Connectu, Inc. v. Facebook, Inc. et al, No. 1:2007cv10593 - Document 273 (D. Mass. 2009)
Court Description: NOTICE by Dustin Moskovitz, Andrew McCollum, Christopher Hughes, Facebook, Inc., Mark Zuckerberg OF ORDER GRANTING MOTION TO DISQUALIFY COUNSEL (Sutton, Theresa)
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Connectu, Inc. v. Facebook, Inc. et al Doc. 27 IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF MASSACHUSETTS CONNECTU, INC., CAMERON WINKLEVOSS, TYLER WINKLEVOSS, AND DIVYA NARENDRA, Plaintiff, Civil Action No. 1:07-CV-10593-DPW v. Related Action No. 1:04-CV-11923 (DPW) FACEBOOK, INC., MARK ZUCKERBERG, EDUARDO SAVERIN, DUSTIN MOSKOVITZ, ANDREW MCCOLLUM, and FACEBOOK, LLC, Defendants. NOTICE OF ORDER GRANTING MOTION TO DISQUALIFY COUNSEL FOR CAMERON WINKLEVOSS, TYLER WINKLEVOSS AND DIVYA NARENDRA Notice is hereby given that on September 2, 2009, the Honorable James Ware of the U.S. District Court of the Northern District of California issued an Order Granting ConnectU’s Motion to Disqualify Counsel for the individual plaintiffs in this action, Cameron Winklevoss, Tyler Winklevoss and Divya Narendra (the “ConnectU founders”). In particular, Judge Ware disqualified the law firm of Finnegan Henderson Farabow Garrett & Dunner and the law firm of Boies Schiller & Flexner from further representation of the ConnectU founders in that case. A copy of Judge Ware’s Order is attached hereto as Exhibit A. Counsel respectfully brings this Order to the attention of the Court because a related motion was filed in connection with in this Court. (Civil Action No. 1:07-cv-10593-DPW, see Docket No. 262). ConnectU moved the Court to disqualify the law firm of Finnegan Henderson Farabow Garrett & Dunner, LLP, the law firm of Boies Schiller & Flexner LLP, and the law firm -1- Dockets.Justia.com of Griesinger Tighe & Maffei, LLP from continuing to represent ConnectU, Inc. as well as the founders of ConnectU -- Cameron Winklevoss, Tyler Winklevoss, and Divya Narendra -- based on a conflict of interest in violation of the Supreme Judicial Court Rule 3.07, Massachusetts Rules of Professional Conduct 1.7 and 1.9 as adopted per Local Rules of the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts, Rule 83.6(4)(B). Dated: September 3, 2009 /s/ Theresa A. Sutton /s/ I. Neel Chatterjee (admitted pro hac vice) Monte M.F. Cooper (admitted pro hac vice) Theresa A. Sutton (admitted pro hac vice) ORRICK, HERRINGTON & SUTCLIFFE LLP 1000 Marsh Road Menlo Park, California 94025 Telephone: (650) 614-7400 Facsimile: (650) 614-7401 nchatterjee@orrick.com mcooper@orrick.com tsutton@orrick.com Steven M. Bauer Jeremy P. Oczek PROSKAUER ROSE, LLP One International Plaza, 14th Floor Boston, Massachusetts 02110-2600 Telephone: (617) 526-9600 Facsimile: (617) 526-9899 ATTORNEYS FOR MARK ZUCKERBERG, DUSTIN MOSKOVITZ, ANDREW MCCOLLUM, CHRISTOPHER HUGHES, and FACEBOOK, INC. -2- CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE I hereby certify that this document(s) filed through the ECF system will be sent electronically to the registered participants as identified on the Notice of Electronic Filing (NEF) and paper copies will be sent to those indicated as non registered participants on September 3, 2009. Dated: September 3, 2009 Respectfully submitted, /s/ Theresa A. Sutton /s/ Theresa A. Sutton -3- EXHIBIT A Case5:07-cv-01389-JW Document704 Filed09/02/09 Page1 of 20 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 8 FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 9 SAN JOSE DIVISION NO. C 07-01389 JW The Facebook, Inc., et al., 11 ORDER GRANTING CONNECTU’S MOTION TO DISQUALIFY COUNSEL; GRANTING IN PART AND DENYING IN PART MOTION FOR DELIVERY OF CLIENT FILES; REFERRING THE PARTIES TO CHIEF MAGISTRATE JUDGE JAMES FOR AN IN CAMERA REVIEW OF CONNECTU’S CLIENT FILES Plaintiffs, v. For the Northern District of California United States District Court 10 12 ConnectU, Inc., et al., 13 Defendants. 14 15 / 16 I. INTRODUCTION 17 This is a further proceeding in an action initiated in this Court by The Facebook, Inc. to 18 enforce a mediated Settlement Agreement between its founder, Mark Zuckerberg, and ConnectU, 19 Inc. and ConnectU’s founding shareholders (the “Founders”). During the proceedings before this 20 Court and initially on appeal to the Ninth Circuit, ConnectU and the Founders were jointly 21 represented by the same attorneys. During the appeal, however, ownership of ConnectU changed 22 and its new owner retained separate counsel, who, on behalf of ConnectU, have moved to dismiss 23 the appeal. The attorneys for the Founders oppose the motion made by their former client on the 24 ground that a dismissal and other conduct by the new owner would have an adverse affect on their 25 remaining client, the Founders. In response, ConnectU moved to disqualify its former joint 26 attorneys from continuing to represent the Founders on the ground that, having previously 27 represented both, the California Rules of Professional Conduct preclude the attorneys from now 28 Case5:07-cv-01389-JW Document704 1 representing one client against the other in the same case. The Ninth Circuit remanded the motion to 2 this Court for a ruling. (See Docket Item No. 686.) 3 The Court conducted a hearing on August 17, 2009. Based on the papers submitted to date 4 and oral argument, the Court GRANTS ConnectU’s Motion to Disqualify Counsel and GRANTS in 5 part and DENIES in part ConnectU’s Motion for Delivery of its Client Files. 6 7 8 For the Northern District of California 9 United States District Court Filed09/02/09 Page2 of 20 II. FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND A. History of the Attorney Client Relationships at Issue The background facts and procedural history of the proceedings to enforce the Settlement Agreement are well-documented and need not be recited in detail. (See Docket Item Nos. 461, 610.) 10 In summary, litigation between Facebook, ConnectU, and the Founders had been ongoing since 11 2004, both in the Santa Clara County Superior Court, this District (“Underlying Northern District 12 Action”), and in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts (“Massachusetts 13 Action”). Beginning in 2004-05, the law firm of Finnegan Henderson Farabow Garrett & Dunner 14 (“Finnegan”) undertook joint representation of the Founders and ConnectU in the Underlying 15 Northern District and the Massachusetts Actions. (Opposition to Motion to Disqualify at 3, 16 hereafter, “Opposition.”) On February 22, 2008, pursuant to private mediation, the parties signed a 17 document entitled “Term Sheet & Settlement Agreement,” in which they agreed to exchange 18 consideration, gave mutual releases, and agreed to dismiss all pending litigation. 19 On June 28, 2008, Facebook moved this Court to order the Founders and ConnectU to 20 comply with the Settlement Agreement. Finnegan represented both the Founders and ConnectU 21 with respect to those proceedings.1 On July 2, 2008, this Court entered Judgment enforcing the 22 Settlement Agreement between the parties. (Docket Item No. 476.) On November 21, 2008, the 23 Court issued an Amended Judgment, in which it ordered specific performance of the Settlement 24 Agreement. (Docket Item No. 665.) In December 2008, the law firm of Boies Schiller & Flexner 25 26 1 27 There is a legal issue whether the Founders appeared in opposition to the motion to enforce the Settlement Agreement. However, there is no dispute that the Founders and ConnectU were jointly represented. 28 2 Case5:07-cv-01389-JW Document704 1 (“Boies”) became counsel of record for the Founders and ConnectU. (Id.) The law firm of O’Shea 2 Partners (“O’Shea”) has also appeared on behalf of both ConnectU and the Founders in this 3 litigation. (Id.) An appeal from the Judgment was filed with the Ninth Circuit.2 ConnectU’s 4 application for a stay of execution was denied by this Court and the Ninth Circuit. (See Docket Item 5 Nos. 601, 613.) The Court gave the parties until December 15, 2008 to transfer the settlement 6 consideration. For the Northern District of California 7 United States District Court Filed09/02/09 Page3 of 20 On December 15, 2008, after the Ninth Circuit had denied ConnectU’s application for a stay, 8 the parties executed the exchange of settlement consideration. As provided in the Settlement 9 Agreement, the Founders transferred their ConnectU stock to Facebook. In return, Facebook 10 transferred cash and Facebook stock to the Founders and requests for dismissals were filed in the 11 respective courts. (Docket Item No. 667.) After execution of the Judgment, Facebook became the 12 sole shareholder of ConnectU and appointed new management. ConnectU’s new management 13 retained the law firm of Hoge, Fenton, Jones & Appel (“Hoge”) to serve as its counsel. (Motion, Ex. 14 H.) On December 16, 2008, Hoge contacted Finnegan and Boies and sought their stipulation to 15 substitute counsel.3 (Id., Ex. J.) On December 18, 2008, attorney Michael Underhill of Boies wrote 16 to Hoge, declining to stipulate to a substitution and suggested that under the circumstances, a motion 17 to the Ninth Circuit for substitution would be preferable. Underhill stated: 18 19 20 Finally, on behalf of the Founders, we request that ConnectU not take any action that would interfere with the pending appeal. As you are probably aware, ConnectU owes substantial debts to the Founders, and ConnectU’s most significant assets are its claims against Facebook and person associated with Facebook. Consequently, we believe any attempt by ConnectU to benefit its current shareholder by extinguishing that claim would be a fraudulent conveyance and legally actionable. 21 (James Towery Declaration in Support of ConnectU’s Motion to Disqualify, hereafter, “Towery 22 Decl.,” Ex. G.) 23 24 25 26 2 Cross-appeals were filed by Facebook. Indeed, numerous related appeals and crossappeals are pending. The Ninth Circuit consolidated three appeals, which were filed in July and August 2008: Appeal Nos. 08-16745, 08-16849, 08-16873. After consolidation, two more appeals were filed in December 2008: Appeal Nos. 09-15021, 09-15133. 3 27 28 On December 17, 2008, O’Shea indicated to Hoge that it was not counsel of record for ConnectU before the Ninth Circuit, so had no need to stipulate to withdrawal as counsel. 3 Case5:07-cv-01389-JW Document704 1 On December 18, 2008, ConnectU made a motion to the Ninth Circuit to order substitution 2 of counsel. On December 22, 2008, Underhill wrote proposing to stipulate to substitution of Hoge 3 as counsel of record for ConnectU on the condition that Facebook and ConnectU agree to 4 completely indemnify Boise for any liabilities arising from or related to the substitution. (Towery 5 Decl., Ex. K.) For the Northern District of California 6 United States District Court Filed09/02/09 Page4 of 20 On July 1, 2009, the Ninth Circuit granted ConnectU’s motion for substitution of counsel. 7 (See Docket Item No. 686.) 8 B. Motion to Disqualify 9 On January 20, 2009, on behalf of ConnectU, the Hoge law firm made a motion to the Ninth 10 Circuit to disqualify Boies, Finnegan, and O’Shea from continued representation of the Founders on 11 appeal. Hoge contends that Finnegan and Boies’ continued representation of the Founders now 12 against ConnectU would constitute a conflict of interest in violation of California Rule of 13 Professional Conduct (“CRPC”) 3-310 and ABA Model Rules of Professional Conduct (“MRPC”) 14 1.7 and 1.9. (Motion at 2.) The Founders filed an opposition to ConnectU’s Motion, contending 15 that Facebook, through its ownership of ConnectU, “seeks to use conflict of interest rules to cripple 16 its long-time litigation adversaries, [the Founders], by depriving them of their chosen counsel 17 midway through the appeal process.” (Opposition at 1.) On July 1, 2009, the Ninth Circuit 18 remanded ConnectU’s Motion to Disqualify to this Court “for the limited purpose of enabling the 19 [Court] to consider the issues raised” in the motion. (Docket Item No. 686.) 20 21 22 III. DISCUSSION A. Legal Standards for Disqualification Based on Prior Joint Representation 1. California Case Law 23 In the Ninth Circuit, motions to disqualify counsel are subjected to strict judicial scrutiny. 24 Optyl Eyewear Fashion Inst. v. Style Co., 760 F.2d 1045, 1050 (9th Cir. 1985). Ruling on a motion 25 to disqualify counsel is a “discretionary exercise of the trial court’s inherent powers.” Certain 26 Underwriters at Lloyd’s, London v. Argonaut Ins. Co., 264 F. Supp. 2d 914, 918 (N.D. Cal. 2003). 27 Given that a disqualification motion “is often tactically motivated and tends to derail efficient 28 4 Case5:07-cv-01389-JW Document704 1 progress of litigation . . . . [t]he party seeking disqualification has a heavy burden and must satisfy a 2 high standard of proof.” Travelers Cas. & Sur. Co. of Am. v. Claude E. Atkins Enters., No. CV-F- 3 05-0852 REC LJO, 2006 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 93189, at *21 (E.D. Cal. Dec. 11, 2006) (citing Evans v. 4 Artek Systems Corp., 75 F.2d 788, 791 (2d Cir. 1983)). 5 For the Northern District of California Pursuant to Northern District of California Local Rule 11-4(a)(1), every attorney before this 6 Court must “comply with the standards of professional conduct required of the members of the State 7 Bar of California.” Accordingly, in this matter, the Court applies California law to determine the 8 propriety of disqualification. See Certain Underwriters, 264 F. Supp. 2d at 918 (citing Civ. L.R. 11- 9 4(a)(1)). 10 United States District Court Filed09/02/09 Page5 of 20 With respect to representing a client against a former client, California courts apply the State 11 Bar Rules of Professional Conduct. In Western Continental Operating Co. v. Natural Gas Corp., 12 relying on then Rule 4-101, the court stated that the Rules of Professional Conduct prohibit a lawyer 13 from accepting employment adverse to a client or former client “relating to a matter in reference to 14 which he has obtained confidential information by reason of or in the course of his employment by 15 such . . . former client.” 212 Cal. App. 3d 752, 759 (1989). Some courts have recognized an 16 exception to the holding in Western and hold that the prohibition accepting employment that is 17 adverse to a former client does not apply if the two clients were previously jointly represented. See, 18 e.g., Christensen v. United States District Court for the Central District of California, 844 F.2d 694 19 (9th Cir. 1988). Interestingly, although both Western and Christensen involved joint representation, 20 the attorneys were not disqualified in Christensen but were disqualified in Western. Thus, closer 21 scrutiny of the two cases is warranted. 22 In Christensen, beginning in 1983, the firm of Wyman, Bautzen, Christensen, Kuechel & 23 Silbert (“Wyman”) commenced representation of the Amir group in their attempt to take 24 management control of Beverly Hills Savings & Loan (“BHSL”) away from the Fitzpatrick group. 25 After the Amir group’s efforts were successful, Wyman commenced joint representation of both the 26 Amir group and BHSL in various matters. Terry Christensen, a Wyman partner, joined the board of 27 BHSL. In 1986, BHSL became insolvent and was taken over by the Federal Savings and Loan 28 5 Case5:07-cv-01389-JW Document704 1 Insurance Corporation (“FSLIC”). The FSLIC filed a lawsuit against both the Amir group and the 2 Fitzpatrick group for mismanagement. The Amir group retained Wyman to represent it. The 3 Fitzpatrick group impleaded Christensen and he in turn, retained Wyman represent him. The FSLIC 4 moved the district court to disqualify Wyman on the ground that the firm had previously represented 5 the BHSL and was now representing the Amir group against its former client. The district court 6 granted the motion to disqualify Wyman from representing Amir against BHSL. However, on a 7 petition for a writ of mandate, the Ninth Circuit reversed. The Ninth Circuit held that the prohibition 8 against an attorney’s accepting employment against former client BHSL did not apply to Wyman’s 9 representation of Amir and Christensen because during the time Wyman had received confidential 10 11 For the Northern District of California United States District Court Filed09/02/09 Page6 of 20 12 13 14 15 information as attorneys for BHSL, Wyman was jointly representing BHSL and Amir: BHSL necessarily knew that any information it gave to Wyman would be conveyed to Christensen as a BHSL director and a senior partner in the law firm. Moreover, even if Wyman is disqualified, Wyman is effectively still in this lawsuit through Christensen. He has access to any confidences previously revealed by BHSL. Disqualification would thus be futile in terms of furthering the purpose of the rule. Christensen, 844 F.2d at 698. Under similar factual circumstances, however, in Western, the California Court of Appeals 16 ordered disqualification of counsel. In 1979, Natural Gas Corporation of California (“NGC”), a 17 subsidiary of PG&E, and Western Continental Operating Company (“Western”) agreed to jointly 18 develop a natural gas production facility. NGC was responsible for operating the facility. In 1982, 19 the law firm of Bright & Brown was retained to represent jointly NGC and Western against a third- 20 party co-tenant. During the course of the co-tenant dispute, NGC provided Bright & Brown with 21 information about how it performed its functions as the operator, including details of NGC’s 22 relationship with PG&E. Ultimately, the dispute with the co-tenant was settled. 23 In 1987, Western retained Bright & Brown to represent it in a lawsuit against NGC and 24 PG&E for breach of the development agreement. Among the allegations made in the lawsuit was a 25 claim that PG&E was the alter ego of NGC. NGC moved to disqualify Bright & Brown from 26 representing Western on the ground that the law firm’s former representation of both NGC and 27 Western with respect to the co-tenant dispute was substantially related to the current lawsuit. NGC 28 6 Case5:07-cv-01389-JW Document704 1 contended that it had disclosed to Bright & Brown confidential information that would be used 2 against NGC in the lawsuit filed by Western. In response to the disqualification motion, Western 3 contended that the joint client exception applied to preclude disqualification. However, the trial 4 court granted the motion to disqualify Bright & Brown. The disqualification order was affirmed on 5 appeal: 6 8 It is well settled that an attorney is prohibited from doing either of two things after severing a relationship with a former client. “. . . He may not do anything which will injuriously affect his former client in any [matter]4 in which he formerly represented him nor may he at any time use against his former client knowledge or information acquired by virtue of the previous relationship.” 9 Western, 212 Cal. App. 3d at 759 (quoting People ex rel. Deukmejian v. Brown, 29 Cal. 3d 150, 155 7 10 11 For the Northern District of California United States District Court Filed09/02/09 Page7 of 20 (1981)). The Christensen case was reviewed by the court in Western. The joint client exception was 12 not applied. The California Court of Appeals held that although California law recognizes a joint 13 client exception to confidential communications,5 the exception does not affect the duty an attorney 14 owes to his or her client to not take on representation adverse to the client on a related matter: 15 16 17 18 Western next urges that rule 4-101 contemplates an exception where the attorney jointly represented the parties in the former matter. In such a case, Western argues, no confidentiality privilege exists as to one of the jointly represented clients with respect to information disclosed to the other client. Western submits that during Bright & Brown’s joint representation of NGC and Western, each party fully understood that information disclosed by either party should be shared with both parties. In support of its position, Western relies on Evidence Code section 962, setting forth a joint client exception to the evidentiary privilege accorded to attorney-client communications. Additionally, Western 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 4 The word “manner” was used in the cited case. However, the original source for the quotation is Wutchumna Water Co. v. Bailey, which uses the word “matter”: From these pronouncements it appears that an attorney is forbidden to do either of two things after severing his relationship with a former client. He may not do anything which will injuriously affect his former client in any matter in which he formerly represented him nor may he at any time use against his former client knowledge or information acquired by virtue of the previous relationship. 216 Cal. 564, 573-74 (emphasis added). 5 27 In California, “[b]y selecting the same attorney, and making their communications in the presence of each other, each joint client waives his right to place those communications under the shield of professional confidence.” Travelers, 2006 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 93189, at *21 (quoting Croce v. Superior Court, 21 Cal. App. 2d 18, 20 (1937)). 28 7 26 Case5:07-cv-01389-JW Document704 1 2 3 Filed09/02/09 Page8 of 20 relies on two federal cases, Allegaert6 . . . and Christensen . . ., which hold that the substantial relationship test is inapposite where the former client has no reasonable expectation that information given to counsel will not be disclosed to the current client. We are unpersuaded under the circumstances of this case that there is a joint client exception to the prohibition against representation adverse to a former client. 4 5 6 7 8 9 11 212 Cal. App. 3d at 761-62. For the Northern District of California United States District Court 10 We disagree that the privilege exception or the cases cited have any application here. In the first instance, we are not concerned in this case with discovery of allegedly privileged communications. Instead, the pertinent issue is the propriety of an attorney’s representation adverse to a former client. Our courts have distinguished the rule against representing conflicting interest from the attorney-client evidentiary privilege noting that the former is broader than the latter. The evidentiary privilege and the ethical duty not to disclose confidences both arise from the need to encourage clients to disclose all possibly pertinent information to their attorneys, and both protect only the confidential information disclosed. The duty not to represent conflicting interest . . . is an outgrowth of the attorney-client relationship itself, which is confidential, or fiduciary, in a broader sense. Not only do clients at times disclose confidential information to their attorneys; they also repose confidence in them. The privilege is bottomed only on the first of these attributes, the conflicting-interests rule on both. 12 2. New York Case Law 13 Since both parties have cited cases outside of California that apply identical Rules of 14 Professional Conduct, the Court also gives a closer scrutiny to these cases for comparison. 15 In Tekni-Plex, Inc. v. Meyner and Landis, the issue was whether an attorney who had jointly 16 represented a shareholder and a close corporation should be disqualified from representing the 17 shareholder in a post-merger claim made by the corporation against the shareholder. 674 N.E. 2d 18 663 (N.Y. 1996). Tekni-Plex,7 a pharmaceutical company, had been represented by the law firm of 19 Meyner and Landis on various legal matters including environmental compliance since 1971. In 20 1986, Tom U.C. Tang, one of its directors and shareholders became the sole shareholder, director 21 and officer of Tekni-Plex. Meyner and Landis continued their representation under this sole22 shareholder structure. 23 24 25 6 26 7 27 28 Allegaert v. Perot, 565 F.2d 246 (2d Cir. 1977). Since the surviving corporation had taken the same name as the acquired corporation, to avoid confusion, later in this Order the Court will refer to the pre-merger target corporation as “old Tekni-Plex.” 8 Case5:07-cv-01389-JW Document704 1 For the Northern District of California In 1994, Tang entered into an agreement to sell Tekni-Plex to a group of purchasers. Meyner 2 and Landis represented both Tekni-Plex and Tang during the negotiations and execution of the sale. 3 The transaction was structured as follows: (1) the purchasers created a shell corporation called TP 4 Acquisition Company; (2) upon close of the sale, Tekni-Plex conveyed to Acquisition all of its 5 tangible and intangible assets, rights and liabilities, Tang’s stock was cancelled and “pre- 6 transaction” Tekni-Plex ceased existence. The sales agreement contained representations and 7 warranties by Tang that Tekni-Plex was in full compliance with all applicable environmental laws. 8 In the agreement, Tang agreed to indemnify Acquisition for any losses incurred by Acquisition as a 9 result of breach of warranty by either Tang or Tekni-Plex. 10 United States District Court Filed09/02/09 Page9 of 20 After the transaction was closed, the purchasers changed the name of TP Acquisition 11 Company to Tekni-Plex, Inc. (“new Tekni-Plex”). Later in 1994, new Tekni-Plex initiated an 12 arbitration proceeding against Tang, contending that he had breached representations and warranties 13 regarding environmental matters. Tang retained Meyner and Landis to represent him in the 14 arbitration. New Tekni-Plex moved to disqualify Meyner and Landis from representing Tang on the 15 ground that the law firm could not represent one former client against the other. The disqualification 16 motion was taken from the arbitrator to the New York Supreme Court, which granted the motion to 17 disqualify Meyner and Landis. The disqualification order was affirmed by the Appellate Division 18 and came before the New York Court of Appeals. 19 The New York Court of Appeals affirmed the disqualification order. With respect to new 20 Tekni-Plex and matters concerning the acquisition where Meyner and Landis represented both Tang 21 and old Tekni-Plex, the Court of Appeals found that: 22 23 24 25 New Tekni-Plex . . . does not control the attorney-client privilege with regard to discrete communications made by either old Tekni-Plex or Tang individually to [Meyner and Landis] concerning the acquisition – a time when old Tekni-Plex and Tang were joined in an adversarial relationship to Acquisition. Consequently, new Tekni-Plex cannot assert the privilege in order to prevent [Meyner and Landis] from disclosing the contents of such communications to Tang. Nor is new Tekni-Plex entitled to the law firm’s confidential communications concerning its representation of old Tekni-Plex with regard to the acquisition. 26 27 28 9 Case5:07-cv-01389-JW Document704 1 674 N.E. 2d at 130 (emphasis added). In essence, the Court of Appeals found that new Tekni-Plex 2 did not succeed to old Tekni-Plex’s position with respect to rights to loyalty and confidentiality from 3 Meyner and Landis for representation during the negotiations that led up to the sale to Acquisition 4 because Tang and old Tekni-Plex were adversaries of Acquisition on these matters. 5 the Court of Appeals found that Meyner and Landis represented only old Tekni-Plex and did not 7 jointly represent Tang with respect to those matters. Thus, as to these business operation matters, 8 the Court of Appeals found that Meyner and Landis owed a duty of loyalty and confidentiality to 9 new Tekni-Plex: 11 For the Northern District of California However, with respect to the environmental matters that were the subject of the arbitration, 6 10 United States District Court Filed09/02/09 Page10 of 20 12 As a practical matter, then, old Tekni-Plex did not die. To the contrary, the business operations of old Tekni-Plex continued under the new managers. Consequently, control of the attorney-client privilege with respect to any confidential communications between [Meyner and Landis] and corporate actors of old Tekni-Plex concerning these operations passed to the management of new Tekni-Plex. [Citation omitted.] An attorney-client relationship between [Meyner and Landis] and new Tekni-Plex necessarily exists. 13 Id. at 669. 14 The New York Court of Appeals went on to hold that if the dispute were limited to the sales 15 transaction, there would be no cause to disqualify Meyner and Landis from representing Tang 16 because they would be consistently representing the seller in opposition to the buyer. However, 17 because the dispute involved matters beyond the merger and touched on matters for which Meyner 18 and Landis owed a continuing duty of loyalty and confidentiality to new Tekni-Plex, Meyner and 19 Landis were disqualified: 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 The dispute here . . . goes beyond the merger negotiations. It also involves issues relating to the law firm’s longstanding representation of the acquired-corporation on matters arising out of the company’s business operations – namely, [Meyner and Landis’] separate representation of old Tekni-Plex prior to the merger on environmental compliance matters. Any environmental violations will negatively affect not only the purchasers but also the business interests of the merged corporation. In this regard, the interests of [Meyner and Landis’] current client Tang are adverse to the interests that new Tekni-Plex assumed from old Tekni-Plex. Indeed, [Meyner and Landis’] earlier representation of old Tekni-Plex provided the firm with access to confidential information conveyed by old Tekni-Plex concerning the very environmental compliance matters at issue in the arbitration. [Meyner and Landis’] duty of confidentiality with respect to these communications passed to new Tekni-Plex; yet its 27 28 10 Case5:07-cv-01389-JW Document704 1 Filed09/02/09 Page11 of 20 current representation of Tang creates the potential for the law firm to use these confidences against new Tekni-Plex in the arbitration. 2 Id. at 670. 3 In Occidental Hotels v. Westbrook, Westbrook, a conglomerate of companies involved in 4 real estate investment, was represented by Cravath, Swaine & Moore (“Cravath”). 440 F. Supp. 2d 5 303 (S.D.N.Y. 2006). From 1987 to 1997, various matters for which Cravath had represented 6 Westbrook were handled by an associate attorney named Kent Richey. In 1997, under Richey’s 7 representation, Westbrook acquired Allegro Resorts Corporation. Allegro Resorts operated hotel 8 properties in various countries through several wholly-owned subsidiaries. After the acquisition, 9 Richey left Cravath to become general counsel to Allegro Resorts and served as an officer and 10 In 2000, Westbrook entered into negotiations with Occidental Hotels to sell its stock in For the Northern District of California United States District Court member of the board of its wholly-owned subsidiaries. 11 12 Allegro Resorts to Occidental. As General Counsel for Allegro Resorts, Richey participated in the 13 due diligence, negotiations, drafting and execution of various transaction documents. In April 2000, 14 a sales agreement was reached. Shortly afterward, Richey resigned as General Counsel for Allegro 15 Resorts. 16 In 2004, Richey joined the Jones Day law firm. Later that year, Occidental filed a lawsuit in 17 the district court alleging that Westbrook had breached several of the representations and warranties 18 in the Sales Agreement. Westbrook was represented by Jones Day in that lawsuit. Occidental 19 moved to disqualify Jones Day as Westbrook’s counsel on the ground that it was unethical for 20 Richey, who had previously represented Allegro Resorts with respect to the matters that were now 21 the subject of the alleged breaches of representations and warranties, to represent Westbrook in 22 defense of claims brought by Allegro’s new owner. Occidental contended that Richey would be in 23 the position of revealing Allegro Resorts’ privileged information to Westbrook, to the disadvantage 24 of his former client, Allegro. 25 Occidental relied on New York law, which, similar to California’s, provided that an attorney 26 may be disqualified from representing a client in two kinds of cases: (1) if the representation caused 27 28 11 Case5:07-cv-01389-JW Document704 1 a conflict of interest that undermines the court’s confidence in the attorney’s representation of the 2 interest of the client; and (2) if the attorney is, or potentially is, in a position to use privileged 3 information gained from the other side through prior representation, thus giving the present client an 4 unfair advantage. Id. at 310. The district judge denied Occidental’s disqualification motion. The 5 district judge reasoned that in post-merger litigation by the buyer against the seller, disqualifying the 6 attorney who had represented the seller and the target corporation from continuing to represent the 7 seller would not serve the purpose of protecting the former client’s expectation of loyalty and 8 confidentiality: 9 10 11 For the Northern District of California United States District Court Filed09/02/09 Page12 of 20 12 13 14 It is Allegro Resorts and its subsidiaries rather than Richey, that have changed positions from alignment with Westbrook to alignment with Occidental. Richey represented Westbrook while at Cravath, prior to joining Allegro Resorts as General Counsel. [Citation omitted.] During the merger, Richey negotiated on behalf of pre-merger Allegro Resorts and Westbrook as seller. Post-merger, Richey resigned his position with post-merger Allegro Resorts. Subsequently, Richey has continued to represent Westbrook in the numerous indemnification-related disputes with Occidental. Richey has consistently represented Westbrook-aligned interest, including pre-merger Allegro Resorts, and pre- and post-merger Westbrook sellers. Occidental has clearly understood that Richey was aligned with the seller and that, in any dispute arising out of the merger, Richey would continue to be associated with Westbrook. Jones Day’s representation of Westbrook in this litigation is consistent with Richey’s prior representation. 15 440 F. Supp. 2d at 311. The Occidental court distinguished Tekni-Plex on the ground that there, the 16 attorney was found to owe confidences to the former client which survived the merger. 17 3. Conclusion 18 This review of the cases shows that courts differ with respect to the issue of disqualification 19 of counsel. Universally, however, it appears that in considering a motion to disqualify counsel, the 20 “paramount concern is the preservation of public trust in the scrupulous administration of justice and 21 the integrity of the bar.” Sharp v. Next Entertainment, Inc., 163 Cal. App. 4th 410, 425 (2008) 22 (quoting Jessen v. Hartford Casualty Ins. Co., 111 Cal. App. 4th 698, 705 (2003)). In addition, it 23 appears that disqualification decision is tied to the circumstances of the cases. Although none of the 24 cases reviewed above involve the same facts presented to the Court here, from these cases, the Court 25 discerns the following principles: 26 27 28 12 Case5:07-cv-01389-JW Document704 1 In the absence of informed consent by both clients, an attorney is disqualified from 2 accepting representation of one joint client against the other in the same or a 3 substantially related matter. Although a joint client waives the attorney-client 4 privilege with respect to the attorney’s disclosure of information from one joint client 5 to the other, the duty of loyalty persists and precludes the attorney from representing 6 one joint client against the other with respect to the matter. 7 If the rule were otherwise, joint clients would be required to calculate how much information to 8 disclose to the attorney in order to protect themselves from the eventuality that later in the action or 9 in a subsequent action, their attorney would use information disclosed to the attorney against them. The Court now applies these principles to this case. 10 11 For the Northern District of California United States District Court Filed09/02/09 Page13 of 20 12 C. Whether Finnegan and Boies Should be Disqualified from Representing the Founders There is no question that the matter on which ConnectU seeks to disqualify its former 13 attorneys, continuing to represent the Founders in the current appeal, is substantially related to the 14 matter on which those firms previously represented both the Founders and ConnectU.8 Indeed, the 15 matter is identical. The Court presumes that in the course of the representation, ConnectU reposed 16 trust and confidence, albeit through its officers and directors, that Finnegan and Boies would not 17 undertake representation against it with respect to this matter. The real issue in this case is whether 18 the change in ownership that came about as a result of the execution of the Judgment places 19 Finnegan and Boies in a position of representing the Founders “against” ConnectU. 20 The Founders and ConnectU are co-appellants and co-respondents. Presently, there is no 21 cross-appeal that has been filed by one against the other. However, an adverse interest can arise 22 even between co-parties. Here, ConnectU wishes to dismiss its appeal and the Founders oppose 23 dismissal. Under some circumstances, opposition to a motion by a co-party to dismiss its appeal 24 might not be the type of adversarial position that would trigger disqualification. In this case, 25 8 27 In light of the fact that the Ninth Circuit granted ConnectU’s motion to substitute counsel, Hoge is the only firm representing ConnectU on appeal. Accordingly, the Court need not consider ConnectU’s argument that Finnegan and Boies are engaging in concurrent adverse representation of ConnectU and the Founders. 28 13 26 For the Northern District of California United States District Court Case5:07-cv-01389-JW Document704 Filed09/02/09 Page14 of 20 1 however, ConnectU’s motion could have significant adverse legal consequences to the Founders and 2 vice-versa. First, an issue that has been raised on appeal is the Founders’ independent standing to 3 prosecute the appeal.9 ConnectU’s withdrawal as an appellant might adversely affect the Founders’ 4 rights to continue to prosecute the appeal. Second, in post-execution correspondence, the Founders 5 notified ConnectU that the Founders contend that it owes them $8,240,372.10 Furthermore, the 6 Founders contend that this debt will be extinguished if the underlying Judgment is affirmed. (Id.) 7 As illustrated by Underhill’s correspondences, the Founders have threatened to pursue legal action 8 against ConnectU if it dismisses its appeal or takes any action that would affect the debt. Thus, the 9 Founders oppose ConnectU’s motion to dismiss its appeal in order to preserve a debt ConnectU 10 allegedly owes to them. Third, if the Founders are successful on appeal, the release and other 11 consideration ConnectU received in the execution of the Judgment would be cancelled. 12 In weighing any harm the Founders might face in not having their chosen attorneys to 13 represent them for the duration of these appeals against the public interest served by the professional 14 rules of ethics, the Court strikes the balance in favor of the public interest. There is no argument that 15 the Founders’ positions could not be advanced, perhaps with equal force, by new attorneys. 16 However, the ethical duty owned to ConnectU would be harmed by having its former attorneys take 17 a position adverse to it. More importantly, the public would be assured that should they seek joint 18 representation in a matter, with the inherent prospect that a conflict of interest could arise, they 19 could, nevertheless, have full trust and confidence that the attorney would never become an advocate 20 for their adversary in the same or substantially related matter. 21 The Court finds that ConnectU has met its burden of demonstrating that the Court should 22 disqualify the Founders’ counsel. Accordingly, the Court GRANTS ConnectU’s Motion to 23 Disqualify. 24 25 26 9 The issues of the timeliness of the appeal and the standing of the Appellants are not before this Court. 10 27 28 (Founders’ Response to Court’s Request at August 17, 2009 Hearing Concerning ConnectU Debt at 1, hereafter, “Response re: Debt,” Docket Item No. 693.) 14 Case5:07-cv-01389-JW Document704 1 D. 2 For the Northern District of California Whether ConnectU is Entitled to its Client Files ConnectU also moves for an order directing Finnegan and Boies to turn over its client files. 3 (Motion at 19-20.) Although it somewhat softened its position during oral argument, ConnectU 4 contends that both law firms have improperly refused to turn over its files, preventing it from being 5 able to assess its rights and obligations. The Founders oppose ConnectU’s motion, contending that 6 “[t]he guise that [the] files somehow belong to ConnectU is a smokescreen to cripple Facebook’s 7 adversaries by peering into their counsel’s attorney-client and work product materials.” (Opposition 8 at 15.) 9 United States District Court Filed09/02/09 Page15 of 20 In California, once an attorney’s representation of a client has been terminated, the attorney 10 must “promptly release to the client, at the request of the client, all the client papers and property. 11 ‘Client papers and property’ includes correspondence, pleadings, deposition transcripts, exhibits, 12 physical evidence, expert’s reports, and other items reasonably necessary to the client’s 13 representation, whether the client has paid for them or not.” CRPC 3-700(D). 14 In this case, the Court recognizes that, as with the disqualification issue, there are competing 15 interests that must be considered. First, ConnectU has a separate legal identity and has interests, 16 rights, and liabilities that are separate from either the Founders or Facebook. These separate 17 interests are reflected by the fact that ConnectU has itself been a party to this litigation, causing 18 ConnectU to retain several law firms as its counsel. Certain files in the possession of those law 19 firms may reflect the independent rights, interests, and liabilities of ConnectU. As the current 20 principal of ConnectU, Facebook now has the right to examine those files so that it can competently 21 conduct the business of ConnectU. 22 At the same time, as the Court recognized in the prior section, the representation collectively 23 received by the Founders and ConnectU related to the litigation against their mutual adversary, 24 Facebook. As a consequence, it is likely that documents were generated on behalf of both the 25 Founders and ConnectU which reflect privileged communications between the Founders and their 26 27 28 15 For the Northern District of California United States District Court Case5:07-cv-01389-JW Document704 Filed09/02/09 Page16 of 20 1 counsel, the Founders’ litigation positions, and other confidential information.11 These documents 2 likely include confidential information relating to the Settlement Agreement now in dispute. To 3 require Finnegan and Boies to hand over all of ConnectU’s client files would necessarily cause the 4 Founders to expose confidential information to Facebook that relates to the exact subject of this 5 litigation, potentially prejudicing the Founders on appeal and thereafter. 6 To resolve this dispute, therefore, the Court must reconcile ConnectU’s right to documents in 7 its client files with the practical realities relating to the interrelationships between the various parties 8 and their attorneys. The main California case relied on by both parties is Moeller v. Superior Court 9 of Los Angeles, 16 Cal. 4th 1124 (1997). In Moeller, the California Supreme Court addressed the 10 question of whether a predecessor trustee could assert the attorney-client privilege against a 11 successor trustee, to withhold from the successor trustee documents reflecting confidential 12 communications between the predecessor trustee and an attorney on matters of trust administration. 13 Id. at 1127. The California Supreme Court concluded that the attorney-client privilege passes from 14 one trustee to its successor trustee, and required the predecessor trustee to produce the confidential 15 attorney-client communications requested by the successor. Id. at 1139. 16 The Court, however, is not persuaded that Moeller is controlling in this case, given that its 17 holding related to whether the attorney-client privilege passes between successive trustees of the 18 same trust. More relevant to the present case is Tekni-Plex, in which the New York Court of 19 Appeals addressed the question of who controls the attorney-client privilege as to pre-merger 20 communications, where a close corporation merged with another corporation to create a new 21 corporate entity, and where the pre-merger corporation and its sole shareholder had been jointly 22 23 11 27 The Court recognizes that there is a tension embodied even in the use of the term “confidential.” The Court has already found that there is no reasonable expectation on the part of ConnectU that information shared with Finnegan and Boies would not be disclosed to the Founders. This principle, of course, extends in the opposite direction. The Founders had no reasonable expectation that information shared with joint counsel would not be disclosed to ConnectU. On its face, this reciprocal non-confidentiality could support the conclusion that the Founders cannot now object to ConnectU having access to all mutual client files. Nonetheless, as the Court has repeatedly acknowledged, the Founders exerted complete control over ConnectU, such that ConnectU never operated in a manner independent of the Founders. 28 16 24 25 26 Case5:07-cv-01389-JW Document704 1 represented by the same law firm. 89 N.Y. 2d at 127. In Tekni-Plex, the merged corporate entity 2 attempted to access attorney-client communications between the law firm and the pre-merger 3 corporation. The court separated the documents at issue into two analytical categories: (1) general 4 business communications, and (2) communications relating to the merger negotiations. For the Northern District of California 5 United States District Court Filed09/02/09 Page17 of 20 As to the first category, the court held that “ownership of the law firm’s files regarding its 6 pre-merger representation of old Tekni-Plex on environmental compliance matters passed to the 7 management of new Tekni-Plex.”12 Id. at 137. As to the second category, the court found that the 8 merged corporation did not control the attorney-client privilege as to communications between the 9 pre-merger corporation and the law firm. The court stated that this conclusion was “especially 10 compelling . . . where at the time of the acquisition the seller corporation was solely owned and 11 managed by one individual. . . .” Id. at 138. After noting the blurred individual-corporation 12 distinctions in close corporations, the court stated that “[t]o allow new Tekni-Plex access to the 13 confidences conveyed by the seller company to its counsel during the negotiations would, in the 14 circumstances presented, be the equivalent of turning over to the buyer all of the privileged 15 communications of the seller concerning the very transaction at issue.” Id. Moreover, the court 16 stated that granting the merged corporation control over communications concerning the merger 17 transaction would thwart the purposes underlying the attorney-client privilege, because it would 18 “significantly chill attorney-client communication during the transaction.” Id. at 139. 19 The Court is persuaded that the logic of Tekni-Plex governs the outcome in this case, 20 because it reflects an appropriate balance between the legitimate competing interests at play. That 21 is, the Founders and their attorneys cannot obstruct access to ConnectU’s general business 22 documents. To deny ConnectU access to such files would inhibit the ability of its ownership to 23 appropriately direct the affairs of the company. Accordingly, the Court finds that ConnectU is 24 12 27 The Court stated that this holding “comports with new Tekni-Plex’s right to invoke the pre-merger attorney client-relationship should it have to prosecute or defend against third-party suits involving the assets, rights, or liabilities that it assumed from old Tekni-Plex.” 89 N.Y. 2d at 137. Notably, however, the record reflected that the law firm had only represented the corporation, and not the sole shareholder, on the environmental compliance issues to which those documents pertained. Id. 28 17 25 26 Case5:07-cv-01389-JW Document704 1 entitled all documents pertaining to ConnectU’s general business, including but not limited to 2 documents relating to ConnectU’s financials, assets, and liabilities. For the Northern District of California 3 United States District Court Filed09/02/09 Page18 of 20 At the same time, the Court finds that to order Finnegan and Boies to turn over all ConnectU 4 files would be anathema to the principles underlying the policy of fostering unfettered attorney- 5 client communication. The transaction at issue here resulted from the settlement of a protracted 6 litigation. To require a handover of all ConnectU files would be to expose to the Founders’ 7 adversary all of the their relevant litigation documents. Directing the handover of those files would 8 thus create a rule that would chill communication between attorneys and clients, and may ultimately 9 impede the type of settlement that was reached here between the parties. Certainly, the principals of 10 a close corporation may be reluctant to engage in this type of stock for cash settlement if their 11 attorney-client communications could be obtained by their adversary and used against them in any 12 subsequent dispute over the settlement.13 The Court, therefore, declines to order Finnegan and Boies 13 to hand over files pertaining to ConnectU’s litigation against Facebook. 14 Accordingly, ConnectU’s Motion with respect to a handover of its client files is GRANTED 15 in part and DENIED in part. With respect to documents necessary for new ConnectU to carry on 16 ConnectU’s business operations, the motion is GRANTED. With respect to documents relating to 17 the litigation against Facebook, the motion is DENIED. 18 IV. CONCLUSION 19 The Court GRANTS ConnectU’s Motion to Disqualify the law firm of Finnegan Henderson 20 Farabow Garrett & Dunner and the law firm of Boies Schiller & Flexner from further representation 21 of the Founders with respect to this matter. The Court GRANTS in part and DENIES in part 22 ConnectU’s Motion directing a handover of its client files. The parties are referred to Chief 23 24 25 13 27 It is not lost on the Court that many of the concerns could have been avoided if either the Founders and ConnectU had gotten separate representation or if the parties had incorporated document ownership issues into their Settlement Agreement. Nonetheless, neither of these ex ante solutions were implemented. Thus, the Court must craft an ex post solution that best comports with the professional responsibility principles at issue. 28 18 26 Case5:07-cv-01389-JW Document704 Filed09/02/09 Page19 of 20 1 Magistrate Judge James for further proceedings with respect to which documents should be turned 2 over to the current owners.14 3 4 This Order does not address the circumstances on appeal or afterward should the interests of ConnectU and the Founders merge. 5 6 Dated: September 2, 2009 7 JAMES WARE United States District Judge 8 9 11 For the Northern District of California United States District Court 10 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 14 27 In light of this Order, the parties’ administrative Motions for Leave to File Supplemental Briefing are DENIED as moot. (See Docket Item Nos. 692, 696.) The Court GRANTS ConnectU’s Motion for Leave to File Promissory Notes Under Seal. (See Docket Item No. 700.) 28 19 Case5:07-cv-01389-JW Document704 1 THIS IS TO CERTIFY THAT COPIES OF THIS ORDER HAVE BEEN DELIVERED TO: 2 Chester Wren-Ming Day cday@orrick.com D. Michael Underhill Munderhill@BSFLLP.com David A. Barrett dbarrett@bsfllp.com Evan A. Parke eparke@bsfllp.com George Hopkins Guy hopguy@orrick.com I. Neel Chatterjee nchatterjee@orrick.com James Earl Towery jet@hogefenton.com Jonathan M. Shaw jshaw@bsfllp.com Mark A. Weissman mweissman@osheapartners.com Mark Andrew Byrne markbyrne@byrnenixon.com Monte M.F. Cooper mcooper@orrick.com Rachel E. Matteo-Boehm rachel.matteo-boehm@hro.com Roger Rex Myers roger.myers@hro.com Scott Richard Mosko scott.mosko@finnegan.com Sean Alan Lincoln slincoln@Orrick.com Sean F. O’Shea soshea@osheapartners.com Steven Christopher Holtzman sholtzman@bsfllp.com Theresa Ann Sutton tsutton@orrick.com Tyler Alexander Baker Tbaker@fenwick.com Valerie Margo Wagner vwagner@gcalaw.com Warrington S. Parker wparker@orrick.com Yvonne Penas Greer ygreer@orrick.com 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 For the Northern District of California United States District Court Filed09/02/09 Page20 of 20 12 13 14 15 Dated: September 2, 2009 Richard W. Wieking, Clerk 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 By: /s/ JW Chambers Elizabeth Garcia Courtroom Deputy
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