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Judd v Att Wa Spoonemore Decl in Supoprt of Mot for Settlement Phone Rate Nondisclosure 2012

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HON. BETH ANDRUS
Noted for: February 11, 2013
Without Oral Argument

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IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF WASHINGTON
FOR KING COUNTY

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SANDY JUDD, TARA HERIVEL, and
COLUMBIA LEGAL SERVICES, for
themselves, and on behalf of all similarly
situated persons,

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Plaintiffs,

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v.
AMERICAN TELEPHONE AND
TELEGRAPH COMPANY and
T-NETIX, INC.,

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Defendants.

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NO. 00-2-17565-5 SEA
CLASS ACTION
DECLARATION OF RICHARD E.
SPOONEMORE IN SUPPORT OF
INTERLATA AND INTRALATA
CLASSES UNOPPOSED MOTION FOR:
(1) PRELIMINARY APPROVAL OF
SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT;
(2) PRELIMINARY APPROVAL OF PLAN
OF ALLOCATION;
(3) DIRECTIVE TO SEND NOTICE; AND
(4) ESTABLISHMENT OF FINAL
APPROVAL HEARING

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Richard E. Spoonemore declares under penalty of perjury as follows:

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1.

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I am one of the attorneys representing plaintiffs and the classes in

this matter. The facts stated in this declaration are based on my personal knowledge.
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The Settlement Agreement between the AT&T Call Classes and

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AT&T was only arrived at after lengthy and protracted negotiations. Class Counsel

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and AT&T participated in mediation in Boston on August 29, 2012 with Professor Eric

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D. Green, a mediator with a national reputation.

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unproductive, with the parties far apart. At the time of that mediation, there were a

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number of motions pending by both parties and it became clear that the respective

Those discussions were

SIRIANNI YOUTZ SPOONEMORE
DECLARATION OF RICHARD E. SPOONEMORE – 1

999 THIRD AVENUE, SUITE 3650
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON 98104
TEL. (206) 223-0303 FAX (206) 223-0246

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sides had sharply different perspectives about the merits of the motions. After those

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motions were resolved, Class Counsel broached the subject of returning to mediation

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with AT&T’s counsel. On January 4, 2013, after a hearing on motions in limine, AT&T’s

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counsel asked to speak with Class Counsel. In a hallway meeting, AT&T’s counsel

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suggested that AT&T was willing to talk, but wanted to do so directly without a

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mediator. Numbers were exchanged early the following week, but the discussions

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again stalled and the parties spoke about enlisting the assistance of a neutral. Professor

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Green had limited availability to become reengaged in the process – just two hours on

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the Tuesday before trial – but Judge Edward Infante (ret.), a mediator based in

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California with a nationwide reputation for resolving difficult disputes, had a last-

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minute cancellation. The parties flew to Los Angeles for a mediation on January 14,

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2013. Although that mediation failed as well, some progress was made. Judge Infante

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re-engaged the parties on January 18, 2013 with no success. Finally, on January 21 – the

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day before trial – Judge Infante made a mediator’s proposal at $45,000,000. It was

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accepted by both parties late in the day on January 21. Trial was pushed back a day

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while the parties discussed the other terms of the agreement. A CR 2A agreement

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signed on January 22, 2013.

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3.

The settlement amount falls midway between the damage analysis

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prepared by the Classes’ expert ($57M) and AT&T’s experts ($33M). Given the size of

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the settlement amount, the number of class members and the time span, we expect that

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all class members submitting claims will receive the maximum amount of their

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entitlement even after the payment of attorney fees, expenses, and case contribution

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awards to Sandy Judd, Tara Herivel and Columbia Legal Services.

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anticipate that substantial funds will be available as “residual funds” for cy pres

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distribution.).

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4.

(In fact, we

I have practiced in the class action field for nearly 20 years. I am

“AV” rated by Martindale-Hubbell and was named a “Super Lawyer” by WASHINGTON
SIRIANNI YOUTZ SPOONEMORE
DECLARATION OF RICHARD E. SPOONEMORE – 2

999 THIRD AVENUE, SUITE 3650
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON 98104
TEL. (206) 223-0303 FAX (206) 223-0246

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LAW

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“WASHINGTON TOP 100” “Super Lawyer” list in 2011 with respect to total votes

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received. Over the just the past ten years, I have been designated as lead class counsel

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in class actions involving more than one million class members. My class action work

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has been noted by a number of courts across the country. See, e.g., McCluskey v. Trustees

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of Red Dot Corp., 268 F.R.D. 670, 678 (W.D. Wash. 2010) (noting my extensive experience

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in class actions, and stating that it was “confident” in my ability to fairly and

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adequately represent the class); Stanford v. Foamex, 263 F.R.D. 156, 171 (E.D. Penn. 2009)

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(Mr. Spoonemore as class counsel: “the court finds … that plaintiff’s attorneys are

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qualified, experienced, and able to pursue the legal interest of the entire proposed class

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…. Plaintiff’s counsel have ample experience and have enjoyed considerable success in

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ERISA litigation [and] class action litigation …”). I believe that the settlement is an

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exceptional result for the class, and strongly recommend that it be approved.

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DATED: February 1, 2013, at Seattle, Washington.

AND

POLITICS in 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012. I was on the

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/s/ Richard E. Spoonemore
Richard E. Spoonemore (WSBA #21833)

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SIRIANNI YOUTZ SPOONEMORE
DECLARATION OF RICHARD E. SPOONEMORE – 3

999 THIRD AVENUE, SUITE 3650
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON 98104
TEL. (206) 223-0303 FAX (206) 223-0246

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

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I certify, under penalty of perjury and in accordance with the laws of the

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State of Washington, that on February 1, 2013, I caused a copy of the foregoing

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document to be served on all counsel of record in the manner shown and at the

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addresses listed below:

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Bradford Axel
STOKES LAWRENCE, P.S.
1420 Fifth Avenue, Suite 3000
Seattle, WA 98101
Attorneys for AT&T

[x] By Email
bradford.axel@stokeslaw.com
deborah.messer@stokeslaw.com

Charles H.R. Peters
David C. Scott
Brian L. Josias
SCHIFF HARDIN LLP
233 S. Wacker Drive, Suite 6600
Chicago, IL 60606
Attorneys for AT&T

[x] By Email
cpeters@schiffhardin.com
dscott@schiffhardin.com
bjosias@schiffhardin.com

Don Paul Badgley
Donald H. Mullins
Duncan C. Turner
BADGLEY-MULLINS LAW GROUP PLLC
701 Fifth Avenue, Suite 4750
Seattle, WA 98104
Attorneys for T-Netix

[x] By Email
donbadgley@badgleymullins.com
donmullins@badgleymullins.com
duncanturner@badgleymullins.com
climon@badgleymullins.com

Stephanie A. Joyce
ARENT FOX LLP
1717 K Street, NW
Washington, DC 20036
Attorneys for T-Netix

[x] By Email
joyce.stephanie@arentfox.com

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DATED: February 1, 2013, at Seattle, Washington.
/s/ Chris R. Youtz
Chris R. Youtz (WSBA #7786)

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SIRIANNI YOUTZ SPOONEMORE
DECLARATION OF RICHARD E. SPOONEMORE – 4

999 THIRD AVENUE, SUITE 3650
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON 98104
TEL. (206) 223-0303 FAX (206) 223-0246

 

 

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