Thirteenth Floor Entertainment Center, LLC v. Louisville Galleria, LLC

Filing 4

MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER signed by Judge Charles R. Simpson, III on 5/10/2011. Motion of the Appellee, Louisville Galleria, LLC, to exclude the deposition transcripts of Blake Cordish and William A. Wade, III, from the record on appeal (3:11mc-12-S, DN 1) is GRANTED.cc: Counsel (RLK)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
WESTERN DISTRICT OF KENTUCKY
AT LOUISVILLE

THIRTEENTH FLOOR ENTERTAINMENT CENTER, LLC

v.

APPELLANT

CIVIL ACTION NO. 3:11CV-269-S

LOUISVILLE GALLERIA, LLC

APPELLEE

MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER

In its Designation of Record on Appeal (DN 1-1), the appellant, Thirteenth Floor Entertainment
Center, LLC f/n/a Premier Health and Fitness Clubs, LLC (“Premier”), stated, in pertinent part:
In addition to those exhibits specifically identified above, the parties reserved the right
to use as exhibits all depositions, all deposition exhibits and any item produced by any
deponent...Those depositions...are also designated as part of the record on appeal.
Plaintiff/Appellant further designates the following specific depositions and exhibits
thereto, which were previously included in the joint exhibit list...
Blake Cordish Deposition...
William A. Wade, III Deposition...1
DN 1-1, pp. 88-89 (Designation, pp. 28-29). Appellee Louisville Galleria, LLC (“Galleria”), objects
to the inclusion of the full depositions of these two individuals in the record on appeal.
Portions of the depositions were introduced into evidence by Premier in conjunction with its
opposition to Galleria’s Motion in limine to preclude the bankruptcy court’s consideration of parol
evidence in a matter of contract interpretation. Galleria does not object to the inclusion of those
portions of the depositions actually considered by the bankruptcy court, as Premier has appealed the
bankruptcy court’s grant of Galleria’s limine motion.

1

The deposition of Vadim Kaplan is excluded by agreement of the parties.

Premier urges that the depositions “are relevant to [the] argument [that evidence on nonintegration of the contract should have been heard]. The [full depositions] should be included in the
Record on Appeal in order for the District Court to be in a position to evaluate the relevance and
strength of the argument as to non-integration of the Lease.” Response, p. 3. Premier has cited no
authority for its contention that this court may consider on appeal items not admitted in evidence in
the bankruptcy proceedings.
The district court, on review of the final judgment of the bankruptcy court, will not consider
items not presented to or considered by the bankruptcy court in the first instance. See, Estate of Quirk
v. C.I.R., 928 F.2d 751 (6th Cir. 1991)(an appellate court should not be considered a “second shot”
forum)(citation omitted)); In re Ames Dept. Stores, Inc., 320 B.R. 518, 522 (Bankr.S.D.N.Y.
2005)(“[I]f an item was not considered by the court, it should be stricken from the record on appeal.”).
Despite Premier’s argument that the bankruptcy court should have heard the additional
evidence (Response, p. 3), it did not. Therefore, the additional deposition testimony of Blake Cordish
and William A. Wade, III which was not admitted in evidence by the bankruptcy court will not be
considered part of the record on appeal in this action.
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED AND ADJUDGED that the motion of the appellee, Louisville
Galleria, LLC to exclude the deposition transcripts of Blake Cordish and William A. Wade, III from
the record on appeal is GRANTED.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

May 10, 2011
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