UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE MIDDLE DISTRICT OF TENNESSEE COLUMBIA DIVISION ROSILES-PEREZ, et. al. Plaintiffs v. SUPERIOR FORESTRY SERVICE INC., et. al. Defendants ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) Case No. 1:06-CV-0006 Judge William J. Haynes Magistrate Judge Juliet Griffin JURY DEMAND PLAINTIFFS’ EMERGENCY MOTION FOR A PROTECTIVE ORDER Plaintiffs, on their own behalf and that of the putative class, respectfully move the Court pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 23(d), 29 U.S.C. §1855(a), and 29 U.S.C. §215(a)(3), for two protective orders, one granted as an emergency: prohibiting defendants’ personnel manager, Enrique Gonzalez -- who is (or has been) sent to Mexico without defense counsel to attend the named plaintiffs’ telephone depositions on May 10 and 11 -- from communicating with plaintiffs and putative class members about this lawsuit; and the other, granted after expedited briefing: (a) ordering defendants to produce Gonzalez and crew leader Jesus Flores for deposition within 14 days. These depositions should be allowed for the purpose of investigating and preventing the intimidation and harassment of plaintiffs and putative class members, and should proceed without prejudice to plaintiffs’ opportunity to conduct further discovery depositions of these witnesses later in these proceedings; (b) prohibiting defendants and their employees, agents, including their attorneys, and intermediaries from communicating with plaintiffs and putative class members about this lawsuit, except through the formal discovery process, from now through the end of this case; (c) prohibiting defendants from directing, permitting, or undertaking, either directly or through any employee, agent, or other intermediary, activities that intimidate, threaten, restrain, coerce, or in any manner discriminate against plaintiffs, putative class members, witnesses, potential witnesses, or their family members, Case 1:06-cv-00006 Document 80 Filed 05/09/06 Page 1 of 4 PageID #: 653 including the threatened or actual reporting of such persons for alleged immigration violations or other efforts to have them arrested, detained, jailed or deported from the United States; (d) prohibiting all inquiry, discovery, or investigation into, or related to, the past or present immigration status, or alleged out-of-status employment, of plaintiffs, putative class members, witnesses, potential witnesses, or any of their family members; and (e) directing defendants to immediately instruct their supervisory employees and all other employees and agents who might have contact with plaintiffs and putative class members of the prohibitions of the Court’s protective orders and the antiretaliation provisions of the Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act, 29 U.S.C. §1801 (“AWPA”) and the Fair Labor Standards Act, 29 U.S.C. §201 (“FLSA”). These protections are required because defense counsel have failed to respond to repeated efforts by plaintiffs’ counsel to ensure that defendants, and their agents and employees, have been properly instructed not to communicate with plaintiffs and putative class members about this case, or to threaten, intimidate or retaliate against them for participating in its prosecution. See Declaration of Marni Willenson in Support of Pls’ Emergency Motion for a Protective Order (“Willenson decl.”). Defense counsel’s evident inaction takes place in the context of serial, explicit threats by defendants’ crew leader (Flores) that either he or the personnel manager (Gonzalez) would turn opt-in plaintiffs over to immigration authorities if they did not withdraw their consents to sue. See Declarations of Jose Ramon Sanchez-Martinez and Joan Michel Sanchez-Martinez (Exhibits A and B hereto). In other words, the orders are necessary to protect putative class members and witnesses from intimidation and harassment, and generally, from activities of defendants and their agents meant to coerce plaintiffs and putative class members into withdrawing or declining to assert their claims under AWPA and the FLSA. Such harassment and intimidation has already begun (see Exhs. A and B) and is likely to continue unabated absent intervention by the Court. 2 Case 1:06-cv-00006 Document 80 Filed 05/09/06 Page 2 of 4 PageID #: 654 This motion is filed as an emergency to prevent inappropriate contact between Enrique Gonzalez and putative class members this week, while Mr. Gonzalez is in Mexico. Plaintiffs were first informed that defendants were sending Mr. Gonzalez to Mexico late in the day on May 3. On May 5, plaintiffs’ counsel (Marni Willenson) attempted repeatedly to ascertain from defense counsel whether Mr. Gonzalez had been properly instructed not to engage in communications with the putative class members about this lawsuit. These informal efforts failed. Defense counsel would not even substantively respond. See Willenson decl. With respect to all other requested relief, plaintiffs seek expedited briefing. This motion is supported by plaintiffs’ accompanying memorandum of law; the signed declarations of two opt-in plaintiffs (Exhs. A and B hereto); and the Willenson declaration (separately filed). Two proposed orders are also attached. The first grants emergency relief restricting communications by Mr. Gonzalez with plaintiffs and putative class members until this matter can be fully briefed. The second imposes the longer term protections described above and awards plaintiffs attorneys’ fees and costs for the litigation of this motion. Respectfully submitted, s/ Marni Willenson Marni Willenson One of Plaintiffs’ Attorneys Pro Hac Vice Willenson Law Group, LLC 4308 N. Ridgeway Ave. Chicago, IL 60618 312 546-4137 312 261-9977 (fax) Joshua Karsh Pro Hac Vice Hughes, Socol, Piers, Resnick & Dym 3 Case 1:06-cv-00006 Document 80 Filed 05/09/06 Page 3 of 4 PageID #: 655 70 W. Madison St., Ste. 4000 Chicago, IL 60602 312 580-0100 312 580-1994 (fax) Mary C. Bauer Kristi Graunke Pro Hac Vice Immigrant Justice Project Southern Poverty Law Center 400 Washington Ave. Montgomery, AL 36104 334 956-8200 334 956-8481 (fax) Tim A. Freilich Pro Hac Vice Legal Aid Justice Center 1000 Preston Ave., Ste. A Charlottesville, VA 22903 434 977-0553 434 977-0558 James M. Knoepp Pro Hac Vice Virginia Justice Center for Farm and Immigrant Workers 6066 Leesburg Pike, Ste. 520 Falls Church, VA 22041 703 778-3450 703 778-3454 (fax) C. David Briley Tennessee PBR 18559 Briley Law Group, PLLC 511 Union St., Ste. 1610 Nashville, TN 37219 615 986-2684 615 986-7869 (fax) Attorneys for Plaintiffs 4 Case 1:06-cv-00006 Document 80 Filed 05/09/06 Page 4 of 4 PageID #: 656 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE MIDDLE DISTRICT OF TENNESSEE COLUMBIA DIVISION ROSILES-PEREZ, et. al. Plaintiffs v. SUPERIOR FORESTRY SERVICE INC., et. al. Defendants ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) Case No. 1:06-CV-0006 Judge William J. Haynes Magistrate Judge Juliet Griffin JURY DEMAND [PROPOSED] EMERGENCY ORDER REGARDING DEFENDANTS’ AGENT ENRIQUE GONZALEZ On consideration of plaintiffs’ emergency motion for a protective order, it is hereby ordered as follows: 1. Plaintiffs’ request for emergency relief is granted. Defendants’ personnel manager, Enrique Gonzalez, is hereby and immediately barred from all communications with plaintiffs and putative class members about this lawsuit. 2. Defendants and defense counsel are ordered to immediately convey the above prohibition to Mr. Gonzalez. Defense counsel shall accurately describe to Mr. Gonzalez the scope and intent of this Order (e.g. the definition of the putative class). 3. This Order shall remain in effect through the briefing and disposition of the remaining issues raised by plaintiffs’ emergency motion for a protective order. Absent further order by this Court, this Order shall then expire. _______________________________ The Honorable William J. Haynes U.S. District Court Judge Dated: Case 1:06-cv-00006 Document 80-1 Filed 05/09/06 Page 1 of 1 PageID #: 657 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE MIDDLE DISTRICT OF TENNESSEE COLUMBIA DIVISION ROSILES-PEREZ, et. al. Plaintiffs v. SUPERIOR FORESTRY SERVICE INC., et. al. Defendants ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) Case No. 1:06-CV-0006 Judge William J. Haynes Magistrate Judge Juliet Griffin JURY DEMAND [PROPOSED] PROTECTIVE ORDER On consideration of plaintiffs’ emergency motion for a protective order, it is hereby ordered as follows: 1. Defendants and their employees, agents, including their attorneys, and intermediaries are hereby and immediately barred from all communications with plaintiffs and putative class members about this lawsuit, except as permitted through the formal discovery process, until further Order of this Court. “Employees” and “agents,” as used above and in subsequent provisions of this Order, shall refer to defendants’ current employees and agents, and all persons who have been employees or agents of defendants and over whom defendants might continue to exercise influence or control, notwithstanding whether such persons are presently employed or engaged. For purposes of this Order, the seasonal nature of defendants’ operations, and whether and to what extent an individual is currently engaged in seasonal activities, are not relevant to a determination of whether such individual is an employee or agent of defendants. Case 1:06-cv-00006 Document 80-2 Filed 05/09/06 Page 1 of 3 PageID #: 658 2. Defendants are hereby and immediately prohibited from directing, permitting, or undertaking, either directly or through any employee, agent, or other intermediary, activities that intimidate, threaten, restrain, coerce, or in any manner discriminate against plaintiffs, putative class members, witnesses, potential witnesses, or their family members, including the threatened or actual reporting of such persons for alleged immigration violations or other efforts to have them arrested, detained, jailed or deported from the United States. 3. Defendants and their agents, including their attorneys, are barred from all inquiry, discovery, or investigation into, or related to, the past or present immigration status, or alleged out-of-status employment, of plaintiffs, putative class members, witnesses, potential witnesses, or any of their family members. 4. Defendants shall immediately instruct their supervisory employees and all other employees and agents who might have contact with plaintiffs and putative class members of the prohibitions of this Order and the anti-retaliation provisions of the Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act, 29 U.S.C. §1801, and the Fair Labor Standards Act, 29 U.S.C. §201. 5. Defendants are ordered to produce Enrique Gonzalez and Jesus Flores for deposition within 14 days. These depositions are allowed for the purpose of investigating and preventing the intimidation and harassment of plaintiffs and putative class members, and shall proceed without prejudice to plaintiffs’ opportunity to conduct further discovery depositions of these witnesses later in these proceedings. 6. The Court awards plaintiffs their reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs incurred in the litigation of their emergency motion for a protective order. Plaintiffs shall submit evidence of 2 Case 1:06-cv-00006 Document 80-2 Filed 05/09/06 Page 2 of 3 PageID #: 659 their fees and costs to defense counsel within 14 days. Defendants shall have 14 days after receipt to raise objections by communicating their objections in writing to plaintiffs’ counsel. If the parties cannot resolve the dispute, the matter shall be submitted to the Court with the statement required by Local Rule 9(a)(1). If defendants do not timely object in writing to plaintiffs’ evidence of fees and costs, they shall pay those fees and costs within 28 days after receipt of plaintiffs’ bill. _______________________________ The Honorable William J. Haynes U.S. District Court Judge Dated: 3 Case 1:06-cv-00006 Document 80-2 Filed 05/09/06 Page 3 of 3 PageID #: 660 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE MIDDLE DISTRICT OF TENNESSEE COLUMBIA DIVISION et. a1. Plaintiffs Case NO. v. Judge William J. Haynes Magistrate Judge Juliet Grif?n SUPERIOR FORESTRY SERVICE INC., et. al. Defendants JURY DEMAND FIRST DECLARATION OF JOSE RAMON SANCHEZ MARTINEZ JOSE RAMON SANCHEZ MARTINEZ declares as follows: 1. My-name is Jose Ramon Sanchez Martinez. I am from Nuacalpan de Juarez, Mexico. 2. I have worked for the Defendants on visas during the years 2003 through 2006. My crew?leader in 2006 and for most other seasons was esus Flores. 3. At the end of March 2006, I met with a lawyer and paralegal from the Immigrant Justice Project of the Southern Poverty Law Center. Several other people, who have worked for the Defendants in 2006, including my brother, Joan Michel; and my uncle, Juan sanchez, also attended the-meeting. The meeting took place at the house where we were living. At the meeting, I and others signed papers giving our consent to join the lawsuit. 4. Approximately two weeks after the meeting, I arrived at our house and had a Of the house. (This was at about Six in the evening. Rolondo and I were there, along with three i other men who lived in the house.) Rolando has worked on H-2B visas for defendants and iS a friend of my crew leader, Jesus Flores. 5. When I arrived in the back yard, Rolando was visibly upset. He said that Jesus Flores had called: He said that Jesus was very angry, that he knew that Juan Sanchez and I had brought a lawsuit. against thecompany Superior Forestry. Jesus asked if some lawyers had . visited uS, Rolando con?rmed that they had. Case 1:06-cv400006 Document 80-3 Filed 05/09/06 Page 1 Of 5 PageID 661 6. Jesus told Rolondo that we better withdraw from the lawsuit. He said that he knew where we were living, and that Enrique Gonzalez (the personnel manager of the Superior Company)or himself, (Jesus) were going to come to the house to turn us over to immigration authorities. He him that we were really wasting our time with this lawsuit-because the company is veryjbig and has attorneys that can get rid of this lawsuit. I 7. Rolondo told us that he feared what would happen to everyone in the house if Immigration He asked us to leave the house so that we would not all get in trouble with immigration. 8. Approximately one week after this conversation with Rolando, me and my brother Joan Michel, and'my uncle Juan sanchez left the house and went somewhere else to live. 9. I swear under penalty of perjury under the laws of the United States that the foregoing is true and correct in the best of my memory. Jose Ramon Sanchez Martinez Executed 5th day of May, 2006. . 28 U.S.C. .??1746 Case 1:06-cv700006 Document 80-3 Filed 05/09/06 Page 2 of 5 PageID 662 1A1 ES 1315 mum FOR THE MIDDLE DISTRICT OF SEE COLUMBM DIVISION JOSE JESUS and n-rvrunun on behalf of themselves and Case No. 1 all others similarly situated, Judge William J. Haynes . Magistrate Judge Juliet Grif?n Plaintiffs, bb?DD AL, 1 run V. . SUPERIOR FORESTRY SERVICE INC. SCOTT BARSTOW, and 114141111?. Defendants. DECLAKACIUN URADA DE SE RAMON SAN CHEZ MARTINEZ JOSE RAB/tor: SANCHEZ MARTINEZ declara 10 siguente?z l. Me llamo Jos? Ramon Sanchez Martinez. Yo soy de Nuacalpan de Juarez, Mexico. a 2. Yo trabaj? para los Demandados con Visas de durante los a?os desde -- era Jes?s Flores. 3 . A lost ?nes de marzo 2006, yo reuni conluna abogada una. asistente legal del Proyecjio de Justicia Mgr-ante del Southern Poverty Law Center. Varias otras personas han trahaj ado? por- los' Demandados en 2006, inclusive mi hermano Joan Michel mi tio Juan Sanchez, asistieron la reunion. La reunion estaba en la casa donde viviamos.l)urante esta reunion, yo otros ?rmamos. unos papeles para dar nuestro consen?miento juntar con esta demanda. 1 Case 1:06-cv-00006 Document 80-3 Filed 05/09/06 Page 3 of 5 PageID 663 4. Aproximadarnente dos semanas despu?s de la reunion-yo llegu? a nuestra casa mve una conversaci?n con Rolondo Rios en la yarda auras de- la casa. Rolondo es la personaiencargada de la casa. (Este fue acerca de 6 por la noohe. Rolondo yo estabamog'y adem?s tres otros hombres que Vivian en la casa). Rolondo ha ?abajado en visas de para Demandados es un amigo de mi mayordomo, Jesus Flores. 5. Cuando llegu?- a la yarda; Rolondo me parecia molesto. Dijo que Jesus Flores hahfa llamado. Dijo que es?s estaba Inuy enoj ado que e?l sabl?a que. Juan Sanchez yo habiamos puesto una dementia contra 1a compafu?a Superior Forestry. Jesus Je pregunto a el s1 unos aoogados nos naoran V1s1taao. Kolonao 1e connrmo que si. 6. Jesus dijo a Rolondo que Inejor que retiremos de la demanda Dijo que sabia donde Viviarnos que Enrique Gonzalez (e1 jefe de personal en la compa?ia ?l (J esas) iba a venir a la casa para echarnos a la Migra. Le dijo que - realmente perderiamos nuestro tiempo con esta demanda porque la compa?r'a es muy grande plane abogados que pueden sacar esta demanda. 7. Rolondo nos dijo que- ?l tenia? miedo- de lo que pasaria. a todos en la. casa si venia la Nos pidi? dejar la casa para que no se metieramos todos en problemas con la I I: 8. Aproxirnadamente una semana despu?s de esta' conversaei?n con Rolondo, yo, mi hennano Joan Michel, mi tio Juan Sanchez nos dejamos la casay nos fuimos a otro lado para vivir. I 9. Yo juro bajo pena de- perjurio bajo las leyes de los Estados Unldos que lo MEI s? Ramon. Sanchez Martinez Firmado gsde mayo, 2006. 28 use- ?._i746 2 Case Document 80-3 Filed 05/09/06 Page 4 of 5 PageID 664 - - - a . daylof Notairylj?blic Translator?s Affidavit I certify that I am ?uent in Spanish and English. I certify that I have reviewed the Spanish and English versions of the attached document, and that the English is a true and accurate translation of the Spanish. . Translator: Gabriela Maxcy The foregoing instrument was acknowledged before me this 8 ,20 by Mikch My Commission Expires: 4J4 Lg 200?? Case 1:06-cv-00006 Document 80-3 Filed 05/09/06 Page 5 of 5 PageID 665 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE MIDDLE DISTRICT OF TENNESSEE COLUMBIA DIVISION et. al. I Plaintiffs Case No. Judge William J. Haynes V. Magistrate Judge Juliet Grif?n SUPERIOR FORESTRY SERVICE INC., et. al. Defendants JURY DEMAND FIRST DECLARATIONOF JOAN MICHEL SANCHEZ MARTINEZ JOAN MICHEL SANCHEZ MARTINEZ declares as follows: 1. Mygi'name is Joan Michel sanchez Martinez. I am from Nuacalpan de Juarez, Mexico. I 2. I worked for Defendants on an H-2B visa in 2006. My crew leader was esus I Flores. I 3. At end of March 2006, I met with a lawyer and paralegal from the Immigrant Justice Project the Southern Poverty Law Center. Several other people that have worked for the Defendants,iihcluding my brother, ose Ramon Se?mchez Martinez; and uncle, Juan sanchez, also atliended the meeting. The meeting took place at the house where we were living. During meeting, we signed papers giving our consent to join the lawsuit. 4. Approximately two weeks after we Signed the papers, I arrived at my house at of the house. (In addition to myself and Rolondo, my brother, 03%: Ramon S?nchez Martinez; and my uncle, sanchez; and several other H-2B workers that have worked for the Defendants where there.) Rolondo had worked on visas for defendants and is a friend of my crew Flores. 5. Rollondo told us that Jesus was very angry at uS. He said that he was going to come to the hou?is?e to turn us over to immigration. at" Case 1:06-62:00006 Document 80-4 Filed 05/09/06 Page 1 of 5 PagelD 666 6. In the following days, Rolondo continued reporting to me about calls he was receiving from esus Flores on his cell phone. Rolondo received four or ?ve calls from Jesus in one week. calls, esus continued saying that he was going to come to turn us over to immigration. 7. Approximately one week after the ?rst conversation between esus and Rolondo, my brother, 035 Ramon; Juan sanchez; and I left the house to go and live somewhere else. 8. I swear under penalty of perjury of the laws of the United States of America that the foregoing is true and correct to the best of my memory. Joan Michel Se?tnchez Martinez Executed 5th day of May, 2006 28 U.S.C. g?1746 Case 1:06-ch-00006 Document 80-4 Filed 05/09/06 Page 2 of 5 PageID 667 FOR THE COLUMBIA DIVISION OSE ROSILES-PEREZ, JESUS and ANDRES on behalf oi themselves and Case No. others similarly situated, Judge J. Haynes Magistrate Judge Juliet Grif?n Pl riffs, I - ASS ACTON V. IN SCOTT BARSTOW, an Defendants. . . DE JOAN MARTHJEZ JOAN SANCHEZ IVIARTINEZ dcclara lo siguente: l. Me llamo Joan Michel Sanchez Martinez. Yo soy cle Nuacalpan de Juarez, Mexico. 2. trabaj? para 10's Demandado?s con una visa de en 2006. lvli mayord?omnterai?es?stFl?ores. 3. A 103 ?nes de marzo 2006, yo renni con una abogada una asistente legal del Proyecto de Justicia Ivligrante? del Southern Poverty Law Center. Varias otras personas que han trabajado por los Demandados, inclusive mi hermano 036 Ram?n Sanchez Martinez mi tie Juan Sanchez, asistieron lareuni?n. La reuni?n estaba en la casa dondeiviviamos. Durante esta reunicn, ?rmamos unos papeles para dar nuestro consentimiento juntar'con esta demanda'. 4. Aproxnnadamente dos semanas despu?s de ?rmar estos papeles, yo llegu? a mi casa cerca de 7 por la noche tuve una conversacion con Rolondo Rios, la persona encargadazde la casa. (Ademas que Rolondo yo, estaban mi hermano 036 Ramon Sanchez Martinez mi tio Juan Sanchez otros trabajadoreS'H-ZB que hantrabaj ado para los Demandados). Rolondo habia trabajado con visas de para los Demandados es amigo de mi mayordomo 63113 Flores. 5. Rolondo nos dijo que Jesus estaba muy enojado con nosotros. e?sus dijo que iba a Venn: a la casa para tracmos a la Migra. 6. . En los dias siguentes, Rolondo continuaba a reportarme sobre mas llamadas de es?s que estaba reeibiendo de Jesus en su tel?fono cellular. Rolondo recibio 4 5 llamadas de Jesus en una semana. En estas llamadas, Jesus seguia diciendo que el iba-a-Venir para echamos a la Migra. 7. - Aproximadamente una semana despu?s de la primera conversacion entre Jesus Rolondo, yo, mi hermano Jose Ramon, Juan Sanchez nos dejamos la casa nos Elmo?s-a otro lado para vivir. 8. Yo juro bajo pena de ptenrio bajo las leyes de los Estados Unidos que lo estableoido es verdad correcto en lo Inej or de mi memoria. io?re Mxoatz, ?'?mv?ga Joan Michel. Sanchez Martinez 28 U.S.C. ?'l746 Translator?s Af?davit I certify that I am ?uent in Spanish and English. I certify that I have reviewed the Spanish and English versions of the attached document, and that the English is a true and accurate translation of the Spanish. Translator: Gabriela Maxcy The foregoing instrument was acknowledged before me this dam" Hg (ham/la Mk6 l, a: f'N??r?tiblic My Commission Expires: 0? [\Il 2430?? Case 1:06-cv-00006 Document 80-4 Filed 05/09/06 Page 5 of 5 PageID 670