Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
TABLE OF CONTENTS
I. ARGUMENT ...................................................................................................................... 1
B. The SMRTL Test Reports are Inadmissible Hearsay that Do Not Fall Within
the Business Records Exception..................................................................................... 2
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TABLE OF AUTHORITIES
Page(s)
Cases
Abascal v. Fleckenstein,
820 F.3d 561 (2d Cir. 2016)...................................................................................................6, 7
Rienzi & Sons, Inc. v. N. Puglisi & F. Industria Paste Alientari S.P.A.,
No. 08-CV-2540 DLI JMA, 2011 WL 1239867 (E.D.N.Y. Mar. 30, 2011) ...........................10
Other Authorities
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and Vitamin Shoppe, Inc. (collectively, “Defendants”), submit this reply memorandum of law in
I. ARGUMENT
The Court should enter summary judgment dismissing Plaintiff’s Second Amended
Complaint because he cannot show that Anavite was adulterated with 1-androstenedione, which
is the substance detected in Plaintiff’s failed performance enhancing drug (“PED”) test.
Plaintiff’s Opposition Brief is permeated with hyperbolic statements about why the rules of
evidence and procedure should not apply to him, but litigation in the federal courts is not a mixed
martial arts free-for-all. Rather, the rules of evidence and procedure––which Plaintiff has so
multiple occasions––this case revolves around 1-androstenedione and whether that substance
was present in the Anavite that Plaintiff supposedly took prior to his failed PED test in October
2016. See Defs.’ Spoliation Motion and Reply (ECF No. 85-1 at 7-8; ECF No. 96 at 4-6); Def.’s
Motion to Exclude Shawn Wells (ECF No. 97-1 at 13-16; ECF No. 116 at 6-7); Oral Opinion
Granting Spoliation Motion (Aug. 19, 2019 Tr. at 7:22-23 (“But it's also not the 1-Andro that
was in [Plaintiff’s] urine.”)); Opinion Granting Motion to Exclude S. Wells (ECF No. 125 at 9
(“Although the primary issue in this case is whether Plaintiff’s ingestion of Anavite caused the 1-
Andro that was detected in Plaintiff’s urine, a significant portion of the Wells Report—
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discussing the presence of DHEA and Andro in Anavite are irrelevant, unhelpful, and have the
DHEA in the hope of inflaming the Court about the supposed presence of these irrelevant
substances in Anavite as a basis to overcome summary judgment here. See Pl.’s Opp’n Br. at 2,
4, 12, 17. That is plainly improper and the Court should reject Plaintiff’s attempts to distract the
Court from the primary issue facing it here: has Plaintiff met his burden to produce admissible
moving brief and below, Plaintiff cannot meet his burden and his Second Amended Complaint
B. The SMRTL Test Reports are Inadmissible Hearsay that Do Not Fall Within
the Business Records Exception.
Plaintiff’s opposition brief does not dispute that the SMRTL test reports are hearsay
evidence and makes clear that Plaintiff has no other evidence that Anavite was adulterated with
1-androstenedione. See Pl.’s Opp’n Br. at 4-5. In order to save his ailing case, Plaintiff now
contends that: (1) certain affidavits he obtained after the close of discovery supposedly cure the
hearsay nature of the SMRTL test reports, and (2) his failure to name anyone from SMRTL on
his initial disclosures, or depose anyone from SMRTL while discovery was open, is harmless and
1
Plaintiff and his counsel’s continued intransigence regarding the 1-androstenedione issue is consistent with their
approach to this case generally, which has included multiple instances of failing to litigate this matter professionally
and according to the Rules. Each of the instances in which Plaintiff has flouted his obligations has cost Defendants
and the Court unnecessary time and expense. Of course, the Court is well aware that Plaintiff is now subject to an
adverse inference if this matter goes to trial due to Plaintiff’s spoliation of the bottle of Anavite he was supposedly
taking in October 2016. See ECF No. 122. Plaintiff’s sloppy approach to this case was again evidenced by his utter
failure to follow Rule 26’s requirements when he proposed an expert that was unqualified and used unreliable
methods to opine about irrelevant matters (i.e. DMHA and androstenedione). ECF No. 125 at 8-13. The primary
basis for this summary judgment motion could have also been avoided if Plaintiff had adhered to his obligations to
properly gather and introduce evidence. At some point––which Defendants contend is now––Plaintiff must suffer
the consequences of his actions.
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has caused Defendants no prejudice. These positions are untenable from a legal and factual
“The hallmark of documents admitted under the business records exception is that they
are trustworthy and reliable.” Ortho Pharm. Corp. v. Cosprophar, Inc., 828 F. Supp. 1114, 1119
(S.D.N.Y. 1993), aff'd, 32 F.3d 690 (2d Cir. 1994) (citing Saks Int'l, Inc. v. M/V “Export
Champion,” 817 F.2d 1011, 1013 (2d Cir. 1987)). The business records exception (“BRE”) “was
developed to modify the common law requirement of producing at trial all participants in the
gathering and recording of daily business activity, a requirement which had grown unwieldy
because of the growth and industrialization of American business and the concomitant division
of labor.” Id. Hearsay evidence submitted pursuant to the BRE is rejected when “the reliability of
the exhibit cannot be measured” because the person authenticating the document has
“insufficient knowledge of the methods of preparation [and] methodology” used to reach the
Although a business record can be admitted via the BRE even though it contains an
qualifications and proper subjects for expert opinions.” 2 McCormick On Evid. § 287 (8th ed.).
An example of expert opinions that are contained in business records that are commonly not
admitted pursuant to the BRE are diagnostic opinions of doctors contained in hospital/medical
records. Even though “these entries are clearly in the regular course of the operations of the
hospital, . . . where indications of lack of trustworthiness are shown, which may result from a
McCormick On Evid. § 293 (8th ed.). Exclusion of expert opinion evidence in a business record
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is also warranted when “no cross-examination is possible,” because “[w]hen an expert opinion is
offered by a witness personally testifying, the expert is [normally] available for cross-
examination on that opinion.” Id. Importantly, “inclusion of opinions or diagnoses within the rule
only removes the bar of hearsay. In the absence of the availability of the expert for explanation
and cross-examination, the court may conclude that the probative value of this evidence is
outweighed by the danger that the jury will be misled or confused.” Id. Indeed, “[t]his concern is
particularly significant if the opinion involves difficult matters of interpretation and a central
This restriction on bootstrapping expert opinions via the BRE clearly applies to the
SMRTL test reports, which are not merely some run-of-the-mill notation in a business’s ledger
that a certain event occurred, a bill was paid, or an expense was incurred. Instead, the SMRTL
test reports reflect the expert opinion of someone at SMRTL2 that Anavite Lot # 164150475
supposedly contains trace amounts of 1-androstenedione, which directly touches on the ultimate
scientific process using some heretofore unknown devices, individuals and methods analyzing
Anavite. Thus, the SMRTL test reports’ conclusions fall within the ambit of Rule 702 and its
requirements for expert testimony/opinions. See Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharm., Inc., 509 U.S.
579, 589–90 (1993) (explaining that expert testimony consists of “scientific, technical, or other
specialized knowledge” that is outside the knowledge of the average juror); Fane v. Zimmer,
Inc., 927 F.2d 124, 131 (2d Cir. 1991) (expert testimony required when issues presented are
2
The identity of the lab technician at SMRTL that conducted the testing at issue still remains unclear. It may be
Richard Van Wagoner, but that was not confirmed by Daniel Eichner, SMRTL’s representative that submitted an
affidavit stating that the SMRTL test reports are authentic. ECF No. 127-8. And, as explained in Defendants’
Moving Brief, Plaintiff is barred from calling Mr. Van Wagoner, either as a fact witness or an expert witness, at this
late juncture.
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Although SMRTL may be in the business of testing products and dietary supplements
regularly, that fact does not render its conclusions trustworthy or reliable. As Defendants
explained in their moving brief, the SMRTL test reports are facially unreliable because: (1) the
SMRTL test reports conflict with one another as to how much 1-androstenedione was
supposedly detected in Anavite, (2) they lack any information about the testing methodology
employed, the equipment that was used, or how those machines were calibrated and operated, (3)
they do not identify the person that performed the test, the qualifications of the person that
performed that test, or (4) provide any information that could support the results (e.g.,
chromatograms and other laboratory documents). Defs.’ Br. at 10 n.3. Beyond the facial
unreliability, Defendants’ chemistry expert noted in his expert report that SMRTL did “not
provide either a limit of detection or the analytical method used” and that he considered the
results less reliable than the analyses of Anavite that found it to be free of 1-androstenedione.
so little is known about how the conclusion contained in that evidence was reached and whether
unheard of for such expert evidence to be submitted without an expert to introduce it, explain
how the conclusions were reached, and be subject to cross-examination. Daubert, 509 U.S. at
579 (noting that the opportunity for “vigorous cross-examination of an expert is a key
Even if the Court does not bar admission of the SMRTL test reports on the grounds that
their conclusions constitute an expert opinion, Plaintiff’s newly obtained declarations, ECF Nos.
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127-8 and 127-9, completely fail to address any of the reliability issues that plague the SMRTL
test reports. In fact, these affidavits make it clear that Plaintiff still completely misunderstands
the operation of the BRE as related to the SMRTL test reports. The ultimate question is not
whether the SMRTL test reports were created by SMRTL. Rather, the ultimate question is
whether the opinions contained in those reports regarding the amount of 1-androstenedione
supposedly detected in Anavite Lot # 164150475 are trustworthy and reliable. Plaintiff’s newly
obtained affidavits do nothing to address that issue because neither affiant has the requisite
personal knowledge regarding the manner, methods, or procedures used by SMRTL to reach its
ultimate conclusion.
In Abascal v. Fleckenstein, 820 F.3d 561, 563-64 (2d Cir. 2016), the Second Circuit held
that the BRE did not apply to a report describing prison conditions drafted by a non-profit
watchdog group. The report was unsigned and “did not contain the underlying data upon which”
it relied. Id. at 564. The district court permitted the admission of the report via the BRE. The
Second Circuit reversed, noting that the Defendants had shown that the “method or
circumstances of preparation [of the report] indicate[d] a lack of trustworthiness.” Id. at 566.
This lack of trustworthiness was evident because the report lacked any way to confirm the data
contained therein and it did “not describe the methodology that was used.” Id. Lacking any
ability to resolve these glaring issues, the Abascal Court barred submission of the report under
the BRE. Id., see also Ortho Pharm. Corp., 828 F. Supp. 1114 at 1120 (barring the submission of
multiple reports generated by a non-party where the witness attempting to lay a foundation under
the BRE “gave no testimony about the techniques used by his co-workers,” “had insufficient
knowledge of the methods of preparation, the selectivity and methodology” used by the reports
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author, and could not “elaborate[e] on [the] procedure [or the] methodology” used to generate
the reports.).
Abascal and Ortho Pharm. Corp. require the Court to bar the admission of the SMRTL
test reports into evidence. First, the affidavit submitted by Nadia Soghomonian, Legal Affairs
and Investigation Counsel with USADA (ECF No. 127-9), does nothing to explain how the
opinions contained in the SMRTL test reports were reached. Instead, Ms. Soghomonian merely
attests that the emails transmitting the SMRTL test reports, and related correspondence, are true
copies of the originals. Second, the affidavit submitted by Daniel Eichner, the President of
SMRTL (ECF No. 127-8), similarly fails to address the many issues with the SMRTL test
reports. Indeed, Mr. Eichner makes it clear that he does not have personal knowledge of how the
opinions in the SMRTL test reports were reached. Eichner Aff. at ¶ 8. Although Mr. Eichner
stated that the SMRTL test reports were “made and kept in the course of a regularly conducted
analysis,” id. at ¶ 9, he completely failed to elaborate “on the procedure [or] methodology”
employed by whoever conducted the analyses in question. Ortho Pharm. Corp., 828 F. Supp.
1114 at 1120. Mr. Eichner’s boilerplate statements regurgitating the requirements of the BRE,
“without some indicia of trustworthiness, cannot constitute ‘regular business activity’ that is
admissible under Rule 803(6).” Id. at 1121. As such, the Court should conclude that the
Soghomonian and Eichner affidavits––both obtained long after the close of fact discovery––do
not render the SMRTL test reports admissible via the BRE.
Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 37(c)(1) states that “[i]f a party fails to provide
information or identify a witness as required by Rule 26(a) or (e), the party is not allowed to use
that information or witness to supply evidence on a motion, at a hearing, or at a trial, unless the
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failure was substantially justified or is harmless.”) (emphasis added). This hard line rule was
crafted as “a strong inducement for disclosure of material that the disclosing party would expect
to use as evidence,” Advisory Committee Note to Rule 37, and “to prevent the practice of
(Ireland), Ltd. v. Coventry First LLC, 280 F.R.D. 147, 156 (S.D.N.Y. 2012). Courts “have ‘broad
discretion’ to determine the nature of any sanction that should be imposed under Rule 37, ‘based
on all the facts of the case.’” Id. “In determining whether preclusion or another sanction would
be appropriate, courts should consider: ‘(1) the party’s explanation3 for the failure to comply
with the discovery [requirement]; (2) the importance of ... the precluded [evidence]; (3) the
prejudice4 suffered by the opposing party as a result of having to prepare to meet the new
testimony; and (4) the possibility of a continuance.” Id. at 157 (quoting Softel, Inc. v. Dragon
Medical & Scientific Communications, Inc., 118 F.3d 955, 961 (2d Cir. 1997)).
Plaintiff’s failure to name any witnesses or depose anyone from SMRTL is not justified
and is clearly prejudicial to Defendants. Fact discovery in this matter ended in November 2018.5
SOF ¶ 21; ECF No. 76. Plaintiff has never sought to reopen it. SOF ¶ 22. Expert discovery
closed on December 13, 2018. ECF No. 82. Thus, Plaintiff had over a year to seek leave from the
Court to: (1) reopen discovery to allow him to name the proper party from SMRTL as an expert
witness, or (2) amend his initial disclosure to name the person who performed SMRTL’s analysis
of Anavite Lot # 164150475. He did neither and has offered no good justification for his failure
3
“Substantial justification” may be demonstrated where “there is ‘justification to a degree that could satisfy a
reasonable person that parties could differ as to whether the party was required to comply with the disclosure
request,’ or ‘if there exists a genuine dispute concerning compliance.’” Id. at 157 (citation omitted).
4
“Harmless[ness]” means an absence of prejudice to the defendant.” Williams v. County of Orange, No. 03 CIV
5182 (LMS), 2005 WL 6001507, at *3 (S.D.N.Y. Dec. 13, 2005).
5
Fact discovery originally closed on July 31, 2018, but was reopened by Defendants, upon good cause, after one of
Plaintiff’s sponsors produced evidence that contradicted Plaintiff’s version of events regarding the spoliation of the
Anavite Plaintiff contends he was taking in October 2016. See ECF No. 76.
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to abide by the Rules, other than to accuse Defendants of taking a “‘gotcha approach to
litigation” and arguing that Defendants have had the SMRTL test reports in their possession
throughout the case, and therefore will suffer no prejudice if the reports are admitted. Plaintiff is
incorrect.
Defendants are not engaging in “gotcha” litigation––they are merely asking the Court to
enforce the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and Evidence. Plaintiff may not like the outcome of
the application of these rules to his slipshod approach to this case, but at some point the Rules
must be applied in order to have any meaningfully deterrent effect. As explained in footnote one,
Plaintiff’s discovery and evidentiary missteps have hamstrung Defendants ability to defend
themselves in his case, and to allow Plaintiff, at this late juncture, to reopen discovery (either fact
or expert), after Defendants have gone to great lengths to prepare their defense, would be
extremely prejudicial. Indeed, the Second Circuit, confronted with a very similar fact pattern
where a party failed to provide a calculation of, and basis for, damages as required by Rule 26(a)
[Although the] evidence of lost profits was essential to proving these damages, all
of the other factors weigh heavily in favor of exclusion. Design has not yet
explained why it omitted “lost profits” as a category of damages in its Initial
Disclosure. The prejudice to the defendants in having to prepare for this evidence
would have been severe, as discovery would have had to be reopened to
determine whether Design's calculations were proper. The “expert” witness that
Design wanted to call also would have had to (a) prepare a report; and (b) be
qualified as an expert with regard to the calculation of damages. Finally, weighing
heavily on both the prejudice and possibility of continuance factors was the fact
that discovery had been closed for “approximately one and a half years,” and at
the time of the offer of expert testimony there was only a “short time left before
trial.” On the facts before us, the District Court did not abuse its discretion in
determining that sanctions, including severe sanctions, were warranted for
Design's failure to abide by Rule 26(a)(1)(c).
Design Strategy, Inc. v. Davis, 469 F.3d 284, 297 (2d Cir. 2006)
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The applicability of the holding in Design Strategy to this case requires little elucidation.
Every party to this litigation was aware of the Court’s desire to move this case forward quickly
and efficiently. Multiple depositions were taken in New York, New Jersey, Georgia and Texas.
Plaintiff could have, at virtually any point, sought to cure the issue he is confronted with now but
failed to do so. Considering the utter lack of justification for this failure to comply with the rules,
the prejudice to Defendants, and Plaintiff’s multiple other discovery and evidentiary missteps,
there is no reason for the Court to yet again reopen discovery in order to allow Plaintiff to
attempt to correct his mistakes. See Rienzi & Sons, Inc. v. N. Puglisi & F. Industria Paste
Alientari S.P.A., No. 08-CV-2540 DLI JMA, 2011 WL 1239867, at *4 (E.D.N.Y. Mar. 30, 2011)
(“[T]he closure of discovery also ‘weighs strongly against the possibility of a continuance,’
especially where, as here, the plaintiff has “disregarded its discovery obligations without a
sufficient explanation,” and even though the plaintiff “may be denied any recovery under this
theory as a result.”)
Due to page-limits, Defendants will keep their remaining arguments circumspect. First,
Plaintiff simply has no legal basis for his argument that an expert is not required in design defect
cases such as this.6 Second, Plaintiff has no evidence that Anavite is adulterated with 1-
androstenedione, which requires dismissal of each of his causes of action. His statements about
other supposed contaminants in Anavite are irrelevant and cannot meet his evidentiary burden.
Third, Plaintiff’s claim for punitive damages lacks any basis in the record, because, as Plaintiff
admitted, he has no evidence that Anavite was intentionally spiked, and failed to cite to any
evidence that Defendants acted with gross negligence. See Pl.’s Opp’n Br. at 19-20.
6
Plaintiff is similarly incorrect that the Court cannot, at this late juncture, require Plaintiff to state a theory of the
case. This case is on the verge of trial, not at the pleading stage, rendering Plaintiff’s citation to a Astoria Energy II
LLC v. HH Valves Ltd., No. 17-CV-5724, 2019 WL 4120759, at *1 (E.D.N.Y. Aug. 2, 2019), unavailing.
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II. CONCLUSION
For the reasons stated above, the Court should grant Defendants’ Motion for Summary
Respectfully submitted,
s/ Arthur W. Leach
Arthur W. Leach, Esq.
Admitted pro hac vice
LAW OFFICE OF ARTHUR W. LEACH
Attorney for Defendants
GASPARI NUTRITION, INC., and,
HI-TECH PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
4080 McGinnis Ferry Road
Suite 401
Alpharetta, GA 30005
(404) 786-6443
s/ Vincent Pozzuto
Vincent P. Pozzuto, Esq.
Rachel H. Bevans, Esq.
COZEN O’CONNOR
Attorneys for Defendant
VITAMIN SHOPPE, INC.
45 Broadway Atrium, 16th Floor
New York, New York 10006
(212) 509-9400
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