Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-4_14-md-02555/USCOURTS-cand-4_14-md-02555-6/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 370
Nature of Suit: Other Fraud
Cause of Action: 28:1332 Diversity-Contract Dispute

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[PROPOSED] ORDER 

 Case Nos. 4:14-MD-02555-JSW

Keith M. Fleischman (admitted pro hac vice) 

Bradley F. Silverman (admitted pro hac vice) 

THE FLEISCHMAN LAW FIRM, PLLC 

565 Fifth Avenue, Seventh Floor 

New York, New York 10017 

Telephone: (212) 880-9571 

Fax: (917) 591-5245 

keith@fleischmanlawfirm.com 

bsilverman@fleischmanlawfirm.com 

Don Barrett (admitted pro hac vice) 

Brian K. Herrington (admitted pro hac vice) 

BARRETT LAW GROUP 

404 Court Square North 

Lexington, MS 39095 

Telephone: (662) 834-2488 

Fax: (662) 834-2628 

dbarrett@barrettlawgroup.com 

bherrington@barrettlawgroup.com 

Lead Counsel for Plaintiffs 

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 

OAKLAND DIVISION 

IN RE COCA-COLA PRODUCTS 

MARKETING AND SALES PRACTICES 

LITIGATION (No. II) 

Case Nos. 4:14-md-02555-JSW 

[PROPOSED] ORDER REGARDING 

ORGANIZATION OF PLAINTIFFS’ 

COUNSEL, AND PROTOCOLS 

THIS DOCUMENT APPLIES TO ALL 

FOR COMMON BENEFIT WORK AND 

EXPENSES 

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[PROPOSED] ORDER 

 Case Nos. 4:14-MD-02555-JSW

 1 

JEFFREY S. WHITE, United States District Court Judge: 

 The Court believes that it is prudent to define the authority, duties, and responsibilities of 

Lead Counsel, members of the Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee, and other attorneys authorized by 

Lead Counsel to work in this litigation. The Court also wishes to set specific guidelines and rules for 

staffing, fees, expenses, and billing records. Nothing in this Order shall be interpreted to affect any 

proceedings other than those involving the authorities, duties, responsibilities, guidelines, and rules of 

and for plaintiffs’ counsel, as discussed herein. 

I. AUTHORITY, DUTIES, AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF PLAINTIFFS’ COUNSEL 

 The specific duties to be undertaken by Plaintiffs’ Lead Counsel and members of the 

Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee are as follows: 

A. Co-Lead Counsel 

In an Order dated 05/28/15 (Docket No. 53), the Court appointed the following counsel as 

Plaintiffs’ Co-Lead Counsel (“Lead Counsel”): The Fleischman Law Firm and and Barrett Law 

Group, PA. 

 Lead Counsel has overall responsibility for the prosecution of the cases in this MDL action 

through all pretrial proceedings. Specifically, Lead Counsel shall 

(1) determine (after such consultation with members of the 

 Steering Committee and other co-counsel as may be 

 appropriate) and present (in briefs, oral argument, or such 

 other fashion as may be appropriate, personally or by a 

 designee) to the Court and opposing parties the position of 

 the Plaintiffs on matters arising during the coordinated 

 pretrial proceedings; 

(2) coordinate the initiation and conduct of discovery on behalf 

 of the Plaintiffs consistent with the requirements of Fed. R. 

 Civ. P. 26, including the preparation of joint interrogatories 

 and requests for production of documents and the 

 examination of witnesses in depositions; 

(3) delegate specific tasks to other counsel in a manner to 

 ensure that pretrial preparation for the Plaintiffs is 

 conducted effectively, efficiently and economically; 

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[PROPOSED] ORDER 

 Case Nos. 4:14-MD-02555-JSW

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(4) enter into stipulations with opposing counsel necessary for 

 the conduct of the multi-district litigation (“MDL”); 

(5) convene meetings of the Steering Committee for the 

 purpose of discussing matters of common concern; 

(6) organize themselves and agree on a plan for conducting the 

 MDL on behalf of all Plaintiffs; 

(7) assess members of the Steering Committee and other counsel 

 performing authorized common benefit work common 

 benefit payments into a Common Benefit Fund for “shared costs” 

 (“shared cost” being defined below), in amounts and 

 at times they determine to be necessary and appropriate in 

 consultation with the Steering Committee, collect 

 payments, maintain an account, pay generic expenses in 

 accordance with this order, and account to the Steering 

 committee and the Court upon request as to the collection 

 and use of such funds; 

(8) brief and argue motions for the Plaintiffs and file opposing 

 briefs and argue motions and proceedings initiated by other 

 parties; 

(9) consult with and employ expert witnesses; 

(10) maintain time and expense records for work performed, and 

costs incurred, and report with reasonable regularity, in writing, 

to the Steering Committee, concerning expenses, disbursements, and 

receipts; 

(11) monitor work performed by the Steering Committee, and 

other class counsel; 

(12) perform all tasks necessary to carry out the functions of 

Lead Counsel and to properly coordinate Plaintiffs’ pretrial 

activites; 

(13) form task-specific subcommittees of counsel as 

appropriate; 

(14) designate Plaintiffs’ counsel authorized to attend hearings 

 and depositions; 

(15) negotiate settlements subject to Court approval on behalf of 

 Plaintiffs; 

(16) if there is a settlement, propose a plan of allocation; and 

(17) coordinate and communicate with Defendants’ counsel with respect to 

the matters addressed in this paragraph. 

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[PROPOSED] ORDER 

 Case Nos. 4:14-MD-02555-JSW

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No discovery or other common action or work in this litigation will be undertaken on behalf 

of Plaintiffs except at the direction or with prior permission in writing of Lead Counsel; unauthorized 

work by any Plaintiffs’ counsel shall not be compensable. 

B. Steering Committee 

This Court has previously appointed the following counsel to the Plaintiffs’ Steering 

Committee: Keith Fleischman, Don Barrett, Pierce Gore, Robert A. Clifford, Mark L. Knutson, 

Reginald Von Terrell, Timothy Howard, Charles LaDuca, and Thomas Thrash. Charles LaDuca’s 

resignation is accepted and his position is awarded to his partner Jonathan Cuneo. Dewitt Lovelace 

of Lovelace Law Firm, and Zona Jones of Provost Umphrey Law Firm, L.L.P, are likewise appointed 

as additional members of the Steering Committee. 

 The duties and responsibilities of the Steering Committee are as follows. The Steering 

Committee shall, subject to the prior approval of Lead Counsel: 

(1) from time to time consult with Lead Counsel in conducting 

 the Plaintiffs’ coordinated pretrial activities and in planning 

 for trial; 

(2) recommend procedures to Lead Counsel for documenting and 

 monitoring costs and the computing of potential common 

 benefit time; 

(3) contribute to the Common Benefit Fund for “shared costs” 

 (as defined below); and 

(4) otherwise assist Lead Counsel, as requested, in their discharge of 

 their aforesaid duties and responsibilities. 

II. ADOPTION OF CASE MANAGEMENT PROTOCOLS 

The Court hereby adopts the following guidelines for the management of case-staffing, 

timekeeping, cost reimbursement, and related common benefit issues. The recovery of common 

benefit attorneys’ fees and cost reimbursements will be limited to “Participating Counsel.” 

“Participating Counsel” shall be defined as the Lead Counsel, the members of the Steering 

Committee (along with members and staff of their respective firms), and any other counsel authorized 

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[PROPOSED] ORDER 

 Case Nos. 4:14-MD-02555-JSW

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by Lead Counsel who desire to be considered for common benefit compensation. Counsel are 

forewarned that no application for approval to incur common benefit fees, costs, or expenses will be 

considered by this Court unless counsel have first obtained approval from Lead Counsel. 

Participating Counsel shall be eligible to receive attorneys’ fees and reimbursement of costs 

and expenses only if the time expended, costs incurred, and activity in question were (a) for common 

benefit of Plaintiffs; (b) appropriately authorized by Lead Counsel; (c) timely submitted, (d) 

reasonable; and (e) approved by this Court. Participating Counsel who seek to recover Courtawarded attorneys’ fees, costs, and expenses in connection with this litigation shall keep a daily, 

contemporaneous record of their time and expenses, noting with specificity the amount of time, 

billing rate, and particular activity, along with a brief note indicating the source of authorization for 

the activity in question. 

Participating Counsel, shall agree to the terms and conditions herein, including submitting to 

this Court’s jurisdiction and agreeing that this Court has plenary authority regarding the award and 

allocation of common benefit attorney’s fees and awards for cost and expense reimbursements in this 

matter. 

A. Common Benefit Work 

1. Authorization of Compensable Common Benefit Work 

Authorized “Common Benefit Work” includes assignments made by Lead Counsel as set 

forth above. Unless specifically and explicitly authorized in writing, no time expended in this 

litigation will be considered for payment or should be submitted. 

B. Timekeeping and Submission of Time Records 

All time must be accurately and contemporaneously maintained. Participating Counsel shall 

keep contemporaneous billing records of the time spent in connection with Common Benefit Work on 

this MDL, indicating with specificity the hours and billing rate, along with a brief note indicating the 

source of authorization for the activity in question and a brief description of the particular activity 

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[PROPOSED] ORDER 

 Case Nos. 4:14-MD-02555-JSW

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(such as “conducted deposition of John Doe as authorized by [name of Lead Counsel]”). Time 

submissions shall be made to Lead Counsel on a monthly basis, in accordance with the guidelines set 

forth herein and using forms recommended by the Steering Committee and selected by Lead Counsel. 

Lead Counsel may retain those completed forms for later submission to this Court if and when 

necessary. The first submission is due on August 10, 2015, and shall include all time and expense 

through July 30, 2015. Thereafter, all time and expense records shall be submitted on the 10th of each 

month and shall cover the time period through the end of the preceding month. Time entries that are 

not sufficiently detailed will not be considered for payment of Common Benefit fees. All time for 

Common Benefit Work by each firm shall be recorded and maintained in tenth-of-an-hour 

increments. The failure to secure authorization from Lead Counsel to incur Common Benefit time 

and expenses, or to maintain and timely provide such records or to provide a sufficient description of

activity, will be grounds for denying the recovery of attorneys’ fees or expenses in whole or in part. 

C. Common Benefit Expenses 

1. Shared Costs 

“Shared Costs” are costs that will be paid out of the Common Benefit Fund administered by 

Plaintiffs’ Lead Counsel. Each Steering Committee member, Liaison Counsel and Federal/State 

Liaison Counsel shall contribute to the Common Benefit Fund at times and in amounts sufficient to 

cover plaintiffs’ expenses for the administration of this MDL. The timing and amount of each 

assessment will be determined by Plaintiffs’ Lead Counsel, in consultation with the Steering 

Committee, and each assessment will be paid within 30 days as instructed by Plaintiffs’ Lead 

Counsel. Failure to pay assessments will be grounds for the removal from the appointments made in 

this Order or other common benefit assignments. Shared Costs are costs incurred for the common 

benefit of Plaintiffs in this MDL. All Shared Costs must be approved by Lead Counsel prior to 

payment. 

All costs that meet these requirements and fall under the following categories shall be 

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[PROPOSED] ORDER 

 Case Nos. 4:14-MD-02555-JSW

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considered Shared Costs and qualify for submission and payment directly from the Common Benefit 

Fund: 

a. court, filing, and service costs related to common issues; 

b. deposition and court reporter costs for depositions 

(excluding those that are client-specific); 

c. document depository creation, operation, staffing, 

equipment and administration; 

d. Steering Committee administration matters (e.g., expenses 

for Equipment, technology, courier services, long distance, 

telecopier, electronic service, photocopy and printing, 

secretarial/temporary staff, etc.); 

e. Steering Committee administration matters, such as meetings 

and conference calls; 

f. legal and accountant fees, relating to the Steering Committee 

Fund; 

g. expert witness and consultant fees and expenses for experts whose 

opinions and testimony would be generic and for the common 

benefit of a substantial number of cases; 

h. printing, copying, coding, scanning related to the above 

(out-of-house or extraordinary firm costs); 

i. research by outside third party 

vendors/consultants/attorneys, approved by Lead Counsel; 

j. translation costs related to the above; 

k. bank or financial institution charges; 

l. investigative services, approved by Lead Counsel; and 

m. any assessment paid by any member firm of the Steering 

Committee. 

 Lead Counsel shall prepare and be responsible for distributing reimbursement procedures and 

the forms associated therewith. Requests for payments from the Common Benefit Fund shall include 

sufficient information to permit Lead Counsel to account properly for costs and to provide adequate 

detail to the Court. 

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[PROPOSED] ORDER 

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2. Held Costs 

“Held Costs” are those that will be carried by each attorney in this MDL and reimbursed 

as and when Lead Counsel and the Steering Committee determines to do so. Held Costs are those 

that do not fall into the above Shared Costs categories but are incurred for the common benefit of all

plaintiffs in this MDL. No client-specific costs can be considered Held Costs, other than certain 

Common Benefit costs relating to future bellwether cases at the discretion of Lead Counsel and the 

Steering Committee. Held Costs shall be recorded in accordance with the guidelines set forth herein. 

They shall be subject to the following limitations:

a. Travel Limitations 

Only reasonable expenses will be reimbursed. Except in extraordinary circumstances 

approved by Lead Counsel, all travel reimbursements are subject to the following limitations: 

i. Airfare: Ordinarily, reasonable coach fare seats will be reimbursed. 

Business/First Class Airfare will not be reimbursed. In the event that 

non-coach air travel is utilized, the attorney shall be reimbursed only to 

the extent of the amount of a reasonable coach fare under similar 

circumstances. 

ii. Hotel: Hotel room charges for reasonable room rates of a business 

hotel, such as the Hyatt, Hilton, Sheraton, Westin, and Marriot hotels, in 

the city in which the stay occurred, will be reimbursed. Luxury hotels 

will not be fully reimbursed but, rather, will be reimbursed at the 

reasonable room rate of a business hotel under similar circumstances. 

iii. Meals: Meal expenses must be reasonable. There will be no 

reimbursement for alcoholic beverages, room service, mini-bar items, or 

movies. 

iv. Cash Expenses: Miscellaneous cash expenses for which receipts 

generally are not available (e.g., tips, luggage handling) will be 

reimbursed up to $50.00 per trip, as long as the expenses are properly 

itemized. 

v. Automobile Rental: Luxury automobile rentals will not be fully 

reimbursed, unless only luxury automobiles are available. Counsel must 

submit evidence of the unavailability of non-luxury vehicles. If luxury 

automobiles are selected when non-luxury vehicles are available, then 

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[PROPOSED] ORDER 

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the difference between the luxury and non-luxury vehicle rates must be 

shown on the travel reimbursement form and only the non-luxury rate 

may be claimed. 

vi. Mileage: Mileage claims must be documented by stating origination 

point, destination, and total actual miles for each trip. The rate will be 

the maximum rate allowed by the Internal Revenue Service. 

b. Non-Travel Limitations 

i. Long Distance, Conference Call, and Cellular 

 Telephone Charges: Common Benefit long distance, 

 conference call, and cellular telephone charges must be 

 documented as individual call expenses in order to be 

 compensable. Copies of the telephone bills must be 

 submitted with notations as to which charges relate to 

 the MDL. Such charges are to be reported at actual cost. 

 ii. Shipping, Overnight, Courier, and Delivery Charges: All 

 claimed Common Benefit shipping, overnight, courier, or 

 delivery expenses must be documented with bills showing 

 the sender, origin of the package, recipient, and destination 

 of the package. Such charges are to be reported at actual cost. 

 iii. Postage Charges: A contemporaneous postage log or other 

 supporting documentation must be maintained and submitted 

 for Common Benefit postage charges. Such charges are to be 

 reported at actual cost. 

 iv. Telefax Charges: Contemporaneous records should be 

 maintained and submitted showing faxes sent and received. 

 The per-fax charge shall not exceed $0.50 per page. 

 v. In-House Photocopy: A contemporaneous photocopy log or 

 other supporting documentation must be maintained and 

 submitted. The maximum copy charge is $0.15 per page. 

 vi. Computerized Research- Lexis, Westlaw, or 

 Bloomberg: Claims for Lexis, Westlaw, Bloomberg, 

 or other computerized legal research expenses should 

 be in the amount charged to the firm and 

 appropriately allocated for these research services. 

c. Verification 

The forms detailing expenses shall be certified by an attorney with authority in each firm 

attesting to the accuracy of the submissions. Attorneys shall provide receipts for all expenses. 

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[PROPOSED] ORDER 

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Credit card receipts (not the monthly statements) are an appropriate form of verification so long as 

accompanied by a declaration from counsel that the charge was incurred for the common benefit. 

III. RESERVATION OF RIGHTS 

Nothing in this order imposes any obligations on defendants or prejudices any rights 

defendants have and may assert. Defendants reserve all of their rights to object to all motions, 

stipulations, discovery, filings, or other proceedings filed, served, or proposed by any plaintiffs. 

Nothing in this order shall be construed as requiring particular motions, stipulations, discovery, 

filings, or any other action by a party, nor shall this order be interpreted as requiring any particular 

pre-trial or trial proceedings. 

SO ORDERED. 

Date: July , 2015 

 

 JEFFREY S. WHITE 

 United States District Judge 

 

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