Opinion ID: 3001733
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Agreement Regarding a Planned Second EUO

Text: Of material relevance to this case, the parties do not dispute that the mutual understanding upon ending the EUO on April 21, 2006, was that another EUO would be scheduled with Snyder after additional documents were requested and provided. Snyder testified in an affidavit: “During the course of the EUO, Mr. Clark requested additional documents from NAS. Either during or after the EUO, he stated that he would promptly send a letter to NAS following the EUO itemizing the additional documents that he would like to review.” (DE 18-2, 4; Pl. Desig. of Evid. in Opp. To Def. Mot. for Summ. J., Snyder Aff., 4, ¶ 24.) Snyder also testified that: “At the conclusion of the EUO, I recall that Mr. Clark stated that he was completed with his questioning of me other than any additional questions that he may have after reviewing the additional documentation that he would be requesting.” (DE 18-2, 4; Pl. Desig. of Evid. in Opp. To Def. Mot. for Summ. J., Snyder Aff., 4, ¶ 25.) Snyder also acknowledged that the Defendant’s attorney, Clark, “requested that I appear for a second EUO.” (DE 18-2, 4; Pl. Desig. 9 of Evid. in Opp. To Def. Mot. for Summ. J., Snyder Aff., 5, ¶ 30.) The Plaintiff’s attorney at the time, Harmeyer, testified in an affidavit that Clark needed to review more documents and then would have more questions for Snyder: There were a number of documents and categories of documents which Mr. Clark had identified throughout the several hours which would need to still be produced which he had not yet obtained. And at the time of conclusion, he expressed a need to essentially pickup where he left off once the additional records were produced. (DE 16-13, 4; Def. Desig. of Mat. Evid., Ex. F, Harmeyer Dep., 3:2–8.) Harmeyer further testified that Clark “did express almost in an apologetic tone that we would need to come back once the additional records were produced. . . . [H]e led me to the impression that he wanted to first see the records, which would then tell him what follow-up, if any, needed to occur.” (DE 16-13, 5; Def. Desig. of Mat. Evid., Ex. F, Harmeyer Dep., 4:13–21.) Additionally, Harmeyer testified: “The whole point of rescheduling was to explore, to examine, the new records which would be produced forthwith.” (DE 16-13, 6; Def. Desig. of Mat. Evid., Ex. F, Harmeyer Dep., 5:13–15.) Even the August 31, 2006, letter from Baeverstad, Plaintiff’s new counsel, to Clark acknowledged and did not dispute that a second EUO was contemplated: “It is my understanding that you have already spent eight (8) hours questioning Mr. Snyder under oath and have intentions to reschedule his examination under oath for additional days.” (DE 18-2, 32; Pl. Desig. of Evid. in Opp. To Def. Mot. for Summ. J., Ex. 9, 3.) The record is clear that the Plaintiff was aware of the need and plan to conduct a second EUO after it provided additional documents to the Defendant. Even though both parties agreed on holding a second EUO, the Plaintiff later objected to it and refused to participate. The Plaintiff’s owner, Snyder, disputed that he refused to undergo another EUO. “Further, I have never refused to appear for a second EUO.” (DE 18-2, 7; Pl. 10 Desig. of Evid. in Opp. to Def. Mot. for Summ. J., Snyder Aff., 7.) However, the next sentence in his affidavit makes clear that his participation in the second EUO was indeed conditional, and that he would not agree to the EUO unless those conditions were met: “I only request that reasonable limitations on the scope and length of the second EUO be agreed upon by the parties or ordered by the Court.” (DE 18-2, 7; Pl. Desig. of Evid. in Opp. to Def. Mot. for Summ. J., Snyder Aff., 7.) Baeverstad’s August 31, 2006, letter, quoted supra, also made clear that Snyder would not undergo the second EUO unless the Defendant met certain conditions. Snyder stated in his affidavit that after thirty days went by with no response to the Plaintiff’s requested limits on the EUO, “I instructed Mr. Baeverstad to initiate this litigation.” (DE 18-2, 6; Pl. Desig. of Evid. in Opp. to Def. Mot. for Summ. J., Snyder Aff., 6.)