sepa- rate recovery of compensatory damages for pain and suffering or emotional dis- tress. Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, § 2 et seq., 29 U.S.C.A. § 621 et seq. 3. Civil Rights e=.1.539 Where there is no direct or statistical evidence of age discrimination, the court applies the burden-shitting framework es- tablished in McDonnell Douglas to evalu- ate an ADEA claim based upon circum- stantial evidence. Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, § 4(aX1), 29 U.S.C.A. § 623(aX1). 4. Civil Rights 6=1639 Under the McDonnell Douglas bur- den-shifting framework, if an employee is EFTA00177868
Sivu 23 / 210
118 103 FEDERAL RULES DECISIONS previous order, courts are restrained by a careful statutory analysis for each item of a bill of costs. While United States'. Kolesar is helpful in deciding whether the costa of a stenographic transcript should be awarded under 28 U.S.C. § 1920(2), it is not applicable to the decision whether photo- copying expense is reimbursable under 28 U.S.C. § 1920(4). The following statement is a clear explanation of the necessity re- quired for copies under subsection (4): Photocopying charges attributable to dis- covery and the court's copies of plead- ings, motions, and memoranda are "rea- sonable necessary for use in the case" and can be awarded. Extra copies of filed papers and correspondence, and cop- ies of cues, however, are not necessary but are for the convenience of the attor- neys and therefore not taxable. Independence Tube Corp. I Copperweld Corp., 643 F.Supp. 706, 722 (N.D.Ill.1982). B. Disallowance of Reimbursement for Costs of Depositions Not Adequately Identified as Necessary for Motion for Summary Judgment (8) In the previous order, this court awarded the costs of two depositions which were tendered into evidence at the trial. The court's allowance of the costs of those two depositions does not mean, as suggest- ed in the defendant's motion for reconsider- ation, that this court would not award the costs of depositions used in supporting a successful motion for summary judgment. Such an award is appropriate when the attorneys can point to the use of the depo- sitions with some particularity. Consider- ing, however, the strong policy of the American system against the shifting of litigation expenses, a general statement by the attorneys that the parties and the court relied on five depositions for an order granting summary judgment is not suffi- cient; the party seeking reimbursement must show how the depositions were neces- sary for the court's disposition of the mo- tion. This court's ruling, therefore, was consistent with Jeffries I. Georgia Resi- dential Finance Authority, 90 F.R.D. 62 (N.D.Ga.1981), and reconsideration is un- necessary. In summary, the defendant's motion for reconsideration is hereby DENIED, and the court hereby ALLOWS $137.26 for photo- copying expense under 28 U.S.C. § 1920(4). This court's review of the bill of costs is now complete and the items, as allowed in this order and the previous order, may now be included in the judgment. Claire NELSON, Plaintiff, I Samuel N. GREENSPOON, and Eaton, Van Winkle and Greenspoon, a partnership, Defendants. No. 83 Chi. 7962 (SWK). United States District Court, S.D. New York. Sept. 11, 1984. An action was filed involving a dispute between a corporation's former president and her attorney. The corporation sought to intervene to preserve its claims to a purported attorney-client privilege sur- rounding documents generated by the at- torney. The District Court, Kram, J., held that: (1) the corporation could intervene, and (2) the corporation failed to carry its burden of showing that the documents were privileged. Motion to intervene granted and mo- tion for suppression and return of docu- ments denied. 1. Federal Civil Procedure 0=321 Corporation's motion seeking return of allegedly privileged documents in its for- mer president's possession and suppression of those documents already produced in EFTA00177869
Sivu 24 / 210
NELSON'. OREENSPOON
coo as 103 P.R.D. 118 (1984)
litigation could be treated as motion to
intervene, even though moving papers did
not explicitly seek leave to intervene. Fed.
Rules. Civ.Proc.Rules 24, 24(a, c), 28 U.S.
C.A.
2. Federal Civil Procedure s=135
Although corporation which sought to
intervene in order to protect allegedly privi-
leged documents did not meet with formali-
ties required by intervention rule, that did
not preclude granting intervention in that
denial of motion would exalt form over
substance.
Fed.Rules Civ.Proc.Rules 24,
24(a, c), 28 U.S.C.A.
3. Federal Courts s=23
If corporation's intervention to pre-
serve its claims to purported attorney-client
privilege surrounding various documents
involved in litigation was as of right, dis-
trict court could hear case irrespective of
corporation's citizenship under doctrine of
ancillary jurisdiction. Fed.Rules Civ.Proc.
Rules 24, 24(a, c), 28 U.S.C.A.
4. Federal Civil Procedure ts=t335
Corporation could intervene in action
between corporation's former president and
her attorney concerning attorney's repre-
sentation of president in order to assert its
claim of attorney-client privilege surround-
ing documents generated by attorney, who
also represented corporation, where attor-
ney was not actively protecting that privi-
lege. Fed.Rules Civ.Proc.Rule 24(a), (aX2),
28 U.S.C.A.; Fed.Rules Evid.Rule 501, 28
U.S.C.A.; N.Y.McKinney's CPLR 4503.
6. Witnesses o=>198(1)
Existence of attorney-client privilege is
based upon policy of encouraging openness
and full disclosure between client and his
or her attorney. N.Y.McKinney's CPLR
4503.
6. Witnesses 9:=198(1)
In order to minimize intrusion of attor-
ney-client privilege upon ascertainment of
truth, scope of privilege must be, and is,
confined to narrowest possible ambit which
will still achieve purpose of full disclosure
between client and his or her attorney.
N.Y.McKinney's CPLR 4603.
119
7. Witnesses 4=222
Burden of establishing existence of at-
torney-client privilege is upon party claim-
ing privilege.
N.Y.McKinney's CPLR
4508.
8. Witnesses <3:=204(2)
Former president of corporation, which
claimed that corporate documents were
protected by attorney-client privilege, was
properly in possession of those documents
where documents discussed former presi-
dent's personal matters. N.Y.McKinney's
CPLR 4503.
9. Witnesses CP>205
Corporate documents which involved
communications to or from third parties,
which contained information obtained from
third parties or which referred to on-going
communications with third party were not
confidential and, therefore, were not pro-
tected by corporation's attorney-client privi-
lege. N.Y.McKinney's CPLR 4503.
10. Witnesses A=204(2)
Corporation could not use its claim of
attorney-client privilege with respect to
documents to regain possession of purport-
edly privileged documents in possession of
corporation's
former
president.
N.Y.
McKinney's CPLR 4503.
Morris Pottish, New York City, for plain-
tiff.
Olnick, Boxer, Blumberg, Lane & Troy
by Andrew N. Krinsky, New York City, for
defendant Samuel N. Greenspoon.
Richenthal, Abrams & Moss by Arthur
Richenthal, New York City, for proposed
intervenor Hosiery Corp. of America.
MEMORANDUM OPINION
AND ORDER
KRAM, District Judge.
The above-captioned action is before this
Court in an unusual posture: a corporation,
Hosiery Corporation of America ("HCA"),
seeks to intervene in this dispute between
its erstwhile president, Claire Nelson, and
EFTA00177870
Sivu 25 / 210
120
103 FEDERAL RULES DECISIONS
her attorney, Samuel N. Greenspoon, con-
cerning Greenspoon's representation of
Nelson, in order to preserve its claims to a
purported attorney-client privilege sur-
rounding various documents generated by
Greenspoon, also RCA's attorney, copies of
which were sent to Nelson during her ten-
ure with HCA and remain in her possession
to date. HCA seeks an order directing
Nelson to turn over all of the documents,
and any copies thereof, and prohibiting her
from producing or disseminating those doc-
uments in any way. For the reasons stated
below, HCA is granted leave to intervene,
but its motion to restrain plaintiff and re-
plevy the documents is denied.
—BACKGROUND—
HCA is a closely-held Delaware corpora-
tion with its principal place of business in
Pennsylvania. HCA is primarily engaged
in selling hosiery through the mails.
Plaintiff Claire Nelson, along with her
late husband Jules, had been the sole and
joint owners of the outstanding shares of
HCA. Claire Nelson also was President, or
executive officer in charge of operations, of
HCA for several years prior to the end of
1980. On December 2, 1980, Claire and
Jules Nelson entered into a separation
agreement. On the same date, Claire en-
tered into an agreement with HCA where-
by HCA would pay Claire $1,260,000, over
the course of ten years, in redemption of
her interest in the corporation.
Claire was represented in the preparation
of these agreements by defendant Green-
spoon. Greenspoon is a member of the bar
of the State of New York. He had, before
and after the preparation of these agree-
ments, represented Claire in personal mat-
ters.
Additionally, Greenspoon had at
times represented Jules in personal mat-
ters. He also has been HCA's general
counsel since 1977. Greenspoon was the
only attorney involved in the preparation of
these agreements.
1. HCA is represented here by the attorney who
represents Greenspoort in the Surrogates Court
In or about March, 1981, Claire Nelson's
employment by HCA was terminated. She
has not been affiliated with HCA since that
time.
In or about December, 1981, Jules Nel-
son instituted an action against Claire in
New York State Supreme Court The sub-
stance and merits of that action are irrele-
vant for purposes of this motion. Claire
counterclaimed in that action to set aside
the agreements. On November 19, 1983,
Jules Nelson died, slowing the progress of
the Supreme Court action. That action is
still pending.
Jules Nelson's will was filed for probate
in Surrogate's Court, New York County.
Greenspoon and Helen Gioulis (not a party
herein) were appointed preliminary execu-
tors. The eligibility of Greenspoon for per-
manent letters testamentary is being con-
tested in Surrogate's Court.
In November, 1988, Claire instituted this
action against Greenspoon alleging mal-
practice and conversion. Discovery in this
action had been proceeding apace. Then,
in the course of discovery, Claire produced
copies of letters written by Greenspoon.
Greenspoon maintained that the documents
were privileged as between HCA and its
attorney, but responded to questions con-
cerning them.
HCA
then brought on the instant mo-
tion by Order to Show Cause dated May 11,
1984. In support of its motion, HCA sub-
mitted an affidavit by Arthur Richenthal,
dated May 7, 1984 ("Richenthal Aff."). At-
tached as exhibits to the affidavit were
copies of several documents which Claire
Nelson has produced during discovery
herein as to which HCA claims an attorney-
client privilege applies. By this motion,
HCA seeks the return of all privileged doc-
uments (and any copies thereof) in Claire's
possession and the suppression of those
privileged documents already produced by
Nelson in this action.
proceeding.
EFTA00177871
Sivu 26 / 210
—DISCUSSION— (1) Plaintiff raises several procedural arguments in opposition to HCA's motion which must be dealt with first. Initially, plaintiff claims that HCA is a non-party with no standing to move in this action. Admittedly, FICA's moving papers do not explicitly seek leave to intervene, but rath- er indicate that HCA appears "for [a] spe- cific and limited purpose." Richenthal Aff., II 2. However, on June 7, 1984, HCA addressed a letter to the Court requesting that the Court construe the motion as in- cluding a request to intervene. The Court will, therefore, construe this motion as one to intervene. 12) Plaintiff next argues that HCA's pa• pers are insufficient to support a motion to intervene pursuant to Rule 24 of the Feder- al Rules of Civil Procedure. Rule 24(c) provides in relevant part, that "[a] person desiring to intervene shall serve a motion to intervene ... [which] shall state the grounds therefor and shall be accompanied by a pleading setting forth the claim or defense for which intervention is sought." HCA has not met the formalities required by Rule 24(c); however, denying its motion on that ground would exalt form over sub- stance. See Belgian American Mercan- tile Corp. I De Groeve-Marcotte & Fits, 433 F.Supp. 1098, 1101 (S.D.N.Y.1977). In Belgian American, as in this case, the movant, a non-party, had acted by Order to Show Cause for some relief and had not specifically styled its request a petition to intervene. In that case, as in this one, the relief sought was clearly spelled out in the Order to Show Cause, albeit not in the form of a pleading. Noting that the "Sec- ond Circuit has held that in the face of strong circumstances the formal require• ments of Rule 24 need not be insisted on" (citing Kuplerman • Consolidated Re- search & Mfg. Corp.. 469 F.2d 1072, 1014 n. 1(2d Cir.1972)), the court held that "non- compliance with the strict requirements of Rule 24(c)" would not preclude intervention 2. If these documents relate solely to Green- spoon's representation of FICA. as HCA con- tends, this Court is at a loss to understand how they are relevant to, or the subject of, this ac- NELSON I. GREENSPOON 121 P.R.D. I le (1984) and a determination of the intervenor's mo- tion on the merits. 483 F.Supp. at 1101. This Court feels that that is the proper course to take in this instance as well. (3) Plaintiff also argues that the Court would be divested of subject matter juris- diction if HCA were permitted to intervene because HCA is not of citizenship diverse from that of plaintiff. If HCA's interven- tion is as of right, pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. 24(a), then this Court is empowered to hear this case irrespective of RCA's citizenship under the doctrine of ancillary jurisdiction. See Formulate, Inc. Hartley Pen Co., 318 F.2d 486 (9th Cir.1963). Rule 24(a) provides, in relevant party, as follows: Upon timely application anyone shall be permitted to intervene in an action: (2) when the applicant claims an interest relating to the property or transaction which is the subject of the action and he is so situated that the disposition of the action may as a practical matter impair or impede his ability to protect that inter- est, unless the applicant's interest is ade- quately represented by existing parties. (4) HCA seeks to intervene here to as- sert its purported attorney-client privilege to documents being made a subject of this action. This Court finds that the provi- sions of Rule 24(a)(2) do apply to this situa- lotion: to wit, the client claims an interest, an attorney-client privilege, in documents which are the subject of the action,' and the existing party, the attorney, is not ac- tively protecting that privilege. See In re Katz, 623 F.2d 122 (2d Cir.1980). HCA claims that various documents in Claire Nelson's possession are HCA docu- ments, subject to the attorney-client privi- lege, and that she should not be permitted to produce, or otherwise use, such privi- leged documents in this lawsuit. The pa- tion. Be that as It may, Nelson has produced them, and questioned Greenspoon about them; therefore, plaintiff has essentially made them the subject of this action at this stage. EFTA00177872
Sivu 27 / 210
122
103 FEDERAL RULES DECISIONS
rameters of the claimed privilege in this
diversity action are defined by state law.
Fed.R.Evid. 501. The attorney-client privi-
lege in New York is governed by section
4503 of the New York Civil Practice Law
and Rules ("CPLR"); however, it is deeply
rooted in common law. See People
O'Connor, 85 A.D.2d 92, 94, 447 N.Y.S.2d
553, 656 (4th Dep't 1982).
[6, 61 The existence of such a privilege
is based upon a policy of encouraging open-
ness and full disclosure between a client
and his or her attorney. See Upjohn Co.'
United States, 449 U.S. 383, 389, 101 S.Ct.
677, 682, 66 L.Ed.2d 584 (1981); Priest'
Hennessy, 51 N.Y.2d 62, 6748, 431 N.Y.
S.2d 611, 613-514, 409 N.E.2d 983, 985-986
(1980). Nonetheless, the application of the
privilege serves to exclude reliable evi-
dence and, often, to block the truth-deter-
mining processes of the courts. Priest, 61
N.Y.2d at 68, 431 N.Y.S.2d at 514, 409
N.E.2d at 986; In re Jacqueline F., 47
N.Y.2d 215, 219, 417 N.Y.S.2d 884, 886-87,
891 N.E.2d 967, 969-70 (1979). In order to
minimize the intrusion of the privilege upon
the ascertainment of truth, the scope of the
privilege must be, and is, confined to the
narrowest possible ambit which will still
achieve the purpose of full disclosure.
Priest, 61 N.Y.2d at 68, 431 N.Y.2d at 514,
409 N.E.2d at 986; see also In re Bekins
Storage Co., 118 Misc.2d 173, 177, 460 N.Y.
S.2d 684, 690 (Sup.Ct.N.Y.Co.1983).
(7) The specific formulation of the priv-
ilege, as set out in section 4503 of the
CPLR, provides, in relevant part, as fol-
lows:
Unless the client waives the privilege,
... any person who obtains without the
knowledge of the client evidence of a
confidential communication made be-
tween the attorney ... and the client in
the course of professional employment,
shall not ... be allowed to disclose such
communication.
N.Y.Civ.Prac.Law § 4503 (McKinney 1963)
(Supplementary Pamphlet 1964 to 1983).
3. Although, as discussed below, it Is not always
clear who the client was.
Whether or not that privilege covers the
communications here at issue must be re-
solved by this Court, but the burden of
establishing the existence of an attorney-
client privilege applicable to these particu-
lar circumstances is upon HCA, the party
claiming the privilege.
See Priest, 61
N.Y.2d at 69, 431 N.Y.S.2d at 514, 409
N.E.2d at 986; see also Katz, 623 F.2d at
125; United States' Demauro, 581 F.2d
50, 66 (2d Cir.1978).
HCA argues initially that these commu-
nications were made during the course of
an attorney-client relationship, and there
appears to be no dispute about this' HCA
further argues that these corporate com-
munications are confidential, urging baldly
that "[c)onfidentiality exists where the
communications sought to be protected
were made for the purposes of either re-
ceiving or giving legal advice." HCA's
Memorandum in Support of Motion, p. 4.
HCA also argues baldly that it has not
waived its privilege, and that Nelson pos-
sessed these documents without RCA's
knowledge. These last three contentions
are hotly disputed.
Treating the last argument first, it is
beyond peradventure that HCA "knew"
Nelson obtained these documents,' since
she is named on the documents (or at least
most of them) as an addressee, either of
the original or of a copy. Nelson argues,
therefore, that section 4608, by its terms, is
inapplicable. HCA argues in response that
Nelson received these documents solely in
her capacity as corporate officer. As such,
HCA argues, Nelson's receipt was the
equivalent of HCA's receipt, so the docu-
ments remained privileged (to the same
extent that they were privileged to begin
with). HCA argues further that it did not
"know" that she retained the documents
after she left her employ there, and that
such retention was wrongful and did not
divest HCA of its claimed privilege. Nel-
son, on the other hand, responds that these
documents were addressed to her personal-
ly, not as corporate officer, and/or that
4. At least insofar as a corporation can 'knows"
anything.
EFTA00177873
Sivu 28 / 210
HCA knew she retained them, at least be-
cause Jules (the sole remaining sharehold-
er, chief officer, and director of HCA)
shipped them to her and knew she had
them. HCA argues that Jules' knowledge
of, or even complicity in, Nelson's retention
of the documents is irrelevant because he
did not have the authority to waive HCA's
• privilege.°
The Court has attempted to parse these
bickering thrusts and parries in an effort
to determine the applicability of section
4603. It is essential that the general na-
ture of the relationship among the four
parties involved—Claire, Jules, HCA and
Greenspoon—be understood. HCA is, or
was a very closely held corporation. Claire
and Jules were the sole shareholders, and
were the principal officers, of the corpora-
tion. HCA was, in sum, very much a
"Mom and Pop" operation—the alter ego of
Claire and Jules. Greenspoon, was the at-
torney for all three. He handled the Nel-
sons' personal affairs as well as their busi-
ness affairs. The distinctions that HCA
makes now, between Claire Nelson, as cor-
porate officer, and Claire Nelson, as indi-
vidual, and between Claire Nelson and
HCA, were not so neatly defined in fact.°
DU A perusal of the documents as to
which HCA claims its privilege° indicates
that Greenspoon quite simply did not al-
ways distinguish between Claire, the indi-
vidual, and HCA. In other words, several
of the documents were addressed to per-
sonal matters as well as corporate ones.
For example, document D 220 discusses
property owned by Jules and Claire Nelson
in the context of a broader discussion of
corporate matters. Likewise, document D
5. HCA makes this argument through the affida-
vit of its attorney without any citation or sup-
port in case law or In corporate records. The
Court, however, need not address this conten-
tion here.
6. The other courts Involved In these tripartite
proceedings have apparently held to the same
effect with respect to the blurred distinction
between Jules and HCA.
7. The Court notes that RCA has not shown the
same vigor with which it arguer its desire to
NELSON I. GREENSPOON
123
Cite as 103 F.R.D. 113 (1934)
241 refers to life insurance (presumably
personal) amidst corporate matters. Docu-
ment D 394 refers to Claire's potential
criminal exposure from HCA's activities.
These are but examples of the personal
information discussed in what seem to be
predominantly corporate documents. Since
these documents discuss Claire's personal
matters, I find that she is properly in pos-
session of them.
(9) Moreover, the Court finds that some
of these documents are not confidential,
and therefore are not privileged. RCA's
bald assertion that a document is automati-
cally confidential if legal advice is sought
or provided in the document is not %correct
statement of the law. See Herbert'. Lan-
do, 73 F.R.D. 381, 899 (S.D.N.Y.), remand-
ed on other grounds, 668 F.2d 974 (2d
Cir.1977), rev'd and remanded on other
grounds, 441 U.S. 163, 99 S.Ct. 1685, 60
L,Ed.2d 116 (1979). There, the court stab
ed, "(n)or is privileged status automatically
conferred by the fact that the memoran-
dum may express an opinion of counsel;
opinions are privileged only to the extent
that they are based upon, and consequently
reveal, information furnished by the client
in confidence." it (emphasis added). A
communication is not confidential if it ip-
volves third parties. See, e.g., People
Beige, 59 A.D.2d 807, 308, 399 N.Y.S.2d
689, 542 (4th Dept1977) (quoting United
States
United Shoe Mach. Corp., 89
F.Supp. 357, 368-69 (D.Mass.1950) ("with-
out the pLesence of strangers")); Randy
Intl Ltd.". Automatic Compactor Corp.,
97 Misc.2d 977, 412 N.Y.S.2d 995 (Civ.Ct..
Queens Co. 1979).
Thug, documentary
communications to or from third parties
are not confidential. Likewise, documenta-
keep these documents privileged and confiden-
tial in the way it actually treats those docu-
ments. HCA submitted copies of the very docu-
ments it claims arc privileged to this Court as
exhibits In the publicly filed order to show
cause. HCA did not make any effort to have
those documents sealed from public access.
Since I find that the documents are not privi-
leged, I need not determine whether HCA unwit-
tingly waived its privilege by filing these docu-
ments In this manner.
EFTA00177874
Sivu 29 / 210
124 103 FEDERAL RULES DECISIONS ry communications are not confidential if copies thereof are sent to third parties. Furthermore, information obtained from third parties is not privileged. See Bekins Storage Co., 118 Misc.2d at 179, 460 N.Y.S.2d at 691. Document D 220 as to which HCA claims a privilege, was ad- dressed to Mr. Terry Arch of Touche, Ross & Co., and therefore is not privileged. A copy of document D 271 was sent to Ms. Dolores Geraghty and therefore is not priv- ileged.' Plaintiff's Exhibits 37 and 38 (part of Exhibit 6 to the Order to Show Cause herein) contain information obtained from Mr. Arch, and refer to ongoing communica- tions with Mr. Arch regarding the subject of the documents; therefore, these are not confidential. See J.P. Foley & Co., Inc Vanderbilt, 66 F.R.D. 523, 626 (S.D.N.Y.1974). These are but examples of the several documents that are not confi- dential, and therefore not privileged for this reason as well. (10) Finally, HCA has not cited a single example of the attorney-client privilege be- ing used to regain possession of purported- ly privileged documents. Given the need to limit the scope of the privilege, this Court will not countenance HCA's attempt to cre- ate new affirmative applications for the privilege. Cf., Liberty Mut. Ins. Co. Engels, 41 Misc.2d 49, 51, 244 N.Y.S.2d 983, 986 (Sup.CL Kings Co.1963) (privilege is a shield, not a sword), offd, 21 A.D.2d 808, 260 N.Y.S.2d 851 (2d Dep't 1964). In sum, HCA has failed to carry its bur- den of showing that these documents are privileged. They appear to properly be in Claire Nelson's possession, and shall re- main so. HCA's motion to intervene is GRANTED and its motion for suppression and return of the documents is DENIED. Preparation for trial is to continue apace. SO ORDERED. 8. The Court does not know the nature of the relationship between Ms. Geraghty and HCA. Ms. Geraghty may be a corporate Insider such that the communication remained confidential; however, HCA certainly did not sustain its bur. den of establishing that fact, if It is the case. GOLDEN EAGLE DISTRIBUTING CORPORATION, Plaintiff, I. BURROUGHS CORPORATION, Defendant No. C-84-0523-WWS. United States District Court, N.D. California. Sept. 19, 1984. Action was brought to recover dam- ages arising out of allegedly defective com- puter system sold to corporation. After removal from state court to federal court in Minnesota on basis of diversity, followed by transfer to the Northern District of California, seller moved to dismiss claims as time barred. Following denial of ma tion, counsel for defendant was directed to submit memorandum explaining why sanc- tions should not be imposed in connection with the motion. The District Court, Schwarzer, J., held that (1) legal argu- ment purporting to reflect existing law but instead being predicated upon, and not merely arguing for, an extension of the existing law violates rule relating to attor- ney's certification of pleadings, motions, and other papers by his signature thereon, regardless of whether purpose is to cause unnecessary delay or needless expense or whether counsel acted in good faith, and (2) failure to cite authority adverse to mov- ant's position or to make reasonable in- quiry to determine whether motion to dis- miss is warranted by existing law also via lates rule, warranting sanctions. Sanctions ordered. L Attorney and Client 4=42(14) Local counsel associated in case with out-of-state counsel for party to the action The same is true of documents addressed to Mr. Uri Shoham, except in the ease of those docu- ments, since they were addressed to Mr. Sho- ham at HCA's address, the Court was willing to assume the insider status of Mr. Shoham in spite of RCA's failure of proof. EFTA00177875
Sivu 30 / 210
hups://web2.wesilawoom/prinUprintstream.aspiks=WLW11.078Lvr=2.0.. Wdstlaw, Federal Rules of Civil Procedure Rule 24 United States Code Annotated Currentness Federal Rules of Civil Procedure for the United States District Courts (Refs & Annos) Kui Title IV. Parties Rule 24. Intervention (a) Intervention of Right.On timely motion, the court must permit anyone to intervene who: (1) is given an unconditional right to intervene by a federal statute; or (2) claims an interest relating to the property or transaction that is the subject of the action, and is so situated that disposing of the action may as a practical matter impair or impede the movant's ability to protect its interest, unless existing parties adequately represent that interest. (b) Permissive Intervention. (1) In General.On timely motion, the court may permit anyone to intervene who: (A) is given a conditional right to intervene by a federal statute; or (B) has a claim or defense that shares with the main action a common question of law or fact. (2) By a Government Officer or Agency.On timely motion, the court may permit a federal or state governmental officer or agency to intervene if a party's claim or defense is based on: (A) a statute or executive order administered by the officer or agency; or (B) any regulation, order, requirement, or agreement issued or made under the statute or executive order. (3) Delay or Prejudice.ln exercising its discretion, the court must consider whether the intervention will unduly delay or prejudice the adjudication of the original parties' rights. (c) Notice and Pleading Required.A motion to intervene must be served on the parties as provided in Rule 5. The motion must state the grounds for intervention and be accompanied by a pleading that sets out the claim or defense for which intervention is sought. I of 2 9/25/11 9:21 PM EFTA00177876
Sivu 31 / 210
(Amended December 27, 1946, effective March 19, 1948; December 29, 1948, effective October 20, 1949; Januai 1963, effective July 1, 1963; February 28, 1966, effective July I, 1966; March 2, 1987, effective August 1, 1987; 30, 1991, effective December I, 1991; April 12, 2006, effective December 1, 2006; April 30, 2007, efft December 1, 2007.) Amendments received to 7-15-11 Westlaw. (C) 2011 Thomson Reuters. No Claim to Orig. U.S. Govt. Works. END OF DOCUMENT © 2011 Thomson Reuters. No Claim to Orig. US Gov. Works. 2of2 EFTA00177877
Sivu 32 / 210
Case 9:08-cv-80736-KAM Document 93 Entered on FLSD Docket 09/02/2011 Page 1 of 9 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF FLORIDA CASE No. 08-80736-CIV-MARRA/JOHNSON JANE DOE I and JANE DOE 2, Plaintiffs, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Defendant. MOTION FOR LIMITED INTERVENTION OF JEFFREY EPSTEIN This is a motion by Jeffrey Epstein pursuant to Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 24(a) and 24(b) to intervene for the limited purpose of seeking a protective order and responding to the motions of Jane Doe 1 and Jane Doc 2 for disclosure, evidentiary use, and widespread dissemination of the plea negotiation letters and emails between his lawyers and federal prosecutors. Those letters and emails were written in furtherance of plea negotiations, encouraged by the broad protections of Federal Rule of Evidence 410, Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 11(f), and the constitutional right to effective assistance of counsel. They are privileged, confidential, not discoverable, and inadmissible as evidence at any proceeding in this case. I. MANDATORY AND DISCRETIONARY INTERVENTION An PROPER Intervention is proper as a matter of right under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 24(a) because Mr. Epstein has an interest in protecting his privileged and confidential plea negotiations, and "disposing of the action may as a practical matter impair or impede [his] ability to protect [his] interest . . . ." FED. R. Civ. P. 24(a). Unless allowed to intervene, Mr. Epstein could suffer the injustice of having his privilege and confidentiality claims erased without ever having been heard. EFTA00177878
Sivu 33 / 210
Case 9:08-cv-80736-KAM Document 93 Entered on FLSD Docket 09/02/2.011 Page 2 of 9
See El-Ad Residences at Miramar Condo. Ass'''. Inc. I Mt. Hawley Ins. Co., 716 F. Supp. 2d 1257,
1262 (S.D. Fla. 2010), quoting In re Grand Jury Subpoena (Newparent Inc.), 274 F.3d 563, 570 (1st
Cir. 2001) (in the context of the attorney-client privilege, ruling that colorable claims of privilege
are a textbook example of the right to intervene as of right); Appeal of Hughes, 633 F.2d 282, 286
(3d Cir. 1980) ("The governing rule in these circumstances is that the possessor of the claimed
privilege or right may intervene to assert it").
Discretionary intervention is also proper under Rule 24(b) because Mr. Epstein's interests
in protecting his plea negotiations "share with the main action a common question of law or fact."
FED. R. Civ. P. 24(b). That common question of law involves the privileged and confidential nature
of Mr. Epstein's plea negotiations, and the unprecedented request of Jane Doc 1 and Jane Doe 2 to
use those negotiations as evidence to vacate the product of Mr. Epstein's plea bargain. This is
plainly prohibited by Rule 410, and for good reason. The "central feature" of Rule 410 is that "the
accused is encouraged candidly to discuss his or her situation in order to explore the possibility of
disposing of the case through a consensual arrangement." United States ! Herman, 544 F.2d 791,
797 (5th Cir. 1977). To allow Jane Doe 1 and Jane Doe 2 to now "introduce statements uttered in
reliance on the rule would be to use the rule as a sword rather than a shield." Id.
D. THE OBJECTION OF JANE DOE 1 AND JANE DOE 2
As required by Local Rule 7.1, we asked counsel for Jane Doc 1 and Jane Doe 2 whether they
objected to Mr. Epstein's limited intervention. Counsel responded that they "oppose the motion on
timeliness and other grounds." Mr. Epstein's motion is timely for the reasons set forth below. As
to the "other grounds" that Jane Doe I and Jane Doe 2 may advance, counsel for both plaintiffs
previously admitted that Mr. Epstein has a right to intervene.
2
EFTA00177879
Sivu 34 / 210
Case 9:08-cv-80736-KAM Document 93 Entered on FLSD Docket 09/02/2011 Page 3 of 9 First, they argued in their opposition to the intervention of attorneys Black, Weinberg, and Lefkowitz that Mr. Epstein "is the real party in interest" and that "harm from the release of the materials (if any) could be only to Jeffrey Epstein." Jane Doe 1 and Jane Doe 2's Response To Motion To Intervene of Roy Black, Martin Weinberg, and Jay Lefkowitz [DE 78] at 6. Second, also in opposing the intervention of attorneys Black, Weinberg, and Lefkowtiz, the plaintiffs argued that "[o]nly Epstein has an interest in the validity of the non-prosecution agreement . . . ." Jane Doe I and Jane Doe 2's Response To Motion To Intervene of Roy Black, Martin Weinberg, and Jay Lefkowitz [DE 78] at 4. And third, in their "Motion to Use Correspondence To Prove Violations of The Crime Victim 's Rights Act And To Have Unredacted Pleadings Unsealed," filed five months ago, Jane Doe 1 and Jane Doe 2 expressly state that they do not object to Mr. Epstein's timely intervention: The victims have no objection to Epstein intervening in this case — at this time. lf, however, Epstein delays intervention until after a reasonable period of time, the victims will argue that his motion to intervene is untimely. [DE 51 at 8]. III. MR. EPSTEIN'S MOTION To INTERVENE Is TIMELY We address at the outset what has not yet happened in this litigation: There has been no trial or adjudication on the merits of the claims and defenses, and this motion to intervene is not made on the eve of such trial. There is no final judgment that would be undone or affected by Mr. Epstein's intervention. Nor is a final judgment imminent given the discussions about discovery and related matters addressed during the August 12, 2011 hearing. There are no discovery cut off dates, and the motion to intervene is therefore not filed on the eve of such deadlines or after they have passed. 3 EFTA00177880
Sivu 35 / 210
Case 9:08-cv-80736-KAM Document 93 Entered on FLSD Docket 09/02/2011 Page 4 of 9 There have been no evidentiary hearings or factual findings by the Court that would be undone by the motion to intervene. Rather than impede the litigation, Mr. Epstein's participation will aid the Court in ruling on the sensitive and novel legal issues concerning plea negotiations. Finally, time is not of the essence to Jane Doe 1 and Jane Doe 2 — after all, they ignored this litigation for a year and a half while they pursued money damages against Mr. Epstein. The Court's order dismissing this case for lack of prosecution, which is dated September 8, 2010, noted that there had been no activity in the case since April 2009. [DE 38]. A motion to intervene must be timely. But "(t]imeliness is not a word of exactitude or of precise measurable dimensions . . . [T]imeliness is not limited to chronological considerations but is to be determined from all the circumstances." Stallworth 'Monsanto Co., 558 F.2d 257, 263-64 (5th Cir. 1977). Those circumstances are considered in light of four factors: I. The length of time during which the would-be intervenor actually knew or reasonably should have known of his interest in the case before he petitioned for leave to intervene. 2. The extent of the prejudice that the existing parties to the litigation may suffer as a result of the would-be intervenor's failure to apply for intervention as soon as he actually knew or reasonably should have known of his interest in the case. 3. The extent of the prejudice that the would-be intervenor may suffer if his petition for leave to intervene is denied. 4. The existence of unusual circumstances militating either for or against a determination that the application is timely. Id. 1. The length of time during which the would-be intervenor actually knew or reasonably should have known of his interest in the case before he petitioned for leave to intervene: Mr. Epstein's interests arose during the August 12, 2011 hearing, when the plaintiffs argued for the first time that their rights under the CVRA were violated not only by the government, but also by Mr. Epstein. Even though Mr. Epstein has no legal duties to the plaintiffs under the CVRA, the 4 EFTA00177881
Sivu 36 / 210
Case 9:08-cv-80736-KAM Document 93 Entered on FLSD Docket 09/02/2011 Page 5 of 9 plaintiffs argued at the hearing that Mr. Epstein was somehow responsible for the government's communications with each Jane Doe and that Mr. Epstein, a private citizen, caused the government to violate its obligations under the Act. According to the plaintiffs, Mr. Epstein "engineered" and "orchestrated" the claimed CVRA violations, and he "insisted that the rights of these victims" be violated. [Trans. August 12, 2011 at 33-34, 611. The plaintiffs argued that because of this supposed conspiracy between Mr. Epstein and the government, the plaintiffs are entitled to copies of all the plea negotiation letters and emails, to use them as evidence in these proceedings seeking invalidation of the Non-Prosecution Agreement. Id. at 33-34, 61, 107-09. When the plaintiffs articulated a supposed conspiracy directed by Mr. Epstein to use Assistant United States Attorneys to deny the plaintiffs their rights, it became clear that the plaintiffs' purpose in seeking the plea negotiations is to offer them as evidence against Mr. Epstein, in violation of Federal Rule of Evidence 410. This showed that Mr. Epstein's interests were being implicated in the ongoing litigation between the government and the Jane Does and that limited intervention was timely and warranted. 2. The extent of the prejudice that the existing parties to the litigation may suffer as a result of the would-be intervenor's failure to apply for intervention as soon as he actually knew or reasonably should have known of his interest in the case: Jane Doe 1 and Jane Doe 2 will suffer no prejudice if Mr. Epstein is allowed to intervene. As noted earlier, Jane Doc 1 and Jane Doe 2 ignored this case for a year and a half while they pursued claims for money damages against Mr. Epstein. They obviously do not view time as being of the essence and were in no hurry to litigate their claims, despite their knowledge that as of June 30, 2008 Mr. Epstein was in a county jail, and that as of the summer of 2009 he was serving a term of community control, which did not end until July of 2010. 5 EFTA00177882
Sivu 37 / 210
Case 9:08-cv-80736-KAM Document 93 Entered on FLSD Docket 09/02/2011 Page 6 of 9 Additionally, during the time period when the plaintiffs demonstrated no urgency and sought no expedited relief, Mr. Epstein, pursuant to his obligation under the Non-Prosecution Agreement, paid an attorney representative, Robert Josefsberg, substantial legal fees to represent many of the witnesses against him and settled many civil cases brought by the attorney representative. Mr. Epstein settled those cases in large part because one of the conditions of the Non-Prosecution Agreement was that Mr. Epstein waive certain defenses in civil litigation if certain identified plaintiffs sued him exclusively under the provisions of 18 U.S.C. § 2255. In short, Mr. Epstein met every condition of his Non-Prosecution Agreement with the U.S. Attorney's Office between June 30, 2008 and the Summer 2010, during which time there was inaction by the plaintiffs. Counsel for the plaintiffs are aware that the provisions of 18 U.S.C. § 3771(d)(3) & (5)(13) require that CVRA claims be raised and resolved on an exigent basis, and that litigation, including appeals from adverse rulings, be expedited in order to avoid the current circumstance, where a plaintiff seeks to invalidate an agreement after a citizen has fully served his sentence and has been subjected to a myriad of collateral and adverse consequences, none of which can be reversed. There is also no prejudice to the plaintiffs because there has been no trial or adjudication of the merits of the claims or defenses raised by the existing parties, depositions have not been taken, there have been no evidentiary hearings or factual findings by the Court, and there is no final judgment or decree that would be undone or affected by Mr. Epstein's intervention. In their"Motion to Use Correspondence To Prove Violations of The Crime Victim's Rights Act And To Have Unredacted Pleadings Unsealed," Jane Doc 1 and Jane Doe 2 argue that any motion to intervene by Mr. Epstein would be untimely if filed "after the date on which the government must respond to the victims' motion for a finding of violation of the CVRA," because 6 EFTA00177883
Sivu 38 / 210
Case 9:08-cv-80736-KAM Document 93 Entered on FLSD Docket 09/02/2011 Page 7 of 9 "that is when the victims must begin drafting a reply pleading." Id. This argument of inconvenience does not go far because many of the issues raised by Mr. Epstein parallel the issues raised by attorneys Black, Weinberg, and Letkowitz as well as those raised during the August 12, 2011 hearing, and Jane Doe 1 and Jane Doe 2 do not have to file their responsive pleadings addressing those issues for one more month.' Thus, by the time Jane Doe 1 and Jane Doe 2 would have to respond to the merits of Mr. Epstein's motion for a protective order, they will have already done most if not all of the work involved in addressing the common legal issues. Allowing Mr. Epstein to intervene will bring the plaintiffs no undue prejudice. 3. The extent of the prejudice that the would-be intervenor may suffer if his petition for leave to intervene is denied: The issues concerning Mr. Epstein's plea negotiations are significant. As both sides expressed to the Court during the hearing on August 12, 2011, there are no reported cases that address these precise facts. As far as we know, in our combined decades of experience as criminal defense attorneys, there has been no case where third parties in a civil case have sought to discover, much less use, plea negotiations as evidence to vacate the product of the client's plea bargain years after the client has served a prison sentence, served a year of community control, completed his entire sentence, and paid enormous sums of money to the attorney representing persons bringing or threatening to bring lawsuits against himfor money damages. To adjudicate these issues without Mr. Epstein's intervention would bring him irreparable harm, especially because if his plea negotiations are disclosed, Mr. Epstein will forever lose the benefit of their confidentiality and ' The government has two weeks to respond to the supplemental brief to be filed by attorneys Black, Weinberg, and Leflcowitz, and Jane Doe 1 and Jane Doe 2 then have two weeks after that to file their response. [DE 91 & 92]. 7 EFTA00177884
Sivu 39 / 210
'Case 9:08-cv-80736-KAM Document 93 Entered on FLSD Docket 09/02/2011 Page 8 of 9 privilege. 4. The existence of unusual circumstances militating either for or against a determination that the application is timely: At least two unusual circumstances militate for a determination that the motion to intervene is timely and should be granted. First, the plaintiffs ignored this case for a year and a half, waiting until this Court dismissed it for lack of prosecution to pay it any attention. Their main concern during all that time was their claims for money against Mr. Epstein. They can now hardly complain that Mr. Epstein's motion to intervene is untimely. Second, the Court's ruling on the issues concerning Mr. Epstein's plea negotiations will reach far beyond the parties in this case and will impact every criminal investigation and prosecution in this and other Districts. Releasing the plea negotiation letters and cmails and using them as evidence to invalidate the bargain itself, as Jane Doe 1 and Jane Doe 2 request, will chill the ability of lawyers and clients to engage in candid plea discussions with the government. This will ultimately crowd the dockets of the district courts, where judges rely on plea negotiations to dispose of 96.1% of all criminal cases? The ruling urged by Jane Doe 1 and Jane Doe 2 will also shift the ethical and constitutional obligations of all criminal defense attorneys, because few criminal defense lawyers would consider entering into plea discussions and making candid written statements during plea negotiations if those statements are later discoverable and could be used against the client in a yet- unfiled lawsuit by yet-unknown plaintiffs at some unknown time in the future. No lawyer would agree to have open discussions with a prosecutor about resolving a criminal matter or to make 2 The Bureau of Justice Statistics of the Department of Justice reports that as of 2005, only 3.9% of all federal criminal cases proceed to trial. These statistics are reported at www.oip.usdoi.gov/bis/pub/html/fisst/2005/fis05st.him. 8 EFTA00177885
Sivu 40 / 210
Case 9:08-cv-80736-KAM Document 93 Entered on FLSD Docket 09/02/2011 Page 9 of 9 written submissions of their positions and views of the evidence and law, if plea negotiations could be used to damage a client in a future civil case. With these additional serious interests at stake, the motion to intervene should not be denied as untimely. IV. CONCLUSION Mr. Epstein's motion for a limited intervention is timely and should be granted as of right under Rule 24(a) or, alternatively, as a matter within the Court's discretion under Rule 24(b). If allowed to intervene, Mr. Epstein would file the attached motion for a protective order in response to the motion of Jane Doe 1 and Jane Doe 2 for disclosure of the defense plea negotiation letters and emails [DE 50 at 5], their motion to use these letters and emails as substantive evidence in their quest to invalidate the Non-Prosecution Agreement [DE 51], and their motion to disseminate the letters and emails to the media [DE 51 at 7]. We certify that on September 2,2011, the foregoing document was filed electronically with the Clerk of the Court using the CM/ECF system. Respectfully submitted, BLACK, SREBNICIC, KORNSPAN & STUMPF, P.A. 201 South Biscayne Boulevard Suite 1300 Miami, Florida 33131 Office: (305) 371-6421 Fax: (305) 358-2006 By /S/ ROY BLACK, ESQ. Florida Bar No. 126088 JACKIE PERCZEK, ESQ. Florida Bar No. 0042201 On Behalf of Jeffrey Epstein 9 EFTA00177886