Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-3_07-cv-05944/USCOURTS-cand-3_07-cv-05944-345/pdf.json

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

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ORDER RE MITSUBISHI’S MOTION TO COMPEL VIEWSONIC PERCIPIENT WITNESS

DEPOSITIONS AND COORDINATION OF DISCOVERY PAGE 1 OF 4

Vaughn R Walker

Special Master

Law Office of Vaughn R Walker

Four Embarcadero Center, Suite 2200

San Francisco, CA 94111

Tel: (415) 871-2888

Fax: (415) 871-2890

vrw@judgewalker.com

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

IN RE CATHODE RAY TUBE (CRT) ANTITRUST

LITIGATION

THIS ORDER RELATES TO:

ALL CASES

MDL No 1917

Master Case No 3:07-cv-05944SC

ORDER RE MITSUBISHI’S MOTION TO 

COMPEL VIEWSONIC PERCIPIENT WITNESS 

DEPOSITIONS AND COORDINATION OF 

DISCOVERY

Case 3:07-cv-05944-JST Document 3866 Filed 06/08/15 Page 1 of 4
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ORDER RE MITSUBISHI’S MOTION TO COMPEL VIEWSONIC PERCIPIENT WITNESS

DEPOSITIONS AND COORDINATION OF DISCOVERY PAGE 2 OF 4

An issue of potential concern to all parties has arisen in the context of 

Mitsubishi’s Motion to Compel ViewSonic Percipient Witness Depositions. Since the abovereferenced motion was originally filed on behalf of the Mitsubishi Defendants1

(collectively, 

“Mitsubishi”), Mitsubishi and ViewSonic have settled their dispute (see Order, Docket No 3846). 

Now ViewSonic wishes to have the motion withdrawn from consideration.

But counsel for Chunghwa Picture Tubes and LG Electronics, Inc have written to 

express the view that the Motion to Compel ViewSonic Percipient Witness Depositions remains 

a live motion as to the remaining defendants. 5/28/15 Brass Ltr at 1. Citing the court’s 

Discovery Protocol, requiring all defendants’ counsel to engage in best efforts to coordinate 

discovery efficiently and without duplication (Dkt 1128), counsel contends that “the Defendants 

did not – and could not—move independently on these requests and instead understood that 

the Motion would apply equally to all parties given the consolidated nature of these 

proceedings.” Because the issues concerning ViewSonic’s discovery are relevant to the claims 

against the remaining Defendants, “the Defendants respectfully request that the Court issue a 

decision on the pending motion.” 5/28/15 Brass Ltr at 2.

ViewSonic objects on the grounds that: (1) “neither Chunghwa nor LG 

Electronics joined Mitsubishi’s Motion, nor did either party participate in the extensive meetand-confer discussions regarding the Motion,” and (2) “neither Chunghwa nor LG Electronics 

signed onto the discovery request.” 5/29/15 Heaven Ltr at 1. ViewSonic requests that 

Mitsubishi’s Motion be dismissed as moot.

The court’s Discovery Protocol required coordination of “discovery in all actions 

transferred to this MDL” and that “[a]ll CRT Plaintiffs’ counsel and Defendants’ counsel shall 

engage in their best efforts to conduct discovery efficiently and without duplication.” 4/3/12 

Discovery Protocol, Dkt 1128 at 14. The Protocol also specifies that: “Defendants shall consult 

 

1 Mitsubishi Electric Corporation (“MELCO”), Mitsubishi Electric US, Inc (“MEUS”) and Mitsubishi 

Electric Visual Solutions America, Inc (“MEVSA”). 

Case 3:07-cv-05944-JST Document 3866 Filed 06/08/15 Page 2 of 4
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ORDER RE MITSUBISHI’S MOTION TO COMPEL VIEWSONIC PERCIPIENT WITNESS

DEPOSITIONS AND COORDINATION OF DISCOVERY PAGE 3 OF 4

in good faith in an effort to propound joint written discovery requests, but to the extent 

separate written discovery is served, Defendants shall not duplicate interrogatories, requests 

for admission, and requests for documents.” Id. By requiring that only non-duplicative written 

discovery be served, the Protocol suggests that Defendants are mandated not to serve 

independent written discovery unless non-duplicative.

The Protocol further specifies:

Any discovery requests, including written discovery, deposition notices, or 

subpoenas served in this MDL proceeding, shall be served on Interim Lead 

Counsel for Direct Purchaser Plaintiffs and Interim Lead Counsel for Indirect 

Purchaser Plaintiffs, each State Attorney General, and Liaison Counsel for 

Individual Action Plaintiffs, who shall be the only individual action plaintiffs’ 

counsel who must be served with discovery requests and responses, and on 

counsel for each defendant.

By requiring each discovery request be served on Interim Lead Counsel, Liaison Counsel, each 

State Attorney General and counsel for each Defendant, the Discovery Protocol keeps all 

parties informed of all discovery requests in an effort to coordinate the extensive discovery 

involved in this large and complex MDL.

The disposition of the Mitsubishi motion to compel ViewSonic percipient 

witnesses may implicate the interests of other remaining defendants who may wish to submit a 

letter brief in support of consideration of the Mitsubishi motion despite Mitsubishi’s own 

withdrawal. Furthermore, counsel for Chunghwa and LG Electronics raise the broader issue of 

when can a party reasonably depend on the coordination of discovery to rely upon another 

party’s discovery efforts? Did the party need to serve an official notice of joinder? Given the 

intent of the Discovery Protocol, that may be too strict a requirement. Now that a number of 

parties have settled and are in the process of withdrawing their discovery motions, the 

undersigned finds that the interests of justice would be served by allowing counsel for any 

party to this MDL whose interests may be implicated by the withdrawal of a pending motion by

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