Judge Chin Troubled by Lin Wood Release of Cosby Deposition to Bald Truth
December 27th, 2007 by QV
Bald Truth, Howard K Stern, Judge Chin, lin wood, Rita Cosby
In a Memorandum and Order drafted by Judge D.J. Chin, the presiding judge over Howard K. Stern vs Rita Cosby and Hatchette Book Group, Judge Chin admonishes Howard K Stern attorney Lin Wood for “leaking” the Rita Cosby deposition to artharris.com.
Howard K Stern was granted a deposition with Rita Cosby concerning his defamation lawsuit against her for the publication, Blonde Ambition. Rita through her attorneys filed an “instant application” that her deposition be sealed. Attorney McNamara cited her reasoning due to the “circus-like atmosphere in this case consistent with other cases that Mr. Wood has brought”.. That request was being considered by Judge Chin.
In the meantime, Attorney Wood agreed to not release “the written stenographic transcript of the deposition until Judge Chin rules on Defendant’s motion, if filed”.
Lin Wood had filed an emergency discovery motion in Texas, “in connection with a deposition of a witness to show that she had provided Ms. Cosby with information. The pages that were filed related directly to that witness only”. With his motion, he attached the 17 page rough draft of the Rita Cosby deposition.
Woods substantiation for giving the 17 page rough draft of the deposition to Harris was that he filed it in the Texas case.
Judge Chin writes, “In view of all the circumstances, and in light of the representations made to the Court, I am troubled by Mr. Wood’s providing of the deposition excerpts to Harris — even assuming the excerpts were a matter of public record. Mr. Wood’s assertion that he did not “leak” the documents to Harris is debatable, and at a minimum he is parsing his words too finely. Even if he did not “leak” the documents, he released them to Harris. Even if the documents were a matter of public record, they were part of a 245 page document filed in Texas in connection with an emergency discovery motion, for a lawsuit in Florida to which Cosby is not a party, and it is highly unlikely that Harris would have known of their existence or availability absent some communication with Mr. Wood or his office”.
Judge Chin writes of additional instances that Wood agreed not to release the deposition even though he already had done so.
Judge Chin’s admonishment is here for you to read in full. The Judge issued the requested protective order adding that the deposition may not even be filed in any court without express permission.
Stern_V_Cosby_protective_order_LinWood_slap.PDF
Stern_V_Cosby_protective_order_granted.PDF
Cool! 2nd time this month I’ve gotten to say “yea, Judge Chin!” First time was with the sentencing of Oscar Wyatt.
Thank you much for post8ing this.