Vanicek v. Kratt

CourtDistrict Court, D. Nebraska
DecidedSeptember 30, 2022
Docket8:21-cv-00049
StatusUnknown

This text of Vanicek v. Kratt (Vanicek v. Kratt) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, D. Nebraska primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Vanicek v. Kratt, (D. Neb. 2022).

Opinion

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF NEBRASKA

JESSICA VANICEK, Personal Representative of the Estate of Ryan T. Vanicek; THOMAS VANICEK, 8:21CV49 Individually, and Parents of the Deceased, Ryan T. Vanicek; KAREN VANICEK, Individually, and Parents of the Deceased, Ryan T. Vanicek; and TAMARA WITZEL, Step-daughter of the Deceased, Ryan T. Vanicek; ORDER

Plaintiffs,

and

LYMAN-RICHEY CORPORATION, d/b/a CENTRAL SAND AND GRAVEL COMPANY,

Intervenor-Plaintiff,

vs.

KENNETH E. KRATT, and SANDAIR CORPORATION,

Defendants.

The undersigned magistrate judge held a telephonic conference with counsel for the parties on September 30, 2022, regarding the parties’ dispute over the scope of discovery. In advance of the call, the Court received short written statements regarding the dispute, which are attached to this Order. The Court’s rulings were stated on the record during the call. In sum, the Court found Plaintiff’s Rule 30(b)(6) deposition topics were only relevant to the merits of punitive damages, which were previously stricken by the Court after finding Nebraska law applies, and Defendant does not have to produce a deponent to testify. This Order together with the audio file of the conference shall constitute an order for purposes of NECivR. 72.2.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated this 30th day of September, 2022. BY THE COURT:

s/Michael D. Nelson United States Magistrate Judge ERICKSON | SEDERSTROM ATTORNEYSATLAW MATTHEWD.QUANDT 10330 REGENCY PARKWAY DRIVE, SUITE 100 (402)384-6893 ATTORNEY ATLAW OMAHA, NEBRASKA 68114-3761 quandt@eslaw.com TELEPHONE (402) 397-2200 FACSIMILE (402) 390-7137 September 27, 2022 The Honorable Michael D. Nelson via nelson@ned.uscourts.gov United States Magistrate Judge RE: Vanicek v. Sandair & Kratt No. 8:21-cv-00049 Dear Judge Nelson: The issue (again) is the proper scope of discovery. Defendants' Answer admitted liability (Doc #35), and Plaintiffs’ punitive damage claims were previously struck (Doc #34). Plaintiffs’ counsel wants to take the unlimited depositions of Mr. Kratt and Sandair entirely focused on irrelevant punitive damages facts. In your Order striking Plaintiffs' punitive damage claim, you cited the Restatement (Second) of Conflict of Laws § 145 and held that "nearly all factors demonstrate Nebraska has the most significant relationship with this lawsuit. Accordingly, Nebraska applies." (Doc #34 at p. 3). You also included a footnote: “But, Plaintiffs may in good faith seek leave to reassert their claim for punitive damages in the unlikely event discovery does provide them with additional evidence establishing a legitimate basis for California law to apply.” (Doc #34 at p. 5, fn. 1) (emphasis added). We held multiple meet and confers to discuss limiting the scope of discovery according to your footnote, but Plaintiffs' counsel refused to make any concessions. He actually wrote: “Under CA law we must first show egregious behavior on the part of Kratt…." By his own admissions, he only seeks discovery into punitive damage facts. He forgets that he must abide by your Order, and first prove that California law applies, before we ever explore punitive damage facts. He is putting the cart before the horse. We addressed this exact issue earlier this year. (Please see my May 9th position statement for full background). On May 10th, you held: Docket Text: TEXT MINUTE ENTRY for discovery dispute conference held by telephone with counsel for the parties on May 10, 2022, before Magistrate Judge Michael D. Nelson. Discussion and arguments held regarding Plaintiff's intent to depose witnesses in California regarding punitive damages. The Court tentatively found the depositions would not be relevant because Plaintiff's prayer for punitive damages was stricken but will reconsider the issue after Plaintiff issues a Rule 30(b)(6) deposition notice. (Doc #66, emphasis added) Over three months later, Plaintiffs’ counsel finally sent us a proposed 30(b)(6) Notice (attached for your reference). I don’t even know where to begin, but it consists entirely of irrelevant inquiries, just for example: Interrogatory No. 15 (requesting maintenance records of the vehicle for 6 months prior to the accident), Request for Admission No. 6 (admit the construction project had eastbound lane closures starting August 26, 2019, through the date of the accident), Request for Admission No. 13 (admit first settlement communication was on December 22, 2020), Interrogatory No. 18 (requesting a description of any crimes and traffic offenses Mr. Kratt has been involved in over a 15 year period). He also wants to take Mr. Kratt's deposition without limitation. The parties previously discussed their positions by Zoom, letter, and e-mail but remain at an impasse. As we have repeatedly explained, we are happy to produce Defendants for deposition so long as it is properly limited to the only relevant issues: Restatement choice of law factors or the nature and extent of Plaintiffs’ damages. Plaintiffs' counsel doesn't appreciate or agree with your 9/15/21 Order striking punitive damages, Judge Buescher's 11/19/21 Order affirming your Order striking punitive damages, or your 5/10/22 Order limiting the scope of depositions. He fails to understand that he must first attempt to establish that California law applies. If, and only if, he can do that, then he can explore punitive damage facts. I have repeatedly explained this in countless correspondence, e-mails, a Zoom call, and even a letter requested by Plaintiffs' counsel after the Zoom call: As evidenced by your voluminous discovery requests and admitted in prior correspondence, you are searching for punitive damage facts. That is improper. First, Plaintiffs must establish that California law applies. The only discovery relevant to that threshold issue is the Restatement choice of law factors. When we look at your hundreds of discovery requests, 99 percent or more do not have anything to do with those factors. Judge Nelson and Judge Buescher’s Orders are very clear, and they follow long-standing Nebraska caselaw. We will not subject our clients to irrelevant, harassing, annoying, expensive, etc. discovery regarding punitive damages. As we have repeatedly communicated since May: "If you would like to take a deposition regarding the choice of law factors, we are happy to facilitate that and are still awaiting a 30(b)(6) topic list. But we object to any discovery that is irrelevant, i.e. punitive facts or facts not related to the nature and extent of Plaintiff’s damages." Your recent 30(b)(6) topic list does not remedy this issue; it is essentially a regurgitation of all discovery requests to date (almost all of which is irrelevant and objected to) and a few other topics that are similarly irrelevant and objectionable (i.e. maintenance and repair, similar claims within the past 10 years of drivers driving negligently, etc.) If you would agree to limit the scope of your discovery to the only relevant issues as explained above, please send us a revised 30(b)(6) topic list so we can begin scheduling. If not, we have no choice but to address this with Judge Nelson again. (Emphasis in original) Unfortunately, here we are, with no progress since your 9/15/21 Order or 5/10/22 hearing and Order. In early June, the parties scheduled mediation on October 4th with Mike Kinney in Omaha. Plaintiffs’ counsel is now threatening to cancel it, because he wants to take these punitive damage fact depositions. We are happy to facilitate any relevant discovery, but Plaintiffs' counsel's failure to appreciate or agree with the Court's Orders regarding the proper scope of discovery is now affecting any chance at settlement. On September 14th, we wrote: I am glad that we will able to get our discovery dispute before Judge Nelson on September 30.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Adams v. Murakami
813 P.2d 1348 (California Supreme Court, 1991)
Fanselow v. Rice
213 F. Supp. 2d 1077 (D. Nebraska, 2002)
Soto v. Borgwarner Morse Tec Inc. CA2/4
239 Cal. App. 4th 165 (California Court of Appeal, 2015)
Fernandes v. Singh
224 Cal. Rptr. 3d 751 (California Court of Appeals, 5th District, 2017)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
Vanicek v. Kratt, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/vanicek-v-kratt-ned-2022.