Preview
FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 02/18/2020 01:54 PM INDEX NO. 650884/2017
NYSCEF DOC. NO. 119 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 02/18/2020
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·
· SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK
· COUNTY OF NEW YORK
· ---------------------------------------x
· SPARX LOGISTICS HONG KONG LTD.,· · · ··:
· SPARX LOGISTICS USA LIMITED,· · · · · ·:
· · · · · · · · · · · · · Plaintiffs,· ··: Index No.
· · · · · · -against-· · · · · · · · · ··: 650884/2017
· SHOEZ, INC., BRANDS UNLIMITED, LLC,· ··:
· GIF SERVICES, INC., DEEPAK· · · · · · ·:
· RAMCHANDANI a/k/a DEEPAK PARIKH and· ··:
· GINA NAPOLITANO,· · · · · · · · · · · ·:
· · · · · · · · · · · · · Defendants.· ··:
· ---------------------------------------x
· · · · · · · · · · · · · May 14, 2019
· · · · · · · · · · · · · 10:00 a.m.
·
· · · · Deposition of GINA NAPOLITANO, held at the law
· offices of Lazarus & Lazarus, P.C., 240 Madison
· Avenue, New York, New York, before Susan B. Ratner,
·a Shorthand Reporter and Notary Public within and
· for the State of New York.
·
·
·
REPORTERS CENTRAL, LLC * 212-594-3582
FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 02/18/2020 01:54 PM INDEX NO. 650884/2017
NYSCEF DOC. NO. 119 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 02/18/2020
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·1··
·2··A P P E A R A N C E S:
·3··
·4··LAZARUS & LAZARUS, P.C.
·5··Attorneys for Plaintiffs
·6·· · · ·240 Madison Avenue, 8th Floor
·7·· · · ·New York, New York 10016
·8··BY:· ·YVETTE J. SUTTON, ESQ.
·9··
10··SAM P. ISRAEL, P.C.
11··Attorney for Defendants
12·· · · ·180 Maiden Lane
13·· · · ·New York, New York 10038
14··BY:· ·SAM P. ISRAEL, ESQ.
15·· · · · · ·-and-
16·· · · ·DAVID M. HROVAT, ESQ.
17··
18··
19··
20··
21··
22··
23··
24··
25··
REPORTERS CENTRAL, LLC * 212-594-3582
FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 02/18/2020 01:54 PM INDEX NO. 650884/2017
NYSCEF DOC. NO. 119 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 02/18/2020
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·1··
·2·· · · · · ··IT IS HEREBY STIPULATED AND AGREED,
·3··by and between the attorneys for the respective
·4··parties hereto, that:
·5·· · · · · ··All rights provided by the CPLR and
·6··Part 221 of the Uniform Rules for the Conduct of
·7··Depositions, including the right to object to any
·8··question, except as to form, or to move to strike
·9··any testimony at this examination is reserved; and
10··in addition, the failure to object to any question
11··or to move to strike testimony at this examination
12··shall not be a bar or waiver to make such motion at,
13··and is reserved to, the trial of this action.
14·· · · · · ··This deposition may be sworn to by the
15··witness being examined before a Notary Public other
16··than the Notary Public before whom this examination
17··was begun, but the failure to do so or to return the
18··original of this deposition to counsel shall not be
19··deemed a waiver of the rights provided by Rule 3116
20··of the CPLR and shall be controlled thereby.
21·· · · · · ··The filing of the original of this
22··deposition is waived.
23··
24··
25··
REPORTERS CENTRAL, LLC * 212-594-3582
FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 02/18/2020 01:54 PM INDEX NO. 650884/2017
NYSCEF DOC. NO. 119 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 02/18/2020
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·1·· · · · · · · ··G. Napolitano
·2·· · · ·A.· ·I guess not.
·3·· · · · · ··We usually call them "importers" or
·4··"customers."
·5·· · · ·Q.· ·Would it be correct to say that Shoez was
·6··GIF's customer?
·7·· · · · · ··MR. ISRAEL:··Objection; calls for expert
·8·· · · ·testimony.
·9·· · · · · ··You can answer.
10·· · · ·A.· ·I would say yes.
11·· · · ·Q.· ·What services did GIF provide Shoez?
12·· · · · · ··MR. ISRAEL:··Objection.
13·· · · · · ··You can answer.
14·· · · ·A.· We
·We were their Customs broker, which means
15··we facilitated their Customs clearances.
16·· · · · · ··We also helped to act as a liaison between
17··their -- some of their suppliers and agents overseas
18··to get their shipments booked to the US.
19·· · · ·Q.· ·Is that liaison role different than what
20··a typical Customs broker provides?
21·· · · · · ··MR. ISRAEL:··Objection.
22·· · · · · ··You can answer.
23·· · · ·A.· ·It's kind of a gray area.
24·· · · · · ··There is a role called a freight
25··forwarder, where that would be more of the role of a
REPORTERS CENTRAL, LLC * 212-594-3582
FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 02/18/2020 01:54 PM INDEX NO. 650884/2017
NYSCEF DOC. NO. 119 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 02/18/2020
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·1·· · · · · · · ··G. Napolitano
·2··freight forwarder, would be the liaison.
·3·· · · · · ···I guess you could say that we were acting
·4··in a freight forwarding aspect, as well as a Customs
·5··broker.
·6·· · · ·Q.· ·Did GIF get paid separately for both
·7··services, freight forwarding and broker services?
·8·· · · · · ··MR. ISRAEL:··Objection.
·9·· · · · · ··If you know.
10·· · · ·A.· ·There were different line items on the
11··invoices.
12·· · · · · ··There is a line item for the Customs
13··clearance and there is a line item for services.
14·· · · ·Q.· ·How often would a customer receive an
15··invoice from GIF?
16·· · · · · ··MR. ISRAEL:··Objection; improper
17·· · · ·hypothetical, calls for speculation.
18·· · · · · ··You can answer.
19·· · · ·A.· ·I am sorry, would you repeat the
20··question.
21·· · · ·Q.· ·How often would a typical customer be
22··invoiced by GIF?
23·· · · · · ··MR. ISRAEL:··Objection.
24·· · · · · ··You can answer.
25·· · · ·A.· It
·It would be per shipment.
REPORTERS CENTRAL, LLC * 212-594-3582
FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 02/18/2020 01:54 PM INDEX NO. 650884/2017
NYSCEF DOC. NO. 119 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 02/18/2020
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·1·· · · · · · · ··G. Napolitano
·2·· · · ·Q.· ·Was Shoez invoiced per shipment by GIF?
·3·· · · · · ··MR. ISRAEL:··Objection.
·4·· · · · · ··You can answer.
·5·· · · ·A.· ·Yes.
·6·· · · ·Q.· ·When did GIF begin providing Customs
·7··broker and freight forwarding services to Shoez?
·8·· · · ·A.· ·I don't remember.
·9·· · · ·Q.· ·Do you recall approximately what year?
10·· · · ·A.· ·I don't.
11·· · · ·Q.· ·Do you recall approximately how long GIF
12··provided services to Shoez?
13·· · · · · ··MR. ISRAEL:··Don't guess.
14·· · · · · ··If you know the answer, you can answer,
15·· · · ·but don't guess.
16·· · · ·A.· ·I don't know.
17·· · · ·Q.· ·Does GIF currently provide Customs broker
18··freight forwarding services to Shoez?
19·· · · ·A.· ·No.
20·· · · ·Q.· ·Have you heard of a company by the name
21··of Brands Unlimited, LLC?
22·· · · ·A.· ·Yes.
23·· · · ·Q.· ·Is that also a customer of GIF?
24·· · · ·A.· ·No.
25·· · · ·Q.· ·Was Brands ever a customer of GIF?
REPORTERS CENTRAL, LLC * 212-594-3582
FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 02/18/2020 01:54 PM INDEX NO. 650884/2017
NYSCEF DOC. NO. 119 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 02/18/2020
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·1·· · · · · · · ··G. Napolitano
·2·· · · · · ··You can answer.
·3·· · · ·A.· ·I think maybe I need you to rephrase that
·4··question.
·5·· · · · · ··Are you referring to currently or in the
·6··past?
·7·· · · · · ··MS. SUTTON:··Withdrawn.
·8·· · · ·Q.· ·Could you describe when you would get
·9··involved or when GIF would get involved with the
10··shipping process, when Shoez said they have goods
11··that they would like to bring in from overseas?
12·· · · · · ··MR. ISRAEL:··Objection to the form of the
13·· · · ·question.
14·· · · · · ··THE WITNESS:··Can I answer?
15·· · · · · ··MR. ISRAEL:··Yes, you can answer.
16·· · · ·A.· ·Would you repeat that, please.
17·· · · · · ··MS. SUTTON:··Could you read back the
18·· · · ·question, please.
19·· · · · · ··(Question read.)
20·· · · ·A.· Generally
·Generally speaking, I would receive an
21··e-mail from either an agent overseas or from Shoez
22··that there was a shipment ready, and they would
23··request a booking to be made to bring the freight
24··over from origin to the US.
25·· · · ·Q.· ·When you refer to an "agent from
REPORTERS CENTRAL, LLC * 212-594-3582
FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 02/18/2020 01:54 PM INDEX NO. 650884/2017
NYSCEF DOC. NO. 119 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 02/18/2020
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·1·· · · · · · · ··G. Napolitano
·2··goods over from overseas?
·3·· · · · · ··MR. ISRAEL:··Objection.
·4·· · · · · ··You can answer.
·5·· · · ·A.· ·From my perspective, it was that Life
·6··Logistics were the ones booking the freight onto a
·7··vessel to the United States.
·8·· · · ·Q.· ·II believe you said that Shoez would
·9··request a booking from you; is that correct?
10·· · · · · ··MR. ISRAEL:··Objection.
11·· · · · · ··You can answer.
12·· · · ·A.· They
·They would not necessarily use that
13··terminology.··They might say, "I have an order ready
14··for Ravissant."
15·· · · · · ··Then I would send an e-mail to Life
16··Logistics and say, "Hey, Shoez says they have an
17··order ready.··Would you please check with them."
18·· · · ·Q.· ·When you say, "them," do you mean
19··Ravissant?
20·· · · ·A.· ·Yes.
21·· · · ·Q.· ·Who would be responsible for actually
22··booking the vessel?
23·· · · · · ··MR. ISRAEL:··Objection.
24·· · · · · ··You can answer.
25·· · · ·A.· ·At origin the responsible party would
REPORTERS CENTRAL, LLC * 212-594-3582
FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 02/18/2020 01:54 PM INDEX NO. 650884/2017
NYSCEF DOC. NO. 119 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 02/18/2020
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·1·· · · · · · · ··G. Napolitano
·2··correct?
·3·· · · · · ··MR. ISRAEL:··Objection.
·4·· · · · · ··You can answer.
·5·· · · · · ··You are asking if she testified to that
·6·· · · ·today; is that what the question is?
·7·· · · · · ··MS. SUTTON:··Yes.
·8·· · · · · ··MR. ISRAEL:··Search your memory and see
·9·· · · ·if you can testify whether you testified about
10·· · · ·it today.
11·· · · · · ··That is what the question is.
12·· · · ·A.· ·I don't remember exactly what I said.
13·· · · ·Q.· ·What role did Sparx play in advising GIF
14··of a vessel's arrival?
15·· · · · · ··MR. ISRAEL:··Objection.
16·· · · · · ··You can answer.
17·· · · ·A.· Sparx
·Sparx would send an arrival notice with
18··pertinent information necessary for Customs
19··clearance.
20·· · · · · ··It was addressed to Shoez, but sent to me
21··as the notified party.
22·· · · ·Q.· ·Was Shoez also notified?
23·· · · · · ··MR. ISRAEL:··Objection.
24·· · · · · ··You can answer.
25·· · · ·A.· ·I don't know.
REPORTERS CENTRAL, LLC * 212-594-3582
FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 02/18/2020 01:54 PM INDEX NO. 650884/2017
NYSCEF DOC. NO. 119 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 02/18/2020
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·1·· · · · · · · ··G. Napolitano
·2·· · · · · ··MR. ISRAEL:··Objection.
·3·· · · · · ··You can answer.
·4·· · · ·A.· We
·We notify the importer that the goods
·5··are Customs cleared, and then, depending upon whether
·6··or not the freight release is showing at the
·7··terminal, at that point they can pick up the goods
·8··or not.
·9·· · · ·Q.· ·So goods could be Customs cleared without
10··being freight released; is that correct?
11·· · · · · ··MR. ISRAEL:··Objection.
12·· · · ·A.· ·Yes.
13·· · · ·Q.· ·Do you know if these goods were Customs
14··cleared without being freight released?
15·· · · · · ··MR. ISRAEL:··Objection.
16·· · · ·A.· ·I don't know.
17·· · · ·Q.· ·When you say, "freight released," does
18··that mean telex released?
19·· · · · · ··MR. ISRAEL:··Objection.
20·· · · · · ··I think that you said, "freight released."
21·· · · · · ··You are asking what the client
22·· · · ·understands that phrase to mean?
23·· · · · · ··MS. SUTTON:··I believe she said, "freight
24·· · · ·released."
25·· · · · · ··MR. ISRAEL:··I believe you said it, but
REPORTERS CENTRAL, LLC * 212-594-3582
FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 02/18/2020 01:54 PM INDEX NO. 650884/2017
NYSCEF DOC. NO. 119 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 02/18/2020
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·1·· · · · · · · ··G. Napolitano
·2··with Deepak regarding these goods?
·3·· · · · · ··MR. ISRAEL:··Objection.
·4·· · · · · ··Any conversations in general regarding
·5·· · · ·the goods; is that your question?
·6·· · · · · ··MS. SUTTON:··Yes.
·7·· · · · · ··MR. ISRAEL:··Did you ever talk to him
·8·· · · ·about the goods?
·9·· · · · · ··THE WITNESS:··Sure.
10·· · · ·Q.· ·What was discussed?
11·· · · · · ··MR. ISRAEL:··Objection.
12·· · · · · ··You can answer.
13·· · · ·A.· ·Probably when are they coming in --
14··actually, let me retract that.
15·· · · · · ··It was more Devyani that I spoke to
16··regarding the goods, not Deepak.
17·· · · · · ··She was involved in the day-to-day
18··activity.
19·· · · ·Q.· ·What is it that you discussed with
20··Devyani regarding the shipment of these goods?
21·· · · · · ··MR. ISRAEL:··Objection.
ISRAEL:··Objection.
22·· · · · · ··You can answer.
23·· · · ·A.·
A.· ·When are they arriving, when are they
24··Customs cleared, when we can pick them up.
25·· · · ·Q.· ·Did you ever discuss with Devyani when
REPORTERS CENTRAL, LLC * 212-594-3582
FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 02/18/2020 01:54 PM INDEX NO. 650884/2017
NYSCEF DOC. NO. 119 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 02/18/2020
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·1·· · · · · · · ··G. Napolitano
·2··the top of my head.
·3·· · · ·Q.· ·With respect to the bills of lading that
·4··are the subject of this action, did you ever tell
·5··Sparx that you have those, that your customer has
·6··the bills of lading and you will get the bills of
·7··lading to Sparx the next day?
·8·· · · · · ··MR. ISRAEL:··Objection.
·9·· · · · · ··You can answer.
10·· · · ·A.· ·I don't think so.
11·· · · ·Q.· ·Do you recall having a conversation with
12··Sparx regarding the bills of lading?
13·· · · · · ··MR. ISRAEL:··Objection.
14·· · · · · ··You can answer.
15·· · · ·A.· ·I don't know.
16·· · · ·Q.· Do
·Do you recall having a conversation with
17··anyone at Life Logistics regarding the bills of
18··lading?
19·· · · ·A.
A.·· ·Probably a general conversation as to
20··where they were, but not that I had them in my
21··possession.
22·· · · ·Q.· ·Did you know where the bills of lading
23··were?
24·· · · ·A.· ·No.
25·· · · ·Q.· ·What were the conversations with Life
REPORTERS CENTRAL, LLC * 212-594-3582
FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 02/18/2020 01:54 PM INDEX NO. 650884/2017
NYSCEF DOC. NO. 119 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 02/18/2020
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·1·· · · · · · · ··G. Napolitano
·2··Logistics?
·3·· · · · · ··MR. ISRAEL:··Objection.
·4·· · · · · ··You can answer.
·5·· · · ·A.· ·I don't remember specifically.
·6·· · · ·Q.· ·Generally, can you tell me what occurred
·7··in the conversations?
·8·· · · · · ··MR. ISRAEL:··Objection.
·9·· · · · · ··You can answer.
10·· · · ·A.· ·I don't remember specifically.
11·· · · ·Q.· ·Generally, do you remember?
12·· · · ·A.· ·Generally, I don't remember.
13·· · · ·Q.· ·What do you remember about the
14··conversations?
15·· · · · · ··MR. ISRAEL:··Objection.
16·· · · · · ··You can answer.
17·· · · ·A.· Just
·Just probably that something must have
18··taken place.
19·· · · · · ··Some conversation must have taken place
20··at some point when they were being requested or
21··looked for.
22·· · · ·Q.· ·What would they have asked of you?
23·· · · · · ··MR. ISRAEL:··Objection.
24·· · · · · ··Don't speculate.
25·· · · · · ··If you know, you know.
REPORTERS CENTRAL, LLC * 212-594-3582
FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 02/18/2020 01:54 PM INDEX NO. 650884/2017
NYSCEF DOC. NO. 119 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 02/18/2020
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·1·· · · · · · · ··G. Napolitano
·2·· · · · · ··MR. ISRAEL:··Objection.
·3·· · · · · ··You can answer.
·4·· · · ·A.· ·Adi was pretty much threatening me at
·5··this point to pressure -- put pressure on everyone
·6··because Ravissant went to the wind, so he was
·7··telling me that he was going to sue me for whatever
·8··reason.
·9·· · · ·Q.· ·What was the reasoning?
10·· · · · · ··MR. ISRAEL:··Objection; calls for
11·· · · ·speculation.
12·· · · · · ··You can answer.
13·· · · ·A.· ·I think that he just wanted to sue
14··everyone.
15·· · · ·Q.· ·You don't think that he had a reason to
16··sue them?
17·· · · · · ··MR. ISRAEL:··Objection.
18·· · · · · ··You can answer.
19·· · · ·A.· ·No.
20·· · · ·Q.· ·In what way were you involved with the
21··release of the merchandise referred to in this
22··e-mail?
23·· · · · · ··MR. ISRAEL:··Objection
ISRAEL:··Objection to the use of the
24·· · · ·word "involved," but you can answer.
25·· · · ·A.·
A.· ·I was a liaison between Life Logistics
REPORTERS CENTRAL, LLC * 212-594-3582
Preview
FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 02/18/2020 01:54 PM INDEX NO. 650884/2017 NYSCEF DOC. NO. 119 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 02/18/2020 Page 1 · · SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK · COUNTY OF NEW YORK · ---------------------------------------x · SPARX LOGISTICS HONG KONG LTD.,· · · ··: · SPARX LOGISTICS USA LIMITED,· · · · · ·: · · · · · · · · · · · · · Plaintiffs,· ··: Index No. · · · · · · -against-· · · · · · · · · ··: 650884/2017 · SHOEZ, INC., BRANDS UNLIMITED, LLC,· ··: · GIF SERVICES, INC., DEEPAK· · · · · · ·: · RAMCHANDANI a/k/a DEEPAK PARIKH and· ··: · GINA NAPOLITANO,· · · · · · · · · · · ·: · · · · · · · · · · · · · Defendants.· ··: · ---------------------------------------x · · · · · · · · · · · · · May 14, 2019 · · · · · · · · · · · · · 10:00 a.m. · · · · · Deposition of GINA NAPOLITANO, held at the law · offices of Lazarus & Lazarus, P.C., 240 Madison · Avenue, New York, New York, before Susan B. Ratner, ·a Shorthand Reporter and Notary Public within and · for the State of New York. · · · REPORTERS CENTRAL, LLC * 212-594-3582 FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 02/18/2020 01:54 PM INDEX NO. 650884/2017 NYSCEF DOC. NO. 119 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 02/18/2020 Page 2 ·1·· ·2··A P P E A R A N C E S: ·3·· ·4··LAZARUS & LAZARUS, P.C. ·5··Attorneys for Plaintiffs ·6·· · · ·240 Madison Avenue, 8th Floor ·7·· · · ·New York, New York 10016 ·8··BY:· ·YVETTE J. SUTTON, ESQ. ·9·· 10··SAM P. ISRAEL, P.C. 11··Attorney for Defendants 12·· · · ·180 Maiden Lane 13·· · · ·New York, New York 10038 14··BY:· ·SAM P. ISRAEL, ESQ. 15·· · · · · ·-and- 16·· · · ·DAVID M. HROVAT, ESQ. 17·· 18·· 19·· 20·· 21·· 22·· 23·· 24·· 25·· REPORTERS CENTRAL, LLC * 212-594-3582 FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 02/18/2020 01:54 PM INDEX NO. 650884/2017 NYSCEF DOC. NO. 119 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 02/18/2020 Page 3 ·1·· ·2·· · · · · ··IT IS HEREBY STIPULATED AND AGREED, ·3··by and between the attorneys for the respective ·4··parties hereto, that: ·5·· · · · · ··All rights provided by the CPLR and ·6··Part 221 of the Uniform Rules for the Conduct of ·7··Depositions, including the right to object to any ·8··question, except as to form, or to move to strike ·9··any testimony at this examination is reserved; and 10··in addition, the failure to object to any question 11··or to move to strike testimony at this examination 12··shall not be a bar or waiver to make such motion at, 13··and is reserved to, the trial of this action. 14·· · · · · ··This deposition may be sworn to by the 15··witness being examined before a Notary Public other 16··than the Notary Public before whom this examination 17··was begun, but the failure to do so or to return the 18··original of this deposition to counsel shall not be 19··deemed a waiver of the rights provided by Rule 3116 20··of the CPLR and shall be controlled thereby. 21·· · · · · ··The filing of the original of this 22··deposition is waived. 23·· 24·· 25·· REPORTERS CENTRAL, LLC * 212-594-3582 FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 02/18/2020 01:54 PM INDEX NO. 650884/2017 NYSCEF DOC. NO. 119 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 02/18/2020 Page 21 ·1·· · · · · · · ··G. Napolitano ·2·· · · ·A.· ·I guess not. ·3·· · · · · ··We usually call them "importers" or ·4··"customers." ·5·· · · ·Q.· ·Would it be correct to say that Shoez was ·6··GIF's customer? ·7·· · · · · ··MR. ISRAEL:··Objection; calls for expert ·8·· · · ·testimony. ·9·· · · · · ··You can answer. 10·· · · ·A.· ·I would say yes. 11·· · · ·Q.· ·What services did GIF provide Shoez? 12·· · · · · ··MR. ISRAEL:··Objection. 13·· · · · · ··You can answer. 14·· · · ·A.· We ·We were their Customs broker, which means 15··we facilitated their Customs clearances. 16·· · · · · ··We also helped to act as a liaison between 17··their -- some of their suppliers and agents overseas 18··to get their shipments booked to the US. 19·· · · ·Q.· ·Is that liaison role different than what 20··a typical Customs broker provides? 21·· · · · · ··MR. ISRAEL:··Objection. 22·· · · · · ··You can answer. 23·· · · ·A.· ·It's kind of a gray area. 24·· · · · · ··There is a role called a freight 25··forwarder, where that would be more of the role of a REPORTERS CENTRAL, LLC * 212-594-3582 FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 02/18/2020 01:54 PM INDEX NO. 650884/2017 NYSCEF DOC. NO. 119 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 02/18/2020 Page 22 ·1·· · · · · · · ··G. Napolitano ·2··freight forwarder, would be the liaison. ·3·· · · · · ···I guess you could say that we were acting ·4··in a freight forwarding aspect, as well as a Customs ·5··broker. ·6·· · · ·Q.· ·Did GIF get paid separately for both ·7··services, freight forwarding and broker services? ·8·· · · · · ··MR. ISRAEL:··Objection. ·9·· · · · · ··If you know. 10·· · · ·A.· ·There were different line items on the 11··invoices. 12·· · · · · ··There is a line item for the Customs 13··clearance and there is a line item for services. 14·· · · ·Q.· ·How often would a customer receive an 15··invoice from GIF? 16·· · · · · ··MR. ISRAEL:··Objection; improper 17·· · · ·hypothetical, calls for speculation. 18·· · · · · ··You can answer. 19·· · · ·A.· ·I am sorry, would you repeat the 20··question. 21·· · · ·Q.· ·How often would a typical customer be 22··invoiced by GIF? 23·· · · · · ··MR. ISRAEL:··Objection. 24·· · · · · ··You can answer. 25·· · · ·A.· It ·It would be per shipment. REPORTERS CENTRAL, LLC * 212-594-3582 FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 02/18/2020 01:54 PM INDEX NO. 650884/2017 NYSCEF DOC. NO. 119 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 02/18/2020 Page 23 ·1·· · · · · · · ··G. Napolitano ·2·· · · ·Q.· ·Was Shoez invoiced per shipment by GIF? ·3·· · · · · ··MR. ISRAEL:··Objection. ·4·· · · · · ··You can answer. ·5·· · · ·A.· ·Yes. ·6·· · · ·Q.· ·When did GIF begin providing Customs ·7··broker and freight forwarding services to Shoez? ·8·· · · ·A.· ·I don't remember. ·9·· · · ·Q.· ·Do you recall approximately what year? 10·· · · ·A.· ·I don't. 11·· · · ·Q.· ·Do you recall approximately how long GIF 12··provided services to Shoez? 13·· · · · · ··MR. ISRAEL:··Don't guess. 14·· · · · · ··If you know the answer, you can answer, 15·· · · ·but don't guess. 16·· · · ·A.· ·I don't know. 17·· · · ·Q.· ·Does GIF currently provide Customs broker 18··freight forwarding services to Shoez? 19·· · · ·A.· ·No. 20·· · · ·Q.· ·Have you heard of a company by the name 21··of Brands Unlimited, LLC? 22·· · · ·A.· ·Yes. 23·· · · ·Q.· ·Is that also a customer of GIF? 24·· · · ·A.· ·No. 25·· · · ·Q.· ·Was Brands ever a customer of GIF? REPORTERS CENTRAL, LLC * 212-594-3582 FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 02/18/2020 01:54 PM INDEX NO. 650884/2017 NYSCEF DOC. NO. 119 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 02/18/2020 Page 26 ·1·· · · · · · · ··G. Napolitano ·2·· · · · · ··You can answer. ·3·· · · ·A.· ·I think maybe I need you to rephrase that ·4··question. ·5·· · · · · ··Are you referring to currently or in the ·6··past? ·7·· · · · · ··MS. SUTTON:··Withdrawn. ·8·· · · ·Q.· ·Could you describe when you would get ·9··involved or when GIF would get involved with the 10··shipping process, when Shoez said they have goods 11··that they would like to bring in from overseas? 12·· · · · · ··MR. ISRAEL:··Objection to the form of the 13·· · · ·question. 14·· · · · · ··THE WITNESS:··Can I answer? 15·· · · · · ··MR. ISRAEL:··Yes, you can answer. 16·· · · ·A.· ·Would you repeat that, please. 17·· · · · · ··MS. SUTTON:··Could you read back the 18·· · · ·question, please. 19·· · · · · ··(Question read.) 20·· · · ·A.· Generally ·Generally speaking, I would receive an 21··e-mail from either an agent overseas or from Shoez 22··that there was a shipment ready, and they would 23··request a booking to be made to bring the freight 24··over from origin to the US. 25·· · · ·Q.· ·When you refer to an "agent from REPORTERS CENTRAL, LLC * 212-594-3582 FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 02/18/2020 01:54 PM INDEX NO. 650884/2017 NYSCEF DOC. NO. 119 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 02/18/2020 Page 28 ·1·· · · · · · · ··G. Napolitano ·2··goods over from overseas? ·3·· · · · · ··MR. ISRAEL:··Objection. ·4·· · · · · ··You can answer. ·5·· · · ·A.· ·From my perspective, it was that Life ·6··Logistics were the ones booking the freight onto a ·7··vessel to the United States. ·8·· · · ·Q.· ·II believe you said that Shoez would ·9··request a booking from you; is that correct? 10·· · · · · ··MR. ISRAEL:··Objection. 11·· · · · · ··You can answer. 12·· · · ·A.· They ·They would not necessarily use that 13··terminology.··They might say, "I have an order ready 14··for Ravissant." 15·· · · · · ··Then I would send an e-mail to Life 16··Logistics and say, "Hey, Shoez says they have an 17··order ready.··Would you please check with them." 18·· · · ·Q.· ·When you say, "them," do you mean 19··Ravissant? 20·· · · ·A.· ·Yes. 21·· · · ·Q.· ·Who would be responsible for actually 22··booking the vessel? 23·· · · · · ··MR. ISRAEL:··Objection. 24·· · · · · ··You can answer. 25·· · · ·A.· ·At origin the responsible party would REPORTERS CENTRAL, LLC * 212-594-3582 FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 02/18/2020 01:54 PM INDEX NO. 650884/2017 NYSCEF DOC. NO. 119 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 02/18/2020 Page 40 ·1·· · · · · · · ··G. Napolitano ·2··correct? ·3·· · · · · ··MR. ISRAEL:··Objection. ·4·· · · · · ··You can answer. ·5·· · · · · ··You are asking if she testified to that ·6·· · · ·today; is that what the question is? ·7·· · · · · ··MS. SUTTON:··Yes. ·8·· · · · · ··MR. ISRAEL:··Search your memory and see ·9·· · · ·if you can testify whether you testified about 10·· · · ·it today. 11·· · · · · ··That is what the question is. 12·· · · ·A.· ·I don't remember exactly what I said. 13·· · · ·Q.· ·What role did Sparx play in advising GIF 14··of a vessel's arrival? 15·· · · · · ··MR. ISRAEL:··Objection. 16·· · · · · ··You can answer. 17·· · · ·A.· Sparx ·Sparx would send an arrival notice with 18··pertinent information necessary for Customs 19··clearance. 20·· · · · · ··It was addressed to Shoez, but sent to me 21··as the notified party. 22·· · · ·Q.· ·Was Shoez also notified? 23·· · · · · ··MR. ISRAEL:··Objection. 24·· · · · · ··You can answer. 25·· · · ·A.· ·I don't know. REPORTERS CENTRAL, LLC * 212-594-3582 FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 02/18/2020 01:54 PM INDEX NO. 650884/2017 NYSCEF DOC. NO. 119 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 02/18/2020 Page 76 ·1·· · · · · · · ··G. Napolitano ·2·· · · · · ··MR. ISRAEL:··Objection. ·3·· · · · · ··You can answer. ·4·· · · ·A.· We ·We notify the importer that the goods ·5··are Customs cleared, and then, depending upon whether ·6··or not the freight release is showing at the ·7··terminal, at that point they can pick up the goods ·8··or not. ·9·· · · ·Q.· ·So goods could be Customs cleared without 10··being freight released; is that correct? 11·· · · · · ··MR. ISRAEL:··Objection. 12·· · · ·A.· ·Yes. 13·· · · ·Q.· ·Do you know if these goods were Customs 14··cleared without being freight released? 15·· · · · · ··MR. ISRAEL:··Objection. 16·· · · ·A.· ·I don't know. 17·· · · ·Q.· ·When you say, "freight released," does 18··that mean telex released? 19·· · · · · ··MR. ISRAEL:··Objection. 20·· · · · · ··I think that you said, "freight released." 21·· · · · · ··You are asking what the client 22·· · · ·understands that phrase to mean? 23·· · · · · ··MS. SUTTON:··I believe she said, "freight 24·· · · ·released." 25·· · · · · ··MR. ISRAEL:··I believe you said it, but REPORTERS CENTRAL, LLC * 212-594-3582 FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 02/18/2020 01:54 PM INDEX NO. 650884/2017 NYSCEF DOC. NO. 119 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 02/18/2020 Page 79 ·1·· · · · · · · ··G. Napolitano ·2··with Deepak regarding these goods? ·3·· · · · · ··MR. ISRAEL:··Objection. ·4·· · · · · ··Any conversations in general regarding ·5·· · · ·the goods; is that your question? ·6·· · · · · ··MS. SUTTON:··Yes. ·7·· · · · · ··MR. ISRAEL:··Did you ever talk to him ·8·· · · ·about the goods? ·9·· · · · · ··THE WITNESS:··Sure. 10·· · · ·Q.· ·What was discussed? 11·· · · · · ··MR. ISRAEL:··Objection. 12·· · · · · ··You can answer. 13·· · · ·A.· ·Probably when are they coming in -- 14··actually, let me retract that. 15·· · · · · ··It was more Devyani that I spoke to 16··regarding the goods, not Deepak. 17·· · · · · ··She was involved in the day-to-day 18··activity. 19·· · · ·Q.· ·What is it that you discussed with 20··Devyani regarding the shipment of these goods? 21·· · · · · ··MR. ISRAEL:··Objection. ISRAEL:··Objection. 22·· · · · · ··You can answer. 23·· · · ·A.· A.· ·When are they arriving, when are they 24··Customs cleared, when we can pick them up. 25·· · · ·Q.· ·Did you ever discuss with Devyani when REPORTERS CENTRAL, LLC * 212-594-3582 FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 02/18/2020 01:54 PM INDEX NO. 650884/2017 NYSCEF DOC. NO. 119 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 02/18/2020 Page 83 ·1·· · · · · · · ··G. Napolitano ·2··the top of my head. ·3·· · · ·Q.· ·With respect to the bills of lading that ·4··are the subject of this action, did you ever tell ·5··Sparx that you have those, that your customer has ·6··the bills of lading and you will get the bills of ·7··lading to Sparx the next day? ·8·· · · · · ··MR. ISRAEL:··Objection. ·9·· · · · · ··You can answer. 10·· · · ·A.· ·I don't think so. 11·· · · ·Q.· ·Do you recall having a conversation with 12··Sparx regarding the bills of lading? 13·· · · · · ··MR. ISRAEL:··Objection. 14·· · · · · ··You can answer. 15·· · · ·A.· ·I don't know. 16·· · · ·Q.· Do ·Do you recall having a conversation with 17··anyone at Life Logistics regarding the bills of 18··lading? 19·· · · ·A. A.·· ·Probably a general conversation as to 20··where they were, but not that I had them in my 21··possession. 22·· · · ·Q.· ·Did you know where the bills of lading 23··were? 24·· · · ·A.· ·No. 25·· · · ·Q.· ·What were the conversations with Life REPORTERS CENTRAL, LLC * 212-594-3582 FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 02/18/2020 01:54 PM INDEX NO. 650884/2017 NYSCEF DOC. NO. 119 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 02/18/2020 Page 84 ·1·· · · · · · · ··G. Napolitano ·2··Logistics? ·3·· · · · · ··MR. ISRAEL:··Objection. ·4·· · · · · ··You can answer. ·5·· · · ·A.· ·I don't remember specifically. ·6·· · · ·Q.· ·Generally, can you tell me what occurred ·7··in the conversations? ·8·· · · · · ··MR. ISRAEL:··Objection. ·9·· · · · · ··You can answer. 10·· · · ·A.· ·I don't remember specifically. 11·· · · ·Q.· ·Generally, do you remember? 12·· · · ·A.· ·Generally, I don't remember. 13·· · · ·Q.· ·What do you remember about the 14··conversations? 15·· · · · · ··MR. ISRAEL:··Objection. 16·· · · · · ··You can answer. 17·· · · ·A.· Just ·Just probably that something must have 18··taken place. 19·· · · · · ··Some conversation must have taken place 20··at some point when they were being requested or 21··looked for. 22·· · · ·Q.· ·What would they have asked of you? 23·· · · · · ··MR. ISRAEL:··Objection. 24·· · · · · ··Don't speculate. 25·· · · · · ··If you know, you know. REPORTERS CENTRAL, LLC * 212-594-3582 FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 02/18/2020 01:54 PM INDEX NO. 650884/2017 NYSCEF DOC. NO. 119 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 02/18/2020 Page 98 ·1·· · · · · · · ··G. Napolitano ·2·· · · · · ··MR. ISRAEL:··Objection. ·3·· · · · · ··You can answer. ·4·· · · ·A.· ·Adi was pretty much threatening me at ·5··this point to pressure -- put pressure on everyone ·6··because Ravissant went to the wind, so he was ·7··telling me that he was going to sue me for whatever ·8··reason. ·9·· · · ·Q.· ·What was the reasoning? 10·· · · · · ··MR. ISRAEL:··Objection; calls for 11·· · · ·speculation. 12·· · · · · ··You can answer. 13·· · · ·A.· ·I think that he just wanted to sue 14··everyone. 15·· · · ·Q.· ·You don't think that he had a reason to 16··sue them? 17·· · · · · ··MR. ISRAEL:··Objection. 18·· · · · · ··You can answer. 19·· · · ·A.· ·No. 20·· · · ·Q.· ·In what way were you involved with the 21··release of the merchandise referred to in this 22··e-mail? 23·· · · · · ··MR. ISRAEL:··Objection ISRAEL:··Objection to the use of the 24·· · · ·word "involved," but you can answer. 25·· · · ·A.· A.· ·I was a liaison between Life Logistics REPORTERS CENTRAL, LLC * 212-594-3582