Case 1:20-cv-OO393-LO-TCB Document 472 Filed 03/08/21 Page 1 of 3 Page|D# 10417
`Case 1:20-cv-00393-LO-TCB Document 472 Filed 03/08/21 Page 1 of 3 PageID# 10417
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`UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
`FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF VIRGINIA
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`ALEXANDRIA DIVISION
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`RJ. REYNOLDS VAPOR COMPANY,
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`RAI STRATEGIC HOLDINGS, INC. and
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`Plaintiffs-Counterclaim
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`Defendants,
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`Case No. 1:20-cv-00393-LO-TCB
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`ALTRlA CLIENT SERVICES LLC; PHILIP
`MORRIS USA INC.; and PHILIP MORRIS
`PRODUCTS S.A.
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`Defendants-Counterclaim
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`Plaintiffs.
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`ORDER
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`On March 5, 2021, Counterclaim Plaintiffs Altria Client Services LLC, Philip Morris USA,
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`Inc. and Philip Morris Products S.A. (collectively, “Counterclaim Plaintiffs”) filed an unopposed
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`motion (Dkt. 469) seeking entry of an order appointing certain attorneys as commissioners
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`to take the voluntary testimony by oral examination under oath via videoconference in
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`Switzerland of certain of Counterclaim Plaintiffs’ witnesses. The motion was filed unopposed.
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`Counterclaim Plaintiffs seek authorization from a competent Swiss authority to conduct
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`voluntary testimony by oral examination under oath via videoconference of witnesses, whom have
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`been identified by the parties as witnesses for upcoming depositions in this case. Counterclaim
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`Plaintiffs represent that the Swiss Penal Code provides that attorneys attempting to take a
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`deposition or carry out other activities on behalf of a foreign state in Switzerland outside of
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`authorized methods are subject to arrest on criminal charges. Mem. at 2-3. (citing Article 271 of
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`the Swiss Penal Code). Thus, Counterclaim Plaintiffs represent that they must comply with the
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`Hague Convention in seeking testimony in this case in order to comply with Swiss law. See id. at
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`2-3.
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`The Court finds that the evidence Counterclaim Plaintiffs seek is reasonably necessary to
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`fully develop the record in this case. Accordingly, upon consideration of Counterclaim Plaintiffs’
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`Unopposed Motion for Appointment of Commissioners, and Direction of Submission of Hague
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`Convention Application for Authorization of the Duly Appointed Commissioners to Take
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`Evidence Pursuant to Article 17 of the Hague Convention of 18 March 1970 on the Taking of
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`Evidence Abroad in Civil or Commercial Matters, for good cause shown, it is hereby
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`ORDERED that the Motion (Dkt. 469) is GRANTED; and it is further
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`ORDERED that the following listed counsel for Counterclaim Plaintiffs and
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`Counterclaim Defendants are duly appointed as commissioners under Article 17 of the Hague
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`Convention of 18 March 1970 on the Taking of Evidence Abroad in Civil or Commercial
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`Matters:
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`Counsel at Latham & Watkins LLP for Counterclaim Plaintiffs (located at 555
`1 1th Street NW, Suite 1000, Washington, DC 20004; 330 N Wabash Avenue, Suite
`2800, Chicago, IL 6061 1; 505 Moutgomery Street, Suite 2000, San Francisco, CA
`94111; 355 South Grand Avenue, Suite 100 Los Angeles, CA 90071; 140 Scott
`Drive Menlo Park, CA 94025): Maximilian Grant, Bert Reiser, Matthew Moore,
`Jamie Underwood, Brenda Danek, Gregory Sobolski, Lawrence Gotts, Clement
`Naples, Brett Sandford, Thomas Yeh, and Surendra Ravula.
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`Counsel at Bar & Karrer AG for Counterclaim Plaintiffs (located at
`Brandschenkestrasse 90, 8027 Zurich, Switzerland): Matthew Reiter and Martina
`Athanas.
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`Counsel at Jones Day for Counterclaim Defendants (located at 1420 Peachtree
`Street, N.E., Suite 800, Atlanta, GA 30309; 77 West Wacker, Suite 3500, Chicago,
`IL 60601; 90] Lakeside Avenue, Cleveland, OH, 44114; 4655 Executive Drive,
`Suite 1500, San Diego, CA 92121; 555 California Street, 26th Floor, San Francisco,
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`Case 1:20-cv-00393—LO-TCB Document 472 Filed 03/08/21 Page 3 of 3 PageID# 10419
`Case 1:20-cv-00393-LO-TCB Document 472 Filed 03/08/21 Page 3 of 3 PageID# 10419
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`CA 94104; 90 South 7'1h Street, Suite 4950, Minneapolis, MN 55402; 51 Louisiana
`Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC, 20001; 250 Vesey Street, New York, NY 1028 l;
`555 South Flower Street, 50‘'1 Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90071; 150 West Jefferson,
`Suite 2100, Detroit, Ml, 48226; 2727 North Harwood Street, Suite 500, Dallas, TX,
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`7520]): Stephanie Parker, William Devitt, David Maiorana, Emily Baker, Frank
`Bayuk, Robert Breetz, Douglas Clark, Michael Lavine, Sanjiv Laud, ChristOpher
`Liu, Kenneth Luchesi, John Marlott, Kevin McCarthy, John Michalik, Amelia
`Murray, Michael Quinlan, Nicole Smith, Alexis Smith, Michelle Smit, Emily Tait,
`Thomas Vitt, Jennifer Weizenecker, and Jeffrey White.
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`ENTERED this 8th day of March, 2021.
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`UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
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`Alexandria. Virginia
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`T ERESA CARROLL BUCHANAN
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`Isl
`, Buchanan
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`es Magistrate Judge
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