Opinion ID: 195382
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Authoritativeness.

Text: motion with an affidavit executed by Cathy Brooks. Reading the rule literally and the case law carelessly, RTC asseverates that the affidavit is defective because it is made by an attorney rather than a party. This asseveration stems from misreading one case, Hebert, 744 F.2d at 221 (a case that, contrary to RTC's rendition of it, stands only for the proposition that an undocketed letter from a lawyer is not a sufficient Rule 56(f) proffer), and from ignoring a later case, Paterson-Leitch, 840 F.2d at 988 (a case in which we stated unequivocally that a Rule 56(f) proffer may acceptably take the form of written representations of counsel subject to the strictures of Fed. R. Civ. P. 11). This case floats comfortably within the safe harbor contemplated by the Paterson-Leitch court. The affidavit is of record and has been duly served on the opposing party. It is signed by a person who possesses firsthand knowledge and who is competent to address the specifics of the matters discussed. The 7The second extension motion sought a continuance through May 14, 1993, necessitated by a medical emergency. See Chronology, supra, at No. 11. While that motion appears to have been meritorious in the sense that a documented family illness precluded the borrowers from presenting facts essential to justify [their] opposition, Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(f), the district court did not consider the motion in an expeditious fashion, and it was effectively superseded by the third motion. Hence, we train our sights on the latter target. 12 fact that the affiant is also the borrowers' attorney does not undermine the proffer; after all, the borrowers themselves would know the relevant particulars only through communications from counsel. Since they could hardly speak either to the cause or the effect of discovery delays, requiring that the supporting affidavit be signed by them rather than by a lawyer would mindlessly exalt form over substance. Attorney Brooks' affidavit is, therefore, sufficiently authoritative. 2. Timeliness. RTC questions whether the Rule 56(f)