Coquina Investments v. Rothstein et al

Filing 911

ORDER granting in part and denying in part 791 Motion for Sanctions; granting in part and denying in part 845 Sealed Motion for sanctions. Signed by Judge Marcia G. Cooke on 8/3/2012. (tm)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF FLORIDA
Case No. 10-60786-Civ-COOKE/BANDSTRA
COQUINA INVESTMENTS,
Plaintiff,
vs.
SCOTT W. ROTHSTEIN and TD BANK, N.A.,
Defendants.
______________________________________________/
OMNIBUS ORDER ON MOTIONS FOR SANCTIONS
THIS CASE is before me on Plaintiff’s Fourth Motion for Sanctions (ECF No. 791),
Defendant TD Bank, N.A.’s Notice of Production and Withdrawal of Certain Statements Made
to the Court (ECF No. 825), and Plaintiff’s Fifth Motion for Sanctions (ECF No. 845). On April
26, 2012, I set an evidentiary hearing on the motions and ordered TD Bank and its counsel,
Greenberg Traurig, to show cause why they should not be held in contempt for making incorrect
representations to the Court. (ECF No. 834). I held hearings related to these filings and the
show cause order on May 17, May 18, and June 12, 2012. I also permitted the parties to file
supplemental briefs after the hearings. I have reviewed all of the parties’ submissions, the
evidence presented, the record, and the relevant legal authorities. My findings of facts and
conclusions of law are set forth below.
I. PROCEDURAL HISTORY
This is an action by an investor group, Coquina Investments (“Coquina”), against TD
Bank, N.A. (“TD Bank” or the “Bank”) and Ponzi schemer and former attorney Scott Rothstein.
Coquina alleged that TD Bank, through its former regional vice president, Frank Spinosa, and

other employees, aided and abetting Rothstein’s fraud and made fraudulent representations to
Coquina.

As part of its defense, TD Bank claimed it did not know about, or knowingly

participated in, Rothstein’s fraud, and tried to cast Frank Spinosa and others as “rogue”
employees, who acted on their own and without the knowledge of other TD Bank employees.
TD Bank also maintained that its fraud monitoring procedures and systems were adequate and
reasonable, and Coquina investors should have known Rothstein’s investment opportunities were
“too good to be true.”
Trial in this matter began on November 8, 2011, and concluded on January 18, 2012. In
most cases that would be the end of the Court’s involvement, save the resolution of post-trial
motions related to limited procedural, or even substantive, issues at trial. In this case, the end of
a two-month jury trial signaled only the beginning of a barrage of filings making accusations of
negligence and misconduct and admissions of incorrect statements to the Court.
In many ways, this is a case of too many cooks spoiling the broth. Over 200 Greenberg
Traurig attorneys were involved in this case. There were separate teams of Greenberg Traurig
lawyers to handle banking issues, document production, and pretrial and trial practice. TD Bank
retained two different firms to work on different aspects of the Rothstein fallout, but the firms
did not have any mutual coordination. One of the firms, Sullivan & Cromwell, then hired a
consultant to perform work, which was relevant to the Rothstein litigation, but no one ever
informed Greenberg Traurig. As a result, it often times appears that this litigation was conducted
in an Inspector Clouseau-like fashion. However, unlike a Pink Panther film, there was nothing
amusing about this conduct and it did not conclude neatly.
On March 26, 2012, Coquina filed a Fourth Motion for Sanctions, which relates to the
Bank’s Customer Due Diligence (“CDD”) form, which Coquina contends the Bank altered with

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the intent to mislead the jury. On April 24, 2012, TD Bank filed a Notice of Production and
Withdrawal of Certain Statements made to the Court, disclosing that a document titled “Standard
Investigative Protocol,” which the Bank’s attorneys adamantly denied existed during trial did
actually exist. Also on April 24, 2012, the law firm of Greenberg Traurig filed a motion for
substitution of counsel, indicating it would no longer represent TD Bank; TD Bank’s new
counsel would be McGuireWoods, LLP. On May 10, 2012, Coquina filed its Fifth Motion for
Sanctions, which relates to the Bank’s production of fraud alerts in this case, which Coquina
contends were incomplete. These discovery issues came to light as a result of the ongoing
production of documents in a related matter, Emess Capital v. TD Bank, Case No. 10-60882JAL.
On May 17 and 18, 2012, I held a hearing on the Order to Show Cause, Coquina’s Fourth
Motion for Sanctions, and TD Bank’s Notice. I heard testimony from TD Bank employees
Vincent Auletta, Amanda Spencer, and Sarah Pinkus; Jessica Smith, the technical point-ofcontact for Greenberg Traurig at Stroz Friedberg, an outside vendor; Greenberg Traurig
attorneys Mark Schnapp, Holly Skolnick, and Glenn Goldstein; and former Greenberg Traurig
attorney Donna Evans. Each witness had counsel present to represent him or her at the hearing.
Additionally, I heard arguments from respective counsel for Coquina, TD Bank, Greenberg
Traurig, and the individual witnesses.
On June 12, 2012, I held a hearing on Coquina’s Fifth Motion for Sanctions. I heard
testimony from Greenberg Traurig attorneys Mark Schnapp and Holly Skolnick, and former
Greenberg Traurig attorney Donna Evans. Each witness had counsel present to represent him or
her at the hearing. Additionally, I heard arguments from respective counsel for Coquina, TD
Bank, Greenberg Traurig, and the individual witnesses.

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II. LEGAL STANDARDS
A. Sanctions pursuant to Rule 37
Rule 37(b) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure provides that a district court may
impose sanctions for a party’s failure to comply with discovery orders. Rule 37(c) provides that
a district court may impose sanctions for a party’s failure to supplement its responses to
discovery requests.

The court may “penalize uncooperative attorneys or parties litigant in

discovery proceedings by requiring the payment of reasonable expenses, including attorney’s
fees, caused by the failure.” Serra Chevrolet, Inc. v. Gen. Motors Corp., 446 F.3d 1137, 1147
(11th Cir. 2006) (internal quotation marks omitted). Permissible sanctions under Rule 37 are:
(i) directing that the matters embraced in the order or other designated facts be
taken as established for purposes of the action, as the prevailing party claims;
(ii) prohibiting the disobedient party from supporting or opposing designated
claims or defenses, or from introducing designated matters in evidence;
(iii) striking pleadings in whole or in part;
(iv) staying further proceedings until the order is obeyed;
(v) dismissing the action or proceeding in whole or in part;
(vi) rendering a default judgment against the disobedient party; or
(vii) treating as contempt of court the failure to obey any order except an order to
submit to a physical or mental examination.
Rule 37(b)(2)(A). “[O]nly in a case where the court imposes the most severe sanction-default or
dismissal-is a finding of willfulness or bad faith failure to comply necessary.” BankAtlantic v.
Blythe Eastman Paine Webber, Inc., 12 F.3d 1045, 1049 (11th Cir. 1994). In other words, “[a]
court may impose lesser sanctions without a showing of willfulness or bad faith on the part of the
disobedient party.” Id.
District courts have “broad discretion” to impose sanctions for discovery violations, and
to apportion fault between the attorney and the client. Flury v. Daimler Chrysler Corp., 427
F.3d 939, 944 (11th Cir. 2005); Devaney v. Continental Am. Ins. Co., 989 F.2d 1154, 1162 (11th
Cir. 1993). “[S]anctions for discovery abuses are intended to prevent unfair prejudice to litigants

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and to insure the integrity of the discovery process.” Flury, 427 F.3d at 944. “The magnitude of
sanctions awarded is bounded under Rule 37 only by that which is ‘reasonable’ in light of the
circumstances.” Carlucci v. Piper Aircraft Corp., Inc., 775 F.2d 1440, 1453 (11th Cir. 1985).
“Permissible purposes of sanction include: 1) compensating the court and other parties for the
added expense caused by the abusive conduct; 2) compelling discovery; 3) deterring others from
engaging in similar conduct; and 4) penalizing the guilty party or attorney.” Id.
B. Sanctions under Court’s Inherent Authority
A court may also impose sanctions for litigation misconduct under its inherent power
upon a finding of bad faith. Eagle Hosp. Physicians, LLC v. SRG Consulting, Inc., 561 F.3d
1298, 1306 (11th Cir. 2009) (“The key to unlocking a court’s inherent power is a finding of bad
faith.”). A court may exercise its inherent powers “even if procedural rules exist which sanction
the same conduct.” In re Mroz, 65 F.3d 1567, 1575 (11th Cir. 1995). A court must, however,
exercise its inherent powers “with restraint and discretion.” Chambers v. NASCO, Inc., 501 U.S.
32, 44 (1991).
“A party demonstrates bad faith by, inter alia, delaying or disrupting the litigation or
hampering enforcement of a court order.” Eagle Hosp. Physicians, 561 F.3d at 1306. “Without
a ‘smoking gun’ statement from the plaintiff, . . . a district court makes a determination of bad
faith by drawing inferences from the conduct before it.” Byrne v. Nezhat, 261 F.3d 1075, 1125
(11th Cir. 2001).
The court’s inherent sanctioning power “encompasses the ability to impose civil and
criminal contempt.” Serra Chevrolet, 446 F3d at 1147. “[A] court may make an adjudication of
contempt and impose a contempt sanction even after the action in which the contempt arose has
been terminated.” In re E.I. DuPont De Nemours & Company-Benlate Litig., 99 F.3d 363, 368

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(11th Cir. 1996) (quoting Cooter & Gell v. Hartmarx Corp., 496 U.S. 384, 396 (1990)).
“A contempt sanction is considered civil if it is remedial, and for the benefit of the
complainant. But if it is for criminal contempt the sentence is punitive, to vindicate the authority
of the court.” Serra Chevrolet, 446 F3d at 1147 (internal quotation marks omitted). Generally,
“[a] finding of a failure to comply with discovery orders is a finding of civil contempt.” Id.
However, a finding of contempt for discovery violations after a case is terminated will normally
be criminal in nature.

See In re E.I. DuPont-Benlate Litig., 99 F.3d at 363 (“Where the

contemnor cannot avoid the sanction by agreeing to comply with the original order to produce
the documents, the sanctions order is determinate and therefore criminal in nature.” (internal
quotation marks omitted)). The Eleventh Circuit has “uniformly regarded the imposition of a
penalty against attorneys for a punitive purpose as a criminal contempt sanction.” United States
v. Skuthan, 442 F. App’x 460, 461 (11th Cir. 2011) (quoting United States v. KS & W Offshore
Eng’g, Inc., 932 F.2d 906, 908 (11th Cir. 1991)). The court must find that the attorney’s conduct
“rise[s] to the level of willfulness.” Id.
III. SUMMARY OF THE EVIDENCE
A. Customer Due Diligence Form
Coquina’s Fourth Motion for Sanctions relates to the Bank’s CDD form, a record TD
Bank’s Cash Management Department generated for its customer accounts. The document TD
Bank, through Greenberg Traurig, produced to Coquina was in black and white, rather than in
color, and did not contain a legible red banner running across the top of the page containing the
words, “HIGH RISK,” in capital letters, which appears in the original version of the document.
Further, the document produced to Coquina did not contain certain embedded information, which
indicated when, and which, Bank employees saved, reviewed, or edited the document throughout

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the relevant period (the “archive and editing information”).
document was not doctored.

TD Bank maintains that the

According to the Bank and Greenberg Traurig, the header

containing the words “HIGH RISK” appeared illegible as a result of a copying error. The blackand-white version of the CDD form was admitted into evidence at trial. Coquina used the
document to show that the Bank knew the RRA accounts were “high risk.”1
To figure out how this all came to be requires an understanding of how TD Bank kept
this document in the ordinary course of business, how Greenberg Traurig collected and reviewed
this type of document, and how Greenberg Traurig produced it to Coquina. This particular
document existed in its native format in a Lotus Notes document database referred to as the
“CDD database.” (Pinkus Test., Hr’g Tr. 47-48, May 17, 2012, ECF No. 896). When viewed in
its native form, the CDD form is in color. (Id. at 55). In its native form, the RRA CDD form
contained red banners and the writing in the banners appeared in white. (Id. at 57; see Hr’g Ex.
TDBANK-PINKUS 1). When printed in black and white, the banner appears in gray and the
letters appear in black. (Pinkus Test., Hr’g Tr. 57, May 17, 2012).
During discovery, TD Bank made available the CDD database and TD Bank’s former
Cash Management Risk Officer Sarah Pinkus’s personal computer for scanning and copying.
(Id. at 48-49). An outside vendor scanned and copied the database and computer at Greenberg
Traurig’s direction.

(Id. at 76-78).

Greenberg Traurig sent these scanned files to Stroz

Friedberg, an outside vendor that specializes in document collection, processing, and production.
(Smith Test., Hr’g Tr. 108, May 17, 2012). Stroz received an electronic copy of the database in
June 2010. (Id. at 108).

1

According to TD Bank the Cash Management Department designates all law firms as “high risk.” (TD
Bank Resp. to Mot. 5). There is also evidence, however, that the Bank could waive that status. (Pinkus
Test., Hr’g Tr. 80, May 17, 2012).

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The normal review and production process went as follows. When it received a batch of
documents, Stroz Friedberg would process and upload them to a searchable document review
platform, which contained TD Bank documents. (Id. at 107-08). Greenberg Traurig lawyers
reviewed the documents on the review platform in html format in color, and selected relevant
documents for production. (Id. at 135-36; Evans Test., Hr’g Tr. 76-77, May 18, 2012, ECF No.
897). Stroz Friedberg would then turn the documents selected for production into black-andwhite tiff2 files for production, and send them to Greenberg Traurig. (Smith Test., Hr’g Tr. 109,
135 May 17, 2012). Greenberg Traurig attorneys would review the tiff files to approve the
production, i.e., they would conduct a “quality check” of the production. (Evans Test., Hr’g Tr.
77-78, May 18, 2012). Once approved, the documents were printed and produced to opposing
counsel. (Id. at 77-78).
Smith explained that printing tiff documents in black and white is a standard practice in
document productions.

(Smith Test., Hr’g Tr. 113, May 17, 2012).

For purposes of the

evidentiary hearing, Smith ran a few tests on the document and concluded that, to remain visible,
the CDD form should have been printed to color tiff; even printing the document to black-andwhite tiff would have rendered the header entirely black. (Id. at 113-117, May 17, 2012; Hr’g
Ex. TDBANK SMITH-1). During the course of this litigation, Greenberg Traurig did not ask
Stroz Friedberg to produce documents in color.3 (Smith Test., Hr’g Tr. 136, May 17, 2012).
Although the document in question was located in the CDD database Stroz Friedberg
received in June 2010, in September 2010, Evans asked Pinkus for a hardcopy of the RRA CDD
2

A tiff is an image of a document. (Smith Test., Hr’g Tr. 113, May 17, 2012).

3

Stroz Friedberg produced the CDD form in the Emess case, which is in color, with proper formatting,
and includes the archive and editing information. (Smith Test., Hr’g Tr. 117-19, May 17, 2012; Hr’g Ex.
TDBANK SMITH-4). To produce that document, Stroz processed the native Lotus Notes version of the
CDD database and then printed the document to color tiff. (Smith Test., Hr’g Tr. 119, May 17, 2012).

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form. (Pinkus Test., Hr’g Tr. 49, May 17, 2012). Pinkus told her assistant to print the document
and identify any attachments in pen. (Id. at 51). She testified that the normal manner of printing
in her office was in black and white, and she did not print the document in color because Donna
Evans never asked her to do so. (Id. at 51, 58). Her assistant mailed the black-and-white copy to
Evans. (Id. at 52).
As a result of the black-and-white printing, the “HIGH RISK” designation header was
faint, but visible. (See Hr’g Ex. TDBANK-PINKUS 2). By printing out the document, some of
the formatting was altered so that writing that appeared in native format running horizontally
across the page appeared in a compressed column running vertically down the page. (Smith
Test., Hr’g Tr. 111-12, May 17, 2012; see Hr’g Ex. TDBANK-PINKUS 2, at 3-4). Finally, the
printed document did not include embedded information showing the document’s archive and
editing history. (Smith Test., Hr’g Tr. 112, May 17, 2012).
Pinkus testified that she did not notice that the printout did not contain the document
archive and editing history, and did not perceive the formatting problems as “incorrect.” (Id. at
71-72,). The differences between the Lotus Notus record in native format and the printed
document, however, are glaring. At her December 22, 2011 deposition in Razorback Funding,
LLC, et al. v. Scott Rothstein, et al., Case No. 09-062943 (Fla. Cir. Ct.), Pinkus pointed out that
the header was blacked out:
Q. And did you designate the account as a high risk account?
A. You know, it’s a little hard to tell because the – the audit rails that are within
the CDD aren’t printed. It -- It’s -- it’s the way the database works, everything
has to be opened for it to print, and not everything is printed on this particular
one.
So if you noticed on the very last page, 2437, it says the last edit, but it
would tell you all the -- it would tell you all the history.
So -- and the -- the top line is also blacked out. I can’t read it on -- on the
first page of the CDD where it tells you, the risk status is black.
Q. So that at page -- that portion that’s black was the current risk status?

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A. Yeah.
Q. Okay. But then there’s another portion of this document, or to the system,
which could be printed out that would give you the audit history -A. Right.
Q. -- for the CDD?
A. Right. It doesn’t tell you, like, the data that was changed, but it -- it tells you
the movement from status to status.
(Pinkus Dep. 46-47, Hr’g Ex. TDBANK-PINKUS 3). Greenberg Traurig attorneys were present
at the deposition. Coquina’s counsel was not present at the deposition, but at some point
received a copy of the transcript because they used other portions of this deposition transcript at
trial.
According to the evidence presented, there were instances during discovery when
Greenberg Traurig produced documents directly to plaintiffs without Stroz’s participation.
(Smith Test., Hr’g Tr. 109, May 17, 2012). The production of the CDD form appears to be one
of those instances. (Id.) Greenberg Traurig produced the CDD form at issue to Coquina as a
pdf. (Hr’g Tr. 101, May 17, 2012; Hr’g Ex. P702). In other words, instead of producing the
document in native format or as a color tiff, Greenberg Traurig scanned the document Pinkus had
sent to Evans and prepared a .pdf image of the document for production. (Def.’s Resp. to Fourth
Mot. for Sanctions 2-3, ECF No. 794).
Greenberg Traurig’s policy was to produce documents in the format in which they were
kept in the normal course of business. (Evans Test., Hr’g Tr. 75, May 18, 2012). Holly
Skolnick, counsel for TD Bank, also made a similar representation to Magistrate Judge Bandstra
in a pretrial hearing on Coquina’s motion to compel the production of documents in native
format. (Hr’g Tr. 30, Jul. 12, 2011, ECF No. 870). There, she assured Judge Banstra that a
third-party vendor was conducting the production and that every document TD Bank kept
electronically was “reproduced in tiff format, searchable, and with 34 columns of metadata.” (Id.

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at 29-30). Judge Bandstra eventually entered an Order denying the motion to compel documents
in native format. (ECF No. 377).
According to Evans, in this case, Greenberg Traurig had been under the mistaken
impression that the CDD forms were kept in hardcopy in the ordinary course of business, which
is why the firm produced the documents as pdfs. (Id. at 75-76). Evans testified that a senior
associate at Greenberg Traurig confirmed to her that the CDD forms were kept in hardcopy. (Id.
at 76). Obviously, that information was incorrect. A simple search on the Stroz Friedberg
database or even a phone call to Pinkus would have quickly revealed that TD Bank kept the
CDD forms in Lotus Notes. Based on the evidence presented, it does not appear that counsel
took either of those steps.
B. Standard Investigative Protocol
On April 24, 2012, TD Bank filed a Notice of Production and Withdrawal of Certain
Statements made to the Court.

The Notice confirmed the existence of a document titled

“Standard Investigative Protocol,” which Greenberg Traurig attorneys had denied existed during
trial.
The production of this type of document was litigated before Judge Bandstra during
discovery in this case. The document was responsive to an October 22, 2010 request for
documents, which requested TD Bank to produce all account opening and “Know Your
Customer” policies and procedures, all policies and procedures relating to the various banking
regulations, and all policies and procedures relating to compliance. (ECF No. 95-1, Req. Nos. 1,
3, 13, 16, 17).

On March 10, 2011, Judge Bandstra overruled TD Bank’s objections to

Coquina’s requests for documents and ordered TD Bank to produce all responsive documents
with respect to Document Request Nos. 1-30. (ECF No. 133). Throughout the pretrial and trial

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phases, TD Bank, through Greenberg Traurig, insisted it had produced all responsive documents.
The Standard Investigation Protocol document was clearly responsive to Coquina’s request for
documents—it provided guidance concerning reportable and non-reportable suspicious activity
and provided additional procedures. (See Spencer Test., Hr’g Tr. 204-07, May 17, 2012).
Whether this particular document existed became a heavily contested issue at trial after
Greenberg Traurig’s late production of some key documents brought the issue to the fore. On
November 22, 2011, in the midst of trial, TD Bank produced 150 pages of new documents to
Coquina.

Because these documents raised new factual issues with respect to the Bank’s

knowledge of Rothstein’s fraud, I ordered TD Bank to make certain Bank employees available
for deposition and imposed monetary sanctions on TD Bank in the form of attorney’s fees and
costs. (ECF No. 660).
On December 4, 2011, Coquina deposed TD Bank’s Manager of the Enhanced Due
Diligence Department, Amanda Spencer, who testified that when an account alerts, the AML
investigator would follow the Standard Investigative Protocol. (Spencer Dep. 24-27, ECF No.
717-1). She then stated: “In 2008 and 2009 [TD Bank] did have a procedure that was called
Standard Investigative Protocol.” (Id.) Although she was unsure where the document was stored
now, she stated that prior to 2009 “[i]t was stored in [the Bank’s] Procedures folder in [the
Bank’s] share drive”; specifically, on the AML department’s computer system. (Id.) Spencer
testified that she was never asked to produce a copy of it in this litigation. (Id.) At the end of the
deposition, Coquina’s counsel asked the Bank for the document. (Id. at 64).
On January 9, 2012, Coquina’s counsel raised the issue of the unproduced Standard
Investigative Protocol document with the Court.

(Trial Tr. 10-13, Jan. 19, 2012).

Mark

Schnapp, TD Bank’s counsel, stated that, to his knowledge, Greenberg Traurig had produced

12

every relevant protocol, and there was no “hidden document regarding investigative protocol.”
(Trial Tr. 17-24). Skolnick told the Court that Evans had followed up with Spencer, who stated
that she was not talking about a document, just a general policy and a checklist. (Id.) Schnapp
said that he was told “consistently”—presumably by the Bank—that there was no such
document. (Id.) On January 10, 2012, Schnapp told the Court that he was advised—again,
presumably by Bank representatives—that there were no other documents other than the
Standard Investigative Tools document already produced to Coquina. (Trial Tr. 125-126, Jan.
10, 2012). Schnapp produced another copy of the Standard Investigative Tools document, which
consists of an Excel spreadsheet checklist, to Coquina in court.
On January 11, 2012, Coquina filed its Third Motion for Sanctions based on the missing
Standard Investigative Protocol. (ECF No. 717). On January 13, 2012, TD Bank filed a
response to the motion, which included the affidavits of TD Bank’s Senior Vice-President of
Global AML Enhanced Due Diligence Vincent Auletta and Spencer, both denying the existence
of the document. (ECF No. 727). Also on January 13, 2012, Evans represented to the Court that
she spoke to Bank representatives and determined that the document did not exist. (Trial Tr. 2534, Jan. 13, 2012).
Spencer testified in her affidavit that when she referred to a standard investigative
protocol during her deposition, she meant the Standard Investigative Tools Excel spreadsheet.
(Spencer Decl. ¶¶ 3-4, ECF No. 727-2). She stated unequivocally that, to her knowledge, “there
is no document that was utilized by the AML Department in 2008 and 2009 titled ‘Standard
Investigative Protocol.’” (Id. ¶ 5).
Auletta stated in his affidavit that the Standard Investigative Tools was “not a procedure,
policy or protocol”; rather the document “was intended to list investigative tools for many of the

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transactions that occur at the Bank” and “lists resources an investigator may use, or should use . .
. when addressing [certain] procedures.” (Auletta Decl. ¶ 3, ECF No. 727-3). He also stated
unequivocally that to his knowledge “there is not a document titled ‘Standard Investigative
Protocol’ which was utilized by the AML or EDDO Departments in 2008 and 2009.”4 (Id.)
TD Bank and Greenberg Traurig continue to maintain it was all just a big
misunderstanding. In line with her affidavit, Spencer testified at the evidentiary hearing before
me that when she referred to “standard investigative protocol” during her deposition she meant
the Standard Investigative Tools Excel spreadsheet. (Spencer Test., Hr’g Tr. 173-78, May 17,
2012). She testified that she and others in the AML Operations Department used the name
“standard investigative protocol,” when they referred to the Excel spreadsheet. (Id. at 165).
Spencer testified that she never used the document titled “Standard Investigative Protocol.” (Id.
at 170).
Auletta testified that he only knew about the Standard Investigative Tools Excel
spreadsheet, which he helped develop; he saw and read the Standard Investigative Protocol
document for the first time on April 17 or 18, 2012; the Enhanced Due Diligence unit where he
worked did not use the Standard Investigative Protocol document; and he and others referred to
the Standard Investigative Tools Excel spreadsheet as the “standard investigative protocol.”
(Auletta Test., Hr’g Tr. 215-19, 230-33, May 17, 2012; Auletta Test., Hr’g Tr. 44-45, May 18,
2012). He considered the Standard Investigative Tools Excel spreadsheet as “the standard
investigative protocol” for the Enhanced Due Diligence unit, which is a subset of the AML BSA
department. (Auletta Test., Hr’g Tr. 213-16, May 17, 2012).
The evidence is clear that Greenberg Traurig, Auletta, and Evans all had a copy of the
4

It is clear, as discussed in more detail below, that as of the date of Auletta’s affidavit, the Standard
Investigative Protocol document existed and was in Auletta’s possession.

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document before this case went to trial. Greenberg Traurig had access to a copy of the Standard
Investigative Protocol document since June 2010, when TD Bank made available to Stroz
Friedberg a database that contained that document. (Hr’g Tr. 209-211, May 17, 2012). In
August 2009, Auletta received an e-mail containing four attachments labeled “standard
investigative protocol,” one of which was the document at issue here. (Auletta Test., Hr’g Tr.
220-22, May 17, 2012; Hr’g Ex. TDBANK-AULETTA 4). Of all of the attachments, Auletta
opened only one, which was the Excel spreadsheet. (Auletta Test., Hr’g Tr. 220-22, May 17,
2012). In April 2011, Auletta, through his assistant Tina Petrarca, forwarded that e-mail to
Evans, including its attachments. (Auletta Test., Hr’g Tr. 222-28, 32-33, May 17, 2012; Hr’g
Ex. TDBANK-AULETTA 6). Evans forwarded Petrarca’s e-mail to her secretary and asked her
to print them out. (Evans Test., Hr’g Tr. 68, May 18, 2012). It is unclear whether Evans
reviewed the printouts or what she did with those documents.
For the fault of one mouse click this matter would not be before me. Although this
document was on the document review platform and in Auletta’s and Evans’s respective e-mail
accounts, no one ever seems to have reviewed it. According to their testimonies, neither Auletta
nor Evans opened and reviewed all of the attachments in April 2011 or anytime after that until
this issue finally came to light. (Auletta Test., Hr’g Tr. 225-227, May 17, 2012; Auletta Test.,
Hr’g Tr. 31-32, May 18, 2012). The evidence also suggests that none of Greenberg Traurig’s
attorneys reviewed or selected the Standard Investigative Protocol document for production on
the Stroz Friedberg document review platform.
What is especially concerning to me is what happened—or, more specifically, what did
not happen—after Spencer’s deposition.

The evidence before me suggests that Greenberg

Traurig failed to conduct a thorough search for the document. Evans and other Greenberg

15

Traurig attorneys communicated with Bank representatives, including Auletta and Spencer, in
December 2011 and January 2012, and confirmed that there was no document titled “Standard
investigative Protocol.” (See Spencer Test., Hr’g Tr. 179, 183, May 17, 2012; Evans Test., Hr’g
Tr. 70-71, May 18, 2012; ECF No. 887-1). In around January 2012, Evans ran an unfruitful keyterm search of her computer files for “standard investigative protocol.” (Evans Test., Hr’g Tr.
70, May 18, 2012). Evans, however, could have located the Standard Investigative Protocol
document by simply reviewing the e-mails Petrarca and Auletta had sent to her. (See id. at 6768). Although Evans and a senior associate searched hardcopy documents that Auletta sent to
her in January 2012, apparently no one searched the obvious place—the Stroz Friedberg word
searchable document review platform—even though they knew that TD Bank’s documents were
hosted on that system. (See id. at 71-72; Hr’g Tr. 209-211, May 17, 2012). That was a simple,
straightforward way in which they could have located this seemingly elusive document.
Auletta and Spencer also could have located this document by searching in the AML
BSA shared drive, where the document was located. (Spencer Test., Hr’g Tr. 180-84, 190-94,
199, May 17, 2012). The testimony makes clear that neither Spencer nor Auletta ran a search of
the entire AML BSA drive before signing their affidavits. (See, e.g., Spencer Test., Hr’g Tr.
199-200, May 17, 2012; Auletta Test., Hr’g Tr. 26, 46, May 18, 2012). Why? Because the Bank
was so firmly rooted in its belief that the document did not exist that it failed to conduct a
comprehensive search to find it. At most, Auletta and Spencer searched their respective drives
and computers, which revealed nothing. (Auletta Test., Hr’g Tr. 45-46, May 17, 2012).
C. AML and Fraud Alerts
On May 10, 2012, Coquina filed its Fifth Motion for Sanctions, which relates to the
Bank’s production of fraud alerts in this case. During this action, counsel for the Bank produced

16

a total of around 100 fraud alerts, which TD Bank generated for Rothstein’s bank accounts.
During discovery in Emess, the Bank produced a certain document,5 which states that the Bank
investigated a larger number of fraud alerts. The Bank contends that the production of the
document was inadvertent and the alerts to which the document refers are privileged and TD
Bank did not have a duty to produce them.
The production of fraud alerts was litigated before Judge Bandstra during discovery and
before me during trial. Coquina maintains that the document and the underlying alerts to which
it refers are responsive to an October 22, 2010 request for documents, which requested TD Bank
to all internal compliance audits TD Bank performed, and all fraud detection and/or fraud alert
reports (ECF No. 95-1, Req. Nos. 22-29), and a January 6, 2011 request for documents, which
asked for all documents relating to any TD Bank compliance deficiencies, remedial efforts, and
any internal and external investigations (ECF No. 902-1, Req. Nos. 32-36). On March 10, 2011,
Judge Bandstra overruled TD Bank’s objections to Coquina’s requests for documents and
ordered TD Bank to produce all responsive documents with respect to Document Request Nos.
1-30. (ECF No. 133). On March 18, 2011, TD Bank sought, and the Court granted, a brief
extension of time to fully complete its production of documents as to five requests. (ECF Nos.
137, 143). TD Bank represented that, otherwise, it had complied with its discovery obligations
as to the other document requests. (Id.) Coquina never filed a motion to compel the production
of documents responsive to Request Nos. 32-36.
In an April 7, 2011 deposition, Auletta, as TD Bank’s Rule 30(b)(6) witness, testified that
there were no AML alerts for Rothstein’s accounts until late September 2009, and less than 5
alerts thereafter. (Auletta Dep. 269-270, ECF No. 883-2). However, on October 31, 2011, about
5

Because TD Bank has claimed the document is privileged, I will not discuss the details of the
document’s contents here.

17

a week before trial began, TD Bank produced an additional 150 pages worth of AML alerts from
September to November 2009. (See ECF No. 599). In November 2011, TD Bank produced
more alerts spanning 2008 to 2009. (See id.)
TD Bank presented evidence that the alerts to which the potentially privileged document
referred were not AML or fraud alerts that TD Bank generated during the Rothstein Ponzi
scheme. It appears that on April 26, 2011, TD Bank retained the law firm of Sullivan &
Cromwell to assist in certain banking matters.6 (ECF No. 894; Hr’g Tr. 8, Jun. 12, 2012, ECF
No. 903). On May 12, 2011, Sullivan & Cromwell engaged a consultant7 to review the Rothstein
accounts.8 (Id.) Having reviewed the evidence, I find that the alerts generated through the
consultant’s work were not AML or fraud alerts TD Bank generated in the ordinary course of its
business while the Rothstein accounts were open and operational. (Id. at 12). On October 19,
2011, the consultant provided to TD Bank’s Audit Committee an interim report on its work.
(ECF No. 894).
The consultant’s work occurred after the Ponzi scheme was discovered, after this action
was filed, and after discovery in this case had closed. (Hr’g Tr. 11, Jun. 12, 2012). TD Bank
argues that the consultant’s report is work product and TD Bank did not have an obligation to
supplement its privilege log or otherwise notify Coquina of the report.9 Local Rule 26.1(g)(3)(C)
6

Because the engagment letter has not been made public, I will not disclose the details of the law firm’s
work in this Order.
7

Because the engagement letter with the consultant and the consultant’s reports have not been made
public, I will not disclose their details in this Order.
8

The evidence also shows that the consultant had been working with TD Bank as far back as December
15, 2010, to conduct an “enterprise AML risk assessment” to “align with industry standards for the
nature, size, and complexity of any organization such as TD Bank.” (Pl.’s Ex. 1, TD/Coquina 004189).
TD Bank represented at the hearing that the work referred to in the December 2010 Audit Report was
unrelated to the work undertaken in connection with the Rothstein accounts. (Hr’g Tr. 51-52, Jun. 12,
2012). The consultant’s report itself makes no mention of the Rothstein accounts.
9

Counsel for TD Bank provided the redacted version to the Court for in camera review. To the extent TD

18

provides that a party is not required to include in a privilege log “written and oral
communications between a party and its counsel after commencement of the action and work
product material created after commencement of the action.”
Even if the consultant’s report is not work product protected, TD Bank contends that it
still did not have a duty to supplement its production because the report was not created until
after the close of discovery in April 2011.10 Courts have held that a party does not have a
continuing obligation to produce documents created after discovery closes. See, e.g., Pharmacy,
Inc. v. Am. Pharm. Partners, Inc., No. CV 05-776, 2008 WL 4415263, at *3 (E.D.N.Y. Sept. 24,
2008) (“[A] party is under no duty to produce documents which did not exist prior to the close of
discovery.”); Hnot v. Willis Grp. Holdings, Ltd., No. 01 Civ. 6558, 2006 WL 2381869, at *5
(S.D.N.Y. Aug.17, 2006); In re High Fructose Corn Syrup Antitrust Litig., No. 95-1477, 2000
WL 33180835, at *3 (C.D. Ill. Jul. 19, 2000). However, at least one other court has held that a
party must supplement its discovery responses where the later-created materials “make any of
their prior responses in some material respect incomplete or incorrect.” See, e.g., Pizza Public
Co. v. Tricon Global Rests., Inc., No. 99 Civ 12056, 2000 WL 1457010, at *2 (S.D.N.Y. Sept.
29, 2000). I decline to decide, upon the limited evidence and arguments before me on the issue
of privilege, whether this document should have been produced—albeit in redacted form. This is
a question more appropriately before the Honorable Joan A. Lenard, who is presiding over the
Emess matter. I find that, at a minimum, however, TD Bank should have been provided the
Bank argues that Coquina’s motion must be denied because it failed to file a motion to compel or an
application to the OCC to obtain these materials, I note that Coquina can hardly be faulted for failing to
make the proper requests to obtain documents they had no idea existed until recently.
10

It is well estbalished that the obligation to supplement discovery responses continues after discovery.
Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(e)(1). This Court’s Scheduling Order reflects this continuing obligation by requiring
parties to supplement discovery responses within ten days of receipt or notice of new or revised
information. This requirement, however, does not create a new and additional obligation to produce
document created after close of discovery.

19

document to trial counsel, Greenberg Traurig.
Coquina contends that Greenberg Traurig elicited false testimony from its expert, Ivan
Garces, who did not have access to the consultant’s report. Garces testified at trial that TD Bank
made a reasonable risk assessment that the RRA accounts were not high risk, and it implemented
reasonable systems and procedures to monitor the RRA accounts and comply with Bank Secrecy
Act requirements. (Trial Tr. 45, 71, Jan. 9, 2012, ECF No. 816; Trial Tr. 24, 39, 46-47, Jan. 10,
2012, ECF No. 817). TD Bank argues that Garces had access to all relevant AML alerts, which
was a proper basis for Garces’ opinion. (ECF No. 900). Further, Coquina had a copy of the
December 2010 Audit Report at trial to cross-examine Garces’ conclusions. (Id.)
The evidence indicates that Greenberg Traurig did not intentionally keep the results of
the consultant’s report from Garces. In fact, the trial lawyers in this case consistently testified
they had no knowledge that this work was taking place; they never saw the interim report or any
other materials associated with the consultant’s work until long after trial in this matter was over.
(Hr’g Tr. 15-16, 19, Jun. 12, 2012; Evans Test., Hr’g Tr. 61-62, 65, Jun. 12, 2012; Skolnick
Test., Hr’g Tr. 78-79, Jun. 12, 2012; Schnapp Test., Hr’g Tr. 82-83, Jun. 12, 2012).
D. Other Issues
During these proceedings, Coquina brought other issues to the Court’s attention regarding
what it contends demonstrates further discovery violations and fraud on the court. First, Coquina
maintains TD Bank’s Rule 30(b)(6) witness Carlos DiToro provided false or misleading
testimony during his deposition with regard to a fired employee. At his April 8, 2011 deposition,
DiToro testified that no other employee except for Matthew Brennan had been disciplined for a
bank policy or code of conduct violation. (DiToro Dep. 306, ECF No. 895-2). A December
2010 Audit Report, however, indicates that the AML Program Director “was replaced” during a

20

review of TD Bank’s monitoring and risk assessment systems.
004180).

(Pl.’s Ex. 1, TD/Coquina

In her December 12, 2011 deposition in Razorback, the former AML Program

Director, Teresa Baker-Smith, testified that on November 15, 2010, a human resources
representative terminated her effective immediately. (Baker-Smith Dep. 10-11, Pl.’s Ex. 3). She
testified that her termination was “due to a global reorganization.” (Id.) Having been presented
with no evidence that TD Bank terminated Baker-Smith for any reason other than a global
reorganization, I cannot conclude that DiToro made false statements at his deposition.
Second, Coquina identifies e-mails that TD Bank never produced to it in this litigation,
but produced in Emess. (ECF No. 895). One document consists of a November 4, 2009 e-mail
exchange among then Regional Vice-President Frank Spinosa, TD Bank’s President in Florida,
Kevin Gillen, TD Bank senior counsel Richard Berman, and TD Bank’s press officer, Rebecca
Acevedo. In the e-mail exchange Gillen states that Spinosa “did in fact author, sign and issue
these letters.” (ECF No. 895-1). “These letters” refers to the so-called “lock letters” Spinosa
provided to Rothstein. Coquina also identifies a previously unproduced October 31, 2009 e-mail
in which Spinosa sent Gillen and TD Bank executive Thomas te Riele copies of the lock letters.
(ECF No. 909-1). Gillen replied, likely mistakenly, to Spinosa: “Frank called me on my drive
back from the hospital in NJ. What a bizzar [sic] story. Not really sure where our risk might be
now. Have no clue why he would have provided these letters.” (Id.)
The critical question is why TD Bank failed to previously disclose these e-mails to
Coquina, as they are both clearly relevant and responsive to Coquina’s requests for documents.
TD Bank explains that the November 4, 2009 e-mail chain was identified in its privilege log.
According to TD Bank, Coquina did not challenge the claim of privilege as to this document.
The privilege log entry states that the document is being withheld because it concerns a

21

“transmittal of confidential attorney communication made in the rendition of legal services.”
(ECF No. 909-2). TD Bank had, at a minimum, an arguable claim of privilege as to a portion of
that e-mail chain because it reflected a request for advice of counsel. Other portions of the email chain, however, appear to be discoverable. As to the October 31, 2009 e-mail, it remains
unclear why it was never produced to Coquina. It does not appear that this document was
withheld for privilege, and for good reason—the October 31, 2009 e-mail does not include
counsel or reflect attorney-client communications. TD Bank, through Greenberg Traurig, should
have produced this entire e-mail chain to Coquina.
III. CONCLUSIONS
A. Sanctions Against Greenberg Traurig and TD Bank are Warranted
In reaching my conclusions below I have conducted a cumulative review of all of the
discovery mishaps in this matter, which reveal a pattern of discovery violations. I will note at
the outset that it is difficult to accept that it was a mere coincidence that the late productions on
the eve or during trial contained highly relevant documents. On October 31, 2011, TD Bank,
through Greenberg Traurig, produced pages of AML alerts. In November 2011, TD Bank,
through Greenberg Traurig, produced 150 pages of documents, which included e-mails among
AML employees questioning whether the Rothstein accounts should be further investigated.
Also in November 2011, TD Bank, through Greenberg Traurig, produced additional pages of
fraud alerts. After trial, Coquina discovered that the CDD form TD Bank, through Greenberg
Traurig, produced to it did not contain relevant writing and archive and editing information.
Also after trial, Greenberg Traurig produced the Standard Investigative Protocol, a document
outlining certain investigatory steps TD Bank employees had to take. Coquina subsequently
learned that TD Bank hired a consultant whose report undermined some of the conclusions trial

22

expert Ivan Garces reached. Finally, Coquina discovered two previously undisclosed e-mails
containing evidence suggesting that Frank Spinosa drafted the lock letters and that Kevin Gillen
was less than candid on at least one point in his testimony.
Based on my review of all of the evidence, and considering the pattern of discovery
abuses before, during, and after trial, I find that Greenberg Traurig acted negligently in failing to
comply with its discovery obligations in this case, and TD Bank acted willfully in failing to
comply with its discovery obligations and assist its outside counsel to properly litigate this case
in accordance with the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and the Federal Rules of Evidence.
Greenberg Traurig acted negligently in failing to produce the CDD form in a manner that
preserved the document’s qualities. It is clear that, to preserve all its original qualities, the CDD
form should have been produced in native format or color tiff. Evans testified that Greenberg
Traurig produced this document in a separate pdf production without Stroz Friedberg’s
involvement because she believed TD Bank kept the document in hardcopy in its ordinary course
of business. This explanation is hard to believe. Upon review of the printout, Greenberg Traurig
or in-house counsel should have immediately realized, at a minimum, that some information was
lost due to the formatting errors, which are clearly visible on the face of the document. From
looking at the formatting errors on the face of the document it is clear that it existed originally in
some sort of electronic format. That should have prompted questions about how TD Bank kept
the documents. Further, it is reasonable to infer that at least one Greenberg Traurig attorney saw
the original, html color document during discovery on the Stroz Friedberg document review
platform. That placed the attorneys on notice that the document existed on Lotus Notes in native
format and was originally in color.

Finally, it is clear from a review of the initial printout—

which contained a faint and barely legible banner—that further printing or copying of the

23

document would result in degradation of the document’s clarity or quality.
TD Bank acted willfully in failing to rectify Greenberg Traurig’s error or allowing it to
endure.11 TD Bank hides behind Greenberg Traurig’s mistakes and points to Pinkus’s deposition
testimony to wash its hands clean of any involvement in this production of documents. TD Bank
would have this Court believe that, except for Pinkus, none of its approximately fifteen in-house
lawyers or its representatives who sat through trial had any idea what the critical documents in
this case were supposed to look like, and therefore cannot be held responsible for not noticing
that the CDD form contained blacked out headers and lacked archive and editing information
during pretrial or trial proceedings. That explanation defies credulity. Having reviewed the
evidence and made the appropriate credibility determinations, I do not accept that this was the
case.
I also find that Coquina suffered prejudice as a result of the production of the incomplete
CDD form. TD Bank argues that Coquina suffered no prejudice because the document refers to
the RRA account as “high risk” in several places other than the banner. TD Bank also notes that
the use of the color red was not significant—it was the standard color Commerce Bank, TD
Bank’s predecessor, used on its documents. TD Bank would have had the opportunity to explain
these document features at trial. The fact that the document contained an all-caps red header
stating “HIGH RISK” may have driven home for jurors that the Bank should have paid particular
attention to this account, despite TD Bank’s evidence that every law firm was designated high
risk and the color had no particular significance. I cannot speculate what the exact impact of the
color document would have been, but I can conclude from the evidence before me that Coquina
was deprived of the ability to capitalize on these document features at trial due to Greenberg
11

The evidence presented, however, does not support a finding that TD Bank or Greenberg Traurig
intentionally doctored or altered the document.

24

Traurig’s inadequate production and TD Bank’s willful blindness. Cf. Inmuno Vital, Inc. v.
Telemundo Grp., Inc., 203 F.R.D. 561, 573 (S.D. Fla. 2001) (last-minute disclosure of document
prejudiced plaintiff because it “significantly diminished” the plaintiff’s ability to use the
document effectively at trial).
As for the Standard Investigative Protocol document, I find that Greenberg Traurig and
TD Bank failed to conduct an adequate search of the document in response to Coquina’s requests
and my inquiries during trial. The document was included in the database that Stroz processed
for Greenberg Traurig. When Stroz received the database, it placed the documents therein on a
word searchable document review platform. Thus, a simple word search on the document review
platform should have revealed the document. Although Evans ran word searches on her e-mail
account, she did not review the e-mails she received from TD Bank employees for their
attachments. Had she done so, she would have discovered the document. The document was
also located in TD Bank’s shared drive and Auletta’s e-mail. Neither Spencer nor Auletta
searched the larger AML BSA shared drive before signing the affidavits Greenberg Traurig
presented to this Court. Auletta’s failure to open all of the documents attached to the e-mail
compounded with the Bank’s refusal to even consider the validity of Coquina’s request resulted
in continued denial, deception, and delay.
I am also concerned about TD Bank’s role in this litigation. It appears that TD Bank’s inhouse counsel were conspicuously absent from any involvement in supervising or assisting in the
litigation of this matter.

In-house counsel did not participate in preparing witnesses for

deposition or trial. (Evans Test., Hr’g Tr. 73-74, Jun. 12, 2012). For example, in-house counsel
only spoke to Auletta, the Bank’s designated corporate representative, a few times, and the
subject matter of the discussion was limited to scheduling his deposition. (See, e.g., Auletta

25

Test., Hr’g Tr. 14, 38-39, May 17, 2012). Although there were at least fourteen or fifteen people
at TD Bank’s general counsel’s office involved in this matter, none of them apparently contacted
Spencer, Auletta, or apparently anyone else to locate the CDD form. (See, e.g., Auletta Test.,
Hr’g Tr. 13-14, May 18, 2012; Hr’g Tr. 18, Jun. 12, 2012). It also does not appear that in-house
counsel was involved in ascertaining the existence of the Standard Investigative Protocol
document or in adequately reviewing documents prior to production.
Further, TD Bank compartmentalized its groups of attorneys and segregated information
from the trial attorneys in this case.12 The Greenberg Traurig attorneys dealt with different
individuals depending on the subject matter or nature of the inquiry. (Evans Test., Hr’g Tr. 7173, Jun. 12, 2012). The principal contact person at the Bank, Leo Doyle, who is head of TD
Bank’s U.S. litigation department, never informed Greenberg Traurig of the nature of Sullivan &
Cromwell’s and the consultant’s work, even though it went to the heart of this litigation. (Hr’g
Tr. 18-19, 70-71, Jun. 12, 2012; Evans Test., Hr’g Tr. 61-62, Jun. 12, 2012). TD Bank took the
decision of whether to provide the report to its expert, produce this document, or limit the
expert’s testimony based on the information obtained through the report out of Greenberg
Traurig’s hands by segregating the information from them.
No one outside attorney was aware of the existence of all the discoverable or relevant
materials. TD Bank’s general counsel’s office, on the other hand, had all the information. It
knew about the work the consultant was conducting and it had control over what information
Garces reviewed. The report was relevant to the expert’s work, and suggests, contrary to Garces’
testimony, that TD Bank’s systems were not reasonable. Had Greenberg Traurig attorneys been
12

Although non-production of the consultant’s report may not have violated any court order, I have
considered evidence related to the consultant’s report to determine an overall pattern of bad faith or
willful conduct.

26

aware of this report, they may have decided not to use Garces as an expert or limit his direct
examination. I can only speculate as to the attorneys’ alternative litigation strategies, of course.
I do conclude, however, that TD Bank willfully concealed relevant evidence from its trial
counsel. In doing so, TD Bank prevented trial counsel on both sides from fully and accurately
presenting the issues in this case, and interfered with the judicial process.
It also has become clear that some of TD Bank’s witnesses were unprepared or less than
candid under oath. Auletta’s testimonies were inconsistent throughout this and related litigation.
At his April 7, 2011 deposition in this matter, as the Bank’s Rule 30(b)(6) corporate
representative, he testified that he reviewed the AML BSA policies in preparation for the
deposition. (Auletta Dep. 20).

As the evidence revealed, the document titled “Standard

Investigative Protocol” was in the AML BSA shared drive and consisted of a relevant Bank
policy.13 It was also in his e-mail files at the time of his deposition. Whether he used the
document or not during the course of his daily work with the Bank is irrelevant. He testified as
the corporate representative and was therefore charged with knowledge of all of the Bank’s
relevant policies and procedures.

I can only conclude that, at worst, Auletta provided

intentionally misleading testimony, at best, failed to properly prepare for his deposition, thereby
derailing Coquina’s preparation of its case. As a result, Coquina was prejudiced by having to
expend time and effort in tracking down the Standard Investigative Protocol document in the
midst of trial, by being deprived of the use of this evidence at trial, and litigating this post-trial
sanctions issue now.
Gillen’s statement in the previously undisclosed October 31 and November 4, 2009 e13

Auletta disingenuously tried to maintain that the Standard Investigative Tools and Standard Investigate
Protocol documents were not “policies” but merely a guideline or standard. Spencer’s description of how
TD Bank employees used the documents makes clear that they set forth the procedures they followed
when conducting an investigation. (See Spencer Test., Hr’g Tr. 165-167, May 17, 2012).

27

mail would likely have been admissible at trial as an admission and contradicts at least one point
of Gillen’s testimony at trial, where he testifies that the first time he saw the lock letters was
when in-house counsel showed it to him. (Trial Tr. 122, Nov. 15, 2011, ECF No. 122). Had
Coquina’s counsel had these e-mails before trial, they could have attacked Gillen’s credibility
with them on cross-examination. Coquina was therefore prejudiced by the non-disclosure.
Upon review of all of the evidence I conclude that Rule 37 sanctions against Greenberg
Traurig and TD Bank are warranted. Having determined that TD Bank’s discovery violations
were willful and resulted in prejudice to Coquina, I must determine what is the appropriate
sanction in this case. Coquina urges that I strike TD Bank’s pleadings or its notice of appeal.
Discovery sanctions must be “just” and “specifically related” to the discovery violations.
See Ins. Corp. of Ireland, Ltd. v. Compagnie de Bauxites de Guinee, 456 U.S. 694, 707 (1982);
Sierra Chevrolet, 446 F.3d at 1152. The discovery violations in this case resulted in Coquina’s
diminished ability to prove that TD Bank’s actions were unreasonable and it had knowledge of
fraud. Although the jury found in Coquina’s favor, Coquina now faces post-trial motions, which
challenge the sufficiency of the evidence it put forth at trial on these issues. I will therefore
direct that the facts that TD Bank’s monitoring and alert systems were unreasonable and that TD
Bank had actual knowledge of Rothstein’s fraud be taken as established for purposes of this
action. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 37(b)(2)(A)(i). This sanction will prevent further prejudice to
Coquina in an eventual appeal on that issue.
Greenberg Traurig and TD Bank shall also pay Coquina’s reasonable attorney’s fees and
costs associated with bringing and litigating the Fourth and Fifth Motions for Sanctions and its
Notice of Supplemental Evidence, and its reasonable attorney’s fees and costs associated with
litigation resulting from TD Bank’s Notice of Withdrawal. This sanction serves to compensate

28

Coquina for the added expense caused by Greenberg Traurig’s and TD Bank’s discovery
violations and abusive conduct. See Carlucci, 775 F.2d at 1453. Coquina’s counsel shall file a
motion for fees and costs within twenty days of this Order.
B. Sanctions are not Warranted against Individual Attorneys
The individual Greenberg Traurig attorneys’ handling of this case left much to be desired.
The document review and production appears to have been conducted in an almost ad hoc
manner. The attorneys failed to adequately conduct document searches in response to Coquina’s
counsel’s requests and this Court’s inquiries. The attorneys produced key documents on the eve
of trial, and in the midst of trial, because of failures in their document search and production
procedures.

Although I recognize that the attorneys were dealing with a high volume of

documents, the amount of production errors that occurred throughout these proceedings were
simply incredible, especially coming from lawyers in a well regarded firm like Greenberg
Traurig, which in many ways earns its reputation from being able to litigate large, complex
actions.
Having reviewed the evidence, however, I do not find that sanctions, including a finding
of contempt, are warranted against any of the individual attorneys. The evidence does not
support a finding that any of them acted willfully or in bad faith. Although they certainly acted
with negligence, I am not prepared, on this record, to enter sanctions personally against them.

IV. CONCLUSION
For the reasons provided, it is ORDERED and ADJUDGED that Plaintiff’s Fourth
Motion for Sanctions (ECF No. 791) and Plaintiff’s Fifth Motion for Sanctions (ECF No. 845)
are GRANTED in part and DENIED in part, consistent with this Order.

29

DONE and ORDERED in chambers, at Miami, Florida, this 3rd day of August 2012.

Copies furnished to:
Ted E. Bandstra, U.S. Magistrate Judge
Counsel of record

30