Opinion
1080N, 650587/11.
05-05-2016
CHINA PRIVATIZATION FUND (DEL.), L.P., Plaintiff–Appellant, v. GALAXY ENTERTAINMENT GROUP LIMITED, Defendant–Respondent.
Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP, New York (Irwin H. Warren of counsel), for appellant. Hodgson Russ LLP, New York (S. Robert Schrager of counsel), for respondent.
Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP, New York (Irwin H. Warren of counsel), for appellant.
Hodgson Russ LLP, New York (S. Robert Schrager of counsel), for respondent.
SWEENY, J.P., ACOSTA, MANZANET–DANIELS, GISCHE, GESMER, JJ.
Opinion Order, Supreme Court, New York County (Jeffrey K. Oing, J.), entered July 14, 2015, which, among other things, granted defendant's motion to continue the deposition of plaintiff's former deal counsel, unanimously affirmed, without costs.
The motion court providently exercised its discretion in ordering the continued deposition of plaintiff's former deal counsel, William Barron, and requiring him to answer questions regarding the underlying transaction, to the extent he can do so without revealing attorney-client privileged communications (see Brooklyn Union Gas Co. v. American Home Assur. Co., 23 A.D.3d 190, 803 N.Y.S.2d 532 [1st Dept.2005] ).
Barron's deposition testimony established that he led the team which primarily drafted the indenture at issue, and that he was familiar with the intended structure of the indenture and its conversion price provisions, which are the heart of the parties' dispute in the underlying breach of contract lawsuit (see China Privatization Fund [Del], L.P. v. Galaxy Entertainment Group Ltd., 95 A.D.3d 769, 770, 945 N.Y.S.2d 659 [1st Dept.2012] ). He thus possesses information that is “material and necessary” to the prosecution and defense of the action (CPLR 3101[a] ; see 305–7 W. 128th St. Corp. v. Gold, 178 A.D.2d 251, 251, 577 N.Y.S.2d 278 [1st Dept.1991] ).
Plaintiff bears the burden of establishing any right to protection on attorney-client privilege grounds (Spectrum Sys. Intl. Corp. v. Chemical Bank, 78 N.Y.2d 371, 377, 575 N.Y.S.2d 809, 581 N.E.2d 1055 [1991] ; Miranda v. Miranda, 184 A.D.2d 286, 286, 584 N.Y.S.2d 818 [1st Dept.1992] ). Barron's conclusory and speculative assertions during his initial deposition, that he did not recall any specific conversations but did not “feel confident” that he could answer “without potentially revealing” privileged communications, did not suffice to meet that burden (Miranda, 184 A.D.2d at 286, 584 N.Y.S.2d 818 ; see also Coastal Oil N.Y. v. Peck, 184 A.D.2d 241, 584 N.Y.S.2d 564 [1st Dept.1992] ). The motion court properly ordered Barron to specify the basis for his assertion of the privilege, such as by identifying specific conversations or communications with plaintiff. We have considered plaintiff's remaining contentions and find them unavailing.