Case 1:22-cv-23753-KMM Document 125 Entered on FLSD Docket 04/07/2023 Page 1 of 10
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`UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
`SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF FLORIDA
`MIAMI DIVISION
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`Case No. 22-cv-23753-MOORE/BECERRA
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`EDWIN GARRISON, et al., on behalf of
`themselves and all similarly situated,
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`Plaintiffs,
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`v.
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`SAM BANKMAN-FRIED, et al.,
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`Defendants.
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`/
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`MOTION BY THE “CELEBRITY DEFENDANTS” TO SET BRIEFING PAGE LIMITS
`AND BRIEFING SCHEDULE FOR THEIR MOTIONS TO DISMISS
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`Defendants Thomas Brady, Gisele Bündchen, Kevin O’Leary, David Ortiz, Udonis
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`Haslem, Stephen Curry, the Golden State Warriors, LLC, William Trevor Lawrence, Shohei
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`Ohtani, and Lawrence Gene David (collectively, the “Celebrity Defendants”) respectfully request
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`that the Court establish the page limits for briefing their motions to dismiss due by April 14, 2023,
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`see PAPERLESS ORDER [ECF No. 49], and also establish a briefing schedule for the motions.1
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`Plaintiffs’ position on these requests is unknown, as explained in the Local Rule 7.1(a)(3)
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`Certification below.
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`In support of this motion, the Celebrity Defendants state:
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`1.
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`The operative Amended Class Action Complaint and Demand for Jury Trial
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`[“Amended Complaint”; ECF No. 16] was filed on December 16, 2022.
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`1 By filing this motion, no Celebrity Defendant waives any defense to Plaintiffs’ claims,
`including, but not limited to, personal jurisdiction or inadequacy of service, and all such defenses
`are preserved.
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`Case 1:22-cv-23753-KMM Document 125 Entered on FLSD Docket 04/07/2023 Page 2 of 10
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`2.
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`The Amended Complaint has 280 numbered paragraphs of allegations and is 97
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`pages long, not including the 20-page purported “expert report” attached as its exhibit.
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`3.
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`The Amended Complaint names twelve “FTX Brand Ambassador Defendants,”
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`who are the Celebrity Defendant movants, Defendant Naomi Osaka, and Defendant Shaquille
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`O’Neal. See id. ¶¶ 30-42.2 The pleading also names five “FTX Insider Defendants” and Defendant
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`Samuel Bankman-Fried – who is obviously an FTX “insider,” but not identified as such. See id.
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`¶¶ 43-38 & ¶¶ 75-76.
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`4.
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`Under the Local Rules, the twelve “FTX Brand Ambassador Defendants” would be
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`entitled to 20 pages each for their individual motions to dismiss – i.e., 240 pages of briefing. See
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`Local Rule 7.1(c)(2). Altering the normal briefing rules, the PAPERLESS PRETRIAL ORDER
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`[ECF No. 5] requires that “Multiple … Defendants shall file joint motions with co-parties unless
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`there are clear conflicts of position. If conflicts of position exist, parties shall explain the conflicts
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`in their separate motions.” Id. at 1-2 (emphasis omitted).
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`5.
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`The Celebrity Defendants recognize that the PAPERLESS PRETRIAL ORDER
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`requires them as a group to file joint motions because their positions are broadly in alignment, and
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`they seek through this filing to structure the briefing for their motions.
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`6.
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`However, the Celebrity Defendants’ positions are distinct and separate from the
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`positions of the FTX Insider Defendants and of Defendant Bankman-Fried, both as pled by
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`Plaintiffs in the Amended Complaint and as a result of external factors resulting from the wide-
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`ranging criminal and civil enforcement and bankruptcy issues into the “FTX” issues. 3 In addition,
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`2 No counsel for Defendant Osaka has appeared in this action, although she was purportedly
`served. See PAPERLESS ORDER [ECF No. 101] at 1. Defendant O’Neal has not been served, as
`far as undersigned counsel are aware. To the extent either defendant appears, the Celebrity
`Defendants will endeavor to coordinate with Ms. Osaka and Mr. O’Neal to the extent practical.
`3 The Celebrity Defendants note that press reports indicate that several of the “FTX Insider
`Defendants” have pled guilty to federal charges. See, e.g., David Yaffe-Bellany & Matthew
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`Case 1:22-cv-23753-KMM Document 125 Entered on FLSD Docket 04/07/2023 Page 3 of 10
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`of these defendants, only counsel for Defendant Bankman-Fried have filed appearances, see ECF
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`Nos. 83-86, which makes coordination impossible even if it were desirable (which it is not).
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`7.
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`Accordingly, and given the clear divergence of their positions, the Celebrity
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`Defendants do not intend to brief “jointly” with the FTX Insider Defendants or Defendant
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`Bankman-Fried.
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`8.
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`With respect to their dismissal briefing, the Celebrity Defendants request that the
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`Court authorize the following briefs and brief lengths, with all page limits as calculated under
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`Local Rule 7.1(c)(2),4 for the motions and memoranda of law, responses, and replies:
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`a.
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`A joint Rule 12(b)(6) motion and memorandum of law of up to 40 pages,
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`which would be for issues common to all Celebrity Defendants.
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`b.
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`A joint Rule 12(b)(2) motion and memorandum of law of up to 20 pages,
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`for those Celebrity Defendants who wish to raise a personal jurisdiction
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`challenge.
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`c.
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`To the extent applicable, individual motions and memoranda of law of up
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`to 5 pages, for those Celebrity Defendants seeking to raise unique issues or
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`defenses not encompassed by the joint Rule 12(b)(6) or joint Rule 12(b)(2)
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`motion – e.g., a challenge to adequacy of service of process.
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`Goldstein, Third Top FTX Executive Pleads Guilty in Fraud Investigation, N.Y. TIMES (Feb. 28,
`2023), https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/28/technology/ftx-guilty-plea-fraud.html. Further, yet
`another a superseding indictment was recently filed against Defendant Bankman-Fried in the
`expansive criminal action against him. See United States v. Bankman-Fried, No. 22-cr-673 (LAK)
`(S.D.N.Y.). Those extensive criminal proceedings alone pose a significant impediment to any
`attempts to coordinate with those defendants, whether or not counsel for them has appeared.
`4 Local Rule 7.1(c)(2) provides, “As long as no substantive part of the submission appears
`on the same page(s), the following items do not count toward page limitations for purposes of this
`rule and any other rules or orders setting forth page limitations: title pages preceding the first page
`of text, tables of contents, tables of citations, ‘request for hearing’ sections, signature pages,
`certificates of good faith conferences, and certificates of service.”
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`Case 1:22-cv-23753-KMM Document 125 Entered on FLSD Docket 04/07/2023 Page 4 of 10
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`d.
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`Plaintiffs’ responses to each motion would be the same lengths as
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`authorized for the motions – i.e., 40 pages for Plaintiffs’ Rule 12(b)(6)
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`response, 20 pages for Plaintiffs’ Rule 12(b)(2) response, and 5 pages for
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`Plaintiffs’ responses to any individual Celebrity Defendant motion.
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`e.
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`f.
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`g.
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`A joint reply supporting the joint Rule 12(b)(6) motion of up to 20 pages.
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`A joint reply supporting the joint Rule 12(b)(2) motion of up to 10 pages.
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`Individual replies supporting the individual motions of up to 3 pages.
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`9.
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`In addition, the Celebrity Defendants request that the Court set the following
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`briefing schedule to follow their April 14, 2023, filings:
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`a.
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`Plaintiffs’ responses shall be filed on Monday, May 15, 2023 – i.e., 31 days
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`following the Celebrity Defendants’ April 14 dismissal filings.
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`b.
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`The Celebrity Defendants’ replies shall be filed on Wednesday, June 14,
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`2023 – i.e., 30 days following Plaintiffs’ responses. The Celebrity
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`Defendants note that their joint replies must be coordinated with counsel for
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`up to twelve Celebrity Defendants, which necessitates additional time for
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`finalizing any such reply.
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`10.
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`Therefore, Celebrity Defendants request that the Court authorize and establish the
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`briefing lengths and schedule set forth above.
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`CONCLUSION
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`WHEREFORE, the Celebrity Defendants respectfully request that the Court (i) authorize
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`the Celebrity Defendants to file a joint Rule 12(b)(6) motion and memorandum of law of up to 40
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`pages, a joint Rule 12(b)(2) motion and memorandum of law of up to 20 pages, and individual
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`motions and memoranda of law of up to 5 pages, authorize equivalent page limits for Plaintiffs’
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`responses, and authorize the Celebrity Defendants to file replies of 20 pages, 10 pages, and 3 pages,
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`Case 1:22-cv-23753-KMM Document 125 Entered on FLSD Docket 04/07/2023 Page 5 of 10
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`respectively, (ii) set May 15, 2023, as the deadline for Plaintiffs’ responses and June 14, 2023, for
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`the Celebrity Defendants’ replies, and (iii) grant such other and further relief as the Court deems
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`just and proper.
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`A proposed order granting this motion is attached as Exhibit A and will be submitted to the
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`Court via e-mail in Word format in accordance with S.D. Fla. CM/ECF NextGen Admin.
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`Pro. 3I(6).
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`Local Rule 7.1(a)(3) Certification
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`On April 6, 2023, Christopher S. Carver, counsel for Defendants David Ortiz and Udonis
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`Halsem, placed telephone calls to Plaintiffs’ counsel Adam Moskowitz, Joseph Kaye, and Howard
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`Bushman to try to arrange a pre-filing meet-and-confer telephone conference to discuss these
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`requests. He was successful in reaching Mr. Bushman, who requested that an e-mail be sent to
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`Plaintiffs’ counsel putting the request for a conference in writing. The requested e-mail was sent
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`at 11:30 a.m. EDT on April 6; Plaintiffs’ counsel responded at 1:34 p.m. EDT that day, stating that
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`Plaintiffs’ counsel were only available for a telephone conference on Monday or Tuesday the
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`following week. In view of the imminency of the April 14, 2023, deadline for filing motions and
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`the need for a ruling by the Court sufficiently in advance of that deadline, Mr. Carver responded
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`by sending Plaintiffs’ counsel a .pdf draft of this Motion in near-final form at 3:34 p.m. EDT on
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`April 6 (copying all Celebrity Defendants’ counsel), which draft specified the exact briefing and
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`scheduling requests, and requesting Plaintiffs’ position by noon today (April 7). Mr. Carver’s
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`response further advised Plaintiffs that the Motion would be filed by 2:00 p.m. EDT today.
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`As of the time of filing this Motion, no response has been received from Plaintiffs’ counsel.
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`Accordingly, Plaintiffs’ position on the briefing and scheduling requests set forth in this Motion is
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`unknown.
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`Case 1:22-cv-23753-KMM Document 125 Entered on FLSD Docket 04/07/2023 Page 6 of 10
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`Dated: April 7, 2023
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`Respectfully submitted,
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`COLSON HICKS EIDSON, P.A.
`255 Alhambra Circle, Penthouse
`Coral Gables, Florida 33134
`Telephone: (305) 476-7400
`Facsimile: (305) 476-7444
`
`By: /s/ Roberto Martínez
`Roberto Martínez
`Florida Bar No. 305596
`bob@colson.com
`Stephanie A. Casey
`Florida Bar No. 97483
`scasey@colson.com
`Zachary Lipshultz
`Florida Bar No. 123594
`zach@colson.com
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`
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`LATHAM & WATKINS LLP
`Andrew Clubok (pro hac vice)
` andrew.clubok@lw.com
`Susan E. Engel (pro hac vice)
` susan.engel@lw.com
`Brittany M.J. Record (pro hac vice)
` brittany.record@lw.com
`555 Eleventh Street, N.W., Suite 1000
`Washington, D.C. 20004-1304
`Tel: +1.202.637.2200
`Fax: +1.202.637.2201
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`LATHAM & WATKINS LLP
`Marvin S. Putnam (pro hac vice)
` marvin.putnam@lw.com
`Jessica Stebbins Bina (pro hac vice)
` jessica.stebbinsbina@lw.com
`Elizabeth A. Greenman (pro hac vice)
` elizabeth.greenman@lw.com
`10250 Constellation Blvd., Suite 1100
`Los Angeles, California 90067
`Tel: +1.424.653.5500
`Fax: +1.424.653.5501
`LATHAM & WATKINS LLP
`Michele D. Johnson (pro hac vice)
` michele.johnson@lw.com
`650 Town Center Drive, 20th Floor
`Costa Mesa, California 92626-1925
`Tel: +1.714.540.1235
`Fax: +1.714.755.8290
`Attorneys for Defendants Thomas Brady, Gisele
`Bündchen, and Lawrence Gene David
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`Case 1:22-cv-23753-KMM Document 125 Entered on FLSD Docket 04/07/2023 Page 7 of 10
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`AKERMAN LLP
`201 East Las Olas Boulevard – Suite 1800
`Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33301
`Tel.: 954-463-2700
`Fax: 954-468-2454
`By: /s/ Christopher S. Carver
`Christopher S. Carver
`Florida Bar No. 993580
`christopher.carver@akerman.com
`Jason S. Oletsky, Esq.
`Florida Bar No. 9301
`jason.oletsky@akerman.com
`Katherine A Johnson
`Florida Bar No. 1040357
`katie.johnson@akerman.com
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`Attorneys for Defendants David Ortiz
`and Udonis Haslem
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`MARCUS NEIMAN RASHBAUM
`& PINEIRO LLP
`100 Southeast Third Avenue, Suite 805
`Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33394
`Tel: (954) 462-1200
`2 South Biscayne Blvd., Suite 2530
`Miami, Florida 33131
`Tel: (305)-400-4260
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`By: /s/ Jeffrey Neiman
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`Jeffrey Neiman
`jneiman@mnrlawfirm.com
`Fla Bar. No. 544469
`Jeffrey Marcus
`jmarcus@mnrlawfirm.com
`Fla. Bar No. 310890
`Michael Pineiro
`mpineiro@mnrlawfirm.com
`Fla. Bar No. 041897
`Brandon Floch
`bfloch@mnrlawfirm.com
`Fla. Bar No. 125218
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`BERK BRETTLER LLP
`9119 Sunset Boulevard
`West Hollywood, CA 90069
`Tel.: (310) 278-2111
`Andrew B. Brettler (pro hac vice)
`abrettler@berkbrettler.com
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`Attorneys for Defendant Kevin O’Leary
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`DIMOND KAPLAN & ROTHSTEIN, P.A.
`Offices at Grand Bay Plaza
`2665 South Bayshore Drive, PH-2B
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`Case 1:22-cv-23753-KMM Document 125 Entered on FLSD Docket 04/07/2023 Page 8 of 10
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`Miami, Florida 33133
`Telephone: (305) 374-1920
`Facsimile: (305) 374-1961
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`By: /s/ David A. Rothstein
`David A. Rothstein, Esq.
`Fla. Bar No. 995762
`DRothstein@dkrpa.com
`Alexander M. Peraza, Esq.
`Fla. Bar No. 107044
`APeraza@dkrpa.com
`Eshaba Jahir-Sharuz, Esq.
`Fla. Bar No. 1038846
`Eshaba@dkrpa.com
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`MCANGUS GOUDELOCK & COURIE LLC
`2000 Market Street, Suite 780
`Philadelphia, PA 19103
`(484) 406-4334
`Eric A. Fitzgerald (pro hac vice)
`eric.fitzgerald@mgclaw.com
`Hillary N. Ladov (pro hac vice)
`hillary.ladov@mgclaw.com
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`Attorneys for Defendant William Trevor Lawrence
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`McDERMOTT WILL & EMERY LLP
`333 SE 2nd Ave., Suite 4500
`Miami, Florida 33131
`Telephone: (212) 547-5768
`Facsimile: (305) 347-6500
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`By: /s/ Nathan Bull
`Nathan Bull
`nbull@mwe.com
`Fla. Bar No. 1029523
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`
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`McDERMOTT WILL & EMERY LLP
`Jason D. Strabo (to file pro hac vice)
` jstrabo@mwe.com
`2049 Century Park East, Suite 3200
`Los Angeles, CA 90067
`Telephone: (310) 788-4125
`Facsimile: (310) 277-4730
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`McDERMOTT WILL & EMERY LLP
`Sarah P. Hogarth (to file pro hac vice)
` shogarth@mwe.com
`500 North Capitol Street NW
`Washington, DC 20001
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`Case 1:22-cv-23753-KMM Document 125 Entered on FLSD Docket 04/07/2023 Page 9 of 10
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`Telephone: (202) 756-8354
`Facsimile: (202) 756-8087
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`Attorneys for Defendant Stephen Curry
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`WEIL, GOTSHAL & MANGES LLP
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`/s/ Edward Soto
`Edward Soto (Fla Bar. No. 0265144)
`Edward.soto@weil.com
`1395 Brickell Avenue, Suite 1200
`Miami, FL 33131-3368
`Phone: (305)-577-3100
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`Attorney for Defendant Shohei Ohtani
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`COLSON HICKS EIDSON, P.A.
`255 Alhambra Circle, Penthouse
`Coral Gables, Florida 33134
`Telephone: (305) 476-7400
`Facsimile: (305) 476-7444
`
`By: /s/ Roberto Martínez
`Roberto Martínez
`Florida Bar No. 305596
`bob@colson.com
`Stephanie A. Casey
`Florida Bar No. 97483
`scasey@colson.com
`Zachary Lipshultz
`Florida Bar No. 123594
`zach@colson.com
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`GIBSON, DUNN & CRUTCHER LLP
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`By: /s/ Matthew S. Kahn
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`Matthew S. Kahn (Pro Hac Vice Pending)
`Michael J. Kahn (Pro Hac Vice Pending)
`555 Mission Street, Suite 3000
`San Francisco, CA 94105-0921
`Phone: 415.393.8379
`Email: MKahn@gibsondunn.com
`Email: MJKahn@gibsondunn.com
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`Jamila MacEbong (Pro Hac Vice Pending)
`333 South Grand Avenue
`Suite 4600
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`Case 1:22-cv-23753-KMM Document 125 Entered on FLSD Docket 04/07/2023 Page 10 of 10
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`Los Angeles, CA 90071-3197
`Phone: 213.229.7155
`Email: JMacEbong@gibsondunn.com
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`Attorneys for Defendant Golden State Warriors,
`LLC
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