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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
· · · · · · · · · · · · · January 17, 2019
· · · · · · · · · · · · · 10:00 a.m.
·
· · · · Deposition of Defendants Shoez, Inc. and
· Brands Unlimited, by DEEPAK RAMCHANDANI, 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.
·
·
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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··BALLON STOLL BADER & NADLER, P.C.
11··Attorneys for Defendants
12·· · · ·729 Seventh Avenue, 17th Floor
13·· · · ·New York, New York 10019
14··BY:· ·BRETT A. NADLER, ESQ.
15··
16··
17··
18··
19··
20··
21··
22··
23··
24··
25··
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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··
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·1··
·2··D E E P A K· ·R A M C H A N D A N I,
·3·· · · ·called as a witness, having been first duly
·4·· · · ·sworn by the Notary Public (Susan B. Ratner),
·5·· · · ·was examined and testified as follows:
·6··EXAMINATION BY
·7··MS. SUTTON:
·8·· · · ·Q.· ·Would you please state your name for the
·9··record.
10·· · · ·A.· ·Deepak Ramchandani.
11·· · · ·Q.· ·And your address?
12·· · · ·A.· ·1357 Broadway, Suite 411, New York,
13··New York 10018.
14·· · · · · ··MS. SUTTON:··Off the record.
15·· · · · · ··(Discussion off the record.)
16·· · · · · ··MS. SUTTON:··Back on the record.
17·· · · · · ··MR. NADLER:··We just went off the record,
18·· · · ·and counsel and I had a brief conversation
19·· · · ·that there are actually three separate parties.
20·· · · ·There is Shoez, Inc., Brands Unlimited, LLC,
21·· · · ·and then there is also Deepak Ramchandani
22·· · · ·being sued individually.
23·· · · · · ··This deposition is going to be of Shoez
24·· · · ·and of Brands, in which Deepak Ramchandani has
25·· · · ·been the designated witness to testify as to
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·1·· · · · · · · ·D. Ramchandani
·2·· · · ·matters on behalf of the companies.
·3·· · · · · ··In the interest of efficiency, we are
·4·· · · ·putting the Brands and the Shoez depositions
·5·· · · ·together with the understanding that they are
·6·· · · ·separate depositions, separate entities,
·7·· · · ·separate parties.
·8·· · · · · ··Opposing counsel has indicated to me that
·9·· · · ·her questions will be sufficiently clear as
10·· · · ·to which party she is questioning at various
11·· · · ·times, and to the extent that it's unclear,
12·· · · ·I will object.
13·· · · · · ··We have an understanding that we will work
14·· · · ·together to try to make sure that the questions
15·· · · ·are sufficiently clear and separate so as to
16·· · · ·know which party is being questioned at any
17·· · · ·time.
18·· · · · · ··Do you have anything that you want to add
19·· · · ·to that?
20·· · · · · ··MS. SUTTON:··No.
21·· · · · · ··I think that covers the matter.
22·· · · · · ··MR. NADLER:··Thank you.
23·· · · ·Q.· ·Mr. Ramchandani, my name is Yvette Sutton.
24··I am from Lazarus & Lazarus, counsel for the
25··plaintiffs in this action.
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·1·· · · · · · · ·D. Ramchandani
·2·· · · · · ··I am going to ask you a series of
·3··questions today in connection with the lawsuit that
·4··has been filed against the defendants Shoez, Inc.,
·5··Brands Unlimited, LLC, GIF Services, Inc., Deepak
·6··Ramchandani and Gina Napolitano.
·7·· · · · · ··Have you ever been deposed before?
·8·· · · ·A.· ·Sorry?
·9·· · · ·Q.· ·Have you ever been deposed before?
10·· · · ·A.· ·I don't know the meaning of "deposed."
11·· · · ·Q.· ·Have you ever sat before for this kind of
12··questioning, for a deposition?
13·· · · ·A.· ·No.
14·· · · ·Q.· ·You are testifying under oath.··That means
15··that you are giving sworn statements and the answers
16··should be truthful.
17·· · · · · ··If you don't understand my question,
18··please let me know and I will rephrase it.
19·· · · · · ··If you don't hear me, let me know and I
20··will speak up.
21·· · · · · ··Please answer my questions to the best of
22··your ability.
23·· · · · · ··The court reporter is here to take down
24··everything that is being said and she can only take
25··down audible responses.··She cannot take down a nod
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·1·· · · · · · · ·D. Ramchandani
·2··of the head, for example.··It has to be a yes or a
·3··no, no gestures.
·4·· · · ·A.· ·Okay.
·5·· · · ·Q.· ·Please try not to answer a question until
·6··I have finished asking the question.··That way the
·7··record will be sufficiently clear.
·8·· · · ·A.· ·All right.
·9·· · · ·Q.· ·If you need a break, a lunch break or a
10··bathroom break, whatever it is, just let me know.
11·· · · · · ··I would just ask that you answer any
12··pending question before we take a break.
13·· · · ·A.· ·Okay.
14·· · · ·Q.· ·Do you have any questions regarding the
15··procedure today?
16·· · · ·A.· ·No.
17·· · · ·Q.· ·Are you under the influence of any alcohol
18··or medication that will interfere with your
19··testimony or memory?
20·· · · ·A.· ·No.
21·· · · · · ··I mean, I am on medication, but it won't
22··interfere.
23·· · · ·Q.· ·All right.
24·· · · · · ··MS. SUTTON:··I am going to ask if we
25·· · · ·can mark this document as Plaintiffs'
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·1·· · · · · · · ·D. Ramchandani
·2·· · · ·Exhibit 1, please.
·3·· · · · · ··(Plaintiffs' Exhibit 1, six-page document,
·4·· · · ·being three notices to take deposition upon
·5·· · · ·oral examination, each dated November 19, 2018,
·6·· · · ·marked for identification, as of this date.)
·7··BY MS. SUTTON:
·8·· · · ·Q.· ·Would you review what has been handed to
·9··you and marked as Plaintiffs' Exhibit 1.
10·· · · ·A.· ·Okay.
11·· · · ·Q.· ·Have you seen this notice to take
12··deposition before?
13·· · · ·A.· ·No.
14·· · · ·Q.· ·These are documents that call for
15··defendant Shoez, defendant Brands, as well as your
16··individual testimony here today.
17·· · · · · ··Did you take any time to review any
18··material before your deposition here today?
19·· · · · · ··MR. NADLER:··Objection.
20·· · · ·Q.· ·Other than with counsel, did you review
21··any material to prepare for your deposition in any
22··way?
23·· · · ·A.· ·Yes.
24·· · · ·Q.· ·Did you review any documents?
25·· · · ·A.· ·No.
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·1·· · · · · · · ·D. Ramchandani
·2·· · · ·Q.· ·Other than your conversations with
·3··counsel, did you speak to anyone else regarding this
·4··deposition?
·5·· · · · · ··MR. NADLER:··Objection.
·6·· · · · · ··I am going to instruct you not to testify
·7·· · · ·to anything that you and I discussed about
·8·· · · ·this matter.··We are not talking about that.
·9·· · · · · ··THE WITNESS:··Okay.
10·· · · · · ··MR. NADLER:··I believe there is a
11·· · · ·question pending.
12·· · · · · ··MS. SUTTON:··Yes.
13·· · · · · ··If you need me to, I can repeat the
14·· · · ·question.
15·· · · · · ··THE WITNESS:··Yes, please.
16·· · · ·Q.· ·Have you spoken with anyone other than
17··with your counsel regarding this deposition here
18··today?
19·· · · ·A.· ·No.
20·· · · ·Q.· ·Did you ever have any conversations with
21··Gina Napolitano about this matter?
22·· · · · · ··MR. NADLER:··Objection.
23·· · · · · ··You can answer.
24·· · · ·A.· ·No.
25·· · · ·Q.· ·By whom are you currently employed?
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·1·· · · · · · · ·D. Ramchandani
·2·· · · ·A.· ·Raw Brands.
·3·· · · ·Q.· ·R-a-w?
·4·· · · ·A.· ·Yes.
·5·· · · ·Q.· ·LLC?
·6·· · · ·A.· ·Inc.
·7·· · · ·Q.· ·What is your position at Raw Brands, Inc.?
·8·· · · · · ··MR. NADLER:··Objection.
·9·· · · · · ··You can answer.
10·· · · ·A.· ·President.
11·· · · ·Q.· ·What is your role as president of
12··Raw Brands, Inc.?
13·· · · · · ··MR. NADLER:··Objection.
14·· · · · · ··Are you just getting background or --
15·· · · · · ··MS. SUTTON:··What is his role?··What does
16·· · · ·he do as president of Raw Brands, Inc.?
17·· · · · · ··MR. NADLER:··I am trying to figure out
18·· · · ·what that has to do with the lawsuit or what
19·· · · ·we are here to do today.
20·· · · · · ··MS. SUTTON:··It's background.
21·· · · · · ··MR. NADLER:··So you are getting background
22·· · · ·information?
23·· · · · · ··MS. SUTTON:··Yes.
24·· · · · · ··MR. NADLER:··If you want to quickly
25·· · · ·discuss what you do as president, go ahead.
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·1·· · · · · · · ·D. Ramchandani
·2·· · · ·A.· ·Day-to-day activities.
·3·· · · ·Q.· ·Is Raw Brands, Inc. an affiliate of
·4··Shoez, Inc.?
·5·· · · ·A.· ·I don't understand the question.
·6·· · · ·Q.· ·Is Raw Brands, Inc. in any way affiliated
·7··with the defendant Shoez, Inc.?
·8·· · · ·A.· ·No.
·9·· · · ·Q.· ·Is Raw Brands, Inc. in any way affiliated
10··with the defendant Brands Unlimited, LLC?
11·· · · ·A.· ·No.
12·· · · ·Q.· ·When was Raw Brands, Inc. incorporated?
13·· · · · · ··MR. NADLER:··Objection.
14·· · · · · ··I will let him answer, but I am not sure
15·· · · ·why we are getting hung up on this stuff, but
16·· · · ·go ahead.
17·· · · ·A.· ·I don't remember.
18·· · · ·Q.· ·How long have you been working at
19··Raw Brands, Inc.?
20·· · · · · ··MR. NADLER:··You are deposing a Shoez
21·· · · ·representative right now.
22·· · · · · ··I let it go for a bit of time, but you
23·· · · ·are getting into questions about his role as
24·· · · ·an individual and that becomes problematic,
25·· · · ·which is what we discussed at the beginning
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·1·· · · · · · · ·D. Ramchandani
·2·· · · ·of the deposition, which is that we are
·3·· · · ·discussing Shoez, Inc. and Brands.
·4·· · · · · ··MS. SUTTON:··In my experience you are
·5·· · · ·always allowed to ask about background
·6·· · · ·information, as to how long he has been at
·7·· · · ·companies, and prior experience to working
·8·· · · ·for, let's say, Brands or Shoez.
·9·· · · · · ··I think this is all relevant background
10·· · · ·information and it is permissible.
11·· · · · · ··MR. NADLER:··He can answer the question.
12·· · · · · ··I just want to note my objection.··I
13·· · · ·think that we are getting far afield now.
14·· · · ·A.· ·From the day it was formed, which I don't
15··remember.
16·· · · ·Q.· ·Do you recall whether it was formed two
17··years ago?
18·· · · ·A.· ·Yes.
19·· · · · · ··The last two years.
20·· · · ·Q.· ·What did you do prior to working at
21··Raw Brands, Inc.?
22·· · · ·A.· ·I was working at Brands Unlimited.
23·· · · ·Q.· ·What was your role at Brands Unlimited,
24··LLC?
25·· · · ·A.· ·President.
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·1·· · · · · · · ·D. Ramchandani
·2·· · · ·Q.· ·Is Brands Unlimited still an active
·3··company?
·4·· · · ·A.· ·Yes.
·5·· · · ·Q.· ·What does it do?··What is the business of
·6··Brands Unlimited, LLC?
·7·· · · ·A.· ·It sells clothing.
·8·· · · ·Q.· ·Are you still employed by Brands
·9··Unlimited?
10·· · · ·A.· ·No.
11·· · · ·Q.· ·When did you stop being employed by
12··Brands Unlimited?
13·· · · ·A.· ·I don't remember.
14·· · · ·Q.· ·Who is the current president of Brands
15··Unlimited?
16·· · · ·A.· ·It's still me.
17·· · · ·Q.· ·Is it correct to say that while you are
18··still the president of Brands Unlimited, you no
19··longer receive a paycheck from Brands Unlimited?
20·· · · ·A.· ·That's correct.
21·· · · ·Q.· ·Does Brands Unlimited currently have any
22··salaried employees?
23·· · · ·A.· ·No.
24·· · · ·Q.· ·Is it correct to say that the prior
25··Brands Unlimited, LLC employees are now employed by
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·1·· · · · · · · ·D. Ramchandani
·2··Raw Brands, Inc.?
·3·· · · · · ··MR. NADLER:··Objection.
·4·· · · · · ··You can answer.
·5·· · · ·A.· ·I don't know off the top of my head.
·6·· · · ·Q.· ·Approximately how many employees from
·7··Brands Unlimited, LLC currently work for Raw Brands,
·8··Inc.?
·9·· · · · · ··MR. NADLER:··Objection.
10·· · · · · ··I am going to let him answer, but you are
11·· · · ·asking questions that a representative of
12·· · · ·Raw Brands, Inc. would answer, and a
13·· · · ·representative of Raw Brands, Inc. is not
14·· · · ·being deposed today.
15·· · · · · ··To the extent that he is answering
16·· · · ·questions now, it is as a representative of
17·· · · ·Brands or Shoez.
18·· · · · · ··This is the exact area where I was
19·· · · ·concerned about at the beginning, when I said
20·· · · ·that we will go forward with this deposition
21·· · · ·combining them, but if we are to --
22·· · · · · ··MS. SUTTON:··This is not about him
23·· · · ·individually.
24·· · · · · ··I just asked how many employees at Brands
25·· · · ·currently work for Raw.
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·1·· · · · · · · ·D. Ramchandani
·2·· · · · · ··MR. NADLER:··But as a representative of
·3·· · · ·Brands Unlimited and Shoez, Inc. he could
·4·· · · ·not possibly answer questions on behalf of
·5·· · · ·Raw Brands.
·6·· · · · · ··MS. SUTTON:··On behalf of Brands he might
·7·· · · ·potentially know how many employees of Brands
·8·· · · ·are working for Raw.
·9·· · · · · ··MR. NADLER:··In your capacity as working
10·· · · ·for Brands, if you know the answer to that --
11·· · · · · ··THE WITNESS:··I don't know.
12·· · · · · ··MR. NADLER:··Again, I understand what you
13·· · · ·are asking, but I don't think that we are going
14·· · · ·to get very far if you think that you need to
15·· · · ·do this.··It's muddying the water as to what
16·· · · ·we are here to do today.
17·· · · · · ··MS. SUTTON:··That is your opinion.
18·· · · · · ··I think it's relevant.
19·· · · · · ··MR. NADLER:··All right.
20·· · · ·Q.· ·What kind of clothing does Brands
21··Unlimited sell?
22·· · · ·A.· ·I don't understand the question.
23·· · · ·Q.· ·What kind of clothing does Brands
24··Unlimited sell; men's, women's, children's?
25·· · · ·A.· ·Men's clothing.
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·1·· · · · · · · ·D. Ramchandani
·2·· · · ·Q.· ·Does Raw Brands, Inc. also sell men's
·3··clothing?
·4·· · · · · ··MR. NADLER:··Objection.
·5·· · · · · ··MS. SUTTON:··He can answer the question.
·6·· · · · · ··MR. NADLER:··I have let it go so far, but
·7·· · · ·your role today is to try to establish facts
·8·· · · ·to support your claims in this action.
·9·· · · · · ··You are asking him questions about a
10·· · · ·company that is not even a party to this
11·· · · ·action.
12·· · · · · ··MS. SUTTON:··I have claims in the action
13·· · · ·concerning piercing the corporate veil, as
14·· · · ·well, so it's relevant.
15·· · · · · ··MR. NADLER:··Raw Brands is not a party
16·· · · ·to this action.
17·· · · · · ··MS. SUTTON:··Maybe they will be.
18·· · · · · ··MR. NADLER:··If you want to bring them
19·· · · ·in as a party, that is fine.
20·· · · · · ··I have let it go on long enough with
21·· · · ·these questions.
22·· · · · · ··If you want to wrap up this line of
23·· · · ·questioning and move on, that is fine, but if
24·· · · ·you tell me we are going to continue with this
25·· · · ·line, we can perhaps call the judge.
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·1·· · · · · · · ·D. Ramchandani
·2·· · · · · ··I would hate to have to call the judge
·3·· · · ·on introductory questions, but you seem to
·4·· · · ·have lost sight as to the purpose of this
·5·· · · ·deposition.
·6·· · · · · ··I just want to make sure that we rein it
·7·· · · ·back in and do what we are here to do, which
·8·· · · ·is trying to establish whatever you are trying
·9·· · · ·to establish to support your claims.
10·· · · · · ··MS. SUTTON:··And we are getting there.
11·· · · ·Q.· ·You can answer the question.
12·· · · · · ··MR. NADLER:··First of all, I will let you
13·· · · ·know whether he can answer the question or not.
14·· · · · · ··All right?··Can we agree on that?
15·· · · · · ··Second, what was the question?
16·· · · · · ··Would you repeat it, please.
17·· · · · · ··(Question read.)
18·· · · · · ··MR. NADLER:··In your capacity as an
19·· · · ·officer of Brands and Shoez, if you know.
20·· · · ·A.· ·No, I don't.
21·· · · · · ··MS. SUTTON:··I would ask that you not
22·· · · ·coach the witness before he answers.
23·· · · · · ··MR. NADLER:··Point taken.
24·· · · ·Q.· ·When did you become involved in Brands?
25·· · · ·A.· ·When the company was formed.
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·1·· · · · · · · ·D. Ramchandani
·2·· · · ·Q.· ·When was the company formed?
·3·· · · ·A.· ·I don't remember.
·4·· · · ·Q.· ·Was it formed approximately five years
·5··ago?
·6·· · · ·A.· ·I have --
·7·· · · ·Q.· ·Approximately ten years ago?
·8·· · · ·A.· ·Within ten years.
·9·· · · ·Q.· ·Did it always sell men's clothing?
10·· · · ·A.· ·It always sold clothing.
11·· · · · · ··MR. NADLER:··Can you refer to a specific
12·· · · ·company instead of saying, "it"?
13·· · · · · ··Brands or Shoez or --
14·· · · · · ··MS. SUTTON··Yes.
15·· · · · · ··MR. NADLER:··For the record, "Brands"
16·· · · ·means Brands Unlimited, correct?
17·· · · · · ··MS. SUTTON:··Correct.
18·· · · · · ··MR. NADLER:··And "Shoez" means Shoez,
19·· · · ·Inc.?
20·· · · · · ··MS. SUTTON:··Yes.
21·· · · · · ··I don't think that I have mentioned Shoez
22·· · · ·yet.
23·· · · · · ··MR. NADLER:··No, you have not.
24·· · · ·Q.· ·Were you always president of Brands?
25·· · · ·A.· ·Yes.
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·1·· · · · · · · ·D. Ramchandani
·2·· · · ·Q.· ·What were your duties as president of the
·3··company?
·4·· · · ·A.· ·The day-to-day activities.
·5·· · · ·Q.· ·Could you describe that in further detail?
·6·· · · ·A.· ·Meeting customers, meeting suppliers,
·7··going to trade shows.
·8·· · · ·Q.· ·Were you an owner of Brands?
·9·· · · ·A.· ·A member.
10·· · · ·Q.· ·How many members are there in Brands?
11·· · · ·A.· ·Three.
12·· · · ·Q.· ·Who are the other members of Brands?
13·· · · ·A.· ·Kamala Ramchandani.
14·· · · · · ··K-a-m-a-l-a, the same last name as mine.
15·· · · ·Q.· ·All right.
16·· · · ·A.· ·Kanaya Ramchandani.
17·· · · · · ··K-a-n-a-y-a, the same last name as mine.
18·· · · ·Q.· ·Are you related to Kamala?
19·· · · ·A.· ·Yes.
20·· · · ·Q.· ·How are you related?
21·· · · ·A.· ·My brother.
22·· · · ·Q.· ·How about Kanaya?
23·· · · ·A.· ·Yes.
24·· · · ·Q.· ·How are you related to him?
25·· · · ·A.· ·My father.
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·1·· · · · · · · ·D. Ramchandani
·2·· · · ·Q.· ·What is Kamala's position at Brands?
·3·· · · ·A.· ·He has no position.
·4·· · · ·Q.· ·Is Kamala an employee of Brands?
·5·· · · ·A.· ·No.
·6·· · · ·Q.· ·Is Kamala in any way involved with sales?
·7·· · · ·A.· ·No.
·8·· · · ·Q.· ·Kanaya, your father, is he an employee of
·9··Brands?
10·· · · ·A.· ·No.
11·· · · ·Q.· ·Does he maintain any other position other
12··than as a member in Brands?
13·· · · ·A.· ·No.
14·· · · ·Q.· ·Did all three members form the company
15··together?
16·· · · ·A.· ·I don't remember.
17·· · · ·Q.· ·Were there any other members of Brands at
18··any other time?
19·· · · ·A.· ·No.
20·· · · ·Q.· ·Were you ever a sole member of Brands?
21·· · · ·A.· ·Yes.
22·· · · ·Q.· ·When was that?
23·· · · ·A.· ·When the company was formed.
24·· · · ·Q.· ·Approximately how long after the company
25··was formed did Kamala become a member?
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·1·· · · · · · · ·D. Ramchandani
·2·· · · ·A.· ·I don't remember.
·3·· · · ·Q.· ·Approximately how long after the company
·4··was formed did your father, Kanaya, become a member?
·5·· · · ·A.· ·I don't remember.
·6·· · · ·Q.· ·Where are Brands' offices currently
·7··located?
·8·· · · ·A.· ·We share the same office.
·9·· · · · · ··1357 Broadway.
10·· · · ·Q.· ·Who does Brands share office space with?
11·· · · ·A.· ·With another company.
12·· · · ·Q.· ·What is the name of the other company?
13·· · · ·A.· ·Raw Brands.
14·· · · ·Q.· ·Does Brands have any other operating
15··locations?
16·· · · ·A.· ·No.
17·· · · ·Q.· ·Does Brands have any other warehouse
18··locations?
19·· · · · · ··MR. NADLER:··Objection.
20·· · · · · ··You can answer.
21·· · · ·Q.· ·Does Brands have any warehouses?
22·· · · ·A.· ·No.
23·· · · ·Q.· ·Does Brands have any office space in LA?
24·· · · ·A.· ·No.
25·· · · ·Q.· ·Does Brands rent warehouse space
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·1·· · · · · · · ·D. Ramchandani
·2··anywhere?
·3·· · · ·A.· ·No.
·4·· · · ·Q.· ·Does Brands have any other affiliated
·5··companies?
·6·· · · · · ··MR. NADLER:··Objection.
·7·· · · · · ··You can answer.
·8·· · · ·A.· ·I don't understand the question.
·9·· · · ·Q.· ·I believe you said that Brands is in the
10··men's clothing business; is that correct?
11·· · · ·A.· ·That's correct.
12·· · · ·Q.· ·Does Brands import men's clothing?
13·· · · ·A.· ·Yes.
14·· · · ·Q.· ·How is that done?
15·· · · · · ··MR. NADLER:··Objection.
16·· · · ·A.· ·I don't understand the question.
17·· · · · · ··MR. NADLER:··That is a broad question.
18·· · · ·Q.· ·Does Brands currently import clothing,
19··men's clothing?
20·· · · ·A.· ·Yes.
21·· · · ·Q.· ·Approximately how much clothing, would
22··you say, is imported by Brands per year?
23·· · · · · ··MR. NADLER:··Objection.
24·· · · · · ··Do you want to put a parameter on it?
25·· · · · · ··MS. SUTTON:··A year.
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·1·· · · · · · · ·D. Ramchandani
·2·· · · · · ··MR. NADLER:··Quantity?··Dollars?
·3·· · · · · ··MS. SUTTON:··In quantity, the number of
·4·· · · ·pieces.
·5·· · · ·Q.· ·Do you know?
·6·· · · ·A.· ·I don't know.
·7·· · · ·Q.· ·Do you know a dollar amount?
·8·· · · ·A.· ·I don't know.
·9·· · · ·Q.· ·Is Brands in any way affiliated with a
10··company called Shoez, Inc.?
11·· · · ·A.· ·I actually don't understand the term
12··"affiliated."
13·· · · ·Q.· ·Is Brands related in any way to the
14··company Shoez, Inc.; do they share common ownership
15··and common employees, et cetera?
16·· · · · · ··MR. NADLER:··Objection.
17·· · · · · ··Can you break that up?
18·· · · · · ··MS. SUTTON:··All right.
19·· · · ·Q.· ·Are any members of Brands also members
20··of Shoez?
21·· · · ·A.· ·Can you please repeat the question?
22·· · · ·Q.· ·Are any members of Brands also owners in
23··Shoez?
24·· · · ·A.· ·No.
25·· · · ·Q.· ·Does Brands share the same employees as
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·1·· · · · · · · ·D. Ramchandani
·2··Shoez?
·3·· · · ·A.· ·No.
·4·· · · ·Q.· ·You are here today as a representative of
·5··Shoez, as well, today; is that correct?
·6·· · · ·A.· ·Yes.
·7·· · · ·Q.· ·What is your role at Shoez, Inc.?
·8·· · · ·A.· ·I was buying on behalf of the company.
·9·· · · ·Q.· ·When you say that you were buying on
10··behalf of the company, you individually or Brands?
11·· · · · · ··MR. NADLER:··Objection.
12·· · · · · ··You asked him what his role at Shoez was.
13·· · · · · ··MS. SUTTON:··Yes.
14·· · · · · ··MR. NADLER:··I think he is talking about
15·· · · ·what one of his responsibilities was.
16·· · · · · ··Do you want to know what his title was at
17·· · · ·Shoez; is that what you are asking?
18·· · · · · ··MS. SUTTON:··I wanted to first know what
19·· · · ·he was doing and then if he can also tell me
20·· · · ·what his title was at Shoez.
21·· · · ·A.· ·Buyer.
22·· · · ·Q.· ·Who are the owners of Shoez, Inc.?
23·· · · ·A.· ·Me.
24·· · · ·Q.· ·Is it correct to say that you are the
25··sole owner of Shoez, Inc.?
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·1·· · · · · · · ·D. Ramchandani
·2·· · · ·A.· ·Yes.
·3·· · · ·Q.· ·Are you currently a buyer on behalf of
·4··Shoez?
·5·· · · · · ··MR. NADLER:··For --
·6·· · · · · ··MS. SUTTON:··For Shoez.
·7·· · · ·A.· ·Yes.
·8·· · · ·Q.· ·How long have you been a buyer for Shoez?
·9·· · · ·A.· ·Since the company was formed.
10·· · · ·Q.· ·Do you remember when Shoez was formed?
11·· · · ·A.· ·Over ten years ago.
12·· · · ·Q.· ·Do you receive a salary from Shoez?
13·· · · ·A.· ·No.
14·· · · ·Q.· ·Does Shoez have any salaried employees?
15·· · · ·A.· ·No.
16·· · · ·Q.· ·What is Shoez in the business of?
17·· · · ·A.· ·General merchandise.
18·· · · ·Q.· ·Can you explain that, please?
19·· · · ·A.· ·Buying and selling of product.
20·· · · ·Q.· ·Who does Shoez buy product from,
21··typically?
22·· · · ·A.· ·Everybody.
23·· · · ·Q.· ·Do they buy product from overseas?
24·· · · ·A.· ·Yes.
25·· · · ·Q.· ·Is there a country of origin that Shoez
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·1·· · · · · · · ·D. Ramchandani
·2··typically buys product from?
·3·· · · · · ··MR. NADLER:··Objection.
·4·· · · · · ··You can answer.
·5·· · · ·A.· ·No.
·6·· · · ·Q.· ·Who does Shoez sell product to?
·7·· · · ·A.· ·Wholesalers and retailers.
·8·· · · ·Q.· ·Who do they sell product to?
·9·· · · ·A.· ·Wholesalers and retailers.
10·· · · ·Q.· ·Both?
11·· · · ·A.· ·Yes.
12·· · · ·Q.· ·Are the wholesalers and retailers
13··primarily located within the United States?
14·· · · ·A.· ·No.
15·· · · ·Q.· ·Where are Shoez's purchasers?
16·· · · · · ··MR. NADLER:··Customers?
17·· · · · · ··MS. SUTTON:··Customers.
18·· · · ·Q.· ·Where are Shoez's customers located?
19·· · · ·A.· ·Can you repeat the question, please?
20·· · · ·Q.· ·I believe you testified that the
21··wholesalers and retailers that Shoez sells to are
22··not in the United States.
23·· · · · · ··Where are they located?
24·· · · ·A.· ·Canada and Mexico.
25·· · · ·Q.· ·Does Shoez buy product on behalf of
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·1·· · · · · · · ·D. Ramchandani
·2··Brands?
·3·· · · · · ··MR. NADLER:··Objection.
·4·· · · · · ··You can answer.
·5·· · · ·A.· ·No.
·6·· · · ·Q.· ·Does Shoez sell to Brands?
·7·· · · · · ··MR. NADLER:··Objection.
·8·· · · · · ··You are talking about what time frame?
·9·· · · · · ··MS. SUTTON:··In general.
10·· · · ·Q.· ·In general, does Shoez typically sell to
11··Brands merchandise that it imports?
12·· · · ·A.· ·Can you please repeat the question?
13·· · · ·Q.· ·Does Shoez sell any product to Brands?
14·· · · · · ··MR. NADLER:··Currently?
15·· · · · · ··MS. SUTTON:··In the past or currently.
16·· · · · · ··MR. NADLER:··That is two questions.
17·· · · ·Q.· ·In the past, did Shoez sell product to
18··Brands?
19·· · · ·A.· ·Yes.
20·· · · ·Q.· ·What did they typically sell to Brands?
21·· · · · · ··MR. NADLER:··Objection.
22·· · · · · ··You can answer.
23·· · · ·A.· ·Clothing.
24·· · · ·Q.· ·Was it typically men's clothing?
25·· · · ·A.· ·I don't remember.
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·1·· · · · · · · ·D. Ramchandani
·2·· · · ·Q.· ·Does Shoez primarily sell product that it
·3··imports to Brands?
·4·· · · ·A.· ·I don't understand the question.
·5·· · · ·Q.· ·What is the nature of Shoez's and Brands'
·6··business together?
·7·· · · · · ··MR. NADLER:··Objection.
·8·· · · · · ··You can answer, if you understand the
·9·· · · ·question.
10·· · · ·A.· ·Whose relation?
11·· · · ·Q.· ·Shoez and Brands.
12·· · · ·A.· ·Brands is Shoez's customer.
13·· · · ·Q.· ·Does Brands receive product from any
14··supplier other than Shoez?
15·· · · ·A.· ·Yes.
16·· · · ·Q.· ·Who is that?
17·· · · ·A.· ·I don't remember.
18·· · · ·Q.· ·Does Brands receive the majority of the
19··product that they sell from Shoez?
20·· · · ·A.· ·As of when?
21·· · · ·Q.· ·In the past.
22·· · · ·A.· ·Yesterday?
23·· · · · · ··"In the past" meaning when?
24·· · · ·Q.· ·In 2015.
25·· · · ·A.· ·I would not remember that.
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·1·· · · · · · · ·D. Ramchandani
·2·· · · ·Q.· ·How about currently?
·3·· · · ·A.· ·No.
·4·· · · · · ··I'm sorry.
·5·· · · · · ··Currently what?
·6·· · · ·Q.· ·Currently is Shoez the primary supplier
·7··to Brands?
·8·· · · ·A.· ·No.
·9·· · · ·Q.· ·Who currently primarily supplies product
10··to Brands?
11·· · · ·A.· ·To Brands?
12·· · · ·Q.· ·Yes.
13·· · · ·A.· ·I don't know.
14·· · · ·Q.· ·But it's not Shoez?
15·· · · ·A.· ·I don't know.
16·· · · ·Q.· ·Does Brands ever sell product to Shoez?
17·· · · ·A.· ·I don't remember.
18·· · · ·Q.· ·Is it typical in their business
19··relationship that Brands would sell product to
20··Shoez?
21·· · · · · ··MR. NADLER:··Objection.
22·· · · · · ··You can answer, but I am not sure --
23·· · · ·excuse me.
24·· · · ·A.· ·Can you please repeat the question?
25·· · · ·Q.· ·You testified that Brands is a Shoez
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·1·· · · · · · · ·D. Ramchandani
·2··customer?
·3·· · · ·A.· ·Yes.
·4·· · · ·Q.· ·Does it also work the other way around;
·5··is Shoez a Brands customer?
·6·· · · ·A.· ·No.
·7·· · · ·Q.· ·Can you describe that relationship in
·8··more detail?
·9·· · · ·A.· ·Whose relationship?
10·· · · ·Q.· ·Brands and Shoez.
11·· · · · · ··MR. NADLER:··Objection; asked and
12·· · · ·answered.
13·· · · · · ··You can answer.
14·· · · ·A.· ·Can you elaborate on the question?
15·· · · · · ··I don't understand.
16·· · · ·Q.· ·Can you take me through the sequence;
17··would Shoez import goods from overseas and then
18··typically sell it to Brands?
19·· · · · · ··MR. NADLER:··Is that a question?
20·· · · · · ··MS. SUTTON:··Yes.
21·· · · ·Q.· ·Is that a typical scenario in both Shoez's
22··and Brands' business?
23·· · · ·A.· ·No.
24·· · · ·Q.· ·Can you tell me what is typical?
25·· · · ·A.· ·Shoez would buy and then would try to
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·1·· · · · · · · ·D. Ramchandani
·2··sell.··Basically, Brands would buy first, or
·3··somebody else would buy, and they would turn around
·4··and sell it to whoever.
·5·· · · ·Q.· ·Who are Brands' customers; does Brands
·6··sell to wholesalers and retailers?
·7·· · · ·A.· ·Yes.
·8·· · · ·Q.· ·Where are those customers primarily
·9··located?
10·· · · · · ··MR. NADLER:··Objection.
11·· · · · · ··You can answer.
12·· · · ·A.· ·In the US, Mexico, Canada.
13·· · · ·Q.· ·Am I correct in stating that Brands sells
14··to US customers and Shoez does not?
15·· · · ·A.· ·Sorry, can you please repeat the question?
16·· · · ·Q.· ·Am I correct that Brands sells product to
17··US customers, but Shoez does not?
18·· · · · · ··MR. NADLER:··Currently, present tense?
19·· · · · · ··MS. SUTTON:··Present tense.
20·· · · ·A.· ·I am sorry, I am not following the
21··question.
22·· · · ·Q.· ·I believe that you testified that Brands
23··has customers in the United States; is that correct?
24·· · · ·A.· ·Brands has customers in the United States,
25··Mexico and Canada.
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·1·· · · · · · · ·D. Ramchandani
·2·· · · ·Q.· ·And Shoez does not have customers within
·3··the United States?
·4·· · · ·A.· ·Shoez has customers in the US, Mexico and
·5··Canada.
·6·· · · ·Q.· ·You are currently a buyer for Shoez,
·7··correct?
·8·· · · · · ··MR. NADLER:··Who are you talking to now?
·9·· · · · · ··MS. SUTTON:··I didn't mean to say that so
10·· · · ·affirmatively.
11·· · · ·Q.· ·You individually are currently a buyer
12··for Shoez; is that correct?
13·· · · · · ··MR. NADLER:··Objection.
14·· · · · · ··You can answer just on behalf of Shoez.
15·· · · ·A.· ·No.
Preview
FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 05/22/2023 06:15 PM INDEX NO. 650884/2017 NYSCEF DOC. NO. 155 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 05/22/2023 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 · · · · · · · · · · · · · January 17, 2019 · · · · · · · · · · · · · 10:00 a.m. · · · · · Deposition of Defendants Shoez, Inc. and · Brands Unlimited, by DEEPAK RAMCHANDANI, 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 1 of 176 FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 05/22/2023 06:15 PM INDEX NO. 650884/2017 NYSCEF DOC. NO. 155 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 05/22/2023 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··BALLON STOLL BADER & NADLER, P.C. 11··Attorneys for Defendants 12·· · · ·729 Seventh Avenue, 17th Floor 13·· · · ·New York, New York 10019 14··BY:· ·BRETT A. NADLER, ESQ. 15·· 16·· 17·· 18·· 19·· 20·· 21·· 22·· 23·· 24·· 25·· REPORTERS CENTRAL, LLC * 212-594-3582 2 of 176 FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 05/22/2023 06:15 PM INDEX NO. 650884/2017 NYSCEF DOC. NO. 155 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 05/22/2023 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 3 of 176 FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 05/22/2023 06:15 PM INDEX NO. 650884/2017 NYSCEF DOC. NO. 155 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 05/22/2023 Page 4 ·1·· ·2··D E E P A K· ·R A M C H A N D A N I, ·3·· · · ·called as a witness, having been first duly ·4·· · · ·sworn by the Notary Public (Susan B. Ratner), ·5·· · · ·was examined and testified as follows: ·6··EXAMINATION BY ·7··MS. SUTTON: ·8·· · · ·Q.· ·Would you please state your name for the ·9··record. 10·· · · ·A.· ·Deepak Ramchandani. 11·· · · ·Q.· ·And your address? 12·· · · ·A.· ·1357 Broadway, Suite 411, New York, 13··New York 10018. 14·· · · · · ··MS. SUTTON:··Off the record. 15·· · · · · ··(Discussion off the record.) 16·· · · · · ··MS. SUTTON:··Back on the record. 17·· · · · · ··MR. NADLER:··We just went off the record, 18·· · · ·and counsel and I had a brief conversation 19·· · · ·that there are actually three separate parties. 20·· · · ·There is Shoez, Inc., Brands Unlimited, LLC, 21·· · · ·and then there is also Deepak Ramchandani 22·· · · ·being sued individually. 23·· · · · · ··This deposition is going to be of Shoez 24·· · · ·and of Brands, in which Deepak Ramchandani has 25·· · · ·been the designated witness to testify as to REPORTERS CENTRAL, LLC * 212-594-3582 4 of 176 FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 05/22/2023 06:15 PM INDEX NO. 650884/2017 NYSCEF DOC. NO. 155 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 05/22/2023 Page 5 ·1·· · · · · · · ·D. Ramchandani ·2·· · · ·matters on behalf of the companies. ·3·· · · · · ··In the interest of efficiency, we are ·4·· · · ·putting the Brands and the Shoez depositions ·5·· · · ·together with the understanding that they are ·6·· · · ·separate depositions, separate entities, ·7·· · · ·separate parties. ·8·· · · · · ··Opposing counsel has indicated to me that ·9·· · · ·her questions will be sufficiently clear as 10·· · · ·to which party she is questioning at various 11·· · · ·times, and to the extent that it's unclear, 12·· · · ·I will object. 13·· · · · · ··We have an understanding that we will work 14·· · · ·together to try to make sure that the questions 15·· · · ·are sufficiently clear and separate so as to 16·· · · ·know which party is being questioned at any 17·· · · ·time. 18·· · · · · ··Do you have anything that you want to add 19·· · · ·to that? 20·· · · · · ··MS. SUTTON:··No. 21·· · · · · ··I think that covers the matter. 22·· · · · · ··MR. NADLER:··Thank you. 23·· · · ·Q.· ·Mr. Ramchandani, my name is Yvette Sutton. 24··I am from Lazarus & Lazarus, counsel for the 25··plaintiffs in this action. REPORTERS CENTRAL, LLC * 212-594-3582 5 of 176 FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 05/22/2023 06:15 PM INDEX NO. 650884/2017 NYSCEF DOC. NO. 155 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 05/22/2023 Page 6 ·1·· · · · · · · ·D. Ramchandani ·2·· · · · · ··I am going to ask you a series of ·3··questions today in connection with the lawsuit that ·4··has been filed against the defendants Shoez, Inc., ·5··Brands Unlimited, LLC, GIF Services, Inc., Deepak ·6··Ramchandani and Gina Napolitano. ·7·· · · · · ··Have you ever been deposed before? ·8·· · · ·A.· ·Sorry? ·9·· · · ·Q.· ·Have you ever been deposed before? 10·· · · ·A.· ·I don't know the meaning of "deposed." 11·· · · ·Q.· ·Have you ever sat before for this kind of 12··questioning, for a deposition? 13·· · · ·A.· ·No. 14·· · · ·Q.· ·You are testifying under oath.··That means 15··that you are giving sworn statements and the answers 16··should be truthful. 17·· · · · · ··If you don't understand my question, 18··please let me know and I will rephrase it. 19·· · · · · ··If you don't hear me, let me know and I 20··will speak up. 21·· · · · · ··Please answer my questions to the best of 22··your ability. 23·· · · · · ··The court reporter is here to take down 24··everything that is being said and she can only take 25··down audible responses.··She cannot take down a nod REPORTERS CENTRAL, LLC * 212-594-3582 6 of 176 FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 05/22/2023 06:15 PM INDEX NO. 650884/2017 NYSCEF DOC. NO. 155 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 05/22/2023 Page 7 ·1·· · · · · · · ·D. Ramchandani ·2··of the head, for example.··It has to be a yes or a ·3··no, no gestures. ·4·· · · ·A.· ·Okay. ·5·· · · ·Q.· ·Please try not to answer a question until ·6··I have finished asking the question.··That way the ·7··record will be sufficiently clear. ·8·· · · ·A.· ·All right. ·9·· · · ·Q.· ·If you need a break, a lunch break or a 10··bathroom break, whatever it is, just let me know. 11·· · · · · ··I would just ask that you answer any 12··pending question before we take a break. 13·· · · ·A.· ·Okay. 14·· · · ·Q.· ·Do you have any questions regarding the 15··procedure today? 16·· · · ·A.· ·No. 17·· · · ·Q.· ·Are you under the influence of any alcohol 18··or medication that will interfere with your 19··testimony or memory? 20·· · · ·A.· ·No. 21·· · · · · ··I mean, I am on medication, but it won't 22··interfere. 23·· · · ·Q.· ·All right. 24·· · · · · ··MS. SUTTON:··I am going to ask if we 25·· · · ·can mark this document as Plaintiffs' REPORTERS CENTRAL, LLC * 212-594-3582 7 of 176 FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 05/22/2023 06:15 PM INDEX NO. 650884/2017 NYSCEF DOC. NO. 155 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 05/22/2023 Page 8 ·1·· · · · · · · ·D. Ramchandani ·2·· · · ·Exhibit 1, please. ·3·· · · · · ··(Plaintiffs' Exhibit 1, six-page document, ·4·· · · ·being three notices to take deposition upon ·5·· · · ·oral examination, each dated November 19, 2018, ·6·· · · ·marked for identification, as of this date.) ·7··BY MS. SUTTON: ·8·· · · ·Q.· ·Would you review what has been handed to ·9··you and marked as Plaintiffs' Exhibit 1. 10·· · · ·A.· ·Okay. 11·· · · ·Q.· ·Have you seen this notice to take 12··deposition before? 13·· · · ·A.· ·No. 14·· · · ·Q.· ·These are documents that call for 15··defendant Shoez, defendant Brands, as well as your 16··individual testimony here today. 17·· · · · · ··Did you take any time to review any 18··material before your deposition here today? 19·· · · · · ··MR. NADLER:··Objection. 20·· · · ·Q.· ·Other than with counsel, did you review 21··any material to prepare for your deposition in any 22··way? 23·· · · ·A.· ·Yes. 24·· · · ·Q.· ·Did you review any documents? 25·· · · ·A.· ·No. REPORTERS CENTRAL, LLC * 212-594-3582 8 of 176 FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 05/22/2023 06:15 PM INDEX NO. 650884/2017 NYSCEF DOC. NO. 155 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 05/22/2023 Page 9 ·1·· · · · · · · ·D. Ramchandani ·2·· · · ·Q.· ·Other than your conversations with ·3··counsel, did you speak to anyone else regarding this ·4··deposition? ·5·· · · · · ··MR. NADLER:··Objection. ·6·· · · · · ··I am going to instruct you not to testify ·7·· · · ·to anything that you and I discussed about ·8·· · · ·this matter.··We are not talking about that. ·9·· · · · · ··THE WITNESS:··Okay. 10·· · · · · ··MR. NADLER:··I believe there is a 11·· · · ·question pending. 12·· · · · · ··MS. SUTTON:··Yes. 13·· · · · · ··If you need me to, I can repeat the 14·· · · ·question. 15·· · · · · ··THE WITNESS:··Yes, please. 16·· · · ·Q.· ·Have you spoken with anyone other than 17··with your counsel regarding this deposition here 18··today? 19·· · · ·A.· ·No. 20·· · · ·Q.· ·Did you ever have any conversations with 21··Gina Napolitano about this matter? 22·· · · · · ··MR. NADLER:··Objection. 23·· · · · · ··You can answer. 24·· · · ·A.· ·No. 25·· · · ·Q.· ·By whom are you currently employed? REPORTERS CENTRAL, LLC * 212-594-3582 9 of 176 FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 05/22/2023 06:15 PM INDEX NO. 650884/2017 NYSCEF DOC. NO. 155 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 05/22/2023 Page 10 ·1·· · · · · · · ·D. Ramchandani ·2·· · · ·A.· ·Raw Brands. ·3·· · · ·Q.· ·R-a-w? ·4·· · · ·A.· ·Yes. ·5·· · · ·Q.· ·LLC? ·6·· · · ·A.· ·Inc. ·7·· · · ·Q.· ·What is your position at Raw Brands, Inc.? ·8·· · · · · ··MR. NADLER:··Objection. ·9·· · · · · ··You can answer. 10·· · · ·A.· ·President. 11·· · · ·Q.· ·What is your role as president of 12··Raw Brands, Inc.? 13·· · · · · ··MR. NADLER:··Objection. 14·· · · · · ··Are you just getting background or -- 15·· · · · · ··MS. SUTTON:··What is his role?··What does 16·· · · ·he do as president of Raw Brands, Inc.? 17·· · · · · ··MR. NADLER:··I am trying to figure out 18·· · · ·what that has to do with the lawsuit or what 19·· · · ·we are here to do today. 20·· · · · · ··MS. SUTTON:··It's background. 21·· · · · · ··MR. NADLER:··So you are getting background 22·· · · ·information? 23·· · · · · ··MS. SUTTON:··Yes. 24·· · · · · ··MR. NADLER:··If you want to quickly 25·· · · ·discuss what you do as president, go ahead. REPORTERS CENTRAL, LLC * 212-594-3582 10 of 176 FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 05/22/2023 06:15 PM INDEX NO. 650884/2017 NYSCEF DOC. NO. 155 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 05/22/2023 Page 11 ·1·· · · · · · · ·D. Ramchandani ·2·· · · ·A.· ·Day-to-day activities. ·3·· · · ·Q.· ·Is Raw Brands, Inc. an affiliate of ·4··Shoez, Inc.? ·5·· · · ·A.· ·I don't understand the question. ·6·· · · ·Q.· ·Is Raw Brands, Inc. in any way affiliated ·7··with the defendant Shoez, Inc.? ·8·· · · ·A.· ·No. ·9·· · · ·Q.· ·Is Raw Brands, Inc. in any way affiliated 10··with the defendant Brands Unlimited, LLC? 11·· · · ·A.· ·No. 12·· · · ·Q.· ·When was Raw Brands, Inc. incorporated? 13·· · · · · ··MR. NADLER:··Objection. 14·· · · · · ··I will let him answer, but I am not sure 15·· · · ·why we are getting hung up on this stuff, but 16·· · · ·go ahead. 17·· · · ·A.· ·I don't remember. 18·· · · ·Q.· ·How long have you been working at 19··Raw Brands, Inc.? 20·· · · · · ··MR. NADLER:··You are deposing a Shoez 21·· · · ·representative right now. 22·· · · · · ··I let it go for a bit of time, but you 23·· · · ·are getting into questions about his role as 24·· · · ·an individual and that becomes problematic, 25·· · · ·which is what we discussed at the beginning REPORTERS CENTRAL, LLC * 212-594-3582 11 of 176 FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 05/22/2023 06:15 PM INDEX NO. 650884/2017 NYSCEF DOC. NO. 155 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 05/22/2023 Page 12 ·1·· · · · · · · ·D. Ramchandani ·2·· · · ·of the deposition, which is that we are ·3·· · · ·discussing Shoez, Inc. and Brands. ·4·· · · · · ··MS. SUTTON:··In my experience you are ·5·· · · ·always allowed to ask about background ·6·· · · ·information, as to how long he has been at ·7·· · · ·companies, and prior experience to working ·8·· · · ·for, let's say, Brands or Shoez. ·9·· · · · · ··I think this is all relevant background 10·· · · ·information and it is permissible. 11·· · · · · ··MR. NADLER:··He can answer the question. 12·· · · · · ··I just want to note my objection.··I 13·· · · ·think that we are getting far afield now. 14·· · · ·A.· ·From the day it was formed, which I don't 15··remember. 16·· · · ·Q.· ·Do you recall whether it was formed two 17··years ago? 18·· · · ·A.· ·Yes. 19·· · · · · ··The last two years. 20·· · · ·Q.· ·What did you do prior to working at 21··Raw Brands, Inc.? 22·· · · ·A.· ·I was working at Brands Unlimited. 23·· · · ·Q.· ·What was your role at Brands Unlimited, 24··LLC? 25·· · · ·A.· ·President. REPORTERS CENTRAL, LLC * 212-594-3582 12 of 176 FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 05/22/2023 06:15 PM INDEX NO. 650884/2017 NYSCEF DOC. NO. 155 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 05/22/2023 Page 13 ·1·· · · · · · · ·D. Ramchandani ·2·· · · ·Q.· ·Is Brands Unlimited still an active ·3··company? ·4·· · · ·A.· ·Yes. ·5·· · · ·Q.· ·What does it do?··What is the business of ·6··Brands Unlimited, LLC? ·7·· · · ·A.· ·It sells clothing. ·8·· · · ·Q.· ·Are you still employed by Brands ·9··Unlimited? 10·· · · ·A.· ·No. 11·· · · ·Q.· ·When did you stop being employed by 12··Brands Unlimited? 13·· · · ·A.· ·I don't remember. 14·· · · ·Q.· ·Who is the current president of Brands 15··Unlimited? 16·· · · ·A.· ·It's still me. 17·· · · ·Q.· ·Is it correct to say that while you are 18··still the president of Brands Unlimited, you no 19··longer receive a paycheck from Brands Unlimited? 20·· · · ·A.· ·That's correct. 21·· · · ·Q.· ·Does Brands Unlimited currently have any 22··salaried employees? 23·· · · ·A.· ·No. 24·· · · ·Q.· ·Is it correct to say that the prior 25··Brands Unlimited, LLC employees are now employed by REPORTERS CENTRAL, LLC * 212-594-3582 13 of 176 FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 05/22/2023 06:15 PM INDEX NO. 650884/2017 NYSCEF DOC. NO. 155 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 05/22/2023 Page 14 ·1·· · · · · · · ·D. Ramchandani ·2··Raw Brands, Inc.? ·3·· · · · · ··MR. NADLER:··Objection. ·4·· · · · · ··You can answer. ·5·· · · ·A.· ·I don't know off the top of my head. ·6·· · · ·Q.· ·Approximately how many employees from ·7··Brands Unlimited, LLC currently work for Raw Brands, ·8··Inc.? ·9·· · · · · ··MR. NADLER:··Objection. 10·· · · · · ··I am going to let him answer, but you are 11·· · · ·asking questions that a representative of 12·· · · ·Raw Brands, Inc. would answer, and a 13·· · · ·representative of Raw Brands, Inc. is not 14·· · · ·being deposed today. 15·· · · · · ··To the extent that he is answering 16·· · · ·questions now, it is as a representative of 17·· · · ·Brands or Shoez. 18·· · · · · ··This is the exact area where I was 19·· · · ·concerned about at the beginning, when I said 20·· · · ·that we will go forward with this deposition 21·· · · ·combining them, but if we are to -- 22·· · · · · ··MS. SUTTON:··This is not about him 23·· · · ·individually. 24·· · · · · ··I just asked how many employees at Brands 25·· · · ·currently work for Raw. REPORTERS CENTRAL, LLC * 212-594-3582 14 of 176 FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 05/22/2023 06:15 PM INDEX NO. 650884/2017 NYSCEF DOC. NO. 155 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 05/22/2023 Page 15 ·1·· · · · · · · ·D. Ramchandani ·2·· · · · · ··MR. NADLER:··But as a representative of ·3·· · · ·Brands Unlimited and Shoez, Inc. he could ·4·· · · ·not possibly answer questions on behalf of ·5·· · · ·Raw Brands. ·6·· · · · · ··MS. SUTTON:··On behalf of Brands he might ·7·· · · ·potentially know how many employees of Brands ·8·· · · ·are working for Raw. ·9·· · · · · ··MR. NADLER:··In your capacity as working 10·· · · ·for Brands, if you know the answer to that -- 11·· · · · · ··THE WITNESS:··I don't know. 12·· · · · · ··MR. NADLER:··Again, I understand what you 13·· · · ·are asking, but I don't think that we are going 14·· · · ·to get very far if you think that you need to 15·· · · ·do this.··It's muddying the water as to what 16·· · · ·we are here to do today. 17·· · · · · ··MS. SUTTON:··That is your opinion. 18·· · · · · ··I think it's relevant. 19·· · · · · ··MR. NADLER:··All right. 20·· · · ·Q.· ·What kind of clothing does Brands 21··Unlimited sell? 22·· · · ·A.· ·I don't understand the question. 23·· · · ·Q.· ·What kind of clothing does Brands 24··Unlimited sell; men's, women's, children's? 25·· · · ·A.· ·Men's clothing. REPORTERS CENTRAL, LLC * 212-594-3582 15 of 176 FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 05/22/2023 06:15 PM INDEX NO. 650884/2017 NYSCEF DOC. NO. 155 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 05/22/2023 Page 16 ·1·· · · · · · · ·D. Ramchandani ·2·· · · ·Q.· ·Does Raw Brands, Inc. also sell men's ·3··clothing? ·4·· · · · · ··MR. NADLER:··Objection. ·5·· · · · · ··MS. SUTTON:··He can answer the question. ·6·· · · · · ··MR. NADLER:··I have let it go so far, but ·7·· · · ·your role today is to try to establish facts ·8·· · · ·to support your claims in this action. ·9·· · · · · ··You are asking him questions about a 10·· · · ·company that is not even a party to this 11·· · · ·action. 12·· · · · · ··MS. SUTTON:··I have claims in the action 13·· · · ·concerning piercing the corporate veil, as 14·· · · ·well, so it's relevant. 15·· · · · · ··MR. NADLER:··Raw Brands is not a party 16·· · · ·to this action. 17·· · · · · ··MS. SUTTON:··Maybe they will be. 18·· · · · · ··MR. NADLER:··If you want to bring them 19·· · · ·in as a party, that is fine. 20·· · · · · ··I have let it go on long enough with 21·· · · ·these questions. 22·· · · · · ··If you want to wrap up this line of 23·· · · ·questioning and move on, that is fine, but if 24·· · · ·you tell me we are going to continue with this 25·· · · ·line, we can perhaps call the judge. REPORTERS CENTRAL, LLC * 212-594-3582 16 of 176 FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 05/22/2023 06:15 PM INDEX NO. 650884/2017 NYSCEF DOC. NO. 155 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 05/22/2023 Page 17 ·1·· · · · · · · ·D. Ramchandani ·2·· · · · · ··I would hate to have to call the judge ·3·· · · ·on introductory questions, but you seem to ·4·· · · ·have lost sight as to the purpose of this ·5·· · · ·deposition. ·6·· · · · · ··I just want to make sure that we rein it ·7·· · · ·back in and do what we are here to do, which ·8·· · · ·is trying to establish whatever you are trying ·9·· · · ·to establish to support your claims. 10·· · · · · ··MS. SUTTON:··And we are getting there. 11·· · · ·Q.· ·You can answer the question. 12·· · · · · ··MR. NADLER:··First of all, I will let you 13·· · · ·know whether he can answer the question or not. 14·· · · · · ··All right?··Can we agree on that? 15·· · · · · ··Second, what was the question? 16·· · · · · ··Would you repeat it, please. 17·· · · · · ··(Question read.) 18·· · · · · ··MR. NADLER:··In your capacity as an 19·· · · ·officer of Brands and Shoez, if you know. 20·· · · ·A.· ·No, I don't. 21·· · · · · ··MS. SUTTON:··I would ask that you not 22·· · · ·coach the witness before he answers. 23·· · · · · ··MR. NADLER:··Point taken. 24·· · · ·Q.· ·When did you become involved in Brands? 25·· · · ·A.· ·When the company was formed. REPORTERS CENTRAL, LLC * 212-594-3582 17 of 176 FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 05/22/2023 06:15 PM INDEX NO. 650884/2017 NYSCEF DOC. NO. 155 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 05/22/2023 Page 18 ·1·· · · · · · · ·D. Ramchandani ·2·· · · ·Q.· ·When was the company formed? ·3·· · · ·A.· ·I don't remember. ·4·· · · ·Q.· ·Was it formed approximately five years ·5··ago? ·6·· · · ·A.· ·I have -- ·7·· · · ·Q.· ·Approximately ten years ago? ·8·· · · ·A.· ·Within ten years. ·9·· · · ·Q.· ·Did it always sell men's clothing? 10·· · · ·A.· ·It always sold clothing. 11·· · · · · ··MR. NADLER:··Can you refer to a specific 12·· · · ·company instead of saying, "it"? 13·· · · · · ··Brands or Shoez or -- 14·· · · · · ··MS. SUTTON··Yes. 15·· · · · · ··MR. NADLER:··For the record, "Brands" 16·· · · ·means Brands Unlimited, correct? 17·· · · · · ··MS. SUTTON:··Correct. 18·· · · · · ··MR. NADLER:··And "Shoez" means Shoez, 19·· · · ·Inc.? 20·· · · · · ··MS. SUTTON:··Yes. 21·· · · · · ··I don't think that I have mentioned Shoez 22·· · · ·yet. 23·· · · · · ··MR. NADLER:··No, you have not. 24·· · · ·Q.· ·Were you always president of Brands? 25·· · · ·A.· ·Yes. REPORTERS CENTRAL, LLC * 212-594-3582 18 of 176 FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 05/22/2023 06:15 PM INDEX NO. 650884/2017 NYSCEF DOC. NO. 155 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 05/22/2023 Page 19 ·1·· · · · · · · ·D. Ramchandani ·2·· · · ·Q.· ·What were your duties as president of the ·3··company? ·4·· · · ·A.· ·The day-to-day activities. ·5·· · · ·Q.· ·Could you describe that in further detail? ·6·· · · ·A.· ·Meeting customers, meeting suppliers, ·7··going to trade shows. ·8·· · · ·Q.· ·Were you an owner of Brands? ·9·· · · ·A.· ·A member. 10·· · · ·Q.· ·How many members are there in Brands? 11·· · · ·A.· ·Three. 12·· · · ·Q.· ·Who are the other members of Brands? 13·· · · ·A.· ·Kamala Ramchandani. 14·· · · · · ··K-a-m-a-l-a, the same last name as mine. 15·· · · ·Q.· ·All right. 16·· · · ·A.· ·Kanaya Ramchandani. 17·· · · · · ··K-a-n-a-y-a, the same last name as mine. 18·· · · ·Q.· ·Are you related to Kamala? 19·· · · ·A.· ·Yes. 20·· · · ·Q.· ·How are you related? 21·· · · ·A.· ·My brother. 22·· · · ·Q.· ·How about Kanaya? 23·· · · ·A.· ·Yes. 24·· · · ·Q.· ·How are you related to him? 25·· · · ·A.· ·My father. REPORTERS CENTRAL, LLC * 212-594-3582 19 of 176 FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 05/22/2023 06:15 PM INDEX NO. 650884/2017 NYSCEF DOC. NO. 155 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 05/22/2023 Page 20 ·1·· · · · · · · ·D. Ramchandani ·2·· · · ·Q.· ·What is Kamala's position at Brands? ·3·· · · ·A.· ·He has no position. ·4·· · · ·Q.· ·Is Kamala an employee of Brands? ·5·· · · ·A.· ·No. ·6·· · · ·Q.· ·Is Kamala in any way involved with sales? ·7·· · · ·A.· ·No. ·8·· · · ·Q.· ·Kanaya, your father, is he an employee of ·9··Brands? 10·· · · ·A.· ·No. 11·· · · ·Q.· ·Does he maintain any other position other 12··than as a member in Brands? 13·· · · ·A.· ·No. 14·· · · ·Q.· ·Did all three members form the company 15··together? 16·· · · ·A.· ·I don't remember. 17·· · · ·Q.· ·Were there any other members of Brands at 18··any other time? 19·· · · ·A.· ·No. 20·· · · ·Q.· ·Were you ever a sole member of Brands? 21·· · · ·A.· ·Yes. 22·· · · ·Q.· ·When was that? 23·· · · ·A.· ·When the company was formed. 24·· · · ·Q.· ·Approximately how long after the company 25··was formed did Kamala become a member? REPORTERS CENTRAL, LLC * 212-594-3582 20 of 176 FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 05/22/2023 06:15 PM INDEX NO. 650884/2017 NYSCEF DOC. NO. 155 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 05/22/2023 Page 21 ·1·· · · · · · · ·D. Ramchandani ·2·· · · ·A.· ·I don't remember. ·3·· · · ·Q.· ·Approximately how long after the company ·4··was formed did your father, Kanaya, become a member? ·5·· · · ·A.· ·I don't remember. ·6·· · · ·Q.· ·Where are Brands' offices currently ·7··located? ·8·· · · ·A.· ·We share the same office. ·9·· · · · · ··1357 Broadway. 10·· · · ·Q.· ·Who does Brands share office space with? 11·· · · ·A.· ·With another company. 12·· · · ·Q.· ·What is the name of the other company? 13·· · · ·A.· ·Raw Brands. 14·· · · ·Q.· ·Does Brands have any other operating 15··locations? 16·· · · ·A.· ·No. 17·· · · ·Q.· ·Does Brands have any other warehouse 18··locations? 19·· · · · · ··MR. NADLER:··Objection. 20·· · · · · ··You can answer. 21·· · · ·Q.· ·Does Brands have any warehouses? 22·· · · ·A.· ·No. 23·· · · ·Q.· ·Does Brands have any office space in LA? 24·· · · ·A.· ·No. 25·· · · ·Q.· ·Does Brands rent warehouse space REPORTERS CENTRAL, LLC * 212-594-3582 21 of 176 FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 05/22/2023 06:15 PM INDEX NO. 650884/2017 NYSCEF DOC. NO. 155 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 05/22/2023 Page 22 ·1·· · · · · · · ·D. Ramchandani ·2··anywhere? ·3·· · · ·A.· ·No. ·4·· · · ·Q.· ·Does Brands have any other affiliated ·5··companies? ·6·· · · · · ··MR. NADLER:··Objection. ·7·· · · · · ··You can answer. ·8·· · · ·A.· ·I don't understand the question. ·9·· · · ·Q.· ·I believe you said that Brands is in the 10··men's clothing business; is that correct? 11·· · · ·A.· ·That's correct. 12·· · · ·Q.· ·Does Brands import men's clothing? 13·· · · ·A.· ·Yes. 14·· · · ·Q.· ·How is that done? 15·· · · · · ··MR. NADLER:··Objection. 16·· · · ·A.· ·I don't understand the question. 17·· · · · · ··MR. NADLER:··That is a broad question. 18·· · · ·Q.· ·Does Brands currently import clothing, 19··men's clothing? 20·· · · ·A.· ·Yes. 21·· · · ·Q.· ·Approximately how much clothing, would 22··you say, is imported by Brands per year? 23·· · · · · ··MR. NADLER:··Objection. 24·· · · · · ··Do you want to put a parameter on it? 25·· · · · · ··MS. SUTTON:··A year. REPORTERS CENTRAL, LLC * 212-594-3582 22 of 176 FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 05/22/2023 06:15 PM INDEX NO. 650884/2017 NYSCEF DOC. NO. 155 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 05/22/2023 Page 23 ·1·· · · · · · · ·D. Ramchandani ·2·· · · · · ··MR. NADLER:··Quantity?··Dollars? ·3·· · · · · ··MS. SUTTON:··In quantity, the number of ·4·· · · ·pieces. ·5·· · · ·Q.· ·Do you know? ·6·· · · ·A.· ·I don't know. ·7·· · · ·Q.· ·Do you know a dollar amount? ·8·· · · ·A.· ·I don't know. ·9·· · · ·Q.· ·Is Brands in any way affiliated with a 10··company called Shoez, Inc.? 11·· · · ·A.· ·I actually don't understand the term 12··"affiliated." 13·· · · ·Q.· ·Is Brands related in any way to the 14··company Shoez, Inc.; do they share common ownership 15··and common employees, et cetera? 16·· · · · · ··MR. NADLER:··Objection. 17·· · · · · ··Can you break that up? 18·· · · · · ··MS. SUTTON:··All right. 19·· · · ·Q.· ·Are any members of Brands also members 20··of Shoez? 21·· · · ·A.· ·Can you please repeat the question? 22·· · · ·Q.· ·Are any members of Brands also owners in 23··Shoez? 24·· · · ·A.· ·No. 25·· · · ·Q.· ·Does Brands share the same employees as REPORTERS CENTRAL, LLC * 212-594-3582 23 of 176 FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 05/22/2023 06:15 PM INDEX NO. 650884/2017 NYSCEF DOC. NO. 155 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 05/22/2023 Page 24 ·1·· · · · · · · ·D. Ramchandani ·2··Shoez? ·3·· · · ·A.· ·No. ·4·· · · ·Q.· ·You are here today as a representative of ·5··Shoez, as well, today; is that correct? ·6·· · · ·A.· ·Yes. ·7·· · · ·Q.· ·What is your role at Shoez, Inc.? ·8·· · · ·A.· ·I was buying on behalf of the company. ·9·· · · ·Q.· ·When you say that you were buying on 10··behalf of the company, you individually or Brands? 11·· · · · · ··MR. NADLER:··Objection. 12·· · · · · ··You asked him what his role at Shoez was. 13·· · · · · ··MS. SUTTON:··Yes. 14·· · · · · ··MR. NADLER:··I think he is talking about 15·· · · ·what one of his responsibilities was. 16·· · · · · ··Do you want to know what his title was at 17·· · · ·Shoez; is that what you are asking? 18·· · · · · ··MS. SUTTON:··I wanted to first know what 19·· · · ·he was doing and then if he can also tell me 20·· · · ·what his title was at Shoez. 21·· · · ·A.· ·Buyer. 22·· · · ·Q.· ·Who are the owners of Shoez, Inc.? 23·· · · ·A.· ·Me. 24·· · · ·Q.· ·Is it correct to say that you are the 25··sole owner of Shoez, Inc.? REPORTERS CENTRAL, LLC * 212-594-3582 24 of 176 FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 05/22/2023 06:15 PM INDEX NO. 650884/2017 NYSCEF DOC. NO. 155 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 05/22/2023 Page 25 ·1·· · · · · · · ·D. Ramchandani ·2·· · · ·A.· ·Yes. ·3·· · · ·Q.· ·Are you currently a buyer on behalf of ·4··Shoez? ·5·· · · · · ··MR. NADLER:··For -- ·6·· · · · · ··MS. SUTTON:··For Shoez. ·7·· · · ·A.· ·Yes. ·8·· · · ·Q.· ·How long have you been a buyer for Shoez? ·9·· · · ·A.· ·Since the company was formed. 10·· · · ·Q.· ·Do you remember when Shoez was formed? 11·· · · ·A.· ·Over ten years ago. 12·· · · ·Q.· ·Do you receive a salary from Shoez? 13·· · · ·A.· ·No. 14·· · · ·Q.· ·Does Shoez have any salaried employees? 15·· · · ·A.· ·No. 16·· · · ·Q.· ·What is Shoez in the business of? 17·· · · ·A.· ·General merchandise. 18·· · · ·Q.· ·Can you explain that, please? 19·· · · ·A.· ·Buying and selling of product. 20·· · · ·Q.· ·Who does Shoez buy product from, 21··typically? 22·· · · ·A.· ·Everybody. 23·· · · ·Q.· ·Do they buy product from overseas? 24·· · · ·A.· ·Yes. 25·· · · ·Q.· ·Is there a country of origin that Shoez REPORTERS CENTRAL, LLC * 212-594-3582 25 of 176 FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 05/22/2023 06:15 PM INDEX NO. 650884/2017 NYSCEF DOC. NO. 155 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 05/22/2023 Page 26 ·1·· · · · · · · ·D. Ramchandani ·2··typically buys product from? ·3·· · · · · ··MR. NADLER:··Objection. ·4·· · · · · ··You can answer. ·5·· · · ·A.· ·No. ·6·· · · ·Q.· ·Who does Shoez sell product to? ·7·· · · ·A.· ·Wholesalers and retailers. ·8·· · · ·Q.· ·Who do they sell product to? ·9·· · · ·A.· ·Wholesalers and retailers. 10·· · · ·Q.· ·Both? 11·· · · ·A.· ·Yes. 12·· · · ·Q.· ·Are the wholesalers and retailers 13··primarily located within the United States? 14·· · · ·A.· ·No. 15·· · · ·Q.· ·Where are Shoez's purchasers? 16·· · · · · ··MR. NADLER:··Customers? 17·· · · · · ··MS. SUTTON:··Customers. 18·· · · ·Q.· ·Where are Shoez's customers located? 19·· · · ·A.· ·Can you repeat the question, please? 20·· · · ·Q.· ·I believe you testified that the 21··wholesalers and retailers that Shoez sells to are 22··not in the United States. 23·· · · · · ··Where are they located? 24·· · · ·A.· ·Canada and Mexico. 25·· · · ·Q.· ·Does Shoez buy product on behalf of REPORTERS CENTRAL, LLC * 212-594-3582 26 of 176 FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 05/22/2023 06:15 PM INDEX NO. 650884/2017 NYSCEF DOC. NO. 155 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 05/22/2023 Page 27 ·1·· · · · · · · ·D. Ramchandani ·2··Brands? ·3·· · · · · ··MR. NADLER:··Objection. ·4·· · · · · ··You can answer. ·5·· · · ·A.· ·No. ·6·· · · ·Q.· ·Does Shoez sell to Brands? ·7·· · · · · ··MR. NADLER:··Objection. ·8·· · · · · ··You are talking about what time frame? ·9·· · · · · ··MS. SUTTON:··In general. 10·· · · ·Q.· ·In general, does Shoez typically sell to 11··Brands merchandise that it imports? 12·· · · ·A.· ·Can you please repeat the question? 13·· · · ·Q.· ·Does Shoez sell any product to Brands? 14·· · · · · ··MR. NADLER:··Currently? 15·· · · · · ··MS. SUTTON:··In the past or currently. 16·· · · · · ··MR. NADLER:··That is two questions. 17·· · · ·Q.· ·In the past, did Shoez sell product to 18··Brands? 19·· · · ·A.· ·Yes. 20·· · · ·Q.· ·What did they typically sell to Brands? 21·· · · · · ··MR. NADLER:··Objection. 22·· · · · · ··You can answer. 23·· · · ·A.· ·Clothing. 24·· · · ·Q.· ·Was it typically men's clothing? 25·· · · ·A.· ·I don't remember. REPORTERS CENTRAL, LLC * 212-594-3582 27 of 176 FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 05/22/2023 06:15 PM INDEX NO. 650884/2017 NYSCEF DOC. NO. 155 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 05/22/2023 Page 28 ·1·· · · · · · · ·D. Ramchandani ·2·· · · ·Q.· ·Does Shoez primarily sell product that it ·3··imports to Brands? ·4·· · · ·A.· ·I don't understand the question. ·5·· · · ·Q.· ·What is the nature of Shoez's and Brands' ·6··business together? ·7·· · · · · ··MR. NADLER:··Objection. ·8·· · · · · ··You can answer, if you understand the ·9·· · · ·question. 10·· · · ·A.· ·Whose relation? 11·· · · ·Q.· ·Shoez and Brands. 12·· · · ·A.· ·Brands is Shoez's customer. 13·· · · ·Q.· ·Does Brands receive product from any 14··supplier other than Shoez? 15·· · · ·A.· ·Yes. 16·· · · ·Q.· ·Who is that? 17·· · · ·A.· ·I don't remember. 18·· · · ·Q.· ·Does Brands receive the majority of the 19··product that they sell from Shoez? 20·· · · ·A.· ·As of when? 21·· · · ·Q.· ·In the past. 22·· · · ·A.· ·Yesterday? 23·· · · · · ··"In the past" meaning when? 24·· · · ·Q.· ·In 2015. 25·· · · ·A.· ·I would not remember that. REPORTERS CENTRAL, LLC * 212-594-3582 28 of 176 FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 05/22/2023 06:15 PM INDEX NO. 650884/2017 NYSCEF DOC. NO. 155 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 05/22/2023 Page 29 ·1·· · · · · · · ·D. Ramchandani ·2·· · · ·Q.· ·How about currently? ·3·· · · ·A.· ·No. ·4·· · · · · ··I'm sorry. ·5·· · · · · ··Currently what? ·6·· · · ·Q.· ·Currently is Shoez the primary supplier ·7··to Brands? ·8·· · · ·A.· ·No. ·9·· · · ·Q.· ·Who currently primarily supplies product 10··to Brands? 11·· · · ·A.· ·To Brands? 12·· · · ·Q.· ·Yes. 13·· · · ·A.· ·I don't know. 14·· · · ·Q.· ·But it's not Shoez? 15·· · · ·A.· ·I don't know. 16·· · · ·Q.· ·Does Brands ever sell product to Shoez? 17·· · · ·A.· ·I don't remember. 18·· · · ·Q.· ·Is it typical in their business 19··relationship that Brands would sell product to 20··Shoez? 21·· · · · · ··MR. NADLER:··Objection. 22·· · · · · ··You can answer, but I am not sure -- 23·· · · ·excuse me. 24·· · · ·A.· ·Can you please repeat the question? 25·· · · ·Q.· ·You testified that Brands is a Shoez REPORTERS CENTRAL, LLC * 212-594-3582 29 of 176 FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 05/22/2023 06:15 PM INDEX NO. 650884/2017 NYSCEF DOC. NO. 155 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 05/22/2023 Page 30 ·1·· · · · · · · ·D. Ramchandani ·2··customer? ·3·· · · ·A.· ·Yes. ·4·· · · ·Q.· ·Does it also work the other way around; ·5··is Shoez a Brands customer? ·6·· · · ·A.· ·No. ·7·· · · ·Q.· ·Can you describe that relationship in ·8··more detail? ·9·· · · ·A.· ·Whose relationship? 10·· · · ·Q.· ·Brands and Shoez. 11·· · · · · ··MR. NADLER:··Objection; asked and 12·· · · ·answered. 13·· · · · · ··You can answer. 14·· · · ·A.· ·Can you elaborate on the question? 15·· · · · · ··I don't understand. 16·· · · ·Q.· ·Can you take me through the sequence; 17··would Shoez import goods from overseas and then 18··typically sell it to Brands? 19·· · · · · ··MR. NADLER:··Is that a question? 20·· · · · · ··MS. SUTTON:··Yes. 21·· · · ·Q.· ·Is that a typical scenario in both Shoez's 22··and Brands' business? 23·· · · ·A.· ·No. 24·· · · ·Q.· ·Can you tell me what is typical? 25·· · · ·A.· ·Shoez would buy and then would try to REPORTERS CENTRAL, LLC * 212-594-3582 30 of 176 FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 05/22/2023 06:15 PM INDEX NO. 650884/2017 NYSCEF DOC. NO. 155 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 05/22/2023 Page 31 ·1·· · · · · · · ·D. Ramchandani ·2··sell.··Basically, Brands would buy first, or ·3··somebody else would buy, and they would turn around ·4··and sell it to whoever. ·5·· · · ·Q.· ·Who are Brands' customers; does Brands ·6··sell to wholesalers and retailers? ·7·· · · ·A.· ·Yes. ·8·· · · ·Q.· ·Where are those customers primarily ·9··located? 10·· · · · · ··MR. NADLER:··Objection. 11·· · · · · ··You can answer. 12·· · · ·A.· ·In the US, Mexico, Canada. 13·· · · ·Q.· ·Am I correct in stating that Brands sells 14··to US customers and Shoez does not? 15·· · · ·A.· ·Sorry, can you please repeat the question? 16·· · · ·Q.· ·Am I correct that Brands sells product to 17··US customers, but Shoez does not? 18·· · · · · ··MR. NADLER:··Currently, present tense? 19·· · · · · ··MS. SUTTON:··Present tense. 20·· · · ·A.· ·I am sorry, I am not following the 21··question. 22·· · · ·Q.· ·I believe that you testified that Brands 23··has customers in the United States; is that correct? 24·· · · ·A.· ·Brands has customers in the United States, 25··Mexico and Canada. REPORTERS CENTRAL, LLC * 212-594-3582 31 of 176 FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 05/22/2023 06:15 PM INDEX NO. 650884/2017 NYSCEF DOC. NO. 155 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 05/22/2023 Page 32 ·1·· · · · · · · ·D. Ramchandani ·2·· · · ·Q.· ·And Shoez does not have customers within ·3··the United States? ·4·· · · ·A.· ·Shoez has customers in the US, Mexico and ·5··Canada. ·6·· · · ·Q.· ·You are currently a buyer for Shoez, ·7··correct? ·8·· · · · · ··MR. NADLER:··Who are you talking to now? ·9·· · · · · ··MS. SUTTON:··I didn't mean to say that so 10·· · · ·affirmatively. 11·· · · ·Q.· ·You individually are currently a buyer 12··for Shoez; is that correct? 13·· · · · · ··MR. NADLER:··Objection. 14·· · · · · ··You can answer just on behalf of Shoez. 15·· · · ·A.· ·No.