Northwest Home Designing, Inc v. Golden Key Construction, Inc. et al

Filing 63

ORDER granting in part and denying in part 54 Plaintiff's Motion to Compel Discovery by Judge J Richard Creatura.(SC)

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1 2 3 4 5 6 7 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT WESTERN DISTRICT OF WASHINGTON AT TACOMA 8 9 10 NORTHWEST HOME DESIGNING, INC., Plaintiff, 11 v. 12 13 GOLDEN KEY CONSTRUCTION, INC., et al., 14 Defendant. CASE NO. 11-cv-05289 RBL ORDER GRANTING IN PART AND DENYING IN PART PLAINTIFF’S MOTION TO COMPEL DISCOVERY AND DENYING DEFENDANTS’ MOTION FOR SANCTIONS 15 16 THIS MATTER has been referred to the undersigned Magistrate Judge (ECF No. 56) 17 pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 636(b)(1)(A) and (B) and Magistrate Judge Rules MJR 1, MJR 3 and 18 MJR 4. 19 The Court has reviewed Plaintiff’s Motion to Compel Discovery (ECF No. 54), the 20 Declaration of Anthony J. Biller (ECF No. 55), Defendant Golden Key Construction, Inc.’s and 21 Defendant Doug Bateman’s Opposition to Plaintiff’s Motion to Compel Discovery (ECF No. 22 57), the Declaration of Andrew C. Gauen (ECF No. 58), the Declaration of Paul C. Sutphen 23 24 ORDER GRANTING IN PART AND DENYING IN PART PLAINTIFF’S MOTION TO COMPEL DISCOVERY AND DENYING DEFENDANTS’ MOTION FOR SANCTIONS - 1 1 (ECF No. 59), Plaintiff’s Reply (ECF No. 60) and the Declaration of Anthony J. Biller in 2 Support of Plaintiff’s Reply (ECF No. 61). 3 The Court also heard oral argument on February 10, 2012. During oral argument, 4 plaintiff asked the court to consider other, non-binding authority from courts outside of this 5 circuit. While the Court initially agreed to allow plaintiff to reference this authority, after having 6 heard a description of the cases, and respecting defendant’s right to offer opposing authority, the 7 Court has re-considered and believes that it is more important for it to exercise its discretion on 8 this discovery question now rather than to invite additional briefing. Any non-binding authority 9 would be of little benefit to the Court in exercising its discretion and resolving the issues before 10 it. Therefore, the Court has not considered this authority in rendering its decision and defendant 11 need not provide responsive briefing. 12 In summary, while plaintiff should be entitled to review information related to other 13 houses built by defendants, it does not appear that the parties’ differences regarding electronic 14 accounting information has been thoroughly vetted in good faith in an effort to resolve discovery 15 disputes. Therefore, this Court will GRANT the motion to compel discovery as it relates to other 16 homes built by defendants, but will DENY plaintiff’s motion regarding accounting records until 17 such time as the parties engage in a more thorough discovery conference. Defendants’ request 18 for sanctions is denied. 19 20 BACKGROUND This is an action for copyright infringement (ECF No. 1). Plaintiff Northwest Home 21 Designing, Inc. (hereinafter “plaintiff”) claims that Defendant Golden Key Construction, Inc. 22 (hereinafter “Golden Key”), along with other defendants, violated plaintiff’s copyright regarding 23 house design plans. Plaintiff served interrogatories and document requests on or about July 6, 24 ORDER GRANTING IN PART AND DENYING IN PART PLAINTIFF’S MOTION TO COMPEL DISCOVERY AND DENYING DEFENDANTS’ MOTION FOR SANCTIONS - 2 1 2011. After discovery conferences, extensions, and the entry of a stipulated protective order on 2 October 7, 2011 (ECF No. 50), plaintiff filed a motion to compel discovery (ECF No. 54). 3 Plaintiff raises the following issues: 4 1. Whether defendant should be compelled to identify all homes constructed, not just the 5 6 ones identified by plaintiff to date. 2. Whether defendant should produce a “representative sample” of each home design 7 8 created and/or built in the past five years. 3. Whether defendant should produce all of its financial records so that plaintiff can 9 evaluate damages. 10 11 DISCUSSION The Court has broad discretion in determining the scope of discovery. See Herbert v. 12 Lando, 441 U.S. 153, 177 (1979). Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(b)(1) provides, in part: 13 Parties may obtain discovery regarding any non-privileged matter that is relevant to any party’s claim or defense . . . . Relevant information need not be admissible at the trial if the discovery appears reasonably calculated to lead to the discovery of admissible evidence . . . . 14 15 Although defendant has not moved for a protective order, this Court should temper any 16 order requiring production of documents “to protect a party or person from annoyance, 17 embarrassment, oppression, or undue burden or expense . . . .” Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(c)(1). 18 1. 19 20 Whether defendant should be compelled to identify all homes constructed, not just the ones identified by plaintiff to date. Plaintiff’s interrogatory number 13 asks defendant to “identify every house you have 21 constructed from April 2006 to the present and the plan used to construct each. Identify 22 representative documents showing floor plan and elevation.” (ECF No. 55, Exhibit 1, page 34.) 23 Defendant Golden Key objected on the grounds that the interrogatory was overly broad and “not 24 ORDER GRANTING IN PART AND DENYING IN PART PLAINTIFF’S MOTION TO COMPEL DISCOVERY AND DENYING DEFENDANTS’ MOTION FOR SANCTIONS - 3 1 relevant or reasonably calculated to lead to the discovery of relevant evidence.” (Id. at 35.) 2 Plaintiff contends that by reviewing public records, it identified that “over half of Golden Key’s 3 homes were built using the subject plans” and that “there is certainly a likelihood that other plans 4 may also have been copied . . . .” (ECF No. 54, page 4.) Defendant characterizes this request 5 as a “fishing expedition.” (ECF No. 57, page 8.) Defendant states that it has only built six 6 homes using plans other than the subject plans since April of 2006. The Court agrees with 7 plaintiff. Plaintiff should not be limited to a search of public records in order to fully evaluate 8 possible claims and damages. Requesting a review of the other houses built by defendant 9 Golden Key is reasonable in light of the allegations raised in plaintiff’s complaint and the 10 discovery is designed to lead to the discovery of admissible evidence. Therefore, it is 11 ORDERED that defendant provide a complete answer to interrogatory number 13. 12 In a related subject, plaintiff’s request for production number 11 asks Defendant Golden 13 Key for “copies of all building permits issued to you from January 2001 to the present.” (ECF 14 No. 55, Exhibit 1, page 44.) Apparently, because of defendant’s five-year document retention 15 policy, defendant has no documents regarding homes that had been constructed prior to 2006. 16 (ECF No. 57, page 5; see also, ECF No. 58, paragraph 6.) Defendant cannot produce what it 17 does not have. Therefore, if defendant does not possess any documents responsive to this 18 request, then it should so state. If, however, defendant has any such documents, as discussed 19 earlier, these documents should be produced. IT IS SO ORDERED. 20 2. 21 22 Whether defendant should produce a “representative sample” of each home design created and/or built in the past five years. Plaintiff’s request for production number 18 requests “A representative sample of each 23 home design you have created and/or built in the past five years.” (ECF No. 55, Exhibit 1, page 24 ORDER GRANTING IN PART AND DENYING IN PART PLAINTIFF’S MOTION TO COMPEL DISCOVERY AND DENYING DEFENDANTS’ MOTION FOR SANCTIONS - 4 1 47.) Defendant Golden Key objected because the request was vague as to what was meant by 2 “representative sample” and because it asked for documents to plans other than the plans it 3 claims are the subject of the lawsuit and, therefore, was overbroad. (ECF No. 55, Exhibit 1, page 4 47.) The Court agrees that plaintiff’s request is unclear. Defendant claims that each of the other 5 house designs was unique. (ECF No. 55, Exhibit 2, page 57.) Plaintiff may have a different 6 perspective, but requesting a “representative sample” is sufficiently unclear that it allows the 7 defendant to interpret in a way that may not be consistent with plaintiff’s request. Therefore, the 8 Court DENIES plaintiff’s request for an order compelling production of further documents 9 regarding this request until and unless plaintiff can provide a clearer definition. 10 3. 11 12 Whether defendant should produce all of its financial records so that plaintiff can evaluate damages. Requests for production of documents numbered 7 through 10 request financial records 13 that plaintiff claims are relevant to issues of revenues, costs, and profits attributable to the 14 infringing homes sold by defendant Golden Key. (ECF No. 54, page 4.) Defendant has objected 15 because it would require to production of financial records that it claims are irrelevant to the 16 subject matter of this litigation. 17 Prior to addressing the substance of the motion, however, defendant claims that plaintiff 18 has not sought to discuss or resolve this issue through a Rule 37 conference. (ECF No. 57, pages 19 10-14). Fed . R. Civ. P. 37(a) provides that no party shall move for an order compelling 20 disclosure or discovery unless the moving party included a “certification that the movant has in 21 good faith conferred or attempted to confer with the person or party failing to make disclosure or 22 discovery in an effort to obtain it without court action.” Andrew C. Gauen filed a declaration 23 noting the sequence of discovery. (ECF No. 58.) Although the parties had discussions regarding 24 ORDER GRANTING IN PART AND DENYING IN PART PLAINTIFF’S MOTION TO COMPEL DISCOVERY AND DENYING DEFENDANTS’ MOTION FOR SANCTIONS - 5 1 the exchange of financial information, and defendant provided some financial information 2 pursuant to those discussions, defendant claims that it has complied with plaintiff’s request 3 during the discovery conference regarding financial documents and “heard nothing further 4 regarding plaintiff’s discovery requests until receiving plaintiff’s Motion to Compel on January 5 19, 2012. . .” Id. at ¶4. This does not sufficiently comply with requirements set forth in Rule 6 37(a). Therefore, plaintiff’s request for an order compelling discovery of this financial 7 information is DENIED WITHOUT PREJUDICE. Plaintiff may re-file if, after meeting and 8 conferring, the parties cannot resolve this issue without court intervention. 9 To provide guidance to the parties, the Court makes the following observations. First, 10 Defendant Golden Key has apparently provided significant amounts of information to its forensic 11 accountant, and has been billed in excess of $20,000 to prepare worksheets reflecting, among 12 other things, profit and overhead calculations relevant to an evaluation of plaintiff’s damages. 13 (Decl. of Paul Sutphen, ¶11, ECF No. 59.) He evaluated electronic information from 14 QuickBooks, as well as physical records provided to him by defendant. To the extent such 15 information has been provided to an expert and that person is identified as a person who may be 16 presented as a witness at trial, Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(b)(4)(ii) will require defendant to produce 17 “facts or data that the party’s attorney provided and that the expert considered in forming the 18 opinions to be expressed . . .” Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(b)(4)(ii). Therefore, in all likelihood, this 19 underlying data will need to be provided anyway. Second, to the extent that plaintiff is required 20 to evaluate overhead and costs, it will necessarily be required to evaluate data that may not be 21 specifically related to the particular homes that are the subject of this litigation, but instead are 22 relevant to the business overall. Third, as the Court has already entered a protective order, it is 23 likely that reasonable requests for disclosure of such information will be granted, with the 24 ORDER GRANTING IN PART AND DENYING IN PART PLAINTIFF’S MOTION TO COMPEL DISCOVERY AND DENYING DEFENDANTS’ MOTION FOR SANCTIONS - 6 1 understanding that the information will not be made public until and unless so ordered by the 2 Court. 3 With these guidelines, the Court orders that the parties meet and confer regarding these 4 financial records and attempt to resolve discovery disputes without further order of the Court. 5 Finally, defendant has requested that it be awarded sanctions for the necessity of 6 responding to plaintiff’s motion to compel discovery (ECF No. 57, pages 9, 10, 12.) Defendant 7 has not shown good cause for the award of sanctions. Therefore, defendant’s motion is 8 DENIED. 9 Because discovery is ongoing, defendant is ordered to comply with this order to compel 10 discovery within fourteen (14) days of this Order. 11 Dated this 10th day of February, 2012. 12 A 13 J. Richard Creatura United States Magistrate Judge 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 ORDER GRANTING IN PART AND DENYING IN PART PLAINTIFF’S MOTION TO COMPEL DISCOVERY AND DENYING DEFENDANTS’ MOTION FOR SANCTIONS - 7

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