Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_02-cv-01505/USCOURTS-caed-2_02-cv-01505-13/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 110
Nature of Suit: Insurance
Cause of Action: 28:1332 Diversity-Account Receivable

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

EVANSTON INSURANCE

COMPANY, No. CIV S-02-1505 DFL PAN

Plaintiff, LETTER OF REQUEST:

vs.

OEA, INC. and DOES 1 through 20, REQUEST FOR INTERNATIONAL

inclusive, ASSISTANCE PURSUANT TO THE

HAGUE CONVENTION OF 18 MARCH 1970

Defendants. ON THE TAKING OF EVIDENCE IN CIVIL 

 / OR COMMERCIAL MATTERS

AND RELATED CROSS-CLAIMS.

 /

THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF

CALIFORNIA, 501 I Street, Sacramento, California 95814:

TO THE HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE, QUEEN'S BENCH DIVISION, STRAND,

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND.

In conformity with article 3 of the Convention, the undersigned application has the honor

to submit the following request:

John F. Moulds, U.S. Magistrate Judge, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of

California, 501 I Street, Suite 16-400, Sacramento, California 95814, requesting judicial

authority.

Case 2:02-cv-01505-DFL-EFB Document 578 Filed 06/13/06 Page 1 of 4
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To the Senior Master of the Supreme Court, Queen’s Bench Division, Royal Courts of

Justice, Strand London WC2A 2LL, England, U.K. 

Names and addresses of the parties and their representatives:

John L. Viola Andrew Timothy Houghton

Thelen Reid & Priest LLP Sedgwick Detert Moran & Arnold LLP

333 South Hope Street, Ste. 2900 125 Broad Street, 39th Floor

Los Angeles, CA 90071-3048 New York, NY 10004-2400

Counsel for OEA Counsel for the Underwriters

213-576-8000 x 8076 212-490-9100 x 6810

fax 213-576-8080 fax 212-370-4453

WHEREAS the above civil action is pending in our United States District Court for the

Eastern District of California, in which OEA, Inc. ("OEA") is Defendant and Counterclaimant

and Certain Underwriters at Lloyd's of London, et al. ("Underwriters") is a Counterdefendant, it

has been suggested to this Court that justice cannot be completely done between the parties

without OEA having the deposition testimony of Dudley Phillips, an individual who resides

within your jurisdiction, such evidence being necessary at the trial of the above action.

This Court requests the assistance described herein as necessary in the interest of justice. 

The assistance requested is that the appropriate judicial authority, through your usual and proper

process, compel the appearance of Dudley Phillips to give evidence related to the

above-captioned matter.

OEA was sued in California state court by Karen Wise and Patricia Shugart, two

employees of OEA Aerospace, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of OEA, for injuries sustained in

two unrelated accidents, while in the course and scope of their employment. Both were badly

injured. Wise lost her thumb and portions of the fingers of her right hand, among other injures. 

Shugart lost the sight in one eye, among other injuries. OEA tendered the claim to the

Underwriters, as well as other insurance companies that had issued policies to OEA, for defense

and indemnity. 

The Underwriters denied the claim and OEA filed claims against Underwriters for breach

of contract and breach of the covenant of good faith and fair dealing. 

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The Underwriters, has identified Dudley Phillips as an individual who was privy to events

that related directly to the Underwriters' denial of OEA's claim and who made the decision by the

Underwriters to deny OEA's claim. OEA seeks to elicit such information through questioning at

the deposition of Mr. Phillips. Mr. Phillips resides at Flat 68, Thomas Moore House, London

EC2Y 8BT (Telephone Number 0044 207 588 0418).

In the interest of justice, it is proposed that Dudley Phillips be asked about the following

issues and matters:

1. The Underwriters' investigation of OEA's claim;

2. The Underwriters' original decision to deny OEA's claim; and

3. The Underwriters' processing of OEA's claim, including any further evaluation

and/or investigation of the claim following its original denial of the claim.

WE THEREFORE REQUEST that in the interest of justice, you issue an order by your

power and the usual process summoning Dudley Phillips to appear, before you or some

competent officer by you for that purpose authorized, at an appropriate time and place, to give

testimony under oath or affirmation by question and answers upon oral deposition, to be

conducted as an American-style deposition with American counsel present and participating and

conducting the examination. Such deposition to continue until completion on the topics as

respectfully requested and described above. 

WE FURTHER REQUEST the you cause the examination to be reduced to writing, and

that such books, papers, or other articles that said witness may identify at the oral examination be

marked as exhibits and attested. The Court is requested to authorize the examination to be

videotaped at OEA's application. We request that you cause the materials to be returned to us

under cover duly sealed and addressed to the Clerk of the United States District Court for the

Eastern District of California, United States of America. We shall be ready and willing to do the 

/////

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same for you in a similar case when required. We shall reimburse you for any costs incurred in

executing the instant Letter of Request, aka Letter Rogatory. 

DATE OF REQUEST: June 13, 2006.

Jack L. Wagner, CLERK

United States District Court

Eastern District of California

By: ____________________ 

 Deputy Clerk

/001;letters.rogatory

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