Azarax, Inc. v. Wireless Communications Venture LLC et al
Filing
111
ORDER granting 78 Motion to Alter/Amend/Supplement Pleadings; granting in part and denying in part 90 Motion to Compel(Written Opinion) Signed by Magistrate Judge Leo I. Brisbois on 4/13/2018.(JRG)
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
DISTRICT OF MINNESOTA
Azarax, Inc.,
No. 16-cv-3228 (JRT/LIB)
Plaintiff,
v.
ORDER
Wireless Communications Venture LLC, et al.,
Defendants.
This matter came before the undersigned United States Magistrate Judge pursuant to a
general referral made in accordance with the provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(B), and upon
Defendant Wireless Communications Venture, LLC’s Motion to Amend the Pleadings to Add
Parties, [Docket No. 78], and Defendants Wireless Communications Venture, LLC; Benton
Cooperative Telephone Company; Central Stearns Comsis, Inc.; Albany Mutual Telephone
Association; Steve Katka; and Cheryl Scapanski’s Motion to Compel the Deposition of
Counterclaim Defendant Nicolas Barrera, [Docket No. 90]. On March 6, 2018, the Court took
the Motions under advisement upon the parties’ written submissions. (Order [Docket No. 108]).
For the reasons set forth below, the Court GRANTS Defendant Wireless
Communications Venture, LLC’s Motion to Amend the Pleadings to Add Parties, [Docket No.
78], and the Court GRANTS IN PART AND DENIES IN PART Defendants Wireless
Communications Venture, LLC; Benton Cooperative Telephone Company; Central Stearns
Comsis, Inc.; Albany Mutual Telephone Association; Steve Katka; and Cheryl Scapanski’s
Motion to Compel the Deposition of Counterclaim Defendant Nicolas Barrera, [Docket No. 90].
1
I.
BACKGROUND AND STATEMENT OF RELEVANT FACTS
The factual background underlying the case presently before the Court is complex and,
resolution of the present Motions does not require that it be set forth in detail. Therefore, the
following recitation of the factual and procedural background of this action is limited only to
those facts and procedural events necessary for decision on the Motions now before the Court.
On April 29, 2016, Plaintiff Azarax, Inc. (“Azarax”) filed suit in the United States
District Court for the Western District of Texas against Defendants Wireless Communications
Venture, LLC (“WCV”); Steve Katka; Cheryl Scapanski; William Syverson; Christian Borrman;
Stinson Leonard Street, LLP; Central Stearns Comsis, Inc. d/b/a Albany Mutual Telephone
Association; Benton Cooperative Telephone Company; and Central LTE Holdings, LLC. 1
(Compl., [Docket No. 1]). Therein, Azarax alleged that Defendants had failed to comply with
their obligations to fund and support Azarax’s ongoing ventures in Latin America, and that
Defendants had additionally conspired to undermine Azarax’s venture into the Latin American
market. Azarax brought claims of breach of fiduciary duties, tortious interference with existing
and prospective contracts, unfair competition, misappropriation of property and business
opportunities, and—only as against Defendants Syverson and Stinson Leonard Street—
negligence. (Id.).
On September 23, 2016, per the parties’ stipulation, the case was transferred from the
United States District Court for the Western District of Texas to the United States District Court
for the District of Minnesota. ([Docket Nos. 17 and 18]).
1
Azarax also initially named Antonio Garza as a Defendant, but later voluntarily dismissed all claims against him.
(See, [Docket Nos. 1, 15, and 16]).
2
On December 16, 2016, also per the parties’ stipulation, Azarax filed an Amended
Complaint, alleging the same causes of action identified in the initial Complaint but increasing
the monetary damages sought from $200 million to over $1.5 billion. ([Docket Nos. 30-31]).
On January 31, 2017, Defendants WCV; Katka; Scapanski; Central Stearns Comsis, Inc.
d/b/a Albany Mutual Telephone Association; Benton Cooperative Telephone Company; and
Central LTE Holdings, LLC filed a joint Answer. (Answer, [Docket No. 33). In that pleading,
Defendant WCV also brought counterclaims and third-party claims against Azarax and Nicolas
Barrera 2 for fraud, conversion, breach of fiduciary duty, and unjust enrichment, and brought
third-party claims against Barrera for promissory estoppel and fraudulent inducement. (Id. at 2732).
On March 10, 2017, Barrera filed his Answer to the claims against him. [Docket No. 37].
As especially relevant to the Motions presently before the Court, Barrera specifically admitted
therein that “this Court has subject matter jurisdiction” and that he “is subject to personal
jurisdiction in this Court.” 3 (Id. at 2).
The Rule 26(f) Pretrial Conference occurred on May 2, 2017, [Docket No. 44], and on
May 4, 2017, the Court issued the Pretrial Scheduling Order. [Docket No. 45]. In relevant part,
the Pretrial Scheduling Order stated “[t]hat all Motions which seek to amend the pleadings or
add parties must be filed and the Hearing thereon completed on or before September 15, 2017.”
2
According to the counterclaims, Barrera had “claimed to be an owner of . . . entities that allegedly assigned the
interests upon which Plaintiff’s claims are based,” and Barrera had recruited Defendants’ financial contributions for
the Latin American ventures purportedly undertaken by Azarax and its predecessors in interest. ([Docket No. 33],
16).
3
Due to these explicit admissions, the Court does not further address in detail the argument that this Court lacks
jurisdiction over Barrera and that it “has no power to issue a subpoena for a non-U.S. citizen for purposes of a
deposition.” (See, Mem. in Opp., [Docket No. 99], 5). Because Barrera has affirmatively submitted to this Court’s
jurisdiction, he may not now assert that he is not subject to it. See, e.g., Minn. Mining & Mfg. Co., Inc. v. Nippon
Carbide Indust. Co., Inc., 171 F.R.D. 246, 250 (D. Minn. 1997) (quoting Societe Nationale Industrielle Aerospatiale
v. U.S. Dist. Ct. for S. D. Ia., 482 U.S. 522, 540 n. 25 (1987) and stating that a party “properly within the [personal]
jurisdiction of this Court . . . is ‘subject to the . . . legal constraints [and] the burdens associated with American
judicial procedures’”).
3
(Id. at 3). The close of discovery (fact and expert) was set for June 15, 2018. (Id. at 2). On
March 1, 2018, in accordance with a Stipulation by the parties, [Docket No. 103], the Court
extended “all pretrial deadlines by two months except for the deadline for the parties to serve
rebuttal expert reports.” (Order, [Docket No. 107], 2).
Meanwhile, Defendants attempted to arrange a deposition of Barrera. In an email dated
February 8, 2018, counsel for Azarax and Barrera informed counsel for Defendants that Barrera
“says he is financially unable to travel to the United States for a deposition. He stated he would
voluntarily make himself available for a deposition in Brazil, or would be available to be
deposed by telephone.” (Kilby Dec., Exh. 3, [Docket No. 93-1], 40-41). Defendants’ counsel
responded in an email dated February 12, 2018. (Id. at Exh. 4, [Docket No. 93-1], 43-44). The
email related the belief that traveling to Brazil to depose Barrera or conducting a telephone
deposition of Barrera while he is in Brazil would violate Brazilian law, and Defendants noticed
Barrera’s deposition for March 14, 2018, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Id.).
On February 20, 2018, WCV filed the Motion to Amend the Pleadings to Add Parties,
[Docket No. 78], which is presently before the Court. WCV seeks to add Guy Rosbrook and
Garry Donoghue as defendants with respect to the claims it has already pled against Azarax and
Barrera. 4 (Id.).
4
In the Motion, WCV refers to Rosbrook and Donoghue as “third-party defendants,” but in its Memorandum in
Support of the Motion, WCV refers to Rosbrook and Donoghue as “counterclaim defendants.” (See, e.g., Motion,
[Docket No. 78]; Mem. in Supp., [Docket No. 80], 2). In its Proposed Amended Answer and Counterclaim, WCV
refers to Rosbrook and Donoghue (and Barrera, for that matter) interchangeably as “counterclaim defendants” and
“third-party defendants.” (See, Prop. Amend. Ans., [Docket No. 81-1], 16, 19). For its part, Azarax contends that
Rosbrook and Donoghue are most properly considered as proposed third-party defendants. (Mem. in Opp., [Docket
No. 97], 5). However, Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 14, which governs third-party practice, “allows a defendant
to assert a claim against any person not a party to the main action only if that third person’s liability on that claim is
in some way dependent upon the outcome of the main claim. Rule 14(a) does not allow the defendant to assert a
separate and independent claim even though the claim arises out of the same general set of facts as the main claim.”
Young v. ECTG Ltd., No. 13-cv-3568 (DSD/JJK), 2014 WL 3508941, *2 (D. Minn. July 14, 2014) (emphasis added
and citation omitted). In the present Motion, WCV seeks to add Rosbrook and Donoghue as defendants in claims
which WCV has already brought against Barrera and which are not derivative of Azarax’s claims against WCV.
4
Also on February 20, 2018, WCV and Defendants Benton Cooperative Telephone
Company; Central LTE Holdings LLC; Central Stearns Comsis, Inc.; Katka, and Scapanski
(hereinafter, referred to collectively as the “Moving Defendants”) filed their joint Motion to
Compel the Deposition of Barrera, [Docket No. 90].
On February 23, 2018, Azarax and Barrera 5 filed Memoranda in Opposition to the two
Motions presently before the Court. [Dockets No. 97 and 99].
A Hearing on the Motion to Amend the Pleadings, [Docket No. 78], and the Motion to
Compel the Deposition of Barrera, [Docket No. 90], was scheduled for March 6, 2018. However,
due to inclement weather across the State, the parties and the Court agreed that the Motions
Hearing should be cancelled and the Court should take the matter under advisement upon the
parties’ written submissions. Pursuant to a subsequent request by the parties, the Court allowed
the Moving Defendants to file Letters on CM/ECF summarizing the additional points they
intended to make at the March 6, 2018, Motions Hearing. (Letters, [Dockets No. 109 and 110]).
The Court took the Motion to Amend the Pleadings, [Docket No. 78], and the Motion to Compel
the Deposition of Barrera, [Docket No. 90], under advisement on the parties’ written submissions
as of March 7, 2018.
Therefore, contrary to both WCV’s characterization and Azarax’s argument, Rosbrook and Donoghue are not proper
proposed third-party defendants.
5
The Memorandum in Opposition to the Motion to Compel is entitled “Memorandum of Azarax, Inc. in Opposition
to Motion to Compel Deposition of Barrera,” [Docket No. 99], yet the standing of Azarax alone to oppose the
deposition of Barrera is questionable. However, as noted in this Court’s December 21, 2017, Order, “Mr. Sortland is
considered to represent Barrera unless and until Barrera obtains independent representation and files an according
notice of substitution with the Court.” (Order, [Docket No. 62], 3 n.3). Therefore, the Court will construe the
Memorandum in Opposition to the present Motion to Compel as filed on behalf of Barrera as well.
5
II.
DEFENDANT WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS VENTURE LLC’S MOTION
TO AMEND THE PLEADINGS TO ADD PARTIES, [DOCKET NO. 78]
In its Motion to Amend the Pleadings to Add Parties, [Docket No. 78], WCV seeks an
Order allowing it to file an Amended Answer and Counterclaim and add Guy Rosbrook and
Garry Donoghue as Defendants with respect to the claims it has already brought against Barrera
and Azarax. Barrera and Azarax oppose the Motion. (Mem. in Opp., [Docket No. 97]).
A. Standard of Review
“Rule 16(b)(4) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure requires a showing of good cause
to amend [a pleading] outside the court’s scheduling order.” Harris v. FedEx Natl. LTL, Inc., 760
F.3d 780, 786 (8th Cir. 2014). “‘The primary measure of good cause is the movant’s diligence in
attempting to meet the [scheduling] order’s requirements.’” Id. The decision whether to allow
untimely amendment of pleadings rests within the sound discretion of the Court. See, Kmak v.
Am. Century Cos., Inc., 873 F.3d 1030, 1034 (8th Cir. 2017). Only if a party shows the requisite
good cause to amend its pleading after the expiration of the deadline to do so as set forth in the
scheduling order does the Court move on to consideration of the proposed amendment itself.
“‘In order to amend a complaint to add additional parties . . . a movant . . . [must]
demonstrate compliance with either Rule 19 or Rule 20, the procedural rules pertaining to
joinder of parties.’” Ikeri v. Sallie Mae, Inc., No. 13-cv-1943 (DSD/JSM), 2014 WL 12599634,
*8 (D. Minn. Feb. 5, 2014) (citations omitted). Whether to allow permissive joinder of additional
parties is also a decision within the discretion of the Court. See, United States ex rel.
Ambrosecchia v. Paddock Laboratories, LLC, 855 F.3d 949, 956 (8th Cir. 2017) (citing Mosley
v. Gen. Motors Corp., 497 F.2d 1330, 1332 (8th Cir. 1974) (“reviewing the decision to allow
6
parties to join litigation for abuse of discretion”)). Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 20(a) governs
permissive joinder of parties, 6 and states, in relevant part:
(2) Defendants. Persons . . . may be joined in one action as defendants if:
(A) any right to relief is asserted against them jointly severally, or in the
alternative with respect to or arising out of the same transaction, occurrence,
or series of transactions or occurrences; and
(B) any question of law or fact common to all defendants will arise in the
action.
To decide whether to allow joinder of parties, the Court assesses whether claims are reasonably
related on a case by case basis. See, Karasov v. Caplan Law Firm, P.A., 84 F. Supp. 3d 886, 915
(D. Minn. 2015).
B. Analysis
WCV candidly admits that its present Motion to Amend was filed after the September
2017, deadline to do so set forth in the Pretrial Scheduling Order. (Mem. in Supp., [Docket No.
80], 2). However, WCV asserts that there is good cause for the delay because discovery delays
by Azarax and Barrera resulted in WCV not receiving the information that caused it to seek to
add Donoghue and Rosbrook as defendants herein until after the September 2017, deadline to
move to amend the pleadings. (Id. at 9-12). With respect to the untimeliness of the present
Motion and WCV’s diligence in moving to amend, Azarax argues that it has not delayed
discovery and, specifically with respect to Rosbrook, Azarax argues that WCV knew of the
potential claims against Rosbrook “at the outset of this action,” so there is not good cause for the
delay in seeking to add Rosbrook as a defendant. (Mem. in Opp., [Docket No. 97], 3-4, 7-10).
The Court is well-acquainted with the discovery disputes in the present case. As set forth
in detail in this Court’s December 21, 2017, Order, WCV served Azarax and Barrera with its
First Set of Document Requests on May 5, 2017; Azarax made its initial production of
6
Mandatory joinder of additional parties, which WCV does not argue is required here, is governed by Federal Rule
of Civil Procedure 19.
7
documents on August 18, 2017, and it represented that supplemental production would occur by
August 31, 2017. (Order, [Docket No. 62], 3). However, Azarax did not make its second
production of documents until October 12, 2017. (Id. at 5). This is well after the September 15,
2017, deadline in the Pretrial Scheduling Order, [Docket No. 45], for the filing and completion
of any Hearing on a motion to add parties.
Similarly, on October 14, 2017, when WCV inquired into the timing of certain expected
supplementation of Azarax’s Interrogatory Responses, “Azarax’s counsel simply re-sent
Azarax’s Interrogatory Responses from October 5, 2017, which the WCV Defendants had
already challenged as deficient.” (Order, [Docket No. 62], 6). WCV ultimately brought a Motion
to Compel the discovery before this Court, to which Azarax and Barrera did not timely respond.
(Id.). Among other things, the Court held that “the record currently before the Court reflects
plainly that Barrera has completely failed to answer the WCV Defendants’ First Set of
Interrogatories.” (Id. at 10). In addition, the Court found that Azarax’s Responses to several of
the WCV Defendants’ Interrogatories were insufficient and not fully responsive, and the Court
ordered Azarax to produce Supplemental Responses. (Id. at 10-23).
WCV asserts that the admitted untimeliness of its present Motion to Amend to Add
Parties is because it did not discover Rosbrook and Donoghue’s involvement in the facts
underlying WCV’s claims against Azarax and Barrera until after the October discovery
production by Azarax and Barrera. (Mem. in Supp., [Docket No. 9-12). WCV further contends
that it then wished to confirm its suspicions through depositions of Rosbrook and Barrera, and it
diligently filed the present Motion upon its realization that those depositions would not occur
promptly. (Id. at 9).
8
A thorough review of the record before the Court demonstrates that there is good cause
for the untimeliness of the present Motion to Amend. As WCV contends, the untimeliness of the
Motion was caused in large part by delays in discovery production on the parts of Azarax and
Barrera, not through any lack of diligence or other dilatory motive on the part of WCV.
Therefore, the Court will address the merits of the Motion.
As already set forth above, in order to amend its claims to add additional defendants,
WCV must “‘demonstrate compliance with either Rule 19 or Rule 20, the procedural rules
pertaining to joinder of parties.’” See, Ikeri, 2014 WL 12599634, at *8. Rule 20(a)(2) allows
persons to be joined as defendants to an action if:
(A) any right to relief is asserted against them jointly severally, or in the
alternative with respect to or arising out of the same transaction, occurrence,
or series of transactions or occurrences; and
(B) any question of law or fact common to all defendants will arise in the
action.
“‘The purpose of [Rule 20] is to promote trial convenience and expedite the final
determination of disputes, thereby preventing multiple lawsuits.’” Mallak v. Aitkin County, No.
13-cv-2119 (DWF/LIB), 2015 WL 2250494, *7 (D. Minn. March 4, 2015) (citations omitted).
“‘Under the Rules, the impulse is toward entertaining the broadest possible scope of action
consistent with fairness to the parties; joinder of claims, parties and remedies is strongly
encouraged.’ ‘Rule 20 permits all “reasonably related” claims against different parties “to be
tried in a single proceeding.”’” Id. (citations omitted). “In ascertaining whether a particular
factual situation constitutes a single transaction or occurrence for purposes of Rule 20, a case by
case approach is generally pursued. No hard and fast rules have been established under the rule.”
Mosley, 497 F.2d at 1333.
9
The record currently before the Court establishes that the requirements for permissive
joinder under Rule 20 are satisfied. First, the proposed Amended Answer and Counterclaim,
asserts proposed claims against Rosbrook and Donoghue “with respect to or arising out of the
same transaction, occurrence, or series of transactions or occurrences” as the claims already pled
against Barrera and Azarax. (See, [Docket No. 81-1], 81-88). In large part, the majority of the
changes proposed by WCV to its Counterclaims are the mere addition of Donoghue and
Rosbrook’s names to allegations and claims already brought against Azarax and/or Barrera. (See,
Id., at 60-88). Thus, the first requirement of Rule 20(a)(2) is met. In addition, there is a “question
of law or fact common to all defendants [which] will arise in the action,” as required by Rule
20(a)(2)(B). The proposed claims against Rosbrook and Donoghue, and the existing claims
against Azarax and Barrera, all involve the same facts related to the investments in respective
companies. Thus, the second factor required by Rule 20(a)(2) for permissive joinder also exists
in the present case.
Here, the amendments do not involve new theories of recovery, they are not based on
entirely new factual allegations previously unknown to the parties, and they should not impose
additional significant discovery requirements. Moreover, discovery is not set to terminate until
August 15, 2018. (See, Pretrial Scheduling Order, [Docket No. 45], 2; Order, [Docket No. 107],
2). Finally, joining Rosbrook and Donoghue to the present lawsuit would be efficient and aid in
the resolution of the disputes at the core of this litigation. “The purpose of [Rule 20] is to
promote trial convenience and expedite the final determination of disputes, thereby preventing
multiple lawsuits. Single trials generally tend to lessen the delay, expense and inconvenience to
all concerned.” Mosley, 497 F.2d at 1332.
10
Accordingly, for the reasons already stated above, on the record currently before the
Court, the requirements of Rule 20 for permissive joinder are met.
However, in the interest of thoroughness, the Court will address the remaining arguments
by Azarax. First, Azarax contends that the addition of Rosbrook and Donoghue would be “more
in line with the rules regarding third party practice,” which “requires service of a summons and
complaint” and requires the moving party to obtain the Court’s leave if it seeks to file a thirdparty complaint more than 14 days after service of the original Answer. (Mem. in Opp., [Docket
No. 97], 4-5). This argument is unpersuasive, because Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 14, which
governs third-party practice,
allows a defendant to assert a claim against any person not a party to the main
action only if that third person’s liability on that claim is in some way dependent
upon the outcome of the main claim. Rule 14(a) does not allow the defendant to
assert a separate and independent claim even though the claim arises out of the
same general set of facts as the main claim.
Young v. ECTG Ltd., No. 13-cv-3568 (DSD/JJK), 2014 WL 3508941, *2 (D. Minn. July 14,
2014) (emphasis added and citation omitted). In the present Motion, WCV seeks to add
Rosbrook and Donoghue as defendants in claims which WCV has already brought against
Barrera and which are not derivative of Azarax’s claims against WCV. Although the Court
agrees that the posture of this case is complicated procedurally speaking, Barrera did not
challenge the procedural posture of the claims brought against him, and in fact, he affirmatively
submitted to the jurisdiction of this Court. Accordingly, the claims against him have proceeded
and WCV seeks through the present Motion to Amend to Add Parties, [Docket No. 78], to add
Rosbrook and Donoghue as defendants with respect to those already established claims.
Therefore, the Court concludes the present Motion is governed by Rules 19 and 20, not Rule 14.
11
Azarax also contends that WCV’s ability to effect service upon Donoghue is uncertain
and “is likely to be a challenge,” as Donoghue resides in Ecuador, which is not a party to the
Hague Convention. (Mem. in Opp., [Docket No. 97], 5, 11-12). However, Azarax cites no legal
authority for the implied assertion that the future potential for difficulty effecting service is a
basis on which this Court may deny a motion to amend to add an individual as a party to an
existing action. This Court knows of no such legal authority. See, Watwood v. Barber, 70 F.R.D.
1, 3 (N.D. Ga. 1975) (granting motion to amend to add defendants, acknowledging previous
difficulty with service of those defendants, and ordering plaintiff “to proceed immediately and
diligently to see that service of process is effected”). WCV will bear the usual burden of
effecting service and establishing personal jurisdiction over Donoghue and Rosbrook.
The Federal Rules of Civil Procedure require a plaintiff to demonstrate proof of service
“within 90 days after the complaint is filed, [or] the court – on motion or on its own after notice
to the plaintiff – must dismiss the action without prejudice against that defendant or order that
service be made within a specified time.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 4(m). Accordingly, it is hereby ordered
that within thirty (30) days after the date of the present Order, WCV shall provide proof of
service of its Amended Answer and Counterclaims upon Donoghue and Rosbrook or
demonstrate good cause for an extension of time to so serve Donoghue and Rosbrook.
Azarax further takes issue with the factual validity of the allegations and the legal
sufficiency of the proposed claims against Rosbrook and Donoghue. 7 (Mem. in Opp., [Docket
7
A party may successfully challenge a motion to amend as futile if the amended claim “‘would not withstand a
[m]otion to [d]ismiss for failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted.” Streambend Props. III, LLC v.
Sexton Lofts, LLC, 297 F.R.D. 349, 357 (D. Minn. 2014) (citations omitted). If Azarax had argued futility, the
Court would address that argument herein. See, Ikeri, 2014 WL 12599634, at *8-9. In the context of its Opposition
to the present Motion, however, Azarax merely asserts that the proposed legal claims against Rosbrook and
Donoghue will ultimately fail on their merits because the proposed defendants’ actions were not wrongful. (See,
Mem. in Opp., [Docket No. 97], 5-6, 10-11). Therefore, the Court does not undertake the more extensive futility
analysis herein. See, Halsney v. Anera Health, No. 12-cv-2409 (SRN/JJG), 2013 WL 3088588, * (D. Minn. June 18,
12
No. 97], 6, 11-12). Again, however, the factual validity or the weight of the evidence to support
those factual allegations against Rosbrook is not at issue in the context of the present Motion.
See, Arcaro v. City of Anoka, No. 13-cv-2772 (JNE/LIB), 2014 WL 12605451, *3 (D. Minn.
July 15, 2017) (finding no error in the Magistrate Judge’s decision to “permit the amendment [to
the complaint] and allow the merits of the claim to be tested by way of a” subsequent dispositive
motion before the district judge).
Finally, Azarax argues that the addition of Rosbrook and Donoghue “would cause
substantial delay and confusion” because it would require the parties to obtain new counsel to
represent their individual interests and it would cause conflicts of interest between the parties.
(Mem. in Opp., [Docket No. 97], 6-7). This argument by Azarax, however, relates only in the
most general terms to a possible conflict of interest between Azarax and Barrera, who are both
already parties to this case. Azarax fails to specifically articulate how the addition of Rosbrook
and Donoghue as parties to this case would actually affect a conflict of interest between Azarax
and Barrera. In addition, if such a conflict were to actually arise, the relatively short period of
time generally required to obtain counsel does not by itself cause the Court substantial concern
about any undue protraction of these proceedings caused by adding Donoghue and Rosbrook as
parties.
Accordingly, for the reasons stated above, WCV’s Motion to Amend to Add Parties,
[Docket No. 78], is GRANTED.
2013) (finding no error where the Magistrate Judge “declined to consider [a] futility argument [brought in
opposition to a motion to amend] because the parties had not fully briefed and argued the issue”).
13
III.
MOTION TO COMPEL THE DEPOSITION OF THIRD-PARTY DEFENDANT
NICOLAS BARRERA, [DOCKET NO. 90]
The Moving Defendants seek an Order compelling Barrera to appear for a deposition in
Minneapolis, Minnesota on March 14, 2018, at 9:00 a.m. (Motion to Compel, [Docket No. 90],
1-2). The Court notes that the present Motion to Compel is not premature, despite the fact that
the Motion was brought prior to the date set for the deposition at issue. See, M&I Marshall &
Illsley Bank v. Covenant Real Estate Servs., Inc., No. 09-cv-2038 (PJS/AJB), 2010 WL
11534599, *5 (D. Minn. May 10, 2010) (“A motion to compel is not premature if a party has
indicated prior to the discovery deadline that they do not intend to comply with discovery.”).
A. Standard of Review
“A party may, by oral questions, depose any person, including a party, without leave of
court except as provided in Rule 30(a)(2). The deponent’s attendance may be compelled by
subpoena under Rule 45.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 30(a)(1). However, if the deponent is a party, a notice
of deposition acts to compel his or her attendance, and no subpoena is required. See, Jules Jordan
Video, Inc. v. 144942 Canada Inc., 617 F.3d 1146, 1158 (9th Cir. 2010) (“If a person is a party, a
simple notice of deposition is sufficient to compel attendance.”); Estate of Levingston v. Cty. of
Kern, 320 F.R.D. 520, 524 (E.D. Cal. 2017) (“‘Only a party to litigation may be compelled to
give testimony pursuant to a notice of deposition’” (quoting U.S. v. Afram Lines (USA), Ltd.,
159 F.R.D. 408, 314 (S.D. N.Y. 1994)); Blackwell v. Houser, No. 5:16-cv-67-FDW, 2017 WL
392184, *2 (W.D. N.C. Jan. 27, 2017) (quoting Jules Jordan Video, Inc., 617 F.3d at 1158)).
“On notice to other parties and all affected persons, a party may move for an order
compelling disclosure or discovery.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 37(a)(1).
Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 26(b)(1) states:
14
Parties may obtain discovery regarding any nonprivileged matter that is relevant
to any party’s claim or defense and proportional to the needs of the case,
considering the importance of the issues at stake in the action, the amount in
controversy, the parties’ relative access to relevant information, the parties’
resources, the importance of the discovery in resolving the issues, and whether the
burden or expense of the proposed discovery outweighs its likely benefit.
Courts generally have construed Rule 26(b)(1) broadly. Oppenheimer Fund, Inc. v. Sanders, 437
U.S. 340, 351 (1978); see also, Hofer v. Mack Trucks, Inc., 981 F.2d 377, 380 (8th Cir. 1992)
(Rule 26 “is liberal in scope and interpretation, extending to those matters which are relevant”).
“[T]he Court has ‘great discretion in designating the location of taking a deposition,’
taking into account the facts and equities of each case.” Vickery v. Fin. Recovery Servs., Inc.,
No. 10-cv-516 (MJD/JSM), 2010 WL 11565927, *1 (D. Minn. Nov. 10, 2010) (quoting Archer
Daniels Midland Co. v. Aon Risk Servs., Inc., 187 F.R.D. 578 (D. Minn. 1999)).
B. Analysis
Defendants Wireless Communications Venture, LLC; Benton Cooperative Telephone
Company; Central Stearns Comsis, Inc.; Albany Mutual Telephone Association; Steve Katka;
and Cheryl Scapanski’s (hereinafter collectively referred to as “the Moving Defendants”) argue
that this Court should order Barrera to appear for the noticed deposition in Minneapolis,
Minnesota, because Brazil is “particularly hostile” to Americans deposing witnesses in Brazil.
(Mem. in Supp., [Docket No. 92], 5). According to the website for the United States Department
of State – Bureau of Consular Affairs:
Brazil is not a party to the Hague Convention on the Taking of Evidence
Abroad in Civil and Commercial Matters. The United States is not a party to the
evidence provisions of the Inter-American Convention on Letters Rogatory and
Additional Protocol. Brazilian authorities do not permit persons, such as
American attorneys, to take depositions for use in a court in the United States
before a U.S. consular officer, with the assistance of a Brazilian attorney, or in
any other manner. Brazilian law views the taking of depositions for use in foreign
courts as an act that may be undertaken in Brazil only by Brazilian judicial
authorities. The Government of Brazil asserts that, under Brazilian Constitutional
15
Law, only Brazilian judicial authorities are competent to perform acts of a judicial
nature in Brazil. Brazil has advised it would deem taking depositions in Brazil by
foreign persons to be a violation of Brazil's judicial sovereignty. Such action
potentially could result in the arrest, detention, expulsion, or deportation of the
American attorney or other American participants. The United States recognizes
the right of judicial sovereignty of foreign governments based on customary
international law and practice. It is the State Department's understanding that the
Brazilian prohibition on taking depositions by foreign persons extends to
telephone or video teleconference depositions initiated from the United States of a
witness in Brazil. The U.S. Embassy or Consulates in Brazil could in no way
participate in, or otherwise sanction, such a proceeding.
See, https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/legal/Judcial-Assistance-Country-Information/
Brazil.html (last accessed March 2, 2018).
Essentially, the Moving Defendants contend that because they may not travel to Brazil to
depose Barrera without risking severe consequences, including arrest, this Court should order
Barrera to appear for his deposition in the United States. (Mem. in Supp., [Docket No. 92]. 5-7).
In support, the Moving Defendants cite to Schindler Elevator Corp. v. Otis Elevator Corp., 657
F. Supp. 2d 525, 529 (D. N.J. 2009) 8, which purports to collect cases ordering that the
“depositions of foreign parties occur in the United States in accordance with the Federal Rules.”
Two of the cases cited in Schindler Elevator Corp. provide guidance. 9 In In re Honda
American Motor Co., Inc. Dealership Relations Litigation, 168 F.R.D. 535 (D. Md. 1996), the
8
The Court notes that neither party provided the Court with case law that is both directly on point and issued from a
Federal Court within the Eighth Circuit.
9
Some of the collected cases did not, in fact, order the deposition of a foreign party to occur in the United States.
See, Calixto v. Watson Bowman Acme Corp., No. 07-60077, 2008 WL 4489679, *4 (S.D. Fla. Sept. 29, 2008)
(ordering the deposition of a Swiss resident to occur in “London, England, or a location otherwise convenient for”
the deponent); Int’l Ins. Co. v. Caja Nacional De Ahorro Y Seguro, No. 00 C 6703, 2004 WL 555618, * (N.D. Ill.
March 18, 2004) (deposition in question was anticipated to take place in Argentina, and the location of the
deposition was not at issue).
Other cases cited in Schindler Elevator Corp. do not directly address a United States Federal District Court’s
authority to compel an individual who is neither a resident nor a citizen of the United States to travel to the United
States at his or her own expense to appear for a deposition. See, Triple Crown Am., Inc. v. Biosynth AG, No.
CIV.A. 96-7476, 1998 WL 227886 (E.D. Pa. April 30, 1998) (ordering depositions of agents or representatives of
Swiss corporation defendant under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 30(b)(6) to take place in the United States but
ordering the party seeking the depositions to reimburse the corporation for reasonable travel and lodging expenses);
Ward-THG, Inc. v. Swiss Reinsurance Co., No. 96-8100, 1997 WL 83294 (S.D.N.Y. Feb. 27, 1997) (lifting a
previously imposed stay of deposition discovery and noting that the plaintiffs had proposed depositions of Swiss
16
United States District Court for the District of Maryland found that concerns of international
comity were not implicated by ordering Japanese nationals to appear for depositions in the
United States, nor would such an order infringe upon Japanese judicial sovereignty. The court
also noted that the Japanese nationals in question were “not occasional visitors to the United
States. They have conducted extensive business in the United States for a number of years,
availing themselves of the laws and protections afforded American citizens.” Id. at 539.
Similarly, in Work v. Bier, 106 F.R.D. 45, 52 (D. D.C. 1985), the United States District
Court for the District of Columbia held “that a foreign national who is a party can be required to
appear here in the United States for deposition.” In so holding, the Work Court specifically
quoted its prior observation that:
Nowhere in [the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure] is there the slightest suggestion
that a party properly before the Court may not avail itself of [its] discovery rights .
. . against another party within the jurisdiction of the Court merely because the
documents sought or the persons to be deposed are not located in the United
States. Indeed, the Rules clearly contemplate their applicability abroad if the
United States Court has jurisdiction.
Id. at 52 (quoting Laker Airways, Ltd. v. Pan American World Airways, 103 F.R.D. 42, 48 (D.
D.C. 1984)). Ultimately, the Work Court ordered the German defendants in that case to appear
for oral depositions in the United States. 106 F.R.D. at 56.
The Moving Defendants also note that due to the specifics of Brazilian law on
depositions by foreigners which take place in Brazil, other United States District Courts have
ordered Brazilian residents to appear for oral deposition in the United States. (Mem. in Supp.,
deponents which would take place in the United States at the plaintiffs’ expense); M & C Corp. v. Erwin Behr
GmbH & Co., KG, 165 F.R.D. 65 (E.D. Mich. 1996) (ordering deposition of German corporation defendant in the
United States but specifically noting that the defendant had conceded to depositions in Detroit if scheduled “at a
time when representatives of [the corporation] would otherwise be present in Michigan on other business” and also
noting the difference in the case before it—an action to enforce an arbitration award—and the usual case “in which a
plaintiff seeks to depose or require document production from a distant corporation before trial” (emphasis in
original)); Roberts v. Heim, 130 F.R.D. 430 (N.D. Cal. 1990) (ordering Swiss citizen and resident to submit to
deposition in the United States, but the only opposition discussed—and rejected—by the United States District
Court was the proposed deponent’s assertion that doing so would violate Swiss law).
17
[Docket No. 92], 5-6). However, the cases upon which the moving Defendants rely are of limited
persuasive weight. Synthes (U.S.A.) v. G.M. dos Reis Jr. Ind. Com. De Equip. Medico, No. 07CV-309-L9AJB), 2008 WL 81111 (S.D. Cal. Jan. 8, 2008), focused almost exclusively on
whether Brazilian discovery rules or the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure’s discovery rules
should apply to discovery sought from a Brazilian corporation. The location of desired
depositions was addressed only summarily at the end of the Order, thusly: “Because Brazilian
law subjects foreign attorneys who conduct depositions of Brazilian nationals in Brazil to
potential arrest, detention, expulsion or deportation, any depositions of Brazilian nationals in this
case are to be conducted in the United States.” Id. at *7. Similarly, Bigpayout, LLC v. Mantex
Enterprises, Ltd., No. 2:12-CV-1183-RJS-BCW, 2015 WL 5970855, *1-2 (D. Utah Oct. 13,
2015), discussed very briefly the restraints on foreign depositions in Brazil and then concluded
“that good cause exists to require [the Brazilian resident and sole owner of the defendant
corporation] to attend his deposition in the United States at Plaintiff’s expense.” Id. at *2. The
only further explanation is the California Federal Court’s “find[ing] that the restraints contained
in Brazilian law present ‘unusual and exceptional circumstances’ that warrant the Court to
compel [the Brazilian resident] to travel to the United States for his deposition.” Id.
However, Fausto v. Credigy Services Corp., 251 F.R.D. 427, 428 (N.D. Cal. 2008),
which the Moving Defendants also cite, is much more directly on-point. In that case, American
plaintiffs sought to depose—in the United States—four individual defendants who resided in
Brazil and were employees of the Brazilian corporate defendant in that case. The United States
District Court for the Northern District of California noted that generally speaking, “‘the
deposition of a party may be noticed wherever the deposing party designates, subject to the
Court’s power to grant a protective order,’” but “‘[t]here is a general presumption that the
18
deposition of a defendant should be conducted in the district of his residence [because] . . . [t]he
defendants . . . are not before the court by choice.’” Id. at 429 (citations omitted). Nevertheless,
the Fausto Court noted its own wide discretion to determine the time and location of depositions.
Id. at 429. Noting specifically that “it apparently is illegal for American lawyers to take
depositions in Brazil and they do so at risk of imprisonment” and that the Brazilian corporate
defendant “regularly hosts Brazilian employees in Atlanta,” the Court determined that
“[p]rovided that the four named defendants . . . are located and are able to obtain visas for
international travel, the Court orders that they be deposed in Atlanta, Georgia.” Id. at 431. The
sound reasoning in Fausto lends support to the Moving Defendants’ arguments in the Motion
presently before the Court.
In opposition to the present Motion to Compel, Barrera makes 4 general arguments: (1)
the Court lacks jurisdiction over him; (2) he is no longer an officer or director of Azarax, Inc.;
(3) he has no contractual obligation to testify in this case, and (4) requiring him to submit to a
deposition in Minnesota would impose a severe financial hardship upon him and place his
employment at risk. (Mem. in Opp., [Docket No. 99], 4-8).
With respect to the first argument, it fails because, as already noted above, Barrera
admitted in his Answer that this Court has subject matter and personal jurisdiction over him. See,
infra, p.2 & fn. 3.
With respect to the second argument, despite Barrera’s assertion that the Moving
Defendant’s “primary reason” for wishing to depose Barrera “is by virtue of his position as an
officer and director of Azarax, Inc.,” the citation he provides to support that assertion fails him.
In any event, Barrera is a party to the present case and thus, other parties’ right to depose him
does not depend on his status as an officer or director of the corporate party. See, in contrast,
19
Carlson v. Wagonlit Travel, Inc. v. Invensys PLC, No. 1-cv-2337 (JRT/FLN), 2003 WL
21010961, *2 (D. Minn. March 8, 2003) (“Notice under Rule 30(b)(1) of the Federal Rules of
Civil Procedure is sufficient to depose a corporate employee who is an officer, director,
managing agent, or Rule 30(b)(6) designee.”).
As to Barrera’s third argument, the lack of a contractual obligation to testify in this case
is similarly irrelevant. He is subject to deposition as a party to the present litigation, not due to
any contractual obligation.
Barrera’s fourth argument—that appearing for deposition in Minnesota would cause
financial hardship and possibly cause him to lose his job—warrants more consideration. Unlike
the foreign parties in In re Honda American Motor Co., Inc. Dealership Relations Litigation and
Fausto, there is nothing currently before the Court that demonstrates that Barrera continues to
visit the United States. The Moving Defendants assert only that Barrera “previously traveled to
the United States in connection with the very facts at issue” in this litigation. (Mem. in Supp.,
[Docket No. 92], 6 (emphasis added)).
For his part, Barrera has submitted a Declaration informing the Court that he has no
liquid monetary assets and he does not—and will not in the foreseeable future—have the funds
to travel to Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Barrera Dec., [Docket No. 100], 3). Barrera additionally
states that taking the estimated 5 days of leave from his employment that would be required to
attend a deposition in Minnesota would place his employment at risk. (Id.at 4). In support,
Barrera has attached a breakdown of his monthly income and expenses, and a letter from his
employer stating that it “could only release [Barrera from work] for 2 (two) days.” (Id. at 6, 8).
Unlike the American plaintiffs in Bigpayout, LLC, the Moving Defendants in the present
litigation have not—to the Court’s knowledge—offered to reimburse or otherwise cover any of
20
the costs for Barrera to come to Minnesota for the noticed deposition. In addition, Barrera has
represented to the Court that he is willing “to travel to Bogota, Columbia to sit for his deposition
for the amount of time requested by the Defendants.” (Mem. in Opp., [Docket No. 99], 2). He
further represents that the Moving Defendants have refused this proposal. (Id.).
After thoroughly reviewing the submissions of the Moving Defendants and Barerra, the
Court finds that a compromise will best serve the interests of all involved and the interests of
justice.
Accordingly, the Moving Defendants’ Motion to Compel the Deposition of Barrera,
[Docket No. 90], is granted in part and denied in part. The Moving Defendants and Barrera
are ordered to arrange an agreeable time for Barrera to appear and sit for a single-day, 7-hour
deposition in Florida within twenty-one (21) days of the date of this Order. The Moving
Defendants shall arrange and bear the expense of an appropriate location in Florida for the
deposition, and the Moving Defendants shall pay for travel and lodging expenses 10 incurred by
Barerra as a result of the deposition, but Barerra shall bear his own legal expenses related to the
deposition.
IV.
CONCLUSION
For the foregoing reasons, IT IS ORDERED:
1. That Defendant Wireless Communications Venture, LLC’s Motion to Amend the
Pleadings to Add Parties, [Docket No. 78], is GRANTED, as set forth above;
2. Within thirty (30) days after the date of the present Order, Defendant Wireless
Communications Venture shall provide proof of service of its Amended Answer and
10
The Court notes that this includes only reasonably priced, coach-class airfare travel to Florida, travel within
Florida as required to attend the deposition, and reasonably priced accommodations as needed to attend the
deposition ordered herein.
21
Counterclaims upon Donoghue and Rosbrook or demonstrate good cause for an extension
of time to so serve Donoghue and Rosbrook.
3. That Defendants Wireless Communications Venture, LLC; Benton Cooperative
Telephone Company; Central Stearns Comsis, Inc.; Albany Mutual Telephone
Association; Steve Katka; and Cheryl Scapanski’s Motion to Compel the Deposition of
Nicolas Barrera, [Docket No. 90], is GRANTED IN PART AND DENIED IN PART,
as set forth above.
Dated: April 13, 2018
s/ Leo I. Brisbois
Leo I. Brisbois
U.S. Magistrate Judge
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