Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-4_11-cv-03587/USCOURTS-cand-4_11-cv-03587-23/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 710
Nature of Suit: Fair Labor Standards Act
Cause of Action: 28:1331 Fed. Question: Fair Labor Standards

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United States District Court

Northern District of California

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

CHARLES BREWER, individually and on 

behalf of all other similarly situated current 

and former employees of Defendant,

Plaintiffs,

v.

GENERAL NUTRITION CORPORATION,

Defendant.

Case No. 11-cv-3587 YGR 

PRETRIAL ORDER NO. 3

RE: DISCOVERY DESIGNATIONS 

IN DISPUTE 

Dkt. No. 304

Plaintiffs Charles Brewer, Jessica Bruns, Michael Mitchell, Michael Murphy, and Wayne 

Neal (“Named Plaintiffs”), on behalf of themselves and all others similarly situated (collectively, 

“Plaintiffs”) and Defendant General Nutrition Corporation (“Defendant” or “GNC”), pursuant to 

this Court’s Pretrial Instructions in Civil Cases Standing Order, have submitted their disputed 

discovery excerpts for decision by the Court. The Court having carefully considered the matters at 

issue, and for good cause show, ORDERS as follows: 

As a general matter, where the Court has indicated that additional information is needed in 

order for it to rule, such additional designation, exhibit, or other information shall be submitted to 

the Court no later than JANUARY 8, 2016. 

Further, where Defendant has offered designations of testimony given by absent class 

members, either in the present litigation or in the Abad and Naranja actions, the Court finds that 

Defendant has not demonstrated that such persons should be treated as “parties” for purposes of 

Federal Rule of Evidence 801(d)(2)(A), admissions of a party-opponent. Absent class members 

are considered “parties for some purposes and not for others.” Devlin v. Scardelletti, 536 U.S. 1, 

Case 4:11-cv-03587-YGR Document 330 Filed 12/21/15 Page 1 of 9
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United States District Court

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10 (2002). In order for an absent class member to be treated as a party, or party-representative, for 

purposes of FRE 801, there must be “some mechanism to ensure that he or she will represent the 

interests of the class.” Pierce v. County of Orange, 526 F.3d 1190, 1202 (9th Cir. 2008). 

Consistent with Pierce, in order for Defendant to introduce absent class member testimony under 

Rule 801(d)(2)(A)’s “party-opponent” exception, Plaintiffs would have had to disclose these 

persons as individuals they expected to testify. Plaintiffs have not so identified these individuals. 

That Plaintiffs’ supplemental disclosures under Rule 26 generally identified persons who had 

testified in the other litigation as “likely to have discoverable information...that the disclosing 

party may use to support its claims or defenses” does not, standing alone, meet the prerequisite set 

forth in Pierce for finding all such persons to be “parties” here. 

Further, GNC has not made a showing that these persons are unavailable, i.e. that GNC 

attempted but was unable to procure their attendance by process or other reasonable means, and

that plaintiffs in the earlier litigation “had an opportunity and similar motive to develop the 

testimony by direct, cross, or redirect examination” compared to Plaintiffs here. FRE 804(b)(1). 

As Plaintiffs note, Abad was an individual lawsuit and Naranjo involved different class members 

and a different time period than the instant litigation.

Thus, the Court sustains Plaintiffs’ objections to GNC’s discovery designations for 

testimony obtained in this case and in the Abad and Naranjo cases in the absence of a further 

proffer establishing their admissibility under some hearsay exception other than FRE 

801(d)(2)(A). Should Defendant wish to make some additional proffer with respect to the affected 

designations, it shall file such proffer no later than JANUARY 8, 2016. 

Set forth below are the Court’s rulings on the objections to specific designations: 

//

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Case 4:11-cv-03587-YGR Document 330 Filed 12/21/15 Page 2 of 9
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United States District Court

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PLAINTIFFS’ LIST OF DISCOVERY EXCERPTS

No. Form of Excerpt

Designation

in Dispute Court’s Ruling

P. 1 Thomas Scott Deposition 

Transcript (Brewer et al., v. 

GNC, Inc. Case No. 11-cv03587)

p. 7:5-10:3 OVERRULED.

P. 2 Jeffrey Emerick Deposition 

Transcript (Brewer et al., v. 

GNC, Inc. Case No. 11-cv03587)

p. 17:2-17:10

-----------------

p. 17:12-18

-----------------

p. 7:5-10:3

OVERRULED.

--------------------

OVERRULED.

-------------------

OVERRULED, except that ruling is

RESERVED as to 9:1-10:3 which 

requires additional context for the 

Court to rule.

P. 3 Ron Hallock Deposition 

Transcript (Brewer et al., v. 

GNC, Inc. Case No. 11-cv03587)

None. --

P. 4 James Inlow Deposition 

Transcript (Brewer et al., v. 

GNC, Inc. Case No. 11-cv03587)

p. 12:19-21

---------------

p. 69:3-71:8

---------------

p. 34:6-17

---------------

p. 54:1-5

-------------------

p. 54:6-25

RESERVED – Requires additional 

showing of foundation 

--------------------

OVERRULED. 

--------------------

RESERVED -- Requires additional 

showing of foundation

--------------------

OVERRULED. 

--------------------

OVERRULED.

P. 5 Paul Katz Deposition 

Transcript (Brewer et al., v. 

GNC, Inc. Case No. 11-cv03587)

p. 55:4-13 RESERVED. Court requires copy of 

exhibit referenced. 

P. 6 Shannen Sternerson 

Deposition Transcript (Brewer 

et al., v. GNC, Inc. Case No. 

11-cv-03587)

p. 102:13-104:1

---------------

p. 97:21-98:8

SUSTAINED as to 102:24-103:14 only. 

Otherwise OVERRULED. 

---------------

OVERRULED. 

P. 7 Lona Toffolo Deposition 

Transcript (Brewer et al., v. 

GNC, Inc. Case No. 11-cv03587)

p. 69:3-9

p. 9:11-17 & 

10:21-11:5

p. 11:6-25 & 

16:4-17:5

OVERRULED as to all. 

Case 4:11-cv-03587-YGR Document 330 Filed 12/21/15 Page 3 of 9
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No. Form of Excerpt

Designation

in Dispute Court’s Ruling

P. 8 Kenneth Wunschel Deposition 

Transcript (Brewer et al., v. 

GNC, Inc. Case No. 11-cv03587)

p. 112:15-

113:21

---------------

p. 247:14-248:1

OVERRULED.

--------------

OVERRULED.

P. 9 Anthony Masztak Deposition 

Transcript (Brewer et al., v. 

GNC, Inc. Case No. 11-cv03587) 

p. 132:3-8 OVERRULED.

P. 10 GNC’s First Supplemental 

Responses to Plaintiffs’ 

Special Interrogatories, Set 

Three

No. 26 

No. 27 

No. 28

No. 29

No. 34

OVERRULED as to all, and objections 

therein are likewise overruled. 

P. 11 GNC’s Responses to Plaintiffs’ 

Request for Admissions, Set 

Two

No. 5

No. 6

No. 12

No. 13

OVERRULED as to all.

P. 12 GNC’s Responses to Plaintiffs’ 

Special Interrogatories, Set 

Five

No. 48 

-----------

No. 49

-----------

No. 50 

-----------

No. 51

-----------

No. 65

No. 66

No. 72 

No. 73

SUSTAINED. 

--------------

SUSTAINED. 

--------------

SUSTAINED. 

--------------

SUSTAINED. 

--------------

As to 65, 66, 72, and 73, RESERVED. 

Evidence of remedial action would be 

inadmissible. 

P. 13 GNC’s Responses to Plaintiffs’ 

Special Interrogatories, Set 

Four

No. 43

No. 46 

No. 47

RESERVED as to all. 

P. 14 GNC’s Responses to Plaintiffs’ 

Special Interrogatories, Set 

Three

No. 33

No. 36

No. 37

RESERVED as to all.

P. 15 GNC’s Responses to Plaintiffs’ 

Request for Admissions, Set 

One

No. 1 

No. 2

OVERRULED as to all. 

Case 4:11-cv-03587-YGR Document 330 Filed 12/21/15 Page 4 of 9
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United States District Court

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DEFENDANT’S LIST OF DISCOVERY EXCERPTS

No. Form of Excerpt

Designation

in Dispute Court’s Ruling

D.1 Charles Brewer Deposition 

Transcript (Brewer et al., v. 

GNC, Inc. Case No. 11-cv03587)

p. 29:6-25

p.30:15-17

p. 31:24-33:3

p. 50:22-51:4

p. 97:17-98:1

p. 102:8-103:10

OVERRULED as to all, and 

objections therein are likewise 

overruled. 

D.2 Wayne Neal Deposition 

Transcript (Brewer et al., v. 

GNC, Inc. Case No. 11-cv03587)

p. 12:9-10; 19-20

p. 23:3- 24:5

OVERRULED as to all, and 

objections therein are likewise 

overruled. 

D.3 Michael Mitchell Deposition 

Transcript (Brewer et al., v. 

GNC, Inc. Case No. 11-cv03587)

p. 11:24 – 12:2

--------------

p. 22:10 – 23:1

-------------

p. 59:20 – 60:11

OVERRULED, and objections 

therein are likewise overruled. 

--------------

OVERRULED, and objections 

therein are likewise overruled. 

-----------------

RESERVED.

D.4 Matthew Testa Deposition 

Transcript (Brewer et al., v. 

GNC, Inc. Case No. 11-cv03587)

p. 4:10-5:4

p. 5:5-22

p. 13:1- 14:15

p. 26:4-13

p. 45:6-46:15

p. 49:1-4

SUSTAINED as to all. As stated 

above, no showing that individual 

is a party. 

D.5 Richard Doan Deposition 

Transcript (Brewer et al., v. 

GNC, Inc. Case No. 11-cv03587)

p. 5:7-6:20

p. 18:3-19-16

p. 23:10-19

p. 28:24-29:9

p. 29:13-30:16

p. 31:8-32:2

p. 32:25-33:14

SUSTAINED as to all. As stated 

above, no showing that individual 

is a party.

D.6 Naim Deghany Deposition 

Transcript (Brewer et al., v. 

GNC, Inc. Case No. 11-cv03587)

p. 8:10-24

p. 56:7-58:8

p. 58:16- 60:12

SUSTAINED as to all. As stated 

above, no showing that individual 

is a party.

D.7 Leandro Fusco Deposition 

Transcript (Brewer et al., v. 

GNC, Inc. Case No. 11-cv03587)

p. 5:14-17

p. 6:20-21

p. 7:2-3

p. 30:22- 31:6

p. 31:22-25

p. 41:14-20

SUSTAINED as to all. As stated 

above, no showing that individual 

is a party.

Case 4:11-cv-03587-YGR Document 330 Filed 12/21/15 Page 5 of 9
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No. Form of Excerpt

Designation

in Dispute Court’s Ruling

D.8 Jessica Bruns Deposition 

Transcript (Brewer et al., v. 

GNC, Inc. Case No. 11-cv03587)

p. 9:22-10:1

p. 10:22-25

p. 14:9-15:8

p. 32:14-22

OVERRULED as to all. 

D.9 Christopher Gregory 

Deposition Transcript (Brewer 

et al., v. GNC, Inc. Case No. 

11-cv-03587)

p. 4:10-5:2

p. 35:13-16

p. 35:18-25

SUSTAINED as to all. As stated 

above, no showing that individual 

is a party.

D.10 Houman Nayebi Deposition 

Transcript (Brewer et al., v. 

GNC, Inc. Case No. 11-cv03587)

p. 6:3-21

p .35:4-18

p. 35: 23- 36:6

SUSTAINED as to all. As stated 

above, no showing that individual 

is a party.

D.11 Anthony Lozano Deposition 

Transcript (Naranjo et al. v. 

GNC, Case no. RG12619626) 

p. 11:13-21

p. 14:2-12

p. 88:17-89:24

p. 92:13-92:22 

p.93:14- 94:9

SUSTAINED as to all. As stated 

above, no showing that individual 

is a party.

D.12 Cassandra Draeger Deposition 

Transcript (Naranjo et al. v. 

GNC, Case no. RG12619626) 

p. 23:24-25:13

p. 36:1-37:3

p. 45:6-22

p. 63:24-64:12

p. 64:21-65:12

p. 91:6-10

p. 93:9-94:8

SUSTAINED as to all. As stated 

above, no showing that individual 

is a party.

D.13 Stephen Hermanson

Deposition Transcript 

(Naranjo et al. v. GNC, Case 

no. RG12619626) 

p. 11:16-13:18

p. 22:2-4

p. 22:24-25:4

p. 33:11-25 

p. 71:3-20

SUSTAINED as to all. As stated 

above, no showing that individual 

is a party.

D.14 Christopher Schafer

Deposition Transcript 

(Naranjo et al. v. GNC, Case 

no. RG12619626)

p. 8:12-9:21

p. 20:21- 21:13

p. 21:24- 22:5

p. 23:17- 25:19

p. 65:6 - 67:2

p. 67:10- 68:2

SUSTAINED as to all. As stated

above, no showing that individual 

is a party.

D.15 Grant Thomas Deposition 

Transcript (Naranjo et al. v. 

GNC, Case no. RG12619626) 

p. 11:7-12:6

p. 45:3-24

p. 79:1-24

p. 86:5-87:4

SUSTAINED as to all. As stated 

above, no showing that individual 

is a party.

Case 4:11-cv-03587-YGR Document 330 Filed 12/21/15 Page 6 of 9
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No. Form of Excerpt

Designation

in Dispute Court’s Ruling

D.16 Viviana Armenta Deposition 

Transcript (Naranjo et al. v. 

GNC, Case no. RG12619626) 

p. 20:7-21:25

p. 40:22-24

p. 41:8-42:8

SUSTAINED as to all. As stated 

above, no showing that individual 

is a party.

D.17 Matt Cappadonna Deposition 

Transcript (Naranjo et al. v. 

GNC, Case no. RG12619626) 

p. 8:10-9:9

p. 43:21-44:12

p. 46:9-48:21

p. 55:13-56:2

SUSTAINED as to all. As stated 

above, no showing that individual 

is a party.

D.18 Perelandra Harris Deposition 

Transcript (Naranjo et al. v. 

GNC, Case no. RG12619626) 

p. 16:5-8

p. 31:9-21

p. 62:18-64:24

p. 65:5-23

p. 68:5-23

p. 88:2-89-8

SUSTAINED as to all. As stated 

above, no showing that individual 

is a party.

D.19 Ben Ramey Deposition 

Transcript (Naranjo et al. v. 

GNC, Case no. RG12619626) 

p.12:15-13-24

p.16:20-17:16

p. 35: 14-24

p. 118:3-118-17

SUSTAINED as to all. As stated 

above, no showing that individual 

is a party.

D.20 Misty Fair Deposition 

Transcript (Naranjo et al. v. 

GNC, Case no. RG12619626) 

p. 16:20-18:23

p. 38:8-18

p. 61:24-62:19

p. 75:10-77:2

SUSTAINED as to all. As stated 

above, no showing that individual 

is a party.

D.21 6/12/13 Transcript, Vol. 1 –

Abad (Abad)

p. 40:18-21

p. 57:12-58:11

p. 59:3-21

p. 61:25-62:5

p. 70:19-71:3

p. 71:10-13

p. 79:22-80:6

SUSTAINED as to all. As stated 

above, no showing that individual 

is a party.

D.22 6/13/13 Transcript, Vol. 1 –

Abramson (Abad)

p. 5:24-6:6

p. 6:19-7:1

p. 26:13-19

p. 27:15-17

p. 31:1-25

p. 33:19-34:17

p. 35:8-36:11

p. 36:22-37:10

p. 42:17-44:6

SUSTAINED as to all. As stated 

above, no showing that individual 

is a party.

D.23 6/12/13 Transcript, Vol. 1 –

Ansine (Abad)

p. 69:23-72:22

p. 85:10-86:14

p. 87:6-88:2

SUSTAINED as to all. As stated 

above, no showing that individual 

is a party.

D.24 6/12/13 Transcript, Vol. 2 –

Ansine (Abad)

p. 7:7-15

p. 14:25-16:4

p. 26:12-25

SUSTAINED as to all. As stated 

above, no showing that individual 

is a party.

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No. Form of Excerpt

Designation

in Dispute Court’s Ruling

D.25 Robino Abad Deposition 

Transcript (Abad et al., v. 

GNC, Inc. Case No. 8:09-cv00190)

p. 7:13-17

p. 7:25-9:15

p. 19:3-8

p. 29:16-31:1

SUSTAINED as to all. As stated 

above, no showing that individual 

is a party.

D.26 Isaac Bailey Deposition 

Exhibits (Abad et al., v. GNC, 

Inc. Case No. 8:09-cv-00190)

p. 6:22-23

p. 8:19-11:6

p. 19:3-11

p. 21:6-7

p. 22:20-24

p. 24:5-13

p. 29:4-16

p. 33:9-34:11

p. 34:25-35:19

p. 38:12-16

p. 41:24-42:4

p. 51:4-52:20

p. 55:21-24

p. 59:12-23

p. 62:5-9

p. 62:21-63:13

SUSTAINED as to all. As stated 

above, no showing that individual 

is a party.

D.27 Ashley Abramson Deposition 

Transcript (Abad et al., v.

GNC, Inc. Case No. 8:09-cv00190)

p. 6:11-12; 19-24

p. 10:13-11:2

p. 11:19-24

p. 13:8-14:19

p. 15:12-16:9

p. 17:6-19

p. 21:21-23:16

p. 25:4-13

p. 31:9-35:18

p. 41:25-42:10

p. 43-8:16

p. 44:9-46:12

p. 54:17-56:9

p. 56:19-58:23

p. 64:15-65:11

p. 66:17-67:12

p. 68:8-70:13

SUSTAINED as to all. As stated 

above, no showing that individual 

is a party.

D.28 Greta Ansine Deposition 

Transcript (Abad et al., v. 

GNC, Inc. Case No. 8:09-cv00190)

p. 4:6-7

p. 9:12-10:1

p. 10:6-12:17

p. 17:19-18:15

p. 40:3-15

p. 45:3-46:4

p. 47:20-24

p. 48:21-49:16

SUSTAINED as to all. As stated 

above, no showing that individual 

is a party.

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No. Form of Excerpt

Designation

in Dispute Court’s Ruling

p. 51:19-52:4

p. 52:10-16

p. 53:7-9

p. 56:13-57:11

p. 58:9-14

p. 59:4-12

p. 62:7-9

p. 68:1-69:1

p. 75:12-77:1

p. 79:1-25

p. 80:9-17

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: December 21, 2015

______________________________________

YVONNE GONZALEZ ROGERS

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT JUDGE

Case 4:11-cv-03587-YGR Document 330 Filed 12/21/15 Page 9 of 9