Avenatti in Nike case is before SDNY Judge Gardephe, he's asked to dismiss the case citing selective prosecution, etc. His lawyer now whispering with AUSA Richenthal who prosecuted Patrick Ho (and Ng Lap Seng) for UN bribery - @SDNYLIVE thread
@sdnylive@MatthewLeeICP@darrenrovell@DanWetzel@PeteThamel AUSA complains that the government has not received any reciprocal discovery from Avenatti. Courtroom gallery less than half full. Avenatti's stock is going down, it seems - as least as gauged by media interest
@sdnylive@MatthewLeeICP@darrenrovell@DanWetzel@PeteThamel Avenatti wants to know what Judge Gardephe's position is on ex parte subpoenas. Says he doesn't want to reveal his trial strategy here. Predicts "significant motions in limine practice here," and litigation about Fifth Amendment privilege
@sdnylive@MatthewLeeICP@darrenrovell@DanWetzel@PeteThamel Avenatti's lawyer Scott Srebnick says to prove that Coach Franklin had a claim against Nike that Avenatti was legitimately pursuing, he's going to subpoena people. So he wants Avenatti's trial pushed back
@sdnylive@MatthewLeeICP@darrenrovell@DanWetzel@PeteThamel Avenatti's lawyer Srebnick is asking to put things back two months to January. Adds that since AUSA Richenthal has a trial - which one? - starting January 21, maybe Avenatti's trial should be pushed even further back.
@sdnylive@MatthewLeeICP@darrenrovell@DanWetzel@PeteThamel Judge Gardephe asks Avenatti's lawyer to "tee up the subpoena issues sooner rather than later." Says, "As to the assertion of the Fifth Amendment in front of the jury, that would be a first for me, you have an uphill battle" to convince me.
@sdnylive@MatthewLeeICP@darrenrovell@DanWetzel@PeteThamel US Attorney's office calls Avenatti's arguments "speculative." Judge Gardephe is asking for Team Avenatti's letter on this in a week, the government's in two weeks. Srebnick still punching, wants to file ex parte with Gardephe with trial strategy in them.
[Note - Inner City Press went to the courtroom at 8:30 am to speak on unsealing - it didn't happen until 9:10 am, but the unsealing order has been expanded (to demonstrative exhibits as well) and sped up to 24 hours) - now the first witness
All rise!
Groetzinger
AUSA: Where do you work?
Groetzinger: SeatGeek. Founded it in 2010, we saw a broken market. Going to a game is great, but buying the ticket, terrible. So we undertook to improve it.
AUSA: How do you get clients?
Groetzinger: We - and I - speak a year or more
Before the jury is brought in
Courtroom deputy: On sealing, you now longer have to say out loud when we are not showing exhibits [! we'll see what this means, how request to unseal is ruled on]
All rise!
Judge Subramanian: Tell me about PX 198
AUSA Seana Buzbee: The text involves our 2d witness today, Oliver Chi of the City of Irvine
Judge: Is that a new witness?
AUSA Dalhquist: We have travel issues. Mr. Chi will go between Mr. Geiger and Mr. Hurwitz [so no SeatGeek today?]
All rise!
Judge Subramanian: Call your first witness.
AUSA Arianna Markel: We call John Abbamondi.
[Witness is sworn]
Markel: Where have you worked?
Abbamondi: St. Louis Cardinals and Padres; I worked on dynamic pricing. Then with the NBA
AUSA Markel: How many NBA teams use Ticketmaster?
Abbamondi: I'd say 25 out of 30. Then I went to MSG, corporate hospitality and suites. I led our sales team for our non sponsorship assets. Anything you could sit in, I sold it. I used Ticketmaster
9:29 am
Opening arguments still haven't begun.
Counsel: We intend to play a clip of Michael Rapino in our opening.
Judge Subramanian: Why? Both of these opening statement decks are more like argumentative closing argument decks. It's hard to address objections
10:02 am - while the parties re-jigger their demonstratives for opening statements,
Courtroom deputy Hernandez: In the gallery here in 23B do I have a Bolano? Bolano?
[Seems so]
Deputy: I will come right over
OK - now US v. Live Nation jury selection.
10:12 am
All rise!
Judge Subramanian: Glad you see you, prospective jurors. This is US et al versus Live Nation, there are parties on the US side.
Inner City Press will live tweet this, and the trial. Thread below.
Judge Subramanian: I know this jury service will be a hardship. During the trial you will have a half hour lunch, we will give you bagels and coffees from the courthouse cafeteria. This still could take six weeks...
Judge Subramanian: We have to avoid bias. So I will be asking you about your personal history and views, for an unbiased jury. I am not trying to pry. From you answers, I will be able to determine if you should be excused for cause. There will be peremptories
Judge Subramanian: I rule that each side will have 65 hours. If I raise that, each side will get the same time. We have identified 79 jurors to come back. If we can't qualify 20 of them, we may reduce from 12 jurors, or I'll take back strikes.
Judge Subramanian: There's been a question raised about the potential jurors' experience with Live Nation or TicketMaster - they may feel they are awarding damages based on this experience. Plaintiffs' says there is no showing of bias.