Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-3_07-cv-05944/USCOURTS-cand-3_07-cv-05944-381/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 410
Nature of Suit: Antitrust
Cause of Action: 15:1 Antitrust Litigation

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United 

States District 

Court

For the Northern District of California 

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 

IN RE: CATHODE RAY TUBE (CRT)

ANTITRUST LITIGATION 

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MDL No. 1917 

Case No. C-07-5944-SC 

ORDER APPOINTING SPECIAL 

This Order Relates To: MASTER 

ALL ACTIONS 

The Court has suggested the appointment of Mr. Martin Quinn as 

an additional Special Master for this case. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 

53(a)(1)(A), 53(a)(1)(C). The Court gave the parties an 

opportunity to be heard by permitted parties to submit objections 

via an order to show cause. See Order of the Court dated September 

2, 2015, ECF No. 4033 ("Show Cause Order"), Fed. R. Civ. P. 

53(b)(1). The Court received two objections, plus a response to 

one of the objections. See ECF Nos. 4043, 4046, 4049. Parties 

objected to the form of this Order, not to Mr. Quinn himself. The 

Court granted a hearing, held on September 11, 2015. Parties were 

then provided a draft order, and the Court entertained objections. 

See ECF Nos. 4053, 4062, 4068. The Court now finds that parties 

have had a full, fair opportunity to be fully heard on this matter. 

Objections are accommodated in this Order or else are OVERRULED. 

Case 3:07-cv-05944-JST Document 4077 Filed 09/24/15 Page 1 of 9
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United 

States District 

Court

For the Northern District of California 

The Court finds that parties have consented to a Special Master 

performing these duties as presently anticipated, which excludes 

the pending DPP settlement. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 53(a)(1)(A). The 

Court accepts as true assertions by certain Counsel made during the 

hearing on September 11, 2015 that it will not be necessary for the 

Special Master to review a fee motion for DPPs, but reserves the 

right to refer the matter to the Special Master should Counsel 

prove to be incorrect. The Court also finds that determinations of 

attorneys' fees and related matters being referred to Mr. Quinn are 

"posttrial matters that cannot be effectively and timely addressed 

by an available district judge or magistrate judge of the 

district." See Fed. R. Civ. P. 53(a)(1)(C). Accordingly, 

appointment of a Special Master is proper. 

WHEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that, pursuant to Federal Rule 

of Civil Procedure 53, Mr. Martin Quinn is appointed as Special 

Master to supervise and preside over all "designated posttrial 

matters," as defined herein. 

The Special Master has filed a declaration under 28 U.S.C. § 

455 stating that there is no ground for disqualification. During 

the course of these proceedings, the Special Master and the parties 

shall notify this Court immediately if they become aware of any new 

potential grounds that would require disqualification. 

1. Scope of Duties 

This Order shall apply to all cases currently pending in MDL 

No. 1917 and to all related actions that have been or will be 

originally filed in, transferred to, or removed to this Court and 

assigned thereto (collectively, "the MDL proceedings"). This Order 

is binding on all parties and their counsel in all cases currently 

Case 3:07-cv-05944-JST Document 4077 Filed 09/24/15 Page 2 of 9
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United 

States District 

Court

For the Northern District of California 

settling or subsequently settling whose posttrial matters fall 

within the scope of the designated posttrial matters detailed 

below. This presently includes settling Indirect Purchaser 

Plaintiffs, though may in the future include other settling parties 

should the Court believe the circumstances of those settlements 

satisfy Fed. R. Civ. P. 53(a)(1)(A) or (C). In such circumstances, 

the Court will not initiate separate appointment procedures to 

appoint Mr. Quinn as a Special Master, as he has already been 

appointed, but will permit parties to file objections upon good 

cause shown that a circumstance has changed or newly come to light. 

Pursuant to Rule 53(a)(3), the Court has considered the 

fairness of imposing the likely expenses of the Special Master on 

the parties. The Court believes that the appointment and use of 

the Special Master will materially advance the litigation, thereby 

achieving considerable cost-savings to all parties. The Court will 

protect against unreasonable expenses and delay through regular 

communication with the Special Master and Lead Counsel for the 

Indirect Purchaser Plaintiffs or other relevant Counsel. 

Pursuant to Rule 53(b)(2)(A), the Special Master shall 

adjudicate all designated posttrial matters. These matters shall 

include assisting the Court with the approval of the pending 

settlements in the Indirect-Purchaser Cases, the determination of a 

fair, reasonable, and adequate aggregate award of attorneys' fees 

and the reimbursement of expenses to all plaintiffs' counsel, a 

fair and reasonable division of the aggregate award among 

plaintiffs' counsel, and service awards to the named plaintiffs, 

including any objections to these matters, and dealing with any 

other matters that the Court may direct him to undertake. This 

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United 

States District 

Court

For the Northern District of California 

specifically excludes pretrial discovery disputes, excludes 

disputes arising during the course of pretrial depositions, and 

excludes any pretrial motion. Such disputes have been previously 

assigned to Judge (Ret.) Walker or Magistrate Judge (Ret.) Larson 

(appointment subject to objections), whose present and pending 

appointments as Special Masters remains unaffected by this separate 

appointment of a third, distinct Special Master. 

The Special Master may approach these duties in whatever 

manner he deems proper. For example, he may (but is not required 

to) ask Lead Counsel for the Indirect Purchaser Plaintiffs to 

allocate the attorneys' fees among Plaintiffs' Counsel in the first 

instance in a manner which Lead Counsel in good faith believes 

reflects the contributions of such counsel to the prosecution and 

settlement of the Action. However, all aspects of such allocation 

must remain entirely subject to the Special Master's review. 

Moreover, and to alleviate concern by certain parties, the Special 

Master must expressly consider and include within a Report and 

Recommendation a review of the appropriate allocation of the 

aggregate award among each of the plaintiffs' firms who have 

contributed to this litigation, to include division of fees and 

reimbursement of costs. 

The Special Master shall assist the Court by preparing reports 

and issuing recommendations in the Indirect Purchaser Cases or 

other, later assigned cases on the subjects of: (1) final approval 

of the pending settlements, including any objections thereto; (2) 

the aggregate award of attorneys' fees and expenses to all 

Plaintiffs' Counsel; (3) a fair and reasonable division of the 

aggregate award among plaintiffs' counsel; (4) service awards to 

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United 

States District 

Court

For the Northern District of California 

named Plaintiffs, including any objections thereto; and (5) the 

reimbursement of the parties' expenses, including any objections 

thereto. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 53(e). All recommendations submitted 

by the Special Master concerning these matters shall be filed and 

served as set forth below. 

The Special Master is authorized to retain independent 

auditors, accountants, and clerical assistants to assist him with 

the preparation of any report concerning expenses or fees. 

In connection with his duties, the Special Master is 

authorized to employ such processes, and to request such evidence 

and information, in whatever form is appropriate, as will 

contribute to a fair and efficient resolution of such issues. 

2. Special Master's Authority 

The Special Master shall have all the authority provided in 

Rule 53(c), including but not limited to the authority to set the 

date, time and place for all hearings, to preside over hearings 

(whether telephonic or in-person), to take evidence, to conduct 

telephonic conferences to resolve disputes arising during 

depositions, to recommend contempt sanctions to the Court, and to 

issue orders awarding non-contempt sanctions, including, without 

limitation, the award of attorneys' fees, as provided by Rules 37 

and 45. The Special Master may determine disputes arising from 

failing to abide by sanctions set forth by the Special Master. The 

Special Master is authorized to receive and consider information 

designated as confidential pursuant to the Protective Order entered 

in this matter, and may review privileged material in camera. The 

Special Master agrees to be bound by said Protective Order. 

/// 

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United 

States District 

Court

For the Northern District of California 

3. Procedure for Motions Submitted to the Special Master 

The procedural requirements contained in the Court's Pretrial 

Orders shall govern any motion practice before the Special Master, 

unless the Special Master orders otherwise. 

4. Preservation of Record

a. Preservation of Materials and Preparation of Record

Pursuant to Rule 53(b)(2)(c), the Special Master shall 

maintain orderly files consisting of all documents submitted to him 

by the parties and of any of his written orders, findings and/or 

recommendations. Pursuant to Rule 53(e), the Special Master shall 

file any written orders, findings, and/or recommendations with the 

Court via the Court's Electronic Case Filing ("ECF"). Such filing 

shall fulfill the Special Master's duty to serve his orders on the 

parties. 

b. Special Master's Reports to Court

Pursuant to Rule 53(e), the Special Master shall issue orders 

on motions presented to him which shall be final and not require 

the Court's signature, subject to the parties' right to file 

objections as described below. Further, the Special Master shall 

prepare reports and recommendations to the Court on the subjects 

stated herein. If the Special Master considers it advisable to 

make any other report to the Court, he shall do so in accordance 

with Rule 53(e). 

5. Action on Orders, Reports, or Recommendations 

Pursuant to Rule 53(f), the procedures described in paragraphs 

5(a)-(d) herein shall govern any action on the Special Master's 

orders, reports and/or recommendations. 

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United 

States District 

Court

For the Northern District of California 

a. Time Limits for Review 

Any party wishing to file objections or a motion to adopt or 

modify the Special Master's orders, reports and/or recommendations 

must file such objections or motion with the Court within 14 days 

from the day the Special Master filed the order, report, and/or 

recommendation via ECF. Any order issued by the Special Master 

shall remain in effect pending any such objection or motion. Any 

opposition shall be filed within 7 days after the objection on the 

motion is filed. 

b. Filing the Record for Review 

The party filing the objection or motion shall submit with 

such objection or motion any record necessary for the Court to 

review the Special Master's order, report and/or recommendation, 

including any transcripts of proceedings before the Special Master 

and any documents submitted by the parties in connection with the 

Special Master's order, report and/or recommendation. Failure to 

provide the record shall constitute grounds for the Court to 

overrule the objection or deny the motion. 

c. Standard for Review 

Pursuant to Rule 53(f)(3)-(5), the Court shall review findings 

of fact made or recommended by the Special Master for clear error. 

The Court shall review de novo any conclusions of law made or 

recommended by the Special Master. The Court will set aside the 

Special Master's ruling on a procedural matter only for an abuse of 

discretion. 

d. Court's Actions on Special Master's Orders 

Pursuant to Rule 53(f)(1), in acting on an order or R&R of the 

Special Master, the Court shall afford the parties an opportunity 

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United 

States District 

Court

For the Northern District of California 

to present their positions and, in its discretion, may receive 

evidence, and may adopt or affirm; modify; wholly or partly reject 

or reverse; resubmit to the Special Master with instructions; or 

make any further orders it deems appropriate. 

6. Ex Parte Communications 

Pursuant to Rule 53(b)(2)(B), the Special Master may 

communicate ex parte with the Court at any time. Generally, the 

Special Master shall not communicate ex parte with any party 

without first providing notice to, and receiving consent from, 

Plaintiffs' Lead Counsel and Counsel for any other interested 

party. However, without providing notice or obtaining consent, the 

Special Master may communicate ex parte with a party for the 

limited purposes of administrative matters such as scheduling 

hearings, telephone calls or briefing, if such arrangements cannot 

be made in a timely manner by contacting the Special Master's 

administrative assistant. 

7. Compensation

Pursuant to Rule 53(g), the Special Master shall be 

compensated at an hourly rate of $700.00 for his services as 

Special Master in the MDL proceedings, plus the Administrative Fee 

charged by JAMS, and shall be reimbursed for any out-of-pocket 

expenses (e.g. cost of accountants, auditors and clerical 

assistants, and expenses for telephone conference calls). The 

Special Master shall not charge for travel time. The Special 

Master shall prepare a monthly invoice for his services, which he 

shall provide to Lead Counsel for the Indirect Purchaser Plaintiffs 

(or such other counsel as the Court should in the future direct) to 

be paid from the Litigation Fund. In connection with objections 

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United 

States District 

Court

For the Northern District of California 

and discovery matters, the parties shall each pay an equal share of 

the cost. 

8. Diligence 

Pursuant to Rule 53(b)(2), the Court hereby directs the 

Special Master to proceed with all reasonable diligence in 

performing his duties in the MDL proceedings. 

Within seven (7) days of this order or according to such 

schedule as the Special Master may otherwise publish, all parties 

with pending designated posttrial matters shall contact the Special 

Master to discuss the execution of his duties in connection with 

this order. 

 IT IS SO ORDERED. 

 Dated: September 24, 2015 ______________________________ 

 UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE 

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