E.I. Du Pont De Nemours & Co. v. Kolon Industries, Inc.
E.I. Du Pont De Nemours & Co. v. Kolon Industries, Inc.
Opinion of the Court
This matter is before the Court on Plaintiff E.I. du PONT de NEMOURS AND COMPANY’S (“DuPont”) MOTION TO STRIKE ERRATA SHEETS OF CERTAIN KOLON DEPONENTS (Docket No. 876). The motion seeks to strike errata sheets that make changes to the deposition testimony of two of Kolon’s witnesses, Su-Yong Noh (“Noh”) and Jong Tae Park (“Park”), who testified pursuant to Fed.R. Civ.P. 30(b)(6), and to the depositions of other witnesses including In-Sik Han (“Han”), Oh-Hwan Kim (“Kim”), and Young-Soo Seo (“Seo”) (sometimes collectively referred to as “deponents”).
BACKGROUND FACTS
Kolon submitted corrections for each deponent on forms that, for each page and line to be corrected, sets forth: (i) the word or phrase used in the deposition (indicated by the heading “NOW READS;” (ii) the proposed corrections (indicated by the heading “SHOULD READ;” and (iii) a reason for this change. For example, an excerpt from the errata sheet of Kim’s October 19, 2010 deposition reads:
Now Should Reason Page Line Reads Read Therefore 3 2 LEE Kim Typo
DuPont has challenged forty errata sheets tendered by Kolon. Each sheet contains approximately twenty-two lines of changes. So altogether, DuPont attached around nine hundred line-by-line corrections for the witnesses identified in the motion.
In response to DuPont’s motion, Kolon served additional errata sheets. First, Kolon served seven more pages of errata for Park’s July 29 deposition.
After DuPont filed this motion and pointed out that the errata for the aforementioned dates lacked explanations for the change, thereby violating Rule 30(e) (for example every line for Noh and Park lacked a reason, while only two lines in Seo’s errata failed to provide a reason), Kolon sent DuPont errata filings that did set forth reasons for the changes. DuPont supplied those to the Court.
There remains some ambiguity about the exact relief that DuPont requests, namely, whether it seeks to strike the nine hundred changes attached to its brief, some portion of that universe, or whether DuPont seeks to exclude any errata sheet made by the five deponents for their October and July testimony. DuPont initially states:
Specifically, the following errata sheets should be stricken: (1) Su-Yong Noh’s July 27-29, 2010 30(b)(6) deposition errata sheets; (2) Jong Tae Park’s July 28-30, 2010 30(b)(6) deposition errata sheets; (3) In-Sik Han’s October 28, 2010 errata sheets; (4) Oh-Hwan Kim’s October 19, 2010 and October 21, 2010 deposition errata sheets; and (5) Young-Soo Seo’s October 26, 2010 deposition errata sheets.7
That language by itself certainly seems to indicate that DuPont aims to strike every errata sheet made by the deponents for all ten days of testimony. DuPont reaffirmed the initial request: “DuPont respectfully requests that the Court strike the Errata Sheet changes for all witnesses identified herein.
Notwithstanding the foregoing broad language, in DUPONT’S REPLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF ITS MOTION TO STRIKE ERRATA SHEETS OF CERTAIN KOLON DEPONENTS (Docket No. 900), DuPont specifies the relief sought and “requests that this Court strike only the Errata Sheet changes listed in Exhibit A attached to its Memorandum in Support of its Motion to Strike Errata Sheets of Certain Kolon Deponents.” Id. at 16 (emphasis added). Exhibit A contains four columns: (1) Question from Counsel, (2) Witnesses’ Original Response, (3) Witnesses’ Response after Errata Changes, and (4) Reason for Change. EXHIBIT A TO DUPONT’S MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF ITS MOTION TO STRIKE ERRATA SHEETS OF CERTAIN KOLON DEPONENTS (Docket No. 877) (“Exhibit A (Docket No. 877).”) Here DuPont identifies forty-seven responses that have been altered by the errata (seventeen by Noh, nineteen by Park, six by Han [five of Han’s corrections actually appear to be corrections to the questions rather than his own responses] and four by Seo) that allegedly violate the procedural and substantive requirements of Rule 30(e). Id. One example of these forty-seven responses takes the following form:
P ark’s Park’s Response
Question from Counsel Original Response “Did Kolon receive a ”1 don’t know.” CD from Dr. Shultz?” after Errata changes Reason for change ”No.” No reason provided
Exhibit A (Docket No. 877) at 5 (emphasis in original). Like Park’s response here, the majority of responses in Exhibit A correlate with only one specific line item from the accompanying errata sheet, but in a few instances one must piece together two or three errata line changes to decipher the new response. Accordingly, the forty-seven responses outlined in Exhibit A implicate eighty-seven specific line-by-line errata changes. The following table summarizes the information presented by both parties that relates to the Deponents’ errata changes:
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DuPont contends that the errata sheets violate the procedural and substantive requirements of Rule 30(e). DuPont objects to the submissions procedurally based on two grounds: (1) the deponent did not provide a reason for his change, and if a reason was provided, it did not truly explain the change; and (2) some of the reasons provided were untimely submitted.
A. Scope of Inquiry for Rule 30(e) Procedural Requirements
1. Alleged Untimeliness Of The Modified Errata Sheets
DuPont argues that the modified errata sheets signed on March 1, 2011 violate the procedural thirty day time limitation set out in Rule 30(e). See DUPONT’S REPLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF ITS MOTION TO STRIKE ERRATA SHEETS OF CERTAIN KOLON DEPONENTS (Docket No. 900) at 3. In the modified errata sheets, Noh, Park, and Seo provided line-byline reasons for their original changes. Seo was given notice on October 28, 2010 and made changes on March 1, 2011. Id. at EXHIBIT 1. Noh was given notice on August 5, 2010 and made changes on March 1, 2011. Park was given notice on August 5 and 6 and made changes on March 1, 2011. Id.
DuPont objects to the errata sheets signed by Noh that make changes to his July 27-29, 2010 testimony. DuPont argues that Noh’s errata entries do not satisfy the procedural requirements of Rule 30(e) because there are no specific reasons stated for these changes. Kolon’s Errata Sheet Template contains a column next to each change that reads “Reason Therefore,” yet Noh left this column blank for the all twelve pages of errata attached to DuPont’s Memorandum. DUPONT’S MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF ITS MOTION TO STRIKE ERRATA SHEETS OF CERTAIN KOLON DEPONENTS (Docket No. 877) at Exhibit D.
Kolon argues that Rule 30(e) is satisfied by the signed statement provided by each deponent at the end of the deposition transcript:
I hereby certify that I have read and examined the foregoing transcript, and the same is a true and accurate record of the testimony given by me. Any additions or corrections that I feel are necessary, I will attach on a separate sheet of paper to the original transcript.10
Alternatively, Kolon contends that, if this statement does not satisfy the statement of reasons requirement in Rule 30(e), the reasons set out in the modified errata sheet should suffice. Id. at 15. In assessing the allegation that Noh failed to provide sufficient reasons under Rule 30(e), the Court will examine all errata sheets submitted by Noh for the relevant deposition dates and will not limit the inquiry to Exhibit A. Thus, the Court will examine the following errata filings for insufficient reasons: Noh’s July 27, 2010 errata (signed August 30, 2010), Noh’s July 28, 2010 errata (signed August 30, 2010), and Noh’s July 29, 2010 errata (signed August 30, 2010).
DuPont claims that Seo’s failure to give reasons for three of his changes also violates the procedural requirements of Rule 30(e). Again, Kolon points to the signed statement at the deposition and the modified errata reasons as defenses to DuPont’s allegation for See — Kolon also uses these defenses for Park. The Court will examine all of Seo’s October 26, 2010 errata (signed November 27, 2010).
The errata sheets for Park have been presented to the Court in three separate filings. First, DuPont presented two and half pages of Park’s July 28, 2010 errata changes (signed on August 30, 2010); two pages of Park’s July 29, 2010 errata changes (signed on September 7, 2010); and two pages of Park’s July 30, 2010 errata changes (signed September 7, 2010). See DUPONT’S MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF ITS MOTION TO STRIKE ERRATA SHEETS OF CERTAIN KOLON DEPONENTS (Docket No. 877) at Exhibit H.
However, because it is not possible to make that determination, the Court will examine only the two and half pages of Park’s July 28, 2010 errata (signed August 30, 2010); the two pages of Park’s July 29, 2010 errata (signed September 7, 2010); the seven pages of Park’s July 29, 2010 errata (signed August 30, 2010); and the two pages of Park’s July 30, 2010 errata (signed September 7, 2010).
DuPont has not alleged any procedural failures by Han or Kim. Hence, the errata sheets that they filed will not be assessed for procedural failures.
B. Scope Of Inquiry For Rule 30(e) Substantive Requirements
DuPont also argues that some errata sheets violate Rule 30(e) by making improper substantive changes to Kolon Deponents’ testimony. See DUPONT’S MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF ITS MOTION TO STRIKE ERRATA SHEETS OF CERTAIN KOLON DEPONENTS (Docket No. 877) at 2. DuPont argues that these changes are not simply grammatical corrections; rather DuPont alleges that some errata filings make material changes in an effort to conform the deposition testimony to Kolon’s theory of the case. Id.
The Court will only examine the errata changes related to the forty-seven responses in Exhibit A. EXHIBIT A (Docket No. 877) in assessing this ground of objection. DuPont unequivocally makes this request in its Reply Memorandum; and although some of the text of DuPont’s motion and its supporting memorandum seems to indicate otherwise, the reasoning in DuPont’s brief only supports an examination of the substantive changes listed in Exhibit A.
Moreover, it is not feasible for the Court to determine if certain line item errata changes substantively alter the original testimony, because the Court does not have the deposition testimony for the deponents. The Court needs to understand the context of the question, the question itself, the original response, and the altered response (which may consolidate multiple line-by-line errata changes into a cohesive answer). .All of these elements are necessary before the Court can determine if a change substantively alters the original testimony. The burden falls on the DuPont to present this information, and DuPont has only carried this burden in the forty-seven responses outlined in Exhibit A.
1. The Alleged Substantive Violations In Noh’s Errata Sheets
Exhibit A contains seventeen responses altered by twenty-three errata lines from Noh’s July 27-29, 2010 sheets. See EXHIBIT A (Docket No. 877) at 1-3; see also DUPONT’S MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF ITS MOTION TO STRIKE ERRATA SHEETS OF CERTAIN KOLON DEPONENTS (Docket No. 877) at Exhibit D (deposition page: line) 15:13, 24:15, 54:22, 67:8, 69:16, 69:22, 76:23, 76:23 (second line), 78:1, 78:1 (second line), 78:5, 78:19, 78:19 (second line), 79:11, 158:3, 158:6, 225:12, 323:5, 323:17, 323:19, 324:22, 334:17, 334:18.
Most, if not all, of these responses and errata changes relate to information about
Q. Where was Mr. Seo when Mr. Mitchell gave the CD?
A. It doesn’t seem like important thing, but in Seoul. EXHIBIT A § Docket No. 877) at 3.
Q. Did Kolon, as part of this visit in 2007 that Mr. Mitchell made, ever obtain his permission to copy documents from his computer?
A. Mitchell did a presentation. He gave us a CD and then told us that we will be able to make duplication.
Id. at 2. Noh’s errata sheet adds two additional sentences to his original testimony: “And Mitchell gave Kolon a presentation of materials on the CD, indicating that Kolon could be provided with copies of the materials. Kolon made a copy of the CD during a break, I don’t think that Mitchell gave the CD to Mr. Seo.” Id. at 3. DuPont points to the latter testimony, and argues that Noh again attempts to change his original response so that it no longer conveys an affirmatively relinquishment of the CD by Mitchell to Kolon.
2. The Alleged Substantive Violations In Park’s Errata Sheets
In Exhibit A, Park identifies nineteen responses that implicate approximately twenty-four line-by-line errata changes. See Exhibit A (Docket No. 877) at 4-6; see also DUPONT’S MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF ITS MOTION TO STRIKE ERRATA SHEETS OF CERTAIN KOLON DEPONENTS (Docket No. 877) at Exhibit H (deposition page: line) 18:17, 20:18, 20:20, 82:22, 82:24, 85:8, 85:18, 89:22, 91:18, 133:1, 133:1 (second line), 133:1 (third line), 133:6, 229:12, 266:9, 277:25, 278:2, 291:12, 338:21, 374:21, 380:9, 381:22, 422:11, 430:9. Like Noh, Park changes dates, for example he changes “February of 2007” to “March of 2007.” Exhibit A (Docket No. 877) at 4. Park also removes testimony establishing that Mitchell voluntarily'gave the CD to Kolon. Park originally testified: “[a]s for Mr. Mitchell, I believe I recall receiving a CD during a meeting Mr. Mitchell presented.” Park’s errata sheet reads: “[a]s for Mr. Mitchell, I believe I recall receiving files that were on a CD that contained materials presented during a meeting that Mr. Mitchell present.” Id. Kolon argues that these changes are not material. It also argues that that case law interpreting Rule 30(e) allows the kind of changes made by Park. See KOLON INDUSTRIES, INC.’S OPPOSITION TO DUPONT’S MOTION TO STRIKE ERRATA SHEETS OF CERTAIN KOLON DEPONENTS (Docket No. 895) at 13.
3. The Alleged Substantive Violations In Han’s Errata Sheets
The two responses that have been altered by Han’s October 28, 2010 testimony correspond to two errata lines. See Exhibit A (Docket No. 877) at 6; see also DUPONT’S MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF ITS MOTION TO STRIKE ERRATA SHEETS
4. The Alleged Substantive Violations In Kim’s Errata Sheets
DuPont identifies five responses by Kim that use ten errata lines from Kim’s October 19 and October 21, 2010 errata sheets. See Exhibit A (Docket No. 877) at 9-10; see also DUPONT’S MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF ITS MOTION TO STRIKE ERRATA SHEETS OF CERTAIN KOLON DEPONENTS (Docket No. 877) at Exhibit K (deposition page: line) 63:7, 136:6, 136:10, 144:23, 317:5, 338:16, 338:19, 338:20, 338:21, 338:22. DuPont contends that Kim’s testimony attempts materially to alter testimony regarding Kolon’s position on securing confidential information. See DUPONT’S MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF ITS MOTION TO STRIKE ERRATA SHEETS OF CERTAIN KOLON DEPONENTS (Docket No. 877) at 5. Kolon argues, notwithstanding them contention that Rule 30(e) permits these changes, that these changes viewed in context are simply not material. See KOLON INDUSTRIES, INC.’S OPPOSITION TO DUPONT’S MOTION TO STRIKE ERRATA SHEETS OF CERTAIN KOLON DEPONENTS (Docket No. 895) at 14-15.
5. The Alleged Substantive Violations In Seo’s Errata Sheets
DuPont identifies one response by Seo that is altered by three lines of errata. See Exhibit A (Docket No. 877) at 10; see also DUPONT’S MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF ITS MOTION TO STRIKE ERRATA SHEETS OF CERTAIN KOLON DEPONENTS (Docket No. 877) at Exhibit M (deposition page: line) 85:5, 85:7, 85:8. The three lines are also challenged procedurally due to the lack of stated reasons. DuPont contends that this is a substantive change, while Kolon argues that the change is merely grammatical. See KOLON INDUSTRIES, INC.’S OPPOSITION TO DUPONT’S MOTION TO STRIKE ERRATA SHEETS OF CERTAIN KOLON DEPONENTS (Docket No. 895) at 15.
DISCUSSION
A. Procedural Requirements Of Rule 30(e)
Rule 30(e)(1) explains when and how a deponent may alter his deposition testimony. It provides that:
On request by the deponent or a party before the deposition is completed, the deponent must be allowed 30 days after being notified by the officer that the transcript or recording is available in which:
(A) to review the transcript or recording; and
(B) if there are changes in form or substance, to sign a statement listing the changes and the reasons for making them.
Fed.R.Civ.P. 30(e)(1) (emphasis added). To effectuate Rule 30’s policy of accuracy, courts generally insist on strict adherence to the
The first relevant procedural requirement at issue here is found in Rule 30(e)(1)(B) which requires the deponent to “sign a statement listing the changes and reasons for making them.” It is, of course, clear that, if the deponent does not provide any reasons for a change, then the rule is violated and that procedural defect alone renders the errata sheet improper. See Wyeth v. Lupin Ltd., 252 F.R.D. 295, 296 (D.Md. 2008).
But, the mere statement of some reason does not alone satisfy the rule. That is because courts require that each proffered change be accompanied by a specific reason that explains the nature of, and the need to make, the change. See Lugtig v. Thomas, 89 F.R.D. 639, 641 (N.D.Ill. 1981) (“after each change, the deponent must state the specific reason for that particular change ”) (emphasis added). These precepts inform the ensuing analysis.
1. Whether The Errata Sheets Offered By Noh, Park, and Seo Comply With Rule 30(e)(1)
Kolon’s Errata Sheet Template contains a column next to each change that reads “Reason Therefore,” yet the column remains blank in many instances. See, e.g., DUPONT’S MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF ITS MOTION TO STRIKE ERRATA SHEETS OF CERTAIN KOLON DEPONENTS (Docket No. 877) at Exhibit D. Noh, Park, and Seo (in three lines of his errata) failed to provide a single reason for their changes. This is a clear procedural failure under the plain language of Rule 30(e)(1) and the relevant case law. That failure alone ends the inquiry as to the errata sheets tendered by Noh and Park and the three lines at issue in Exhibit A tendered by Seo.
Kolon seeks to escape that consequence by relying on the fact that each deponent reserved the right to review the transcript pursuant to Rule 30(e). Kolon argues that the statement reserving this right should serve as a reason for the deponents’ changes.
That argument is without merit. The statement only reserves the right for a deponent to create changes with accompanying reasons. The Rule states: “On request by the deponent or a party before the deposition is complete, the deponent must be allowed 30 days----” Fed.R.Civ.P. 30(e)(l)(em-phasis added). The deponents were merely expressing the request to review the transcript. That does not satisfy the statement of reasons requirement. Indeed, if Kolon’s interpretation were correct, then errata sheets would never be necessary and the requirements of Rule 30(e) would be superfluous because every deponent could merely sign a general statement of “truth and accuracy” and that alone would authorize all future changes to their testimony. That simply is not the rule.
Also, as to Noh, Kolon asserts that Noh was only designated as a Rule 30(b)(6) witness to testify on the use of Mitchell materials rather than the acquisition of Mitchell materials. See KOLON INDUSTRIES, INC.’S OPPOSITION TO DUPONT’S MOTION TO COMPEL FOR FAILURE TO PRODUCE (Docket No. 435) at 7. That conclusory reason, even if true, does not serve as a specific reason for the hundreds of changes submitted by Noh.
For the foregoing reasons the Court will strike all of Noh’s July 27, 2010 errata (signed August 30, 2010), Noh’s July 28, 2010 errata (signed August 30, 2010), and Noh’s July 29, 2010 errata (signed August 30, 2010). The Court will also strike Park’s July 28, 2010 errata (signed August 30, 2010), Park’s July 29, 2010 errata (signed August 30 and September 7), and Park’s July 30, 2010 errata (signed September 7, 2010). The three lines of Seo’s errata that contain no reasons will also be stricken. See DUPONT’S MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF ITS MOTION TO STRIKE ERRATA SHEETS OF
2. Untimeliness Of The Modified Errata Sheets
Kolon apparently recognized the procedural errors in relation to Noh, Park, and Seo’s errata and, on March 1, 2011, Kolon submitted another set of “modified” errata sheets that provided line-by-line reasons, but this action violates a second Rule 30(e) procedural requisite.
Corrections to previous errata submissions must fall within this thirty day window. A deponent cannot submit a defective errata sheet initially to satisfy the time requirement and then submit a corrected sheet after the thirty day time limit. See Calloway, 110 F.R.D. at 52 (“the delay should be deemed a waiver of the right to object to alleged errors”). Thus, the Court will completely strike the modified errata submissions made on March 1,2011.
B. The Requirements Of Rule 30(e) Respecting Changes In Substance
It is generally accepted that one purpose of Rule 30(e) is to “permit ... transcription corrections,”
First, there is a line of authority that interprets Rule 30(e) broadly to allow the deponent to make any changes as long as the changes strictly conform to the procedural requirements of the rule. Under this approach, if the procedural requirements of the rule are met, any substantive change will be deemed permissible, even those that create inconsistencies or that directly contradict pri- or testimony.
Under this approach, changes are not limited to transcription errors. However, both versions of the testimony must remain in evidence. Many courts also order that the deposition be reopened to allow further examination about the altered testimony. See Podell v. Citicorp Diners Club, 112 F.3d 98, 103 (2d Cir. 1997); Lugtig, 89 F.R.D. at 641; see also Foutz v. Town of Vinton, Virginia, 211 F.R.D. 293, 295 (W.D.Va. 2002) (requiring the amending party to “admit into evidence both the original and correction answers” and to reopen the deposition).
The Rule cannot be interpreted to allow one to alter what was said under oath. If that were the case, one could merely answer the questions with no thought at all then return home and plan artful responses. Depositions differ from interrogatories in that regard. A deposition is not a take home examination.
Greenway, 144 F.R.D. at 325. Two district courts in the Fourth Circuit also have concluded that transcriptional or typographical errors are the only types of corrections permitted under Rule 30(e). See Wyeth v. Lupin Ltd., 252 F.R.D. 295, 296-97 (D.Md. 2008); see also, Lee v. Zom Clarendon, L.P., 689 F.Supp.2d 814, 819 (E.D.Va. 2010). This line of authority forecloses substantive changes in what was said at a deposition unless they are shown to be necessary to correct a court reporter’s error in reporting what was said.
Recently, in this district, Judge Cacheris took this approach in Touchcom, Inc. v. Bereskin & Parr, 790 F.Supp.2d 435, 465 (E.D.Va. 2011) wherein the proposed changes struck “this Court as a bit too convenient.” Id. Touchcom continues:
‘[T]he purpose of an errata sheet is to correct alleged inaccuracies in what the deponent said at his deposition, not to modify what he wishes that he had said.’ Crowe v. Marchand, No. 05-98T, 2006 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 98142, 2006 WL 5230014, *1 (D.R.I. 2006) (emphasis in original). Rule 30(e) (allowing the submission of errata sheets), ‘cannot be interpreted to allow one to alter what was said under oath. If that were the case, one could merely answer the questions with no thought at all then return home and plan artful responses. Depositions differ from interrogatories in that regard. A deposition is not a take home examination.’ Bums v. Bd. of County Com’rs of Jackson Cnty., 330 F.3d 1275, 1282 (10th Cir. 2003) (citations omitted).
Id.
This approach to the use of errata sheets serves to allow the correction of demonstrated court reporter errors while preserving the fundamental concept that a deponent must give honest and complete answers at the deposition. It makes no sense to allow a deponent to change sworn testimony merely because after the deposition he wishes that he had said something other than what was said. Indeed, to adopt such an approach would be to set at naught the efficacy of the deposition process.
Nor can the errata process permitted by Rule 30(e) be used to allow post-deposition revision of testimony to conform a witness’ testimony to enhance a party’s case. That too would undermine the purpose for which depositions are allowed under the federal rule.
The purpose of a deposition is to memorialize testimony or to obtain information that can be used at trial or that eliminates the pursuit of issues or that inform decisions as to the future course of the litigation. One of the main purposes of the discovery rules, and the deposition rules in particular, is to elicit the facts before the trial and to memorialize witness testimony before the recollection of events fade or “it has been altered by ... helpful suggestions of lawyers.” Hall v. Clifton Precision, 150 F.R.D. 525, 528 (E.D.Pa. 1993). Those purposes are disserved by allowing deponents to “answer questions [at a deposition] with no thought at all” and later to craft answers that better serve the deponent’s cause. Indeed, to allow such conduct makes a mockery of the serious and important role that depositions play in the litigation process.
Moreover, allowing the “make any changes you want” approach would lead to substantial additional litigation expenses by making it necessary to reopen the deposition to explore the altered testimony. And, the approach inevitably will lead to longer trials as counsel pursue the reasons for the changes on cross-examination. The result would be to inject significant confusion and delay into the trial
Hence, the Court elects to follow the approach reflected in the decisions in Garcia, Greenway, Wyeth and Lee. The errata sheets at issue will be judged by the precepts set forth in those decisions.
1. Substantive Changes For The Deponents Listed In Exhibit A
a. Substantive Changes For Noh, Park, And Seo
None of the changes made by Noh, Park, and Seo in Exhibit A result from transcriptional or typographical errors that are alleged to have been made by the court reporter. Kolon’s current position about the Mitchell CD is that the documents were copied from the CD in Mitchell’s computer while Mitchell was at lunch, but “no express conversation occurred between Mr. Mitchell and Kolon employees regarding the copying of the CD.” DUPONT’S REPLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF ITS MOTION TO STRIKE ERRATA SHEETS OF CERTAIN KOLON DEPONENTS (Docket No. 900) at 12. However, the original testimony of Noh and Park creates an alternative scenario wherein Mitchell intentionally handed over the CD. See Exhibit A (Docket No. 877) at 1-6.
Obviously, those are two contradictory positions. Both Noh and Park have altered their deposition testimony to ameliorate the contradictions. These changes certainly seem to be the product of lawyerly fixing and do not satisfy the proper interpretation of Rule 30(e). Thus, even if the errata sheets for the Noh, Park, and Seo depositions had not been stricken for procedural violations of Rule 30(e), they would be disallowed because they exceed the limits allowed for substantive changes.
b. Substantive Changes For Han And Kim
The six errata lines used by Han to alter four questions by the opposing counsel also will be stricken. See Exhibit A (Docket No. 877) at 7-8; see also DUPONT’S MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF ITS MOTION TO STRIKE ERRATA SHEETS OF CERTAIN KOLON DEPONENTS (Docket No. 877) at Exhibit I (deposition page: line) 104:20, 104:24, 107:8, 107:10, 110:3, 110:6. The plain language of Rule 30(e) does not even contemplate deponents altering questions from the opposing counsel, and, predictably, not a single case out of the hundreds of cases interpreting Rule 30(e) even addresses the absurd proposition.
The two errata lines identified in Exhibit A used to alter two responses by Han during his October 28, 2010 testimony will also be stricken. See EXHIBIT A (Docket No. 877) at 6; DUPONT’S MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF ITS MOTION TO STRIKE ERRATA SHEETS OF CERTAIN KOLON DEPONENTS (Docket No. 877) at Exhibit I (deposition page: line) 39:20, 102:25. Han changes his original response from ‘Tes, that is right” to ‘Tes, that is right based on the K-2 project.” Exhibit A (Docket No. 877) at 6. That is a substantive addition to the assigned answers and thus exceeds the permissible bounds for errata changes. It is not an error made by the court reporter. In the other response to which DuPont objects, the word “survival” is changed to “enhancement” Id. That substantively changes information relating to Kolon’s state of business without any showing that the court reporter erred in recording the original answer. See DUPONT’S MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF ITS MOTION TO STRIKE ERRATA SHEETS OF CERTAIN KOLON DEPONENTS (Docket No. 877) at 5. The alleged error is not attributed to the court reporter.
The ten errata lines that Kim uses to change the five responses from his October 19 and October 21, 2010 testimony identified in Exhibit A will be stricken. See EXHIBIT A (Docket No. 877) at 9-10; see also DUPONT’S MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF ITS MOTION TO STRIKE ERRATA SHEETS OF CERTAIN KOLON
CONCLUSION
For the foregoing reasons, the Plaintiffs MOTION TO STRIKE ERRATA SHEETS OF CERTAIN KOLON DEPONENTS (Docket No. 876) will be granted.
. See MOTION TO STRIKE ERRATA SHEETS OF CERTAIN KOLON INDUSTRIES, INC.'S DEPONENTS (Docket No. 876) at 1.
. See DUPONT'S MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF ITS MOTION TO STRIKE ERRATA SHEETS OF CERTAIN KOLON DEPONENTS (Docket No. 877) at Exhibit K.
. DuPont attached the following number of errata sheets for each deponent on the specified deposition day: (1) six and a half pages for Noh's July 27 deposition; (2) four pages for Noh's July 28 deposition; (3) one and a half pages for Noh’s July 29 deposition; (4) two and a half pages for Park's July 28 deposition; (5) two pages for Park's July 29 deposition; (6) two pages of testimony for Park’s July 30 deposition; (7) five pages for Han's October 28 deposition; (8) five pages for Kim's October 19 deposition; (9) seven pages for Kim’s October 21 deposition; and (10) four pages for Seo's October 26 deposition. See DUPONT’S MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF ITS MOTION TO STRIKE ERRATA SHEETS OF CERTAIN KOLON DEPONENTS (Docket No. 877) at Exhibits D-M.
. See KOLON INDUSTRIES, INC.'S OPPOSITION TO DUPONT'S MOTION TO STRIKE ERRATA SHEETS OF CERTAIN KOLON DEPONENTS (Docket No. 895) at Exhibit 6.
. See DUPONT'S REPLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF ITS MOTION TO STRIKE ERRATA SHEETS OF CERTAIN KOLON DEPONENTS (Docket No. 900) at Exhibit 1.
. Kolon explains that the modified errata sheets were submitted in a "line-by-line format” with reasons to "obviate the need for any additional remedy.” KOLON INDUSTRIES, INC.’S OPPOSITION TO DUPONT'S MOTION TO STRIKE ERRATA SHEETS OF CERTAIN KOLON DEPONENTS (Docket No. 895) at 18.
. DUPONT'S MOTION TO STRIKE ERRATA SHEETS OF CERTAIN KOLON INDUSTRIES, INC.'S DEPONENTS (Docket No. 876) at 1 (emphasis added).
. DUPONT'S MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF ITS MOTION TO STRIKE ERRATA SHEETS OF CERTAIN KOLON DEPONENTS (Docket No. 877) at 12 (emphasis added).
. The relevant procedural requirements of Rule 30(e) are discussed thoroughly below; the requirements include: (1) the request for review must be made by a party or the deponent before completion of the deposition; (2) the changes must be made within 30 days of notification that the transcript is available for review; (3) the deponent must sign a statement reciting the changes and the reasons for making them; and (4) the changes must be appended to the transcript during the period allowed. Fed.R.Civ.P. 30(e).
. KOLON INDUSTRIES, INC.'S OPPOSITION TO DUPONT’S MOTION TO STRIKE ERRATA SHEETS OF CERTAIN KOLON DEPONENTS (Docket No. 895) at Exhibits 16-20 (certificates of deponent for Noh, Park, Han, Kim, and Seo).
. DuPont has not objected to the timeliness of these filings even though Park was given notice for his July 29, 2010 testimony on August 5, 2010 but the signature date reads September 7, 2010. Furthermore, he was given notice for his July 30, 2010 deposition on August 6, 2010 but the signature date reads September 7, 2010.
. Unlike, the July 29, 2010 changes by Park that DuPont presented (signed on September 7, 2010), the July 29, 2010 that Kolon presents were signed by Park on August 30, 2010. See KOLON INDUSTRIES, INC.’S OPPOSITION TO DUPONT’S MOTION TO STRIKE ERRATA SHEETS OF CERTAIN KOLON DEPONENTS at Exhibit 6.
. Every example cited in the body of DuPont’s briefs comes from Exhibit A, for DuPont does not once mention any specific change that cannot be found in Exhibit A.
. The amended errata response to the second question reads: "Mitchell did a presentation of materials from a CD and then told us that we will be able to have a duplication of the materials, which were on the CD in his computer.” EXHIBIT A (Docket No. 877) at 2.
. As discussed below, many Courts interpreted Rule 30(e) expansively to allow any type of substantive change.
. Fed.R.Civ.P. 30(e) grants a deponent 30 days from receipt of the original transcript within which to make changes to the original testimony.
. Christopher Macchiaroli, Danielle Tarin, Rewriting the Record: A Federal Court Split on the Scope of Permissible Changes to a Deposition Transcript, 3 Fed. Cts. L.Rev. 1, 4 (2009); see also Deposition Dilemmas: Vexatious Scheduling and Errata Sheets, 12 Geo. J. Legal Ethics 1, 54-55 (1998) ("in interpreting Rule 30(e), most courts agree that the deponent can, and indeed should, change all necessary form and transcription errors.”)
. There also are decisions that address errata changes made in response to a motion for summary judgment. Even jurisdictions that permit broad substantive changes usually disallow changes tendered after a motion for summary judgment has been filed. See, Hambleton Bros. Lumber Co., 397 F.3d at 1223 (disallowing substantive changes that "bear on an essential element of a claim or defense” in the context of a summary judgment motion); Rios v. Bigler, 847 F.Supp. 1538, 1546-47 (D.Kan. 1994) aff'd, 67 F.3d 1543 (10th Cir. 1995); EBC, Inc., 618 F.3d at 268. Those decisions are of no real import in resolving DuPont's motion because the putative changes were not tendered after the filing of a motion for summary judgment.
. Striking the errata sheets, of course, does not preclude Kolon from having the witnesses explain their deposition testimony at trial.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- E.I. DU PONT DE NEMOURS AND COMPANY v. KOLON INDUSTRIES, INC.
- Cited By
- 16 cases
- Status
- Published