Case 2:24-md-03113-JXN-LDW Document 61 Filed 01/10/25 Page 1 of 10 PageID:
`1050
`
`[Counsel listed on signature page]
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
`DISTRICT OF NEW JERSEY
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`IN RE: APPLE INC. SMARTPHONE
`ANTITRUST LITIGATION
`
`This Document Relates to:
`ALL ACTIONS
`
`Civil Action No. 2:24-md-03113
`
`(JXN) (LDW) MDL 3113
`
`JOINT AGENDA AND STATUS REPORT
`
`
`
`

`

`Case 2:24-md-03113-JXN-LDW Document 61 Filed 01/10/25 Page 2 of 10 PageID:
`1051
`
`
`
`Pursuant to the Court’s July 25, 2024 Case Management Order Number 1,
`
`ECF No. 7, and December 28, 2024 Text Order, ECF No. 60, Direct Purchaser
`
`Plaintiffs, Indirect Purchaser Plaintiffs, and Direct Apple Watch Purchaser Plaintiff
`
`(collectively, “Plaintiffs”) and Defendant Apple Inc. (“Apple” and, collectively with
`
`Plaintiffs, “the Parties”), respectfully submit the following Joint Status Report and
`
`Joint Agenda for the Initial Case Management Conference.
`
`I.
`
`Joint Status Report
`On March 21, 2024, the United States and sixteen states filed a civil lawsuit
`
`against Apple, accusing it of having violated Section 2 of the Sherman Act (15
`
`U.S.C. § 2), as well as various state competition laws. United States v. Apple Inc.,
`
`No. 2:24-cv-04055 (JXN) (LDW) (D.N.J.) (the “Government Action”).1 Beginning
`
`on March 22, 2024, Plaintiffs filed class actions on behalf of direct purchasers of
`
`iPhones (“DIP”), indirect iPhone purchasers (“IIP”), and direct Apple Watch
`
`purchasers (“DAWP”) (collectively, the “Private Purchaser Actions”). On June 7,
`
`2024, the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation centralized the actions in this
`
`Court under 28 U.S.C. § 1407.2
`
`
`1 The complaint was subsequently amended on June 11, 2024. Case No. 2:24-cv-4055 (JXN)
`(LDW) ECF No. 51.
`2 On November 14, 2024, one of the DIP plaintiffs, Kyle Whiteside, filed a motion to remand his
`case to state court. Case No. 2:24-cv-9658 (JXN) (LDW) ECF No. 35. Apple filed its opposition
`on January 6, 2025, id. ECF No. 41, and Plaintiff Whiteside’s reply is due on January 21, 2025.
`The Court has not scheduled oral argument.
`
`

`

`Case 2:24-md-03113-JXN-LDW Document 61 Filed 01/10/25 Page 3 of 10 PageID:
`1052
`
`On July 25, 2024, the Court issued Case Management Order Number 1 and
`
`consolidated the actions for pretrial purposes, ordering Plaintiffs to submit proposals
`
`for leadership. On October 17, 2024, the Court appointed leadership for the putative
`
`DAWP class and the putative IIP class (minus the proposed executive committee).
`
`ECF No. 34. After multiple rounds of briefing and with the oversight and assistance
`
`of the Court, the putative DIP and IIP classes each filed consensual leadership
`
`proposals, and the Court appointed leadership for the putative DIP class and an
`
`executive committee to support co-leads for the putative IIP class on December 19
`
`and 27, respectively. ECF Nos. 57, 59. On December 28, 2024, the Court ordered
`
`class counsel for all three groups and Apple to submit a joint agenda and status report
`
`by January 10, 2025. ECF No. 60.
`
`Meanwhile, Apple moved to dismiss the Government Action in August 2024.
`
`See Case No. 2:24-cv-04055 (JXN) (LDW) ECF No. 86. The Court held a hearing
`
`on the motion on November 20, 2024 and took the matter under submission.
`
`The Court also ordered the parties in the Government Action to file a proposed
`
`Protective Order, ESI Protocol, and Source Code Protocol, and/or a joint letter
`
`presenting any disputes as to the terms of these documents, no later than September
`
`20, 2024. Id. ECF No. 94. The parties in the Government Action filed a letter brief
`
`on September 20, 2024, outlining disputes regarding those items. Id. ECF No. 117.
`
`Subsequently, various non-parties objected to the parties’ proposed protective
`
`

`

`Case 2:24-md-03113-JXN-LDW Document 61 Filed 01/10/25 Page 4 of 10 PageID:
`1053
`
`orders. See, e.g., id. ECF Nos. 154, 156, 157. The Court held a hearing on the dispute
`
`raised in the letter brief on October 10, 2024. Id. ECF No. 125.
`
`On December 11, 2024, the Court set an initial scheduling conference for
`
`February 27, 2025 in the Government Action, and ordered the parties to submit a
`
`discovery plan seven days prior. Case No. 2:24-cv-04055 (JXN) (LDW) ECF No.
`
`211.
`
`II.
`
`Parties’ Positions Regarding Next Steps
`
`First, given that the issues raised by the private plaintiffs’ complaints overlap
`
`in substantial part with those raised in the Government Action, the Parties agree that
`
`Plaintiffs shall file consolidated complaints—one consolidated complaint for the
`
`putative DIP class, one for the putative IIP class, and one for the putative DAWP
`
`class—thirty (30) days after the Court enters an order on the motion to dismiss the
`
`Government Action. The Parties further agree that they will discuss in good faith
`
`any potential changes to this timeline if the Court’s order on Apple’s motion to
`
`dismiss the Government Action warrants adjustment of this deadline.
`
`Second, with respect to coordination among the related cases, Plaintiffs and
`
`Apple support coordination and streamlining of the proceedings wherever possible
`
`and will endeavor to coordinate with the Government in all feasible respects,
`
`including on implementation of early case management orders and discovery
`
`protocols.
`
`

`

`Case 2:24-md-03113-JXN-LDW Document 61 Filed 01/10/25 Page 5 of 10 PageID:
`1054
`
`Third, Plaintiffs in the Private Purchaser Actions propose, as an initial step,
`
`that Apple reproduce to the private Plaintiffs all documents, data, investigative
`
`deposition transcripts, and other materials obtained to date by the Government in
`
`connection with its investigation of and action against Apple to the extent such
`
`materials are in Apple’s possession, custody, or control. Apple maintains that such
`
`a production is unwarranted at this time for several reasons. The Parties will
`
`continue to meet and confer regarding this issue and will apprise the Court if they
`
`are unable to resolve the disagreement.
`
`III. Joint Agenda for Initial Case Management Conference
`
`Having met and conferred, the Parties propose the following agenda for the
`
`first case management conference:
`
`• Initial case management orders: Protective Order, ESI Protocol, Source
`
`Code Protocol, Expert Discovery Stipulation, Deposition Protocol;
`
`• Coordination among the related cases; and
`
`• Scheduling Order(s) for Initial Case Deadlines (based on the date the
`
`consolidated amended complaints are filed).
`
`
`
`Dated: January 10, 2025
`
`
`Cynthia E. Richman (pro hac vice)
`GIBSON, DUNN & CRUTCHER LLP
`1700 M Street, N.W.
`
`Respectfully Submitted,
`
`s/ Liza M. Walsh
`Liza M. Walsh
`Douglas E. Arpert
`WALSH PIZZI O’REILLY FALANGA LLP
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`

`

`Case 2:24-md-03113-JXN-LDW Document 61 Filed 01/10/25 Page 6 of 10 PageID:
`1055
`
`Washington, DC 20036-4504
`(202) 955-8234
`crichman@gibsondunn.com
`
`
`
`
`Daniel G. Swanson (pro hac vice)
`GIBSON, DUNN & CRUTCHER LLP
`333 South Grand Avenue
`Los Angeles, CA 90071
`(213) 229-7000
`dswanson@gibsondunn.com
`
`Devora W. Allon (pro hac vice)
`Alexia Brancato (pro hac vice)
`KIRKLAND & ELLIS LLP
`601 Lexington Avenue
`New York, NY
`(212) 446-4800
`devora.allon@kirkland.com
`alexia.brancato@kirkland.com
`
`
`Three Gateway Center
`100 Mulberry Street, 15th Floor
`Newark, NJ 07102
`(973) 757-1100
`lwalsh@walsh.law
`darpert@walsh.law
`
`Julian W. Kleinbrodt (pro hac vice)
`GIBSON, DUNN & CRUTCHER LLP
`One Embarcadero Center, Suite 2600
`San Francisco, CA 94111-3715
`(415) 393-8200
`jkleinbrodt@gibsondunn.com
`
`Craig Primis (pro hac vice)
`Winn Allen (pro hac vice)
`Mary E. Miller (pro hac vice)
`Luke McGuire (pro hac vice)
`KIRKLAND & ELLIS LLP
`1301 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
`Washington, DC 20004
`(202) 389-5000
`cprimis@kirkland.com
`winn.allen@kirkland.com
`mary.miller@kirkland.com
`luke.mcguire@kirkland.com
`
`Attorneys for Defendant Apple Inc.
`
`
`William Christopher Carmody
`Shawn J. Rabin
`SUSMAN GODFREY LLP
`One Manhattan West, 50th Floor
`New York, NY 10001-8602
`Tel: (212) 336-8330
`Email: bcarmody@susmangodfrey.com
`Email: srabin@susmangodfrey.com
`
`
`/s/ James E. Cecchi
`James E. Cecchi
`CARELLA BYRNE CECCHI
`BRODY & AGNELLO, PC
`5 Becker Farm Road
`Roseland, NJ 07068
`Tel: 973-994-1700
`Email: jcecchi@carellabyrne.com
`
`
`
`

`

`Case 2:24-md-03113-JXN-LDW Document 61 Filed 01/10/25 Page 7 of 10 PageID:
`1056
`
`Christopher A. Seeger
`SEEGER WEISS, LLP
`55 Challenger Road
`Ridgefield Park, NJ 07660
`Tel: 973-639-9100
`Email: cseeger@seegerweiss.com
`
`SOBOL
`
`Steven W. Berman
`HAGENS
`BERMAN
`SHAPIRO, LLP
`1301 Second Avenue
`Suite 2000
`Seattle, WA 98101
`Tel: 206-623-7292
`Email: steve@hbsslaw.com
`
`Melinda R. Coolidge
`HAUSFELD LLP
`888 16th Street, NW Suite 300
`Washington, DC 20006
`Tel: (202) 540-7200
`Email: mcoolidge@hausfeld.com
`
`Co-Lead Interim Class Counsel for Direct Purchasers’ Track
`
`
`Dena Sharp
`GIRARD SHARP LLP
`601 California Street, Suite 1400
`San Francisco, CA 94108
`Tel: 415-981-4800
`Email: dsharp@girardsharp.com
`
`
`Joseph J. DePalma
`LITE DEPALMA GREENBERG
`& AFANADOR, LLC
`570 Broad Street, Suite 1201
`Newark, NJ 07102
`Tel: (973) 623-3000
`Email: jdepalma@litedepalma.com
`
`Liaison Counsel for Direct Purchasers’
`Track
`
`Michael Critchley Sr.
`CRITCHLEY, KINUM & LURIA,
`LLC
`75 Livingston Avenue
`Roseland, New Jersey 07068
`Tel: (973) 422-9200
`Email: mcritchley@critchleylaw.com
`
`Trial Counsel/Direct Purchasers’ Track
`
`
`
`
`

`

`Case 2:24-md-03113-JXN-LDW Document 61 Filed 01/10/25 Page 8 of 10 PageID:
`1057
`
`
`
`Michael Dell’Angelo
`Candice J. Enders
`BERGER MONTAGUE PC
`1818 Market Street, Suite 3600
`Philadelphia, PA 19103
`Tel: (215) 875-3000
`mdellangelo@bm.net
`cenders@bm.net
`
`
`/s/ Stanley O. King
`Stanley O. King, Esq.
`JAVERBAUM WURGAFT HICKS
`KAHN WIKSTROM & SININS,
`P.C.
`231 S. Broad Street
`Woodbury, NJ 08096
`Tel: 856.845.3001
`Fax: 856.845.3079
`Stanley O. King
`Attorney ID No. 03413-1996
`
`Liaison Counsel for Indirect iPhone
`Purchaser Plaintiffs
`
`Heidi M. Silton
`Jessica N. Servais
`Joseph C. Bourne
`LOCKRIDGE GRINDAL NAUEN
`PLLP
`100 Washington Avenue South, Suite
`2200
`Minneapolis, MN 55401
`Tel: (612) 339-6900
`hmsilton@locklaw.com
`jnservais@locklaw.com
`jcbourne@locklaw.com
`
`
`

`

`Case 2:24-md-03113-JXN-LDW Document 61 Filed 01/10/25 Page 9 of 10 PageID:
`1058
`
`William G. Caldes
`Jeffrey L. Spector
`Cary Zhang
`SPECTOR ROSEMAN &
`KODROFF, P.C.
`2001 Market Street, Suite 3420
`Philadelphia, PA 19103
`Tel: (215) 496-0300
`bcaldes@srkattorneys.com
`jspector@srkattorneys.com
`czhang@srkattorneys.com
`
`Interim Co-Lead Counsel for Indirect iPhone Purchaser Plaintiffs
`
`Matthew S. Weiler
`Todd M. Schneider
`Jason H. Kim
`Mahzad K. Hite
`Raymond S. Levine
`SCHNEIDER WALLACE
`COTTRELL KONECKY LLP
`2000 Powell Street, Suite 1400
`Emeryville, CA 94608
`Tel: (415) 421-7100
`mweiler@schneiderwallace.com
`
`
`
`
`
`

`

`Case 2:24-md-03113-JXN-LDW Document 61 Filed 01/10/25 Page 10 of 10 PageID:
`1059
`
`
`David C. Frederick
`Aaron M. Panner
`Scott K. Attaway
`Ariela Migdal
`Alex A. Parkinson
`KELLOGG, HANSEN, TODD
`FIGEL & FREDERICK, P.L.L.C.
`1615 M Street NW, Suite 400
`Washington, DC 20036
`Tel.: (202) 326-7900
`
`George A. Zelcs
`Marc A. Wallenstein
`David Walchak
`KOREIN TILLERY LLC
`205 N. Michigan Avenue, Suite 1950
`Chicago, IL 60601
`Tel.: (312) 641-9750
`
`Carol O’Keefe
`Andrew Ellis
`KOREIN TILLERY LLC
`505 N. 7th Street, Suite 3600
`St. Louis, MO 63101
`Tel.: (314) 241-4844
`
`
`
`
`/s/ Thomas R. Curtin
`Thomas R. Curtin
`Kathleen N. Fennelly
`MCELROY, DEUTSCH,
`MULVANEY & CARPENTER, LLP
`1300 Mount Kemble Avenue
`Morristown, NJ 07962
`Tel: (973) 993-8100
`tcurtin@mdmc-law.com
`
`Liaison Counsel for the Proposed
`Apple Watch Direct Purchaser Class
`
`Steven F. Molo
`Jonathan Barbee
`MOLOLAMKEN LLP
`430 Park Avenue
`New York, NY 10022
`Tel.: (212) 607-8160
`
`Jordan A. Rice
`Eric A. Posner
`MOLOLAMKEN LLP
`300 N. LaSalle Street
`Chicago, IL 60601
`Tel.: (312) 450-6700
`
`Jennifer Fischell
`Kayvon Ghayoumi
`MOLOLAMKEN LLP
`600 New Hampshire Avenue, N.W.
`Washington, DC 20037
`Tel.: (202) 556-2000
`
`Attorneys for Plaintiff Joseph Giamanco and Interim Co-Lead Counsel for the
`Proposed Apple Watch Direct Purchaser Class
`
`
`
`

Accessing this document will incur an additional charge of $.

After purchase, you can access this document again without charge.

Accept $ Charge

This document could not be displayed.

We could not find this document within its docket. Please go back to the docket page and check the link. If that does not work, go back to the docket and refresh it to pull the newest information.

Your account does not support viewing this document.

You need a Paid Account to view this document. Click here to change your account type.

Your account does not support viewing this document.

Set your membership status to view this document.

With a Docket Alarm membership, you'll get a whole lot more, including:

  • Up-to-date information for this case.
  • Email alerts whenever there is an update.
  • Full text search for other cases.
  • Get email alerts whenever a new case matches your search.

Become a Member

One Moment Please

The filing “” is large (MB) and is being downloaded.

Please refresh this page in a few minutes to see if the filing has been downloaded. The filing will also be emailed to you when the download completes.

Your document is on its way!

If you do not receive the document in five minutes, contact support at support@docketalarm.com.

Sealed Document

We are unable to display this document, it may be under a court ordered seal.

If you have proper credentials to access the file, you may proceed directly to the court's system using your government issued username and password.


Access Government Site

We are redirecting you
to a mobile optimized page.

We are unable to display this document.

PTO Denying Access

Refresh this Document
Go to the Docket