Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-azd-3_07-cv-08118/USCOURTS-azd-3_07-cv-08118-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 893
Nature of Suit: Environmental Matters
Cause of Action: 33:1365 Environmental Matters

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE DISTRICT OF ARIZONA

In Re: 

McCulloch Environmental Issues

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No. CV 07-8118-PHX-MHM

ORDER

The Court is in receipt of Shop Vac Corporation’s (“Shop Vac”) Motion to Perpetuate

the Testimony of Edward Donahue (Doc. 1). Pursuant to Shop Vac’s Motion for a Hearing

on the Motion to Perpetuate (Doc. 5) the Court set a hearing for November 20, 2007. 

Rule 27, Fed.R.Civ.P., states in relevant part as follows: 

(a) Before Action.

(1) Petition. A person who desires to perpetuate testimony regarding any

matter that may be cognizable in any court of the United States may file a

verified petition in the United States district court in the district of the

residence of any expected adverse party. The petition shall be entitled in the

name of the petitioner and shall show: 1, that the petitioner expects to be a

party to an action cognizable in a court of the United States but is presently

unable to bring it or cause it to be brought, 2, the subject matter of the

expected action and the petitioner's interest therein, 3, the facts which the

petitioner desires to establish by the proposed testimony and the reasons for

desiring to perpetuate it, 4, the names or a description of the persons the

petitioner expects will be adverse parties and their addresses so far as known,

and 5, the names and addresses of the persons to be examined and the

substance of the testimony which the petitioner expects to elicit from each, and

shall ask for an order authorizing the petitioner to take the depositions of the

persons to be examined named in the petition, for the purpose of perpetuating

their testimony.

Case 3:07-cv-08118-MHM Document 15 Filed 11/19/07 Page 1 of 3
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(2) Notice and Service. At least 20 days before the hearing date, the petitioner

must serve each expected adverse party with a copy of the petition and a notice

stating the time and place of the hearing. The notice may be served either

inside or outside the district or state in the manner provided in Rule 4. If that

service cannot be made with due diligence on an expected adverse party, the

court may order service by publication or otherwise. The court must appoint

an attorney to represent persons not served in the manner provided by Rule 4

and to cross-examine the deponent if an unserved person is not otherwise

represented. Rule 17(c) applies if any expected adverse party is a minor or is

incompetent.

(3) Order and Examination. If the court is satisfied that the perpetuation of the

testimony may prevent a failure or delay of justice, it shall make an order

designating or describing the persons whose depositions may be taken and

specifying the subject matter of the examination and whether the depositions

shall be taken upon oral examination or written interrogatories. The

depositions may then be taken in accordance with these rules; and the court

may make orders of the character provided for by Rules 34 and 35. For the

purpose of applying these rules to depositions for perpetuating testimony, each

reference therein to the court in which the action is pending shall be deemed

to refer to the court in which the petition for such deposition was filed.

In its Motion to Perpetuate Mr. Donahue’s testimony and exhibits thereto, Shop Vac

has set forth all facts required for the Court to grant it’s Rule 27 Motion to Perpetuate the

Testimony of Mr. Donahue. Specifically, Shop Vac has asserted the following requisite

allegations: (1) that it expects to be a defendant in future litigation; (2) the subject matter of

the expected action and Shop Vac’s interest therein; (3) the facts Shop Vac seeks through

deposing Mr. Donahue and the reason for seeking to perpetuate his deposition; (4) names of

potential litigants in any future action; and (5) the names of the person to be examined and

the substance of the testimony Shop Vac expects to elicit from him. Most notably, Shop Vac

asserts that Mr. Donahue is elderly and in poor health and that it seeks to depose Mr.

Donahue so as to defend itself in any future litigation brought against it in relation to the

McCulloch Corporation site it owned and operated between 1990 and 1995. 

Shop Vac noticed at least four potential litigants in future litigation in connection with

the McCulloch Corporation site and notified them of its Motion to Perpetuate Mr. Donahue’s

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Testimony. One of the entities Shop Vac notified was Black and Decker Corporation

(“Black and Decker”), which Shop Vac first contacted in May 2007. 

In response to the Court scheduling the November 20, 2007 Motion Hearing, Black

and Decker has filed an Amended Expedited Motion for Continuance (Doc. 12) in which it

claims it did not receive 20 days notice of the hearing, required under Rule 27, Fed.R.Civ.P.

However, it appears the 20 days required pursuant to Rule 27 refers to the notice required

before the deposition is taken. Therefore, Black and Decker’s Motion to Continue the

Motion Hearing is denied. 

However, upon further consideration and good cause appearing, the November 20,

2007 Motion Hearing is vacated. The Court hereby grants Shop Vac’s Motion to Perpetuate

the Testimony of Mr. Donahue. Mr. Donahue’s oral deposition shall take place by December

7, 2007. 

Accordingly, 

IT IS ORDERED denying Black and Decker’s Amended Expedited Motion for a

Continuance (Doc. 12).

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED granting Shop Vac’s Motion to Perpetuate the

Testimony of Edward Donahue (Doc. 1).

DATED this 19th day of November, 2007.

Case 3:07-cv-08118-MHM Document 15 Filed 11/19/07 Page 3 of 3