Plaintiffs attorneys in the Zuffa Antitrust Lawsuit have filed a Motion to Compel the Deposition of Matt Hume in the federal court in Washington state. As a result of the filing, Plaintiffs are seeking sanctions against Hume and his attorney in the amount of $21,000 for having to draft and file the motion. In addition, they request Hume sit for his deposition and produce documents as requested in Plaintiffs’ subpoena.
Hume, who coaches UFC flyweight champ Demetrious Johnson, also is Vice President for Operations and Competition for Group One Holdings Pte. Ltd., (dba One Championship), the Asian MMA Promotion based out of Singapore. Hume lives in Washington State where he trains Might Mouse.
In the UFC Antitrust lawsuit, the Court granted the parties the right to seek the deposition and documents from OneFC. Plaintiffs issued a deposition notice and subpoena for documents related to One Championship’s financial data relating to its promotion of live MMA events.
Hume’s lawyer has opposed the subpoena and request for documents citing the subpoena is not valid and the documents request information from a foreign corporation. Hume argues that he “is not authorized to comment on behalf of One Championship” or that he “lacks personal knowledge.”
Hume’s attorneys have filed a Motion to Quash the Subpoena in federal court in Washington state.
The Plaintiffs are interested in taking Hume’s deposition as he produced a declaration in which he stated “One Championship is not a minor league or feeder league for the UFC” and “competes with Zuffa to sign professional MMA fighters.” According to Plaintiffs’ motion, “[t]he purpose of these averments, made on One Championship’s behalf, is to controvert elements of Plaintiffs’ claims and to support Zuffa’s defenses.”
Despite extensive meet and confers, the parties are at an impasse. Hume’s lawyers had offered Hume to be deposed on limited issues and not requiring Hume to produce any documents but Plaintiffs have denied.
Plaintiffs attorneys in the Zuffa Antitrust Lawsuit have filed a Motion to Compel the Deposition of Matt Hume in the federal court in Washington state. As a result of the filing, Plaintiffs are seeking sanctions against Hume and his attorney in the amount of $21,000 for having to draft and file the motion. In addition, they request Hume sit for his deposition and produce documents as requested in Plaintiffs’ subpoena.
Hume, who coaches UFC flyweight champ Demetrious Johnson, also is Vice President for Operations and Competition for Group One Holdings Pte. Ltd., (dba One Championship), the Asian MMA Promotion based out of Singapore. Hume lives in Washington State where he trains Might Mouse.
In the UFC Antitrust lawsuit, the Court granted the parties the right to seek the deposition and documents from OneFC. Plaintiffs issued a deposition notice and subpoena for documents related to One Championship’s financial data relating to its promotion of live MMA events.
Hume’s lawyer has opposed the subpoena and request for documents citing the subpoena is not valid and the documents request information from a foreign corporation. Hume argues that he “is not authorized to comment on behalf of One Championship” or that he “lacks personal knowledge.”
The Plaintiffs are interested in taking Hume’s deposition as he produced a declaration in which he stated “One Championship is not a minor league or feeder league for the UFC” and “competes with Zuffa to sign professional MMA fighters.” According to Plaintiffs’ motion, “[t]he purpose of these averments, made on One Championship’s behalf, is to controvert elements of Plaintiffs’ claims and to support Zuffa’s defenses.”
Despite extensive meet and confers, the parties are at an impasse. Hume’s lawyers had offered Hume to be deposed on limited issues and not requiring Hume to produce any documents but Plaintiffs have denied.
Motion to Compel Depo of Matt Hume by JASONCRUZ206 on Scribd
Payout Perspective:
The motion is filed in federal court in Washington state (as this is where Hume lives) and the ordered issued from federal court in Nevada. While it is custom to abide by another jurisdiction’s subpoena, Hume and his attorneys believe that they have a legitimate reason to oppose the subpoena and document requests. It also presents the issue of what Hume may or may not have access to as an officer of OneFC. Certainly, the request for documents is of a corporation outside the jurisdiction but Plaintiffs assert that they have a viable right to the documents and that Hume must produce them. The hearing is set for this Friday (July 28th) so barring a last-minute agreement by the parties we will see what the Washington court rules.
The $21,000 in legal fees reflects the fact of how expensive this litigation is and the fact that Hume’s attorneys believe that they have a legitimate argument to object to the subpoena.
Ex 18 re Fees for Matt Hume Motion to Compel Deposition by JASONCRUZ206 on Scribd
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