Case 3:18-cv-00347-CAB-MDD Document 350-4 Filed 11/06/21 PageID.32056 Page 1 of 12
`
`EXHIBIT 4
`
`DECLARATION OF TRENT D. TANNER
`IN SUPPORT OF
`NUVASIVE'S OPPOSITION TO
`DEFENDANTS' MOTIONS IN LIMINE NOS. 1-10
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`

`

`Case 3:18-cv-00347-CAB-MDD Document 350-4 Filed 11/06/21 PageID.32057 Page 2 of 12
`
`Scott Robinson· Highly Confidential - Attorneys' Eyes OnlyScott Robinson· Highly Confidential - Attorneys' Eyes Only
`
`October 29, 2019October 29, 2019
`
`· · · · · · · · ·UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
`· · · · · · · · SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
`· · · · · · · · · · · SAN DIEGO DIVISION
`·
`·
`· · ·NUVASIVE, INC., a Delaware
`· · ·corporation,
`·
`· · · · · · · ·Plaintiff,
`·
`· · · · · · · ·v.· · · · ·Case No. 3:18-CV-00347
`· · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · ·-CAB-MDD
`· · ·ALPHATEC HOLDINGS, INC., a
`· · ·Delaware corporation and
`· · ·ALPHATEC SPINE, INC., a
`· · ·California corporation,
`· · · · · · · ·Defendants.
`· · ·_______________________________________________________
`· · · · · HIGHLY CONFIDENTIAL - ATTORNEYS' EYES ONLY
`· · · · · · VIDEOTAPED DEPOSITION OF SCOTT ROBINSON
`· · · · ALPHATEC HOLDINGS, INC. RULE 30(b)(6) WITNESS
`· · · · · · · · · · ·SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA
`· · · · · · · · · · · ·OCTOBER 29, 2019
`·
`· · ·Reported By:
`· · ·PATRICIA Y. SCHULER
`· · ·CSR No. 11949
`·
`·
`·
`·
`
`
`
`U.S. Legal Support | www.uslegalsupport.comU.S. Legal Support | www.uslegalsupport.com
`
`·
`
`EXHIBIT 4
`Page 28
`
`

`

`Case 3:18-cv-00347-CAB-MDD Document 350-4 Filed 11/06/21 PageID.32058 Page 3 of 12
`
`Scott Robinson· Highly Confidential - Attorneys' Eyes OnlyScott Robinson· Highly Confidential - Attorneys' Eyes Only
`
`October 29, 2019October 29, 2019
`Page 2
`
`Page 4
`
`·1· · · · · · · ·UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
`·2· · · · · · · SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
`·3· · · · · · · · · · SAN DIEGO DIVISION
`·4
`·5· ·NUVASIVE, INC., a Delaware
`· · ·corporation,
`·6
`· · · · · · · ·Plaintiff,
`·7
`· · · · · · · ·v.· · · · · · ·Case No. 3:18-CV-00347
`·8· · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · ·-CAB-MDD
`· · ·ALPHATEC HOLDINGS, INC., a
`·9· ·Delaware corporation and
`· · ·ALPHATEC SPINE, INC., a
`10· ·California corporation,
`11· · · · · · ·Defendants.
`12· ·_______________________________________________________
`13· · · · Videotaped deposition of SCOTT ROBINSON, taken
`14· ·on behalf of the Defendants at 12235 El Camino Real,
`15· ·Suite 100, San Diego, California, at 9:18 a.m. and
`16· ·ending at 6:27 p.m., on October 29, 2019, before
`17· ·PATRICIA Y. SCHULER, Certified Shorthand Reporter
`18· ·No. 11949.
`19
`20
`21
`22
`23
`24
`25
`
`·1· · · · · · · · · · · · ·I-N-D-E-X
`·2· ·WITNESS:· · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · ·EXAMINATION
`·3· ·SCOTT ROBINSON· · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · PAGE
`·4· ·MS. DEVINE· · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · ·7
`·5
`·6
`·7· · · · · · · · · · · E-X-H-I-B-I-T-S
`·8· ·PLAINTIFF'S· · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · ·PAGE
`·9· ·Exhibit 1· · ·Defendants' Responses and· · · · · ·15
`· · · · · · · · · ·Objections to Nuvasive Inc.'s
`10· · · · · · · · ·Notice of Deposition of Alphatec
`· · · · · · · · · ·Pursuant to Rule 30(b)(6)
`11
`· · ·Exhibit 2· · ·Nuvasive, Inc.'s Notice of· · · · · 22
`12· · · · · · · · ·Deposition of Alphatec Holdings,
`· · · · · · · · · ·Inc. and Alphatec Spine, Inc.
`13· · · · · · · · ·Pursuant to Rule 30(b)(6)
`14· ·Exhibit 3· · ·Nuvasive's Notice of Deposition· · ·25
`· · · · · · · · · ·of Scott Robinson
`15
`· · ·Exhibit 4· · ·LinkedIn profile for Scott· · · · · 50
`16· · · · · · · · ·Robinson
`17· ·Exhibit 5· · ·Course Program and Travel· · · · · ·83
`· · · · · · · · · ·Itinerary, Bates stamped
`18· · · · · · · · ·ATEC_LLIF000626779
`19· ·Exhibit 6· · ·Conduct Internal Training 6.4.9,· · 91
`· · · · · · · · · ·Bates stamped ATEC_LLIF000002354
`20· · · · · · · · ·through 2397
`21· ·Exhibit 7· · ·Surgical Technique Guide, Bates· · ·98
`· · · · · · · · · ·stamped ABOU003617 through 3640
`22
`· · ·Exhibit 8· · ·Document Bates stamped NUVA_ATEC· ·182
`23· · · · · · · · ·001447 to 0014475
`24· ·Exhibit 9· · ·Document Bates stamped ATEC_LLIF· ·207
`· · · · · · · · · ·00004548 to 4561
`25
`
`·1· ·APPEARANCES:
`·2· ·FOR PLAINTIFF:
`·3· · · · · · ·WILSON SONSINI GOODRICH & ROSATI, P.C.
`·4· · · · · · ·BY:· WENDY L. DEVINE, ESQ.
`·5· · · · · · ·BY:· CHRISTINA DASHE, ESQ.
`·6· · · · · · ·BY:· PAUL D. TRIPOD, II, ESQ.
`·7· · · · · · ·One Market Plaza, Spear Tower
`·8· · · · · · ·Suite 3300
`·9· · · · · · ·San Francisco, California· 94105
`10· · · · · · ·wdevine@wsgr.com
`11· ·FOR DEFENDANTS:
`12· · · · · · ·WINSTON STRAWN LLP
`13· · · · · · ·BY:· NIMALKA R. WICKRAMASEKERA, ESQ.
`14· · · · · · ·333 South Grand Avenue, Suite 3800
`15· · · · · · ·Los Angeles, California 90071-1543
`16· · · · · · ·nwickramasekera@winston.com
`17
`18· ·Also Present:
`19· · · · · · ·Tyson Marshall
`20· ·Videographer:
`21· · · · · · ·Craig Ellingson
`22· · · · · · ·Collette Stark
`23
`24
`25
`
`Page 3
`
`Page 5
`
`·1· · · · · · · · E-X-H-I-B-I-T-S (CONTINUED)
`·2· ·PLAINTIFF'S· · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · ·PAGE
`·3· ·Exhibit 10· · Document Bates stamped· · · · · · ·212
`· · · · · · · · · ·ATEC_LLIF000003809 through 3818
`·4
`· · ·Exhibit 11· · Document Bates stamped ATEC LLIF· ·221
`·5· · · · · · · · ·0003829 to 3835
`·6· ·Exhibit 12· · Document Bates stamped ATEC_LLIF· ·228
`· · · · · · · · · ·000137018 to 137039
`·7
`· · ·Exhibit 13· · Document Bates stamped ATEC_LLIF· ·258
`·8· · · · · · · · ·000745897 to 745926
`·9
`10
`11
`12
`13
`14
`15
`16
`17
`18
`19
`20
`21
`22
`23
`24
`25
`
`
`
`U.S. Legal Support | www.uslegalsupport.comU.S. Legal Support | www.uslegalsupport.com
`
`2 to 5
`
`YVer1f
`
`EXHIBIT 4
`Page 29
`
`

`

`Case 3:18-cv-00347-CAB-MDD Document 350-4 Filed 11/06/21 PageID.32059 Page 4 of 12
`
`Scott Robinson· Highly Confidential - Attorneys' Eyes OnlyScott Robinson· Highly Confidential - Attorneys' Eyes Only
`
`October 29, 2019October 29, 2019
`Page 6
`
`·1· · ·SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA; TUESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2019
`·2· · · · · · · · · · · · ·9:18 a.m.
`·3· · · · · · ·THE VIDEOGRAPHER:· We are on the record
`·4· ·at 9:18 a.m. on October 29, 2019.· Audio and video
`·5· ·recording will continue to take place until all
`·6· ·parties agree to go off the record.· Please note
`·7· ·that microphones are sensitive and may pick up
`·8· ·whispering and private conversations.
`·9· · · · · · ·This is the video-recorded deposition of
`10· ·Scott Robinson taken by counsel for the plaintiff
`11· ·in the matter of Nuvasive, Inc., a Delaware
`12· ·corporation versus Alphatec Holdings, et al., filed
`13· ·in the United States District Court, Southern
`14· ·District of California, San Diego division.
`15· · · · · · ·This deposition is being held at Wilson,
`16· ·Sonsini, Goodrich & Rosati, located at 12235 El
`17· ·Camino Real, San Diego, California 92130.· My name
`18· ·is Craig Ellingson.· I'm the videographer on behalf
`19· ·of U.S. Legal Support, located at 1230 Columbia
`20· ·Street, Suite 400, San Diego, California 92101.
`21· · · · · · ·The court reporter is Patricia Schuler,
`22· ·on behalf of U.S. Legal Support.· I am not related
`23· ·to any party in this action nor am I financially
`24· ·interested in the outcome.
`25· · · · · · ·Counsel will state their appearances for
`
`Page 8
`·1· · · · A.· ·712 Apple Ridge, Encinitas, California
`·2· ·92024.
`·3· · · · Q.· ·Who is your current employer?
`·4· · · · A.· ·Alphatec Spine.
`·5· · · · Q.· ·How long have you been employed there?
`·6· · · · A.· ·Since March of 2010; going on 10 years.
`·7· · · · Q.· ·Mr. Robinson, have you ever had your
`·8· ·deposition taken before?
`·9· · · · A.· ·No.· This is the first.
`10· · · · Q.· ·Okay.· So I am just going to go over a
`11· ·few ground rules so we're on the same page.
`12· · · · · · ·Do you understand when I ask you a
`13· ·question, you need to give me a verbal answer?
`14· · · · A.· ·Yes.
`15· · · · Q.· ·If you don't understand my question,
`16· ·would you please let me know?
`17· · · · A.· ·Yes.
`18· · · · Q.· ·And if you do answer my question, do you
`19· ·understand that I am going to take that as meaning
`20· ·that you understood the question that I was asking?
`21· · · · A.· ·Yes.
`22· · · · Q.· ·Do you understand that you are providing
`23· ·testimony under oath today?
`24· · · · A.· ·I understand I am presenting testimony on
`25· ·nonprivileged information in the topics outlined.
`
`Page 7
`·1· ·the record, after which the court reporter will
`·2· ·swear in the witness.
`·3· · · · · · ·MS. DEVINE:· Wendy Devine from Wilson,
`·4· ·Sonsini, Goodrich & Rosati on behalf of Nuvasive,
`·5· ·Inc.· With me are my co-counsel Christina Dashe and
`·6· ·Paul Tripod of the same firm.
`·7· · · · · · ·MS. WICKRAMASEKERA:· Nimalka
`·8· ·Wickramasekera from Winston Strawn on behalf of the
`·9· ·witness, the defendants.· And with me is Tyson
`10· ·Marshall, vice president and associate general
`11· ·counsel of Alphatec.
`12
`13· · · · · · · · · · · SCOTT ROBINSON,
`14· · having been administered an oath, was examined and
`15· · · · · · · · · ·testified as follows:
`16
`17· · · · · · · · · · · · EXAMINATION
`18· ·BY MS. DEVINE:
`19· · · · Q.· ·Good morning, Mr. Robinson.
`20· · · · A.· ·Hello.
`21· · · · Q.· ·Would you please state and spell your
`22· ·name for the record.
`23· · · · A.· ·Scott Robinson.· S-c-o-t-t,
`24· ·R-o-b-i-n-s-o-n.
`25· · · · Q.· ·And what is your current address?
`
`Page 9
`·1· · · · Q.· ·Do you understand that you are under oath
`·2· ·today as you testify, as you would be if you were
`·3· ·testifying in a court of law?
`·4· · · · A.· ·Yes.
`·5· · · · Q.· ·And do you understand that I am entitled
`·6· ·to complete and truthful answers to the best of
`·7· ·your recollection?
`·8· · · · A.· ·Yes.
`·9· · · · Q.· ·Is there any reason, Mr. Robinson, that
`10· ·you cannot give your most truthful, accurate and
`11· ·complete testimony today?
`12· · · · A.· ·No.
`13· · · · Q.· ·Could you please tell me, Mr. Robinson,
`14· ·how you prepared for your deposition?
`15· · · · A.· ·There were a lot of documents.· The
`16· ·complaint was reviewed.· There were internal and
`17· ·external marketing documents that were produced by
`18· ·Alphatec.· There was a design history file.· There
`19· ·were, you know, as many documents related to this
`20· ·case as were made available.
`21· · · · Q.· ·Did you choose any of the documents that
`22· ·you reviewed to prepare for your deposition?
`23· · · · A.· ·I am not sure I understand the question.
`24· · · · Q.· ·Sure.· So when you reviewed documents to
`25· ·prepare for your deposition, did you go out and
`
`
`
`U.S. Legal Support | www.uslegalsupport.comU.S. Legal Support | www.uslegalsupport.com
`
`6 to 9
`
`YVer1f
`
`EXHIBIT 4
`Page 30
`
`

`

`Case 3:18-cv-00347-CAB-MDD Document 350-4 Filed 11/06/21 PageID.32060 Page 5 of 12
`
`Scott Robinson· Highly Confidential - Attorneys' Eyes OnlyScott Robinson· Highly Confidential - Attorneys' Eyes Only
`
`October 29, 2019October 29, 2019
`Page 30
`·1· · · · · · ·THE WITNESS:· In our integrated project
`·2· ·charter, which was a 2013, '14 time frame document,
`·3· ·there is a summary.
`·4· · · · · · ·MS. WICKRAMASEKERA:· Scott, hold on.
`·5· ·Don't reveal the substance of anything from legal
`·6· ·that is contained in the documents.· You can
`·7· ·generally state whether there is a section in the
`·8· ·document regarding legal feedback, but don't reveal
`·9· ·the substance of what was in the documents.
`10· · · · · · ·Let me know if you want to take a break
`11· ·to discuss privilege.· Because we are not waiving a
`12· ·privilege.
`13· · · · · · ·THE WITNESS:· Can we take a break?
`14· · · · · · ·MS. WICKRAMASEKERA:· Yes.
`15· · · · · · ·Can we take a break?
`16· · · · · · ·MS. DEVINE:· Sure, that is fine.
`17· · · · · · ·THE VIDEOGRAPHER:· Going off the record.
`18· ·The time is 9:49 a.m.
`19· · · · · · ·(Recess taken.)
`20· · · · · · ·THE VIDEOGRAPHER:· We are going back on
`21· ·the record.· The time is 9:53 a.m.
`22· ·BY MS. DEVINE:
`23· · · · Q.· ·Do you want me to reask the question?
`24· · · · A.· ·Yes.
`25· · · · Q.· ·So I believe that you testified that,
`
`Page 32
`·1· · · · Q.· ·The design history file would.· And that
`·2· ·would be in response to the request for an
`·3· ·evaluation?
`·4· · · · A.· ·That would be what would be in the -- one
`·5· ·of the documents within what has been provided.
`·6· · · · Q.· ·In the interrogatory response?
`·7· · · · A.· ·In the collection of documents from
`·8· ·Alphatec.
`·9· · · · Q.· ·Let's back up a second.· So you stated
`10· ·that, during the development procedure, there is a
`11· ·request to Alphatec legal to evaluate the patent
`12· ·landscape; is that right?
`13· · · · A.· ·Yes.
`14· · · · Q.· ·And there are documents related to that;
`15· ·is that right?
`16· · · · A.· ·Yes.
`17· · · · Q.· ·And those documents include something in
`18· ·the design history file; is that right?
`19· · · · A.· ·Yes.
`20· · · · Q.· ·Are there other documents?
`21· · · · A.· ·I believe that they would be within the
`22· ·legal department.
`23· · · · Q.· ·Do you know if they have been produced in
`24· ·this case?
`25· · · · A.· ·I don't know.
`
`Page 31
`·1· ·during the development procedure, there was a
`·2· ·requested evaluation of the IP landscape to
`·3· ·Alphatec legal.
`·4· · · · · · ·My question is, are there any documents
`·5· ·that relate to that request?
`·6· · · · · · ·MS. WICKRAMASEKERA:· I am going to
`·7· ·instruct you to answer yes or no only, to the
`·8· ·extent you know.
`·9· · · · · · ·THE WITNESS:· Yes.
`10· ·BY MS. DEVINE:
`11· · · · Q.· ·Do you know if those documents were
`12· ·produced in this case?
`13· · · · A.· ·I believe the dates in the patents were
`14· ·provided in the interrogatory responses.
`15· · · · Q.· ·I don't understand your answer.· So when
`16· ·you say there were documents that related to the
`17· ·request, were those documents produced in this
`18· ·case?
`19· · · · A.· ·I believe everything that is in the
`20· ·design history file related to this would be
`21· ·provided.
`22· · · · Q.· ·And the design history file relates to
`23· ·the request to IP for --
`24· · · · A.· ·It would have a section that would need
`25· ·to be filled out by the legal department.
`
`Page 33
`·1· · · · Q.· ·So you said that request to legal to
`·2· ·evaluate the IP landscape was made in early 2013;
`·3· ·is that right?
`·4· · · · A.· ·To the best of my knowledge.
`·5· · · · Q.· ·Was there any later requests made to
`·6· ·legal to evaluate again the IP landscape related to
`·7· ·Alphatec's lateral products?
`·8· · · · · · ·MS. WICKRAMASEKERA:· I am going to
`·9· ·instruct him not to answer the question on the
`10· ·basis of privilege.
`11· · · · · · ·MS. DEVINE:· So he can tell me 2013, but
`12· ·he can't tell me later dates?
`13· · · · · · ·MS. WICKRAMASEKERA:· I think he testified
`14· ·generally that that is the process.· I don't think
`15· ·he testified specifically that a request was made.
`16· ·And I think you might not be understanding his
`17· ·answers.· But I am going to instruct him not to
`18· ·answer as to whether and the content of what
`19· ·requests were made to legal as privileged.
`20· · · · · · ·MS. DEVINE:· So we're going to hold the
`21· ·record open because that's an improper objection.
`22· ·He did testify earlier that there was a request
`23· ·made in 2013.· And you can't pick and choose which
`24· ·portions you are going to allow him to testify on.
`25· · · · · · ·MS. WICKRAMASEKERA:· So we're not --
`
`
`
`U.S. Legal Support | www.uslegalsupport.comU.S. Legal Support | www.uslegalsupport.com
`
`30 to 33
`
`YVer1f
`
`EXHIBIT 4
`Page 31
`
`

`

`Case 3:18-cv-00347-CAB-MDD Document 350-4 Filed 11/06/21 PageID.32061 Page 6 of 12
`
`Scott Robinson· Highly Confidential - Attorneys' Eyes OnlyScott Robinson· Highly Confidential - Attorneys' Eyes Only
`
`October 29, 2019October 29, 2019
`Page 34
`·1· · · · · · ·MS. DEVINE:· We'll come back to get the
`·2· ·answer to that question.
`·3· · · · · · ·MS. WICKRAMASEKERA:· Right.· So just to
`·4· ·be clear, we are not waiving privilege.
`·5· · · · · · ·MS. DEVINE:· That is fine.· But we'll
`·6· ·come back at Alphatec's expense to get the answer
`·7· ·to that question because the record is clear --
`·8· · · · · · ·MS. WICKRAMASEKERA:· You will have to
`·9· ·move on it.
`10· · · · · · ·MS. DEVINE:· Let me finish.
`11· · · · · · ·The record is clear that he testified in
`12· ·2013 that there was a request for an evaluation of
`13· ·the IP landscape to Alphatec legal.· And now you're
`14· ·instructing him not to tell me if it was done at
`15· ·any other date based on privilege.
`16· · · · · · ·It is not -- not privileged at one point
`17· ·and unprivileged in another.
`18· · · · · · ·MS. WICKRAMASEKERA:· It's -- he did not
`19· ·provide you any privileged information.· He
`20· ·provided you a general description of what is
`21· ·contained in the design history file that existed
`22· ·in 2013, which you have, by the way.
`23· · · · · · ·MS. DEVINE:· Well, the record says what
`24· ·he testified to.· So we'll hold it open, and we'll
`25· ·come back and get an answer to that.· And you can
`
`Page 36
`·1· ·needs, and, if possible, made that, you know,
`·2· ·simpler and more streamlined and more intuitive for
`·3· ·certain customers.
`·4· ·BY MS. DEVINE:
`·5· · · · Q.· ·But the topic is whether Alphatec formed
`·6· ·a good-faith belief that the patents-in-suit were
`·7· ·either invalid or not infringed.
`·8· · · · · · ·What can you tell me about that?
`·9· · · · · · ·MS. WICKRAMASEKERA:· Objection.· The
`10· ·witness has been designated subject to our
`11· ·responses.
`12· ·BY MS. DEVINE:
`13· · · · Q.· ·You can answer.
`14· · · · A.· ·I mean, I -- I, in my efforts, and I
`15· ·would say we as a company, you look to the
`16· ·marketplace to see, you know, how problems have
`17· ·been solved, and then you try to improve on those.
`18· ·You try to make -- you try to design the best
`19· ·products you can.
`20· · · · · · ·You know, inspiration comes from all
`21· ·kinds of places.· And, you know, we would sit in a
`22· ·room and we would talk about the best way to solve
`23· ·a problem.· That is the way that our products came
`24· ·to be.
`25· · · · · · ·And we did not -- you know, we were not
`
`Page 35
`
`·1· ·pay for it.
`·2· ·BY MS. DEVINE:
`·3· · · · Q.· ·Going back to Topic 2.· Again, the topic
`·4· ·reads "When and under what circumstances Alphatec
`·5· ·first became aware of each of the patents-in-suit
`·6· ·and what actions Alphatec took on becoming aware of
`·7· ·the patents-in-suit."
`·8· · · · · · ·Do you have any other information to
`·9· ·provide to me regarding Topic 2?
`10· · · · A.· ·Not that I can recall at this time.
`11· · · · Q.· ·Let's move to Topic 3.· "For each of the
`12· ·patents-in-suit, whether Alphatec formed a
`13· ·good-faith belief the patent was either invalid or
`14· ·not infringed, as well as the basis for any such
`15· ·good-faith belief and whether the belief is based
`16· ·on the opinion of counsel."
`17· · · · · · ·What can you tell me about Topic 3?
`18· · · · · · ·MS. WICKRAMASEKERA:· I will caution you
`19· ·on privilege.
`20· · · · · · ·THE WITNESS:· I mean, at the time, I was
`21· ·a design engineer, and my role was to design
`22· ·products that met the clinical requirements of
`23· ·lateral surgery.· And my effort was to understand
`24· ·the clinical requirements to the greatest of my
`25· ·ability and develop instrumentation that met those
`
`Page 37
`·1· ·experts in the IP landscape, but we believed that
`·2· ·what we had designed was significantly different
`·3· ·from products that had come before it.
`·4· · · · Q.· ·When you say "We were not experts in the
`·5· ·IP landscape," you mean the engineers?
`·6· · · · A.· ·Correct.
`·7· · · · Q.· ·But you had lawyers, correct?
`·8· · · · A.· ·Not on the core team.
`·9· · · · Q.· ·Did you consult with lawyers?
`10· · · · · · ·MS. WICKRAMASEKERA:· You can answer yes
`11· ·or no.
`12· · · · · · ·THE WITNESS:· The design team --
`13· · · · · · ·MS. WICKRAMASEKERA:· Yes or no, Scott.
`14· · · · · · ·THE WITNESS:· Not -- I did not directly.
`15· ·BY MS. DEVINE:
`16· · · · Q.· ·Did your team consult with lawyers?
`17· · · · · · ·MS. WICKRAMASEKERA:· You can answer yes
`18· ·or no.
`19· · · · · · ·THE WITNESS:· Yes.
`20· ·BY MS. DEVINE:
`21· · · · Q.· ·And those lawyers were experts in IP,
`22· ·right?
`23· · · · · · ·MS. WICKRAMASEKERA:· Objection.· Vague;
`24· ·calls for speculation.
`25· · · · · · ·THE WITNESS:· I would not know if they
`
`
`
`U.S. Legal Support | www.uslegalsupport.comU.S. Legal Support | www.uslegalsupport.com
`
`34 to 37
`
`YVer1f
`
`EXHIBIT 4
`Page 32
`
`

`

`Case 3:18-cv-00347-CAB-MDD Document 350-4 Filed 11/06/21 PageID.32062 Page 7 of 12
`
`Scott Robinson· Highly Confidential - Attorneys' Eyes OnlyScott Robinson· Highly Confidential - Attorneys' Eyes Only
`
`October 29, 2019October 29, 2019
`Page 38
`·1· ·were -- could be considered experts.· They were our
`·2· ·legal counsel.
`·3· ·BY MS. DEVINE:
`·4· · · · Q.· ·Did you consult with them because they
`·5· ·know about intellectual property?
`·6· · · · · · ·MS. WICKRAMASEKERA:· Objection; vague.
`·7· ·Also, misstates his testimony; calls for
`·8· ·speculation.
`·9· · · · · · ·THE WITNESS:· Yeah.· I would not be able
`10· ·to answer definitively.
`11· ·BY MS. DEVINE:
`12· · · · Q.· ·Why did you consult with them?
`13· · · · · · ·MS. WICKRAMASEKERA:· I am going to
`14· ·instruct you not to answer the question.
`15· ·BY MS. DEVINE:
`16· · · · Q.· ·I am not asking what they told you or
`17· ·what you asked them.· I'm asking you generally, why
`18· ·did you hire lawyers?
`19· · · · · · ·MS. WICKRAMASEKERA:· Objection; misstates
`20· ·the testimony.· Also, it is vague; lacks
`21· ·foundation.· And, to the extent that anything was a
`22· ·discussion with attorneys or at the request of or
`23· ·for the purpose of seeking legal advice, I am going
`24· ·to instruct you not to answer the question.
`25· · · · · · ·If there is any nonprivileged testimony
`
`Page 40
`·1· ·are Mike Loy and Mike Chevlin.
`·2· · · · Q.· ·Do you know what their expertise is?
`·3· · · · · · ·MS. WICKRAMASEKERA:· Calls for
`·4· ·speculation.
`·5· · · · · · ·THE WITNESS:· They served as legal
`·6· ·counsel to Alphatec.
`·7· ·BY MS. DEVINE:
`·8· · · · Q.· ·Yeah.· But do you know what their
`·9· ·professional expertise is?
`10· · · · · · ·MS. WICKRAMASEKERA:· Calls for
`11· ·speculation.
`12· · · · · · ·THE WITNESS:· I can't answer any further
`13· ·than they were hired as legal counsel for Alphatec.
`14· ·BY MS. DEVINE:
`15· · · · Q.· ·Do you know if they have expertise in
`16· ·intellectual property?
`17· · · · A.· ·Again, without being an expert myself, I
`18· ·don't know if they were experts in the area of IP.
`19· · · · Q.· ·Let's go back to Topic 2.· Let's turn to
`20· ·the exhibit that you brought with you, which is
`21· ·Alphatec's objections and responses.
`22· · · · · · ·Do you see in Alphatec's response to
`23· ·Topic 2, probably the part that you have
`24· ·highlighted there states that "Alphatec agrees to
`25· ·produce a witness as its corporate representative
`
`Page 39
`·1· ·you can give, you can answer.· But if you can't,
`·2· ·then I am going to instruct you on privilege.
`·3· · · · · · ·THE WITNESS:· I don't know why we hired
`·4· ·lawyers.
`·5· ·BY MS. DEVINE:
`·6· · · · Q.· ·Did you hire real estate lawyers or
`·7· ·patent lawyers?
`·8· · · · · · ·MS. WICKRAMASEKERA:· Objection; calls for
`·9· ·speculation.· This is also outside the scope.
`10· · · · · · ·MS. DEVINE:· He is here personally too.
`11· ·BY MS. DEVINE:
`12· · · · Q.· ·Did you hire real estate lawyers or
`13· ·patent lawyers?
`14· · · · · · ·MS. WICKRAMASEKERA:· Same objections.
`15· · · · · · ·THE WITNESS:· I am not sure.· I didn't
`16· ·hire anyone.
`17· ·BY MS. DEVINE:
`18· · · · Q.· ·Do you know who Alphatec hired?
`19· · · · · · ·MS. WICKRAMASEKERA:· Outside the scope.
`20· · · · · · ·THE WITNESS:· Could you be more specific?
`21· ·BY MS. DEVINE:
`22· · · · Q.· ·What lawyers Alphatec hired.
`23· · · · A.· ·Names?
`24· · · · Q.· ·Firms, names.
`25· · · · A.· ·Names would be -- two that I can remember
`
`Page 41
`·1· ·to provide nonprivileged testimony" -- sorry.
`·2· ·Strike all of that.
`·3· · · · · · ·Let's go to Topic 3 in Alphatec's
`·4· ·response.· It states, "Alphatec agrees to produce a
`·5· ·witness as its corporate representative to provide
`·6· ·nonprivileged testimony regarding Alphatec's
`·7· ·good-faith belief that any patent-in-suit was
`·8· ·either invalid or not infringed to the extent known
`·9· ·or reasonably available within Alphatec."
`10· · · · · · ·Did I read that correctly?
`11· · · · A.· ·Yes.
`12· · · · Q.· ·Are you that witness?
`13· · · · A.· ·Yes.
`14· · · · Q.· ·What can you tell me about Alphatec's
`15· ·good-faith belief that any patent-in-suit was
`16· ·either invalid or not infringed?
`17· · · · A.· ·I would say that our efforts were to do
`18· ·the best of our ability to meet the clinical needs
`19· ·of surgery.· I would say that we studied the
`20· ·clinical requirements.· We were generally aware of
`21· ·intellectual property and space.
`22· · · · · · ·Our design ideas came from our efforts to
`23· ·streamline a commonly performed surgery.· I would
`24· ·say that all of our efforts were in an effort to
`25· ·develop instruments, products organically.· And for
`
`
`
`U.S. Legal Support | www.uslegalsupport.comU.S. Legal Support | www.uslegalsupport.com
`
`38 to 41
`
`YVer1f
`
`EXHIBIT 4
`Page 33
`
`

`

`Case 3:18-cv-00347-CAB-MDD Document 350-4 Filed 11/06/21 PageID.32063 Page 8 of 12
`
`Scott Robinson· Highly Confidential - Attorneys' Eyes OnlyScott Robinson· Highly Confidential - Attorneys' Eyes Only
`
`October 29, 2019October 29, 2019
`Page 42
`·1· ·that reason, I believed that our -- the products we
`·2· ·had designed were not infringing.
`·3· · · · Q.· ·You personally?
`·4· · · · A.· ·Me personally.
`·5· · · · Q.· ·What about the company?
`·6· · · · A.· ·I would believe that the company believed
`·7· ·that our products were not infringing.
`·8· · · · Q.· ·What do you base that on?
`·9· · · · A.· ·Significant differences in -- in core
`10· ·functionality.
`11· · · · Q.· ·Who at the company has told you that they
`12· ·believe that Alphatec's devices do not infringe on
`13· ·the patents-in-suit?
`14· · · · A.· ·I would say that it would be a long list.
`15· ·I don't think everyone has ever needed to state
`16· ·that our products were noninfringing.· I think
`17· ·is -- it was the general belief of the team at the
`18· ·time that our products were not infringing. I
`19· ·don't think anyone ever actually made the statement
`20· ·that our products are not infringing.· It did not
`21· ·need to be said.
`22· · · · · · ·I would believe that that rationale was
`23· ·based on a significant difference in core
`24· ·functionality of the products.
`25· · · · Q.· ·As evaluated by nonlawyers, correct?
`
`Page 44
`·1· ·industry, you know, industries where people would
`·2· ·come from.· We found, you know, new ways for
`·3· ·products to function the way that they needed to.
`·4· ·And the team at the time absolutely believed that
`·5· ·something unique and differentiated had been
`·6· ·created.
`·7· · · · Q.· ·What did the team believe were the unique
`·8· ·features of Alphatec's devices?
`·9· · · · A.· ·I think I would need you to be more
`10· ·specific.· We have, I think, close to 75,000
`11· ·separate products.
`12· · · · Q.· ·Sure.· Do you have an understanding of
`13· ·the devices that are accused of infringement in
`14· ·this case?
`15· · · · A.· ·Yes.
`16· · · · Q.· ·Do you understand that those devices
`17· ·include Alphatec's Squadron lateral retractor?
`18· · · · A.· ·Yes.
`19· · · · Q.· ·Can you tell me, what did the team
`20· ·believe were the unique features of the Alphatec's
`21· ·Squadron lateral retractor?
`22· · · · A.· ·The retractor has the unique ability for
`23· ·blades to be independently raised and lowered.· It
`24· ·has a feature called LevelToe which relies on a
`25· ·unique hemispherical kind of universal joint that
`
`Page 43
`·1· · · · A.· ·In this case, yes.
`·2· · · · Q.· ·Are you aware of any lawyer stating that
`·3· ·it was noninfringing?
`·4· · · · · · ·MS. WICKRAMASEKERA:· We have not waived
`·5· ·privilege, so I'm going to instruct the witness not
`·6· ·to answer the question on the basis of privilege.
`·7· ·BY MS. DEVINE:
`·8· · · · Q.· ·Are you aware of Alphatec receiving any
`·9· ·opinion of counsel regarding the patents-in-suit?
`10· · · · · · ·MS. WICKRAMASEKERA:· I'm going to
`11· ·instruct the witness not to answer.
`12· · · · · · ·MS. DEVINE:· Just to be clear, is
`13· ·Alphatec claiming privilege as to any opinions of
`14· ·counsel regarding noninfringement or invalidity of
`15· ·the patents-in-suit?
`16· · · · · · ·MS. WICKRAMASEKERA:· That is correct.
`17· ·BY MS. DEVINE:
`18· · · · Q.· ·What can you tell me about whether or not
`19· ·Alphatec had a good-faith basis that the
`20· ·patents-in-suit were invalid?
`21· · · · A.· ·Kind of in line with what I have already
`22· ·said is that we had -- we took design inspiration
`23· ·from, like, all areas of orthopedic surgery and,
`24· ·you know, tools in general, mechanisms in general.
`25· · · · · · ·There was some influence from the auto
`
`Page 45
`·1· ·moves in several planes at once, resulting in
`·2· ·movement of the retractor arm in a very nonlinear
`·3· ·way.
`·4· · · · · · ·It has a top-loading blade design that
`·5· ·provides kind of quick and easy replacement of
`·6· ·blades.· It has, you know, independently controlled
`·7· ·arms, among many other, I believe, unique features.
`·8· · · · Q.· ·Can you think of any others?
`·9· · · · A.· ·Those are -- that is the extent that I
`10· ·can remember at this time.
`11· · · · Q.· ·How about the dilators that are accused
`12· ·of infringement in this case and the K wire?· What
`13· ·did the team believe were the unique features of
`14· ·Alphatec's dilators and K wire?
`15· · · · A.· ·We believe that they were -- they were a
`16· ·purchased product, but they were -- I forget what
`17· ·the differences were right now.· I don't recall at
`18· ·the moment what specifically were the differences
`19· ·with regard to K wire and dilators.
`20· · · · Q.· ·If anything comes to you today, will you
`21· ·let me know?
`22· · · · A.· ·Sure.
`23· · · · Q.· ·Thanks.
`24· · · · · · ·How about Alphatec's intradiscal shim and
`25· ·shim inserter tool?· What did the team believe were
`
`
`
`U.S. Legal Support | www.uslegalsupport.comU.S. Legal Support | www.uslegalsupport.com
`
`42 to 45
`
`YVer1f
`
`EXHIBIT 4
`Page 34
`
`

`

`Case 3:18-cv-00347-CAB-MDD Document 350-4 Filed 11/06/21 PageID.32064 Page 9 of 12
`
`Scott Robinson· Highly Confidential - Attorneys' Eyes OnlyScott Robinson· Highly Confidential - Attorneys' Eyes Only
`
`October 29, 2019October 29, 2019
`Page 46
`·1· ·the unique features of those?
`·2· · · · A.· ·The way the shim would engage with the
`·3· ·shim inserter, the interaction with retractor
`·4· ·blade, interaction with the anatomy.
`·5· · · · Q.· ·Is that it?
`·6· · · · A.· ·That is an incomplete list but the ones
`·7· ·that come to memory at the time.
`·8· · · · Q.· ·If you think of anything else, will you
`·9· ·let me know?
`10· · · · A.· ·Sure.
`11· · · · Q.· ·When you say "interaction with the
`12· ·blade," are you referring to the shim's interaction
`13· ·with the blade or the shim inserter's interaction
`14· ·with the blade?
`15· · · · A.· ·Either.· In both the -- there are both
`16· ·the interaction of the shim with the inserter, you
`17· ·know, the shim's relationship to the blade and the
`18· ·shim inserter's relationship with the blade.
`19· · · · Q.· ·What is the unique interaction between
`20· ·the shim and the shim inserter?
`21· · · · A.· ·The attachment point and the ease of --
`22· ·it is really the ease of use to the user.
`23· · · · Q.· ·How is it unique?
`24· · · · A.· ·It is -- mostly, its intuitiveness,
`25· ·ergonomics.
`
`Page 48
`·1· ·back in to close the umbrella, that could be a
`·2· ·detent.
`·3· · · · Q.· ·When you say it easily locks the position
`·4· ·of the shim, what do you mean?
`·5· · · · A.· ·It would just -- I don't know what else
`·6· ·to say about it.· I mean, it would be -- it was --
`·7· ·the way it was used was to be in -- like, you know,
`·8· ·slid down the blade, engage with the anatomy, and
`·9· ·would hold its position.
`10· · · · Q.· ·Would it lock onto the blade?
`11· · · · A.· ·There was a -- like I said, there is a
`12· ·detent that engaged with a feature in the blade.
`13· · · · Q.· ·Would that lock?
`14· · · · A.· ·Temporarily.
`15· · · · Q.· ·Until you unlocked it, right?
`16· · · · A.· ·Until you return the inserter.
`17· · · · Q.· ·What was unique about the shim's
`18· ·interaction with the anatomy?
`19· · · · A.· ·As far as its interaction with the
`20· ·anatomy, I don't think I could say that anything
`21· ·was particularly unique about it.· Nothing that
`22· ·stands out in my mind currently.· It is a shim.
`23· · · · Q.· ·If you think of anything today, will you
`24· ·let me know?
`25· · · · A.· ·Sure.· Yes.
`
`Page 47
`·1· · · · Q.· ·Can you elaborate what you mean by
`·2· ·"ergonomics"?
`·3· · · · A.· ·Some devices are easier to use than
`·4· ·others.· Ergonomics is a tough one to explain. I
`·5· ·mean, I feel like when you pick up something that
`·6· ·you know is high quality, you just have a sense of
`·7· ·it.· You don't need to be an engineer or an expert.
`·8· ·Something eith