EXHIBIT 5

Case 5:20-cv-00746-JKP Document 109-5 Filed 10/14/22 Page 1 of 13
·1· · · · · · ·IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

· · · · · · · · FOR THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS

·2· · · · · · · · · · ·SAN ANTONIO DIVISION

·3· ·MELODY JOY CANTU and· · · )

· · ·DR. RODRIGO CANTU,· · · · )

·4· · · · · · · · · · · · · · ·)

· · · · · · · ·Plaintiffs,· · ·)

·5· · · · · · · · · · · · · · ·)

· · ·vs.· · · · · · · · · · · ·) NO. 5:20-CV-00746-JKP(HJB)

·6· · · · · · · · · · · · · · ·)

· · ·DR. SANDRA GUERRA and· · ·)

·7· ·DIGITAL FORENSICS· · · · ·)

· · ·CORPORATION, LLC,· · · · ·)

·8· · · · · · · · · · · · · · ·)

· · · · · · · ·Defendants.· · ·)

·9

· · ·--------------------------------------------------------

10

11· · · · · · · · · ORAL VIDEOTAPED DEPOSITION

12· · · · · · · · · JEFFREY MICHAEL FISCHBACH

13· · · · · · · · · · · · JULY 26, 2022

14· · · · · · · · · · ·(Reported Remotely)

15· ·--------------------------------------------------------

16· · · ·ORAL VIDEOTAPED DEPOSITION OF JEFFREY MICHAEL

17· ·FISCHBACH, produced as a witness at the instance of the

18· ·Defendant, Dr. Sandra Guerra, and duly sworn, was taken

19· ·in the above-styled and numbered cause on the 26th day

20· ·of July, 2022, from 1:36 p.m. to 5:08 p.m., before Jean

21· ·Thomas Fraunhofer, Certified Shorthand Reporter in and

22· ·for the State of Texas, reported by computerized

23· ·stenotype machine in Los Angeles, California, pursuant

24· ·to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and the

25· ·provisions stated on the record or attached hereto.

Case 5:20-cv-00746-JKP Document 109-5 Filed 10/14/22 Page 2 of 13
·1· · · ·Q.· ·And are you telling the ladies and gentlemen of

·2· ·the jury that the opinions that you have formed, those

·3· ·are objective, unbiased opinions?

·4· · · · · · · · ·MR. EKELAND:· Objection.

·5· · · · · · · · ·You can answer.

·6· · · ·A.· ·That would certainly be my intent.

·7· · · ·Q.· ·And did you -- did you prepare an expert

·8· ·report?

·9· · · ·A.· ·I did not.

10· · · · · · · · ·MR. EKELAND:· Objection.

11· · · ·Q.· ·I'm sorry, I didn't hear your -- I'll repeat

12· ·the question.· Did you prepare an expert report?

13· · · · · · · · ·MR. EKELAND:· Objection.

14· · · · · · · · ·You can answer.

15· · · ·A.· ·I did not.

16· · · ·Q.· ·Okay.· Let me -- give me a moment here, and I

17· ·can pull up the next exhibit.

18· · · · · · · · ·(Exhibit 5 marked.)

19· · · ·Q.· ·I am showing you, Mr. Fischbach, what's been

20· ·marked as Exhibit No. 5.· And let me just scroll through

21· ·it kind of quickly so you can take a look at it.· It

22· ·appears that it -- it is all -- was included in the

23· ·documents that you provided this morning.· I believe

24· ·it's Fischbach 1 to 3, which is part of Exhibit 7.· Do

25· ·you recognize this document?

Case 5:20-cv-00746-JKP Document 109-5 Filed 10/14/22 Page 3 of 13
·1· · · ·A.· ·I do.

·2· · · ·Q.· ·Is it your testimony that this is not your

·3· ·expert report?

·4· · · · · · · · ·MR. EKELAND:· Objection.

·5· · · · · · · · ·You can answer.

·6· · · ·A.· ·That's correct.

·7· · · ·Q.· ·Okay.· Were you asked to prepare an expert

·8· ·report?

·9· · · · · · · · ·MR. EKELAND:· Objection.· And that touches

10· ·on privileged communications, so I'm going to instruct

11· ·the witness not to answer.

12· · · ·Q.· ·Mr. Fischbach, you testified that you have

13· ·formed opinions in this case.· Have you reduced those

14· ·opinions down to writing?

15· · · · · · · · ·MR. EKELAND:· Objection.

16· · · · · · · · ·You can answer.

17· · · ·A.· ·No, I don't -- I don't believe I've ever

18· ·written anything.· I think it's all been telephonically.

19· · · ·Q.· ·And I -- I am going to point you to page 3.

20· ·Just a moment, please.

21· · · · · · · · ·Are -- are you -- are you currently

22· ·preparing an expert report?

23· · · · · · · · ·MR. EKELAND:· Objection.

24· · · · · · · · ·You can answer.

25· · · ·A.· ·Currently, no.

Case 5:20-cv-00746-JKP Document 109-5 Filed 10/14/22 Page 4 of 13
·1· · · · · · · · ·MR. EKELAND:· Objection.

·2· · · · · · · · ·You can answer.

·3· · · ·A.· ·Yeah, I don't -- I don't think that would be

·4· ·within my purview no matter what, but I -- I don't have

·5· ·a specific opinion on who -- who specifically put it

·6· ·there for -- again, presuming that it was there.

·7· · · ·Q.· ·Did you inspect any computer or devices of

·8· ·Plaintiffs?

·9· · · ·A.· ·At this time, no.

10· · · · · · · · ·MR. EKELAND:· Objection.

11· · · · · · · · ·THE WITNESS:· Oh, sorry.

12· · · · · · · · ·MR. EKELAND:· Objection.

13· · · · · · · · ·You can answer.

14· · · ·Q.· ·Did you inspect any of Plaintiff -- I'll reask

15· ·it.

16· · · · · · · · ·Did -- did you inspect any of Plaintiffs'

17· ·computers or devices?

18· · · ·A.· ·No, I have not.

19· · · ·Q.· ·Have you done any sort of forensic analysis or

20· ·investigation of any of Plaintiffs' systems?

21· · · ·A.· ·I have not.

22· · · · · · · · ·MR. EKELAND:· Objection.

23· · · ·A.· ·I have not.

24· · · ·Q.· ·Do you intend to provide any testimony at trial

25· ·regarding social engineering?

Case 5:20-cv-00746-JKP Document 109-5 Filed 10/14/22 Page 5 of 13
·1· · · · · · · · ·MR. EKELAND:· Objection.

·2· · · · · · · · ·You can answer.

·3· · · ·A.· ·At this time, I don't -- I don't intend to

·4· ·provide any specific testimony at trial.

·5· · · ·Q.· ·Regarding social engineering or --

·6· · · · · · · · ·MR. EKELAND:· Objection.

·7· · · ·Q.· ·-- or anything?

·8· · · · · · · · ·MR. EKELAND:· Objection.

·9· · · · · · · · ·You can answer.

10· · · ·A.· ·Regarding anything.· At this point, I'm -- I'm

11· ·still a consultant.

12· · · ·Q.· ·And -- and I just want to be clear.· You're --

13· ·you're providing consulting services to Plaintiffs?

14· · · · · · · · ·MR. EKELAND:· Objection.

15· · · · · · · · ·You can answer.

16· · · ·A.· ·Specifically to Mr. Ekeland, yes, with the

17· ·understanding that I may be asked to testify.

18· · · ·Q.· ·Okay.· Do you -- is it -- is it your expert

19· ·opinion as we sit here today that Dr. Guerra or DFC

20· ·hacked Melody Joy Cantu's servers, devices, systems?

21· · · · · · · · ·MR. EKELAND:· Objection.

22· · · · · · · · ·You can answer.

23· · · ·A.· ·At -- at this time, I don't have a specific

24· ·opinion one way or the other regarding that.

25· · · ·Q.· ·Okay.· Do you -- is it your expert opinion that

Case 5:20-cv-00746-JKP Document 109-5 Filed 10/14/22 Page 6 of 13
·1· ·Dr. Cantu -- I mean, Dr. Guerra or DFC hacked any of

·2· ·Dr. Rodrigo Cantu's devices or computers, home Internet

·3· ·services, any kind of servers?

·4· · · · · · · · ·MR. EKELAND:· Objection.

·5· · · · · · · · ·You can answer.

·6· · · ·A.· ·Again, reiterating the last answer, I don't --

·7· ·at this time, I don't have a -- a specific answer to

·8· ·that.

·9· · · ·Q.· ·Is it your expert opinion that DFC or

10· ·Dr. Guerra obtained any of Dr. Cantu's or Melody Joy

11· ·Cantu's passwords or personal information through the

12· ·unauthorized access of their computers or devices or

13· ·servers?

14· · · · · · · · ·MR. EKELAND:· Objection.

15· · · · · · · · ·You can answer.

16· · · ·A.· ·Well, the answer might have been no until you

17· ·used a general term information.· It does appear from

18· ·what I have read, though not independently confirmed at

19· ·this time, but it does appear as though some

20· ·information, IP address in particular may have been

21· ·obtained under false pretenses.· But again, I don't, at

22· ·this time, have specific information as to who -- who

23· ·gathered that.

24· · · ·Q.· ·So it's your opinion as we sit here today that

25· ·some information may have been obtained through false

Case 5:20-cv-00746-JKP Document 109-5 Filed 10/14/22 Page 7 of 13
·1· · · · · · · · ·You can answer.

·2· · · ·A.· ·Well, I would have to rereview -- I presume if

·3· ·that's there, that would be in the -- in the Phase 1

·4· ·report, but that's not something I specifically recall

·5· ·gaining any sort of knowledge or inference from that

·6· ·report of specific surveillance, at least not in -- not

·7· ·as I understand the term.· I don't know that there was

·8· ·anything that -- that indicated specifically that

·9· ·someone was watching or monitoring or anything like

10· ·that.· That would require more information.

11· · · · · · · · ·But had I been asked such a question,

12· ·certainly that -- the method of gaining an IP address,

13· ·and I believe I was asked this question, that the method

14· ·of gaining an IP address would certainly be useful for

15· ·that purpose of surveilling.

16· · · ·Q.· ·But -- but you don't have an opinion today as

17· ·we sit here that DFC or Dr. Guerra caused or -- I mean,

18· ·surveilled or caused to be surveilled Melody Joy Cantu?

19· · · · · · · · ·MR. EKELAND:· Objection.

20· · · · · · · · ·You can answer.

21· · · ·A.· ·Yeah, at -- at this moment, I don't believe

22· ·I've seen anything that specifically says that an

23· ·individual did such a thing, only that they -- that --

24· ·that the means to do so appear to have been achieved.

25· · · ·Q.· ·Is it your expert opinion that DFC or

Case 5:20-cv-00746-JKP Document 109-5 Filed 10/14/22 Page 8 of 13
·1· ·Dr. Guerra surveilled Dr. Cantu?

·2· · · · · · · · ·MR. EKELAND:· Objection.

·3· · · · · · · · ·You can answer.

·4· · · ·A.· ·Again, restating the last answer, I don't -- I

·5· ·don't have specific evidence to that effect, only that

·6· ·the means, the tools necessary to do so appear to have

·7· ·been achieved by DFC.

·8· · · ·Q.· ·And you -- you have been designated as

·9· ·Plaintiffs' expert, so I -- I am asking you for your --

10· ·if you have an expert opinion, not just if you've seen

11· ·specific evidence.· Do you intend as we sit here today

12· ·to offer an opinion at trial that DFC or Dr. Guerra

13· ·surveilled Melody Joy Cantu or Dr. Cantu?

14· · · · · · · · ·MR. EKELAND:· Objection.

15· · · · · · · · ·You can answer.

16· · · ·A.· ·At this time, I don't have a specific opinion

17· ·as to whether those individuals did such a thing.· And

18· ·again only that -- that the means appear to have been

19· ·gathered to do that.

20· · · · · · · · ·I would add to that.· At this point, while

21· ·I understand I've been designated for -- for trial

22· ·purposes, I don't know at this point that actual

23· ·testimony will be provided.· It's still dependent on any

24· ·additional discovery and -- and then possible rebuttal

25· ·for trial.

Case 5:20-cv-00746-JKP Document 109-5 Filed 10/14/22 Page 9 of 13
·1· · · ·Q.· ·Is it your expert opinion that DFC or

·2· ·Dr. Guerra surveilled any of Melody Joy Cantu's

·3· ·children?

·4· · · · · · · · ·MR. EKELAND:· Objection.

·5· · · · · · · · ·You can answer.

·6· · · ·A.· ·If I can make this shorter for you, same --

·7· ·same answer as before.

·8· · · ·Q.· ·Is it your expert opinion that DFC or

·9· ·Dr. Guerra caused or contributed to any of Melody Joy

10· ·Cantu's children being groomed for human trafficking?

11· · · · · · · · ·MR. EKELAND:· Objection.

12· · · · · · · · ·You can answer.

13· · · ·A.· ·Well, no, I certainly have no opinion about

14· ·that.

15· · · ·Q.· ·Is your expert opinion that DFC or Dr. Guerra

16· ·caused or contributed to any of Melody Joy Cantu or

17· ·Dr. Cantu's passwords or other personal information

18· ·being posted on the dark web?

19· · · · · · · · ·MR. EKELAND:· Objection.

20· · · · · · · · ·You can answer.

21· · · ·A.· ·Similar -- similar to before.· Only that the

22· ·means to do so appear to have been achieved, but I have

23· ·no specific evidence to that effect.

24· · · ·Q.· ·You have no -- is it -- am I correct that you

25· ·have no specific evidence or opinion that Dr. Guerra or

Case 5:20-cv-00746-JKP Document 109-5 Filed 10/14/22 Page 10 of 13
·1· ·DFC specifically caused or contributed to any of

·2· ·Plaintiffs' personal information or passwords being

·3· ·posted on the dark web?

·4· · · ·A.· ·At this time, other --

·5· · · · · · · · ·MR. EKELAND:· Objection.

·6· · · · · · · · ·THE WITNESS:· Yes.

·7· · · ·A.· ·At this time, other than the means to do so,

·8· ·no, I have no -- no specific opinion.

·9· · · ·Q.· ·Is it your expert opinion that Dr. Guerra or

10· ·DFC caused Plaintiffs to experience Internet or

11· ·bandwidth issues at the home they resided in in 2018

12· ·or 2019?

13· · · · · · · · ·MR. EKELAND:· Objection.

14· · · · · · · · ·You can answer.

15· · · ·A.· ·Specifically no -- no opinion to that effect at

16· ·this time.· Again, only -- only if in fact there was

17· ·manipulation of the -- of the cable splitter.· That's --

18· ·that -- the -- the means would have been there for that

19· ·effect.· But again, I have no evidence to prove that

20· ·such a thing had in fact occurred at this time.

21· · · ·Q.· ·Is it your expert opinion that DFC or

22· ·Dr. Guerra caused Plaintiffs' Nest home security to

23· ·crash in 2018?

24· · · · · · · · ·MR. EKELAND:· Objection.

25· · · · · · · · ·You can answer.

Case 5:20-cv-00746-JKP Document 109-5 Filed 10/14/22 Page 11 of 13
·1· · · · · · ·IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

· · · · · · · · FOR THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS

·2· · · · · · · · · · ·SAN ANTONIO DIVISION

·3· ·MELODY JOY CANTU and· · · )

· · ·DR. RODRIGO CANTU,· · · · )

·4· · · · · · · · · · · · · · ·)

· · · · · · · ·Plaintiffs,· · ·)

·5· · · · · · · · · · · · · · ·)

· · ·vs.· · · · · · · · · · · ·) NO. 5:20-CV-00746-JKP(HJB)

·6· · · · · · · · · · · · · · ·)

· · ·DR. SANDRA GUERRA and· · ·)

·7· ·DIGITAL FORENSICS· · · · ·)

· · ·CORPORATION, LLC,· · · · ·)

·8· · · · · · · · · · · · · · ·)

· · · · · · · ·Defendants.· · ·)

·9

10· · · · · · · · · · REPORTER'S CERTIFICATE

11· ·ORAL VIDEOTAPED DEPOSITION OF JEFFREY MICHAEL FISCHBACH

12· · · · · · · · · · · · JULY 26, 2022

13· · · · I, Jean Thomas Fraunhofer, Certified Shorthand

14· ·Reporter in and for the State of Texas, hereby certify

15· ·to the following:

16· · · ·That the witness, JEFFREY MICHAEL FISCHBACH, was

17· ·duly sworn and that the transcript of the deposition is

18· ·a true record of the testimony given by the witness;

19· · · ·I further certify that pursuant to FRCP Rule

20· ·30(f)(1) that the signature of the deponent was

21· ·requested by the deponent or a party before the

22· ·completion of the deposition and is to be returned

23· ·within 30 days from date of receipt of the transcript.

24· ·If returned, the attached Changes and Signature Pages

25· ·contain any changes and the reasons therefor;

Case 5:20-cv-00746-JKP Document 109-5 Filed 10/14/22 Page 12 of 13
·1· · · ·That pursuant to information given to the deposition

·2· ·officer at the time said testimony was taken, the

·3· ·following includes all parties of record and the amount

·4· ·of time used by each party at the time of the

·5· ·deposition:

·6· · · ·TOR EKELAND (0 Hours, 0 Minutes)

· · · · · · · Attorney for Plaintiffs

·7

· · · · ·BRANDY C. PEERY (2 Hours, 46 Minutes)

·8· · · · · · Attorney for Defendant Dr. Sandra Guerra

·9· · · ·J. DAVID APPLE (0 Hours, 13 Minutes)

· · · · · · · Attorney for Defendant Digital Forensics

10· · · · · · Corporation, LLC

11· · · ·That $_________ is the deposition officer's charges

12· ·to the Defendant Dr. Sandra Guerra for preparing the

13· ·original deposition and any copies of exhibits.

14· · · ·I further certify that I am neither counsel for,

15· ·related to, nor employed by any of the parties in the

16· ·action in which this proceeding was taken, and further

17· ·that I am not financially or otherwise interested in the

18· ·outcome of this action.

19· · · ·Certified to by me on this 10th day of August, 2022.

20

21· · · · · · · · ___________________________________________

· · · · · · · · · Jean Thomas Fraunhofer, CSR

22· · · · · · · · Texas CSR 7990

· · · · · · · · · Expiration:· 01/31/2023

23· · · · · · · · LEXITAS LEGAL

· · · · · · · · · Firm Registration No. 95

24· · · · · · · · 13101 Northwest Freeway, Suite 210

· · · · · · · · · Houston, Texas 77040

25· · · · · · · · Phone:· 888.893.3767

Case 5:20-cv-00746-JKP Document 109-5 Filed 10/14/22 Page 13 of 13