`
`DAVID EISENBERG
`DAVID EISENBERG, P.L.C.
`3550 N. Central Avenue, Ste. 1155
`Phoenix, Arizona 85012
`Arizona State Bar No. 017218
`Telephone: 602.237.5076
`Email: david@deisenbergplc.com
`
`Attorney for Defendant Andrew Padilla
`
`UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
`DISTRICT OF ARIZONA
`
`United States of America,
`Plaintiff,
`
`v.
`Michael Lacey, et al.,
`Defendants.
`
`CR-18-00422-06-PHX-SRB
`DEFENDANT PADILLA’S NOTICE
`OF JOINDER re: DEFENDANT
`BRUNST’S MOTION TO SEEK
`ADMISSION OF STATE OF MIND
`TESTIMONY (Doc. 1879)
`
`The Defendant Andrew Padilla, by and through counsel, hereby gives notice that he joins
`in Defendant Brunst’s Motion to Seek Admission of Brunst’s Testimony re: State of Mind.
`(Doc. 1879.) Specifically, Defendant Padilla joins in Mr. Brunst’s motion as it relates to
`testimony based on good faith in relying on the presence and participation of lawyers in
`Backpage’s operations. (Id., pp. 13-14.) In Mr. Padilla’s case, that guidance impacted his state
`of mind as to the criteria for the publication of advertisements during the time he managed the
`moderation process at Backpage. As Mr. Brunst has noted and as Mr. Padilla recognizes, such
`testimony concerning what he was told by lawyers would violate prior Court Orders.
`
`1/
`The following sets out Mr. Padilla’s contacts with lawyers in his position as operations
`manager and how these contacts impacted his actions at Backpage. Mr. Padilla, along with
`approximately 40 moderators attended a presentation by Steve Suskin (and others) on
`
` Mr. Brunst’s motion also refers to court opinions and cases that guided him in his work
`1/
`and on oral and written contacts he had with counsel concerning them. Although Mr. Padilla’s
`contacts with counsel was far more limited, his joinder encompasses the Brunst motion in its
`entirety.
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`Case 2:18-cr-00422-DJH Document 1887 Filed 10/22/23 Page 2 of 2
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`moderation standards, which he incorporated into the criteria to be followed in reviewing
`advertisements. He also talked with and was guided by Mr. Suskin concerning subpoena
`compliance and would from time to time consult with Mr. Suskin about moderation criteria. Mr.
`Padilla also personally met and talked by telephone with Liz McDougall many times concerning
`moderation criteria. For example, when she started with Backpage in 2012, Ms. McDougall
`directed him in certain cases to remove entire advertisements rather than merely stripping out
`terms, and she encouraged him and Joye Vaught to meet with law enforcement.
`The evidence discloses that it was Carl Ferrer, Mr. Padilla’s superior, who was the
`overarching source of moderation standards - - ever changing - - in both words and photos.
`Nonetheless, the presence and participation of attorneys in the moderation process is quite
`relevant to Mr. Padilla’s state of mind: he relied on and followed their directions. If he takes the
`stand, Mr. Padilla should be allowed to testify about how the directions attorneys gave him in
`carrying out his duties supported his good faith belief that he was conducting himself properly.
`Respectfully submitted this 22 day of October, 2023.
`nd
`
`s/ David Eisenberg
`
`DAVID EISENBERG
`Counsel for Defendant Andrew Padilla
`Certificate of Service
`
`I hereby certify that on October 22, 2023, I electronically transmitted the attached
`document to the Clerk’s Office using the CM/ECF System for filing and transmittal of a Notice
`of Electronic Filing to the CM/ECF registrants who have entered their appearance as counsel of
`record.
`
` s/ David Eisenberg
` David Eisenberg
`
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