Blaszkowski et al v. Mars Inc. et al

Filing 430

MEMORANDUM OF LAW in Support of Defendants' Motion to Compel Documents and Interrogatory Answers Regarding Pet Food Communications by Mars Inc.. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit 1, # 2 Exhibit 2, # 3 Exhibit 3, # 4 Exhibit 4, # 5 Exhibit 5, # 6 Exhibit 6, # 7 Exhibit 7)(Ortega, Omar)

Blaszkowski et al v. Mars Inc. et al

Doc. 430 Att. 1

EXHIBIT 1

Dockets.Justia.com

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF FLORIDA MIAMI DIVISION CASE NO. 07-21221-CIV-ALTONAGA/BROWN RENEE BLASZKOWSKI, et al., individually and on behalf of others similarly situated, Plaintiffs, vs. MARS, INCORPORATED, et al., Defendants. ___________________________________/ DEFENDANT MARS, INCORPORATED'S FIRST SET OF INTERROGATORIES TO PLAINTIFF RENEE BLASZKOWSKI Defendant Mars, Incorporated, by its undersigned attorneys, propounds the following interrogatories upon Plaintiff Renee Blaszkowski and requests that they be answered separately, fully, and under oath within thirty days of service pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 33 and Local Rule 26.1.G. DEFINITIONS 1. The words "you," "yours" and/or "yourselves" mean Plaintiff Renee Blaszkowski

and any spouse, relative, directors, officers, employees, agents, investigators, representatives or other persons or entities acting, or purporting to act, on behalf of Plaintiff Renee Blaszkowski. 2. The singular shall include the plural and vice versa; the terms "and" or "or" shall

be both conjunctive and disjunctive; and the term "including" mean "including without limitation." 3. "Date" shall mean the exact date, month and year, if ascertainable or, if not, the

best approximation of the date (based upon relationship with other events).

4.

The word "document" shall mean any writing, drawing, graph, chart, recording,

electronically stored information, photograph, or other data compilation from which you can obtain information that is in your actual or constructive possession, custody, care or control, which pertains directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, either to any of the subjects listed below or to any other matter relevant to the issues in this action, or which are themselves listed below as specific documents, including, but not limited to: correspondence, memoranda, notes, messages, email communications, instant messages, electronic postings, weblogs, diaries, minutes, books, reports, charts, ledgers, invoices, receipts, computer printouts, PowerPoint or other software or computer-based presentations, microfilms, video tapes or tape recordings, transcripts of video tapes or tape recordings, pet food packaging, pet food labels, advertisements, transcripts of advertisements, point of sale information, veterinarian or hospital invoices, reports or records. 5. "Agent" shall mean: any agent, employee, officer, director, attorney, independent

contractor or any other person acting at the direction of or on behalf of another. 6. "Person" shall mean any individual, corporation, proprietorship, partnership, trust,

association or any other entity. 7. The words "pertain to" or "pertaining to" mean: relates to, refers to, contains,

concerns, describes, embodies, mentions, constitutes, constituting, supports, corroborates, demonstrates, proves, evidences, shows, refutes, disputes, rebuts, controverts or contradicts. 8. "Pet" shall mean any cat or dog for which you purchased or provided food at any

time since May 9, 2003. 9. "Food" shall mean any food, whether or not marketed for pets, that is consumed

by pets, including items commonly identified in the marketplace as pet treats.

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10.

The term "action" shall mean the case entitled Renee Blaszkowski, et al. v. Mars,

Inc., et al., Case No. 07-21221, pending in the Unites States District Court for the Southern District of Florida. 11. 12. The term "Complaint" shall mean the operative complaint filed in this action. The word "identify", when used in reference to a document (including

electronically stored information), means and includes the name and address of the custodian of the document, the location of the document, and a general description of the document, including (1) the type of document (e.g., letter or memorandum) and, if electronically stored information, the software application used to create it (e.g., MS Word or MS Excel Spreadsheet); (2) the general subject matter of the document or electronically stored information; (3) the date of the document or electronically stored information; (4) the author of the document or electronically stored information; (5) the addressee of the document or electronically stored information; and (6) the relationship of the author and addressee to each other. 13. "Identify" or "state the identity of", when used with respect to a natural person or

pet (as defined above), means to provide the following: a. full name and any alias, including user names, screen names and registered reader names used in connection with posting comments to websites; b. c. d. e. current or last known home address; current or last known business address; current or last known employment position; and relationship if any, to the parties in this action.

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INSTRUCTIONS 1. You shall answer each interrogatory fully, in writing and under oath, unless it is

objected to, in which event the reasons for the objections shall be stated in lieu of an answer. Your answers shall include all information available to you, including hearsay, which is in the possession, custody, or control of you, your agents, or attorneys. If you cannot provide all of the information requested in each interrogatory, you should provide the information which you can provide and explain all efforts made to obtain the information which you are unable to provide. 2. If you object to fully identifying a document, electronically stored information or

oral communication because of a privilege, you must nevertheless provide the following information pursuant to Local Rule 26.1.G.3.(b), unless divulging the information would disclose the privileged information: a. b. the nature of the privilege claimed (including work product); if the privilege is being asserted in connection with a claim or defense governed by state law, the state privilege rule being invoked; c. the date of the document, electronically stored information or oral communication; d. if a document: its type (e.g., letter or memorandum) and, if electronically stored information, the software application used to create it (e.g., MS Word or MS Excel Spreadsheet), and the custodian, location, and such other information sufficient to identify the material for a subpoena duces tecum or a production request, including where appropriate the author, the addressee, and, if not apparent, the relationship between the author and addressee;

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e.

if an oral communication: the place where it was made, the names of the persons present while it was made, and, if not apparent, the relationship of the persons present to the declarant; and

f.

the general subject matter of the document, electronically stored information or oral communication.

3.

You are under a continuous obligation to supplement your answers to these

interrogatories under the circumstances specified in Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 26(e). INTERROGATORIES 1. Please identify each of your pets, as defined above, and for each, state the name,

the breed, the date your ownership and/or care of the pet began, the age of the pet when your ownership and/or care of it began, the date your ownership and/or care of the pet ended (if any), the date of the pet's death (if any), and the name of its owner and/or primary care-giver. 2. For each pet identified in response to Interrogatory No. 1, please identify any

veterinarian or other professional who examined, treated, or provided any care to or advice regarding that pet, including the name, address, telephone number, place of employment and job title of each such person. 3. For each pet identified in response to Interrogatory No. 1, please identify any

health concerns for which you consulted with, or sought treatment by, any veterinarian or other professional and, for each such health concern, state the nature of the concern, the date or time period during which it occurred, the name of any individual with whom you consulted regarding the concern, the names of all medications or remedies prescribed or otherwise recommended to address the concern, and the date or time period during which the pet used each such medication or remedy.

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4.

For each pet identified in response to Interrogatory No. 1, please identify all

foods, whether commercially available or not, provided by you to the pet since the date your care of it began and for each such food, state the brand and product name (if any), the name and address of the retail store where it was purchased (if applicable), the date or time period during which it was purchased (if applicable), the date or time period during which it was provided to the pet, and the amount and frequency with which the food was provided to the pet. 5. Please identify yourself, including your full name and any prior names used, all

electronic identities used at any time during the past five (5) years (including email addresses, user names, or screen names), all addresses at which you have lived for the past ten (10) years, your date of birth, and your driver's license number and state of issuance. 6. Please identify each website or electronic community (including weblogs, internet

bulletin boards, and listservs) which you have maintained or to which you have contributed during the past five (5) years and for each, state the registered name you used, the nature of the website or electronic community, the internet address (URL), and the date or period of time during which you maintained or contributed to it. Respectfully submitted, /s/ Philip A. Sechler Omar Ortega Florida Bar Number 0095117 DORTA & ORTEGA, P.A. 800 S. Douglas Road Douglas Entrance Suite 149 Miami, FL 33134 Telephone: [phone] Fax: [phone] [e-mail] Dane H. Butswinkas Philip A. Sechler

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Thomas G. Hentoff Patrick J. Houlihan WILLIAMS & CONNOLLY LLP 725 Twelfth Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 200005 Telephone: [phone] Fax: [phone] [e-mail]; [e-mail]; [e-mail]; [e-mail]

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CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing was sent via electronic mail to all counsel on the attached service list on April 16, 2008. By: /s/ Philip A. Sechler Philip A. Sechler

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CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE RENEE BLASZKOWSKI, ET AL., VS. MARS, INCORPORATED, ET AL. Case No. 07-21221-CIV-ALTONAGA/TURNOFF SERVICE LIST Catherine J. MacIvor E-mail: [e-mail] Jeffrey Eric Foreman E-mail: [e-mail] Jeffrey Bradford Maltzman E-mail: [e-mail] Darren W. Friedman E-mail: [e-mail] MALTZMAN FOREMAN PA One Biscayne Tower 2 South Biscayne Boulevard, Suite 2300 Miami, FL 33131-1803 Telephone: [phone] Facsimile: [phone] Attorneys for Plaintiffs Rolando Andres Diaz E-Mail: [e-mail] Cassidy Yen Dang E-mail: [e-mail] Maria Kayanan E-mail: [e-mail] KUBICKI DRAPER 25 W. Flagler Street Penthouse Miami, FL 33130-1712 Telephone: [phone] Facsimile: [phone] Attorneys for Defendant Pet Supermarket, Inc. Alexander Shaknes E-mail: [e-mail] Amy W. Schulman E-mail: [e-mail] Lonnie L. Simpson E-mail: [e-mail] S. Douglas Knox E-mail: [e-mail] DLA PIPER LLP 1251 Avenue of the Americas New York, New York 10020 Attorneys for Defendants Menu Foods, Inc. and Menu Foods Income Fund John B.T. Murray, Jr. E-mail: [e-mail] Mark C. Goodman E-mail: [e-mail] SQUIRE, SANDERS & DEMPSEY L.L.P. 1900 Phillips Point West 777 South Flagler Drive West Palm Beach, Florida 33401-6198 Telephone: [phone] Facsimile: [phone] Attorneys for Defendants PETCO Animal Supplies Stores, Inc., PetSmart, Inc., Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. and Target Corporation

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William C. Martin DLA PIPER LLP 203 North LaSalle Street Suite 1900 Chicago, Illinois 60601-1293 E-mail: [e-mail] Attorneys for Defendants Menu Foods, Inc. and Menu Foods Income Fund

Hugh J. Turner, Jr. AKERMAN SENTERFITT 350 E. Las Olas Boulevard Suite 1600 Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301-2229 Telephone: [phone] Facsimile: [phone] E-mail: [e-mail] Attorneys for Defendants Publix Super Markets, Inc., H.E. Butt Grocery Co. and Meijer, Inc.

Dane H. Butswinkas E-mail: [e-mail] Philip A. Sechler E-mail: [e-mail] Thomas G. Hentoff E-mail: [e-mail] Patrick J. Houlihan E-mail: [e-mail] WILLIAMS & CONNOLLY LLP 725 Twelfth Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 200005 Attorneys for Defendants Mars, Incorported, Mars Petcare US, Inc., and Nutro Products, Inc. C. Richard Fulmer, Jr. FULMER, LeROY, ALBEE, BAUMANN & GLASS, PLC 2866 East Oakland Park Boulevard Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33306 Telephone: [phone] Facsimile: [phone] E-mail: [e-mail] Attorneys for Defendant The Kroger Co. of Ohio

Marty Steinberg E-mail: [e-mail] Adriana Riviere-Badell E-mail: [e-mail] HUNTON & WILLIAMS, LLP Mellon Financial Center 1111 Brickell Avenute, Suite 2500 Miami, FL 33131 Telephone: [phone] Facsimile: (305 810-2460 Attorneys for Defendant Nutro Products, Inc.

John J. Kuster E-mail: [e-mail] James D. Arden E-mail: [e-mail] SIDLEY AUSTIN LLP 787 Seventh Avenue New York, NY 10019 Telephone: [phone] Facsimile: [phone] Attorneys for Defendants Colgate-Palmolive Company and Hill's Pet Nutrition, Inc.

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Benjamine Reid E-mail: [e-mail] Olga M. Vieira E-mail: [e-mail] CARLTON FIELDS, P.A. 100 S.E. Second Street, Suite 4000 Bank of America Tower at International Place Miami, Florida 33131-9101 Telephone: [phone] Facsimile: [phone] Attorneys for Defendants Colgate-Palmolive Company and Hill's Pet Nutrition, Inc. Kara L. McCall SIDLEY AUSTIN LLP One South Dearborn Chicago, Illinois 60603 Telephone: [phone] E-mail: [e-mail] Attorneys for Defendants Colgate-Palmolive Company and Hill's Pet Nutrition, Inc.

Marcus D. Jimenez E-mail: [e-mail] Robert J. Alwine II E-mail: [e-mail] KENNY NACHWALTER, P.A. 1100 Miami Center 201 South Biscayne Boulevard Miami, Florida 33131 Telephone: [phone] Facsimile: [phone] Attorneys for Defendants Safeway, Inc. and The Stop & Shop Supermarket Company LLC Richard Fama E-mail: [e-mail] John J. McDonough E-mail: [e-mail] COZEN O'CONNOR 45 Broadway New York, New York 10006 Telephone: [phone] Facsimile: [phone] Attorneys for Defendant Del Monte Foods

Sherril M. Colombo COZEN O'CONNOR Wachovia Center, Suite 4410 200 South Biscayne Boulevard Miami, FL 33131 Telephone: [phone] Facsimile: [phone] E-mail: [e-mail] Attorneys for Defendant Del Monte Foods, Co.

Carol A. Licko HOGAN & HARTSON L.L.P. Mellon Financial Center 1111 Brickell Avenue, Suite 1900 Miami, FL 33131 Telephone: [phone] Facsimile: [phone] E-mail: [e-mail] Attorneys for Defendants Nestlé USA, Inc. Nestlé Purina Petcare Co. and Nestlé S.A.

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John F. Mullen COZEN O'CONNOR 1900 Market Street Philadelphia, PA 19103 Telephone: [phone] Facsimile: [phone] E-mail: [e-mail] Attorneys for Defendant Del Monte Foods, Co.

Craig A. Hoover E-mail: [e-mail] Miranda L. Berge E-mail: [e-mail] HOGAN & HARTSON L.L.P. 555 13TH Street, NW Washington, D.C. 20004 Telephone: [phone] Facsimile: [phone] Attorneys for Defendants Nestlé USA, Inc. Nestlé Purina Petcare Co. and Nestlé S.A.

Robert C. Troyer HOGAN & HARTSON L.L.P. 1200 17th Street One Tabor Center, suite 1500 Denver, Colorado 80202 Telephone: [phone] Facsimile: [phone] E-mail: [e-mail] Attorneys for Defendants Nestlé USA, Inc. Nestlé Purina Petcare Co. and Nestlé S.A. James K. Reuss LANE ALTON & HORST, LLC Two Miranova Place Suite 500 Columbus, Ohio 43215 Telephone: [phone] E-mail: [e-mail] Attorneys for Defendant The Kroger Co. of Ohio

Alan G. Greer RICHMAN GREER, P.A. Miami Center ­ Suite 1000 201 South Biscayne Boulevard Miami, FL 33131 Telephone: [phone] Facsimile: [phone] E-mail: [e-mail] Attorneys for Defendants Procter & Gamble Co. and The Iams Co. Omar Ortega Email: [e-mail] DORTA & ORTEGA, P.A. Douglas Entrance 800 S. Douglas Road, Suite 149 Coral Gables, Florida 33134 Telephone: [phone] Facsimile: [phone] Attorneys for Defendants Mars, Incorported, Mars Petcare US, Inc., and Nutro Products, Inc.

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D. Jeffrey Ireland E-mail: [e-mail] Brian D. Wright E-mail: [e-mail] Laura A. Sanom E-mail: [e-mail] FARUKI IRELAND & COX P.L.L. 500 Courthouse Plaza, S.W. 10 North Ludlow Street Dayton, Ohio 45402 Attorneys for Defendant Procter & Gamble Co. and The Iams Co. Ralph G. Patino E-mail: [e-mail] Dominick V. Tamarazzo E-mail: [e-mail] Carlos B. Salup E-mail: [e-mail] PATINO & ASSOCIATES, P.A. 225 Alcazar Avenue Coral Gables, Florida 33134 Telephone: [phone] Facsimile: [phone] Attorneys for Defendants Pet Supplies "Plus" and Pet Supplies "Plus"/USA, Inc. Craig P. Kalil E-mail: [e-mail] Joshua D. Poyer E-mail: [e-mail] ABALLI, MILNE, KALIL & ESCAGEDO, P.A. 2250 Sun Trust International Center One Southeast Third Avenue Miami, Florida 33131 Telephone: [phone] Facsimile: [phone] Attorneys for Defendants New Albertson's Inc. and Albertson's LLC

W. Randolph Teslik E-mail: [e-mail] Andrew Dober E-mail: [e-mail] AKIN GUMP STRAUSS HAUER & FELD LLP 1333 New Hampshire Avenue, NW Washington, D.C. 20036 Telephone: [phone] Facsimile: [phone] Attorneys for Defendants New Albertson's Inc. and Albertson's LLC Jeffrey S. York E-mail: [e-mail] Sara F. Holladay-Tobias E-Mail: [e-mail] McGUIRE WOODS LLP 50 N. Laura Street, Suite 3300 Jacksonville, FL 32202 Telephone: [phone] Facsimile: [phone] Attorneys for Defendant Natura Pet Products, Inc.

Kristen E. Caverly E-Mail: [e-mail] HENDERSON & CAVERLY LLP P.O. Box 9144 (all U.S. Mail) 16236 San Dieguito Road, Suite 4-13 Rancho Santa Fe, California 92067 Telephone: [phone] Fax: [phone] Attorneys for Defendant Natura Pet Products, Inc.

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