06 05 2014

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 

BEFORE THE FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSIO 

In the Matter of 

ECM BioFilms, Inc., 

a corporation, also d/b/a 

Enviroplastics International 

) 

) 

) 

) 

) 

) 

Docket No. 9358 ORIGINAL 

PUBLIC DOCUMENT 

OPPOSITION TO RESPONDENT'S MOTION FOR LEAVE TO SERVE SUBPOENAS 

ON COMPLAINT COUNSEL'S EXPERTS OUT OF TIME 

Shortly after this Court's June 2 Order, Respondent ECM Biofilms, Inc. ("ECM") 

informed Complaint Counsel "that the Court's order is in error,"1 and that ECM would seek 

leave to re-serve our experts with subpoenas-despite the fact that the deadline for serving 

subpoenas duces tecum expired almost two months ago, on April 11.2 For several reasons, ECM 

has not established the good cause necessary for the Court to grant this de facto motion for 

reconsideration. First, ECM is solely responsible for the delay from which it now seeks relief, 

and forcing Complaint Counsel's experts to respond to document discovery at this late stage is 

unfairly prejudicial. Second, subpoenas are not a proper means to take discovery from a party's 

agents, nor can parties use subpoenas to circumvent the limits the Commission's rules place on 

expert discovery (at least without "demonstrat[ing] a need").3 Third, even if the Court allows 

subpoenas as a means to circumvent Rule 3.31A's limits and take document discovery from a 

party's experts, these particular subpoenas are unduly burdensome. 

1 CCX-A:1 at 2. 

2 See Second Revised Scheduling Order (Apr. 10, 2014). 

3 See In the Matter of Basic Research, 2004 FTC LEXIS 237, *9 (Dec. 9, 2004) (denying 

expert discovery beyond that provided by the FTC's Rules, the Scheduling Order, and In re Dura 

Lube, 1999 FTC LEXIS 254 (Dec. 15, 1999), where the movant had not "demonstrated a need" 

for broader discovery). 
PUBLIC DOCUMENT 

BACKGROUND 

On April 7- four days before the deadline for serving subpoenas duces tecum-ECM 

attempted to serve facially invalid subpoenas on our experts.4 Via electronic mail, Complaint 

Counsel agreed to accept service on its experts' behalf, and reserved all rights other than the 

right to object based on service.5 We received hard copies (missing the physically raised seal) 

the following day.6 Contrary to ECM's assertion that we "express(ed] no reservation that the 

subpoenas were invalid do to an absence of the Commission seal,"7 

on April11, we warned 

ECM that we might "object on the grounds that the subpoenas lack the Commission's seal."8 

Furthermore, on April25, Complaint Counsel timely objected to ECM's subpoenas. Most 

important here, the first objection stated: "Complaint Counsel objects to the Subpoena to the 

extent that it is invalid and unenforceable for lack of Commission Seal. "9 

Significantly, at that point (April25), ECM could have moved to enforce the subpoenas. 

However, ECM elected to wait nearly a month- until May 20- to seek this relief. 10 During the 

4 See RX-A-1; RX-A-2; RX-A-3. 

5 CCX-A:2 at 1. 

6 Complaint Counsel has not received hard copies of any subpoena ECM served on third 

parties. 

7 Mtn. at 2. 

8 RX-D at 1 n.l (emphasis added). As an aside, ECM does not explain how the fact that 

the rules no longer require the Secretary to sign subpoenas renders the seal requirement 

improper- particularly when Rule 3.34(a) still requires that subpoenas issue "on a form provided 

by the Secretary." 

9 RX-F-1- F-3 (emphasis added). ECM's assertion that we "respond[ed] in part to one 

of the requests" in the subpoenas is incorrect. Complaint Counsel served a single document (one 

expert's resume) which was inadvertently omitted from our initial expert disclosure. 

10 Notably, ECM waived the baseless argument that requiring the Secretary's seal 

violates the Administrative Procedure Act ("AP A"). Because Complaint Counsel did, in fact, 

raise the lack of the Commission's seal multiple times before ECM filed its motion to enforce the 

subpoenas, ECM should have asserted its APA argument then. Additionally, our Opposition to 

that motion raised the seal argument yet again, and the Court granted ECM' s motion for leave to 

file a Reply to our Opposition. ECM' s Reply could have raised this argument, but did not. 

Finally, ECM cites Alabama v. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 780 F. Supp. 2d 1219 

(M.D. Ala. 2011). See Mem. at 16. This case involved an agency letter issued without notice 

and comment, yet purporting to mandate that states suing for Medicaid fraud must disburse a 

portion of their recovery to the federal government. See Alabama, 780 F. Supp. at 1224-25. 

Unlike Alabama, The Rule 3.34(a) seal requirement is an interpretive rule, not a legislative rule. 

2 
PUBLIC DOCUMENT 

interim, the parties negotiated an expert deposition schedule. Although Complaint Counsel 

offered to make its experts available in early July, after their rebuttal reports are due, ECM 

curiously requested alternative dates "between June 16-27" (before our experts' rebuttal reports 

are due ). 11 Complaint Counsel met this request, and depositions will now commence earlier than 

they would have otherwise. Thus, ECM- which complains about timing-filed its motion to 

enforce the subpoenas more than three weeks later than necessary, and also moved its 

depositions several weeks earlier than necessary. 

LEGAL STANDARD 

The Court will not extend the deadline for issuing subpoenas duces tecum without "a 

showing of good cause." See Rule 3.21(c)(2). Alternatively, to the extent the pending motion is 

a de facto motion to reconsider, the Court grants motions to reconsider only "where it appears 

the court mistakenly overlooked facts or precedent which, had they been considered, might 

reasonably have altered the result, or where reconsideration is necessary to remedy a clear error 

or to prevent manifest injustice." In re Intel Corp. , 2010 FTC LEXIS 47, *5-*6 (May 28, 2010). 

ARGUMENT 

I. ECM Is Solely Responsible for the Delay, Which Prejudices Complaint Counsel. 

Initially, because ECM is responsible for the delay in raising this issue, any prejudice due 

to the inability to serve untimely subpoenas is attributable solely to ECM. ECM could have 

sought the expert discovery at issue weeks or months earlier. ECM also could have moved to 

enforce its subpoenas immediately, rather than waiting almost a month. ECM's own delay is not 

good cause to extend the deadline for issuing subpoenas duces tecum. 

Additionally, the untimeliness ofECM's request enhances the prejudice to Complaint 

Counsel. If the Court grants the pending motion (which it should not), then our experts will be 

compiling document productions when they should be preparing for their depositions, drafting 

rebuttal reports, or preparing for trial. Like most courts, this Court's Scheduling Order sensibly 

11 CCX-A:3 at 1. 

3 
PUBLIC DOCUMENT 

segregates document discovery from the expert deposition and trial preparation period. Forcing 

our experts to respond to subpoenas long after the proper deadline is prejudicial, and ECM has 

not established good cause outweighing this prejudice. 12 

II. Parties Cannot Use Subpoenas To Circumvent the Limits the Court's Rules Place 

on Expert Discovery. 

Because the reliefECM seeks-the right to subpoena Complaint Counsel's experts-is 

procedurally improper, there is no good cause to permit these untimely subpoenas. In support of 

asserted right to subpoena Complaint Counsel's experts, ECM quotes Rule 3.31A(d) regarding 

expert depositions. 13 Specifically, the quoted sentence provides: "Upon motion, the 

Administrative Law Judge may order further discovery by other means, subject to such 

restrictions as to scope as the Administrative Law Judge may deem appropriate." (Emphasis 

added). If parties may obtain whatever additional discovery they wish beyond the deposition and 

what the rules otherwise afford without a motion- simply by subpoenaing the expert- then 

Rule 3.31A(d) would be superfluous. Cf Astoria Fed Sav. & Loan Ass 'n v. So/imino, 501 U.S. 

104, 111 (1991) ("[O]f course we construe statutes, where possible, so as to avoid rendering 

superfluous any parts thereof."). 

Although ECM has now (belatedly) filed such a motion, the proper procedure would be 

to seek leave to issue discovery asking Complaint Counsel to produce documents beyond what 

Rule 3.31 A requires, rather than attempting to subpoena experts as though they were third 

parties.

14 Notably, Complaint Counsel explained that subpoenas to experts are improper in part 

12 Indeed, ECM has not established that it needs the requested material at all, let alone 

badly enough that good cause exists to modify the Scheduling Order. As the Court explained, its 

June 2 Order "does not preclude Respondent from inquiring into information germane to expert 

qualifications, knowledge, training, and experience, as well as information germane to expert 

bias, conflicts of interest, or lack of independence, at the designated expert witnesses' 

depositions." See Order at 3. Furthermore, ECM already requested and obtained many of the 

documents at issue from other sources. See, e.g., Opp. (May 28, 2015) at 2 n.5. 

13 See Mem. at 11. 

14 Given that Complaint Counsel made this position clear long ago, see CCX-A:2 at 2; 

and RX-D at 2, it is unclear why ECM now seeks leave to issue subpoenas as opposed to leave to 

issue document requests to Complaint Counsel. This latter approach would have at least avoided 

one of the many problems with ECM's pending motion. 

4 
PUBLIC DOCUMENT 

because experts are a party's agents. 15 However, citing inapposite authority, ECM initially 

challenged this position. See RX-E at 2 (" [Y]our experts are not your agents for purposes of 

litigation."). Now, ECM adopts the correct view. See Mtn. at 2 ("Here, the party receiving the 

subpoena is, in fact, an agent of the Federal Trade Commission[.]") (Emphasis added). 

Suffice it to say, discovery from a party's agents should be conducted through the party 

(pursuant to Rule 3.37(a)), not via third-party subpoena. 

Significantly, a ruling permitting parties to obtain discovery directly from the opposing 

party's agents (such as experts) would both rur1 contrary to federal practice generally and have 

far-reaching implications in Part III litigation. As the Court is aware, Rule 3.31 (e) strictly limits 

discovery of"communications between another party's attorney and any of that other party's 

testifying experts[.]" An expert who receives a subpoena could disclose this protected material 

without his or her employer (i.e., the party) having the opportunity to intercede. It makes no 

sense to allow a party to deal directly with its adversary's experts, thereby cutting the opposing 

party out of the process. Additionally, testifying experts routinely receive confidential materials 

parties obtained via subpoena, the disclosure of which could harm third party subpoena 

respondents. Testifying experts may not know which responsive materials should be designated 

confidential, or how to do so. In this respect, allowing parties to deal directly with their 

adversary's agents (such as experts) also imperils interests in confidentiality important to both 

third party subpoena respondents and the Commission. 

In short, the Commission's Rules limit the scope of expert discovery, at least without a 

showing of substantial need, see, e.g., Rule 3.31A, which is consistent with federal authority 

limiting the use of subpoenas to circumvent the expert discovery limits Rule 26 imposes, 16 

see, 

15 See RX-D at 2. 

16 See also Morriss v. BNSF Ry. Co., No. 8:13-cv-24, 2014 WL 128393, *6-*7 (D. Neb. 

Jan. 13, 2014) ("The court finds that absent some threshold showing of need, the broad discovery 

provisions of Rules 34 and Rule 45 cannot be used to undermine the specific expert witness 

discovery rules in Rule 26(a)(2) and (b)(4). The expert disclosure and discovery limitations of 

Rule 26 represent a reasoned balance between sufficient expert disclosures and unfettered expert 

discovery as expressed in case law and the documented discussions of the Rules Committee. As 

referenced repeatedly in the advisory notes to Rule 26, the provisions of the rule were adopted to 

5 
PUBLIC DOCUMENT 

e.g, Marsh v. Jackson, 141 F.R.D. 431,432 (W.D. Va. 1992). ECM has not shown substantial 

need to circumvent Rule 3.31A, nor has it established the propriety of issuing subpoenas to 

opposing experts. For these reasons, there is no good cause to grant the relief requested. 

III. The Proposed Subpoenas Are Unduly Burdensome. 

The undue burden these subpoenas would impose further underscores the absence of 

good cause to grant the reliefECM seeks. Specifically, Rules 26(a)(2) and (b)(4)-analogues to 

Commission Rule 3.31 A-"were adopted to limit the undue burden and cost of expert 

discovery." Morriss, 2014 WL 128393 at *6. However, the proposed subpoenas increase both 

burden and expense to a degree that would be unjustified at any time, let alone nearly two 

months after the last day to issue subpoenas duces tecum. 

Complaint Counsel has already provided the Court with declarations from its experts 

detailing the substantial burden compliance would entail. 17 The subpoenas are exceptionally 

overbroad, seeking the experts' personal financial information, obviously irrelevant information, 

information ECM already possesses, and information ECM could readily obtain from other 

sources. 18 Among other things, the subpoenas seek documents disclosing stock or other 

"ownership interests" in companies "associated with plastics,"19 although anyone with an index 

fund in his or her retirement savings has an interest in one of many large American corporations 

"associated with plastics." This is precisely the sort of invasive request that Basic Research 

rejected. See 2004 FTC LEXIS 237, *8 (Dec. 9, 2004). 

limit the undue burden and cost of expert discovery . . . . The plaintiff has shown no compelling 

reason for expanding the expert discovery obtained from the defendants' experts-whether 

testifying or not. Therefore, as to each of these requests, the defendant's objection that the 

requests exceed the scope of permissible discovery under Rule 26 will be sustained.") (citing 

Marsh, 141 F.R.D. 433). 

17 See Opp. (May 28, 2014), CCX-A:7-9 (responding to the subpoenas' demands would 

require more than twenty hours of each expert's time). 

18 See Opp. at 2-3 (citing specific requests seeking these categories of information). 

19 See RX-A-1 (No. 16); RX-A-2 (No.8); RX-A-3 (No. 8). 

6 
PUBLIC DOCUMENT 

The subpoenas also seek an enormous quantity of information, which adds to their 

substantial burden.2

° For instance, the proposed subpoena to Professor Stephen McCarthy seeks 

contracts, "grant documents," and proposals associated with sixteen different research projects.21 

Including their various discrete subparts, the three subpoenas collectively demand responses to at 

least sixty-six requests. Moreover, many of the requests seek "all documents,"22 or material 

"regardless of the date."23 Simply put, ECM has not established good cause to impose this 

degree of burden nearly two months after the deadline to issue subpoenas duces tecum.24 

CONCLUSION 

For these reasons, we respectfully ask the Court to deny ECM's motion. 

Dated: June 5, 2014 Respectfully submitted, 

ri ohnson (kjohnson3@ftc.gov) 

o an Cohen Gcohen2@ftc.gov) 

lisa Jillson ( ejillson@ftc.gov) 

Federal Trade Commission 

600 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W. M-8102B 

Washington, DC 20580 

Phone: 202-326-2185; -2551 ; -3001 

Fax: 202-326-2551 

20 The information ECM seeks leave to subpoena is in addition to the thousands of pages 

of material Complaint Counsel produced yesterday along with its expert reports. 

21 RX-A-1 (No.9). 

22 See, e.g., R.X-A-3 (No.2). 

23 See, e.g. , id. (No. 3). 

24 To provide a final example, the subpoenas seek all documents ("complaints, answers, 

motions, and transcripts (deposition, hearing and trial)" in any proceeding involving Professor 

Shane Frederick in his "professional capacity" whether related to this case or not. See R.X-A-3 

(No. 12). Because these court documents are publically-available, ECM simply could have 

asked Complaint Counsel to produce a list of cases involving our experts. This sort of request 

typifies the subpoenas as a whole, which seem calculated to occupy our experts' time rather than 

identify information genuinely necessary to their fair cross-examination. 

7 
PUBLIC DOCUMENT 

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE 

I hereby certify that on June 5, 2014, I caused a true and correct copy of the foregoing to 

be served as follows: 

One electronic copy to the Office of the Secretary, and one copy through the FTC's e-filing system: 

Donald S. Clark, Secretary 

Federal Trade Commission 

600 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Room H-159 

Washington, DC 20580 

Email: secretary@ftc.gov 

One electronic copy and one hard copy to the Office of the Administrative Law Judge: 

The Honorable D. Michael Chappell 

Administrative Law Judge 

600 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Room H-110 

Washington, DC 20580 

One electronic copy to Counsel for the Respondent: 

Jonathan W. Emord 

Emord & Associates, P.C. 

11808 WolfRun Lane 

Clifton, VA 20124 

Email: jemord@emord.com 

Lou Caputo 

Emord & Associates, P.C. 

3210 S. Gilbert Road, Suite 4 

Chandler, AZ 85286 

Email: lcaputo@emord.com 

Date: June 5, 2014 

Peter Arhangelsky 

Emord & Associates, P.C. 

3210 S. Gilbert Road, Suite 4 

Chandler, AZ 85286 

Email: parhangelsky@emord.com 

/ Kathe · ohnson (kjohnson3@ftc.gov) 

~ / Jo an Cohen Gcohen2@ftc.gov) 

8 

isa Jillson (ejillson@ftc.gov) 

Federal Trade Commission 

600 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W. M-8102B 

Washington, DC 20580 

Phone: 202-326-2185; -2551; -3001 

Fax: 202-326-2551 
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

BEFORE THE FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION

____________________________________

)

In the Matter of )

)

ECM BioFilms, Inc., ) Docket No. 9358

a corporation, also d/b/a )

Enviroplastics International ) PUBLIC DOCUMENT

 )

EXHIBITS IN SUPPORT OF COMPLAINT COUNSEL’S

OPPOSITION TO RESPONDENT’S MOTION FOR LEAVE TO SERVE 

SUBPOENAS ON COMPLAINT COUNSEL’S EXPERTS OUT OF TIME
Complaint Counsel

Exhibit A

CX-A
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 

BEFORE THE FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION 

In the Matter of 

ECM BioFilms, Inc., 

a corporation, also d/b/a 

Enviroplastics International 

) 

) 

) 

) 

) 

) 

Docket No. 9358 

PUBLIC DOCUMENT 

DECLARATION OF JONATHAN COHEN IN SUPPORT COMPLAINT COUNSEL'S 

OPPOSITION TO RESPONDENT'S MOTION FOR LEAVE TO SERVE 

SUBPOENAS ON COMPLAINT COUNSEL'S EXPERTS OUT OF TIME 

In accordance with 28 U.S.C. § 1746, I declare under penalty of perjury that the 

following is true and correct: 

1. I am over 18 years of age, and I am a citizen of the United States. I am employed 

by the Federal Trade Commission ("FTC") as an attorney in the Division of Enforcement in the 

Bureau of Consumer Protection. I am an attorney of record in the above-captioned matter, and I 

have personal knowledge of the facts set forth herein. 

2. Attachment 1 hereto is a true and correct copy of an email exchange between 

Peter Arhangelsky and Complaint Counsel, dated June 2 and June 3, 2014. 

3. Attachment 2 hereto is a true and correct copy of an email exchange between Lou 

Caputo and Complaint Counsel, dated April 7, 2014. 

4. Attachment 3 hereto is a true and correct copy of an email exchange between 

Peter Arhangelsky and Complaint Counsel, dated May 12 and May 13, 2014. 

Executed this 5th day of June, 2014 in Washington, D.C. 

~------­ ~el 
Complaint Counsel

Exhibit A

Attachment 1

CX-A:1


From: Cohen, Jonathan

Sent: Tuesday, June 03, 2014 7:15 PM

To: 'Peter Arhangelsky'

Cc: 'Lou Caputo'; 'Jonathan Emord'; Johnson, Katherine; Decastro, Arturo

Subject: RE: Docket 9358 - 060214 Order Denying Respondent's Motion to Compel Expert 

Witnesses' Responses to Subpoenas Duces Tecum

Peter, 

 Your characterization of our proposal is only partly correct; we’re willing to go beyond what we offered in 

April, as we explained. And we may be willing to go further than we articulated on our call, depending on what 

particular requests are involved, and whether the result of reaching such an agreement would save the Court, the 

parties, and the experts time. 

You indicated that, in effect, anything other than agreeing to respond to the subpoenas in full wouldn’t be 

acceptable to your client, and as such, both sides politely concluded the conversation. If there is a “meet-in-themiddle” compromise that you’d consider, we’d like to continue talking. If not, we respect your position. 

 Best, 

Jonathan Cohen 

Enforcement Division | Bureau of Consumer Protection | Federal Trade Commission 

600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., CC-9528 Washington, D.C. 20580 

(202) 326-2551 | jcohen2@ftc.gov 

From: Peter Arhangelsky [mailto:PArhangelsky@emord.com] 

Sent: Tuesday, June 03, 2014 7:07 PM 

To: Cohen, Jonathan 

Cc: Lou Caputo; Jonathan Emord; Johnson, Katherine; Decastro, Arturo 

Subject: RE: Docket 9358 - 060214 Order Denying Respondent's Motion to Compel Expert Witnesses' Responses to 

Subpoenas Duces Tecum 

Counsel,

This afternoon we discussed ECM’s Motion for Leave to Serve Subpoenas following the Court’s July 2, 2014 Order.  In

addition to the material offered in your April 11, 2014 letter, you now offer to provide correspondence between the

Commission and your experts predating the time when those experts contracted to be consultants or experts in this

case.  Please inform us if our understanding of that proposal is inaccurate.

We think the parties are still far apart.  ECM is entitled to information requested in its Rule 3.34 subpoenas, and that

information exceeds the scope of information Complaint Counsel is presently willing to produce.  The information you

offer is not significantly more than what the mandatory disclosures in Rule 3.31A already provide.  That information

does not include critical documents and information necessary to ECM’s defense and, so, ECM cannot proceed based on

that alone.  Moreover, to the extent ECM is deprived of its discovery abilities, the court should address those significant

legal issues in a written opinion.  Because we understand that the parties are not in agreement, we intend to file our

Motion for Leave shortly.  

Please let me know if you wish to discuss this further.

Best,

PUBLIC DOCUMENT CCX-A:1 at 1
Peter A. Arhangelsky, Esq. | EMORD & ASSOCIATES, P.C. | 3210 S. Gilbert Rd., Ste 4 | Chandler, AZ 85286

Firm: (602) 388-8899 | Direct: (602) 334-4416 | Facsimile: (602) 393-4361 | www.emord.com

NOTICE: This is a confidential communication intended for the recipient listed above. The content of this communication is protected from 

disclosure by the attorney-client privilege and the work product doctrine. If you are not the intended recipient, you should treat this 

communication as strictly confidential and provide it to the person intended. Duplication or distribution of this communication is prohibited 

by the sender. If this communication has been sent to you in error, please notify the sender and then immediately destroy the document.

From: Peter Arhangelsky  

Sent: Monday, June 02, 2014 4:28 PM

To: 'Cohen, Jonathan'

Cc: Lou Caputo; Jonathan Emord; Johnson, Katherine; Decastro, Arturo

Subject: RE: Docket 9358 ‐ 060214 Order Denying Respondent's Motion to Compel Expert Witnesses' Responses to

Subpoenas Duces Tecum

  

Jonathan,

Let’s talk at 4pm Eastern tomorrow.  I am available then.

Best,

Peter A. Arhangelsky, Esq. | EMORD & ASSOCIATES, P.C. | 3210 S. Gilbert Rd., Ste 4 | Chandler, AZ 85286

Firm: (602) 388-8899 | Direct: (602) 334-4416 | Facsimile: (602) 393-4361 | www.emord.com

NOTICE: This is a confidential communication intended for the recipient listed above. The content of this communication is protected from 

disclosure by the attorney-client privilege and the work product doctrine. If you are not the intended recipient, you should treat this 

communication as strictly confidential and provide it to the person intended. Duplication or distribution of this communication is prohibited 

by the sender. If this communication has been sent to you in error, please notify the sender and then immediately destroy the document.

From: Cohen, Jonathan [mailto:jcohen2@ftc.gov]  

Sent: Monday, June 02, 2014 4:15 PM

To: Peter Arhangelsky

Cc: Lou Caputo; Jonathan Emord; Johnson, Katherine; Decastro, Arturo

Subject: RE: Docket 9358 ‐ 060214 Order Denying Respondent's Motion to Compel Expert Witnesses' Responses to

Subpoenas Duces Tecum

  

Peter,

 We don’t agree that a meet and confer would be redundant at all, or a mere formality. We urge you to 

comply with your obligation to speak with us. Last time, we proposed a “meet in the middle” alternative, and we’d 

like the opportunity to pitch something like that to you again. It’s still possible to save the Court and the parties 

unnecessary additional effort (not to mention our experts’ time and effort as well). 

 Someone will be available to speak with you tomorrow at 4:00 EST, if not earlier if we can arrange it. 

Jonathan Cohen

Enforcement Division | Bureau of Consumer Protection | Federal Trade Commission 

600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., M-8102B Washington, D.C. 20580 

(202) 326-2551 | jcohen2@ftc.gov 

PUBLIC DOCUMENT CCX-A:1 at 2
From: Peter Arhangelsky [mailto:PArhangelsky@emord.com] 

Sent: Monday, June 02, 2014 6:24 PM 

To: Johnson, Katherine 

Cc: Cohen, Jonathan; Lou Caputo; Jonathan Emord 

Subject: FW: Docket 9358 - 060214 Order Denying Respondent's Motion to Compel Expert Witnesses' Responses to 

Subpoenas Duces Tecum

  

Counsel,

Following the Court’s Order today, ECM plans to file a Motion for Leave to issue subpoenas duces tecum to Drs.

McCarthy, Tolaymet, and Frederick.  While we think the Court’s order is in error, the most efficient resolution is to seek

timely leave to serve subpoenas that comply with all procedural elements, both official and unofficial.  Testimonial

discovery alone is inadequate under the circumstances.  We intend to file that motion promptly, as time is of the

essence.  Our reading of the Scheduling Order ¶4 suggests that this type of motion may require a meet and

confer.  Please advise of the next available opportunity to discuss.  As we have discussed our respective positions several

times before, we understand that a conference may be of little benefit presently.  Indeed, our position remains

unchanged since our last meet and confer on this point, and if yours remains unchanged as well, with your agreement

we will dispense with the formality of a redundant meet and confer.  Please advise.

Sincerely,

Peter A. Arhangelsky, Esq. | EMORD & ASSOCIATES, P.C. | 3210 S. Gilbert Rd., Ste 4 | Chandler, AZ 85286

Firm: (602) 388-8899 | Direct: (602) 334-4416 | Facsimile: (602) 393-4361 | www.emord.com

NOTICE: This is a confidential communication intended for the recipient listed above. The content of this communication is protected from 

disclosure by the attorney-client privilege and the work product doctrine. If you are not the intended recipient, you should treat this 

communication as strictly confidential and provide it to the person intended. Duplication or distribution of this communication is prohibited 

by the sender. If this communication has been sent to you in error, please notify the sender and then immediately destroy the document.

From: Gross, Dana [mailto:DGROSS@ftc.gov]  

Sent: Monday, June 02, 2014 12:01 PM

To: Peter Arhangelsky; Jonathan Emord; Jillson, Elisa; Johnson, Katherine

Cc: Arthaud, Victoria; Gebler, Hillary; Pelzer, Lynnette; Clark, Donald S.; Tabor, April; Frankle, Janice Podoll; McCoy

Hunter, Crystal; Wade, Fenice

Subject: Docket 9358 ‐ 060214 Order Denying Respondent's Motion to Compel Expert Witnesses' Responses to

Subpoenas Duces Tecum

  

Dear Counsel,

Attached is a courtesy copy of the above order issued today by Judge Chappell.

Sincerely,

Dana L. Gross

Legal Support Specialist

Office of Administrative Law Judges

Direct:(202) 326-3723

Main: (202) 326-3637

  

PUBLIC DOCUMENT CCX-A:1 at 3
Complaint Counsel

Exhibit A

Attachment 2

CX-A:2


From: Cohen, Jonathan

Sent: Monday, April 07, 2014 7:48 PM

To: 'Lou Caputo'; 'Jonathan Emord'; 'Peter Arhangelsky'

Cc: Jillson, Elisa; Johnson, Katherine

Subject: RE: Docket No. 9358, Subpoenas Duces Tecum

Lou, 

 Your prior email does not state that your “subpoenas are to be dispatched today.” Rather, you 

wrote: “Please find the attached subpoenas duces tecum dispatched today.” Obviously, we can’t accept service of 

subpoenas you already sent to our experts via Federal Express. If, in fact, the subpoenas were not “dispatched 

today,” but are merely scheduled to be dispatched, then yes, we will accept service on our experts’ behalf. 

 I note that this acceptance reserves all rights other than the right to object to the subpoenas based on their 

service. 

 We’ll give you a call tomorrow at 4:30 EST to discuss our objections. 

 

Jonathan Cohen 

Enforcement Division | Bureau of Consumer Protection | Federal Trade Commission 

600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., M-8102B Washington, D.C. 20580 

(202) 326-2551 | jcohen2@ftc.gov 

From: Lou Caputo [mailto:LCaputo@emord.com] 

Sent: Monday, April 07, 2014 7:28 PM 

To: Cohen, Jonathan; Jonathan Emord; Peter Arhangelsky 

Cc: Jillson, Elisa; Johnson, Katherine 

Subject: RE: Docket No. 9358, Subpoenas Duces Tecum 

Jonathan,

We assume by your comments that Complaint Counsel will accept service on behalf of Drs. McCarthy, Tolaymet, and

Frederick.  Please confirm.  As previously stated, our subpoenas are to be dispatched today.   If you are stating that

Complaint Counsel will not accept service of a subpoena on behalf of its own experts, please inform us of this

immediately.  Further, subpoenas to retained experts are permissible. See All W. Pet Supply Co. v. Hill's Pet Products Div.,

Colgate‐Palmolive Co., 152 F.R.D. 634, 639 (D. Kan. 1993) (“With regard to nonparties such as plaintiff's expert witness, a

request for documents may be made by subpoena duces tecum pursuant to Rule 45”); Expeditors Int'l of Washington,

Inc. v. Vastera, Inc., 04 C 0321, 2004 WL 406999 (N.D. Ill. Feb. 26, 2004) (rejecting blanket prohibition of subpoenas to

retained experts under Marsh v. Jackson).   

Please confirm whether you will accept service.  We are available for a call to hear more of your position tomorrow after

3:00 PM EST.

Thank you,

Lou

Lou Caputo | EMORD & ASSOCIATES, P.C. | 3210 S. Gilbert Rd., Ste 4 | Chandler, AZ 85286 Firm: (602) 388-8901 | 

Facsimile: (602) 393-4361 | www.emord.com 

CCX-A:2 at 1 PUBLIC DOCUMENT
 

 

NOTICE: This is a confidential communication intended for the recipient listed above. The content of this communication is protected from disclosure 

by the attorney-client privilege and the work product doctrine. If you are not the intended recipient, you should treat this communication as strictly 

confidential and provide it to the person intended. Duplication or distribution of this communication is prohibited by the sender. If this communication 

has been sent to you in error, please notify the sender and then immediately destroy the document. 

From: Cohen, Jonathan [mailto:jcohen2@ftc.gov] 

Sent: Monday, April 07, 2014 3:00 PM 

To: Lou Caputo; Jonathan Emord; Peter Arhangelsky 

Cc: Jillson, Elisa; Johnson, Katherine 

Subject: RE: Docket No. 9358, Subpoenas Duces Tecum 

Counsel, 

 These subpoenas to our experts are grossly improper. Both the FRCP Commentary and case law make 

plain that you cannot subpoena experts directly, and nothing in FTC Rule 3.34 suggests otherwise. See, e.g., FRCP 

45, 1991 Amendment, Subsection (c) Advisory Committee Notes; Marsh v. Jackson, 141 F.R.D. 431, 432 (W.D. Va. 

1992) (mag. op.). 

 Please withdraw these subpoenas and re-submit your proposed discovery as document requests directed to 

Complaint Counsel. We will then respond or object accordingly. 

 Alternatively, if you will not withdraw the subpoenas, please provide us with times tomorrow afternoon 

when you are available to meet and confer. 

Jonathan Cohen 

Enforcement Division | Bureau of Consumer Protection | Federal Trade Commission 

600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., M-8102B Washington, D.C. 20580 

(202) 326-2551 | jcohen2@ftc.gov 

From: Lou Caputo [mailto:LCaputo@emord.com] 

Sent: Monday, April 07, 2014 4:59 PM 

To: Johnson, Katherine 

Cc: Jillson, Elisa; Cohen, Jonathan; Jonathan Emord; Peter Arhangelsky 

Subject: Docket No. 9358, Subpoenas Duces Tecum 

Counsel,

Please find the attached subpoenas duces tecum dispatched today.

  

Thank you,

Lou Caputo | EMORD & ASSOCIATES, P.C. | 3210 S. Gilbert Rd., Ste 4 | Chandler, AZ 85286 Firm: (602) 388-8901 | 

Facsimile: (602) 393-4361 | www.emord.com 

 

 

NOTICE: This is a confidential communication intended for the recipient listed above. The content of this communication is protected from disclosure 

by the attorney-client privilege and the work product doctrine. If you are not the intended recipient, you should treat this communication as strictly 

confidential and provide it to the person intended. Duplication or distribution of this communication is prohibited by the sender. If this communication 

has been sent to you in error, please notify the sender and then immediately destroy the document. 

CCX-A:2 at 2 PUBLIC DOCUMENT
Complaint Counsel

Exhibit A

Attachment 3

CX-A:3


From: Peter Arhangelsky <PArhangelsky@emord.com>

Sent: Tuesday, May 13, 2014 2:21 PM

To: Cohen, Jonathan

Cc: Jonathan Emord; Lou Caputo; Jillson, Elisa; Johnson, Katherine

Subject: RE: Expert Deposition Schedule

Jonathan,

Thanks for your proposal.  We will discuss the schedule with our experts and report back shortly.  Having discussed this

with our team, we have conflicts the first week of July which will require changes to the proposed schedule.  Please

inform us when your experts are available between June 16‐27.  We will need to schedule your experts during that

window in June.

Best,

Peter A. Arhangelsky, Esq. | EMORD & ASSOCIATES, P.C. | 3210 S. Gilbert Rd., Ste 4 | Chandler, AZ 85286 

Firm: (602) 388-8899 | Direct: (602) 334-4416 | Facsimile: (602) 393-4361 | www.emord.com 

 

 

NOTICE: This is a confidential communication intended for the recipient listed above. The content of this communication is protected from 

disclosure by the attorney-client privilege and the work product doctrine. If you are not the intended recipient, you should treat this 

communication as strictly confidential and provide it to the person intended. Duplication or distribution of this communication is prohibited 

by the sender. If this communication has been sent to you in error, please notify the sender and then immediately destroy the document. 

From: Cohen, Jonathan [mailto:jcohen2@ftc.gov]  

Sent: Tuesday, May 13, 2014 11:43 AM

To: Peter Arhangelsky; Lou Caputo; Jonathan Emord

Cc: Jillson, Elisa; Johnson, Katherine; Decastro, Arturo

Subject: RE: Expert Deposition Schedule

Peter, 

 One change with respect to the dates we propose for your experts: 

July 2 – McCarthy (Washington, DC) 

July 3 – Thabet (Cincinnati, OH) 

July 8 – Frederick (New Haven, CT) 

July 9 – Burnette (Washington, DC) 

July 10 – Stewart (Los Angeles, CA) 

July 11 – Sahu (Los Angeles, CA) 

July 15 – Volokh (Atlanta, GA) 

July 16 – Barlaz (Raleigh, NC) 

Jonathan Cohen 

Enforcement Division | Bureau of Consumer Protection | Federal Trade Commission 

600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., M-8102B Washington, D.C. 20580 

(202) 326-2551 | jcohen2@ftc.gov 

CCX-A:3 at 1 PUBLIC DOCUMENT
From: Cohen, Jonathan 

Sent: Monday, May 12, 2014 5:43 PM 

To: 'Peter Arhangelsky'; 'Lou Caputo'; 'Jonathan Emord' 

Cc: Jillson, Elisa; Johnson, Katherine; Decastro, Arturo 

Subject: ECM: Expert Deposition Schedule 

Peter, 

 Per our call, we have cleared dates with our experts. Based on those dates, we propose the following overall 

schedule: 

July 2 – McCarthy (Washington, DC) 

July 3 – Thabet (Cincinnati, OH) 

July 8 – Frederick (New Haven, CT) 

July 9 – Burnette (Washington, DC) 

July 10 – Stewart (Los Angeles, CA) 

July 11 – Sahu (Los Angeles, CA) 

July 14 – Barlaz (Raleigh, NC) 

July 15 – Volokh (Atlanta, GA) 

 Please let us know whether this works. Hopefully, getting this set soon will make the process easier on 

everyone. 

 Thanks,      

Jonathan Cohen 

Enforcement Division | Bureau of Consumer Protection | Federal Trade Commission 

600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., M-8102B Washington, D.C. 20580 

(202) 326-2551 | jcohen2@ftc.gov 

CCX-A:3 at 2 PUBLIC DOCUMENT