Riddell Sports Inc. v. Brooks

158 F.R.D. 555, 31 Fed. R. Serv. 3d 602, 1994 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 15980, 1994 WL 688292

• Court: District Court, S.D. New York
• Decided: November 8, 1994
• Docket: No. 92 Civ. 7851 (PKL)
• Status: Published

Opinion

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER

FRANCIS, United States Magistrate Judge.

This action involves conflict between Rid-dell Sports Inc. (“Riddell”), a manufacturer of football helmets and other sporting goods, and Frederic H. Brooks, formerly President of Riddell, then a consultant to that company, and still later Chairman of MacGregor Sporting Goods (“MacGregor”). Riddell contends that Mr. Brooks violated his contractual obligations and fiduciary duty by utilizing confidential information in assisting other parties in litigation against Riddell. The parties have raised a number of discovery disputes, each of which will be addressed in turn.

Nederlander and Toboroff Depositions

Robert Nederlander and Leonard Toboroff are both officers and directors of Riddell against whom Mr. Brooks has asserted counterclaims. By order dated August 18,1994,1 set dates for the commencement of their depositions, and stated that “[i]f necessary, these depositions shall continue thereafter on dates agreeable to all counsel.” Having deposed Mr. Nederlander and Mr. Toboroff for two days each, Mr. Brooks’ attorney now seeks to schedule additional days for the continuation of these examinations. Riddell’s counsel, construing my prior order as a limit on the number of days of deposition, asks that the questioning be halted.

My earlier order was not intended to curtail these depositions after two days. Nor was it meant to impose on the deposing party any burden of justifying continuation of the depositions. A witness seeking to limit discovery must show that a protective order is warranted. See Cipollone v. Liggett Group, Inc., 785 F.2d 1108, 1121 (3d Cir. 1986); Harris v. Wells, 137 F.R.D. 206, 208 (D.Conn.1991). Here, Riddell has not done so. Counsel for Riddell has pointed to a number of examples from each deposition that purportedly show that Mr. Brooks’ attorney wasted time questioning the witnesses on irrelevant issues or seeking information available from public documents. After reviewing the transcript, I find no conduct by Mr. Brooks’ counsel that would amount to harassment sufficient to justify halting the depositions. While not always a model of efficiency, the questioning dealt primarily with information that could lead to relevant evidence, including the usual background information about the witnesses. Furthermore, there is no rule that a deponent may only be asked about that which is within his exclusive knowledge; the fact that information is publicly available does not place it beyond the bounds of a proper deposition. Accordingly, I decline to terminate the depositions of Mr. Nederlander and Mr. Toboroff. They shall appear on dates agreed upon by counsel until the depositions are completed.

Finally, in responding to Riddell’s arguments on this issue, counsel for Mr. Brooks noted that Riddell’s attorney had on several occasions directed the deponents not to answer certain questions. Such conduct is generally inappropriate. Counsel may direct the witness not to answer a deposition question only under the following circumstances: (1) “when necessary to preserve a privilege,” (2) “to enforce a limitation on evidence directed by the court,” or (3) to protect a witness from an examination “being conducted in bad faith or in such a manner as unreasonably to annoy, embarrass, or oppress the deponent or party.” Fed.R.Civ.P. 30(d)(1) & (3).

There is some debate over the proper avenue for obtaining court review when an attorney does direct a witness not to answer. Several eases hold that the deponent then has an absolute duty to move for a protective order pursuant to Rules 26(c) and 30(d). See First Tennessee Bank v. Federal Deposit Insurance Corp., 108 F.R.D. 640, 641 (E.D.Tenn.1985); Paparelli v. Prudential Ins. Co., 108 F.R.D. 727, 731 (D.Mass.1985); American Hangar, Inc. v. Basic Line, Inc., 105 F.R.D. 173, 175 (D.Mass.1985). However, Rule 37(a)(2)(B) specifically contemplates a motion to compel when a deponent refuses to answer a question, thus suggesting that it is acceptable for the witness to decline to answer and then wait to defend such a motion. See 8 C. Wright & A. Miller, Federal Practice & Procedure § 2116, at 430 (1970). There is, in any event, little functional difference between the two courses of action, since in both cases the party resisting discovery has the burden of supporting its position, see Nestle Foods Corp. v. Aetna Casualty & Surety Co., 135 F.R.D. 101, 104, 112 (D.N.J.1990) (Rule 26(c)); Johnston Development Group, Inc. v. Carpenters Local Union No. 1578, 130 F.R.D. 348, 352-53 (D.N.J.1990) (Rule 26(c)); Scott v. Arex, Inc., 124 F.R.D. 39, 42 (D.Conn.1989) (Rule 37); Compagnie Francaise D'Assurance Pour Le Commerce Exterieur v. Phillips Petroleum Co., 105 F.R.D. 16, 42-43 (S.D.N.Y.1984) (Rule 37), and an award of reasonable expenses, including attorneys fees, is available to the party that prevails on the motion if his adversary’s position was not substantially justified. See Fed.R.Civ.P. 37(a)(4) (sanctions on motion to compel); Fed.R.Civ.P. 30(d)(3) (making same sanctions applicable to motion for protective order at deposition).

Tape Recordings

Counsel for Riddell is in possession of tape recordings made by an officer of Riddell identified as a Mr. Wingo of telephone conversations he had with Mr. Brooks. Seven tapes have been provided to Mr. Brooks’ attorney. Mr. Brooks now seeks unedited versions of all tapes made by Mr. Wingo as well as transcripts of the recordings. In addition, Mr. Brooks seeks information regarding the dates that Riddell’s counsel learned of the existence of the recordings, the dates and times of the conversations recorded, and the identities of the participants.

Riddell contends that the tapes are the personal property of Mr. Wingo and therefore should have been sought by subpoena served on him personally. Riddell further argues that the transcripts of the recordings constitutes work product, so that Mr. Brooks must create his own transcripts or at least agree to share the expenses of transcription. Riddell’s counsel acknowledges that the tapes were edited, but he represents that they were submitted by Mr. Wingo in that condition. Finally, Riddell’s attorney contends that any remaining inquiries about the tapes should be dealt with by deposing Mr. Wingo.

Rule 34(a) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure provides that “any party” may request of “any other party” documents that are “in the possession, custody or control of the party upon whom the request is served.” If the producing party has the legal right or the practical ability to obtain the documents, then it is deemed to have “control,” even if the documents are actually in the possession of a non-party. See 4A J. Moore, Moore’s Federal Practice ¶ 34.17, at 34-69 — 34-72 (1994); 8 C. Wright & A. Miller, Federal Practice and Procedure § 2210, at 621-24 (1970). The first issue here, then, is whether Riddell has control of the tapes created and possessed by Mr. Wingo. It is well-established that “[a]n individual party to a lawsuit can be compelled to produce relevant information and documents relating to a non-party corporation of which it is an officer, director or shareholder.” General Environmental Science Corp. v. Horsfall, 136 F.R.D. 130, 133 (N.D.Ohio 1991); see also A.F.L. Falck, S.p.A. v. E.A. Karay Co., 131 F.R.D. 46, 48-49 (S.D.N.Y.1990); Scott, 124 F.R.D. at 41; Haseotes v. Abacab International Computers, Inc., 120 F.R.D. 12, 14 (D.Mass.1988). This case presents the mirror-image issue: whether a corporation that is a party to a lawsuit may be compelled to produce items in the possession of one of its officers.

The determination of this question must turn on the nature of the documents or things at issue. Where they were created in connection with the officer’s functions as a corporate employee, the corporation has a proprietary interest in them and the officer has a fiduciary duty to turn them over on demand. See In re Folding Carton Anti-trust Litigation, 76 F.R.D. 420, 423 & n. 2 (N.D.Ill.1977). The Second Circuit made this clear in the context of evaluating an assertion of the Fifth Amendment privilege against self-incrimination by a corporate officer served with a subpoena for corporate records:

[A corporation’s] records are usually available to others within the entity and may not be treated as the private confidential papers of any one officer or employee. The officer creates or handles the records in a representative capacity, not on his own behalf. The records, moreover, do not belong to him but to the organization.

In re Grand Jury Subpoenas Duces Tecum Dated June 13, 1983 and June 22, 1983, 722 F.2d 981, 984 (2d Cir.1983). This same rationale applies with full force to civil discovery. Thus, the tapes created by Mr. Wingo, apparently in furtherance of his functions as a corporate officer, are within Riddell’s control and must be disclosed in response to a proper notice for production.

The second issue concerns the extent to which the transcripts of the recordings are subject to the work product doctrine. Under appropriate circumstances, tape recordings may be created in anticipation of litigation or in preparation for trial and so be exempt from disclosure. See H.L. Hayden Co. v. Siemens Medical Systems, Inc., 108 F.R.D. 686, 690 (S.D.N.Y.1985). No such broad argument is being advanced here, however, as evidenced by the fact that Riddell has produced copies of the tapes themselves.

Rather, Riddell argues that it is the act of transcription itself that is work product. Consequently, according to Riddell, while the tapes are subject to disclosure, the transcripts are not. As an alternative, Rid-dell contends that Mr. Brooks should be required to share the stenographic costs for any transcripts that are produced.

But the collection of evidence, without any creative or analytic input by an attorney or his agent, does not qualify as work product.

The mere acquisition of documents from an unrelated third-party does not by itself impose upon them the status of work product. At its core, the work-product doctrine exists to shelter the attorney’s preparation and analysis of the case. Even if the lawyer’s synthesis of the documents were to constitute work product, the mere acquisition of such documents from a non-party does not create such a characteristic.

Bohannon v. Honda Motor Co., 127 F.R.D. 536, 540 (D.Kan.1989) (citations omitted). The same is true of the transcription process: it is entirely devoid of analysis or synthesis and so is beyond the work product doctrine.

Nor is there any inequity in denying Riddell reimbursement for the cost of transcription. Costs often fall fortuitously on the party that chooses to pursue discovery more vigorously. For example, since the mere assembly of evidence by one party is not work product, its adversary will be able to obtain that evidence by a proper notice for production. See Zucker v. Sable, 72 F.R.D. 1, 3 (S.D.N.Y.1975). Yet the party that thus “piggybacks” on its opponent’s efforts is not thereby liable for the opposing counsel’s fees for time expended in collecting the evidence. Similarly, where a party incurs expenses obtaining documents under its control but in the actual possession of third-parties, it is not entitled to compensation beyond the cost of creating a copy for the demanding party. See Biben v. Card, 119 F.R.D. 421, 429 (W.D.Mo.1987).

The same approach is appropriate here. Riddell shall produce copies of any transcripts it has of the tape recordings. Mr. Brooks shall pay for the creation of the copies but not for the original transcription.

The remaining questions concern the editing of the tapes, the identification of the time, date, and participants in each conversation, and the circumstances under which the tapes were produced to Riddell’s counsel. These are all issues best addressed through the deposition of Mr. Wingo.

Dianes

In his original submission, Mr. Brooks requested copies of Mr. Nederlander’s diaries, schedules, and telephone message entries. Since that time, those documents have been disclosed. Riddell requested similar information from Mr. Brooks, and that is now being produced. This issue is therefore moot.

Drafts of the Consulting Agreement

Mr. Brooks has demanded production of drafts of the consulting agreement that he entered into with Riddell. Riddell has produced those drafts that it had previously sent to Mr. Brooks during negotiations, but it has withheld others pending a determination whether it will assert attorney-client privilege with respect to these drafts. If Riddell does conclude that these drafts are privileged and that the privilege will not be waived, it shall submit a privilege log to Mr. Brooks identifying the documents withheld.

Fee Information

On August 18, 1994, I directed Riddell to produce fee information requested by Mr. Brooks because it was relevant to an indemnity agreement between the parties. According to Mr. Brooks, the fee records produced by Riddell have been so heavily redacted that it is impossible to determine whether the time entries relate to work covered by the indemnification agreement. Rid-dell responds that time records produced by Mr. Brooks’ counsel are similarly redacted. It also suggests that the disclosure of fee information be deferred.

It is too late in the day for Riddell to argue that the production of the attorney time records should be delayed. Disclosure was required by my August 18,1994, order. Moreover, the fee records relate to one of the claims in chief asserted by Riddell, not to some collateral issue that could await determination of the main claims.

The question of redaction is more difficult. Under federal common law, attorney fee arrangements, including the general purpose of the work performed, are not generally protected from disclosure by the attorney-client privilege. See Clarke v. American Commerce National Bank, 974 F.2d 127, 129 (9th Cir.1992); In re Grand Jury Witness (Salas and Waxman), 695 F.2d 359, 361 (9th Cir.1982).

However, correspondence, bills, ledgers, statements, and time records which also reveal the motive of the client in seeking representation, litigation strategy, or the specific nature of the services provided, such as researching particular areas of law, fall within the privilege. The burden of establishing that the attorney-client privilege applies to the documents in question rests with the party asserting the privilege.

Clarke, 974 F.2d at 129 (citations omitted). In this case, the privilege question appears to relate to substantive claims that will be decided under New York law, so state privilege principles would apply. Fed.R.Evid. 501. Nevertheless, with respect to the disclosure of attorney time records, New York privilege rules seem to coincide with the federal common law principles discussed above. See Licensing Corp. of America v. National Hockey League Players Association, 153 Misc.2d 126, 127-28, 580 N.Y.S.2d 128, 129 (Sup.Ct.N.Y.Co.1992).

Here, neither party has carried its burden of demonstrating that the redacted portion of the time records that it has disclosed are protected by the attorney-client privilege. Accordingly, counsel shall attempt to agree on a mechanism for providing information sufficient to advise the opposing party which issue each time entry relates to. If this is unsuccessful, each party shall make a formal motion for a protective order, setting forth why each redaction is justified by the attorney-client privilege. At the same time, copies of both the redacted and unredacted time records shall be submitted for my in camera review.

Financial Information

In an order dated July 25, 1994,1 ordered Riddell to produce certain financial information for the years 1991 and 1992. Mr. Brooks complains that Riddell has not produced all such information; Riddell represents that it has. No further order is necessary or appropriate until Mr. Brooks’ attorney can identify with some greater specificity how Riddell’s production may be incomplete.

Weisman Deposition and Documents

Riddell has commenced the deposition of a non-party witness, Robert D. Weisman. Mr. Weisman is Chairman of the MacGregor Sporting Goods Creditor’s Committee (the “Committee”), which instituted a fraudulent conveyance suit against Riddell. Riddell contends that Mr. Brooks violated his obligations to it by assisting the Committee in that adversary proceeding. Riddell now seeks to compel Mr. Weisman to answer deposition questions and produce documents relating to Innovative Promotions (“Innovative”). Mr. Brooks, as Chairman of MacGre-gor, and Mr. Weisman, as Chairman of Innovative, had entered into a venture for the marketing of tennis racquets. Innovative has a claim against MacGregor in the bankruptcy proceeding. It is Riddell’s theory that Mr. Weisman and Mr. Brooks entered into an improper agreement whereby Mr. Brooks would provide testimony favorable to Innovative in the bankruptcy proceeding in return for the Mr. Weisman’s causing the Committee to bring a claim against Riddell.

Mr. Weisman opposes Riddell’s application and moves pursuant to Rules 30(d)(3) and 45 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure for an order limiting the scope of the continued deposition and the document production. Mr. Weisman raises three basic arguments. First, he contends that the theory advanced by Riddell is not contained in the pleadings in this case, and much of the requested discovery is therefore irrelevant. Second, he argues that discovery in this case should not be permitted to circumvent a stay of discovery in the fraudulent conveyance proceeding. Finally, even if Riddell’s discovery demands are otherwise proper, Mr. Weisman suggests that they are overbroad.

Rule 26(b)(1) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure permits discovery of any information “relevant to the subject matter of the action.” This phrase “has been construed broadly to encompass any matter that bears on, or that reasonably could lead to other matter that could bear on, any issue that is or may be in the case.” Oppenheimer Fund, Inc. v. Sanders, 437 U.S. 340, 351, 98 S.Ct. 2380, 2389, 57 L.Ed.2d 253 (1978) (emphasis added). Thus, the fact that Riddell’s “quid pro quo” theory has not actually been pled is not fatal to its discovery demands. Those demands relate to the general subject matter of this litigation and to a specific claim that Riddell may yet assert. Therefore, Mr. Weisman’s first argument must fail.

His second contention is likewise flawed. To the extent that there is a legitimate basis for pursuing discovery in this c'ase, it is irrelevant that the same discovery may be stayed in the fraudulent conveyance action. These are two independent, if overlapping, actions, and a discovery stay in one has no effect on the other. In any event, the fraudulent conveyance action has been dismissed as time-barred, thus nullifying the stay of discovery in that proceeding.

Mr. Weisman’s general objection to the breadth of Riddell’s discovery requests has more merit. Testimony and documents touching on Mr. Brooks’ involvement in Innovative’s claim against MacGregor would certainly be relevant. However, Mr. Weisman’s knowledge of the Innovative claim generally is beyond the scope of this litigation. So too are the details of Mr. Weisman’s business or other relationships with Mr. Brooks apart from the Innovative claim. Both Mr. Weis-man’s deposition testimony and his production of documents shall be limited accordingly.

Conclusion

For the reasons set forth above, the discovery issues raised by the parties and by the non-party witness are resolved as follows:

1. Riddell’s application to terminate the depositions of Robert Nederlander and Leonard Toboroff is denied, and these examinations shall resume promptly and proceed until completed.

2. Riddell shall produce copies of any tapes of conversations between Mr. Brooks and Mr. Wingo. It shall also provide copies of any transcripts that have been made of those tapes, with Mr. Brooks bearing the duplication costs. The costs of transcription shall be borne by the party that has chosen to create the transcripts.

3. The application for an order directing Mr. Nederlander to produce copies of his diary entries is denied as moot.

4. Riddell shall produce all non-privileged drafts of the consulting agreement and a log of any drafts withheld as privileged.

5. If the parties fail to reach an agreement as to production of attorney time records, they shall each make a formal motion for a protective order and shall submit the time records to me for in camera review.

6. Mr. Brooks’ application for production of further financial information from Riddell is denied without prejudice to renewal on the basis of more specific requests.

7. Mr. Weisman shall give testimony and provide documents limited to Mr. Brooks’ involvement in Innovative’s claim against MacGregor.

SO ORDERED.