Opinion ID: 782617
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: September 1998 Meeting in Washington with Edwards, Braga, Wyatt, and Phil Fisher

Text: 64 Edwards and Wyatt agree that such a meeting in Washington occurred in early September 1998. The district court did not discuss this meeting in its opinion, nor did it make findings. 65 Braga testified that several things were discussed at this meeting, including that: 66 ... we talked about Mr. Phillips and what he was up to and we talked about the possibility of a settlement. Mr. Wyatt told me that they were trying to have talks with the franchisees and if there was a global settlement they would have to include Mr. Edwards [,] which is what I understood, anyway. 67 JA 1032 (emphasis added). 68 Edwards testified that at the meeting in Washington they discussed basically just reiterating that there were no problems and that the game plan was the same as it had been since February, that is, Mr. Wyatt's intention was to go forward and bid on and acquire the stock. JA 779. 69 Wyatt's testimony acknowledged that this meeting occurred. Wyatt's responses to questions asked by Braga (acting as counsel) provided Wyatt's view of the meeting: 70 Q. Do you recall in that discussion or in any other discussion with Mr. Edwards asking him to arrange for you to come down to Washington and meet with me? 71
72 Q. Do you remember that you requested Mr. Edwards to set that up? 73 A. I believe I did, yes, sir. 74 Q. In fact you submitted an affidavit... that indicated that you came to Washington as a courtesy to me? 75 A. I was trying to come up with some way, if there was [a way], to make this thing work [ ] out. 76 Q. Do you recall what we discussed in Washington? 77 A. Before lunch, we discussed where we were and what was going on with Mr. Phillips and I think I was trying to find out — just explore, not find out, just explore, any options that I had discovered to try and figure out how to get this matter resolved .... 78 Q. You had a [meeting] couple of weeks earlier with the franchisees that did not go very well? 79 A. Are you referring to the New York meeting.... 80 A. That meeting did not go well. 81 Q. We also discussed, what, if anything, Mr. Edwards might be able to do to help you in the Camden case? 82 A. That's correct. 83 Q. You were frustrated that case had not been resolved yet? 84 A. That's correct.... 85 Q. You brought counsel with you to Washington. 86 A. I brought Mr. Fisher.... 87 Q. Do you recall saying to me at the meeting in Washington that if there was going to be a settlement as a result of the talks with the franchisees they would have to include Mr. Edwards? 88 A. Yes. 89 Q. You said that to me? 90 A. I said that to you. 91 Q. In Washington? 92 A. I think I said it more than once. 93 JA 907-909 (emphasis added). J. Wyatt-Phillips Realignment and October 30 Hearing in Bankruptcy Court 94 Braga testified that at the October 30 bankruptcy court hearing, outside the courtroom, Silverstein informed him that Wyatt and Phillips had settled. JA 1042. 95 The district court found that Wyatt and Phillips had made a joint bid: On October 30, 1998, Wyatt and Phillips jointly offered a cash bid of $5.2 million, plus the claims settlement ... pursuant to a Settlement Agreement entered into between Wyatt, Phillips and others. Edward, 2002 WL 1832814, at  (Finding of Fact ¶ 51). 96 Later, over Edwards' objection, the Bankruptcy Court granted the Trustee's motion to sell Edwards's assets pursuant to Wyatt's and Phillips' joint bid. Id. at  (Finding of Fact ¶¶ 55-56).