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`EXHIBIT 13
`TO TRENT TANNER DECLARATION ISO
`NUVASIVE’S COMBINED MOTIONS IN LIMINE
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`·1· · · · · · · · ·UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
`· · · · · · · · · SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
`·2· · · · · · · · · · · ·SAN DIEGO DIVISION
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`·3
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`·4· ·NUVASIVE, INC., a Delaware· · · · )
`· · ·corporation,· · · · · · · · · · · )
`·5· · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · ·)
`· · · · · · · · ·Plaintiff,· · · · · · )
`·6· · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · ·)
`· · · · · vs.· · · · · · · · · · · · · )· Case No.
`·7· · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · ·)· 3:18-CV-00347-
`· · ·ALPHATEC HOLDINGS, INC., a· · · · )· CAB-MDD
`·8· ·Delaware corporation and· · · · · )
`· · ·ALPHATEC SPINE, INC., a· · · · · ·)
`·9· ·California corporation,· · · · · ·)
`· · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · ·)
`10· · · · · · · ·Defendants.· · · · · ·)
`· · ·__________________________________)
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`13· · · · · · · · · · · HIGHLY CONFIDENTIAL
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`14· · · · · · · · · PURSUANT TO PROTECTIVE ORDER
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`15· · · · · · · · · ·VIDEOTAPED DEPOSITION OF
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`16· · · · · · · · · · · · ·NUVASIVE, INC.
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`17· · · · · · · · · · · · · MATTHEW LINK
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`18
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`19· · · · · · · · · · · · December 3, 2019
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`20· · · · · · · · · · · · · 9:02 a.m.
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`22· · · · · · · 3580 Carmel Mountain Road, Suite 300
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`23· · · · · · · · · · ·San Diego, California
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`25· · · · · · · · · ·Lorie Rhyne, CSR No. 12905
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`EXHIBIT 13, Page 190 of 204
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`·1· · · · · · · · APPEARANCES OF COUNSEL
`·2
`·3· ·On Behalf of the Plaintiff:
`·4· · · · PAUL D. TRIPODI II, ESQ.
`·5· · · · Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati P.C.
`·6· · · · 633 West Fifth Street, Suite 1550
`·7· · · · Los Angeles, California 90071
`·8· · · · (323) 210-2900
`·9· · · · ptripodi@wsgr.com
`10
`11· ·On Behalf of the Defendants:
`12· · · · BRIAN J. NISBET, ESQ.
`13· · · · Winston & Strawn LLP
`14· · · · 35 W. Wacker Drive
`15· · · · Chicago, Illinois 60601
`16· · · · (312) 558-3254
`17· · · · bnisbet@winston.com
`18· · · · · ·-and-
`19· · · · NIMALKA R. WICKRAMASEKERA, ESQ.
`20· · · · Winston & Strawn LLP
`21· · · · 333 South Grand Avenue, Suite 3800
`22· · · · Los Angeles, California 90071-1543
`23· · · · (213) 615-1700
`24· · · · nwickramasekera@winston.com
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`·1· ·Videographer:· GIANNI ORTIZ
`·2· ·Also Present:· MICHAEL DOYLE, in-house counsel,
`·3· · · · · · · · · NuVasive
`·4· · · · · · · · · CRAIG HUNSAKER, Executive Vice
`·5· · · · · · · · · President and General Counsel
`·6· · · · · · · · · at Alphatec Spine
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`·1· · · · · · · · · · · INDEX OF EXAMINATION
`·2· ·WITNESS:· MATTHEW LINK
`·3· ·EXAMINATION· · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · PAGE
`·4· ·By Mr. Nisbet· · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · 7
`·5
`·6· · · · · · · · · · · ·INDEX TO EXHIBITS
`·7· ·DEFENDANTS· DESCRIPTION· · · · · · · · · · · PAGE
`·8· ·Exhibit 1· ·E-mail dated 10/3/2017,
`·9· · · · · · · ·NUVA_ATEC0317796 to
`10· · · · · · · ·NUVA_ATEC0317797· · · · · · · · · 61
`11· ·Exhibit 2· ·Consulting Agreement Memo
`12· · · · · · · ·dated December 6, 2017,
`13· · · · · · · ·NUVA_ATEC0236179 to
`14· · · · · · · ·NUVA_ATEC0236192· · · · · · · · ·162
`15· ·Exhibit 3· ·Consulting Agreement Memo
`16· · · · · · · ·dated November 28, 2017,
`17· · · · · · · ·NUVA_ATEC0235939 to
`18· · · · · · · ·NUVA_ATEC0235951· · · · · · · · ·162
`19· ·Exhibit 4· ·Declaration of Matthew Link in
`20· · · · · · · ·Support of Motion for Preliminary
`21· · · · · · · ·Injunction· · · · · · · · · · · ·191
`22· ·Exhibit 5· ·Defendants' Notice of Deposition
`23· · · · · · · ·of Nuvasive Inc. Pursuant to
`24· · · · · · · ·Rule 30(b)(6)· · · · · · · · · · 198
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`·1· ·Exhibit 6· ·E-mail dated 6/13/2017, NUVA_ATEC0303243
`·2· · · · · · · ·to NUVA_ATEC0303244· · · · · · · 206
`·3· ·Exhibit 7· ·Reply Declaration of Matthew Link
`·4· · · · · · · ·in Support of Motion For
`·5· · · · · · · ·Preliminary Injunction· · · · · ·243
`·6· ·Exhibit 8· ·E-mail dated 4/12/2018, NUVA_ATEC0302800
`·7· · · · · · · ·to NUVA_ATEC0302801· · · · · · · 258
`·8· ·Exhibit 9· ·E-mail dated 5/11/2018,
`·9· · · · · · · ·NUVA_ATEC0302812· · · · · · · · ·264
`10· ·Exhibit 10· E-mail dated 7/24/2018,
`11· · · · · · · ·NUVA_ATEC0302819· · · · · · · · ·267
`12· ·Exhibit 11· E-mail dated 4/2/2019,
`13· · · · · · · ·NUVA_ATEC0312120 to
`14· · · · · · · ·NUVA_ATEC0312129· · · · · · · · ·273
`15· ·Exhibit 12· E-mail dated 4/28/2019,
`16· · · · · · · ·NUVA_ATEC0302834· · · · · · · · ·287
`17· ·Exhibit 13· US Commercial Business Review -
`18· · · · · · · ·Q1, April 29, 2019, NUVA_ATEC0302901
`19· · · · · · · ·to NUVA_ATEC0302923· · · · · · · 287
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`·1· ·litigation against Alphatec?
`·2· · · · ·A.· ·I don't recall a specific conversation with
`·3· ·Mr. Lucier about why to bring this lawsuit outside of
`·4· ·questions that were related to my knowledge of -- of
`·5· ·what the offering was.· I don't remember any specific
`·6· ·conversations beyond that, and I -- I don't recall even
`·7· ·a specific individual conversation or date.
`·8· · · · · · · My general recollection is that at some
`·9· ·point, he had asked me if I had familiarity with the
`10· ·offering -- I'm sorry -- the -- the lateral product
`11· ·offering, which I think is characterized under
`12· ·Battalion.
`13· · · · ·Q.· ·And when was that conversation?
`14· · · · ·A.· ·I don't -- I don't remember the specifics of
`15· ·when that conversation was.
`16· · · · ·Q.· ·In the aftermath of Mr. Miles' departure,
`17· ·did you ever hear or see Greg Lucier say anything
`18· ·negative about Mr. Miles?
`19· · · · ·A.· ·To the best of my recollection, Mr. Lucier
`20· ·expressed frustration around his departure and I guess
`21· ·general disappointment on his decision to leave.
`22· · · · ·Q.· ·Tell me about that conversation.
`23· · · · ·A.· ·Again, I don't remember a specific
`24· ·individual conversation.· I'm just thinking generally
`25· ·of commentary around the time of the departure was
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`·1· · · · ·A.· ·My -- my direct knowledge or understanding
`·2· ·of any comments around his disappointment or
`·3· ·frustration would be closer to five than a hundred.
`·4· · · · ·Q.· ·In your view, did -- did Mr. Lucier's
`·5· ·feelings of frustration and dis- -- disappointment have
`·6· ·anything to do with NuVasive deciding to bring this
`·7· ·litigation against Alphatec?
`·8· · · · ·A.· ·I -- I do not have firsthand knowledge to
`·9· ·that effect.
`10· · · · ·Q.· ·I -- right.· I guess I'm asking for your
`11· ·view, your -- your -- your impression, your perception.
`12· ·In your view, did -- did Mr. Lucier's frustration with
`13· ·Mr. Miles have anything to do with NuVasive's decision
`14· ·to bring this litigation against Alphatec?
`15· · · · · · · MR. TRIPODI:· Objection.· Form.
`16· · · · · · · THE WITNESS:· I -- I would be -- without
`17· ·having had firsthand knowledge of him, you know,
`18· ·stating that -- anything to that effect, I'd be
`19· ·speculating.
`20· ·BY MR. NISBET:
`21· · · · ·Q.· ·You never heard him say anything like that?
`22· · · · ·A.· ·I do not recall hearing him say that he was
`23· ·bringing this lawsuit around the potential IP
`24· ·infringement of products and technology as a result of
`25· ·his personal frustration.· I do not recall ever hearing
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`·1· ·frustration based on a belief that -- at least as I
`·2· ·recall, Greg Lucier stating that there was an agreement
`·3· ·for Pat to stay with the organization in the capacity
`·4· ·that he was at the time of his departure.
`·5· · · · ·Q.· ·Okay.· What -- when did that conversation
`·6· ·take place?
`·7· · · · ·A.· ·Again, I don't remember two and a half years
`·8· ·ago specific dates of conversations -- I guess a little
`·9· ·over two years ago.· Again, it's just a -- a general --
`10· ·again, as best I recall -- commentary around the time
`11· ·of -- of the departure.
`12· · · · ·Q.· ·How often did you hear Mr. Lucier say things
`13· ·like that?
`14· · · · · · · MR. TRIPODI:· Objection.· Form.
`15· · · · · · · THE WITNESS:· I -- I -- I don't know that I
`16· ·can define a -- a specific frequency.
`17· ·BY MR. NISBET:
`18· · · · ·Q.· ·Well, was it more than once?
`19· · · · ·A.· ·I -- it would be fair to characterize it as
`20· ·more than once, yes.
`21· · · · ·Q.· ·Was it more than five times?
`22· · · · ·A.· ·Again, at this point, I'd be speculating on
`23· ·the specifics of that.
`24· · · · ·Q.· ·Well, was it -- is it -- was it closer to a
`25· ·hundred or closer to five?
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`·1· ·him say that directly.
`·2· · · · ·Q.· ·Okay.· Did you ever hear him say that sort
`·3· ·of indirectly, conversations about Mr. Miles and --
`·4· · · · · · · MR. TRIPODI:· Objection.
`·5· ·BY MR. NISBET:
`·6· · · · ·Q.· ·-- coincided with conversations about this
`·7· ·litigation?
`·8· · · · · · · MR. TRIPODI:· Objection.· Form.
`·9· · · · · · · THE WITNESS:· My recollection of the
`10· ·conversations were, you know, again, relate -- related
`11· ·to the product and the technology.· Those were my
`12· ·involvement.
`13· ·BY MR. NISBET:
`14· · · · ·Q.· ·Did you have any one-on-one meetings with
`15· ·Mr. Lucier while he was the CEO?
`16· · · · ·A.· ·Yes, I did.
`17· · · · ·Q.· ·Okay.· And at -- at any point in those
`18· ·one-on-one meetings, did Mr. Lucier raise this
`19· ·litigation with Alphatec?
`20· · · · · · · MR. TRIPODI:· Objection.· Vague.
`21· · · · · · · THE WITNESS:· I don't recall a specific
`22· ·discussion around this litigation with Alphatec in any
`23· ·one-on-one meeting.
`24· ·BY MR. NISBET:
`25· · · · ·Q.· ·So in any meeting that you've ever had with
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`·1· ·Mr. Lucier, do you ever recall him identifying the
`·2· ·reasons why he decided to -- to green light this
`·3· ·litigation against Alphatec?
`·4· · · · · · · MR. TRIPODI:· Objection.· Form.
`·5· · · · · · · THE WITNESS:· My recollection of
`·6· ·conversations with Greg around this litigation, again,
`·7· ·was related to, I guess, the -- whether or not there
`·8· ·were similarities in the technology that provided merit
`·9· ·to this.· And those were the discussions that I had.
`10· ·BY MR. NISBET:
`11· · · · ·Q.· ·Did Mr. Lucier -- in any of your
`12· ·conversations -- in any meeting that you ever had with
`13· ·Mr. Lucier, did he ever talk about what his goals were
`14· ·for NuVasive in authorizing this litigation?
`15· · · · · · · MR. TRIPODI:· Counsel, I assume you're
`16· ·excluding any meetings that involved counsel in your
`17· ·question?
`18· · · · · · · MR. NISBET:· Well, excluding any privileged
`19· ·communications.· Just because a meeting involves
`20· ·counsel doesn't necessarily mean it's a privileged
`21· ·communication.
`22· · · · · · · MR. TRIPODI:· Well, I don't think the
`23· ·witness can -- can -- we'd -- we'd have to -- I'd have
`24· ·to prep his knowledge before -- you're asking questions
`25· ·about meetings he had with counsel present.
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`·1· ·litigation against Alphatec?
`·2· · · · · · · MR. TRIPODI:· All right.· Let's take that
`·3· ·break.
`·4· · · · · · · THE VIDEOGRAPHER:· We're going off the
`·5· ·record at 9:43 a.m.
`·6· · · · · · ·(A recess is taken.)
`·7· · · · · · · THE VIDEOGRAPHER:· We are back on the record
`·8· ·at 9:58 a.m.
`·9· · · · · · · MR. TRIPODI:· So based on my discussions
`10· ·with the witness, I don't believe that he is able to
`11· ·answer the question without invading the
`12· ·attorney-client privilege or work product privilege.
`13· ·Instruct him not to answer.
`14· · · · · · · MR. NISBET:· Okay.
`15· ·BY MR. NISBET:
`16· · · · ·Q.· ·In any conversations that you ever had with
`17· ·Mr. Lucier in a meeting or otherwise, did you ever hear
`18· ·him state that he wanted to bring litigation generally
`19· ·against Mr. Miles or Alphatec?
`20· · · · · · · MR. TRIPODI:· Objection.· Vague.· Objection
`21· ·to form.
`22· · · · · · · Instruct the witness to take caution with
`23· ·respect to any meetings or conversations that included
`24· ·counsel.
`25· · · · · · · THE WITNESS:· So in discussion outside of
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`·1· · · · · · · MR. NISBET:· That's fine.· We can take a
`·2· ·break if there is a privilege concern.
`·3· · · · · · · MR. TRIPODI:· I'd ask you just qualify your
`·4· ·question.
`·5· ·BY MR. NISBET:
`·6· · · · ·Q.· ·Yeah.· I'm not looking for any privileged
`·7· ·communications.· Just because a -- a meeting has a
`·8· ·lawyer in it doesn't means that it's a privileged
`·9· ·communication.· So if you have any questions about
`10· ·whether or not something may or may not be privileged,
`11· ·we can take a break after I ask a question, and you're
`12· ·free to discuss it with counsel.· Okay?
`13· · · · ·A.· ·Yeah, it's probably appropriate, then, to
`14· ·take a break, if that's okay.
`15· · · · · · · MR. NISBET:· Sure.· We can do that.· We can
`16· ·do that now.· I'm fine with that.
`17· · · · · · · MR. TRIPODI:· Unless you'd like to -- to
`18· ·move on and come back to it after we take our first
`19· ·break.
`20· · · · · · · MR. NISBET:· No, let's -- let's stick on it.
`21· · · · · · · MR. TRIPODI:· Okay.· So what is the specific
`22· ·question that you'd like him to answer?
`23· · · · · · · MR. NISBET:· In -- in any -- in any meeting
`24· ·with Mr. Lucier, did he ever identify his
`25· ·goals/reasons/desired outcomes in -- for bringing this
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`·1· ·attorney-client privilege, yes, I did hear Greg Lucier
`·2· ·make some general -- general commentary on litigation.
`·3· ·BY MR. NISBET:
`·4· · · · ·Q.· ·Okay.· When were those comments made?
`·5· · · · ·A.· ·Again, I don't remember specific
`·6· ·conversations or exact dates.· To the best of my
`·7· ·recollection, it would have been around the time of
`·8· ·Mr. Miles' departure; so let's call it early fall of
`·9· ·2017.
`10· · · · ·Q.· ·Okay.· Who else was involved in those
`11· ·conversations?
`12· · · · ·A.· ·Again, I don't remember any one specific
`13· ·conversation.· It's just my general recollection of,
`14· ·you know, discussions that may have happened at that
`15· ·time.
`16· · · · ·Q.· ·Where did those conversations take place?
`17· · · · ·A.· ·Again, I -- I don't have a specific
`18· ·recollection of -- of the discussions or the individual
`19· ·conversations.· It's just a general recollection.
`20· · · · ·Q.· ·Is it -- is it -- I mean, is it fair to
`21· ·characterize Mr. Miles' departure as somewhat of a
`22· ·momentous event at NuVasive?
`23· · · · · · · MR. TRIPODI:· Objection to form.
`24· · · · · · · THE WITNESS:· I -- I would -- for myself
`25· ·personally, would characterize his departure as
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`·1· ·unexpected.
`·2· ·BY MR. NISBET:
`·3· · · · ·Q.· ·Well, that's not my question.· Was it a --
`·4· ·was it a significant event?· Was it a momentous event?
`·5· · · · · · · MR. TRIPODI:· Objection.· Form.
`·6· · · · · · · THE WITNESS:· Again, I would characterize it
`·7· ·as unexpected, and that's the best way I -- I think I
`·8· ·could characterize it.
`·9· ·BY MR. NISBET:
`10· · · · ·Q.· ·Well, would -- would you say it was not a
`11· ·significant event?
`12· · · · · · · MR. TRIPODI:· Objection.· Form.
`13· · · · · · · THE WITNESS:· It was an unexpected departure
`14· ·from the organization.
`15· ·BY MR. NISBET:
`16· · · · ·Q.· ·Is there a reason why you're having trouble
`17· ·agreeing or not agreeing as to whether or not it was a
`18· ·significant event?
`19· · · · ·A.· ·I -- I don't -- I'm giving you my personal
`20· ·interpretation.· I'm -- I'm not sure how you would
`21· ·define "significant."· It was unexpected.· He was a
`22· ·senior-level executive and board member, and so it was
`23· ·a surprise.
`24· · · · ·Q.· ·Okay.· How long did you work with Mr. Miles?
`25· · · · ·A.· ·Up -- so from 2006 to 2017.
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`·1· ·BY MR. NISBET:
`·2· · · · ·Q.· ·Okay.· And so when Mr. Lucier was talking
`·3· ·about his desire to bring litigation against Mr. Miles
`·4· ·or Alphatec, did you view tho- -- how did -- how did
`·5· ·you interpret those statements?
`·6· · · · · · · MR. TRIPODI:· Objection.· Form.
`·7· · · · · · · THE WITNESS:· Again, I guess I viewed it
`·8· ·as -- personally as being relevant based on the -- the
`·9· ·merit of whatever the resulting litigation could have
`10· ·been.
`11· ·BY MR. NISBET:
`12· · · · ·Q.· ·What does that mean?
`13· · · · ·A.· ·I'm -- I'm not sure I understand what you're
`14· ·asking.
`15· · · · ·Q.· ·Well, what do you -- you -- you were viewing
`16· ·it -- you were assessing it based on the merit of the
`17· ·litigation?· What did -- what did you mean by that?
`18· · · · ·A.· ·Well, to the extent there were discussions
`19· ·around, you know, litigation and IP infringement, it --
`20· ·I viewed it as being relevant based on the merits of
`21· ·whether or not that existed.· I'm not an attorney.· I'm
`22· ·not qualified to make that decision.
`23· · · · ·Q.· ·Okay.· And so when you were assessing the
`24· ·merit of the litigation, you didn't consider Pat's
`25· ·departure to be a significant factor one way or the
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`·1· · · · ·Q.· ·And during that time period, how did you
`·2· ·view him?
`·3· · · · · · · MR. TRIPODI:· Objection.· Form.
`·4· · · · · · · THE WITNESS:· My personal relationship with
`·5· ·him I believe to be a good one.· You know, I believe we
`·6· ·had a good personal and professional relationship.· He
`·7· ·was among the senior leadership team that afforded me
`·8· ·opportunities within the organization.
`·9· ·BY MR. NISBET:
`10· · · · ·Q.· ·Was he a mentor to you at the time?
`11· · · · ·A.· ·Certainly he was a strong, professional
`12· ·colleague.· I'd say it's fair to say that there were
`13· ·periods where he provided mentorship in development,
`14· ·yes.
`15· · · · ·Q.· ·Okay.· And so when your mentor and -- and
`16· ·good, professional colleague of many years left, you're
`17· ·having a hard time calling that unexpected departure a
`18· ·significant one?
`19· · · · · · · MR. TRIPODI:· Objection.· Form, misstates
`20· ·testimony.
`21· · · · · · · THE WITNESS:· Yeah.· Again, I'm just -- I
`22· ·don't want to commingle, you know, the differences.
`23· ·I -- I -- I guess I would characterize it as being
`24· ·significant to me individually.· I think that -- that
`25· ·would be fair, yes.
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`·1· ·other?
`·2· · · · ·A.· ·I -- I viewed it -- again, I think as I
`·3· ·characterized it in our discussions around -- my role
`·4· ·had primarily been around commercial channel management
`·5· ·domestically, so sales management.· I had transitioned
`·6· ·into a product role, and so, you know, for me as I --
`·7· ·again, I believe I stated earlier, it was all around
`·8· ·assessing what the viability of the product or
`·9· ·technology offering was, how it would be potentially
`10· ·marketed or prioritized in -- in the space.· Based on
`11· ·my experience, when there's strong similarities in the
`12· ·technology, it -- it -- it can be more inviting for
`13· ·customer conversion.
`14· · · · · · · And with Pat's departure, it -- and as I
`15· ·recall, the sort of elevated promotion of lateral, yes,
`16· ·I viewed that as a greater risk based on that
`17· ·information that required further assessment.
`18· · · · ·Q.· ·What do you recall Mr. Lucier saying about
`19· ·his desire to generally bring litigation against
`20· ·Mr. Miles and Alphatec?
`21· · · · ·A.· ·Generally -- again, as I think I
`22· ·characterized earlier, that he was surprised at the
`23· ·departure.· And to the extent, you know, there were any
`24· ·potential improprieties in the departure, technology or
`25· ·otherwise, that they should be evaluated.
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`·1· · · · ·Q.· ·What does that mean, "improprieties in the
`·2· ·technology"?
`·3· · · · ·A.· ·Well, to the extent that there are
`·4· ·infringing elements -- again, I'm not qualified to
`·5· ·define necessarily what that is -- but that we would
`·6· ·enforce if there were some rights there associated with
`·7· ·our intellectual property.
`·8· · · · ·Q.· ·The -- the launch of the Alphatec Battalion
`·9· ·lateral product offering -- that came before Mr. Miles'
`10· ·departure, though; correct?
`11· · · · · · · MR. TRIPODI:· Objection.· Form.
`12· · · · · · · THE WITNESS:· I don't -- I don't know how
`13· ·they characterize a commercial launch.· My general
`14· ·understanding is that they, in some capacity,
`15· ·introduced the Battalion platform to the market in the
`16· ·spring of 2017.· I don't -- I don't recall that being
`17· ·characterized as a commercial launch.· Different
`18· ·companies will follow a path that they may call an
`19· ·alpha or a beta where they continue to evaluate the
`20· ·form, the function, the clinical efficacy, safety, make
`21· ·changes in design, whatever that case may be.
`22· · · · · · · My recollection, based on, again, promotion,
`23· ·was that the -- the portfolio was launched in some
`24· ·capacity at NASS 2017.· But I just want to clarify, to
`25· ·my knowledge, it was in the market in some capacity
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`·1· ·nature between the two companies because of the
`·2· ·potential of, you know, the -- the lateral portfolio or
`·3· ·other technologies.
`·4· · · · ·Q.· ·But there are a lot of -- there are a lot of
`·5· ·competitors in the lateral space; correct?
`·6· · · · · · · MR. TRIPODI:· Objection.· Form.
`·7· · · · · · · THE WITNESS:· There are numerous competitors
`·8· ·in the lateral space, yes.
`·9· ·BY MR. NISBET:
`10· · · · ·Q.· ·Medtronic is a competitor; right?
`11· · · · ·A.· ·Yes.
`12· · · · ·Q.· ·DePuy Synthes is a competitor?
`13· · · · ·A.· ·DePuy, yes.
`14· · · · ·Q.· ·Thank you.· Globus is a competitor?
`15· · · · ·A.· ·Yeah.
`16· · · · · · · MR. TRIPODI:· Objection.· Form.
`17· ·BY MR. NISBET:
`18· · · · ·Q.· ·Biomet is a competitor?
`19· · · · · · · MR. TRIPODI:· Objection.· Form.
`20· · · · · · · THE WITNESS:· Well, I -- I guess help --
`21· ·help me understand.· How exactly are you characterizing
`22· ·a "competitor"?
`23· ·BY MR. NISBET:
`24· · · · ·Q.· ·Well, would you -- would you characterize
`25· ·Biomet -- Zimmer Biomet as a competitor in the lateral
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`·1· ·prior to that.· I just don't -- I don't have firsthand
`·2· ·information as to -- to what extent.
`·3· ·BY MR. NISBET:
`·4· · · · ·Q.· ·And that would have been prior -- prior to
`·5· ·Mr. Miles' departure; correct?
`·6· · · · ·A.· ·It was in the market in some capacity prior
`·7· ·to Pat's departure, yes.
`·8· · · · ·Q.· ·Did you ever hear Mr. Lucier -- strike that.
`·9· · · · · · · Did you ever hear Mr. Lucier say that he
`10· ·desired to bankrupt Pat Miles?
`11· · · · ·A.· ·I do not recall hearing him say that about
`12· ·Pat, no.
`13· · · · ·Q.· ·Do you ever recall him saying anything
`14· ·similar to that he wanted to bring financial ruin to
`15· ·Pat Miles?· He wanted Pat Miles to have to spend a
`16· ·whole bunch of money defending litigations?· Do you
`17· ·recall him ever saying anything like that?
`18· · · · ·A.· ·I do not recall him saying that specifically
`19· ·about Pat, no.
`20· · · · ·Q.· ·Do you recall him ever -- ever in any
`21· ·conversation you've ever had with him, any meeting --
`22· ·him saying that he wanted to eliminate Alphatec?
`23· · · · ·A.· ·I don't -- I can't recall if he used the
`24· ·word "eliminate" specifically, but I do recall him
`25· ·making statements around a -- a heightened competitive
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`·1· ·space?
`·2· · · · ·A.· ·So I would gen- --
`·3· · · · · · · MR. TRIPODI:· Objection.· Form.
`·4· · · · · · · THE WITNESS:· I would generally characterize
`·5· ·a "competitor" as a company that markets products that
`·6· ·are in -- in -- you know, are marketed for use in the
`·7· ·same clinical application as the products for NuVasive.
`·8· ·BY MR. NISBET:
`·9· · · · ·Q.· ·Okay.· And does Zimmer Biomet meet that
`10· ·definition?
`11· · · · ·A.· ·Zimmer Biomet markets products that
`12· ·participate are -- are potentially used in the same
`13· ·clinical applications, yes.
`14· · · · ·Q.· ·Okay.· So to answer my question,
`15· ·Zimmer Biomet is a competitor of NuVasive; correct?
`16· · · · ·A.· ·I would define a "competitor" as, in my
`17· ·opinion, someone who provides products for the same
`18· ·clinical application in the spine marketplace.· And
`19· ·they do that, yes.
`20· · · · ·Q.· ·Okay.· And -- and those -- those competitors
`21· ·are all actually bigger than Alphatec; is that right?
`22· · · · · · · MR. TRIPODI:· Objection.· Form.
`23· · · · · · · THE WITNESS:· Each of the competitors you
`24· ·named has a larger revenue in market share than
`25· ·Alphatec, to the best of my knowledge.
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`·1· · · · ·Q.· ·Well, how would you characterize "a big
`·2· ·deal"?· A significant moment, something that caused a
`·3· ·lot of, you know, water cooler talk, at the very least?
`·4· ·It was a very big deal when Mr. Miles left; is that
`·5· ·right?
`·6· · · · · · · MR. TRIPODI:· Objection.· Form.
`·7· · · · · · · THE WITNESS:· Again, I think people would
`·8· ·characterize "a big deal" in a lot of different ways.
`·9· · · · · · · Given his tenure in -- in the role, I'd
`10· ·characterize it, as I believe I stated earlier,
`11· ·primarily as a -- for myself, a surprise.· And I -- I
`12· ·think, you know, it would be fair to say others were
`13· ·similarly surprised as well at the unexpected decision.
`14· ·BY MR. NISBET:
`15· · · · ·Q.· ·Well, NuVasive sued the man eight days
`16· ·later, put a big press release out about why they were
`17· ·suing Mr. Miles.· So do you do that with all the
`18· ·employees that leave NuVasive?· Do you sue them within
`19· ·seven to 10 days?
`20· · · · · · · MR. TRIPODI:· Objection.· Form.
`21· · · · · · · THE WITNESS:· To -- to my knowledge, we have
`22· ·not.
`23· ·BY MR. NISBET:
`24· · · · ·Q.· ·Okay.· And so was that unusual?· Was that a
`25· ·unique thing for -- for NuVasive to sue one of its
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`·1· ·decision to bring the litigation; right?
`·2· · · · · · · MR. TRIPODI:· Once again, I'm going to
`·3· ·instruct the witness.
`·4· · · · · · · You can answer the question yes or no.
`·5· ·Please do not reveal any attorney-client communications
`·6· ·or activities or discussions that you had on behalf of
`·7· ·counsel or at counsel's request.
`·8· · · · · · · THE WITNESS:· Yes.
`·9· ·BY MR. NISBET:
`10· · · · ·Q.· ·Okay.· And you submitted two declarations in
`11· ·support of a motion for preliminary injunction; is that
`12· ·right?
`13· · · · ·A.· ·I -- I believe that is correct, yes.
`14· · · · ·Q.· ·And that was in about March-ish 2018,
`15· ·somewhere around there?
`16· · · · ·A.· ·Those dates, early Q1-2018, sound about
`17· ·right, yes.
`18· · · · ·Q.· ·And -- and you were deposed in this case
`19· ·before; correct?
`20· · · · ·A.· ·I was previously deposed, yes.
`21· · · · ·Q.· ·And -- and Alphatec is -- or sorry --
`22· ·NuVasive has brought other litigations against
`23· ·Mr. Miles and Alphatec; is that correct?
`24· · · · · · · MR. TRIPODI:· Objection.· Form.
`25· · · · · · · THE WITNESS:· I'm aware of other litigation,
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`·1· ·ex-employees within seven to 10 days and put out a
`·2· ·press release as to the reasons why?
`·3· · · · · · · MR. TRIPODI:· Objection.· Form.
`·4· · · · · · · THE WITNESS:· I can't speak conclusively if
`·5· ·it's unique based on that time period -- I believe you
`·6· ·said seven to eight days -- or seven to 10 days.
`·7· ·BY MR. NISBET:
`·8· · · · ·Q.· ·Um-hum.
`·9· · · · ·A.· ·I'm not aware of us having issued a press
`10· ·release previously.
`11· · · · ·Q.· ·And there -- and then a few months after
`12· ·that, this litigation was filed; is that right?
`13· · · · ·A.· ·Again, I apologize.· I don't remember the
`14· ·exact time frame.
`15· · · · ·Q.· ·Does February 2018 sound about right?
`16· · · · ·A.· ·I would say generally early 2018 sounds
`17· ·about right, yes.
`18· · · · ·Q.· ·And you've been involved in this litigation
`19· ·since the outset, haven't you?
`20· · · · · · · MR. TRIPODI:· Objection.· Form.
`21· · · · · · · THE WITNESS:· Since the outset?· I -- I have
`22· ·been involved in various elements of the litigation,
`23· ·yes.
`24· ·BY MR. NISBET:
`25· · · · ·Q.· ·And you were -- you were involved in the
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`·1· ·yes.
`·2· ·BY MR. NISBET:
`·3· · · · ·Q.· ·And -- but you -- you -- you're having a
`·4· ·hard time remember -- remembering some of the specific
`·5· ·words of Mr. Lucier about the reasons why they decided
`·6· ·to press forward with -- with some of these
`·7· ·litigations; is that -- is that right?
`·8· · · · · · · MR. TRIPODI:· Objection.· Form, misstates
`·9· ·testimony.
`10· · · · · · · THE WITNESS:· I do not have specific
`11· ·recollection of specific conversations and dates of
`12· ·those conversations in a time period more than two
`13· ·years ago, or in some instances, more than two years
`14· ·ago.· And -- and so I've tried to accurately reflect
`15· ·what I -- what I recall, the impression of
`16· ·conversations during that time.
`17· ·BY MR. NISBET:
`18· · · · ·Q.· ·Did Mr. Lucier ever say anything about
`19· ·Mr. Miles or Alphatec that you disagreed with?
`20· · · · ·A.· ·Again, I don't recall a -- a specific
`21· ·statement.· Again, I wasn't party to conversations
`22· ·that -- that Mr. Lucier or Mr. Miles may have had
`23· ·individually, what they may have agreed to.
`24· · · · ·Q.· ·In the aftermath of Mr. Miles' departure,
`25· ·did NuVasive take -- take steps to lock down as many
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`·1· ·surgeons as possible to prevent them from doing
`·2· ·business with Alphatec?
`·3· · · · · · · MR. TRIPODI:· Objection.· Form.
`·4· · · · · · · THE WITNESS:· I'm sorry.· What do you mean
`·5· ·by "lock down"?
`·6· ·BY MR. NISBET:
`·7· · · · ·Q.· ·Well, what do you think I mean?
`·8· · · · ·A.· ·I don't know.· That's why I asked you.
`·9· · · · ·Q.· ·Did they -- did NuVasive take any steps to
`10· ·lock down, solidify agreements with, engage, put -- put
`11· ·some sort of relationship in place in order to prevent
`12· ·those surgeons from doing business with Alphatec and
`13· ·Mr. Miles?
`14· · · · · · · MR. TRIPODI:· Objection.· Form, calls for
`15· ·speculation.
`16· · · · · · · THE WITNESS:· So as a general course of
`17· ·business, we engage in a variety of relation --
`18· ·relationships with clinicians and thought leaders as it
`19· ·relates to technology development and training and
`20· ·education.· In -- in the context of those
`21· ·relationships, there's typically some provision, you
`22· ·know, that -- that prohibits them working with any
`23· ·manufacturer in the same -- in the same segment.
`24· · · · · · · So I would say around the time that
`25· ·Mr. Miles departed, we may -- and, you know, continued
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`·1· · · · ·Q.· ·Okay.· Would you -- was there a concerted
`·2· ·effort to -- to lock down surgeons in exclusive
`·3· ·development agreements in order to ensure that they do
`·4· ·business with NuVasive and not some other company?
`·5· · · · · · · MR. TRIPODI:· Objection.· Form, calls for
`·6· ·speculation.
`·7· · · · · · · THE WITNESS:· So none of our agreements
`·8· ·serve as inducement for utilization or commercial --
`·9· ·commercial purchase of our products.
`10· ·BY MR. NISBET:
`11· · · · ·Q.· ·Okay.· So that quite -- that didn't quite
`12· ·answer my question.· Was there --
`13· · · · ·A.· ·So to be fair, I -- I -- I believe I did
`14· ·answer your question, if you want to read it back.
`15· · · · ·Q.· ·Well, let me -- let me ask it again, maybe.
`16· · · · ·A.· ·Okay.
`17· · · · ·Q.· ·So was there a -- was there a concerted
`18· ·effort to lock down surgeons in order to -- into
`19· ·exclusive development agreements with NuVasive?
`20· · · · · · · MR. TRIPODI:· Objection.· Form, calls for
`21· ·speculation.
`22· · · · · · · THE WITNESS:· So to my recollection, I do
`23· ·believe we, you know, focused on efforts to maintain
`24· ·the contribution and thought leadership of -- of key
`25· ·providers during that time period, yes.
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`·1· ·to push forward with some of those conversations
`·2· ·with -- with key clinicians and providers, and the
`·3· ·intent would have been to potentially secure their
`·4· ·contribution on behalf of NuVasive versus any
`·5· ·manufacturer.
`·6· ·BY MR. NISBET:
`·7· · · · ·Q.· ·Okay.· So that doesn't quite answer my
`·8· ·question.· Was -- in the aftermath of Mr. Miles'
`·9· ·departure, was there a specific concerted effort to
`10· ·lock down surgeons to prevent them from being able to
`11· ·do business with Alphatec and Mr. Miles?
`12· · · · · · · MR. TRIPODI:· Objection.· Form.
`13· · · · · · · THE WITNESS:· So we have no contractual
`14