Holman et al v. Apple, Inc. et al

Filing 94

Holman et al v. Apple, Inc. et al

Doc. 94

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M. Van Smith (CA Bar No. 32007) Damian R. Fernandez (CA Bar No. 206662) LAW OFFICE OF DAMIAN R. FERNANDEZ 14510 Big Basin Way, Suite A, PMB 285 Saratoga, California 95070-6091 Telephone: [phone] Facsimile: [phone] Email: [e-mail] [e-mail] Attorneys for Plaintiffs Vincent Scotti, Dennis V. Macasaddu , Mark G. Morikawa , Timothy P. Smith, and Michael G. Lee

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA ­ SAN JOSE DIVISION NO. C 07-05152 JW In Re Apple & AT&TM Anti -Trust Litigation REPLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF THE SMITH PLAINTIFFS MOTION FOR APPOINTMENT OF INTERIM LEAD COUNSEL Date: April 7, 2008 Time: 9:00 AM Judge: Honorable James Ware

Plaintiffs Vincent Scotti, Dennis V. Macasaddu, Mark G. Morikawa, Timothy P. Smith, and Michael G. Lee ("Smith Plaintiffs") submit this reply memorandum of law in support of their Motions For Appointment Of Interim Lead Counsel. ARGUMENT . 1. Because Wolf Haldenstein's analysis of the antitrust issues in this case is facially unsustainable based on basic antitrust precedent, they have demonstrated that they cannot effectively represent the classes as sole-lead counsel. With all due respect to Wolf Haldenstein and their economists, t heir analysis of the antitrust issues in this case is wrong. To impress and persuade this Court that Wolf Haldenstein has the NO. C 07 -05152 JW March 24, 2008
REPLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF SMITH PLAINTIFF'S LEAD COUNSEL MOTION

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Dockets.Justia.com

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experience and expertise for the antitrust issues in this case, Wolf Haldenstein, to their detriment boasts the following: 1. "Only Wolf Haldenstein has investigated these [antitrust] claims properly by

consulting with an economist to test the economic viability of its theories," (Wolf's Reply Memorandum, 3:19-21.); 2. "... Wolf Haldenstein took the prudent and reasonable step of obtaining the opinion

of a leading antitrust economist with considerabl e communications industry experience to test the economic viability of its antitrust theories and to obtain assurance that its plaintiff's antitrust claims are sustainable. Accordingly, Wolf Haldenstein knows that its antitrust theories are imminently provable in this case." (Id, 6:3 -7) 3. Wolf Haldenstein and its co-counsel have spent over 320 hours on this matter,

including analyzing the merits of the various potential antitrust claims in this action ..." (Id., 6:1213) 4. "... Wolf Haldenstein's e conomic's firm spent 40 more hours assessing the relevant

market and economic issues." (Id., 6:16-17.) 5. "Wolf Haldenstein has brought ... what [other counsel] cannot bring: the antitrust

and class action expertise necessary to prevail in this lawsuit ..." (6:17-20.) 6. " ... only Wolf Haldenstein has the antitrust expertise to responsibly separate the

wheat from the chaff of competing antitrust theories when preparing a consolidated amended complaint" (6:12-23.) (Emphasis added.) Fatal to its alleged expertise i n this case is Wolf's statement that it "has asserted a specific type of Section 2 claim ­ known as a "Kodak" claim ­ in which the extent of market competition faced by the iPhone itself is legally irrelevant, and the only pertinent economic inquiry is whether the aftermarket for products that can be used only in connection with an iPhone ­ like iPhone compatible voice and data services, ringtones, email and multimedia applications ­ is economically distinct. (Wolf's Reply, 6:23-27, 7:1 -2 citing Eastman Kodak Co. v. Image Tech. Servs., Inc. 504 US 451, 481-81 (1992). (Emphasis Added.) A complaint may be dismissed under Rule 12(b)(6) if the complaint's "relevant market" NO. C 07 -05152 JW March 24, 2008
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definition is facially unsustainable. See Queens City Pizza, Inc. v. Domino's Pizza, Inc. 124 F.3d 430, 436-37 (3d Cir. 1997.) The 9th Circuit has held that the law prohibits an antitrust claimant from resting on market power that arises solely from contractual rights that consumers knowingly and voluntarily gave to the defendants as was the case in Queens City Pizza , Inc. v. Domino's Pizza, Inc. 124 F.3d 430 (3d Cir. 1997) and Forsyth v. Humana, Inc., 114 F.3d 1467 (9th Cir 1997) . Newcal Indus. v. IKON Office Solution, 2008 WL 185520 (9th Cir. 2008).) Newcal stated that the "critical distinction between Eastman Kodak and [ Queens City Pizza and Forsyth] was that the Kodak customers did not knowingly enter a contract that gave Kodak the exclusive right to provide parts and services for the life of the equipment." (Eastman Kodak , Slip Opn. p. 980.) Here, the first amended complaint in Kliegerman alleges that "[Kliegerman] also executed a two- year contract with AT&T for provision of wireless voice and data services". Unlike Eastman Kodak, Kliegerman knowingly entered into a contract that gave AT&T the exclusive right to provide wireless voice and data services. The Kliegerman antitrust claims are therefore exactly like Queens City Pizza and Forsyth and not at all like Kodak. Despite Wolf Haldenstein's alleged a ntitrust expertise, their alliance with several other outside firms, their 320 hours of antitrust analysis and consultation with a ntitrust economists, they are arguing antitrust theories that are facially unsustainable. For this reason, they should not be designated as sole-lead counsel because their judgment needs to be balanced by other c ounsel. 2. Wolf Haldenstein (Wolf ) does not have a representative client.

In the First Amended Complaint. Wolf brings causes of action for: 1. 2. 3. /// /// /// /// /// NO. C 07 -05152 JW March 24, 2008
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Antitrust Breach of warranty action under the federal Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act ; and Trespass to Chattels.

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a.

As to the causes of action, Kliegerman is not representative of the class .

On the first cause of action for antitrust, Kliegerman will be locked into binding arbitration under New York law.1 If he litigates the anti -trust issue in California against Apple, there is a risk of inconsistent results from the arbitration. Further, Wolf would have a conflict of interest because it would have "the appearance of divided loyalties".2 It may be inclined to settle with AT&T in the less favorable forum of arbitration than if it had the clients that could prosecute a nationwide class action in federal court. On the second cause of action for breach of warranty, Kliegerman does not have a warranty claim because his iPhone was not bricked. On the third cause of action for trespass to chattels, Kliegerman did not have third party applications removed from his phone or otherwise have his phone tampered with by Apple. b. As to damages, Kliegerman is not representative of the class.

The only monetary damages suffered by their one client Kliegerman is that he incurred roaming charges. As to all damages incurred by the class, Kliegerman does not have the following damages, all of which, the 5 class representatives of Fernandez have as well as the 200+ class members who filled out our online form at www.appleiphonelawsuit.com:

See e.g. Ranieri v. Bell Atl. Mobile (2003) 304 A.D.3d 353, 354 (Under New York law "a contractual proscription against class actions ... is neither unconscionable nor violative of public policy"), accord, Tsadilas v. Providian Nat'l Bank (NY App. Div 2004) 13 A.D.3d 190, 191.) "The responsibility of class counsel to absent class members whose control over their attorneys is limited does not permit even the appearance of divided loyalties of counsel." Kayes v. Pacific Lumber Co., 51 F.3d 1449, 1465 (9th Cir. 1995) (quoting Sullivan v. Chase Inv. Servs. Of Boston, Inc., 79 F.R.D. 246, 258 (N.D. Cal. 1978); see also Kurczi v. Eli Lilly & Co. 160 FRD 667, 679 (N.D. Ohio 1995) [counsel's representation of another class in state court against same defendant created conflict, preventing counsel from acting as counsel for class in instant case]). Counsel's simultaneous representation of litigants with similar interests in two different lawsuits against the same defendants creates the appearance of such divided loyalties. See Sullivan, 79 F.R.D. at 258. NO. C 07 -05152 JW March 24, 2008
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Seven Additional Categories of Harm 1. Consumers whose iPhone s were disabled, malfunctioned, or ha d third-party

applications erased after you downloaded iPhone update 1.1.1. None of these apply to Kliegerman. 2. Consumers who contacted Apple to repair their iPhone and Apple refused to honor

their warranty because they did any one the following: (a) unlocked their iPhone, or (b) installed a third party application. None of these apply to Kliegerman. 3. Consumers who incurred a cancellation fee from their previous wireless carrier when

they transferred to AT&T's wireless service. None of these apply to Kliegerman. 4. Consumers who purchased a third -party warranty at extra cost for their iPhone

because of Apple's released statement that it will not honor warranties on unlocked iPhones. None of these apply to Kliegerman. 5. Consumers who purchased a new iPhone because their previous iPhone was bricked.

None of these apply to Kliegerman. 6. Consumers who returned their iPhone to Apple or AT&T and (1): They paid a 10%

restocking fee; (2) They paid a $29 or other fee for a temporary replacement phone while their iPhone was being repaired. Some reasons for their return may include: (a) They opened the box and it didn't work, (b) They were dissatisfied with AT&T's service, (c) There were declined service with AT&T because consumers did not meet AT&T's credit criteria; (d) Consumers did not know that they were required to sign with AT&T. None of these apply to Kliegerman. Kliegerman knew he would be stuck with AT&T, he just did not know of the software locks.

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3.

Fernandez has an abundance of representative client s.

Wolf does not have a lawsuit-specific website for this class action. On the other hand, Fernandez invested considerable time and effort into creating www.appleiphonelawsuit.com five days before filing the lawsuit on October 5, 2007. The website generated substantial publicity throughout the world. The following statistics for the website are significant: 1 2. 3. 4. 5. 673,196 server requests to date; 200+ consumers who completed the detailed online survey for damages; Worldwide recognition; 38,070 websites that have links to pages on Fernandez' site. A Google search for www.appleiphoneclassaction.net generates 315 search results.

Whereas a search for Folkenflik's website www.appleclassaction.net generates 9 search results. 4. Folkenflik has been regularly engaged in the practice of law in California.

Although this court granted the pro hac vice application of Folkenflik, it was premised on the assumption that Folkenflik was forthright with the court that he was not regularly engaged in the practice of law in California. Although Folkenflik states that the majority of the cases he appeared in California were in federal court, the local rule does not make a distinction between federal and state court. Instead, it applies to the practice of law in California. Second, since 2003, Folkenflik has bee n actively engaged in a class action against American Express in the Alameda Superior Court. He is presently the lead counsel and Chairman of the Steering Committee in that case. The distinction between his federal and state court appearances is not persuasive. 5. interest. Folkenflik relies on In re BeraringPoint for the proposition that speculative conflicts of interest do not preclude a finding that class counsel is adequate. Not only is the case not on point and not in the 9th Circuit, it ignores this Court's holding that "The responsibility of class counsel to absent class members whose control over their attorneys is limited does not permit even the appearance of divided loyalties of counsel." (Sullivan v. Chase Inv. Services of Boston, Inc. (ND NO. C 07 -05152 JW March 24, 2008
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The Steiner case presents a perceived conflict even if not an actual conflict of

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CA 1978) 79 FRD 246, 258, citing Greenfield v. Villager Industries, Inc., 483 F.2d 824, 832 & n. 9 (3 Cir. 1973).) (Emphasis Added.) Dated: March 24, 2008 Respectfully submitted, LAW OFFICE OF DAMIAN R. FERNANDEZ By: /s/ Damian R. Fernandez Damian R. Fernandez M. Van Smith Attorneys for Plaintiffs VINCENT SCOTTI, DENNIS V. MACASADDU, MARK G. MORIKAWA, TIMOTHY P. SMITH, and MICHAEL G. LEE /// /// /// /// /// /// /// /// /// /// /// /// /// /// /// /// /// NO. C 07 -05152 JW March 24, 2008
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