Extra: As Megan Thee Stallion Seeks to Delay Deposition in Cameraman Suit Judge Says No - what next?

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by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack

SDNY COURTHOUSE, February 10 – Megan Thee Stallion's personal cameraman has sued her and Roc Nation for discrimination and retaliation, recounting being forced to witness sex on a trip to Ibiza, Spain, in a New York City strip club and elsewhere.

On February 10 a conference about depositing Megan Thee Stallion, identified in the Complaint as Megan Pete, was held by U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York Judge Gregory H. Woods. Inner City Press live tweeted it. From the thread:

Plaintiff's lawyer: Ms. Pete [Megan Thee Stallion] has not excuse to not submit to a deposition in our White Plains office, the defendants transferred this case from LA to SDNY.

Defense lawyer: They have to show it's relevant and proportionate Defense: They seek to depose Ms. Pete [Megan Thee Stallion] a mere 30 days after the deposition was noticed. But this is a scheduling issue. Feb 26, she is not available. We propose June.

[From the complaint: "the hypersexualized lyrics blended into the working relationship with her employees"]

Judge: There is a time limit on the total deposition time. So what are your concerns?

Defense: If the deposition occurs before documents are available, they made ask for a 2d deposition. Judge: Counsel for plaintiff, are you aware of the 1 day, 7 hour rule? Yes.

Plaintiff's lawyer (William Knight) - The June date is too close to the discovery cut-off.

Megan Thee Stallion lawyer Joanna Menillo of Quinn Emanuel: The defendants have raised other resolutions, like written deposition. She offers week of June 22.. Judge: Counsel for ROC Nation?

ROC Nations' lawyer (Michael Kleinmann of Reed Smith) We wish we could have avoided this.

Judge: There is a rule about sequence, Rule 26 - the default is that staging is not required. I don't view this as a motion to compel Judge: I do not see substantial merit in the objections raised. The testimony of Ms. Pete [Megan Thee Stallion] is clearly relevant, and proportionate.

In sum, I encourage the parties to meet and confer regarding the date of the deposition. Many people are busy

Judge: I believe it may be at a substantially earlier today - it could be held in LA rather than White Plains, I don't know how often Ms. Pete gets there. Perhaps an online or remove deposition, as it conventional post-COVID.

Judge: Adjourned.

The case is Emilio Garcia v. Roc Nation LLC, et al., 1:24-cv-7587 (Woods)

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