Opinion ID: 186942
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Identity of Interests

Text: 19 Taylor seeks the same result as did Herrick, namely, release of the F-45 documents. To establish the identity of their interests, however, it is necessary to show not just that they wanted the same result but also that Herrick had substantially the same incentive to achieve it. See Chase Manhattan Bank, N.A. v. Celotex Corp., 56 F.3d 343, 346 (2d Cir.1995). A party who is less than zealous in pursuing his case is not an effective representative of a more committed party in a successive suit. See Cleveland County Ass'n for Gov't by the People v. Cleveland County Bd. of Comm'rs, 142 F.3d 468, 474 (D.C.Cir.1998). Here, the evidence is that Herrick and Taylor had substantially the same incentive. Taylor concedes he shares Herrick's interest in the preservation of antique aircraft as a general matter. Taylor also admitted, in his request for discovery, that Herrick had asked him to assist with the restoration of Herrick's F-45. Although the district court erred in stating at summary judgment that Taylor had agreed to help restore the aircraft, there was still evidence that Herrick and Taylor had the same motivation to obtain the documents, viz., the restoration of Herrick's F-45. In the absence of any contrary evidence, see, e.g., Bias v. Advantage Intern., Inc., 905 F.2d 1558, 1561 (D.C.Cir. 1990) (Once the moving party has carried its burden ... [t]he nonmoving party `must come forward with specific facts showing that there is a genuine issue for trial. ' (quoting Matsushita Elec. Indus. Co. v. Zenith Radio Corp., 475 U.S. 574, 587, 106 S.Ct. 1348, 89 L.Ed.2d 538 (1986)) (internal quotation mark omitted)), such as an opposing affidavit, the district court correctly found their interests were identical. 20 Taylor points out that he alleged in his opposition to summary judgment that he sought the information for the public and in the interest of the preservation of antique aircraft heritage; contends the admission that Herrick had asked him to help restore Herrick's aircraft was an erroneous statement made by his counsel; and claims he did not need to file an affidavit correcting the error because neither the FAA nor Fairchild had identified Herrick's supposed request as an undisputed material fact. Taylor's statement in his motion for discovery, however, may be treated as an admission[] on file, FED. R. CIV. P. 56(c); see also Gospel Missions of Am. v. City of Los Angeles, 328 F.3d 548, 557 (9th Cir.2003) (representation in brief may be treated as admission on file); United States v. One Heckler-Koch Rifle, 629 F.2d 1250, 1253 (7th Cir.1980); 10A CHARLES A. WRIGHT, ARTHUR R. MILLER & MARY KAY KANE, supra § 2722 at 375-76, § 2723 at 389-91 (3d ed.1998); and Fairchild's motion for summary judgment did identify that statement as evidence of a close relationship between Taylor and Herrick. Taylor therefore had notice of its potential use by the district court, yet made no effort to correct the error until after the court had entered judgment against him.  Taylor responds that a statement in a memorandum of law should not be treated as evidence, citing Orson, Inc. v. Miramax Film Corp., 79 F.3d 1358, 1372 (3d Cir.1996), but that case involved a factual assertion by the plaintiff offered in support of his claim, id., and thus is relevantly different from the statement against interest at issue here. Cf. Fund for Animals, Inc. v. Norton, 322 F.3d 728, 734 (D.C.Cir.2003) (pleadings are admissible as evidence in support of ... opponent's cause). 21 In any event, the distinction Taylor draws between his interest in the preservation of antique aircraft and Herrick's is not helpful to his cause. Herrick's specific interest in the restoration of his F-45 gave him, if anything, a stronger incentive to litigate than Taylor's general interest in public disclosure and the preservation of antique aircraft heritage.