Preview
FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 05/16/2023 05:30 PM INDEX NO. 657193/2020
NYSCEF DOC. NO. 1620 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 05/16/2023
SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK
COMMERCIAL DIVISION, NEW YORK COUNTY
YASEMIN TEKINER,
in her individual capacity, as a beneficiary
and a Trustee of The Yasemin Tekiner
2011 Descendants Trust and derivatively as Index No. 657193/2020
a holder of equitable interests in a
shareholder or a member of the Company Commercial Division Part 3
Defendants,
Hon. Joel M. Cohen
Plaintiff,
Motion Seq. No. 62
-against-
BREMEN HOUSE INC., GERMAN NEWS
COMPANY, INC., BERRIN TEKINER, GONCA
TEKINER, and BILLUR AKIPEK, in her capacity
as a Trustee of The Yasemin Tekiner 2011
Descendants Trust,
Defendants.
ZEYNEP TEKINER,
in her individual capacity, as a beneficiary
and a Trustee of The Zeynep Tekiner 2011
Descendants Trust and derivatively as a
holder of equitable interests in a
shareholder or a member of the Company
Defendants,
Intervenor-Plaintiff,
-against-
BREMEN HOUSE INC., GERMAN NEWS
COMPANY, INC., BERRIN TEKINER, GONCA
TEKINER, and BILLUR AKIPEK, in her capacity
as a Trustee of The Yasemin Tekiner 2011
Descendants Trust,
Defendants.
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MEMORANDUM OF LAW IN SUPPORT OF PLAINTIFFS’ MOTION TO SEAL
DOCUMENTS RELATING TO CONFIDENTIAL AND PRIVILEGED INFORMATION
Sanjay P. Ibrahim Michele Kahn
Scott W. Parker KAHN & GOLDBERG LLP
PARKER IBRAHIM & BERG LLP 555 Fifth Avenue, 14th Floor
5 Penn Plaza, Suite 2371 New York, New York 10017
New York, New York 10001 Telephone: (212) 687-5066
Telephone: (212) 596-7037 mkahn@kahngoldberg.com
sanjay.ibrahim@piblaw.com
scott.parker@piblaw.com
Benjamin H. Weissman
FOLEY HOAG LLP
1301 Avenue of the Americas
New York, New York 10019
Telephone: (212) 812-0351
bweissman@foleyhoag.com
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF AUTHORITIES .......................................................................................... ii
STATEMENT OF FACTS ............................................................................................... 1
ARGUMENT .................................................................................................................... 2
CONCLUSION ................................................................................................................. 3
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TABLE OF AUTHORITIES
Cases
Cohen v S.A.C. Capital Advisors LLC,
2006 NYLJ LEXIS 754 [Sup Ct, NY County Jan 3, 2006].............................................................2
Coopersmith v Gold,
156 Misc 2d 594 [Sup Ct, Rockland County 1992] .......................................................................2
Mancheski v Gabelli Grp. Capital Partners,
39 AD3d 499 [2d Dept 2007] ........................................................................................................2
In re Twentieth Century Fox Film Corp.,
190 AD2d 483 [1st Dept 1993] …....…....…....…..........................................................................2
Other Authorities
22 NYCRR § 216.1(a)....................................................................................................................2
ii
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Plaintiffs, upon the accompanying emergency affirmation of Scott W. Parker (the “Parker
Sealing Affirmation”), submit this memorandum in support of their motion to seal documents
relating to confidential and privileged information described herein.
STATEMENT OF FACTS
On November 10, 2022, this Court entered an Amended Stipulation and Order for the
Production an Exchange of Confidential Information (NYSCEF Doc. No. 856) (the “Amended
Confidentiality Stipulation”) in the above-captioned case. The Amended Confidentiality
Stipulation provides that any Party who seeks to file with the Court any deposition transcripts or
other documents which have been previously been designated as comprising or containing
confidential information or any pleading, brief or memorandum which reproduces, paraphrases or
discloses such confidential information shall submit such document in redacted form until the
Court renders a decision on any motion to seal.
In connection with Plaintiffs’ Order to Show Cause to Renew (Motion Sequence No. 61),
Plaintiffs respectfully request that the following documents be filed under seal: “Bremen House,
Inc – Transactions by Accounting Period From History” (BREM00407555 – 00407745); Bremen
House, Inc – Transactions by General Ledge Number from History (BREM00408138 – 408147);
German News– Transactions by Accounting Period from History (BREM00408202 –00408266);
German News– Transactions by General Ledger Number from History (BREM00408456 –
00408457); Relevant Portions of the March 31, 2023 Deposition Transcript of Sadan Gurbuzturk,
and Relevant Portions of the March 29, 2023 Deposition Transcript of Denise Baumann,
collectively referred to herein as the “Subject Documents.” (NYSCEF Doc. Nos. 1605-1610).
Specifically, they seek to seal the Subject Documents based on Defendants’ contention that these
documents contain confidential and proprietary business information of Bremen House, Inc.
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and/or German News Company, Inc. contained in transaction reports generated by Raish LLC, or
alternatively, are portions of deposition transcripts presumptively treated as confidential.
Accordingly, Plaintiffs now move to seal those documents in accordance with the
Amended Confidentiality Stipulation.
ARGUMENT
Pursuant to 22 NYCRR § 216.1(a), a court may “enter an order . . . sealing the court
records, whether in whole or in part” upon a “written finding of good cause.” In determining
whether there is good cause, the court should “weigh[] the interests of the public against the
interests of the parties.” (Mancheski v Gabelli Grp. Capital Partners, 39 AD3d 499, 502 [2d
Dept 2007].) In finding good cause to seal documents, the Court “presupposes that public access
to the documents at issue will likely result in harm to a compelling interest of the movant…, and
that no alternative to sealing can adequately protect the threatened interest.” ( Id., at 502.) Good
cause “boils down to . . . the prudent exercise of the court’s discretion.” (Id., at 502 (citing
Coopersmith v Gold, 156 Misc 2d 594, 606 [Sup Ct, Rockland County 1992].) “[C]onfidentiality
is, in certain circumstances, necessary in order to protect the litigants . . . .” ( In re Twentieth
Century Fox Film Corp., 190 AD2d 483, 486 [1st Dept 1993].) “When the balance [of
interests] favors confidentiality, confidentiality should be provided.” ( Id., at 486.)
Additionally, New York courts have held that “sensitive proprietary and business
information” should be sealed where “the parties have an interest in protecting and there is no
countervailing public interest that would furthered by their disclosure.” (Cohen v S.A.C. Capital
Advisors LLC, 2006 NYLJ LEXIS 754, at *19 [Sup Ct, NY County Jan 3, 2006].)
Here, based on Defendants’ contentions, the Subject Documents contain confidential and
proprietary business information of Bremen House, Inc. and/or German News Company, Inc. or
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alternatively, are portions of deposition transcripts presumptively treated as confidential. As such,
good cause exists for sealing the Subject Documents because the public would have no compelling
interest in having access to such information.
CONCLUSION
For the foregoing reasons, Plaintiffs respectfully request that the Court grant their motion
to seal.
Dated: New York, New York Respectfully submitted,
May 16, 2023
PARKER IBRAHIM & BERG LLP
/s/ Scott W. Parker
Sanjay P. Ibrahim, Esq.
Scott W. Parker, Esq.
5 Penn Plaza, Suite 2371
New York, New York 10001
Telephone: (212) 596-7037
E-mail: sanjay.ibrahim@piblaw.com
scott.parker@piblaw.com
Please reply to Somerset address:
270 Davidson Avenue, 5th Floor
Somerset, New Jersey 08873
Telephone: (908) 725-9700
FOLEY HOAG LLP
/s/ Benjamin H. Weissman
Benjamin H. Weissman, Esq.
1301 Avenue of the Americas, 25th Floor
New York, New York 10019
Telephone: (212) 812-0365
Email: bweissman@foleyhoag.com
KAHN & GOLDBERG LLP
/s/ Michele Kahn
Michele Kahn, Esq.
3
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555 Fifth Avenue, 14th Floor
New York, New York 10017
Telephone: (212) 687-6066
Email: mkahn@kahngoldberg.com
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CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO COMMERCIAL DIVISION RULE 17
I hereby certify that the foregoing Memorandum complies with Rule 17 of subdivision (g)
of section 202.70 of the Uniform Rules for the Supreme Court and County Court (Rules of Practice
for the Commercial Division of the Supreme Court) and is within the word limit of 7,000.
Dated: New York, New York
May 16, 2023
/s/ Scott W. Parker
Scott W. Parker, Esq.
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Preview
FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 05/16/2023 05:30 PM INDEX NO. 657193/2020 NYSCEF DOC. NO. 1620 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 05/16/2023 SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COMMERCIAL DIVISION, NEW YORK COUNTY YASEMIN TEKINER, in her individual capacity, as a beneficiary and a Trustee of The Yasemin Tekiner 2011 Descendants Trust and derivatively as Index No. 657193/2020 a holder of equitable interests in a shareholder or a member of the Company Commercial Division Part 3 Defendants, Hon. Joel M. Cohen Plaintiff, Motion Seq. No. 62 -against- BREMEN HOUSE INC., GERMAN NEWS COMPANY, INC., BERRIN TEKINER, GONCA TEKINER, and BILLUR AKIPEK, in her capacity as a Trustee of The Yasemin Tekiner 2011 Descendants Trust, Defendants. ZEYNEP TEKINER, in her individual capacity, as a beneficiary and a Trustee of The Zeynep Tekiner 2011 Descendants Trust and derivatively as a holder of equitable interests in a shareholder or a member of the Company Defendants, Intervenor-Plaintiff, -against- BREMEN HOUSE INC., GERMAN NEWS COMPANY, INC., BERRIN TEKINER, GONCA TEKINER, and BILLUR AKIPEK, in her capacity as a Trustee of The Yasemin Tekiner 2011 Descendants Trust, Defendants. 1 of 9 FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 05/16/2023 05:30 PM INDEX NO. 657193/2020 NYSCEF DOC. NO. 1620 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 05/16/2023 MEMORANDUM OF LAW IN SUPPORT OF PLAINTIFFS’ MOTION TO SEAL DOCUMENTS RELATING TO CONFIDENTIAL AND PRIVILEGED INFORMATION Sanjay P. Ibrahim Michele Kahn Scott W. Parker KAHN & GOLDBERG LLP PARKER IBRAHIM & BERG LLP 555 Fifth Avenue, 14th Floor 5 Penn Plaza, Suite 2371 New York, New York 10017 New York, New York 10001 Telephone: (212) 687-5066 Telephone: (212) 596-7037 mkahn@kahngoldberg.com sanjay.ibrahim@piblaw.com scott.parker@piblaw.com Benjamin H. Weissman FOLEY HOAG LLP 1301 Avenue of the Americas New York, New York 10019 Telephone: (212) 812-0351 bweissman@foleyhoag.com 2 of 9 FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 05/16/2023 05:30 PM INDEX NO. 657193/2020 NYSCEF DOC. NO. 1620 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 05/16/2023 TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE OF AUTHORITIES .......................................................................................... ii STATEMENT OF FACTS ............................................................................................... 1 ARGUMENT .................................................................................................................... 2 CONCLUSION ................................................................................................................. 3 i 3 of 9 FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 05/16/2023 05:30 PM INDEX NO. 657193/2020 NYSCEF DOC. NO. 1620 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 05/16/2023 TABLE OF AUTHORITIES Cases Cohen v S.A.C. Capital Advisors LLC, 2006 NYLJ LEXIS 754 [Sup Ct, NY County Jan 3, 2006].............................................................2 Coopersmith v Gold, 156 Misc 2d 594 [Sup Ct, Rockland County 1992] .......................................................................2 Mancheski v Gabelli Grp. Capital Partners, 39 AD3d 499 [2d Dept 2007] ........................................................................................................2 In re Twentieth Century Fox Film Corp., 190 AD2d 483 [1st Dept 1993] …....…....…....…..........................................................................2 Other Authorities 22 NYCRR § 216.1(a)....................................................................................................................2 ii 4 of 9 FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 05/16/2023 05:30 PM INDEX NO. 657193/2020 NYSCEF DOC. NO. 1620 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 05/16/2023 Plaintiffs, upon the accompanying emergency affirmation of Scott W. Parker (the “Parker Sealing Affirmation”), submit this memorandum in support of their motion to seal documents relating to confidential and privileged information described herein. STATEMENT OF FACTS On November 10, 2022, this Court entered an Amended Stipulation and Order for the Production an Exchange of Confidential Information (NYSCEF Doc. No. 856) (the “Amended Confidentiality Stipulation”) in the above-captioned case. The Amended Confidentiality Stipulation provides that any Party who seeks to file with the Court any deposition transcripts or other documents which have been previously been designated as comprising or containing confidential information or any pleading, brief or memorandum which reproduces, paraphrases or discloses such confidential information shall submit such document in redacted form until the Court renders a decision on any motion to seal. In connection with Plaintiffs’ Order to Show Cause to Renew (Motion Sequence No. 61), Plaintiffs respectfully request that the following documents be filed under seal: “Bremen House, Inc – Transactions by Accounting Period From History” (BREM00407555 – 00407745); Bremen House, Inc – Transactions by General Ledge Number from History (BREM00408138 – 408147); German News– Transactions by Accounting Period from History (BREM00408202 –00408266); German News– Transactions by General Ledger Number from History (BREM00408456 – 00408457); Relevant Portions of the March 31, 2023 Deposition Transcript of Sadan Gurbuzturk, and Relevant Portions of the March 29, 2023 Deposition Transcript of Denise Baumann, collectively referred to herein as the “Subject Documents.” (NYSCEF Doc. Nos. 1605-1610). Specifically, they seek to seal the Subject Documents based on Defendants’ contention that these documents contain confidential and proprietary business information of Bremen House, Inc. 1 5 of 9 FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 05/16/2023 05:30 PM INDEX NO. 657193/2020 NYSCEF DOC. NO. 1620 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 05/16/2023 and/or German News Company, Inc. contained in transaction reports generated by Raish LLC, or alternatively, are portions of deposition transcripts presumptively treated as confidential. Accordingly, Plaintiffs now move to seal those documents in accordance with the Amended Confidentiality Stipulation. ARGUMENT Pursuant to 22 NYCRR § 216.1(a), a court may “enter an order . . . sealing the court records, whether in whole or in part” upon a “written finding of good cause.” In determining whether there is good cause, the court should “weigh[] the interests of the public against the interests of the parties.” (Mancheski v Gabelli Grp. Capital Partners, 39 AD3d 499, 502 [2d Dept 2007].) In finding good cause to seal documents, the Court “presupposes that public access to the documents at issue will likely result in harm to a compelling interest of the movant…, and that no alternative to sealing can adequately protect the threatened interest.” ( Id., at 502.) Good cause “boils down to . . . the prudent exercise of the court’s discretion.” (Id., at 502 (citing Coopersmith v Gold, 156 Misc 2d 594, 606 [Sup Ct, Rockland County 1992].) “[C]onfidentiality is, in certain circumstances, necessary in order to protect the litigants . . . .” ( In re Twentieth Century Fox Film Corp., 190 AD2d 483, 486 [1st Dept 1993].) “When the balance [of interests] favors confidentiality, confidentiality should be provided.” ( Id., at 486.) Additionally, New York courts have held that “sensitive proprietary and business information” should be sealed where “the parties have an interest in protecting and there is no countervailing public interest that would furthered by their disclosure.” (Cohen v S.A.C. Capital Advisors LLC, 2006 NYLJ LEXIS 754, at *19 [Sup Ct, NY County Jan 3, 2006].) Here, based on Defendants’ contentions, the Subject Documents contain confidential and proprietary business information of Bremen House, Inc. and/or German News Company, Inc. or 2 6 of 9 FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 05/16/2023 05:30 PM INDEX NO. 657193/2020 NYSCEF DOC. NO. 1620 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 05/16/2023 alternatively, are portions of deposition transcripts presumptively treated as confidential. As such, good cause exists for sealing the Subject Documents because the public would have no compelling interest in having access to such information. CONCLUSION For the foregoing reasons, Plaintiffs respectfully request that the Court grant their motion to seal. Dated: New York, New York Respectfully submitted, May 16, 2023 PARKER IBRAHIM & BERG LLP /s/ Scott W. Parker Sanjay P. Ibrahim, Esq. Scott W. Parker, Esq. 5 Penn Plaza, Suite 2371 New York, New York 10001 Telephone: (212) 596-7037 E-mail: sanjay.ibrahim@piblaw.com scott.parker@piblaw.com Please reply to Somerset address: 270 Davidson Avenue, 5th Floor Somerset, New Jersey 08873 Telephone: (908) 725-9700 FOLEY HOAG LLP /s/ Benjamin H. Weissman Benjamin H. Weissman, Esq. 1301 Avenue of the Americas, 25th Floor New York, New York 10019 Telephone: (212) 812-0365 Email: bweissman@foleyhoag.com KAHN & GOLDBERG LLP /s/ Michele Kahn Michele Kahn, Esq. 3 7 of 9 FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 05/16/2023 05:30 PM INDEX NO. 657193/2020 NYSCEF DOC. NO. 1620 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 05/16/2023 555 Fifth Avenue, 14th Floor New York, New York 10017 Telephone: (212) 687-6066 Email: mkahn@kahngoldberg.com 4 8 of 9 FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 05/16/2023 05:30 PM INDEX NO. 657193/2020 NYSCEF DOC. NO. 1620 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 05/16/2023 CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO COMMERCIAL DIVISION RULE 17 I hereby certify that the foregoing Memorandum complies with Rule 17 of subdivision (g) of section 202.70 of the Uniform Rules for the Supreme Court and County Court (Rules of Practice for the Commercial Division of the Supreme Court) and is within the word limit of 7,000. Dated: New York, New York May 16, 2023 /s/ Scott W. Parker Scott W. Parker, Esq. 5 9 of 9