Free Response - District Court of Connecticut - Connecticut

Case 3:01-cv-02018-JBA

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF CONNECTICUT UNITED STATES FIDELITY M'D GUARANTY COMPANY, DISCOVER REINSURANCE COMPANY AND DISCOVERY MANAGERS, LTD. Plaintiffs V. S.B. PHILLIPS COMPANY, INe. Defendant
JULY 23, 2004 CIVIL ACTION NO.: 301CV2018 (DJS)

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OBJECTION TO MOTION TO COMPEL PAYMENT OF EXPERT FEES AND FOR COSTS The counterclaim plaintiffs, S.B. Phillips Company, Inc. ("S.B. Phillips") and Sam B. Phillips, Jr. ("Sam Phillips") (collectively, the "Counterclaim Plaintiffs") hereby object ("Objection") to the Motion to Compel Payment of Expert Fees and For Costs ("Motion") filed by the Counterclaim Defendants in this matter. In support hereof, the Counterclaim Plaintiffs respectfully state as follows: The Counterclaim Defendants are, themselves, guilty of substantial delayed payment of expert fees to Counterclaim Plaintiffs' expert, and it is only when they decided to pay the Counterclaim Plaintiffs' expert's fees that they now have demanded their expert fees be paid.

BERMAN AND SABLE LlC

ONE FINANCIAL PLAZA, HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT 06103 (860) 527-9699 . JURIS NO. 03840

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Attached to this Objection as Exhibit A is a letter from the undersigned's office dated October 16,2003 requesting clarification of the charges by the Counterclaim Defendant's expert and a request to pay Counterclaim Plaintiffs expert. Attached to this Objection as Exhibit B is a follow-up letter dated February 11, 2004 by the undersigned again requesting payment of Counterclaim Plaintiffs expert fees. On May 25,2004, the undersigned received the detail regarding the charges of Counterclaim Defendants' expert which was requested by the undersigned's office in the letter of October 16,2003. In point of fact, due to the delay in payment by the Counterclaim Defendants of the Counterclaim Plaintiffs' expert fees, the Counterclaim Plaintiffs believed and understood that each of the parties was going to pay its own expert fees. Since now the Counterclaim Plaintiffs are under a different understanding, the Counterclaim Plaintiffs are reviewing the payment history, and, if unpaid, will process payment. Now, counsel for Counterclaim Defendants, instead of inquiring into the cause of the delay (which would have provided a complete explanation) has chosen to:

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file a Motion without good faith inquiry. expose to the public a confidential report in violation of the Confidentiality

Order in place in this case.

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BERMAN AND SABLE LLC ONE FINANCIAL PLAZA. HARTFORD. CONNECTICUT 06103 (860) 527-9699 JURIS NO. 03840

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put before the Court, a Fed. R. Civ. P. §26(a)(2) expert report at a time when the Court has under deliberation Counterclaim Defendants' motion for and Counterclaim Plaintiffs' Objection to partial summary judgment. WHEREFORE, the Counterclaim Plaintiffs' object to Counterclaim Defendants' Motion and respectfully request: 1. 2. That Counterclaim Defendants' Motion be denied. That the Court place under seal, the confidential document wrongfully

exposed by the Counterclaim Defendants. 3. Respectfully, that the Court ignore the wrongfully submitted expert

report attached to the Motion, in its deliberations on the motion for and objection to partial summary judgment. 4. That the Court impose sanctions on Counterclaim Defendants' and their

counsel for such impetuous, improper and reprehensible conduct. 5. That the Counterclaim Plaintiffs have such other relief as is just.

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BERMAN AND SABLE LlC ONE FINANCIAL PLAZA. HARTFORD. CONNECTICUT (860) 527-9699 JURIS NO. 03840

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06103

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THE COUNTERCLAIM PLAINTIFF, S.B. PHILLIPS COMPANY, INC., AND COUNTERCLAIM PLAINTIFF,

::B.PHILL~S'~
MICHAELP. BERMAN Federal Bar No.: ct05624 Bennan and Sable LLC One Financial Plaza, 20thFloor Hartford, CT 06103 Tel: (860) 527-9699 Fax: (860) 527-9077 Their Attorneys

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BERMAN AND SABLE LlC ONE FINANCIAL PLAZA. HARTFORD. CONNECTICUT 06103 (860) 527-9699 JURIS NO. 03840

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CERTIFICATION OF SERVICE This is to certify that a copy ofthe foregoing Objection to Motion to Compel was mailed, via U.S. mail, first class, postage prepaid, on this 23rdday of July, 2004 to:

Thomas J. Groark, Jr., Esq. Kathleen D. Monnes, Esq. Michael P. Shea, Esq. Day, Berry & Howard, LLP CityPlace I Hartford, CT 06103-3499
Phillip E. Reeves, Esq. Jennifer E. Johnsen, Esq. Gallivan, White & Boyd, P.A. 330 East Coffee Street P.O. Box 10589 Greenville, SC 29603

Moffatt G. McDonald, Esq. Kevin A. Kauer, Esq. Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd, P.A. 75 Beattie Place, 11thFloor P.O. Box 2048 Greenville, SC 29602-2048

MICHAEL P. BERMAN

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BERMAN AND SABLE LlC ONE FINANCIAL PLAZA. HARTFORD. CONNECTICUT 06103 (860) 527-9699 . JURIS NO. 03840

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LAW OFFICES

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BERMAN AND SABLE
MICHAEL P. BERMAN*. JOEL N. SABLE STEVEN A. BERMAN JAMES W. OUVER. JAMES J. BRAULT ROBERTJ.CAFFREYROBERT L. KEEPNEWS. DAVID R. LEVESQUE

100 PEARL STREET HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT 06103
TEL: (860) 527-9699 FAX: (860) 527-9077 E-MAIL: [email protected] WEB: www.bermansable.com

NEW HAVEN OFFICE

195 Church Street New Haven, Connecticut 06510
TEL: (203) 495-6200 FAX: (203) 495-6220

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SUZANNE LAPLANTE.

JOSE A. AGUIAR. JAMES M. SAYA*

"ALSO ADMrITED -ALSO

IN MASSACHUSETTS IN OHIO IN NEW YORK

ADMrITED

. ALSO ADMrITED

October 16, 2003

Kathleen D. Monnes, Esq. Day, Berry & Howard, LLP CityPlace I Hartford, CT 06103-3499 Re: United States Fidelitv and Guarantv Company. et al. v. S.B. Phillips Company. Inc.Civil Action No.: 3:01cv2018 (DJS)

Dear Kathy:

I am writing in response to your fax of October 15, 2003, regarding the deposition invoice submitted by John Lochner. While the attached letter from Mr. Lochner provides some general information as to the services rendered in connection with the fees sought, given the relative brevity of the deposition, I would appreciate a break down as to his hourly rate, as well as the "indirect expenses" referred to in his invoice. Given the fact that Rule 26(b)(4)(C) requires us only to pay "a reasonable fee for time spent in responding to discovery," I would appreciate some additional information regarding an invoice in excess of $4,000.00 with respect to a two and one-half hour deposition. I am also informed, that the invoice (copy enclosed) from our expert, Richard Engelhuber, remains unpaid. I would suggest that our offices work together to get both of these invoices paid. I look forward to receiving from you some additional detail

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regarding Mr. Lochner's invoice and, thereafter, respective experts are paid.

ensuring that both of our

Very truly yours,

Robert L. Keepnews RLK:lmc cc: Michael P. Berman, Esq.
F:\ USERS \ SHARED \UT\ USF&G \ Correspondence\Monnes, Kathleen, lO1603.doc

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MERCER
Risk. Finance & Insurance Consulting
3475 Piedmont Road NE, Suite 420 Atla"ta. GA 30305-2954 404 239 6410 Fax 404 239 6404 www.:nercerRR.com

April 9,2003 Mr. Mike Shea Day, Ber:ry & Howard u..P City P1ace I Hartford. CT 06103-3499 Dear Mike: Enclosed pl~ find our invmcc for the deposition in connection with United States Fidelity And Guaranty Company, Discover Reinsurance Company, and Discovery Managers, Ltd..vs. S. B. Phillips Company, Inc.' If you have any questions regarding the enclosed invoice, please feel n:ee to give me a call.

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SHIPPED

APR092003

Enclosme
Cc: MikeBeT'O'1~. Berman and Sable Blanton Phillips, S. B. Phillips

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Mlr$h &MellMan Companies

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.INVOICE
3475 Piedmont Suite 420 Atlanta, GA Road NE

30305
Tel:

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~O4 239 6410

Invoice Number: .Invoice Date:

N07530291 09-Apr-2003

Client
Day, Berry & Reward LLP M:r. Mike Shea
City Place I Haztford, CT 06103-3499
~

Acct:

SIG'SRC - 01

SHIPPED

APR 09 ZOO3

For

the deposition

Fidelity And Guaranty

in connection ~ith United States Company, Discover Reinsurance

$3,288.QO

Company, and Disccve:y Managers, Ltd. v~. S. B. Phillips Company, Inc.

--------------Total
Payable

--_II..=
upon receipt
Pees Expenses 0.00 Project SIGERC-Ol-001
Internal

$3,288.00

J;;..

L.O.B.
~ 0 the:

Invoice

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3,:aa.Oo

NO O\.VEAT (COr-mMY B) Consu1.tant: Richard Engelhube%'
Client Activity Coordinator Copy

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LAW OFFICES

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BERMAN AND SABLE LLC
MICHAEL P. BERMAN-' STEVEN A. BERMAN JOEL N. SABLE JAMES W. OUVERJAMES J. BRAULT ROBERT J. CAFFREY" ROBERT L. KEEPNEWS* DAVID R. LEVESQUE SUZANNE LAPLANTE' JOst A. AGUIARJAMES M. SAYA-

ONE FINANCIAL PLAZA HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT
TEL: (860) 527.9699 FAX: (860) 527-9077 E-MAIL: [email protected] WEB: www.bertnanaable.coJ11

NEW HAVEN OFFICE

06103

195 Church Street New Haven, Connecticut 06510
TEL: (203) 495-6200

'ALSO ADMrrTED -ALSO

IN MASSACHUSETTS IN OHIO

ADMrrTED

'ALSO ADMl'TTED IN NEW YORK

February 11,2004

Thomas Groark, Esq. Day, Berry & Howard, LLP CityPlace I Hartford, Connecticut 06103-3499 Re: ,Pear Tom: Enclosed is an invoice from Mercer regarding the expense for the second deposition of Richard Engelhuber. This invoice remains unpaid by your client. As you can see, the invoice dates back to April 9, 2003. Please have the payment in the amount of $3,288.00 paid directly to Mercer in Atlanta, Georgia. S.B, Phillips Company, Inc., et al. v. USF&G, et al.

Very truly yours,

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MPB:1mc Enclosure cc: Carol Hopfuer

//21#1J~
Michael P. Berman

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INVOICE

3475 piedmont Road NE

Suite 420
Atlanta, 30305
Tel~ 404

GA
239

6410
Invoice NUmber: Invoice Date: Client Acct:

N07530291 09-Apr-2003 SIGERC - 01

Day,

Berry

& Howard LLP

Mr. Mike Shea City place I Hartford" CT 06103-3499

, SHIPPED

APR 0 ~ 2003

For ehe deposition in connection with United States Fidelity And Guaranty Company, Discover Reinsurance

$3,288.00

Company, and Discovery Managers, Phillips Company, Inc.

Ltd.

VB. S. B.

.

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--------------Total
Payable
$3,288.00
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upon receipt

L.O.B.
Other
NO CAVEAT

Fees 3,286.00
(COMPANY B)

Expenses
~ 0.00

Project
SIGERC-Ol-OOl

Internal

Invoice

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consultant:

Richard Engelhuber

Client Activity Coordinator Copy

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