Blaszkowski et al v. Mars Inc. et al

Filing 478

RESPONSE/REPLY to 468 Notice (Other) Evidentiary Objection to Declaration of Arna Cortazzo and Exhibit Attached Thereto filed by Natura Pet Products, Inc.. (Giel, Michael)

Blaszkowski et al v. Mars Inc. et al

Doc. 47

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF FLORIDA MIAMI DIVISION CASE NO. 1:07-21221-CIV-ALTONAGA/BROWN RENEE BLASZKOWSKI, et al., individually and on behalf of others similarly situated, Plaintiffs, vs. MARS, INCORPORATED, et al., Defendants. ___________________________________ EVIDENTIARY OBJECTION BY NATURA PET PRODUCTS, INC. TO DECLARATION OF ARNA CORTAZZO AND EXHIBIT ATTACHED THERETO Natura Pet Products, Inc. ("Natura") hereby objects to the Declaration and Amended Declaration of Arna Cortazzo executed on September 3, 2008, and the exhibit attached thereto. (D.E. 467, 468.) Natura generally objects to the Amended Declaration of Arna Cortazzo and exhibit attached thereto to the extent that it is offered for consideration with Plaintiffs' Reply Brief in support of their Motion to Add and/or Substitute Arna Cortazzo as a Plaintiff/Class Representative. Plaintiffs are barred from offering any new arguments and evidence with their Reply other than rebuttal arguments and evidence strictly limited to the rebuttal of matters raised in the opposition. See Local Rule 7.1.C; see also Martinez v. Weyerhaeuser Mortg. Co., 959 F. Supp. 1511, 1515 (S.D. Fla. 1996); Fisher v. Ciba Specialty Chems. Corp., 238 F.R.D. 273, 311 n.82 (S.D. Ala. 2006). After failing to submit any evidence in support of their original moving papers, Plaintiffs have attempted to introduce evidence for the first time in their Reply. However, the submitted evidence largely does not respond to new issues raised in the opposition, but is rather offered to support issues initially raised in the original moving papers. The evidence is thus inappropriate and should not be considered in the ruling upon the motion. Natura's specific objections are as follows:

Dockets.Justia.com

1.

Paragraph 3: ...I am an advocate for animal rights and feel strongly that the Defendants, and in particular Natura Pet Products, Inc., ("Natura"), misrepresented the pet food that the sold in their marketing materials, through store representatives and packaging. Moreover, Natura's pet food makes cats and dogs ill and causes pets to die.

Natura objects to the above as (i) irrelevant, (ii) lacking foundation, and (iii) improper lay opinion. See Fed. R. Evid. 402, 602, 701. 2. Paragraph 4: I believe that my dogs and cats became ill from consuming this food because they suffered illness as a result of consuming the pet food, including weight loss, kidney problems, a fungus in the brain, neurological problems, rashes and vomiting. Natura objects to the above as (i) irrelevant, (ii) lacking foundation, and (iii) improper lay opinion. See Fed. R. Evid. 402, 602, 701. 3. Paragraph 4: I also believe that Natura's marketing falsely presented their products to me, including statements on their website that the content of the food is what I would eat myself as best evidenced by Exhibit "10" of the lawsuit. This is deceptive at best and would be better characterized as fraud since the ingredients are not human grade at all. Natura objects to the above as (i) irrelevant, (ii) lacking foundation, (iii) hearsay, and (iv) improper lay opinion. See Fed. R. Evid. 402, 602, 701, 802. 4. Paragraph 5: Additionally, I believe that Natura marketed Evo as a very high end product when, in fact, it contains the very same "meat" that other manufacturers use that has been deemed unfit for human consumption while charging a high price for what has been marketed as human grade pet food. Natura objects to the above as (i) irrelevant, (ii) lacking foundation, (iii) hearsay, and (iv) improper lay opinion. See Fed. R. Evid. 402, 602, 701, 802. 5. Paragraph 6: I have reviewed the Fourth Amended Complaint and agree with its contents as to Defendant Natura and believe that I was damaged by Natura's false and fraudulent advertising, by being charged a higher price for pet food that is the same or very similar to cheaper brands that are not marketed as "premium" and

2

because my pets became ill as a result of ingesting Natura's pet food between May 9, 2003 and May 9, 2007. Natura objects to the above as (i) irrelevant, (ii) lacking foundation, (iii) hearsay, and (iv) improper lay opinion. See Fed. R. Evid. 402, 602, 701, 802. 6. Exhibit "A" attached to the Declaration of Arna Cortazzo.

Natura objects to the exhibit in its entirety, which purports to be the unverified interrogatory responses of a non-party because it is (i) unauthenticated. See Fed. R. Evid. 901. Natura further objects to the exhibit as (ii) hearsay and (iii) irrelevant. See Fed. R. Evid. 402, 802. McGUIREWOODS LLP By: s/Jeffrey S. York Jeffrey S. York Florida Bar No. 0987069 Michael M. Giel Florida Bar No. 0017676 50 N. Laura Street, Suite 3300 Jacksonville, Florida 32202 [phone] [phone] (fax) [e-mail] [e-mail] and HENDERSON & CAVERLY LLP Kristen E. Caverly Admitted Pro Hac Vice Post Office Box 9144 Rancho Sante Fe, California 92067 [phone] [phone] (fax) [e-mail] ATTORNEYS AND TRIAL COUNSEL FOR DEFENDANT NATURA PET PRODUCTS, INC.

3

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE I HEREBY CERTIFY that on September 11, 2008, I electronically filed the foregoing with the Clerk of the Court by using the CM/ECF system which will send a notice of electronic filing to the counsel so indicated on the attached Service List, except for unrepresented plaintiffs Rice and MacDonald who will each be served by U.S. Mail on September 12, 2008 in a manner authorized by law at the addresses indicated below as required by the Court. s/ Michael M. Giel Attorney

4

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] Bjorg Eikeland 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 Debbie Rice E-mail: unknown 4292 Vilas Hope Road Cottage Grove, WI 53527 Unrepresented Plaintiff (Service via U.S. Mail) Kristen E. Caverly E-mail: [e-mail] HENDERSON & CAVERLY LLP P.O. Box 9144 16236 San Dieguito Road, Suite 4-13 Rancho Santa Fe, California 92067-9144 Attorneys for Defendant Natura Pet Products, Inc. Lisa MacDonald E-mail: unknown 1217 East 55th Street Savannah, GA 31404 Unrepresented Plaintiff (Service via U.S. Mail) John B.T. Murray, Jr. 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., WalMart Stores, Inc., Target Corporation Patrick N. Keegan Email: [e-mail] Jason E. Baker Email: [e-mail] KEEGAN & BAKER, LLP 4370 La Jolla Village Drive Suite 640 San Diego, CA 92122 Telephone: [phone] Facsimile: [phone] Attorneys for Plaintiffs

5

Rolando Andres Diaz E-Mail: [e-mail] Peter S. Baumberger 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 Telephone: [phone] Facsimile: [phone] Attorneys for Defendants Menu Foods, Inc. and Menu Foods Income Fund

William C. Martin DLA PIPER LLP 203 North LaSalle Street Suite 1900 Chicago, Illinois 60601-1293 Telephone: [phone] Facsimile: [phone] 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 Defendant Publix Super Markets, Inc

6

Omar Ortega DORTA AND ORTEGA, P.A. Douglas Entrance 800 S. Douglas Road, Suite 149 Coral Gables, Florida 33134 Telephone: [phone] Facsimile: [phone] E-mail: [e-mail] Attorneys for Defendants Mars, Incorporated, Mars Petcare U.S., Inc. and Nutro Products, 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 Telephone: [phone] Facsimile: [phone] Attorneys for Defendants Mars, Incorporated, Mars Petcare U.S., Inc. and Nutro Products, Inc.

Benjamine Reid E-mail: [e-mail] Olga M. Vieira E-mail: [e-mail] Ana M. Craig 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 Defendant Hill's Pet Nutrition, 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 Defendant Hill's Pet Nutrition, Inc.

7

Kara L. McCall SIDLEY AUSTIN LLP One South Dearborn Chicago, Illinois 60603 Telephone: [phone] E-mail: [e-mail] Attorneys for Defendant Hill's Pet Nutrition, Inc.

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.

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

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.

8

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 Defendant Nestlé Purina Petcare 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 Defendant Nestlé Purina Petcare Co. 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 Defendant The Iams Co.

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 Defendant Nestlé Purina Petcare Co. 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

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 The Iams Co.

9

Robin L. Hanger SQUIRE, SANDERS & DEMPSEY L.L.P. 200 S. Biscayne Boulevard 40th Floor Miami, Florida 33131-2398 Telephone: [phone] Facsimile: [phone] E-mail: [e-mail] Attorneys for Defendants PETCO Animal Supplies Stores, Inc.

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.

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 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

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 Defendant New Albertson's Inc. and Albertson's LLC Jeffrey S. York E-mail: [e-mail] Michael M. Giel E-mail: [e-mail] McGUIRE WOODS LLP 50 N. Laura Street, Suite 3300 Jacksonville, Florida 32202 Telephone: [phone] Facsimile: [phone] Attorneys for Defendant Natura Pet Products, Inc.

10

\6554521.1

11