Ceglia v. Zuckerberg et al

Filing 13

AFFIDAVIT in Support re 12 MOTION to Expedite Hearing on Motion to Dissolve TRO filed by Mark Elliot Zuckerberg, Facebook, Inc.. (Powers, Michael)

Ceglia v. Zuckerberg et al

Doc. 13

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT WESTERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK

PAUL D. CEGLIA,

Plaintiff, v. MARK ELLIOT ZUCKERBERG, Individually, and FACEBOOK, INC., Defendants. _________________________________________ STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF ERIE ) ) ss.: )

AFFIDAVIT IN SUPPORT OF APPLICATION FOR EXPEDITED HEARING ON MOTION TO DISSOLVE TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER Civil Action No.: 1:10-cv-00569-RJA

MICHAEL B. POWERS, being duly sworn, deposes and says: 1. I am a partner in the law firm of Phillips Lytle LLP, attorneys for

defendants Mark Elliot Zuckerberg ("Mr. Zuckerberg ") and Facebook, Inc. ("Facebook") (collectively, "Defendants") in the above-captioned proceeding originally brought by plaintiff Paul D. Ceglia ("Plaintiff") in the New York State Supreme Court, Allegany County. 2. I submit this affidavit in support of Defendants' Application for Expedited

Hearing on Defendants' Motion to Dissolve Temporary Restraining Order (Item 4) pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 6(c) and Local Rule 7.1(d) ("Defendants' Motion to Dissolve the TRO"). 3. There is good and sufficient reason for an expedited schedule for briefing

and argument of Defendants' Motion to Dissolve the TRO. 4. On June 30, 2010, the New York State Supreme Court, Allegany County,

granted an ex parte Temporary Restraining Order proposed by Plaintiff (the "TRO"). See Decl.

Dockets.Justia.com

of Lisa T. Simpson in Supp. of Mot. to Dissolve TRO (Docket No. 6) (the "Simpson Decl."), at Ex. B. 5. The TRO states:

Ordered, that pending the return date: The Defendant Mark Elliot Zuckerberg and/or Defendant Facebook, Inc. or any of its subsidiaries, are hereby enjoined and restrained from transferring, selling, assigning any assets, stocks, bonds, owned, possessed and/or controlled by the Defendants. See TRO at p. 2 (emphasis added). 6. The return date for Plaintiff's motion for preliminary injunction was

July 9, 2010. Id. at p. 1. Accordingly, by its terms and by operation of law, the TRO expired on July 9, 2010, the same day that Defendants removed this action to this Court. 7. 8. The ex parte TRO, as drafted by Plaintiff, is also overly broad. In addition, even if the TRO had not expired by its terms and by operation

of law, the TRO is palpably insufficient, improper, defective, and does not comply with Fed. R. Civ. P. 65. See Simpson Decl.; Defendants' Motion to Dissolve the TRO; and Defendants' Memorandum of Law in Support of the Motion to Dissolve the TRO (Docket No. 5), and the Simpson Decl. 9. For example, Plaintiff has failed to identify specific facts showing any

immediate and irreparable injury or loss1, failed to certify any efforts made to notify Defendants before seeking ex parte relief, and did not post a bond or undertaking.

Indeed, Plaintiff has even admitted, "I have not received any remuneration from Defendants...." TRO at p. 3. -2-

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10.

Therefore, the TRO should be dissolved pursuant to Fed. R. Civ.

P. 65(b)(4). See Simpson Decl.; Defendants' Motion to Dissolve the TRO; and Defendants' Memorandum of Law in Support of Motion to Dissolve TRO (Docket No. 5). 11. 12. The interests of justice compel expedited action by the Court. Accordingly, it is respectfully requested that the Court declare that the

TRO has expired, or, in the alternative, grant Defendants' Application to Expedite the Motion to Dissolve the TRO and require an expedited briefing and argument schedule. /s/ Michael B. Powers Michael B. Powers Sworn to before me this 15th day of July, 2010 /s/ Elizabeth A. Reinhardt Notary Public
ELIZABETH A. REINHARDT Notary Public, State of New York Qualified in Erie County Commission Expires January 31, 2014
Doc # 01-2384450.4

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