EXHIBIT G 

Case 2:11-cv-01754-BRM-AME Document 384-8 Filed 12/15/17 Page 1 of 12 PageID: 15801
·1

· · · · · · ·IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

·2· · · · · · · FOR THE DISTRICT OF NEW JERSEY

·3

·4· ·KIMBERLEE WILLIAMS,· · · )

· · ·et al.,· · · · · · · · · )

·5· · · · · · · · · · · · · · )

· · · · · · ·Plaintiffs,· · · )

·6· · · · · · · · · · · · · · )

· · ·vs.· · · · · · · · · · · ) Case No. 11-cv-01754

·7· · · · · · · · · · · · · · )

· · ·BASF CATALYSTS, LLC,· · ·)

·8· ·et al.,· · · · · · · · · )

· · · · · · · · · · · · · · · )

·9· · · · · ·Defendants.· · · )

10

11

· · · · · · · · · · · · · ·- - - - -

12· · THE VIDEO RECORDED DEPOSITION OF DONNETTE WENGERD

· · · · · · · · · ·THURSDAY, APRIL 6, 2017

13· · · · · · · · · · · · ·- - - - -

14

15

16· · · · The video recorded deposition of DONNETTE

17· ·WENGERD, called by the Defendants for examination

18· ·pursuant to the Ohio Rules of Civil Procedure, taken

19· ·before me, the undersigned, Jill A. Kulewsky, RPR

20· ·and Notary Public within and for the State of Ohio,

21· ·taken at the offices of Thompson Hine, LLP, 3900 Key

22· ·Tower, 127 Public Square, Cleveland, Ohio,

23· ·commencing at 9:44 a.m., the day and date above set

24· ·forth.

25

Case 2:11-cv-01754-BRM-AME Document 384-8 Filed 12/15/17 Page 2 of 12 PageID: 15802
·1· · · · · · · · ·THE VIDEOGRAPHER:· This is the

·2· ·beginning of the video-recorded deposition of

·3· ·Donnette Wengerd in the case of Kimberlee

·4· ·Williams, et al. versus BASF Catalysts, LLC, et

·5· ·al., in the United States District Court for

·6· ·the District of New Jersey, Civil Action Number

·7· ·11-CV-01754.

·8· · · · ·My name is Alex Cook.· I'm the video

·9· ·operator.· Would counsel please identify

10· ·yourselves and state whom you represent.

11· · · · · · · · ·MR. COREN:· Good day.· I am

12· ·Michael Coren.· I represent the Plaintiffs in

13· ·this case, including the witness today,

14· ·Donnette Wengerd.

15· · · · · · · · ·MR. PLACITELLA:· John Placitella

16· ·for the Plaintiffs.

17· · · · · · · · ·MR. FARRELL:· Peter Farrell of

18· ·Kirkland & Ellis for Defendant BASF Catalysts.

19· · · · · · · · ·MS. DALMUT:· Elizabeth Dalmut,

20· ·Kirkland & Ellis, on behalf of BASF Catalysts.

21· · · · · · · · ·MR. GEYERMAN:· Grant Geyerman

22· ·from Williams & Connolly on behalf --

23· · · · · · · · ·MR. TUNIS:· I'm sorry.

24· · · · · · · · ·MR. GEYERMAN:· -- of the Cahill

25· ·Defendants.

Case 2:11-cv-01754-BRM-AME Document 384-8 Filed 12/15/17 Page 3 of 12 PageID: 15803
·1· · · · · · · · · · ·MR. COREN:· Eric.

·2· · · · · · · · · · ·MR. TUNIS:· Eric Tunis on the

·3· · · ·phone on behalf of Thomas Halket.

·4· · · · · · · · · · ·MR. BOYLE:· John Boyle by phone

·5· · · ·on behalf of Defendant Arthur Dornbusch.

·6· · · · · · · · · · ·MR. COREN:· I think that's it.

·7· · · · · · · · · · DONNETTE WENGERD

·8· ·of lawful age, called for examination, as provided

·9· ·by the Ohio Rules of Civil Procedure, being by me

10· ·first duly sworn, as hereinafter certified, deposed

11· ·and said as follows:

12· · · · · · ·EXAMINATION OF DONNETTE WENGERD

13· ·BY MR. FARRELL:

14· ·Q· ·Good morning, Mrs. Wengerd.· Can you describe

15· · · ·the claims you're pursuing in this case?

16· ·A· ·I'm pursuing claims against BASF for fraud.

17· ·Q· ·And what is the fraud?

18· ·A· ·Fraud was against the claim that was brought on

19· · · ·my mother's behalf, that there was evidence

20· · · ·left out or not provided toward her claim, and

21· · · ·it was therefore thrown out.

22· ·Q· ·And what is the source of that information?

23· · · · · · · · · · ·MR. COREN:· Donnette, I'm going

24· · · ·to instruct you not to answer to the extent

25· · · ·your answer relies upon the advice of counsel.

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·1· · · ·If you can answer the question without

·2· · · ·incorporating or revealing advice of counsel,

·3· · · ·please respond to Mr. Farrell's question.

·4· ·A· ·I'm unable to add anything other than the

·5· · · ·advice of counsel.

·6· ·Q· ·So you have no personal knowledge of the fraud

·7· · · ·committed by BASF, other than what you learned

·8· · · ·through counsel?

·9· ·A· ·That is correct.

10· ·Q· ·Do you know when this alleged fraud began?

11· ·A· ·Not to my knowledge of an exact date, no.

12· ·Q· ·Did it end on a particular date?

13· ·A· ·Not to my knowledge.

14· ·Q· ·Who was involved in the alleged fraud by BASF?

15· · · · · · · · · · ·MR. COREN:· Once again, I

16· · · ·instruct you not to answer to the extent your

17· · · ·answers rely upon advice of counsel.· If you

18· · · ·can answer the question without incorporating

19· · · ·or revealing advice of counsel, please respond.

20· ·A· ·I cannot respond without advice of counsel.

21· ·Q· ·So you have no personal knowledge of who was

22· · · ·involved in an alleged fraud by BASF other than

23· · · ·information provided to you by counsel?

24· ·A· ·That is correct.

25· ·Q· ·What is the Westfall case?

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·1· ·A· ·The Westfall case was a case where information

·2· · · ·was provided regarding BASF and some of the

·3· · · ·evidence of asbestos in their talc, and that is

·4· · · ·part of what the fraud is, that that was not

·5· · · ·supplied.

·6· ·Q· ·And where did you learn about the Westfall

·7· · · ·case?

·8· · · · · · · · · · ·MR. COREN:· The same instruction.

·9· ·A· ·Through my attorney.

10· ·Q· ·So other than conversations with your counsel,

11· · · ·you have no personal knowledge of the Westfall

12· · · ·case?

13· ·A· ·That's correct.

14· ·Q· ·Do you know how the Westfall case connects to

15· · · ·the case that your mother filed?

16· ·A· ·The information that was provided to the

17· · · ·Westfall case was not provided in my mother's

18· · · ·case, and the evidence of such information even

19· · · ·existing was denied by BASF.

20· ·Q· ·And where did that information come from?

21· · · · · · · · · · ·MR. COREN:· Once again, I

22· · · ·instruct you not to answer to the extent your

23· · · ·answer relies upon the advice of counsel.· If

24· · · ·you can answer the question without

25· · · ·incorporating or revealing the advice of

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·1· · · ·counsel, please respond.

·2· ·A· ·The information would come from my attorney. I

·3· · · ·can't answer without their advice.

·4· ·Q· ·So other than information you learned from

·5· · · ·counsel, you can't tell me how the Westfall

·6· · · ·case relates to the case that your mother

·7· · · ·filed?

·8· ·A· ·That's correct.

·9· ·Q· ·Which attorney told you about the Westfall

10· · · ·case?

11· ·A· ·That would be Mr. Cohen, as well as Mr. Bevan.

12· ·Q· ·Who is Mr. Bevan?

13· ·A· ·Thomas Bevan is another one of my attorneys.

14· ·Q· ·Is Mr. Bevan representing you in this case?

15· ·A· ·He is a part of the legal team.

16· ·Q· ·So he's counsel for you in the Williams case?

17· ·A· ·He would be a part of the team.· There are

18· · · ·quite a few attorneys representing me.

19· ·Q· ·Who are the other attorneys?

20· ·A· ·Mr. Cohen, Mr. Placitella.· There are also a

21· · · ·few others that I have not met, but I do

22· · · ·understand that they are involved in helping.

23· ·Q· ·Do you know which law firms they are associated

24· · · ·with?

25· ·A· ·Cohen and Placitella is one.· Bevan and

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·1· ·Q· ·During this meeting with Mr. Bevan and

·2· · · ·Mr. Coren, did you take any notes?

·3· ·A· ·No.

·4· ·Q· ·Did they take any notes?

·5· · · · · · · · · · ·MR. COREN:· Objection.· Don't

·6· · · ·answer.

·7· · · · · · · · · · ·MR. FARRELL:· What is the basis

·8· · · ·for the instruction not to answer?

·9· · · · · · · · · · ·MR. COREN:· Work product.

10· · · ·Attorney-client privilege.

11· · · · · · · · · · ·MR. FARRELL:· The fact that

12· · · ·whether you took notes is privileged?

13· · · · · · · · · · ·MR. COREN:· Everything is, yes.

14· · · ·Move on.

15· · · · · · · · · · ·MR. FARRELL:· Everything is

16· · · ·privileged.

17· ·Q· ·Do you know the answer to whether Mr. Coren or

18· · · ·Mr. Bevan took notes at their meeting with you?

19· ·A· ·Yes.

20· ·Q· ·You could answer that question but for the

21· · · ·instruction not to answer?

22· ·A· ·That is correct.

23· · · · · · · · · · ·MR. COREN:· Peter, I look forward

24· · · ·to seeing all your notes with your meetings

25· · · ·with your clients.

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·1· · · · · · · · · · ·MR. FARRELL:· I didn't ask to see

·2· · · ·the notes, Michael.· I asked whether they

·3· · · ·existed.

·4· ·Q· ·Do you still -- withdrawn.

·5· · · · · · ·Have you signed a retention letter

·6· · · ·retaining the Cohen Placitella firm in the

·7· · · ·Williams case?

·8· ·A· ·Yes.· I believe I have.

·9· ·Q· ·Do you have a copy of that letter?

10· ·A· ·I would have to check my file for certainty.

11· ·Q· ·You don't know one way or the other whether you

12· · · ·still have the retention letter?

13· ·A· ·I couldn't tell you if my electric bill is in

14· · · ·that file, sir, without looking at the file

15· · · ·itself.

16· ·Q· ·Well, I'm not asking whether it's in the file.

17· · · ·I'm just asking do you know, as you sit here

18· · · ·today, one way or the other whether you still

19· · · ·have the retention letter that you signed

20· · · ·retaining the Cohen Placitella firm?

21· ·A· ·I don't know.

22· ·Q· ·Did you sign a retention letter retaining the

23· · · ·Bevan firm in connection with the Williams

24· · · ·case?

25· ·A· ·I don't know.· I can't recall if there was one

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·1· · · ·with Bevan.· I do know that I do believe that I

·2· · · ·signed one with Mr. Coren's firm.

·3· ·Q· ·When you first spoke to the Cohen Placitella

·4· · · ·firm about potentially being a Plaintiff in the

·5· · · ·Williams case, did they tell you to preserve

·6· · · ·all of the documents related to your mother's

·7· · · ·asbestos case?

·8· · · · · · · · · · ·MR. COREN:· Objection.

·9· · · ·Privilege.· Move on.

10· ·A· ·Per my attorney's suggestion not to answer the

11· · · ·question.

12· ·Q· ·Is it your understanding, Mrs. Wengerd, that

13· · · ·you're supposed to preserve all of the

14· · · ·documents related to your mother's asbestos

15· · · ·case?

16· · · · · · · · · · ·MR. COREN:· Objection.

17· · · ·Privilege.· Move on.

18· ·A· ·Again, per my attorney's information, I'm

19· · · ·choosing not to answer.

20· ·Q· ·Do you know the answer to that question?

21· ·A· ·Yes.

22· ·Q· ·Does the retention letter you have with the

23· · · ·Cohen Placitella firm address the fees that

24· · · ·they would receive for acting as counsel in

25· · · ·this case?

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·1· · · · · · · · · · ·MR. COREN:· Objection.· Don't

·2· · · ·answer.

·3· ·A· ·That would be attorney-client privilege, I

·4· · · ·believe.

·5· ·Q· ·You believe, or it is?

·6· · · · · · · · · · ·MR. COREN:· It is.· Move on.· I'm

·7· · · ·asserting it for her.

·8· · · · · · · · · · ·MR. FARRELL:· Your position is

·9· · · ·that your fee arrangement with the Plaintiffs

10· · · ·in this class action is privileged?

11· · · · · · · · · · ·MR. COREN:· Yes.· It's a fee --

12· · · ·it's a client communication, a fee retainer.

13· · · ·If His Honor would like to see it, we will

14· · · ·provide it.· Move on.

15· ·Q· ·Do you know the answer to the question I asked?

16· ·A· ·I'm not sure without looking at the document

17· · · ·itself.

18· ·Q· ·Without looking at the retention letter, you

19· · · ·don't know the nature of the fee arrangement

20· · · ·you have with the Cohen Placitella firm?

21· · · · · · · · · · ·MR. COREN:· Objection.

22· ·A· ·Per my attorney's suggestion not to answer the

23· · · ·question, I'm choosing not to answer.

24· ·Q· ·Do you know the answer to that question?

25· ·A· ·No.· I'm not sure.

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·1· ·Q· ·What is the fee arrangement you have with the

·2· · · ·Bevan firm?

·3· ·A· ·That would be attorney-client privileged

·4· · · ·information.

·5· ·Q· ·Do you know the answer to that question?

·6· ·A· ·Yes.

·7· ·Q· ·What's the answer?

·8· · · · · · · · · · ·MR. COREN:· Excuse me --

·9· ·A· ·It's attorney-client privileged.

10· · · · · · · · · · ·MR. COREN:· She asserted it.

11· ·Q· ·Are you paying the Cohen Placitella firm right

12· · · ·now?

13· · · · · · · · · · ·MR. COREN:· Objection.· Don't

14· · · ·answer.

15· ·A· ·It would be attorney-client privileged

16· · · ·information, any fee agreement that I may have

17· · · ·with the firm.

18· ·Q· ·Have you paid any money to the Bevan firm to

19· · · ·represent you in the Williams case?

20· · · · · · · · · · ·MR. COREN:· Objection.· Same.

21· ·A· ·Again, same.· I'm choosing not to answer.

22· ·Q· ·Is any other law firm representing you in

23· · · ·connection with the Williams case other than

24· · · ·Cohen Placitella and the Bevan firm?

25· ·A· ·I believe there is another attorney on the team

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