Heinrichs v. Wells Fargo Bank N.A.

RESPONSE to re Declaration in Support, of Eric J. Troutman Regarding Status of FCC Proceedings

N.D. Cal.October 1, 2014

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 LIEFF CABRASER HEIMANN & BERNSTEIN, LLP Jonathan D. Selbin (State Bar No. 170222) jselbin@lchb.com Jeremy M. Glapion Email: jglapion@lchb.com 250 Hudson Street, 8th Floor New York, NY 10013 Telephone: (212) 355-9500 Facsimile: (212) 355-9592 LIEFF, CABRASER, HEIMANN & BERNSTEIN, LLP Daniel M. Hutchinson (State Bar No. 239458) dhutchinson@lchb.com Nicole D. Sugnet (State Bar No. 246255) nsugnet@lchb.com 275 Battery Street, 29th Floor San Francisco, California 94111-3339 Telephone: (415) 956-1000 Facsimile: (415) 956-1008 HYDE & SWIGART Joshua Swigart (State Bar No. 225557) josh@westcoastlitigation.com 2221 Camino Del Rio South, Suite 101 San Diego, CA 92108-3551 Telephone: (619) 233-7770 Facsimile: (619) 297-1022 Attorneys for Plaintiff and the Proposed Class MEYER WILSON CO., LPA Matthew R. Wilson (State Bar No. 290473) mwilson@meyerwilson.com Michael J. Boyle, Jr. (State Bar No. 258560) mboyle@meyerwilson.com 1320 Dublin Road, Ste. 100 Columbus, Ohio 43215 Telephone: (614) 224-6000 Facsimile: (614) 224-6066 KAZEROUNI LAW GROUP Abbas Kazerounian (State Bar No. 249203) ak@kazlg.com Matthew M. Loker (State Bar No. 279939) ml@kazlg.com 245 Fischer Avenue, Unit D1 Costa Mesa, CA 92626 Telephone: (800) 400-6806 Facsimile: (800) 520-5523 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA SAN FRANCISCO / OAKLAND DIVISION MARK HEINRICHS, individually and on behalf of all others similarly situated, Plaintiff, v. WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A., Defendant. Case No. C 13-05434 WHA PLAINTIFF’S RESPONSE TO DECLARATION OF ERIC J.TROUTMAN REGARDING STATUS OF FCC PROCEEDINGS 1198342.1 PLAINTIFF’S RESPONSE TO TROUTMAN DECL. REGARDING STATUS OF FCC PROCEEDINGS C-13-05434 WHA Case3:13-cv-05434-WHA Document60 Filed10/01/14 Page1 of 4 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 On February 28, 2014, Defendant Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. (“Wells Fargo”), moved to stay this action under the primary jurisdiction doctrine. Dkt. No. 33. Wells Fargo argued that the Court should await decisions on two petitions to the Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”) that purportedly involved issues “best left to the FCC to be determined using its unique fact-finding abilities and technical expertise.” Id. at 2. In its reply brief, Wells Fargo argued that a stay was necessary to avoid expending resources on litigating the case. Dkt. No. 48 at 14. Taking Wells Fargo at its word, the Court stayed this action until October 15, 2014. Order Granting Motion to Stay (“Stay Order”), Dkt. No. 56 at 3. Wells Fargo’s Declaration of Eric J. Troutman Regarding Status of FCC Proceedings details that, during the Court-ordered stay, Wells Fargo has actively lobbied the FCC ex parte to absolve itself from liability in this action. Dkt. No. 59. Specifically: (1) Wells Fargo sent its counsel in this action on multiple trips to Washington, D.C.; (2) Wells Fargo’s counsel met several times with FCC advisors, staff, and legal counsel; (3) Wells Fargo’s paid lobbyist made ex parte factual arguments to the FCC regarding Wells Fargo’s practices;1 and (4) Wells Fargo’s paid lobbyist made legal arguments to the FCC regarding the effect of an unrelated Supreme Court case. Id. ¶¶5-8. In this ex parte lobbying to the FCC, Wells Fargo’s counsel and lobbyist argued about the impact any FCC action would have on this case. Id. ¶6. (“The Heinrichs litigation was specifically discussed during those meetings.”). All of Wells Fargo’s ex parte lobbying occurred after the period for public comment on the FCC petitions passed. See Stay Order at 2, 3. At Wells Fargo’s urging, the Court stayed this action for six months while Wells Fargo devoted its efforts to a comprehensive ex parte lobbying campaign designed to absolve itself of liability in this action. None of Wells Fargo’s pre-stay submissions to this Court stated its intention to engage in ex parte lobbying. Plaintiff respectfully submits that the time has come to lift the stay. 1 Monica Desai is the same paid lobbyist who submitted an “expert” declaration to this Court. See Dkt. No. 50. 1198342.1 - 1- PLAINTIFF’S RESPONSE TO TROUTMAN DECL. REGARDING STATUS OF FCC PROCEEDINGS C-13-05434 WHA Case3:13-cv-05434-WHA Document60 Filed10/01/14 Page2 of 4 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 Dated: October 1, 2014 By: /s/ Jonathan D. Selbin LIEFF, CABRASER, HEIMANN & BERNSTEIN, LLP Jonathan D. Selbin (State Bar No. 170222) Email: jselbin@lchb.com Jeremy M. Glapion (admitted pro hac vice) Email: jglapion@lchb.com 250 Hudson Street, 8th Floor New York, NY 10013 Telephone: (212) 355-9500 Facsimile: (212) 355-9592 LIEFF, CABRASER, HEIMANN & BERNSTEIN, LLP Daniel M. Hutchinson (State Bar No. 239458) Email: dhutchinson@lchb.com Nicole D. Sugnet (State Bar No. 246255) Email: nsugnet@lchb.com 275 Battery Street, 29th Floor San Francisco, California 94111-3339 Telephone: (415) 956-1000 Facsimile: (415) 956-1008 MEYER WILSON CO., LPA Matthew R. Wilson (State Bar No. 290473) mwilson@meyerwilson.com Michael J. Boyle, Jr. (State Bar No. 258560) mboyle@meyerwilson.com 1320 Dublin Road, Ste. 100 Columbus, Ohio 43215 Telephone: (614) 224-6000 Facsimile: (614) 224-6066 KAZEROUNI LAW GROUP Abbas Kazerounian (State Bar No. 249203) ak@kazlg.com Matthew M. Loker (State Bar No. 279939) ml@kazlg.com 2700 North Main Street, Suite 1000 Santa Ana, CA 92866 Telephone: (800) 400-6806 Facsimile: (800) 520-5523 HYDE & SWIGART Robert L. Hyde (State Bar No. 227183) bob@westcostlitigation.com Joshua Swigart (State Bar No. 225557) josh@westcoastlitigation.com 411 Camino Del Rio South, Suite 301 San Diego, CA 92108-3551 Telephone: (619) 233-7770 Facsimile: (619) 297-1022 Attorneys for Plaintiff Heinrichs and the Proposed Class 1198342.1 - 2- PLAINTIFF’S RESPONSE TO TROUTMAN DECL. REGARDING STATUS OF FCC PROCEEDINGS C-13-05434 WHA Case3:13-cv-05434-WHA Document60 Filed10/01/14 Page3 of 4 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 1198342.1 - 3- PLAINTIFF’S RESPONSE TO TROUTMAN DECL. REGARDING STATUS OF FCC PROCEEDINGS C-13-05434 WHA Case3:13-cv-05434-WHA Document60 Filed10/01/14 Page4 of 4