493 Gawker Objection To Daulerio Claims

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The document provides notice of an omnibus objection by Gawker Media LLC to proofs of claim filed by Albert James Daulerio. It seeks to alter the claimant's rights by disallowing certain claims.

The document is providing notice of a hearing regarding Gawker Media LLC's objection to proofs of claim filed by Albert James Daulerio. The objection seeks to disallow certain of the claims.

Gawker Media LLC is objecting to Proofs of Claim Nos. 293, 294, and 295 filed by Albert James Daulerio. The objection seeks to disallow the claims, which would alter the claimant's rights.

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Hearing Date and Time: December 29, 2016 at 10:00 a.m. (Eastern Time)
Response Deadline: December 12, 2016 at 4:00 p.m. (Eastern Time)

ROPES & GRAY LLP


Gregg M. Galardi
D. Ross Martin
Joshua Y. Sturm
Jonathan M. Agudelo
1211 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10036-8704
Telephone: (212) 596-9000
Facsimile: (212) 596-9090
Counsel to the Debtors
and Debtors in Possession
UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY COURT
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK
------------------------------------------------------x
:
In re
:
:
:
Gawker Media LLC, et al., 1
:
Debtors.
:
:
------------------------------------------------------x

Chapter 11
Case No. 16-11700 (SMB)
(Jointly Administered)

NOTICE OF DEBTORS OMNIBUS OBJECTION TO PROOFS OF


CLAIM NOS. 293, 294 AND 295 FILED BY ALBERT JAMES DAULERIO
PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the undersigned have filed the attached Debtors
Omnibus Objection to Proofs of Claim Nos. 293, 294, and 295 Filed by Albert James Daulerio
(the Objection), which seeks to alter your rights by disallowing certain of your claims against
the above-captioned Debtors.
PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that a hearing on the Objection will take place
on December 29, 2016 at 10:00 a.m. (Eastern Time) before the Honorable Judge Stuart M.
Bernstein, at the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York,
1

The last four digits of the taxpayer identification number of the debtors are: Gawker Media LLC (0492); Gawker
Media Group, Inc. (3231); and Gawker Hungary Kft. (f/k/a Kinja Kft) (5056). Gawker Media LLC and Gawker
Media Group, Inc.s mailing addresses are c/o Opportune LLP, Attn: William D. Holden, Chief Restructuring
Officer, 10 East 53rd Street, 33rd Floor, New York, NY 10022. Gawker Hungary Kft.s mailing address is c/o
Opportune LLP, Attn: William D. Holden, 10 East 53rd Street, 33rd Floor, New York, NY 10022.

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Alexander Hamilton Custom House, One Bowling Green, New York, New York 10004-1408,
Courtroom No. 723.
PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that responses to the Objection and the relief
requested therein, if any, shall be in writing, shall conform to the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy
Procedure and the Local Bankruptcy Rules for the Southern District of New York, shall set forth
the basis for the response or objection and the specific grounds therefore, and shall be filed with
the Court electronically in accordance with General Order M-399 by registered users of the
Courts case filing system (the Users Manual for the Electronic Case Filing System can be
found at http://www.nysb.uscourts.gov, the official website for the Court), with a hard copy
delivered directly to chambers pursuant to Local Bankruptcy Rule 9028-1 and served so as to be
actually received no later than December 12, 2016, at 4:00 p.m. (Eastern Time) (the Response
Deadline), upon: (i) the Debtors, Gawker Media LLC, c/o Opportune LLP, Attn: William D.
Holden, Chief Restructuring Officer, 10 East 53rd Street, 33rd Floor, New York, NY 10022
(wholden@opportune.com); (ii) counsel for the Debtors, Ropes & Gray LLP, 1211 Avenue of
the

Americas,

New

York,

New

York

10036,

Attn:

Gregg

M.

Galardi

(gregg.galardi@ropesgray.com); (iii) the Office of the United States Trustee for the Southern
District of New York, 201 Varick Street, Suite 1006, New York, NY 10014, Attn: Greg Zipes &
Susan Arbeit; (iv) the Internal Revenue Service, Attn: Centralized Insolvency Operation, 2970
Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104 (mimi.m.wong@irscounsel.treas.gov); (v) the United
States Attorneys Office for the Southern District of New York, Attn: Bankruptcy Division, 86
Chambers

Street,

3rd

Floor,

New

York,

NY

10007

(david.jones6@usdoj.gov;

Jeffrey.Oestericher@usdoj.gov; Joseph.Cordaro@usdoj.gov; Carina.Schoenberger@usdoj.gov);


(vi) counsel to Cerberus Business Finance, LLC, as DIP Lender, Schulte Roth & Zabel LLP, 919

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Third Avenue, New York, New York 10022, Attn: Adam C. Harris (adam.harris@srz.com);
(vii) counsel to US VC Partners LP, as Prepetition Second Lien Lender, Latham & Watkins LLP,
at both 330 North Wabash Avenue, Suite 2800, Chicago, IL 60611, Attn: David Heller
(david.heller@lw.com) and 885 Third Avenue, New York, New York 10022, Attn: Keith A.
Simon (keith.simon@lw.com); (viii) counsel for the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors,
Simpson Thacher & Bartlett, 425 Lexington Ave., New York, NY 10017, Attn: Sandy Qusba
(squsba@stblaw.com) and William T. Russell (wrussell@stblaw.com); and (ix) parties that have
requested notice pursuant to Bankruptcy Rule 2002.
PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that if you do not timely file and serve a written
response to the relief requested in the Objection by the Response Deadline, the Bankruptcy Court
may deem any opposition waived, treat the Objection as conceded, and enter an order granting
the relief requested in the Objection without further notice or hearing.
[Remainder of this page intentionally left blank]

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PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that a copy of the Objection may be obtained
free of charge by visiting the website of Prime Clerk LLC at http://cases.primeclerk.com/gawker.
You may also obtain copies of any pleadings by visiting the Courts website at
http://www.nysb.uscourts.gov in accordance with the procedures and fees set forth therein.

Dated: November 28, 2016


New York, New York

/s/ Gregg M. Galardi


ROPES & GRAY LLP
Gregg M. Galardi
D. Ross Martin
Joshua Y. Sturm
Jonathan M. Agudelo
1211 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10036-8704
Telephone: (212) 596-9000
Facsimile: (212) 596-9090
gregg.galardi@ropesgray.com
ross.martin@ropesgray.com
joshua.sturm@ropesgray.com
jonathan.agudelo@ropesgray.com
Counsel to the Debtors
and Debtors in Possession

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Hearing Date and Time: December 29, 2016 at 10:00 a.m. (Eastern Time)
Response Deadline: December 12, 2016 at 4:00 p.m. (Eastern Time)

ROPES & GRAY LLP


Gregg M. Galardi
D. Ross Martin
Joshua Y. Sturm
Jonathan M. Agudelo
1211 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10036-8704
Telephone: (212) 596-9000
Facsimile: (212) 596-9090
Counsel to the Debtors
and Debtors in Possession
UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY COURT
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK
------------------------------------------------------x
:
In re
:
:
:
Gawker Media LLC, et al., 1
:
Debtors.
:
:
------------------------------------------------------x

Chapter 11
Case No. 16-11700 (SMB)
(Jointly Administered)

DEBTORS OMNIBUS OBJECTION TO PROOFS OF


CLAIM NOS. 293, 294 AND 295 FILED BY ALBERT JAMES DAULERIO
Pursuant to sections 502(b), 502(c), and 502(e)(1) of the Bankruptcy Code and
Bankruptcy Rules 3001(e)(1) and 3007(d), Gawker Media LLC (Gawker Media), Gawker
Media Group, Inc. (GMGI), and Gawker Hungary Kft. (Gawker Hungary), as debtors and
debtors in possession (collectively, the Debtors) in the above-captioned cases (the Bankruptcy
Cases), hereby submit this objection (the Objection) to three proofs of claim (Nos. 293, 294,

The last four digits of the taxpayer identification number of the debtors are: Gawker Media LLC (0492); Gawker
Media Group, Inc. (3231); and Gawker Hungary Kft (f/k/a Kinja Kft.) (5056). Gawker Media LLC and Gawker
Media Group, Inc.s mailing addresses are c/o Opportune LLP, Attn: William D. Holden, Chief Restructuring
Officer, 10 East 53rd Street, 33rd Floor, New York, NY 10022. Gawker Hungary Kft.s mailing address is c/o
Opportune LLP, Attn: William D. Holden, 10 East 53rd Street, 33rd Floor, New York, NY 10022.

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and 295) (collectively, the Daulerio Claims) 2 filed by Albert James Daulerio (Daulerio).
The Daulerio Claims all assert liability resulting form the Debtors alleged duty to defend and
indemnify Daulerio in connection with his liability resulting from the Bollea Judgments (as
defined herein) and additional pending and potential lawsuits by Bollea (as defined herein)
against Daulerio. In support of this Objection, the Debtors respectfully represent and set forth as
follows.
JURISDICTION AND VENUE
1.
1334.

This Court has jurisdiction over the Motion pursuant to 28 U.S.C. 157 and

Venue is proper pursuant to 28 U.S.C. 1408 and 1409. The Motion is a core

proceeding pursuant to 28 U.S.C. 157(b). The statutory predicates for the relief requested
herein are section 502 of title 11 of the United States Code, 11 U.S.C. 101, et seq. (the
Bankruptcy Code) and Rule 3001(e)(1) and 3007 of the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy
Procedure (the Bankruptcy Rules).
RELIEF REQUESTED
2.

By this Motion, the Debtors request entry of an order, substantially in the form

attached hereto as Exhibit A (the Proposed Order), (i) disallowing and expunging the Daulerio
Claims with respect to amounts asserted based on the Debtors duties to indemnify and defend
Daulerioother than costs of defending Daulerio in the Bollea I Lawsuit (as defined herein) that
have not already been paid by the Debtorsbecause the Debtors have no current liability to
Daulerio on account of such claims and any contingent future obligations should be disallowed
pursuant to section 502(e)(1) of the Bankruptcy Code and (ii) estimating for purposes of
allowance the potential future costs of defending Daulerio with respect to the Bollea I Lawsuit in
2

True and correct copies of the Daulerio Claims will be provided separately to the Court. Copies of the Daulerio
Claims will be provided to all other parties upon request.

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an amount up to the $100,000 amount of the Daulerio Punitive Damage Judgment (as defined
herein), which Gawker Media would be prepared to pay if and to the extent Bollea seeks such
payment.
BACKGROUND
I.

Daulerios Employment Agreement


3.

Daulerio was party to an employment agreement dated November 23, 2011 (the

Employment Agreement) with Gawker Entertainment, LLC (Gawker Entertainment). In


December 2012, Gawker Entertainment was liquidated in a corporate restructuring, and as a
result, Daulerio contends the Employment Agreement was assumed by Gawker Media and/or its
affiliated Debtors. Supplement to Daulerio Claims (Supp.) 33.i. 3
4.

That Employment Agreement included the following representations and

warranties by Daulerio (collectively, the Employment Representations):


a. The Work 4 will not violate . . . any rights of any person or entity, such as rights of
privacy or publicity.
b. The Work created by [Daulerio] for the Site does not and will not contain, publish or
display any libelous, defamatory, obscene or illegal content or material to the best of
[Daulerio]s knowledge.
c. Failure to comply with the undertakings in this Appendix will be a breach of this
Appendix and [Daulerios] Employment Agreement and will be deemed to adversely
affect Companys reputation.
Employment Agreement, Appendix A: Editorial Terms and Conditions (the Employment
Appendix) 16.

A copy of the Employment Agreement is attached as Exhibit 8 to the Daulerio Claims.

Work is defined to mean any and all content provided by Company, developed or conceived by [Daulerio] or
other employees, contributors, assistants and/or interns pursuant to and during employment. The Company is
defined to mean Gawker Entertainment, LLC

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That Employment Appendix also contained two separate indemnification

provisions, the first one running from Daulerio to Gawker Entertainment and the second running
from Gawker Entertainment to Daulerio:
a. [Daulerio] agrees to indemnify and hold [Gawker Entertainment] harmless from and
against any judgments resulting from a breach or claimed breach by [Daulerio] of any of
[Daulerios] representations, warranties or covenants contained in the Employment
Agreement (including its Appendices). Strict Adherence to [Gawker Entertainment]
policies shall constitute a complete defense for [Daulerio] against any suggested breach
of his representations, covenants or warranties. Id., 19 (emphasis added) (the Daulerio
Indemnification Provision).
b. [Gawker Entertainment] agrees to indemnify and hold [Daulerio] harmless from and
against any judgments resulting from any claims arising from any content or images used
by [Daulerio] in accordance with [Gawker Entertainment]s content policies in force at
the time of such use. Furthermore, [Gawker Entertainment] undertakes to pay all legal
fees incurred by [Daulerio] in the event of a legal action resulting from any such content
that follows [Gawker Entertainment]s policies in force and at the time the content is
published. Id., 20 (the Company Indemnification Provision).
6.

The Employment Appendix provided that it would be governed by the laws of the

State of New York. Id. 23.


7.

As of January 2013, Daulerio was no longer employed by any of the Debtors or

their affiliates. Supp. 11.


II.

Summary of Relevant Litigation Proceedings


A.

The Bollea I Lawsuit

8.

The Daulerio Claims initially arise out of an article (the Bollea Article) written

by Daulerio and published by Gawker Media on October 4, 2012, commenting on a video (the
Bollea Video) depicting plaintiff Terry Gene Bollea (Bollea). As a result of the Bollea
Article, Bollea asserted causes of action for invasion of privacy by intrusion upon seclusion,
publication of private facts, violation of Florida common law right of publicity, intentional
infliction of emotional distress, negligent infliction of emotional distress and violation of section

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934.10, Florida Statutes against each of Gawker Media, Mr. Nicholas Denton and Daulerio
(collectively, the Defendants) for damages (the Bollea I Lawsuit).
9.

On March 18, 2016, a jury entered its verdict finding the Defendants liable in

connection with the Bollea I Lawsuit (the Jury Verdict). 5 Specifically, the Jury Verdict found,
among other things, that (i) the Defendants, including Daulerio, had a specific intent to harm
Bollea when posting the Bollea Video online, id. 17, (ii) the Defendants, including Daulerio
intended to cause Bollea severe emotional distress or acted with reckless disregard of the high
probability of causing Bollea severe emotional distress, id. 9, (iii) the Bollea Video was posted
in such a manner as to outrage or cause mental suffering, shame or humiliation to a person of
ordinary sensibilities, id. 5, and (iv) the posting of the Bollea Video was extreme and
outrageous to a person of ordinary sensibilities, id. at 8.
10.

On June 7, 2016, the Florida state court entered final judgment holding the

Defendants jointly and severally liable for $115 million in compensatory damages (the
Compensatory Damage Judgment). In addition, the jury found that each of the Defendants
was liable for punitive damages to Bollea (the Punitive Damage Judgments, and together with
the Compensatory Damage Judgment, the Bollea Judgments) in the following amounts:
(i) Gawker Media in the amount of $15 million; (ii) Mr. Denton in the amount of $10 million;
and Daulerio in the amount of $100,000 (the Daulerio Punitive Damage Judgment). On June
10, 2016, the Defendants filed a notice of appeal from the Bollea Judgments.
11.

Gawker Media provided Daulerio with a defense in the Bollea I Lawsuit by

paying for the services of the law firm Levine Sullivan Koch & Schulz LLP (LSKS) and the
law firm of Thomas & LoCicero to represent Daulerio. Gawker Media provided this defense

A copy of the jury verdict in the Bollea I Lawsuit is attached as Exhibit B hereto.

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from the suits inception through entry of the Bollea Judgments and the filing of the notice of
appeal. Supp. 22.
12.

On June 10, 2016, Gawker Media filed a voluntary petition for relief under

chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code. Since that date, the proceedings to enforce the Bollea
Judgments against Gawker Media have been stayed as a result of Gawker Medias chapter 11
case. On June 12, 2016, GMGI and Gawker Hungary each filed a voluntary petition for relief
under the Bankruptcy Code. The proceedings to enforce the Bollea Judgments against Mr.
Denton are also currently stayed as a result as of his commencing a separate chapter 11
bankruptcy case.
B.

The Daulerio Judgment Satisfaction Order

13.

Subsequent to the commencement of the Debtors chapter 11 cases, Bollea

continued to pursue the enforcement of the Bollea Judgments against Daulerio, and on August
17, 2016, the Florida state court entered an Order transferring certain of Daulerios assets to
Bollea (the Daulerio Judgment Satisfaction Order). 6 The Daulerio Judgment Satisfaction
Order found that:
Daulerio has rights, not exempt from execution, which may be applied towards
the satisfaction of the [Bollea Judgments, including the Daulerio Punitive Damage
Judgment], arising out of a GMGI and Gawker [Media] policy and practice,
pursuant to which they agreed to defend him against and to pay part or all of the
[final judgment] awarded to Mr. Bollea.
Daulerio Judgment Satisfaction Order, at Findings 11 (emphasis added) (the Daulerio
Indemnification Rights). Importantly, the Daulerio Judgment Satisfaction Order simply ruled
that Daulerios rights to have Gawker Media and GMGI pay part or all of the Bollea Judgments
were thereby transferred and assigned to Mr. Bollea and that Bollea was deemed to be the

A copy of the Daulerio Judgment Satisfaction Order is attached as Exhibit 4 to the Daulerio Claims.

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owner of the rights, with full power and authority to enforce said rights against Gawker [Media]
and GMGI. Id. at Order 1.
14.

The Daulerio Judgment Satisfaction Order specifically did not find that such

rights or the Claims asserted by Daulerio based on those rights were valid or actually enforceable
against GMGI or Gawker Media. Rather, the Florida court made clear in its findings that it did
not adjudicate the validity or enforceability of Daulerios rights against Gawker [Media] or
GMGI, so Mr. Bollea is only entitled to take ownership of Daulerios rights against Gawker
[Media] and GMGI, and to then seek enforcement of those rights . . . in their pending bankruptcy
proceedings. Id. Findings 13.
15.

On August 23, 2016, Daulerio filed a notice of appeal from the Daulerio

Judgment Satisfaction Order in the Floridas Second District Court of Appeal [Case No. 2D163721] seeking reversal of that Order. The Daulerio Judgment Satisfaction Order has not been
stayed.
C.

The Supplemental Daulerio Litigation

16.

Separate from the claims in the Bollea I Lawsuit complaint, on August 5, 2016,

Bollea filed a motion for sanctions in the Bollea I Lawsuit, solely against Daulerio, which was
later amended on October 13, 2016, to include a request for sanctions against LSKS in
connection with its representation of the Debtors and Daulerio (as amended, the Sanctions
Motion). 7 The Sanctions Motion seeks entry of an order imposing sanctions as a result of
Daulerios and/or his counsels material misrepresentations and entry of an order to show cause
why Daulerio and/or his counsel should not be held in contempt for hindering and obstructing
the administration of justice.

A copy of the Sanctions Motion is attached as Exhibit C hereto.

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17.

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Further, on October 6, 2016, Bollea filed an emergency motion to enforce the

permanent injunction provided in the Bollea Judgments to prevent Daulerio from violating
Floridas Revenge Porn laws and engaging in video voyeurism and extortion, by requiring
Daulerio to immediately turn over any and all copies, excerpts and/or still images of all
surreptitiously recorded, sexually explicit recordings and images of Bollea (the Video Turnover
Motion and, together with the Sanctions Motion, the Supplemental Daulerio Litigation). 8 An
evidentiary hearing to consider these Supplemental Daulerio Litigation motions has been
deferred pending settlement negotiations [Docket No 49069512; Case No. 12012447 CI-011].
18.

Daulerio was not employed by the Debtors when the alleged actions giving rise to

the Supplemental Daulerio Litigation occurred and those actions do not directly relate to content
published by Gawker Media.
III.

The Debtors Plan And The Bollea Settlement


19.

On November 2, 2016, the Debtors filed their Disclosure Statement for Debtors

Amended Joint Chapter 11 Plan of Liquidation for Gawker Media Group, Inc., Gawker Media
LLC, and Gawker Hungary Kft. [Docket No. 403] (as amended and including all exhibits and
supplements thereto, the Disclosure Statement) in support of the Amended Joint Chapter 11
Plan of Liquidation for Gawker Media Group, Inc., Gawker Media LLC, and Gawker Hungary
Kft. (as amended and including all exhibits thereto, the Plan). On November 4, 2016, this
Court entered an order, among other things, approving that Disclosure Statement [Docket No.
413] (the Disclosure Statement Order). In accordance with the Disclosure Statement Order,
the Debtors have commenced solicitation of acceptances and rejections on the Plan. A hearing to
consider confirmation of the Plan is currently scheduled for December 13, 2016.

A copy of the Video Turnover Motion is attached as Exhibit D hereto.

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As described in the Disclosure Statement, the Debtors and Bollea agreed on terms

of a settlement (the Bollea Settlement). 9 If approved by the Court, the Bollea Settlement
would settle (i) the Bollea Judgments against Gawker Media, (ii) any and all other claims
asserted by Bollea against the Debtors, including Bolleas claim as the owner of any Daulerio
Indemnification Rights against GMGI and Gawker Media, (iii) Bolleas claim based on the
Compensatory Damage Judgment against Daulerio; and (iv) Bolleas claim based on the
Compensatory Damage Judgment against Mr. Denton. The Bollea Settlement also contemplates
that Bollea would release either or both of the remaining $100,000 Daulerio Punitive Damage
Judgment against Daulerio and the $10 million Punitive Damage Judgment against Mr. Denton,
and terminate proceedings on executing on the Daulerio Punitive Damage Judgment, if either or
both of Daulerio and Mr. Denton, respectively, enter into an agreement that provides that
Daulerio and/or Mr. Denton, respectively: (i) dismiss his appeals relating to the Bollea I Lawsuit,
(ii) return and assign any rights associated with certain content relating to the Bollea Video,
(iii) execute a proposed declaration attached to the Bollea Settlement, and (iv) execute mutual
releases with Bollea (the Proposed Supplemental Settlement). The Proposed Supplemental
Settlement would not require any payments by Daulerio or Mr. Denton. To date, Daulerio has
not accepted the Proposed Supplemental Settlement.
IV.

The Daulerio Claims


21.

On September 29, 2016, after entry of the Daulerio Judgment Satisfaction order,

Daulerio filed an identical, contingent claim against each of the three Debtors. Each Daulerio
Claim lists the amount of the claim at $6 million, but the supplement attached to each Daulerio
Claim explains that amount is an estimate only, based on legal fees incurred as of September
9

A copy of the Bollea Settlement agreement will be filed with the Court as part of the plan supplement
contemplated by the Plan.

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2016, potential future legal fees, amounts and value of Daulerios property seized by (and
transferred to) Bollea as of September 29, 2016, and potential future seizures by or on behalf of
Bollea. Supp. 32.
22.

The Daulerio Claims allege that these obligations arise from the Debtors duties

and obligations to:


a. defend Daulerio and pay legal fees and related expenses beginning on June 10, 2016, and
continuing into the future with respect to:
(i) defending the Bollea I Lawsuit (the Bollea Lawsuit Defense Costs);
(ii) defending Bolleas efforts to satisfy the Bollea Judgments (the Bollea Judgment
Defense Costs);
(iii) asserting and defending the Daulerio Claims (the Daulerio Claims Costs);
(iv) settling, or attempting to settle, the Bollea I Lawsuit (the Bollea Settlement
Costs); and
(v) protecting Daulerios interests in connection with the Bollea I Lawsuit (the
Daulerio Personal Interest Costs);
b. indemnify Daulerio with regard to the Bollea Judgments;
c. indemnify Daulerio with regard to future orders and/or judgments; and
d. indemnify Daulerio with regard to future settlements (the indemnification claims in
subsections b., c., and d., collectively, the Indemnification Claims). Id., 28-31.
The Daulerio Claims identify three potential sources of these claims against the Debtors: (i) the
Employment Agreement, (ii) general practice and policy of the Debtors set forth in the
declaration of William Holden 10 and Gawker Medias established course of providing a defense

10

A copy of such declaration is attached as Exhibit 7 to the Daulerio Claims (the Holden Declaration)

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to Daulerio since the inception of the Bollea I Lawsuit, and (iii) New York state law. Supp.
33.i.-iii. 11
OBJECTION
23.

Pursuant to section 502(a) of the Bankruptcy Code, a filed proof of claim is

deemed allowed unless a party in interest objects thereto. See 11 U.S.C. 502(a). Section
502(b)(1) of the Bankruptcy Code provides, in relevant part, that a claim may not be allowed to
the extent that it is unenforceable against the debtor and property of the debtor, under any
agreement or applicable law. See 11 U.S.C. 502(b)(1). As explained below and except as
noted, the Daulerio Claims should be expunged and disallowed for the following reasons:
a. Daulerio has not been the owner of any Indemnification Claims since the Daulerio
Judgment Satisfaction Order transferring those claims to Bollea was entered on August
17, 2006, so any proof of claim Daulerio filed thereafter with respect to such claims is
invalid under Bankruptcy Rule 3001(e)(2);
b. Even if any Indemnification Claims had not been transferred to Bolleaand they were
(i) upon approval by the Court of the Bollea Settlement, the Bollea Compensatory
Damage Judgment claims against Daulerio will be resolved so there can be no remaining
indemnification obligation with respect thereto and (ii) any contingent Indemnification
Claims for potential future judgments or settlements must be disallowed pursuant to
section 502(e) of the Bankruptcy Code;
c. The Jury Verdict makes clear that Daulerios publication of the Bollea Video violated his
Employment Representations and company policies, so (i) under the Daulerio
Indemnification Provision of the Employment Appendix, Daulerio is liable to indemnify
Gawker Media for resulting damages and (ii) the Company Indemnification Provision
does not provide indemnity or defense costs to Daulerio with respect to actions arising
from publication of the Bollea Video;
d. Daulerio never had any conceivable claims against GMGI or Gawker Hungary for
indemnification or a duty to defend because neither of those Debtors was a party to the
Employment Agreement (or even an employer of Daulerio), and neither had a policy or
practice of defending or indemnifying Gawker Media employees from claims such as
those in the Bollea I Lawsuit;

11
The Daulerio Claims cite the law of the state of New York as a basis for the asserted claims, Supp 33.iii., but
do not specify any particular statute or principle of New York lawand the Debtors are not aware of anythat
would independently create indemnification and/or defense obligations on any of the Debtors.

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e. Even if the Company Indemnification Provision created an obligation for Gawker Media
to indemnify and defend Daulerio with respect to the Bollea I Lawsuitand it did not
Daulerio still never had any basis for claims for indemnification or a duty to defend
arising out of the Supplementary Daulerio Litigation, filing of proofs of claim against the
Debtors, or any other claims that likewise (i) relate to activities that occurred after
Daulerio was no longer employed by Gawker Media and (ii) are outside the scope of the
Company Indemnification Provision;
f. Upon approval by the Court of the Bollea Settlement, the only judgment remaining
against Daulerio potentially subject to indemnification will be the $100,000 Daulerio
Punitive Damage Judgment (even though those Indemnification Claims are presently
owned by Bollea), and as a matter of New York public policy, the Daulerio Punitive
Damage Judgment is not subject to indemnification so Gawker Media has no remaining
duty to defend that sole remaining claim; and
g. Nevertheless, in the interest of avoiding dissipation of estate assets, Gawker Media is
prepared to pay the $100,000 amount of the Daulerio Punitive Damage Judgment, so the
Daulerio Claims should be allowed solely against Gawker Media, up to that amount, and
Daulerio should not be reimbursed additional amounts beyond his potential exposure to
defend the Bollea Judgments.
Accordingly, the Debtors request that the Court disallow all three of the Daulerio Claims, except
to the extent of allowing the Daulerio Claims solely against Gawker Media up to an amount of
$100,000 that Daulerio can demonstrate were actually incurred in connection with litigating the
Bollea I Lawsuit.
I.

Daulerio Is Not The Owner Of The Indemnification Claims


24.

As discussed in paragraphs 13 and 14 above, the Daulerio Judgment Satisfaction

Order stipulated that, to the extent Daulerio had any rights to indemnification from, or a duty to
defend by, the Debtors, those rights were transferred and assigned to Mr. Bollea and Mr.
Bollea [was] deemed to be the owner of the rights, with full power and authority to enforce said
rights against Gawker [Media] and GMGI. Id., at Order 1. That transfer occurred in August
17, 2016 upon entry of the Daulerio Judgment Satisfaction Order, which has not been stayed or
vacated.

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Bankruptcy Rule 3001(e)(1) is therefore squarely on point. It provides that, [i]f

a claim has been transferred other than for security before proof of the claim has been filed, the
proof of claim may be filed only by the transferee or an indenture trustee. The entire premise of
Daulerio filing proofs of claim for the Indemnification Claims is therefore fatally flawed;
Daulerio was not the owner of those claims when he filed the Daulerio Claims. To the extent
that those Indemnification Claims exist at all, they were transferred to Bollea, who had sole
authority to file proofs of claim.
II.

Any Contingent Indemnification Claims Shall Be Disallowed Under Bankruptcy


Code Section 502(e)(1)
26.

The only current judgments against Daulerio for which Indemnification Claims

exist (had they not been transferred to Bollea, which they were) are the Bollea Compensatory
Damage Judgment against Daulerio and the Daulerio Punitive Damage Judgment. The first will
be resolved upon approval of the Bollea Settlement, and as discussed in Section VI below, the
Daulerio Punitive Damage Judgment is not indemnifiable as a matter of New York public policy.
The remaining Indemnification Claims with respect to future orders, judgments and/or
settlements are contingent claims that must be disallowed pursuant to section 502(e) of the
Bankruptcy Code. Similarly, section 502(e) also disallows any claim Daulerio may be trying to
assert to preserve additional claims in case of the contingency that the Daulerio Judgment
Satisfaction Order or one of the other judgments of the Florida state court are reversed or
modified on appeal.
27.

Specifically, section 502(e)(1) of the Bankruptcy Code provides, in relevant part,

that:
[T]he court shall disallow any claim for reimbursement or contribution of any
entity that is liable with the debtor ... to the extent that
(B) such claim for reimbursement or contribution is contingent as of the time of
allowance or disallowance of such claim.
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Thus, three elements must be met for a claim to be disallowed under section 502(e)(1)(B):
a. the claim must be for reimbursement or contribution;
b. the party asserting the claim must be liable with the debtor on the claim of a third party;
and
c. the claim must be contingent at the time of its allowance or disallowance.
In re Chemtura Corp., 436 B.R. 286, 292-293 (Bankr. S.D.N.Y. 2010).
28.

Courts have consistently held that claims for indemnification, such as those at

issue in the Daulerio Claims, are encompassed by the first requirement of section 502(e)(1). See,
e.g., In re Wedtech Corp., 85 B.R. 285, 290 (Bankr. S.D.N.Y. 1988); In re Caribbean Petroleum
Corp., Case No. 10-12553 (KG), 2012 WL 1899322, at *3 (Bankr. D. Del. May 24, 2012).
Courts also interpret co-liability under Section 502(e)(1)(B) broadly. The inquiry involves
whether a debtor could be co-liable with a third party on an underlying claim, not whether a
debtor is automatically liable. In re Chemtura Corp., 436 B.R. at 295 (citing In re Amatex
Corp., 110 B.R. 168, 171 (Bankr. E.D. Pa. 1990) (Congress clearly meant to include all
situations wherein indemnitors or contributors could be liable with the debtor within the scope of
502(e)(1)(B).)). The Daulerio Indemnification Claims assert that the Debtors would be coliable with Daulerio for any such indemnifiable judgments, so they would be included in the
second requirement of section 502(e)(1)(B). More importantly, the Bollea Judgments state that
the Defendants, including both Gawker Media and Daulerio, are jointly and severally liable.
Finally, no present indemnification obligations of any Debtor to Daulerio will remain after
approval of the Bollea Settlement, so any other Indemnification Claims are necessarily
contingent on filing of a future claim, settlement or judicial decision. Accordingly, the Daulerio
Claims for indemnification for any judgment or settlement (including in the Supplemental

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Daulerio Litigation) or any potential future claims, must be disallowed under section 502(e)(1) of
the Bankruptcy Code.
III.

Daulerios Violation Of His Employment Representations Makes Him Liable To


Gawker Media; Daulerio Is Not Entitled to Indemnification Or Defense For Claims
Arising From That Violation
29.

Any consideration of indemnification claims between Gawker Media and

Daulerio has to begin with consideration of the specific indemnification provisions in the written
agreement between the parties. As set forth in paragraph 5 above, the first indemnification
provision in the Employment Appendix provides that Daulerio indemnifies and holds Gawker
Media harmless from and against any judgments resulting from a breach or claimed breach
by Daulerio of any of Daulerios representations, warranties or covenants in the Employment
Agreement and Appendix.

Employment Appendix 19 (emphasis added).

Those

representations, warranties and covenants include representations that (i) content and materials
developed by Daulerio pursuant to and during employment (the Work) would not violate any
rights of any person or entity, such as rights of privacy or publicity, id. 16.a., and (ii) Work
created by Daulerio for the gawker.com website will not contain, publish or display any
defamatory, obscene, or illegal content or materials to the best of [Daulerio]s knowledge, id.
16.b.
30.

The claims in the Bollea I Lawsuit fit well within that indemnification

requirement merely by claiming that Daulerio published private and confidential information,
invaded Bolleas privacy by intrusion, violated Bolleas common law right of publicity, and
intentionally and negligently inflicted emotional distress. The specific findings set forth in the
Jury Verdict and noted in paragraph 9 above make clear that Daulerio had, in fact, breached his

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Employment Representations in a number of ways by publishing the Bollea Video. 12 As a result


of the willful and intentional conduct of Daulerio, Gawker Media is subject to compensatory
damages in the amount of $115 million and punitive damages in the amount of $15 million.
Accordingly, absent the Bollea Settlement, Daulerio would be required to indemnify Gawker
Media for some or all of the $130 million in damages awarded to Bollea from Gawker Media
arising from Daulerios breach of his Employment Representations.
31.

Further, the Employment Agreement expressly provides that Daulerio is only

entitled to indemnification or a duty to defend with respect to claims arising from any content or
images used by Daulerio in accordance with Gawker Entertainments content policies in force at
the time of such use. With respect to the judgments in the Bollea I Lawsuit, Daulerio seems to
contend that the fact that the Florida state court held Gawker Media liable for the acts of
Daulerio that gave rise to the Bollea Judgment and the Daulerio Punitive Damage Judgment
means that the trial court in the Bollea case adjudged Daulerios acts to have been within the
scope of his employment. Supp 14. While the Debtors do not dispute the fact that the
conduct occurred during Daulerios employment, the conduct that gave rise to the Daulerio
Claims simply cannot fall within the scope of employment if that is intended to mean Daulerio
is entitled to indemnification for the Daulerio Punitive Damages Judgment. Specifically, in
finding that Daulerio was liable for punitive damages, the jury found that Daulerio, among other
things, (i) had a specific intent to harm Bollea when posting the Bollea Video online, id. 17,
(ii) intended to cause Bollea severe emotional distress or acted with reckless disregard of the
high probability of cause Bollea severe emotional distress, id. 9, (iii) the Bollea Video was

12

The Daulerio Indemnification Provision allows that strict adherence to Gawker Entertainment policies constitutes
a complete defense against any suggested breach of Daulerios representations, covenants or warranties, Id., 19,
but Daulerio makes no assertion to support an inference that his actions were in strict adherence to Gawker
Entertainments policies.

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posted in such a manner as to outrage or cause mental suffering, shame or humiliation to a


person of ordinary sensibilities, id. 5, and (iv) posting of the Bollea Video was extreme and
outrageous to a person of ordinary sensibilities, id. at 8. Plainly, such conduct could not be
within the content policies in force at Gawker Media at the time of the Bollea Article.
32.

In the presence of the written Employment Agreement, the Daulerio Claims do

not allege any facts supporting an unwritten historical policy and practice of Gawker Media that
would modify the clear written terms of that Employment Agreement to pay to defend or
indemnify employees from defamation claims.

Moreover, even assuming Daulerio could

establish that an unwritten policy and practice modified his written Employment Agreement, that
unwritten policy and practice was simply to defend employees with respect to the articles they
wrote and pay judgments if and to the extent that Gawker Media was also jointly and severally
liable for the judgment. In no prior situation, however, had Gawker Media paid a judgment
levied solely against an employee and certainly none in which an employee was liable for
punitive damages.
IV.

Daulerio Does Not Have Any Claims Against GMGI And Gawker Hungary
33.

As set forth above, Daulerio has filed claims against GMGI and Gawker Hungary,

as well as Gawker Media. His Claims against GMGI and Gawker Hungary are simply without
basis.
34.

First, the Daulerio Claims assert that Gawker Medianot Gawker Hungary or

GMGIassumed the obligations under his Employment Agreement with Gawker Entertainment.
Supp.

10.

GMGI and Gawker Hungary are therefore not parties to the Employment

Agreement nor employers of Daulerio. Daulerio therefore has not, and cannot, allege that either
of those Debtors assumed Gawker Entertainments obligations under the Employment

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Agreement, so he has no contractual basis upon which his claims against GMGI or Gawker
Hungary can properly rest.
35.

Second, Daulerio has offered nothingnor could heto establish a prima facie

case that GMGI or Gawker Hungary had a practice or policy of indemnifying Gawker Media
writers, editors or the like. GMGI was a holding company with no employees, and Gawker
Hungarys employees were not writers, editors or the like, but instead were primarily responsible
for the intellectual property and website design. Moreover, although Daulerio attempts to rest
these claims on the Holden Declaration, any such reliance is misplaced. Specifically, the Holden
Declaration states that there was a practice and policy of indemnification pursuant to which the
Debtor defends and indemnify their (sic) writers and editorial staff in connection with lawsuits
related to the Companys web content. Holden Decl. 24. The Holden Declaration defines
Debtor to refer solely to Gawker Media and Company to refer to GMGI and Gawker Media
collectively. Id. 1. Thus, the policy and practice was that of Gawker Media, not GMGI and
Gawker Hungary. Consequently, Daulerios Claims against GMGI and Gawker Hungary cannot
rest on a policy and practice that GMGI and Gawker Hungary simply did not have.
36.

Finally, although not cited by Daulerio, it is the case that in June 2016, the GMGI

board of directors approved a resolution authorizing, but not directing, any authorized officer to
take any actions necessary, appropriate, proper, or desirable in the interest of [GMGI] in
connection with the chapter 11 case, with such determination to be conclusively evidenced by
such execution or taking of such action, to indemnify any Employee Defendant up to the full
amount of their costs and expenses in connection with any future GMGI-related lawsuit. 13 For
purposes of the resolution, Employee Defendants were defined to include writers and editors

13

A copy of the relevant GMGI resolution is attached as Exhibit E hereto.

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who are named as defendants in civil actions, in connection with their work for [GMGI]. This
resolution, however, was not meant to retrospectively address the Bollea I Lawsuit and the
Bollea Judgments. As the evidence at the hearing on the Objection will establish, GMGI was not
assuming responsibility for the then-pending Bollea I Lawsuit or the Bollea Judgments. Instead,
GMGI was addressing the reality that it believed that Mr. Thiel was funding additional litigation
against Gawker Media and its current writers and editors. See, Motion of the Debtors for Leave
Pursuant to Rule 2004 of the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure to Conduct Discovery
Concerning Potential Plan Issues and Potential Causes of Action, and to Establish Discovery
Response and Dispute Procedures [Docket No. 341].

In an effort to maximize value by

maintaining Gawker Medias current workforce of editors and writers during the sale process,
GMGI intended to exercise discretion to indemnify and defend the writers in certain thenexisting (e.g., Ayyadurai, Terrill, and Huon) and threatened future litigation. 14
V.

Daulerio Has No Claims Relating To The Supplemental Daulerio Litigation, Filing


Of Proofs Of Claim Against the Debtors, Or Any Future Suits Based On Actions
Following The Conclusion Of His Employment By Gawker Media
37.

To begin with the obviousthe Employment Agreement covered only actions

and conduct taken by Daulerio in the course of his employment by Gawker Media. Daulerios
employment by Gawker Media concluded in January 2013. Consequently, to the extent that the
Daulerio Claims request indemnification or defense for conduct or actions Daulerio took after
January 2013, the Daulerio Claims must be disallowed.
38.

Moreover, the Company Indemnification Provision, upon which Daulerio

apparently relies, provides only an undertaking to pay legal fees in an action relating to website
content; it does not provide that Gawker Media will pay for Daulerio to hire separate counsel to
14

In that regard, Mr. Dentons indemnification rights are very different. He had contracts with GMGI and Gawker
Media that provided him with express rights to indemnification and defense.

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file proofs of claim against the Debtors estates in bankruptcy proceedings. And Daulerio does
notand cannotallege that Gawker Media had a policy and practice to indemnify or defend
former employees for actions taken after their employment. It therefore follows that Daulerio is
simply not entitled to indemnification or defense costs for the Supplemental Daulerio Litigation,
Bollea Judgment Defense Costs, the Daulerio Claims Costs, and the Daulerio Personal Interest
Costs, or any other claims for actions Daulerio took subsequent to his employment by Gawker
Media.
VI.

Gawker Media Has Discharged Any Obligation It Has To Daulerio Because The
Daulerio Punitive Damage Judgment Is Not Indemnifiable As A Matter of Public
Policy
39.

Notwithstanding the fact that the Daulerio Judgment Satisfaction Order divested

Daulerio of any indemnification rights with respect to the Bollea Judgments, Gawker Media did
not abandon its responsibilities to Daulerio. Gawker Media has in fact discharged all of its
existing obligations under the Employment Agreement. Specifically, as Daulerio readily admits,
Gawker Media paid all of the legal costs related to the Bollea I Lawsuit through the appeal of the
Bollea Judgments on June 10, 2016. Supp 22. Moreover, pursuant to the Bollea Settlement,
Gawker Media is satisfying not only the Bollea Judgments as they apply to Gawker Media, but
also the $115 million Compensatory Damage Judgment against Daulerio.
40.

With respect to the Daulerio Punitive Damages Judgment, Daulerio is not entitled

to indemnification or the associated duty to defend as a matter of public policy. The Daulerio
Claims assert that they arise under New York law, which expressly governed the Employment
Appendix. Id. 23. Public policy of New York precludes indemnification for punitive damages
whether the punitive damages are based on intentional actions or actions which, while not
intentional, amount to gross negligence, recklessness, or wantonness or conscious disregard of
the rights of others or for conduct so reckless as to amount to such disregard. Home Ins. Co. v
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American Home Prods. Corp., 75 NY2d 196, 200 (1990) (internal citations omitted). The New
York Court of Appeals has stated that to allow indemnification of such damages would defeat
the purpose of punitive damages which is solely to punish the offender and to deter similar
conduct on the part of others. Zurich Ins. Co. v Shearson Lehman Hutton, Inc., 84 NY2d 309,
316 (1994).
41.

Nor should New York public policy be disregarded because a punitive damages

award has been rendered in another state. Home Ins. Co., 75 NY2d at 201. The New York Court
of Appeals formulated a two-part test to decide whether an out-of-state punitive damages
judgment is indemnifiable under New York law. First a court examines the nature of the claim,
including the degree of wrongfulness for which damages were awarded in the foreign State to
determine whether the award may be considered punitive in nature. The court must then
examine the other States law and policy relating to punitive damages in order to properly
ascertain whether reimbursement would offend New York public policy. Id.
42.

Under Florida law, the purpose of punitive damages is not to further compensate

the plaintiff, but to punish the defendant for its wrongful conduct and to deter similar misconduct
by it and other actors in the future. WR. Grace & Co. v Waters, 638 So. 2d 502, 504 (Fla.
1994). In Florida, the law is well settled that [p]unitive damages are appropriate when a
defendant engages in conduct which is fraudulent, malicious, deliberately violent or oppressive,
or committed with such gross negligence as to indicate a wanton disregard for rights of others.
Owens-Corning Fiberglass Corp. v Ballard, 749 So. 2d 483, 486 (Fla. 1999); see also BDO
Seidman, LLP v Banco Espirito Danto Inti., 38 So. 3d 874 (Fla. 2010); Hardiman v. Stevens,
2011 WL 1480401 (M.D. Fla. 2011).

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There is no significant difference between the law of New York governing

punitive damages and comparable law in Florida. Under both States laws, the purpose of
punitive damages is the same, namely, to punish conduct having a high degree of moral
culpability and to serve as a warning to others in the future. Thus, conduct such as that for which
the jury found Daulerio guilty and awarded punitive damages, would also support a jury verdict
in New York awarding punitive damages. It therefore follows that indemnification coverage for
the punitive damages awarded in the Bollea I Lawsuit would be contrary to New York public
policy. Certain Underwriters at Lloyds, et al. v. BDO Seidman LLP, 2012 WL 3115581 (N.Y.
Sup. July 27, 2012).
44.

The fact that there is an appeal of the Daulerio Punitive Judgment pending before

the Florida state court of appeals does not preclude a determination on whether Daulerios claims
are indemnifiable. Daulerio has presented no reason for this court to question the regularity of
the Florida judgment awarding punitive damages or the legitimacy of the Florida judgment
awarding punitive damages. Certain Underwriters at Lloyds, et al. v. BDO Seidman LLP at 9.
More importantly, under the particular facts present here, Daulerio is not entitled to costs for
pursuing the appeal of the Daulerio Punitive Damages Judgment because that will be the sole
claim remaining in the Bollea I Lawsuit after the Bollea Settlement resolves the Compensatory
Damage Judgment, and Gawker Media cannot be required to continue providing a defense for
claims it is not required to indemnify. See, e.g., Allstate Ins. Co. v. Mende, 176 A.D.2d 907, 908,
575 N.Y.S.2d 520, 522 (1991) (affirming declaratory judgment that, following settlement of
covered claims, insurance company no longer had any duty to defend and indemnify defendants
for claims not covered by the insurance policy); Schnipper v. Home Indem. Co., 99 A.D.2d 959,

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960, 472 N.Y.S.2d 653, 655 (1984) (insurer obligated to provide defense to insured against
complaint up until time complaint was amended to drop the only claim within policy coverage).
45.

Even without remaining legal obligations, Gawker Media negotiated with Bollea

to provide for the option of the Proposed Supplemental Settlement that would resolve Bolleas
claim against Daulerio for punitive damages without any cost to Daulerio. While Daulerio is
certainly free to pursue his rights, Gawker Media cannot be required to fund litigation pursuing
only the reversal of a punitive damage judgment not subject to indemnification. 15
VII.

Claims For Litigation Fees And Expenses In Connection With Appealing The Bollea
Judgments Should Be Estimated For Allowance In The Amount of $100,000, Solely
Against Gawker Media
46.

Gawker Media acknowledges that it is obligated to pay reasonable expenses in

connection with defending Daulerio in the Bollea I Lawsuit, and has done so by paying counsel
for Daulerio through the notice of appeal of the Bollea Judgments on the date of Gawker Medias
bankruptcy filing. As set forth above, neither the Employment Agreement nor any policy and
practice obligates Gawker Media to pay for defense of claims against Daulerio arising from
actions and/or omissions by Daulerio when he was no longer a Gawker Media employee.
47.

To the extent that the Company Indemnification Provision requires Gawker

Media to protect Daulerio from claims relating to publication of content on its websites, Gawker
Media has done that. Gawker Media has also obtained for Daulerio the option to dispose of all
of Bolleas claims against him for no cost, in exchange for return of the Bollea Video and mutual
releases, which Daulerio has thus far declined.

Daulerios Employment Agreement never

contemplated that Gawker Media would be required to pay counsel fees to allow Daulerio to

15
To the extent Daulerio is successful, he could seek to be reimbursed for the costs of his appeal; however, as set
forth in section II, any such indemnification claim should be disallowed under section 502(e) of the Bankruptcy
Code.

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retain possession of a sex tape subject to a Florida court injunction or fund Daulerios efforts to
establish First Amendment precedent.
48.

Thus, to avoid permitting Daulerio to dissipate estate assets for personal reasons

through uneconomic litigation that prejudices holders of Allowed general unsecured claims
against Gawker Media, the Debtors request that the Court limit the allowed amount, if any, the
Daulerio Claims to $100,000, the amount of the Daulerio Punitive Damage Judgment, solely
against Gawker Media. The Debtors maintain that such amount is fair and reasonable under the
circumstances and consistent with section 502(c) of the Bankruptcy Code. Specifically, section
502(c) clearly permits this Court the authority to estimate unliquidated claims and provides it
with wide latitude in doing so. In re Chemtura Corp., 448 B.R. 635, 648 (Bankr. S.D.N.Y.
2011) (noting bankruptcy courts wide discretion in estimating claims). As a result of the Bollea
Settlement, the most that Daulerio may be financially liable is the amount of the Daulerio
Punitive Damage Judgment. Therefore, any reasonable claim Daulerio might have for payment
of legal fees and expenses going forward must reflect the indisputable fact that Daulerio is
ultimately only financially liable for $100,000. Therefore, while Daulerio may stand on his
contractual rights, under New York law a covenant of good faith exist in every contract. ABN
AMRO Bank, N.V. v. MBIA Inc., 17 N.Y.3d 208, 228-29 (2011) (The implied covenant of good
faith and fair dealing embraces a pledge that neither party shall do anything which will have the
effect of destroying or injuring the right of the other party to receive the fruits of the contract.).
In the present circumstances, the covenant of good faith cannot countenance a reading of the
Employment Agreement to permit Daulerio to incur fees and expenses in an amount in excess of
the Daulerio Punitive Damage Judgment, and impose those excess fees and expenses on Gawker
Media and its unsecured creditors, when Gawker Media is willing to pay the Daulerio Punitive

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Damage Judgment to avoid such fees and costs. Accordingly, the Daulerio Claim should be
allowed at no more than $100,000.
RESPONSES TO THIS OBJECTION
49.

Any responses to this Objection must be filed on or before 4:00 p.m. (New York

Time) on December 12, 2016, in accordance with the procedures set forth in the notice of this
Objection.
RESERVATION OF RIGHTS
50.

Neither the filing of this Objection nor entry of the Proposed Order shall affect

any rights of the Debtors, their estates, the Plan Administrator, or any other party in interest in
these chapter 11 cases to object to the Daulerio Claims for any purposes, including, without
limitation, allowance and distribution under the Plan.
51.

The Debtors and their estates reserve any and all rights to amend, supplement or

otherwise modify this Objection or the Proposed Order. The Debtors and their estates also
reserve any and all rights, claims and defenses with respect to any and all of the Daulerio Claims,
and nothing included in or omitted from this Objection or the Proposed Order is intended or shall
be deemed to impair, prejudice, waive or otherwise affect any rights, claims, or defenses of the
Debtors and their estates with respect to the Daulerio Claims.
NOTICE
52.

Notice of this Objection has been provided to: (i) the Office of the United States

Trustee for the Southern District of New York; (ii) Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, counsel to
the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors of Gawker Media LLC, et al.; (iii) Latham &
Watkins LLP, counsel to US VC Partners LP, as Second Lien Lender; (iv) the address of the
Claimant, provided on the Daulerio Claims; and (v) all parties requesting notice in these chapter

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11 cases pursuant to Bankruptcy Rule 2002. The Debtors respectfully submit that further notice
of this Objection is neither required nor necessary.
WHEREFORE, for the reasons set forth herein, the Debtors respectfully request
that the Court (a) enter the Proposed Order, and (b) grant such other and further relief as may be
just and proper.
Dated: November 28, 2016
New York, New York

/s/ Gregg M. Galardi


ROPES & GRAY LLP
Gregg M. Galardi
D. Ross Martin
Joshua Y. Sturm
Jonathan M. Agudelo
1211 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10036-8704
Telephone: (212) 596-9000
Facsimile: (212) 596-9090
gregg.galardi@ropesgray.com
ross.martin@ropesgray.com
joshua.sturm@ropesgray.com
jonathan.agudelo@ropesgray.com
Counsel to the Debtors
and Debtors in Possession

26
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EXHIBIT A
Proposed Order

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UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY COURT


SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK
------------------------------------------------------x
:
In re
:
:
1
Gawker Media LLC, et al.,
:
:
Debtors.
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Chapter 11
Case No. 16-11700 (SMB)
(Jointly Administered)

ORDER GRANTING DEBTORS FIRST OMNIBUS OBJECTION


TO PROOFS OF CLAIM FILED BY ALBERT JAMES DAULERIO
Upon the objection (the Objection) of Gawker Media LLC (Gawker Media), Gawker
Media Group, Inc. (GMGI), and Gawker Hungary Kft. (Gawker Hungary) as debtors and
debtors in possession (collectively, the Debtors) in the above-captioned cases (the Bankruptcy
Cases), for entry of an order (the Order) disallowing Proof of Claim Nos. 293, 294, and 295
filed by Albert James Daulerio (the Daulerio Claims); and the Court having found that the
Court has jurisdiction over this matter pursuant to 28 U.S.C. 157 and 1334; and the Court
having found that this is a core proceeding pursuant to 28 U.S.C. 157(b)(2); and the Court
having found that venue of this proceeding and the Objection in this district is proper pursuant to
28 U.S.C. 1408 and 1409; and the Court having found that the relief requested in the
Objection is in the best interests of the Debtors estate, their creditors, and other parties in
interest; and the Court having found that the Debtors provided appropriate notice of the
Objection and the opportunity for a hearing on the Objection under the circumstances; and the
Court having reviewed the Objection and having heard the statements in support of the relief

The last four digits of the taxpayer identification number of the debtors are: Gawker Media LLC (0492); Gawker
Media Group, Inc. (3231); and Gawker Hungary Kft. (f/k/a Kinja Kft) (5056). Gawker Media LLC and Gawker
Media Group, Inc.s mailing addresses are c/o Opportune LLP, Attn: William D. Holden, Chief Restructuring
Officer, 10 East 53rd Street, 33rd Floor, New York, NY 10022. Gawker Hungary Kft.s mailing address is c/o
Opportune LLP, Attn: William D. Holden, 10 East 53rd Street, 33rd Floor, New York, NY 10022.

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requested therein at a hearing before the Court (the Hearing); and the Court having determined
that the legal and factual bases set forth in the Objection and at the Hearing establish just cause
for the relief granted herein; and upon all of the proceedings had before the Court; and after due
deliberation and sufficient cause appearing therefor, it is HEREBY ORDERED THAT:
1.

The Objection is sustained as set forth herein. All capitalized terms used but not

defined herein shall have the meanings attributed to such terms in the Objection.
2.

The Daulerio Claims are Allowed, solely against Gawker Media, up to an amount

of $100,000 that Daulerio can demonstrate was actually incurred in connection with litigating the
Bollea I Lawsuit.
3.

All of the remaining Daulerio Claims are disallowed in their entirety.

4.

Prime Clerk LLC, the Court-appointed claims agent in these Chapter 11 Cases, is

hereby authorized and directed to make such revisions to the official claims register as are
necessary to reflect the disallowance of the Daulerio Claims.
5.

The Debtors are authorized to take all actions necessary to implement this Order.

6.

The Court retains exclusive jurisdiction with respect to all matters arising from or

related to the implementation of this Order.


New York, New York
Dated: ____________, 2016
THE HONORABLE STUART M BERNSTEIN
UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY JUDGE

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EXHIBIT B
Jury Verdict

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EXHIBIT C
Sanctions Motion

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IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SIXTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT


IN AND FOR PINELLAS COUNTY, FLORIDA
TERRY GENE BOLLEA professionally
known as HULK HOGAN,
Case No. 12012447 CI-011
Plaintiff,
vs.
GAWKER MEDIA, LLC aka GAWKER
MEDIA; NICK DENTON; A.J. DAULERIO,
Defendants.
______________________________________/
BOLLEAS AMENDED MOTION FOR SANCTIONS AND FOR
ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE AGAINST DAULERIO AND HIS COUNSEL
Plaintiff, Terry Bollea known professionally as Hulk Hogan (Mr. Bollea), by counsel,
moves this Court for an order imposing sanctions against Defendant A.J. Daulerio
(Mr. Daulerio)1 and his counsel, Levine, Sullivan, Koch & Schultz, LLP (LSKS), because
they knowingly and routinely misled the jury, this Court and Mr. Bollea about central issues in
this case, concealed and misrepresented material facts, and engaged in a scheme to improperly
influence the trier of fact and interfere with the proper administration of justice. The grounds
upon which this motion is based are as follows:
Introduction
It is axiomatic that the integrity of the civil litigation process depends on truthful
disclosure of facts. Morgan v. Campbell, 816 So.2d 251, 254 (Fla. 2d DCA 2002) (citing Cox
v. Burke, 706 So.2d 43, 47 (Fla. 5th DCA 1998). Indeed, few wrongs strike more viciously
against the integrity of our system of justice than subverting the truth. Empire World Towers,
1

Because of their bankruptcy proceedings and the associated automatic stays, Mr. Bollea does not seek any relief
against Defendants, Gawker Media, LLC and Nick Denton. Mr. Bollea fully reserves his right to do so upon the
lifting of the stay(s).

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LLC v. CDR Creances, S.A.S., 89 So.3d 1034, 1038 (Fla. 3d DCA 2012). That is why, on the
spectrum of sanctionable conduct, perjury is perhaps the most egregious.

Id.

Perjury,

regardless of the setting, is a serious offense that results in incalculable harm to the functioning
and integrity of the legal system as well as to private individuals. Ramey v. Haverty Furniture
Companies, Inc., 993 So.2d 10114, 1020 (Fla. 2d DCA 2008) (citing U.S. v. Holland, 22 F.3d
1040, 1047 (11th Cir. 1994)).
The Defendants in this case, including Mr. Daulerio, at least outwardly acknowledged the
importance of being honest.

They purported to be the proverbial watchdog of modern

journalism, committed to exposing the unvarnished truth and practicing complete


transparency under the rubric that hypocrisy is the only modern sin. (See Trial Trans. p.
1310:10-15; Trial Ex. 30.) For their part, Mr. Daulerios attorneys from LSKS are officers of the
Court who took oaths to perform their duties with honesty and integrity and, at the outset of this
case, swore under penalty of perjury to abide by the Florida Rules of Professional Conduct.
Having filed three of their own motions for sanctions against Mr. Bollea (all of which were
correctly denied), Mr. Daulerio and LSKS are aware of the standards governing sanctionable
conduct in Florida.2
The recent revelation of numerous instances in which Mr. Daulerio and LSKS concealed
and misrepresented material facts about issues central to this case, in sworn filings and
proceedings before this Court and before the jury, are deeply troubling. Their misconduct goes
well beyond mere oversight or failed memory concerning collateral issues. Rather, we are
dealing with a calculated effort to impede fair decision-making on core issues presented to the

On May 8, 2014, December 22, 2015 and May 18, 2016, the Defendants moved for sanctions against Mr. Bollea
based on alleged frauds upon the Court. All of these motions failed because, among other reasons, they were based
on incidents that, even if true, were at worst examples of oversight or failed memory about collateral and immaterial
issues.

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trier of fact, as part of a calculated scheme to allow intentional tortfeasors found guilty of
maliciously posting illegally recorded, sexually explicit footage of Mr. Bollea on the Internet to
avoid accountability for their actions. Stated simply, we are dealing with an unconscionable
scheme to subvert the truth and the integrity of the Court.
We now know that Mr. Daulerio, LSKS and others forged a path of deception that can be
traced back to the trial of this case. Their goals were to try to spare Nick Denton from personal
liability, protect his Gawker empire from exposure for indemnity, reduce Mr. Daulerios and Mr.
Dentons responsibility for punitive damages, and prevent Mr. Bollea from collecting the $140.1
million Final Judgment he is owed.
Mr. Daulerio, the man who was convinced to fall on the sword to protect Nick Dentons
blog empire, finally seems to be realizing that he was used and abandoned by those he trusted.
As a result, the truth has slowly come to light. For example, in a recent interview, Mr. Daulerio
revealed that the lawyers that were representing Gawker in this case need[ed] me to
remember things in a certain way. Recent court filings have also confirmed that Mr. Daulerio
and LSKS knew, from the outset of this case, that Mr. Daulerio and Mr. Denton had valuable
indemnity rights that they were concealing, which had a direct impact on the core issue of
punitive damages awarded at trial. Recently, Mr. Daulerio filed bankruptcy Proofs of Claim
against each of the Gawker entities3 seeking to enforce the indemnity rights that he and LSKS
hid from the jury and this Court.
Even after this Court determined, on July 29, 2016, that it had been misled about
Mr. Daulerios and Mr. Dentons Gawker Media Group, Inc. (GMGI) stock (in connection
with their request to stay execution), Mr. Daulerio and his lawyers continued concealing assets
from Mr. Bollea. Mr. Daulerio signed and his lawyers filed financial affidavits that they knew
3

Copies of the Proofs of Claim are attached as Exhibits A (Gawker), B (GMGI) and C (Kinja).

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were inaccurate. They continued to omit his indemnity rights, several laptop computers (some of
which LSKS physically possesses) and a copy of the illegally recorded, sexually explicit 30Minute Video of Mr. Bollea.

Incredibly, after Mr. Daulerio and LSKS openly mocked

Mr. Bollea with a flippant letter and press statements offering to return Mr. Daulerios rice
cooker and a golf club,4 Mr. Daulerio publicly threatened Mr. Bollea with the release of this
entire 30-minute sex tapethe very same tape which Mr. Daulerio repeatedly failed to disclose
in his affidavits and at his deposition.
The evidence is clear. It convincingly establishes that Mr. Daulerio and LSKS thumbed
their noses at the integrity of this proceeding by routinely misrepresenting and omitting material
facts that went to the heart of liability, punitive damages and execution upon the Final Judgment.
Accordingly, harsh sanctions should be imposed.
Overview of the Web of Deceit
In what is best described as a concerted effort to protect Nick Denton and his Gawker
empire, Mr. Daulerio was admittedly urged to remember things in a certain way, and he and
LSKS knowingly concealed and misrepresented facts and evidence that were material to this
case on numerous occasions:

LSKS advised Mr. Daulerio to remember things a certain way, which


seems to explain why Mr. Daulerio tried to take the fall at trial for Nick
Denton, by remembering their fire escape conversation about posting the
Bollea video5 inconsistently with Mr. Dentons sworn testimony.

Mr. Daulerios and Mr. Dentons indemnity rights against Gawker Media,
LLC (Gawker), Kinja, Kft. (Kinja) and Gawker Media Group, Inc.
(GMGI), were concealed in order to shield Kinja and GMGI from
liability and reduce Mr. Daulerios and Mr. Dentons exposure to punitive
damages.

See Daulerios 8/23/16 Claim of Exemption, Ex. A.


This was the conversation during which Mr. Denton testified at his deposition that he was informed of and
approved the publication of the sexually explicit footage of Mr. Bollea, which helped to establish Mr. Dentons
personal liability.
5

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Mr. Daulerio and his LSKS counsel misled the Court about Mr. Daulerios
and Mr. Dentons assets and their value in order to obtain a temporary stay
of execution, which they then rejected and misled a bankruptcy court
about receiving.

On several different occasions, Mr. Daulerio and his LSKS counsel


knowingly executed and filed Court ordered financial disclosures which
they knew did not identify all of Mr. Daulerios assets.
The Already Adjudicated Misconduct

On July 29, 2016, this Court entered its Order Granting in Part Plaintiffs Motion to
Vacate; Denying Stay of Execution Pending Appeal; and Denying Defendants Motion for Stay
to Seek Appellate Review (the July 29 Order). In the July 29 Order, this Court found that Mr.
Daulerio misled the Court in connection with his pledge of GMGI stock as adequate security
to stay execution of the $115,100,000 judgment against him. (July 29 Order 8) This Court
further found that Mr. Daulerio and his counsel failed to advise the Court about material facts of
which they were aware that significantly impacted the value of the GMGI stock that was
pledged. (Id. 11)
The Court reserved jurisdiction to award attorneys fees and costs as a sanction, impose
additional sanctions and remedies, and to issue an order to show cause as to why Mr. Daulerio
and/or [his] counsel should not be held in contempt of court, all of which this Court takes under
advisement at this time. The Court specially set a sanctions hearing for October 31, 2016.
The Coaxing of Daulerios Memory
On or about September 28, 2016, an interview of Mr. Daulerio was posted on the
Longform Podcast,6 during which Mr. Daulerio threatened to release the full 30-Minute Video of
Mr. Bollea in violation of this Courts Permanent Injunction. As set forth below, Mr. Daulerio

See Ex. A. to Bolleas 10/6/16 Emergency Motion to Enforce Permanent Injunction.

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repeatedly failed to disclose that he had this video, including at a deposition attended by LSKS
counsel.
During this interview, Mr. Daulerio expressed his frustration over his lawyers, whom he
identified as representing Gawker, and revealed that as some paranoia set in during this case
they [the lawyers] need[ed] me to remember things in a certain way.7

Looking back,

Mr. Daulerio thinks that Gawker at that time was also trying to basically protect their company
as best as they possibly can.8
Within the context of these statements, Mr. Daulerios testimony at trial regarding the
conversation that he had with Nick Denton on the fire escape outside Gawkers offices about
whether to publish the Bollea video stands out. On direct examination at trial, Mr. Daulerio
testified that he did not speak with Nick Denton before posting the Bollea video. (Trial Trans.
2738:25-2739:5) This testimony was elicited to support Mr. Dentons argument that he did not
participate in the posting of the video, and therefore was not personally liable for its publication.
(Verdict Form Question 3)
However, Mr. Denton previously testified at his deposition that he had spoken to
Mr. Daulerio on Gawkers fire escape outside the fourth floor of the Gawker office, and that
Mr. Daulerio was excited about posting the video.

(Trial Trans. 2769:7-2770:14)

When

confronted with this on cross-examination, Mr. Daulerio claimed that the conversation never
occurred [and that].. I think he [Denton] was confusing two different conversations. (Id. at
2770:15-2771:4) In closing argument, Mr. Bolleas counsel pointed out this transparent attempt
to circle the wagons around Denton. (Id. at 3700:16-21)

7
8

See 9/28/16 Trans. pp. 54:3-22; 9:4-10:5; 17:14-18:6.


Id. at p. 64:4-17.

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In his September 28, 2016, interview, Mr. Daulerio confirmed this strategy. When asked
about whether he would do it all over again, Mr. Daulerio acknowledged that Nick Denton was
involved in the decision to post the Bollea video:
MR. DAULERIO: Well, and thats the thing is just like I had gone over that
scenario actually and prepared for that question specifically in terms of just like
going back in time and, you know, this is -- I hope this doesn't incriminate -- I
mean, what the f*ck is there to lose at this point, obviously, but, you know, Im
saying this -- like if I had that conversation with Nick, and Nick and I are sitting
there basically just saying this story will result in this culture war.
INTERVIEWER: Yeah.
MR. DAULERIO: If it smokes out those enemies, yes, you absolutely do it. I
think Nick fights this one hundred percent of the way. If it can potentially like
just end Gawker.com, no, nobody would absolutely do that. And, you know, that
wasnt -- that wasnt -- that wasn't at risk here, you know.
(See 9/28/16 Trans. pp. 72:7-73:2.) (Emphasis added) The clear implication of Mr. Daulerios
recent self-incrimination is that he, at the urging of his counsel, heeded their call to
remember the fire escape conversation differently to try to protect Nick Denton from
individual liability.
The seriousness of lying under oath, particularly by those professing to be purveyors of
the unvarnished truth, cannot be ignored. Perjury regarding a material matter is a third degree
felony in Florida. See 837.02, Fla. Stat. Witness tampering is also a crime. See 914.22, Fla.
Stat.9 Floridas Rules of Professional Conduct prohibit lawyers from offering false testimony,
and require the disclosure and correction of false evidence once it is presented to the Court
even after the conclusion of the proceeding. See Rule 4-3.3 (Candor Toward the Tribunal).

It bears mentioning that during the pendency of this case, Nick Denton approved a $500,000 Gawker investment
in Mr. Daulerios new gossip website, Ratter.com. (Trial Ex. 366)

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Additional Misrepresentations About & Concealment of Assets


Mr. Daulerio and LSKS also made several material misrepresentations about his (and, as
to LSKS, Mr. Dentons) assets and net worth that materially impacted the punitive damages
phase of the trial, as well as this Courts initial decision to grant a temporary stay of execution.
Specifically, they knowingly concealed indemnity rights that Mr. Daulerio and Mr. Denton hold
against Gawker, Kinja and GMGI, and entered into a financial worth stipulation that they knew
to be false because it excluded these indemnity rights and other assets. These indemnity rights
and assets should have been disclosed and included within the Defendants net worth for
purposes of punitive damages, as well as for purposes of their request for a stay of execution
based on alternative security and in connection with discovery and execution upon the Final
Judgment. They were not.
Prior to trial, Mr. Bollea propounded financial worth discovery to Mr. Denton and
Mr. Daulerio, including interrogatories which asked them to identify all of their assets and,
specifically, their choses in action. In their verified responses, Mr. Denton and Mr. Daulerio did
not disclose their indemnity rights as an asset. (See 6/4/2015 Responses # 3) In fact, Mr. Denton
and Mr. Daulerio affirmatively represented that they did not have any such rights. (Id. #4).
LSKS served these responses.
The parties entered into a Stipulation at trial for purposes of punitive damages regarding
Mr. Dentons and Mr. Daulerios net worth. This Stipulation did not identify any indemnity
rights. Moreover, as to Mr. Daulerio, the Stipulation stated: A.J. Daulerio has no material
assets and has student loan debt in the amount of $27,000.
stipulation was read to the jury. (3891:10-3892:21)

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Mr. Bolleas counsel (and the Court) took Mr. Daulerio and LSKS at their word, relied
upon the net worth Stipulation, and structured Mr. Bolleas argument to the jury accordingly. At
one point, LSKS even objected to a portion of the punitive damages closing that addressed
GMGIs $276 million stipulated value, because Gawker Media Group is not a party to this
case. (3899:16-3901:15) Mr. Daulerios counsel followed by arguing that the $115,000,000
verdict means financial ruin for Mr. Daulerio he has no material assets he will
never be able to pay $115,000,000. (3910:25-3911:5) Mr. Daulerios counsel also addressed
the financial condition and exposure of Mr. Denton, Gawker and GMGI:
As you just heard from Mr. Turkel, [Mr. Dentons] main asset is his ownership
interest in Gawker Medias Parent Company, GMGI. That company is not a party
to this case. It is not before you to be held liable.

Mr. Denton owns a percentage of that company. Besides that, besides that
ownership interest, he has total assetsbesides that, he has total assets, as the
judge told you of $3.6 million. That includes his home, his checking account, his
savings account, his retirement funds. Everything. $3.6 million. The verdict
already rendered will be financially devastating to Mr. Denton.
(3910:5-24) (emphasis added)
On rebuttal, Mr. Bolleas counsel acknowledged Mr. Daulerios position that GMGI was
not a party to the case. (3915: 14-24) Mr. Bolleas counsel also acknowledged, based on
Mr. Daulerios factual representations and the Stipulation, (all of which counsel believed to be
true), that Mr. Bollea, in fairness, could not tell the jury that a gentleman who has no assets and
$27,000 worth of student loans as his present worth would not be bankrupted or be financially
destroyed by this. (3917: 5-10)
At Defendants request and over Mr. Bolleas objection, the jury was instructed that it
could not award an amount that would financially destroy or bankrupt any of the defendants.
(3890:20-22) The jury followed that instruction, particularly as to Mr. Daulerio, by assessing
only $100,000 in punitive damages against him.
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After trial, in support of the Defendants motion to stay execution, LSKS filed
Mr. Dentons and Mr. Daulerios sworn affidavits. Mr. Dentons Affidavit was signed June 9,
2016, and states as follows:
2.

As has been previously documented in this litigation, my principal asset is


my ownership interest in Gawker Media Group, Inc.

3.

I have a retirement account whose current value is $91,707.14 (See Ex. 1),
a brokerage account whose current value is $13.50 (See Ex. 2), a personal
banking account whose value is $5,078.64 (See Ex. 3), and a joint bank
account with my spouse whose value is $3,661.71 (See Ex. 4). I also
recently opened a second personal banking account which contains
$45,000 that I withdrew from my retirement account to pay for living
expenses. See Ex. 5

7.

As security for the appeal in the above-captioned matter, I am willing to


pledge the entirety of my interest in GMGI.

8.

I respectfully request that the Court deem that full ownership interest to be
adequate security to stay the judgment pending appeal. (emphasis added)

At the June 10, 2016 hearing on the motion for stay, LSKS reaffirmed Dentons
representations regarding his assets:
We understand that plaintiff has an interest in seeking security for his judgment.
We have taken time. We have employed other people to come up with a solution
to balance that interest, that interest in security and judgment with the interest in a
right to appeal that means something.
Weve undertaken a serious analysis, and what we are offering is a serious
condition. We have pledged what, between the three defendants, is the most
meaningful asset they have. And, again, its effectively what the plaintiff
could get if he were to execute.
(6/10/16 Trans. pp. 16:16-17:4)(emphasis added).
Mr. Dentons Affidavit is materially false in two respects. First, Mr. Denton did not
disclose that, on June 8, 2016, his now-bankrupt company loaned him $200,000 for personal
expenses; this $200,000 appears nowhere in any of his disclosed bank accounts.

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Mr. Denton did not disclose that GMGI owed him contractual indemnity rights under an
Indemnity Agreement, dated December 31, 2009.

With respect to these indemnity rights,

Heather Dietrick had already assured Mr. Denton, both before trial and after, that GMGI would
honor its indemnity obligations. (Denton 7/6/16 Depo. pp. 76-80; Dietrick 7/6/16 Depo. pp. 5659)10
Mr. Daulerios Affidavit in support of the motion for stay also was signed June 9, 2016,
and filed by LSKS, and states as follows:
2.

3.

My assets are:
a.

A 44.7% ownership interest in RGFree, Inc. (RGFree), a


privately-held start-up media company. RGFree is not currently
operational, and it has not earned any revenue. As a result, my
ownership interest in RGFree is not of material value.

b.

5,900 shares in Gawker Media Group, Inc.

c.

Checking and savings accounts holding approximately $13,000.


The money comes exclusively from gifts and some freelance
writing work. I do not currently have full-time employment.

I do not own a home, a car, or any other material assets.

Like Mr. Denton, Mr. Daulerio concealed his indemnification rights from Mr. Bollea,
from the jury and from the Court. In reality, Mr. Daulerio is also subject to a company practice
and policy of indemnification, by which the Debtor[s] defend and indemnify their writers and
editorial staff in connection with lawsuits related to the companys web content. (See Holden
Dec. 24)
We now know, based on Gawkers June 10, 2016 bankruptcy filings, subsequent
deposition testimony, and the verified bankruptcy Proofs of Claim recently filed by
Mr. Daulerio, that Nick Denton and Mr. Daulerio do indeed have indemnity rights which were
10

The deposition transcripts of Denton and Dietrick have already been filed confidentially under seal.

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concealed from the Court, the jury and Mr. Bollea.

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In fact, Mr. Daulerio testified at his

August 17, 2016 deposition in aid of execution that he fully expects GMGI to pay the amount of
the judgment he owes. (8/17/16 Trans. p. 71:17-21) Consequently, when Mr. Daulerio and
LSKS represented to the jury that there was no way Mr. Daulerio could pay the $115 million
compensatory damage award, they were not being truthful.11

When LSKS argued that

Mr. Dentons only material assets were his GMGI stock, financial accounts, and his condo, they
were not being truthful.

And, when Mr. Daulerio and LSKS represented to the jury that

Mr. Daulerio has no material assets, they were likewise not being truthful. Under Florida law,
indemnity rights and choses in action are indisputably assets. See Puzzo v. Ray, 386 So.2d 49, 51
(Fla. 4th DCA 1980); General Guaranty Ins. Co. of Fla. v. DaCosta, 190 So.2d 211, 213-14
(Fla. 3d DCA 1966). Moreover, as set forth below, Mr. Daulerio had several other undisclosed,
material assets.
When the jury, this Court and Mr. Bollea took Mr. Daulerio and LSKS at their word
about Mr. Daulerios true financial condition, we were all deceived. In no uncertain terms,
LSKS represented to the jury that the compensatory damage award would financially destroy
Mr. Daulerio because he was worth so little, when in fact Mr. Daulerio and LSKS knew that he
held valuable indemnity rights which would ensure that the Gawker entities (worth at least $276
million) would pay any judgment entered against Mr. Daulerio and Mr. Denton. The Court
should have been told about these facts before the jury was given punitive damages instructions.
And the jury was entitled to know the whole truth about Mr. Daulerios and Mr. Dentons
financial condition when it was deciding the amount of punitive damages to assess.

11

Regardless of whether Mr. Daulerios indemnity rights flow from GMGI and/or Gawker,
GMGIs President and General Counsel had already assured Mr. Denton that GMGI would pay
all of the $115 million compensatory damages awarded by the jury.
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As for materiality, the fact that Mr. Daulerio and Mr. Denton had indemnity rights that
were concealed during financial worth discovery would have justified striking Mr. Dentons and
Mr. Daulerios pauper defense at trial. Improperly withholding net worth information justifies
disallowing a low net worth defense.

Belle Glade Chevrolet-Cadillac Buick Pontiac

Oldsmobile, Inc. v. Figgie, 54 So.3d 991, 996-97 (Fla. 4th DCA 2011). More importantly, once
LSKS made the argument to the jury that a large punitive award would financially destroy
Mr. Daulerio and Mr. Denton, their indemnity rights became relevant. Humana Health Ins. Co.
of Florida, Inc. v. Chipps, 802 So.2d 492, 497-98 (Fla. 4th DCA 2011), is directly on point:
Once [defendant] claimed that a large award would hurt or bankrupt the company financially,
the [indemnity] agreement became relevant for purposes of proving otherwise. If there is
evidence to rebut a defendants assertion that a large award would force it into financial straits,
then it should be admitted. Id.; see also Wheeler v. Murphy, 452 S.E.2d 416, 424 (W.Va. 1994)
(A defendants net worth is relevant to the issue of punitive damages, and in this case, where
defense counsel offered evidence of Mr. Murphys meager finances, the plaintiffs rebuttal
evidence disclosing the existence and policy limits of Mr. Murphys liability insurance is not
barred); Wallace v. Poulos, 861 F.Supp.2d 587, 602 (D. Md. 2012) ([I]nforming the jury of
the indemnification agreement makes jurors aware that Defendants ability to pay is essentially a
moot point [and] ensures that jurors have an accurate understanding of the likely deterrence
effect of their judgment.)
Here, Mr. Bollea was denied his right to discover and present this highly relevant
evidence to the jury because Mr. Daulerio and LSKS concealed valuable indemnity rights.
While the validity and enforceability of these indemnity rights may be subject to debate, that fact
is of no consequence at this point because the preemptive deception of the jury and this Court at

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trial cannot be undone any debate about that should have been raised after full disclosure and
before the jury rendered its punitive damages award, not after the trial and a final judgment has
been entered.

Moreover, as set forth above, Gawker and GMGIs General Counsel and

President, Heather Dietrick, already assured Mr. Denton, before and after the trial, that his
indemnity rights for the entire amount of the Bollea judgment would be honored. (See Dietrick
7/6/15 Depo. at pp. 55-70.) Unless GMGI and Gawker intend to take an inconsistent position
against Mr. Daulerio, and leave him exposed (notwithstanding Gawkers bankruptcy case
argument and public assertion that doing so would have a chilling effect on Gawkers other
writers), Mr. Daulerio must have been extended the same assurances that Mr. Denton received.
Regardless, the entire $276 million stipulated value of GMGI should have been available to the
jury to support a punitive damage award against Mr. Denton and Mr. Daulerio. It was not.
Making matters worse, Mr. Daulerio only recently revealed that he also has indemnity
rights against Kinja. For some reason, Mr. Daulerio and LSKS did not disclose these indemnity
rights against Kinja in connection with the Proceedings Supplementary initiated by Mr. Bollea
including before, at and after the August 11, 2016 hearing held to address Mr. Daulerios
indemnity rights. Nevertheless, on September 29, 2016, Mr. Daulerio filed a Proof of Claim
against Kinja in its pending bankruptcy proceeding based on his indemnity rights against that
entity. (See Exhibit C)
Mr. Daulerios and LSKSs concealment of this relevant and material evidence directly
impacted the trial. The fact that Mr. Daulerio and Mr. Denton, who were represented by the
same counsel, both concealed their indemnity rights demonstrates a calculated scheme to reduce
their exposure to punitive damages, while simultaneously shielding Gawker, GMGI and Kinja
from liability.

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Mr. Daulerios and LSKSs concealment of Mr. Daulerios and Mr. Dentons true net
worth also impacted the post-trial proceedings. At the hearing held in this Court at 9:00 a.m. on
June 10, 2016, Mr. Daulerios counsel acknowledged that they and their clients understood that
the plaintiff wants security for the judgment. (6/10/16 Trans. p. 6:19-21)12 They also urged this
Court to accept the pledge of Mr. Daulerios GMGI stock and options as adequate security in
exchange for a stay of execution pending appeal. They represented to the Court that, were not
seeking some sort of free ride. Were not seeking an unsecured stay. (6/10/16 Trans. p. 7:1417) Mr. Denton, as we [LSKS] said in [the Motion for Stay] and now I can say the same for
Mr. Daulerio, are literally willing to put their money where their mouth is. Both of them will
pledge their shares of Gawker Media Group, Inc., as security for the judgment that has been
entered

(6/10/16 Trans. pp. 7:20-8:4).

Then, LSKS reaffirmed Mr. Daulerios and

Mr. Dentons false representations regarding their assets:


Weve done a serious analysis, and what we are offering is a serious condition.
We have pledged what, between the three defendants, is the most meaningful
asset they have. And, again, its effectively what the plaintiff could get if he
were to execute.
(6/10/16 Trans. pp. 16:16-17:4) (emphasis added). This assertion was also untrue.
Within hours of LSKS making this statement to this Court, Gawker obtained a temporary
restraining order from the bankruptcy court that protected Mr. Denton and Mr. Daulerio; that
TRO was based, in part, on the sworn assertion that Mr. Daulerio and Mr. Denton have
indemnity rights a fact that directly contradicts what LSKS had just represented to this Court.
Moreover, those indemnity rights are indeed assets which are reachable through proceedings
supplementary to help satisfy the judgment. Puzzo, 386 So.2d 49, 51; DaCosta, 190 So.2d 211,

12

The June 10, 2016 Hearing Transcript has previously been filed.

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213-14; see also In re. Celotex Corp., 204 B.R. 586, 613-14 (M.D. Fla. 1996) (indemnification
rights are property of a debtors estate, which can be assigned or transferred).
Having undertaken a serious analysis, Mr. Daulerio and LSKS certainly knew that
indemnity rights against Gawker, GMGI and Kinja were available to help satisfy Mr. Bolleas
judgment. In fact, according to Mr. Daulerios August 9, 2016 Objection to Notice of Hearing
(see Footnote 2 herein), LSKS even told Daulerio, at the outset of this case, that, because of a
conflict, they could not advise Mr. Daulerio about his indemnity rights. Importantly, these
indemnity rights flowed from a non-party, GMGI, whose stipulated value was $276 million; as
well as non-party, Kinja, to which Defendants have attributed 2/3 of the value of GMGI.
Mr. Daulerios recent filings and Longform Podcast interview further crystalized why the
indemnity rights against Gawker, GMGI and Kinja were concealed. In Mr. Daulerios August 9,
2016, Objection to Notice of Hearing, he objected to proceeding with an August 11, 2016
hearing on Mr. Bolleas already pending request for sanctions (referred to as one of many
matters the Levine Sullivan firm has been handling). Tellingly, Mr. Daulerios objection states:
Undersigned counsel explained to Mr. Daulerio at the outset of the case that,
under the Rules of Professional Responsibility, they could not advise him about
indemnification rights against Gawker since they are also representing the
company. Because Plaintiff13 has objected in the bankruptcy proceeding to
Gawkers continuing to pay for his defense in this action, making that matter a
live issue for the first time, Mr. Daulerio is attempting to engage separate counsel
to address indemnification issues.
Mr. Daulerios indemnification rights did not become a live issue for the first time in
August 2016. His indemnity rights were a core issue before, during and after trial. The
concealment of those rights, given the above admissions about when Mr. Daulerio and LSKS
knew those rights existed and the associated conflict of interest involved with them, raises grave

13

Mr. Bollea did not object. The Creditors Committee did.

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concern over why the indemnity rights were not disclosed long before Gawkers June 10, 2016
bankruptcy filing.
According to Mr. Daulerios Longform Podcast interview, he operated under the
assumption that, because he was indemnified, Mr. Bollea couldnt pursue him personally.
(9/28/16 Trans. p. 17:14-24) However, Mr. Daulerio wasnt offered advice because there were
so many conflicts at that point. (Id. at 18:3-6) After apparently being blindsided by the reality
of his personal liability at the last minute, Mr. Daulerio concluded that everything that was told
to me from the beginning about that this would actually impact me personally was bullsh*t.
(Id. at 20:10-18)
Mr. Daulerio has now retained independent counsel to advise him about his indemnity
rights. (See Marburger 10/7/16 Motion for Pro Hac Vice Admission.) However, according to
Mr. Daulerio, he still has no intention of conceding his wrongdoing:
MR. DAULERIO: Because that's the part about this that's really hard is definitely
being trapped, and also that feeling of being trapped and kind of just not only
being trapped but still I have a hearing on October 31st where I'm basically going
to be sitting in front of that judge who is going to kind of decide whether or not I
was lying on my financial affidavit about these indemnity rights which apparently
are worth money, that I was lying about them to cover up this fact, and then she
can fine me some more. Like that's preposterous, but that's the way the legal
system works right now, and that's the position that I'm in. And, you know, the
choices ultimately just like they're giving me are kind of just like take back
everything you loved about Nick, Gawker, and your job, and we'll give you your
thousand dollars back, or your ability to make money, or you can walk away from
this, but you just can't talk about it ever again. I don't see there's any question for
me. I mean, I definitely thought long and hard about it, and I've definitely talked
to a lot of people about it. It's just not in me.
(9/28/16 Trans. p. 78:7-79:10)
Incredibly, the pattern of deception continued even after Mr. Bollea had already moved
for relief and sanctions (based on some of Mr. Daulerios and LSKSs misconduct), and after this
Court had already issued its July 29 Order and set the October 31st sanctions hearing.

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Mr. Daulerio and LSKS persisted in concealing Mr. Daulerios assets. For example, after the
Court issued its August 1, 2016 Notice to Appear and Show Cause on Proceedings
Supplementary, Mr. Daulerio signed, and his LSKS counsel filed, an affidavit and an
accompanying Response, in which they still failed to identify Mr. Daulerios indemnity rights
against Kinja, and also failed to disclose Mr. Daulerios ownership of three (3) laptop computers
and his possession of the 30-Minute Video of Mr. Bollea.14
After the Court issued its August 16, 2016 Order on Proceedings Supplementary,
Mr. Daulerio appeared on August 17, 2016 for the taking of his deposition in aid of execution, at
which he was represented by LSKS counsel. At that deposition, Mr. Daulerio revealed that he
owned two (2) laptop computers, one of which LSKS stated on the record was being preserved in
LSKSs physical possession. (Daulerio 8/17/16 Depo. pp. 7:5-8; 7:21-24) After Mr. Daulerio
was asked about all of the other items of personal property he possessed, the undersigned sought
to confirm that Mr. Daulerio had finally disclosed all of his assets:
Q.

Do you have any other property, or property interest, that we havent


discussed so far?

A.

No.

Q.

And other than what weve talked about today, are you aware of any other
personal property, intellectual property, rights under contracts, anything
like that, that we havent talked about?

A.

No.

(Daulerio 8/17/16 Depo. pp. 59:12-14; 73:16-20)


In fact, Mr. Daulerio had another (third) laptop computer that was also in LSKSs
physical possession,15 as well as a copy of the full 30-minute illegally recorded, sexually explicit

14

Mr. Daulerio also failed to disclose numerous other assets, including property he sold and gave to another person
before moving to Florida.
15
See Daulerio 8/31/16 Response to Plaintiffs Objection to Claim of Exemption, p. 2, FN1.

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video of Mr. Bollea.16 Mr. Daulerios and his LSKS counsels concealment of these assets is not
immaterial. The significant value of the 30-Minute Video is evidenced by the damages awarded
at trial. And Mr. Daulerios laptops (which he values at $2,000 each) were in and of themselves
sufficient to exceed the amount of the personal property exemptions to execution that
Mr. Daulerio claimed under Florida and New York law. (See Daulerios 8/23/16 Claim of
Exemption.)
While Mr. Daulerio and LSKS were concealing Mr. Daulerios assets, Mr. Daulerio was
also squandering substantial amounts of money traveling and pampering himself on a lavish fulltime vacation in Florida. (See Bolleas 8/26/16 Objection to Daulerios Claim of Exemption.)
He dissipated tens of thousands of dollars, which included several trips from Florida to New
York and Los Angeles, regular golf outings and massages. (Id. at p. 4) He also sold personal
property worth at least $1,000 for $300 to a bar in New York, and gave furniture, artwork and
sports memorabilia worth at least a few thousand dollars to a friend. (Id.)
In all, Mr. Daulerio blew through $50,000 given to him by his family and a friend, and
failed to disclose at least $10,000 of personal property. These assets could have satisfied a
substantial portion of the $100,000 punitive damage award against him.

Incredibly,

Mr. Daulerio and LSKS responded by claiming that his undisclosed assets are not material.
(See Daulerios 8/31/16 Response p. 2.)
The fact that Mr. Daulerio and LSKS have publicly taunted Mr. Bollea with personal
property they knowingly and repeatedly failed to disclose, while also knowing that they had
concealed indemnity rights throughout this case from the jury, this Court and Mr. Bollea, and
that Mr. Daulerios attempt to remember things in a certain way to protect Nick Denton had
failed at trial, clearly establishes that the misconduct at issue is intentional, inexcusable and
16

See Bollea 10/6/16 Emergency Motion to Enforce Permanent Injunction.

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intolerable. This misconduct struck a severe blow to the integrity of this Honorable Court, and
must be dealt with accordingly.
Argument
As set forth above, the civil litigation process depends on truthful disclosure of facts.
Morgan, 816 So.2d at 254. Revealing only some of the facts does not constitute [the] truthful
disclosure that is required to maintain the integrity of the civil litigation process. Ramey,
993 So.2d at 1019 (citing Morgan, 816 So.2d at 254; and quoting Cox, 706 So.2d at 47)
(emphasis added). Preserving the integrity of the judicial process and protecting the proper
administration of justice are of paramount importance. That is why attorneys are primarily
officers of the Court, bound to serve the ends of justice with openness, candor and fairness to
alleven when it appears in conflict with a clients interests. Ramey v. Thomas, 382 So.2d 78,
81 (Fla. 5th DCA 1980). In fact, the duty of candor toward the tribunal is viewed as one of the
most sacrosanct ethical and legal obligations in the Rules of Professional Conduct and under
Florida law. See, Rules 4-3.3 and 4-8.4, Fla. R. Prof. Cond.; Phillip Morris USA, Inc. v. Green,
175 So.2d 312, 315 (Fla. 5th DCA 2015).
Every court has the prerogative and duty to see that its processes are not abused.
Marine Transport Lines, Inc. v. Green, 114 So.2d 710, 711 (Fla. 1st DCA 1959). In furtherance
of this duty, all courts have the inherent authority to impose sanctions for bad faith litigation.
Patsy v. Patsy, 666 So.2d 1045, 1046-47 (Fla. 4th DCA 1996); Sheldon Greene & Assoc., Inc. v.
Williams Island Assoc., Ltd., 592 So.2d 307 (Fla. 3d DCA 1991); Emerson Realty Group, Inc. v.
Schanze, 572 So.2d 942, 945 (Fla. 5th DCA 1991).
Section 45.045, Florida Statutes, also gives this Court substantial discretion to impose
sanctions. Under Section 45.045(4), [i]f the trial or appellate court determines that an appellant

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has dissipated or diverted assets outside the course of its ordinary business or is in the process of
doing so, the court may enter orders necessary to protect the appellee and impose other
remedies and sanctions as the Court deems appropriate. See also, Fla. R. App. P. 9.310(b)(3).
Mr. Daulerio and LSKS knowingly and intentionally misled this Court, the jury and
Mr. Bollea about the core issues in this case by remembering things in a certain way and
concealing Mr. Daulerios and Mr. Dentons indemnity rights so they could cry poverty in order
to reduce their punitive damages exposure and protect the Gawker entities. Then, they continued
to intentionally mislead this Court and Mr. Bollea by purposely concealing material facts
associated with Mr. Daulerios and Mr. Dentons assets and the value and legitimacy of the
alternative security they pledged in exchange for a request, which this Court orally granted, to
stay execution of the Final Judgment. The pledge of GMGI stock was illusory, and at the time
this Court was asked to grant the extraordinary remedy of staying execution without having to
post a good and sufficient bond required under Florida law, Mr. Daulerio and LSKS were also
concealing other material assets. Then, after Mr. Bollea and this Court unwittingly accepted
their false representations and illusory stock pledge, Mr. Daulerio and LSKS were implicitly, if
not directly, participants in the scheme to misrepresent this Courts June 10, 2016 ruling in order
to obtain a stay on more preferable conditions in Gawkers bankruptcy proceedings. When that
tactic failed, Mr. Daulerio and LSKS continued to misrepresent Mr. Daulerios financial
condition and assets to try to prevent Mr. Bollea from collecting what he is owed. All of these
misrepresentations involve matters at the core of this case, not collateral issues. Ramey, 993
So.2d at 1020. Such misrepresentations by their very nature unfairly hampered the presentation
of Mr. Bolleas claims. Id. (citing Aoude v. Mobil Oil Corp., 892 F.2d 1115, 1118 (1st Cir.
1989).

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Mr. Daulerios and his counsels misconduct interfered with this Courts and the jurys
ability to impartially adjudicate this case, and improperly influenced the trier of fact regarding
the central issues of liability, punitive damages, a stay of execution and collection. Mr. Daulerio
and LSKS are guilty of making material misrepresentations that directly impacted core issues at
trial and during post-trial proceedings, and should be sanctioned accordingly.
Tampering with the administration of justice in the manner indisputably shown here
involves far more than an injury to a single litigant. It is a wrong against the institutions set up to
safeguard the public, institutions in which fraud cannot complacently be tolerated consistently
with the good order of society. Ramey, 933 So.2d at 1020-21 (citing, Hazel-Atlas Glass Co. v.
Hartford-Empire Co., 322 U.S. 238, 246 (1944), receded from on other grounds by Standard Oil
Co. of Cal. v. U.S., 429 U.S. 17 (1976)).
In light of the severity and repetition of the misconduct at issue, Mr. Daulerio and LSKS
also should be required to show cause why they should not be held in contempt. Contempt is an
act that hinders or obstructs a court in the administration of justice. Ex parte Crews, 173 So. 275
(1937). Florida cases have recognized the use of direct and indirect criminal contempt to punish
the making of false statements. Haeussler v. State, 100 So.3d 732, 734 (Fla. 2d DCA 2010).
Direct criminal contempt is an act committed in the presence of the court so as to hinder judicial
proceedings, and may result in serious consequences, including immediate imprisonment.
Emanuel v. State, 601 So.2d 1273, 1275 (Fla. 4th DCA 1992). Intentionally underrepresenting
ones financial condition in sworn documents filed with a trial court is punishable by at least
indirect criminal contempt. Haeussler, 100 So.3d at 734.
In situations such as this one, courts have the discretion to cite a guilty person for
contempt, direct that the record be sent to the State Attorneys office for investigation or, in

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proper cases, strike pleadings or testimony shown to be a sham. Parham v. Kohler, 134 So.2d
274, 276 (Fla. 3d DCA 1961). Remedies for perjury, slander and the like committed during
judicial proceedings are left to the discipline of the courts, the bar association, and the state.
Wright v. Yurko, 446 So.2d 1162, 1164 (Fla. 5th DCA 1984); Sheldon Greene & Assoc., Inc.,
592 So.2d 307; Emerson Realty, 572 So.2d at 945; Rule 2.515, Fla. R. Jud. Admin.; Emanuel,
601 So.2d at 1275; Parham, 134 So.2d at 276; Wright, 446 So.2d at 1164.
[B]asic, fundamental dishonesty is a serious flaw, which cannot be tolerated because
dishonesty and a lack of candor cannot be tolerated by a profession that relies on the
truthfulness of its members. The Florida Bar v. Head, 27 So.3d 1, 8 (Fla. 2010). Dishonest
conduct demonstrates the utmost disrespect for the court and is destructive to the legal system as
a whole. Id. at 8-9. When such conduct occurs, courts have the authority to assess sanctions
against parties as well as their counsel. Patsy, 666 So.2d at 1047; Levine v. Keaster, 862 So.2d
876, 880 (Fla. 4th DCA 2003).
The case of The Florida Bar v. Dupee, 160 So.3d 838 (Fla. 2015), illustrates the sorts of
repercussions that can flow from conduct like the conduct at issue here. In Dupee, a lawyer
knowingly filed an inaccurate financial affidavit, failed to disclose the existence of an asset (a
cashiers check) belonging to her client, and allowed her client to provide false evasive
testimony at a deposition. The attorney was suspended one year for violating Rule 3-4.3
(unlawful and dishonest acts), Rule 4-3.3 (making or failing to correct a false statement of
material fact made to a tribunal), Rule 4-3.4 (a lawyer must not fabricate evidence), Rule 4-4.1
(making a false statement or failing to disclose a material fact) and Rule 4-8.4 (a lawyer shall not
violate the Rules of Professional Conduct or do so through the acts of another and shall not
engage in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit or misrepresentation.). Id. at 847. When

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the lawyers from LSKS sought permission to appear pro hac vice in this case, they agreed to be
bound by these very same rules, and to subject themselves to the jurisdiction of this state for
enforcement. The violation of that agreement has consequences.
CONCLUSION
The misconduct engaged in by Mr. Daulerio and LSKS cannot be ignored nor justified.
The integrity of this Court and our justice system must be protected. To achieve that, this Court
is empowered to consider the full array of available sanctions.
WHEREFORE, Mr. Bollea respectfully requests that this Court adjudicate Mr. Daulerio
and LSKS guilty of engaging in a pattern of deception involving core issues and material facts
that misled the jury and this Court,17 sanction Mr. Daulerio and LSKS, consider entering an order
to show cause why Mr. Daulerio and/or his counsel should not be held in contempt, consider
referral for other remedial measures; and grant any other relief this Court deems just and
appropriate.
DATED: October 13, 2016.

/s/ Kenneth G. Turkel


Kenneth G. Turkel, Esq.
Florida Bar No. 867233
Email: kturkel@bajocuva.com
Shane B. Vogt
Florida Bar No. 257620
Email: svogt@bajocuva.com
BAJO CUVA COHEN & TURKEL, P.A.
100 North Tampa Street, Suite 1900
Tampa, Florida 33602
Tel: (813) 443-2199
Fax: (813) 443-2193
- and -

17

Mr. Bollea seeks specific findings regarding Mr. Daulerios misconduct because such misconduct may impact his
rights in his appeals of the Final Judgment and this Courts Order on Proceedings Supplementary. See Andrews v.
Palmas De Majorca Condo., 898 So.2d 1066, 1070 (Fla. 5th DCA 2015) (Fraud committed against trial court may
warrant dismissal of an appeal, given that fraud on court, any court, infects the entire proceeding.)

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Charles J. Harder, Esq.


PHV No. 102333
HARDER MIRELL & ABRAMS LLP
132 S. Rodeo Drive, Fourth Floor
Beverly Hills, CA 90212
Tel: (424) 203-1600
Fax: (424) 203-1601
Email: charder@hmafirm.com
Counsel for Plaintiff

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CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
I HEREBY CERTIFY that a true and correct copy of the foregoing has been furnished by
E-Mail via the e-portal system this 13th day of October, 2016 to the following:
Gregg D. Thomas, Esquire
Rachel E. Fugate, Esquire
Thomas & LoCicero PL
601 S. Boulevard
Tampa, Florida 33606
gthomas@tlolawfirm.com
rfugate@tlolawfirm.com
kbrown@tlolawfirm.com
abeene@tlolawfirm.com
Counsel for Gawker Defendants

Seth D. Berlin, Esquire


Paul J. Safier, Esquire
Alia L. Smith, Esquire
Michael D. Sullivan, Esquire
Levine Sullivan Koch & Schulz, LLP
1899 L. Street, NW, Suite 200
Washington, DC 20036
sberlin@lskslaw.com
psafier@lskslaw.com
asmith@lskslaw.com
msullivan@lskslaw.com
Pro Hac Vice Counsel for
Gawker Defendants

Steven L. Brannock, Esquire


Celene H. Humphries, Esquire
Brannock & Humphries
1111 West Cass Street, Suite 200
Tampa, FL 33606
sbrannock@bhappeals.com
chumphries@bhappeals.com
eservice@bhappeals.com
Co-Counsel for Gawker Defendants

Michael Berry, Esquire


Levine Sullivan Koch & Schultz, LLP
1760 Market Street, Suite 1001
Philadelphia, PA 19103
mberry@lskslaw.com
Pro Hac Vice Counsel for
Gawker Defendants

David R. Houston, Esquire


Law Office of David R. Houston
432 Court Street
Reno, NV 89501
dhouston@houstonatlaw.com
krosser@houstonatlaw.com

Stuart C. Markman, Esquire


Kristin A. Norse, Esquire
Kynes, Markman & Felman, P.A.
Post Office Box 3396
Tampa, Florida 33601
smarkman@kmf-law.com
knorse@kmf-law.com
plawhead@kmf-law.com
Appellate Co-Counsel for Plaintiff

Andrew B. Greenlee, Esquire


Greenlee, P.A.
401 E. 1st Street, Unit 261
Sanford, FL 32772
Tel: (407) 808-6411
andrew@andrewgreenleelaw.com

{BC00103624:1}

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David Marburger, Esquire


Marburger Law LLC
14650 Detroit Avenue, Suite 450
Cleveland, OH 44107
Tel: (216) 930-0500
david@marburger-law.com
Counsel for A. J. Daulerio
/s/ Kenneth G. Turkel
Attorney

{BC00103624:1}

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EXHIBIT A
BOLLEAS AMENDED MOTION FOR SANCTIONS AND FOR
ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE AGAINST DAULERIO AND HIS COUNSEL

PrimeClerk, E-POC Filed on 09/29/2016

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United States Bankruptcy Court, Southern District of New York

Main Document

Please select applicable Debtor (select only one Debtor per claim form):

Gawker Media, LLC (Case No. 16-11700)

Kinja, Kft. (Case No. 16-11718)

Gawker Media Group, Inc. (Case No. 16-11719)

Official Form 410

Proof of Claim

4/16

Read the instructions before filling out this form. This form is for making a claim for payment in a bankruptcy case. Do not use this form to
make a request for payment of an administrative expense. Make such a request according to 11 U.S.C. 503.
Filers must leave out or redact information that is entitled to privacy on this form or on any attached documents. Attach redacted copies of any
documents that support the claim, such as promissory notes, purchase orders, invoices, itemized statements of running accounts, contracts, judgments,
mortgages, and security agreements. Do not send original documents; they may be destroyed after scanning. If the documents are not available,
explain in an attachment.
A person who files a fraudulent claim could be fined up to $500,000, imprisoned for up to 5 years, or both. 18 U.S.C. 152, 157, and 3571.
Fill in all the information about the claim as of the date the case was filed. That date is on the notice of bankruptcy (Form 309) that you received.

Part 1:

Identify the Claim

1. Who is the current


creditor?

Albert James Daulerio (born 1974)


Name of the current creditor (the person or entity to be paid for this claim)
Other names the creditor used with the debtor

A.J. Daulerio

2. Has this claim been


acquired from
someone else?

3. Where should notices


and payments to the
creditor be sent?

Where should notices to the creditor be sent?

Federal Rule of
Bankruptcy Procedure
(FRBP) 2002(g)

4. Does this claim amend


one already filed?

No
Yes. From whom?
Where should payments to the creditor be sent? (if
different)

Marburger Law LLC attn: David Marburger


14650 Detroit Avenue, Suite 450
Cleveland, OH 44107

Contact phone

216 930 0500

Contact phone

Contact email

david@marburger-law.com

Contact email

No
Yes. Claim number on court claims registry (if known)

Filed on
MM

5. Do you know if anyone


else has filed a proof
of claim for this claim?

Form 295
410
Claim Official
Number:

/ DD

/ YYYY

No
Yes. Who made the earlier filing?

Proof of Claim

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Give Information About the Claim as of the Date the Case Was Filed

6. Do you have any number


you use to identify the
debtor?

7. How much is the claim?

No

Yes. Last 4 digits of the debtors account or any number you use to identify the debtor:

$ 6,000,000.00

. Does this amount include interest or other charges?

8. What is the basis of the


claim?

No
Yes. Attach statement itemizing interest, fees, expenses, or other
charges required by Bankruptcy Rule 3001(c)(2)(A).

Examples: Goods sold, money loaned, lease, services performed, personal injury or wrongful death, or credit card.
Attach redacted copies of any documents supporting the claim required by Bankruptcy Rule 3001(c).
Limit disclosing information that is entitled to privacy, such as health care information.

Duty to defend and indemnify - see Supplement & Exhibits


9. Is all or part of the claim
secured?

No

Yes. The claim is secured by a lien on property.


Nature of property:

Real estate. If the claim is secured by the debtors principal residence, file a Mortgage Proof of Claim
Attachment (Official Form 410-A) with this Proof of Claim.
Motor vehicle
Other. Describe:

Basis for perfection:


Attach redacted copies of documents, if any, that show evidence of perfection of a security interest (for
example, a mortgage, lien, certificate of title, financing statement, or other document that shows the lien has
been filed or recorded.)
Value of property:

Amount of the claim that is secured:

Amount of the claim that is unsecured: $

(The sum of the secured and unsecured


amounts should match the amount in line 7.)

Amount necessary to cure any default as of the date of the petition:

Annual Interest Rate (when case was filed)

10. Is this claim based on a


lease?

11. Is this claim subject to a


right of setoff?

Official Form 410

Fixed
Variable

No

Yes. Amount necessary to cure any default as of the date of the petition.

No

Yes. Identify the property:

Proof of Claim

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12. Is all or part of the claim


entitled to priority under
11 U.S.C. 507(a)?

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Main Document

No

Yes. Check one:

A claim may be partly


priority and partly
nonpriority. For example,
in some categories, the
law limits the amount
entitled to priority.

Amount entitled to priority:

Domestic support obligations (including alimony and child support) under


11 U.S.C. 507(a)(1)(A) or (a)(1)(B).

Up to $2,850* of deposits toward purchase, lease, or rental of property or services for


personal, family, or household use. 11 U.S.C. 507(a)(7).

Wages, salaries, or commissions (up to $12,850*) earned within 180 days before the
bankruptcy petition is filed or the debtors business ends, whichever is earlier.
11 U.S.C. 507(a)(4).

Taxes or penalties owed to governmental units. 11 U.S.C. 507(a)(8).

Contributions to an employee benefit plan. 11 U.S.C. 507(a)(5).

Other. Specify subsection of 11 U.S.C. 507(a)(

) that applies.

* Amounts are subject to adjustment on 4/01/19 and every 3 years after that for cases begun on or after the date of adjustment.
13. Is all or part of the
claim entitled to
administrative priority
pursuant to
11 U.S.C. 503(b)(9)?

Part 3:

No

Yes. Indicate the amount of your claim arising from the value of any goods received

$ ____________________

by the Debtor within 20 days before the date of commencement of the above case, in
which the goods have been sold to the Debtor in the ordinary course of such
Debtors business. Attach documentation supporting such claim.

Sign Below

The person completing


this proof of claim must
sign and date it.
FRBP 9011(b).
If you file this claim
electronically, FRBP
5005(a)(2) authorizes courts
to establish local rules
specifying what a signature
is.
A person who files a
fraudulent claim could be
fined up to $500,000,
imprisoned for up to 5
years, or both.
18 U.S.C. 152, 157, and
3571.

Check the appropriate box:

I am the creditor.
I am the creditors attorney or authorized agent.
I am the trustee, or the debtor, or their authorized agent. Bankruptcy Rule 3004.
I am a guarantor, surety, endorser, or other codebtor. Bankruptcy Rule 3005.

I understand that an authorized signature on this Proof of Claim serves as an acknowledgment that when calculating the
amount of the claim, the creditor gave the debtor credit for any payments received toward the debt.
I have examined the information in this Proof of Claim and have a reasonable belief that the information is true
and correct.
I declare under penalty of perjury that the foregoing is true and correct.

Signature:

Albert James Daulerio


Albert James Daulerio (Sep 29, 2016)

Email: david@marburger-law.com
Signature

Print the name of the person who is completing and signing this claim:
Name

Albert James Daulerio (born 1974)


First name

Title

n/a

Company

n/a

Middle name

Last name

Identify the corporate servicer as the company if the authorized agent is a servicer.

Address

c/o Marburger Law LLC, 14650 Detroit Avenue, Suite 450


Number

Contact phone

Official Form 410

Street

Cleveland

OH

City

State

216 930 0500

Email david@marburger-law.com

Proof of Claim

44107
ZIP Code

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EXHIBIT B
BOLLEAS AMENDED MOTION FOR SANCTIONS AND FOR
ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE AGAINST DAULERIO AND HIS COUNSEL

Prime Clerk

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Main Document

Creditor Data Details for Claim # 294


Creditor
Daulerio, Albert James

Date Filed
09/29/2016
Claim Number
294

Debtor Name
Gawker Media Group, Inc.

Proof of Claim
Suppressed

Schedule Number

Schedule
Amount

C*

U*

General Unsecured

D*

Asserted
ClaimAmount

C*

U*

F*

Current
ClaimValue

$6,000,000.00

$6,000,000.00

Total
$0.00
$6,000,000.00
*C=Contingent, U=Unliquidated, D=Disputed, F=Foreign

$6,000,000.00

Claim Status
Asserted

Priority

Secured

503(b)(9) Admin
Priority

Admin Priority

Prime Clerk maintains this website for the public's convenience and for general informational purposes only. Anyone using this website is cautioned NOT to
rely on any information contained on this Website, and any user of this website should not take or refrain from taking any action based upon anything
included or not included on this website. We are not a law firm or a substitute for an attorney or law firm. Users of this website may want to seek legal
counsel on the particular facts and circumstances at issue. All search results provided through this website are qualified in their entirety by the official
register of claims and the Schedules of Assets and Liabilities ("Schedules") and Statements of Financial Affairs (Statements) filed in the bankruptcy case/s
of the Debtor/s.
Nothing contained on this Site or in the Debtors Schedules and Statements shall constitute an admission or a waiver of any of the Debtors rights to assert
claims or defenses. Any failure by a Debtor to designate a claim listed on the Schedules as "disputed", "contingent", or "unliquidated" does not constitute an
admission that such amounts are not "disputed", "contingent", or "unliquidated." For the avoidance of doubt, listing a claim on Schedule D as secured, on
Schedule E as priority, on Schedule F as non-priority, or listing a contract or lease on Schedule G as executory or unexpired, does not constitute an
admission by the Debtors of the legal rights of the claimant, or a waiver of the Debtors right to recharacterize or reclassify such claim or contract. Each
Debtor reserves the right to amend their Schedules and Statements as necessary or appropriate. Debtors further reserve the right to dispute, on any
grounds, or to assert offsets or defenses to, any claim reflected on their Schedules or filed against a Debtor, including objecting to the amount, liability,
classification or priority of such claim, or to otherwise subsequently designate any claim as "disputed, contingent or unliquidated.

Print page

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EXHIBIT C
BOLLEAS AMENDED MOTION FOR SANCTIONS AND FOR
ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE AGAINST DAULERIO AND HIS COUNSEL

PrimeClerk, E-POC Filed on 09/29/2016

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United States Bankruptcy Court, Southern District of New York

Main Document

Please select applicable Debtor (select only one Debtor per claim form):

Gawker Media, LLC (Case No. 16-11700)

Kinja, Kft. (Case No. 16-11718)

Gawker Media Group, Inc. (Case No. 16-11719)

Official Form 410

Proof of Claim

4/16

Read the instructions before filling out this form. This form is for making a claim for payment in a bankruptcy case. Do not use this form to
make a request for payment of an administrative expense. Make such a request according to 11 U.S.C. 503.
Filers must leave out or redact information that is entitled to privacy on this form or on any attached documents. Attach redacted copies of any
documents that support the claim, such as promissory notes, purchase orders, invoices, itemized statements of running accounts, contracts, judgments,
mortgages, and security agreements. Do not send original documents; they may be destroyed after scanning. If the documents are not available,
explain in an attachment.
A person who files a fraudulent claim could be fined up to $500,000, imprisoned for up to 5 years, or both. 18 U.S.C. 152, 157, and 3571.
Fill in all the information about the claim as of the date the case was filed. That date is on the notice of bankruptcy (Form 309) that you received.

Part 1:

Identify the Claim

1. Who is the current


creditor?

Albert James Daulerio (born 1974)


Name of the current creditor (the person or entity to be paid for this claim)
Other names the creditor used with the debtor

A.J. Daulerio

2. Has this claim been


acquired from
someone else?

3. Where should notices


and payments to the
creditor be sent?

Where should notices to the creditor be sent?

Federal Rule of
Bankruptcy Procedure
(FRBP) 2002(g)

4. Does this claim amend


one already filed?

No
Yes. From whom?
Where should payments to the creditor be sent? (if
different)

Marburger Law LLC, attn: David Marburger


14650 Detroit Avenue, Suite 450
Cleveland, OH 44107

Contact phone

216 930 0500

Contact phone

Contact email

david@marburger-law.com

Contact email

No
Yes. Claim number on court claims registry (if known)

Filed on
MM

5. Do you know if anyone


else has filed a proof
of claim for this claim?

Form 293
410
Claim Official
Number:

/ DD

/ YYYY

No
Yes. Who made the earlier filing?

Proof of Claim

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Give Information About the Claim as of the Date the Case Was Filed

6. Do you have any number


you use to identify the
debtor?

7. How much is the claim?

No

Yes. Last 4 digits of the debtors account or any number you use to identify the debtor:

$ 6,000,000.00

. Does this amount include interest or other charges?

8. What is the basis of the


claim?

No
Yes. Attach statement itemizing interest, fees, expenses, or other
charges required by Bankruptcy Rule 3001(c)(2)(A).

Examples: Goods sold, money loaned, lease, services performed, personal injury or wrongful death, or credit card.
Attach redacted copies of any documents supporting the claim required by Bankruptcy Rule 3001(c).
Limit disclosing information that is entitled to privacy, such as health care information.

Duty to defend and indemnify - see Supplement & Exhibits


9. Is all or part of the claim
secured?

No

Yes. The claim is secured by a lien on property.


Nature of property:

Real estate. If the claim is secured by the debtors principal residence, file a Mortgage Proof of Claim
Attachment (Official Form 410-A) with this Proof of Claim.
Motor vehicle
Other. Describe:

Basis for perfection:


Attach redacted copies of documents, if any, that show evidence of perfection of a security interest (for
example, a mortgage, lien, certificate of title, financing statement, or other document that shows the lien has
been filed or recorded.)
Value of property:

Amount of the claim that is secured:

Amount of the claim that is unsecured: $

(The sum of the secured and unsecured


amounts should match the amount in line 7.)

Amount necessary to cure any default as of the date of the petition:

Annual Interest Rate (when case was filed)

10. Is this claim based on a


lease?

11. Is this claim subject to a


right of setoff?

Official Form 410

Fixed
Variable

No

Yes. Amount necessary to cure any default as of the date of the petition.

No

Yes. Identify the property:

Proof of Claim

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12. Is all or part of the claim


entitled to priority under
11 U.S.C. 507(a)?

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Main Document

No

Yes. Check one:

A claim may be partly


priority and partly
nonpriority. For example,
in some categories, the
law limits the amount
entitled to priority.

Amount entitled to priority:

Domestic support obligations (including alimony and child support) under


11 U.S.C. 507(a)(1)(A) or (a)(1)(B).

Up to $2,850* of deposits toward purchase, lease, or rental of property or services for


personal, family, or household use. 11 U.S.C. 507(a)(7).

Wages, salaries, or commissions (up to $12,850*) earned within 180 days before the
bankruptcy petition is filed or the debtors business ends, whichever is earlier.
11 U.S.C. 507(a)(4).

Taxes or penalties owed to governmental units. 11 U.S.C. 507(a)(8).

Contributions to an employee benefit plan. 11 U.S.C. 507(a)(5).

Other. Specify subsection of 11 U.S.C. 507(a)(

) that applies.

* Amounts are subject to adjustment on 4/01/19 and every 3 years after that for cases begun on or after the date of adjustment.
13. Is all or part of the
claim entitled to
administrative priority
pursuant to
11 U.S.C. 503(b)(9)?

Part 3:

No

Yes. Indicate the amount of your claim arising from the value of any goods received

$ ____________________

by the Debtor within 20 days before the date of commencement of the above case, in
which the goods have been sold to the Debtor in the ordinary course of such
Debtors business. Attach documentation supporting such claim.

Sign Below

The person completing


this proof of claim must
sign and date it.
FRBP 9011(b).
If you file this claim
electronically, FRBP
5005(a)(2) authorizes courts
to establish local rules
specifying what a signature
is.
A person who files a
fraudulent claim could be
fined up to $500,000,
imprisoned for up to 5
years, or both.
18 U.S.C. 152, 157, and
3571.

Check the appropriate box:

I am the creditor.
I am the creditors attorney or authorized agent.
I am the trustee, or the debtor, or their authorized agent. Bankruptcy Rule 3004.
I am a guarantor, surety, endorser, or other codebtor. Bankruptcy Rule 3005.

I understand that an authorized signature on this Proof of Claim serves as an acknowledgment that when calculating the
amount of the claim, the creditor gave the debtor credit for any payments received toward the debt.
I have examined the information in this Proof of Claim and have a reasonable belief that the information is true
and correct.
I declare under penalty of perjury that the foregoing is true and correct.

Signature:

Albert James Daulerio

Albert James Daulerio (Sep 29, 2016)

Email: david@marburger-law.com
Signature

Print the name of the person who is completing and signing this claim:
Name

Albert James Daulerio (born 1974)


First name

Title

n/a

Company

n/a

Middle name

Last name

Identify the corporate servicer as the company if the authorized agent is a servicer.

Address

c/o Marburger Law LLC, 14650 Detroit Avenue, Suite 450


Number

Contact phone

Official Form 410

Street

Cleveland

OH

City

State

216 930 0500

Email david@marburger-law.com

Proof of Claim

44107
ZIP Code

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EXHIBIT D
Video Turnover Motion

Main Document

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IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SIXTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT


IN AND FOR PINELLAS COUNTY, FLORIDA
TERRY GENE BOLLEA professionally
known as HULK HOGAN,
Plaintiff,
Case No.:

12012447-CI-011

vs.
HEATHER CLEM; GAWKER MEDIA,
LLC aka GAWKER MEDIA, et al.,
Defendants.
___________________________________________ /

PLAINTIFFS EMERGENCY MOTION TO ENFORCE PERMANENT


INJUNCTION AND PREVENT A.J. DAULERIO FROM ENGAGING IN
REVENGE PORN, EXTORTION AND VIDEO VOYEURISM
Plaintiff Terry Bollea known professionally as Hulk Hogan (Mr. Bollea) by counsel
and pursuant to the Courts June 7, 2016, Final Judgment and Permanent Injunction (Permanent
Injunction) moves for the entry of an order on an emergency basis enforcing the Permanent
Injunction and, pursuant to and 784.049, 836.05 and 810.145, Fla. Stat., the entry of an order
preventing Defendant A.J. Daulerio (Mr. Daulerio) from violating Floridas Revenge Pom,
Video Voyeurism and Extortion Laws, by requiring Mr. Daulerio to immediately turn over to
Mr. Bolleas counsel any and all copies, excerpts and/or still images of all surreptitiously
recorded, sexually explicit recordings and images of Mr. Bollea, and to verify under oath that he
no longer has any access to or ability to access such recordings and images, and in support states
as follows:
Introduction
Since its inception, this case has always been and will continue to be about a persons
right to stop other people from posting illegally recorded, sexually explicit images of him or her

{BC00102867:1!

* * *ELECTRONICALLY FILED 10/06/2016 03:36:16 PM: KEN BURKE, CLERK OF THE CIRCUIT COURT, PINELLAS COUNTY***

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on the Internet without their consent. This case is not an attack upon the freedom of press nor
the First Amendment. Its goal has never been to silence the voice of the people nor journalists
who are telling the public about matters of legitimate public concern. Rather, in an age in which
everyone has a camera phone and computer hacks of peoples private nude photos have become
commonplace, the goal of this case has always been to draw a clear line that publishers cannot
cross demarking the point at which journalism ceases to be the giving of information to which
the public is entitled, and becomes a morbid and sensational prying into the private life of
another, with which a reasonable member of the public with decent standards would say that he
or she has no legitimate concern. Seven months ago, a Pinellas County jury drew that line, held
the defendants accountable for crossing it, and sent a message to anyone who might consider
doing the same: dont post illegally obtained, private, sexually explicit images of people on the
Internet without their consent because they are not news. This Court did the same in its
Permanent Injunction.
Incredibly, Mr. Daulerio has not learned anything over the past four years. He still
believes that secretly recorded footage of people having sex can be passed off as news, and
that there are no limits to what he can post on the Internet. In fact, Mr. Daulerio proudly stated
in a recent interview that he believes he can post the entire 30-minute video of Mr. Bollea on his
website, Ratter.com, because he thinks it is completely newsworthy. He even planned to do
so.

Mr. Daulerio even bragged about still having a copy of the entire 30-minute, illegally

recorded encounter.
Mr. Daulerio should not be given the opportunity to follow-through on his threats.
Mr. Bollea should not have to live in fear of being sexually exploited at the whim of an angry
and desperate, self-proclaimed voyeur and deviant, who has threatened to violate this Courts

{BCOOl 02867:1}

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Permanent Injunction and Florida law to try to coerce Mr. Bolela to stop collecting the $115.1
million judgment that Mr. Daulerio owes.
Once again, and almost four years to the day of Mr. Daulerios original Hulk Hogan sex
tape post, Mr. Bollea finds himself being victimized and trying to stop Mr. Daulerio from
publishing an illegally recorded sex tape against Mr. Bolleas will. Only this time, Mr. Bollea is
already armed with a jury verdict, Permanent Injunction and Floridas Revenge Pom, Video
Voyeurism and extortion statutes at his sides. Mr. Daulerio must be stopped before he inflicts
more harm than he has already caused.
Factual Background
Six months ago, Mr. Daulerio and his attorneys stood in a Pinellas County courtroom and
promised the jury, this Court and Mr. Bollea that Mr. Daulerio understood that he could no
longer post explicit, illegally recorded sex tapes masquerading as news, that he would be
deterred by the jurys verdict, and that he had learned his lesson. He has not.
Ex-Gawker Editor Almost Went Into Hiding After Hulk
Hogan Verdict

But AJ Dauterio also had a plan to go out with a bang


" in M c i.c , | S eptem ber 2 8 ,2Q*6 8T1 PM

(BC00102867:1

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As set forth in the above-referenced article,12 on or about September 28, 2016, an


interview of Mr. Daulerio was posted on the Longform Podcast (a copy of the transcript of which
is attached as Exhibit A ), during which he stated, among other things:
MR. DAULERIO: I don't think anybody was going to give me,
the child pomographer, like any sort of money at that point, but
what I did think initially was that, well, all is lost, but I do still
have a copy of the sex tape, and it is completely newsworthy at
this point. I was just like, okay, well, how about I do a post on
Ratter34that says here's what $140 million sex tape looks like, and
then just "peace out," and then just so to Miami, and just like be
on the lam and just do that. And this is what I was planning on
doing. I was getting I was getting phones, like, you know, I was
basically going to get burner phones, I was going to do this all kind
of covert and have, you know, signals and all these people I was
working for, and thankfully some people talked me off the ledge
INTEREVIEWER: Yeah.
MR. DAULERIO: and just said, you know, you're not out of
this yet, obviously, and Gawker is not out of this, and I didn't want
to do anything to jeopardize Gawker more so than I already had in
trial, but that was my first instinct was basically just like, you
know, that that much frustration and that much kind o f anser
and that much sadness over just like what had transpired. It was
just like I had that brief sliver of a revense fantasy so to speak, and
also at that time I said to myself, well, what is a thing that we can
do that makes this a positive experience in some ways for
someone. [Emphasis added.]
Mr. Daulerios thinly-veiled threat to release the entire full length 30-minute Video
confirms the fears Mr. Bollea expressed throughout this case and, most recently, in his request
for the Permanent Injunction. (See Bolleas 5/11/2016 Motion, p. 9-10.) Mr. Daulerio opposed
entry of the Permanent Injunction by representing that: All Denton and Daulerio were saying is
that they still believe that the video excerpts were part of a legitimately newsworthy publication,

1 See Ex. 1 to Affidavit of Gayla Arnold.


2 See Ex. 2 to Affidavit of Gayla Arnold.
3 With funding approved by Gawker Media, LLCs CEO, Nick Denton, Ratter.com is a now-defunct
website still controlled by Mr. Daulerio.
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not that they plan to repost the video excerpts, or post any additional sex-tape footage. (See
5/23/16 Opposition, p. 6.) The September 28, 2016 interview makes clear that, once again, this
Court and Mr. Bollea have been misled.
Fortunately, the Court knew better than to take Mr. Daulerios representation at face
value. It entered the Permanent Injunction based in part on findings that Gawker Defendants
continue to possess additional footage of Mr. Bollea, including the full 30-Minute Video that
they received, the contents of which have never been made public... [and that]... while Gawker
Defendants are not currently making the Gawker Video or 30-Minute Video available, there is
no court order currently in place that prohibits them from doing so. (See Permanent Injunction
152.)
For most people, a court order such as the Permanent Injunction (and its attendant threat
of contempt) would be a sufficient deterrent. However, this remains a special case involving
defendants such as Mr. Daulerio who have exhibited complete disrespect for the law and this
Courts authority. For example:

The day after this Court entered its temporary injunction (but before it was
reversed on appeal) the defendants defiantly posted s story headlined: A
Judge Told Us to Take Down Our Hulk Hogan Sex Tape Post. We
Wont. (See Depo. Ex. 227.)

Mr. Daulerio was willing to go to jail in order to post pictures of Brett


Favres penis. (See Depo. Ex. 4; Daulerio 9/30/2013 Depo. pp. 75-77.)

Sealed discovery was leaked to and published by The National Enquirer.


Mr. Daulerio tweeted xoxoxo to Mr. Bollea at 6:52 a.m., within minutes
of the leak being posted. This prompted the Court to enter an electronic
discovery order. (See 10/21/2015 Order; Ex. A to Mr. Bolleas Reply in
Support of Emergency Motion.)

Mr. Daulerio misled this Court about the value of GMGI stock to obtain a
temporary stay of execution. (See 7/29/2016 Order.)

Mr. Daulerio made material misrepresentations about his net worth (most
notably, his indemnity rights), before, during and after trial. (See 8/5/16

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Renewed Motion for Sanctions.) Several of these misrepresentations were


made in filings required by Court Order.
Mr. Daulerios lack of respect and appreciation for this Courts authority is particularly
disconcerting now that Mr. Daulerio claims to have reached the end of his rope and believes he
has nothing to lose.

For example, Nick Denton and Gawker Media, LLC (Gawker)

abandoned Mr. Daulerio after they each filed for bankruptcy protection, leaving Mr. Daulerio
standing alone to face collection. (Somehow, getting $115 million is basically falling squarely
on my head, because, you know, Gawker and Nick have both declared bankruptcy...4)
Mr. Denton secured a $200,000 loan5 for himself from Gawker to retain personal bankruptcy
counsel immediately before Gawker filed for bankruptcy protection, but left Mr. Daulerio
without the same protectioneven though they both held some of the same indemnity rights.
According to Mr. Daulerio, his desperation is exacerbated by his belief that he was
wronged by Gawkers lawyers. (.. .any conversations I would have with the lawyers that were
representing Gawker in this case, it was always bad news, and it was always theres another
worst case scenario, another bad day in court.)6 Throughout this case, Mr. Daulerio apparently
operated under the assumption that because he was indemnified, Mr. Bollea couldnt pursue him
personally. (9/28/16 Trans, p. 17:14-24) However, Mr. Daulerio recently revealed that he was
blindsided by the reality of his personal liability at the last minute. (9/28/16 Trans, p. 17:14-24)
In fact, in the September 28, 2016 interview, Mr. Daulerio states: everything that was told to
me from the beginning about that this would actually impact me personallywas
bullsh*t. (9/28/16 Trans, p. 20:10-18) Mr. Daulerio also contends his lawyers did not advise
him about his indemnity rights due to conflicts. (9/28/16 Trans, p. 18:3-6)
4 See 9/28/16 Trans, p. 10:14-24.
5 According to Mr. Daulerio, he would have needed $30,000 to retain his own bankruptcy counsel. (See
9/28/16 Trans, pp. 16:16-17:13.)
6 See 9/28/16 Trans, p. 9:4-9. [Emphasis added]
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Mr. Daulerio further attributes his desolation to the upcoming October 31, 2016,
sanctions hearing involving, among other things, the concealment of these same indemnity
rights. (9/28/16 Trans, pp. 78:7-79:5) Mr. Daulerio now admits that his indemnity rights have
significant monetary value.

(9/28/16 Trans, pp. 12:24-13:13; 78:7-79:14)

In fact, on

September 29, 2016, Mr. Daulerio filed bankruptcy Proofs of Claim against Gawker, Gawker
Media Group, Inc. (GMGI) and Kinja, Kft. (Kinja), in the amount of $6 million each, based
on the companies duties to defend and indemnify Mr. Daulerio in this case. (A copy of the
Proof of Claim against Gawker, and the Supplement (without exhibits) is attached as Exhibit B).
According to these filings, Mr. Daulerio (who claims he is broke) already owes LSKS $ 190,000
for services rendered from June 10, 2016 through August 31, 2016 (See S. Berlin 9/28/16 letter
attached as Exhibit C), and another $20,000 to his recently retained independent counsel. (See
Marburger Law 9/29/16 letter attached as Exhibit D.)
Unfortunately, Mr. Daulerios anger and frustration over his litany of problems is being
directed solely toward Mr. Bollea, simply because Mr. Bollea is engaging in routine collection
efforts to secure the money Mr. Daulerio owes. Mr. Daulerios last ditch effort to avoid paying
Mr. Bollea entails threatening to engage in revenge pom and video voyeurism by releasing more
or all of the 30-minute, illegally recorded, sexually explicit footage of Mr. Bollea. The timing of
Mr. Daulerios decision to publicly brag about still having a copy of that video footage and his
plan to release it is not a coincidence.

Moreover, Mr. Daulerio persists in his belief that he has every right to publicly disclose
the entirety of the illegally recorded sex tape without Mr. Bolleas consent, and in violation of
Florida law and the Permanent Injunction. In fact, Mr. Daulerio inexplicably claims that it is

7 For example, Mr. Daulerios September 28, 2016 interview was contemporaneous with his filing of the
Proofs of Claim against the Gawker entities.
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somehow completely newsworthy at this point, even though the jury and this Court have
already concluded otherwise.
Mr. Daulerio cannot be trusted with any sexually explicit footage of Mr. Bollea. He
certainly should not be allowed to keep the means through which he could follow through on his
recent threats against Mr. Bollea.
Argument
Recently, Floridas Legislature recognized what Mr. Bollea has been saying throughout
this case: publishing sexually explicit images of another on the Internet without that victims
consent creates a permanent record of that victims private nudity and private sexual conduct
worldwide, which can be easily reproduced and shared, and causes significant psychological
harm. See 784.09(1 )(b)-(f), Fla. Stat. In order to protect against this harm, an aggrieved
person is entitled to obtain all appropriate relief in order to prevent or remedy a violation of this
section. See 784.09(5)(a), Fla. Stat.
In the Permanent Injunction previously entered in this case, this Court reached the same
conclusions: Publication of the explicit content of the Gawker Video and/or the 30-Minute
Video would violate a clear legal right and cause irreparable injury for which Mr. Bollea has no
adequate remedy at law... Mr. Bollea will suffer irreparable harm unless a permanent injunction
is entered to prohibit further public dissemination of the explicit content of the Gawker Video
and the 30-Minute Video... The publication of the explicit contents of Gawker Video or the 30Minute Video would constitute an invasion of Mr. Bolleas privacy and violation of Florida law
accompanied by extensive harm which an award of monetary damages is insufficient to address.
{See Permanent Injunction ^[f 42, 50, 51.) This Court also specifically found that:
While the jurys award of compensatory damages represents an
attempt to redress the harm and injuries Mr. Bollea suffered in the

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past as a result of the posting of the Gawker Video, several factors


require that an injunction issue to prohibit any further distribution
of explicit audio or visual footage of Mr. Bollea engaged in sexual
activity in a private bedroom....... Second, Gawker defendants
continue to possess additional footage of Mr. Bollea, including the
full 30-Minute Video that they received, the contents of which
have never been made public. (Permanent Injunction f 52)
Accordingly, this Court permanently enjoined Mr. Daulerio from publicly posting,
publishing, broadcasting, or disclosing any nudity or sexual activity, whether video or audio,
contained in the Gawker Video or 30-Minute Video.

However, the Court also reserved

jurisdiction to enforce the Permanent Injunction, and to issue additional relief, including, but not
limited to, an order requiring that Mr. Daulerio and the other Gawker Defendants deliver all
copies of the Gawker Video or the 30-Minute Video, or any excerpts thereof, to Mr. Bollea
and/or his counsel. (Permanent Injunction p. 9, ]j 2) The Permanent Injunction has not been
stayed pending appeal.
Mr. Daulerios desperate situation and his above-quoted threats clearly establish that he
still does not respect the verdict or this Courts authority, and does not fear the consequences of
violating Florida law or this Courts Permanent Injunction. Mr. Daulerio has possession of the
subject recording, and is more than prepared to release it and then go into hiding.
Mr. Daulerio also knows that doing so would be wrong, but believes he has nothing to lose.
Given the overall content and context of Mr. Daulerios September 28, 2016, interview,
in which he states that he will never settle with Mr. Bollea and that Mr. Bollea needs to stop
collection efforts against him, while at the same time threatening the release of the entire 30minute video, Mr. Daulerios conduct also amounts to extortion under Florida law. Florida
Statute section 836.05 provides:
Threats; extortion.Whoever, either verbally or by a written or
printed communication, maliciously threatens to accuse another of
any crime or offense, or by such communication maliciously

(BC00102867:1}

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threatens an injury to the person, property or reputation of


another, or maliciously threatens to expose another to disgrace,
or to expose any secret affecting another, or to impute any
deformity or lack of chastity to another, with intent thereby to
extort money or any pecuniary advantage whatsoever, or with
intent to compel the person so threatened, or any other person, to
do any act or refrain from doing any act against his or her will,
shall be guilty of a felony of the second degree, punishable as
provided in s. 775.082. s. 775.083. or s. 775.084.
If Mr. Daulerio were allowed to follow through on his threats, he also would violate
Floridas Video Voyeurism Law, section 810.45, Florida Statutes. Under 810.145(3), a person
commits the offense of video voyeurism dissemination if that person, knowing or having reason
to believe that an image was created [with a secret camera], intentionally disseminates,
distributes, or transfers the image to another person for the purpose of amusement... or for the
purpose of degrading or abusing another person. The jury and this Court already concluded that
Mr. Bollea was secretly recorded naked and having sex in a private bedroom. (Permanent
Injunction ^[11) The jury and this Court also concluded that Mr. Daulerio knew or had reason to
know that Mr. Bollea was recorded without his knowledge or consent. (Permanent Injunction J
12)
Florida law allows its courts to prevent violations of criminal laws. Mid-American Waste
Systems v. City o f Jacksonville, 596 So.2d 1187, 1189 (Fla. 1st DCA 1992). That authority
should be exercised to prevent Mr. Daulerio from engaging in revenge porn, extortion and video
voyeurism.
Through this motion, Mr. Bollea seeks to enforce the Permanent Injunction, while
simultaneously seeking protection under Floridas Revenge Pom, Video Voyeurism and
Extortion Laws. A bond is not required for a permanent injunction entered upon a final decree.
International Longshoremans Assoc., Local 146, AFL-CIO v. Eastern Steamship Lines, Inc.,

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206 So.2d 473 (Fla. 3d DCA 1968). Accordingly, a bond should not be required in connection
with the relief sought herein.
However, to the extent the relief sought herein could be characterized as temporary
injunctive relief, Mr. Bollea is prepared to post a bond. The purpose of an injunction bond is to
provide sufficient funds to cover the adverse partys costs and damages if the injunction is
wrongly issued. Longshore Lakes Joint Venture v. Mundy, 616 So.2d 1047 (Fla. 2d DCA 1993).
When setting the bond, the trial court may also consider other factors, including the adverse
partys chances of overturning the temporary injunction. Id.
Here, Mr. Daulerio has already been permanently enjoined from publishing the materials
that Mr. Bollea seeks to have returned and deleted. Mr. Daulerios potential damages, if any, are
de minimus.

His prospects of overturning the relief requested herein are equally miniscule,

particularly given the Permanent Injunction and recent enactment of Floridas Revenge Pom
Law. Consequently, if a bond is required, it should be no greater than $10,000.
CONCLUSION
Time and time again, Mr. Daulerio has proven that he is an angry buccaneering fellow
who thumbs his nose at the law and cannot be trusted. He should not be given the opportunity to
violate Floridas Revenge Pom, Video Voyeurism and Extortion Laws, as well as the Permanent
Injunction. To prevent such misconduct, Mr. Daulerio should not be permitted to retain any
copies or excerpts of any sexually explicit footage, images or recordings of Mr. Bollea,
including, but not limited to, the Gawker Video and 30-Minute Video. Moreover, Mr. Daulerio
should be required to appear before this Court and verify under oath that he: (1) has turned over
to Mr. Bolleas counsel any and all hard copies (i.e., CDs, DVDs, thumb drives) of sexually

8 Mr. Daulerios counsel of record still has a copy of the subject footage, so requiring Mr. Daulerio to
return and delete his copy/copies will not cause any harm, including for purposes of any pending appeals.
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explicit video and audio recordings (including all excerpts thereof and still images) of Mr. Bollea
which he possesses; (2) has permanently deleted or otherwise destroyed any and all
electronically stored (i . e computer files, files stored on the cloud) copies of such recordings,
excerpts and images within his possession or control; (3) has no access, or ability to access, any
such recordings, excerpts and images; and (4) verify before this Court the identity of every
person to whom he has ever personally transmitted or afforded access to such recordings,
excerpts and images.
Basis for Emergency Relief
The undersigned hereby certifies that Mr. Bollea seeks the relief set forth herein on an
emergency basis because, as recognized in Florida Statute Section 784.049 and this Courts
Permanent Injunction, the publication of explicit images of Mr. Bollea on the Internet will cause
irreparable and significant psychological harm and create a permanent record of such images
worldwide that can be easily reproduced and shared. Moreover, given Mr. Daulerios past
conduct, current legal and financial situations, mental state, obvious animosity toward
Mr. Bollea, plan to release the footage, and expressed belief that the entire 30-Minute Video is
completely newsworthy at this point, there is a significant and substantial likelihood that
Mr. Daulerio will release the footage at any time.
/s/Shane B. Voet____________________________
Kenneth G. Turkel, Esq.
Florida Bar No. 867233
Shane B. Vogt
Florida Bar No. 0257620
BAJO | CUVA | COHEN | TURKEL
100 North Tampa Street, Suite 1900
Tampa, Florida 33602
Tel: (813)443-2199
Fax: (813)443-2193
Email: kturkclfebaiocuva.com
Email: svogt@bajocuva.corn

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-andCharles J. Harder, Esq.


PHVNo. 102333
HARDER MIRELL & ABRAMS LLP
132 South Rodeo Drive, Suite 301
Beverly Hills, CA 90212-2406
Tel: (424) 203-1600
Fax: (424) 203-1601
Email: charder@hmafirm.com
Counsel for Plaintiff

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CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
I HEREBY CERTIFY that a true and correct copy of the foregoing has been furnished by
E-mail via the e-portal system, this 6th day of October, 2016, to the following:
Gregg D. Thomas, Esquire
Rachel E. Fugate, Esquire
Thomas & LoCicero PL
601 S. Boulevard
Tampa, Florida 33606
pthomasfeftlolawfirm.com
rfuuatcfetlolawfinn.com
kbto wn( a , 11o 1aw ii rm .com
aboencfetlolawfinn.com
Counsel for Gawker Defendants

Seth D. Berlin, Esquire


Paul J. Safier, Esquire
Alia L. Smith, Esquire
Michael D. Sullivan, Esquire
Levine Sullivan Koch & Schulz, LLP
1899 L. Street, NW, Suite 200
Washington, DC 20036
sbcrlin@lskslaw.com
psafierfe lsksla w. com
asmithfelskslaw.com
msullivanfeflskslaw.com
Pro Hac Vice Counselfor
Gawker Defendants

Steven L. Brannock, Esquire


Celene H. Humphries, Esquire
Brannock & Humphries
1111 West Cass Street, Suite 200
Tampa, FL 33606

Michael Berry, Esquire


Levine Sullivan Koch & Schultz, LLP
1760 Market Street, Suite 1001
Philadelphia, PA 19103
mbciTv@lskslaiv.coin
Pro Hac Vice Counselfor
Gawker Defendants

sbrannockffebhatiDcals.com

clnnnphricsffelihappcals.com
cscrvicc@bltappcals.com
Co-Counselfor Gawker Defendants
David R. Houston, Esquire
Law Office of David R. Houston
432 Court Street
Reno, NV 89501
dhoustonffehoustonatlaw.com
krosscrffehouslonatlaw.com

Stuart C. Markman, Esquire


Kristin A. Norse, Esquire
Kynes, Markman & Felman, P.A.
Post Office Box 3396
Tampa, Florida 33601
smarkman@kmf-law.com
knorscfefkmf-law.com

plawhcadfefkinf-law.com
Appellate Co-Counsel for Plaintiff
/s/ Shane B. Vost____________
Attorney

{BC00102867:1

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EXHIBIT A
to Plaintiffs Emergency Motion to Enforce Permanent
Injunction and Prevent A.J. Daulerio from Engaging in
Revenge Porn, Extortion and Video Voyeurism

* * *ELECTRONICALLY FILED 10/06/2016 03:36:16 PM: KEN BURKE, CLERK OF THE CIRCUIT COURT, PINELLAS COUNTY***

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IN RE:

CASE NO.:

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TERRY BOLLEA VS. GAWKER MEDIA, LLC


12012447C1011

3
4
5
6

7
8

LONGFORM PODCAST OF
AARON LAMMER AND A.J. DAULERIO

10
11
12

13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21

22

23
24
25

U.S. LEGAL SUPPORT


866-339-2608

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1
2

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2

(Thereupon:)
MAX:

It's Max.

Before we get

started, I want to tell you quickly about a

new sponsor we've got on the show.

the School of the Art Institute of Chicago,

specifically their masters in new arts

journalism program.

It's

If you want to learn how to write

about the arts, if you want to learn how to

10

be a cultural critical, this is the program

11

for you.

12

land of fantastic art, and you're not just

13

going to learn how to write, they're going

14

to teach you how to use the full Adobe

15

Suite, you're going to get the basics on

16

HTML and CSS, you can build your own

17

websites, you can learn to write for the

18

internet, not a thing that everyone is

19

teaching you.

20

You're going to do it in Chicago,

The application for this program is

21

February 1st.

If you want some more

22

information, go to SAIC.EDU/longform.

23

That's SAIC.EDU/longform.

24

couple of years in Chicago, learn how to

25

write about art, but for now, listen to the

Go spend a

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podcast.

MR. LAMMER:

MAX:

MR. LAMMER:

Hi.

Hi Max.

from Detroit.
MAX:

MR. LAMMER:

MAX:

Welcome to your own podcast.


Good to be back.

You were in Detroit, Michigan.

Evan is also on the road.

10

in the studio.

11

sad here.

12

Hey.

Hello, Aaron Lamer.

Main Document

I am all alone

That's lonely, man.

MR. LAMMER:

I'm

I'll tell you this,

13

when I pick up the call, and I hear you on

14

this line, Evan could have been sitting

15

there the whole time, I wouldn't know.

16

MAX:

It's basically a normal intro.

17

MR. LAMMER:

But actually I've been

18

trying to pick up an interview here and

19

there along my path, and this is the first

20

one I've done.

21

and it was with A.J. Daulerio, a guest that

22

I know you've wanted to get on for some

23

time, Max.

24

MAX:

25

the show.

I did it in Los Angeles,

I'm excited that A.J. is on


Anyone who is listening to this

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show probably knows about A.J.'s time as

the editor of Gawker, and he's been in the

news.

the Hulk Hogan sex tape.

Hulk Hogan's suit.

massive lien against his bank account, and

it's really exciting to have him on the

show.

He was the editor who decided to run


He's named in

He currently has a

It sounds like, Aaron, he sort of

10

wanted to talk about what this has been

11

like for him.

12

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MR. LAMMER:

Yeah, I mean, I think

13

people who are interested in the purely

14

legal story, it's been pretty well

15

reported, but I think we're the first

16

people that he's talked to about the

17

personal side of what this has meant for

18

him and what it means for journalism and

19

other people who could end up involved in a

20

similar experience.

21

So it's a bit of a cautionary

22

episode, but I really appreciate him doing

23

it, I appreciate him choosing to do it with

24

us, and I'm really excited for who will

25

hear this.

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MAX:

I don't want to take too much

of their time, but quickly, Aaron, we have

a pair of sponsors.

MR.

MAX:

my friend.

LAMME R :

T e ll

me

m ore.

It's that time of year again,


It's FIFA time.

MR. LAMMER:

favorite holiday.

wondering, because you'll notice that our

Oh, my God, it's my


I was actually

10

FIFA playing has trailed off a little bit.

11

We've been in the offseason here.

12

waiting for somebody to motivate us, get

13

back on the court, now -- now we're there.

14

MAX:

We are there.

Been

The latest

15

version of FIFA from EA Sports, our

16

favorite video game for now, what, like --

17

how long were you playing this game, 15

18

years you and I have been playing FIFA.

19

MR.

20

MAX:

LAMME R :

At

le a s t .

It's something absurd.

21

latest version came out yesterday.

22

really describe it to you.

23

it's FIFA, Aaron.

24

It's great.

25

MR.

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LAMME R :

The
I can't

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i t

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P o d ca st AJ D a u le r io
Pg 104 of 212

t h is ,

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it's MailChimp.
MR. LAMMER:

Actually, I just sent

off a MailChimp email or a little project

I'm doing.

download, it's very, very slow, and

I really have to think about every single

web page that I load, because I have to pay

by the megabyte for it.

happier to be with MailChimp, they make

I'm on a Canadian little Wi-Fi

I was never

10

everything so simple, there was no hiccups,

11

there was no going back and fixing stuff.

12

Straight out the door best email provider

13

in the game.

14

MAX:

15

Daulerio.

Thank you MailChimp.


Okay.

Here's Aaron with A.J.

16

MR. LAMMER:

Feel good?

17

MR. DAULERIO:

Yeah, yeah, I mean,

18

I have to like go through this process

19

where I'm like don't be glib, don't be

20

glib, don't be glib.

21

MR. LAMMER:

Is that out of a

22

self-preservation -- is that -- is that

23

like a

24

or you don't want to come across as glib?

25

is that you don't want to be glib

MR. DAULERIO:

I don't want to come

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across as glib.

lot of the way I've answered things in the

past, I mean, it's a lot of

self-deprecation and sarcasm, so I'll try

to answer things as directly as possible.

I mean, I

MR. LAMMER:

I know that a

Well, I mean, I feel

like very few people end up in a position

where the glibness of their commentary can

have repercussions deep into their life

10
11

like this.
MR. DAULERIO:

That's true.

Yeah,

12

I definitely didn't anticipate this, this

13

is -- you never get presented with

14

something along those lines where how you

15

are, where you've worked, things that

16

you've said can, you know, bankrupt a

17

company and also just like leave you with

18

$115 million in debt to a professional

19

wrestler at this point.

20

MR. LAMMER:

Okay.

So how many

21

years of your life has this been the

22

dominant theme of now?

23

MR. DAULERIO:

Main Document

Well, it's

I left

24

Gawker in January 2013, but I think

25

it really started about September of 2013

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where the invisible handcuffs started to

come on --

MR. LAMMER:

MR. DAULERIO:

Main Document

Yeah.

and that any

conversations I would have with the lawyers

that were representing Gawker in this case,

it was always bad news, and it was always

there's another worse case scenario,

another bad day in court.

And, you know,

10

the original defendant list which I believe

11

was eight or nine had gone down to just

12

myself and Nick and Gawker Media.


And, you know, then there was some

13
14

paranoia that had set in, I believe, at

15

that point, and this was always something

16

that was looming, and it wasn't something

17

that was constant, it was something that

18

every three weeks or so I would have a

19

conversation with the lawyers who would

20

tell me that they need more emails, they

21

need my computers, they need my phone, they

22

need me to remember things in a certain

23

way.

24
25

I mean, all the stuff that goes into


kind of at least constructing what would be

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a -- a case, but also being a little bit on

the outside of it, because I was no longer

working at Gawker Media, and I think the

interpretation by some of the lawyers was

that I was a minor player in this.

MR. LAMMER:

Yeah.

MR. DAULERIO:

Especially if it's

something that's a civil suit, I don't have

a $100 million.

10
11

I was employed by this

company.
MR. LAMMER:

At what point did you

12

realize that a person might be liable for

13

the journalistic actions of a company?

14

MR. DAULERIO:

I still don't

15

know the answer to that, because I'm --

16

because I'm still -- we're at the beginning

17

stages of another part for me, and it still

18

has this -- this creep factor to it,

19

somehow getting $115 million is basically

20

falling squarely on my head, because, you

21

know, Gawker and Nick have both declared

22

bankruptcy, and I think the feeling was,

23

was that, well, they're not going to go

24

after me personally at this point.

25

MR. LAMMER:

Yeah, because your

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assets are not in the $115 million range.


MR. DAULERIO:

No, nor are Gawker's

or Nick's for that matter, but obviously,

I mean, there's more at play here.

trial is kind of irrelevant into what's

happening now, because what's happening now

is obviously Peter Thiel is bank rolling

this revenge plot, and the lawyers on the

other side have to

The

this is what

10

unlimited billable hours do, keep these

11

things tied up.

12

MR. LAMMER:

13

MR. DAULERIO:

Right.
They can do all these

14

things.

15

happening to me in terms of just what

16

someone sees as harassment or bullying, I

17

mean, are perfectly legal.

18

are they ethical?

19

answer that, but --

20

All these things that are

I mean, are --

I don't know, I can't

MR. LAMMER:

It's a technique that

21

actually could be applied outside

22

journalism also.

23

part of the American justice system, is

24

there's no real penalty for jamming it.

25

It's sort of a dangerous

MR. DAULERIO:

Yeah, and, you

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know --

MR. LAMMER:

MR. DAULERIO:

A filibuster.
And you know, that's

the part of it that's extremely tough to

process, is that, you know, after going

through the theatricality of that trial and

the traumatic experience that was that

trial for, I think, everyone involved, and

then to try to move on, and I -- as soon as

10

I began to start to think about what would

11

be the next phase of my life, this whole

12

$115 million judgment comes crashing down

13

on my head, and I don't know why.

14

I think the only reason why that

15

happens, and I'm sure the other side has

16

their theories as well, that is what's

17

this money that is being bankrolled by

18

Peter Thiel is affording these guys to do,

19

which is to try to drive a wedge between

20

myself and Gawker, to try to just, you

21

know, pin what's happening to me on like

22

how Gawker betrayed me or how these guys

23

left you out to dry.

24

And -- and the one thing that's been

25

important to me and which was actually the

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good part of this phase, if there is a good

part, is that I've also had to kind of take

on my own lawyers at this point, obviously

without any money, so there's been a lot of

pro bono work done on my behalf at this

point, but the first couple of lawyers that

I talked to, I told them, just like, look,

your job is to say no to these people.


Like I'm

as much as they want to

10

kind of hold my life hostage right now and

11

any kind of settlement talks begin and end

12

for them with an NDA and confidentiality

13

agreement, and I won't do that.

14
15
16
17

MR. LAMMER:

Confidentiality around

what?
MR. DAULERIO:

MR. LAMMER:

19

MR. DAULERIO:

21
22

talking about

the case, talking about the trial.

18

20

What

that

Okay.
Anything -- anything

anything that --

MR. LAMMER:

Like the very

conversation we're having right now --

23

MR. DAULERIO:

24

MR. LAMMER:

25

restricted by it.

Absolutely.
-- would be -- would be

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MR. DAULERIO:

Main Document

Yeah, the way -- the

way this is set up is basically just like

maybe this will come back to bite me in the

ass.

MR. LAMMER:

Yeah.

MR. DAULERIO:

I mean, absolutely

will.

My thought process at this point is

just like, okay, well, I have $115 million

hanging over my head.

They're treating

10

it like it's 10 grand and they're trying to

11

collect --

12

MR. LAMMER:

13

MR. DAULERIO:
I

Yeah.
-- and acting like,

14

yes, I

and of course, legal, I do

15

owe this money, and up until the appeals

16

process, they can do very, you know,

17

aggressive and invasive things in order to

18

try to collect on that.

19

MR. LAMMER:

Have they done invasive

20

things to try to collect?

21

MR. DAULERIO:

22

MR. LAMMER:

23

MR. DAULERIO:

Yeah, of course.
Yeah.
I went through a

24

whole, you know, what they call a financial

25

colonoscopy which, you know, required me to

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go through my last four months of spending

habits, and anything over $100 they then

grilled me about, trying to kind of what

I call like "dad me up" over like my

spending habits over the last six months.

MR. LAMMER:

Yeah.

MR. DAULERIO:

Like acting like,

well, you should have been saving for this

$115 million judgment.

10

MR. LAMMER:

Saving -- saving so you

11

can get another couple of thousand dollars

12

out toward them on the -- yeah.

13

MR. DAULERIO:

Exactly, and he was

14

like, you know, well, jeez, you shouldn't

15

have spent $100 on golf, and you should

16

have bought yourself a lawyer at this

17

point.

18

MR. LAMMER:

19

MR. DAULERIO:

20

Yeah.
And I'm like, you

know, that's the part that's frustrating.

21

MR. LAMMER:

Yeah.

22

MR. DAULERIO:

Because look, he's

23

doing his job, but his job right now is to

24

be an asshole to

25

MR. LAMMER:

m e.

Yeah.

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MR. DAULERIO:

Main Document

And that's the part

that obviously I got in trouble in my first

deposition in terms of not reacting well,

so I have to kind of go into that to kind

of be bullied in some capacity by attorneys

who have -- are trying to get information

that they're legally allowed to do, but I'm

waiting for logic to prevail.

to just like have him say, just like, oh,

I'm waiting

10

well, this doesn't make any sense, you

11

clearly don't have $115 million.

12

MR. LAMMER:

13

MR. DAULERIO:

Right.
And the appeals

14

process is coming, and we will wait until

15

that point.

16

MR. LAMMER:

And declaring

17

bankruptcy would mean you don't get the

18

opportunity to make this appeal?

19

MR. DAULERIO:

In order for me to

20

declare bankruptcy to protect my thousand

21

dollars that was in my checking account at

22

that time --

23

MR. LAMMER:

24

MR. DAULERIO:

25

Yeah.
-- would cost me

about 30 grand to hire a bankruptcy

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attorney, and every bankruptcy attorney,

I mean, was excellent in terms of being

very transparent about the fact that just

like, you know, you are against a very

aggressive plaintiff right now.

$115 million judgment which could be

disputed in bankruptcy court, so you're

essentially going in to file for

bankruptcy, and then potentially have it

10

unblocked.

11

protect your $1,000 or this $115 million

12

you still may owe, and you'll also lose

13

your representation in Florida.

14

Main Document

You'll spend 100 grand to

That was what was -- I was told

15

really at last minute type of situation,

16

because I mean, ultimately I'm operating

17

under the assumption that because I am

18

indemnified by Gawker that -- and they're

19

not going to come after me personally for

20

this at this point, at this juncture, that

21

this was not something I necessarily had to

22

concern myself with, and, you know,

23

I was -- I may have been naive about that,

24

I don't know, I don't know --

25

MR. LAMMER:

Yeah.

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MR. DAULERIO:

Main Document

it all happened so

quickly.
MR. LAMMER:

I mean, they didn't

even offer you advice about this.


MR. DAULERIO:

Exactly, there were

so many conflicts at that point.


MR. LAMMER:

Oh, when I was sued for

$115 million here was my game plan.


MR. DAULERIO:

Well, that

and

10

that -- and that was the part where it's

11

just like you're still having these

12

discussions with these attorneys, the

13

attorneys that have been representing

14

myself and Gawker throughout this whole

15

entire time whom I've gotten to know fairly

16

well, obviously, for the past three years,

17

and who are trying to explain to me, you

18

know, well, if you file for Chapter 7

19

bankruptcy -- filing for Chapter 7

20

bankruptcy, it's not easy.

21

something --

22

23
24
25

MR. LAMMER:

It's not

Yeah, it's not supposed

to be easy.
MR. DAULERIO:

It's not something

where, you know, a Turbo Tax situation.

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It's some pretty dense paperwork --

MR. LAMMER:

MR. DAULERIO:

Yeah.
-- that, I mean,

if I screw up will then possibly come back

to haunt me, and I'm -- and I'm weighing

all these options, and I'm still like, you

know, why is this happening.

Main Document

And then 24 hours, less than that,


I get an alert from Chase Bank, who is very

10

good about their alerts, that there is a

11

hold on my bank account for $230 million,

12

which was put thereby Pinellas County

13

Courthouse courtesy of one Terry Bollea,

14

and I'm like, okay, now what do you do.

15

MR. LAMMER:

Right.

16

MR. DAULERIO:

And it was

it was

17

funny, because Chase had like said

18

something in the lines, well, we're waiving

19

the processing fee, I'm like all right.

20

These guys are excellent, but at that point

21

when you're looking at this number, which

22

looks like a pinball score

23

MR. LAMMER:

24

MR. DAULERIO:

25

Yeah.

and there's --

well, do I get overdraft fees for -- how do

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I -- do I stop banking there?

just freezes.

MR. LAMMER:

MR. DAULERIO:

Everything

Yeah.
And so then I have no

access to kind of get any money to any

perspective lawyers, I have like

everything

9
10

Main Document

MR. LAMMER:

And you were living in

Florida at the time.


MR. DAULERIO:

I was living in

11

Florida at an Airbnb which I had rented and

12

paid in advance for, which was

13

was running out soon, but it was not really

14

that was the problem, in was more that that

15

number, it was just like, okay, everything

16

that was told to me from the beginning

17

about that this would not actually impact

18

me personally --

19

MR. LAMMER:

20

MR. DAULERIO:

21

M R . LAMMER:

22

MR. DAULERIO:

my lease

Yeah.

was bullshit.

Yeah.
And that at this

23

point this is what we see is what could

24

potentially happen to someone else.

25

MR. LAMMER:

Yeah.

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MR. DAULERIO:

Main Document

The one part that

I think that most -- I would be very happy

to be a journalist right now in this time

period, because you can see exactly where

the monsters are.

MR. LAMMER:

MR. DAULERIO:

Yeah.
Regardless of just

thinking of what you think of me or what

you think of Gawker, you can see that

10

Charles Harder who is basically the firm

11

that, you know, is representing Hulk Hogan,

12

his business is booming right now.

13
14

MR. LAMMER:

Yeah, he's representing

all kinds of -- he's got

15

MR. DAULERIO:

16

MR. LAMMER:

17
18
19

Exactly.
Yeah, he's got the

Trump's got -- got -- I mean -MR. DAULERIO:

Yeah, and this isn't

going to stop any time soon.

20

MR. LAMMER:

21

MR. DAULERIO:

Yeah.
And I think that most

22

people who are just going -- critical of

23

Gawker or any of (Inaudible), I hope it's

24

out of their system.

25

MR. LAMMER:

Yeah.

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MR. DAULERIO:

Main Document

Because, you know,

right now, I mean, especially just with the

hints that, you know, Roger Ailes is going

after Gabriel Sherman and New York Magazine

and stuff like that.

MR. LAMMER:

MR. DAULERIO:

a Gawker problem anymore.

9
10

Yeah.

MR. LAMMER:

It's clearly not just

Yeah.

MR. DAULERIO:

And that's the part

11

that

12

that somebody has to stop it.

it's worthwhile for people to know

13

MR. LAMMER:

Yeah.

14

MR. DAULERIO:

And the only way to

15

actually stop it is for journalists to do

16

their job at this point, but I also

17

understand how tough it is for publishers

18

in this environment who are going to kind

19

of just like actually have to make a

20

decision where it's just like, okay,

21

if we are going to say something negative

22

about someone who is powerful or actually

23

has access to Charles Harder's law firm at

24

this point, is that worth the risk, is that

25

worth the story, and that's something that

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is, I think, has not been as black and

white as it is right now.

MR. LAMMER:

Well, I think it would

be -- it's interesting, I didn't even draw

the connection.

show two weeks ago, three weeks ago.

Gabriel Sherman was on the

MR. DAULERIO:

MR. LAMMER:

Main Document

Uh-huh, right.
So we potentially have

two guests in a one-month span who are both

10

going to be the subjects of lawsuits from

11

the same law firm.

12

with enough money, these lawsuits can be an

13

exponential force.

14

scale operation --

It -- it shows you that

It's not a hard to

15

MR. DAULERIO:

16

MR. LAMMER:

Yeah.
-- suing people in

17

these sorts of situations.

18

discriminate journalistically across a wide

19

spectrum of different forms of journalism.

20

I mean, the things that Gabriel Sherman is

21

reporting is that Ails probably had him

22

tailed, had him investigated.

23

MR. DAULERIO:

24

MR. LAMMER:

25

It doesn't

Yeah.
And may have discussed

killing him.

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MR. DAULERIO:

MR. LAMMER:

MR. DAULERIO:

Main Document

Right.
Yeah.
There's people -- all

the people who said there's a conversation

in the room where Ails talked about killing

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as a sort of a check on who has more power

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Main Document

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MR. LAMMER:

How did you come to

Gawker in the first place?


MR. DAULERIO:

I originally came to

Gawker back in 2005.

MR. LAMMER:

MR. DAULERIO:

MR. LAMMER:

MR. DAULERIO:

Main Document

Yeah.
And that was to -Simpler times.
Yeah, definitely,

and, you know, I was there to run a now

10

dead gambling blog called Odd Jack.

11

the job not based off of anything that

12

I knew about gambling or poker.

13

mimic what I thought was a Gawker voice at

14

the time, and Lockhart had offered me that

15

job, then he fired me six months later when

16

there was no traffic on that cite.

17

Got

I tried to

I mean, it was the total blogger in

18

Odd Jack.

19

they used to do initially back in the 2005

20

era where mostly you were paid per post

21

(Inaudible) at the end of the month.

22

If you were under a certain threshold, you

23

got maybe half your pay.

24
25

I mean, there was this thing

So at the end of the month there


would always be this routine where there

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would be three days left, and I would be

like 85 posts short.

frantically basically do lines on every

single college football game there was

between Division I and III and just throw

them up in this mad dash to basically get

paid that month.

Main Document

So then I would

And, yeah, I used to always get

those kind of just very bemused emails from

10

Lockhart at the end of the month, basically

11

just like, wow, you hit the quota right on

12

the nose again, which, you know, they let

13

me slide with.

14

But when I was at Deadspin the

15

second time around, I just had a vision for

16

Deadspin that just like we were going to

17

have a blog site, we were going to have a

18

longer form side.

19

started to put those things together.

20

I mean, we had already

I knew I could get traffic, I knew

21

I could do the scummy stuff that Will

22

wouldn't touch --

23

MR. LAMMER:

24

MR. DAULERIO:

25

Yeah.
-- and we would have

no qualms about it, because that was the

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business part of it for me.

part, we wanted to have a site where

basically those things could live in the

same world.

MR. LAMMER:

Main Document

The writing

Yeah, I was a Gawker

reader, I've always read this stuff.

I always kind of felt like the dirtier,

scummier stuff was going to like stain the

good work that was done.

10

MR. DAULERIO:

11

MR. LAMMER:

Right.
Not bring down the

12

whole ship in a -- in a -- you know, in a

13

flaming disaster.

14

something you were building --

So as that duality was

15

MR. DAULERIO:

16

MR. LAMMER:

Yeah.
-- did you ever sort of

17

say -- like look at whether it's the tips

18

box and the stuff is going in, kind of, you

19

know, hunting for scandal really.

20

MR. DAULERIO:

21

MR. LAMMER:

Right, yeah.
Like, oh, God, we could

22

go too far, this could be a problem.

23

that even like in the room as that stuff

24

was building up?

25

MR. DAULERIO:

Was

Well, it's kind of

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interesting you say that, because I think

that every Gawker editor at some point has

a moment where they're staring over a

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4
5

MR. LAMMER:

MR. DAULERIO:

Yeah.
-- in terms of just,

you know, very hesitant about pushing the

"publish" button knowing that there's going

to be some blow back.

10

MR. LAMMER:

Yeah.

11

MR. DAULERIO:

And either -- and

12

then there could be a story, especially,

13

and this was kind of at the -- at the time

14

I remember the moment when Gizmodo broke

15

the iPhone 4 story.

16

MR. LAMMER:

Totally.

17

MR. DAULERIO:

And I was in awe of

18

them.

I was just like this is the greatest

19

thing I've ever seen in my entire life.

20

The news cycle has stopped and is

21

absolutely focusing on this story, and, you

22

know, obviously, they got a lot of flack

23

for it, too --

24

MR. LAMMER:

Yeah.

25

MR. DAULERIO:

-- and were

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criticized for it, but everyone was talking

about it.

3
4
5
6

MR. LAMMER:

Apple sent the police,

right, to -MR. DAULERIO:


broke down his door.

MR. LAMMER:

MR. DAULERIO:

9
10

Yeah, DC10, they

Yeah.
And, you know, as bad

as that was, I mean, I'm like sitting there


just like absolutely just like so envious.

11

MR. LAMMER:

12

MR. DAULERIO:

Yeah.
And I'm just like,

13

God, I wish I could do something that would

14

absolutely have that type of impact.

15

MR. LAMMER:

It felt like sort of

16

breaking the journalistic fourth wall where

17

I was like --

18

MR. DAULERIO:

19

MR. LAMMER:

20

Yeah.

I thought this is

all supposed to be like --

21

MR. DAULERIO:

22

MR. LAMMER:

Right.

page view fun and

23

games here, no one was supposed to like

24

SWAT someone.

25

MR. DAULERIO:

Exactly, and that

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was -- and that was a part, but I mean,

it was just like, you know, all -- like all

of the publications that I had admired

going into it like always had that whiskey

feel to it.

I mean, just like I said, Jeff

Koyen's New York Press was so influential

just because of him, and I remember having

this moment where he took me up to Lit,

10

that bar on the Lower East Side at one

11

point, and he was about to publish, but

12

it was this full issue dedicated to the

13

assassination of George W. Bush, and the

14

whole issue was dedicated to if that had

15

happened.

16

And it was

like my eyes lit up.

17

I was just like, man, this is like the

18

coolest thing I've ever seen in my entire

19

life, and like, I mean, it was just I love

20

that rush --

21

M R . LAMMER:

Yeah.

22

MR. DAULERIO:

-- kind of just like

23

I was getting from him talking about it,

24

and I was just like that's -- that's kind

25

of just the way I'm wired.

I knew that

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I was wired that way as an editor, and

I always

know, I used to call it the professional

wrestling of blogging.

I always loved that part, you

MR. LAMMER:

MR. DAULERIO:

MR. LAMMER:

MR. DAULERIO:

(Inaudible.)
Yeah.
Yeah.
But I mean -- and

I always felt that just a good editor for

10

Gawker or any of the Gawker sites was

11

someone who kind of took on that role.

12

MR. LAMMER:

Yeah.

13

MR. DAULERIO:

But that I would take

14

on that role, and the rest of the staff

15

could actually be smart and great and do

16

the things that were actually just, you

17

know, the things that I love to read.

18
19

You know, my byline I always


considered was just ten percent of my job.

20

MR. LAMMER:

Yeah.

21

MR. DAULERIO:

And that ten percent

22

was always done for just kind of business

23

purposes.

24

I considered it.

25

That's just like how

MR. LAMMER:

The pro wrestling, I'm

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sorry, it's a good analogy.

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MR. DAULERIO:

I know, but it sucks

now.

MR. LAMMER:

The

MR. DAULERIO:

MR. LAMMER:

Yeah.
That interplay among

the editors and the writers and the

readers, and that's sort of -- I think it's

some of the stuff that's made the tone of

10

this whole Gawker affair hard to read,

11

because, you know, the people who were

12

writing for Gawker and editing for Gawker

13

in that period were really talking to a

14

very specific audience that almost knew you

15

as characters.

16

MR. DAULERIO:

17

MR. LAMMER:

18

Yeah.
Like I never met you

before.

19

MR. DAULERIO:

20

MR. LAMMER:

Yeah.
Until you walked into

21

this room, I kind of had known you as like

22

a character.

23

MR. DAULERIO:

24

MR. LAMMER:

25

Right.
You played -- and you

play up a certain kind of like

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scumbagginess and character, but then I'm

also sitting across the room from someone

who is basically sacrificing years of their

life toward a higher (Inaudible.)

MR. DAULERIO:

MR. LAMMER:

Yeah.
And I don't actually

find that incongruous, but I can see how to

a person sitting reading U.S.A. Today --

MR. DAULERIO:

10

MR. LAMMER:

11

are easy to lose.

12

Yeah.

MR. DAULERIO:

the nuances of that

They are, and I think

13

that that's -- you know, a lot of the part

14

that also gets lost in this -- these

15

stories don't age well.

16

also just like, you know, a lot of where

17

Gawker's nuance comes in is the speed of

18

it, too.

19

MR. LAMMER:

20

MR. DAULERIO:

21

Remember just like

Yeah.
We're also in a very

different environment online --

22

MR. LAMMER:

Yeah.

23

MR. DAULERIO:

to where a lot of

24

these things that -- I mean, I think

25

would -- would clearly be jokes are done

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for shock value are just kind of just put

to a different type of audience and kind of

just like scrutinized a lot differently as

well.

MR. LAMMER:

Yeah.

MR. DAULERIO:

The one part that

was -- like I mentioned a thing about, you

know, staring over a cliff --

9
10

MR. LAMMER:

When I had Leah

Finnegan on this show, and she also -- the


way she described it was a finger hovering

12

over a button and falling off a cliff.

13

I think if we go back, she used both of

14

those exact phrase --

15

MR. DAULERIO:

16

MR. LAMMER:

17
18
19
20

Oh, really.
-- phrases to describe

that moment, so it must be


MR. DAULERIO:

Yeah, I didn't work

with her.
MR. LAMMER:

It must be something

21

that haunts the dreams of editors who have

22

been in that position.

23

in how you saw that line and whether you

24

had regrets prior to this, which I don't

25

know that you do regret this particular

Like I'm interested

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thing.

MR. DAULERIO:

MR. LAMMER:

Right.
But, you know, among

the many times that your finger hovered

over the button and you hit or did not hit

"send."

MR. DAULERIO:

MR. LAMMER:

9
10

Huh.
Like what was that

experience like?
MR. DAULERIO:

I mean, it's --

11

it's -- there -- there are certain stories

12

that you want back for different reasons

13

than -- none of them are because they were

14

published, let's put it that way.

15

MR. LAMMER:

Yeah.

16

MR. DAULERIO:

It's usually because

17

they're executed in a way that may have

18

fallen flat or may have kind of been

19

misinterpreted.

20

MR. LAMMER:

Yeah.

21

MR. DAULERIO:

Some things that

22

I had written that I wish I had the budget

23

to farm out to another writer.

24

MR. LAMMER:

Right.

25

MR. DAULERIO:

Those sort of things,

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and one major story that I wish I had the

budget to farm out to another writer was

the Brett Farve story, actually.

MR. LAMMER:

Main Document

Which in some ways is

probably the most well-known story that you

are a part of prior to the Hulk Hogan

story.

8
9

MR. DAULERIO:
yeah, exactly.

that was

I mean, just it's one of

10

those things where I mean, I consider the

11

thing that I love the most is kind of being

12

the producer of websites in that kind of

13

role --

14

MR. LAMMER:

15

MR. DAULERIO:

Yeah.

16

writers that I love --

17

MR. LAMMER:

18

MR. DAULERIO:

and working with

Yeah.

and trying to

19

figure out a way for them to kind of enjoy

20

the job as much as I do in some ways, and

21

my byline is just filled with dicks.

22

that's -- that's also the -- the role that

23

I took on.

24

kind of delegitimize those stories.

25

It's not

MR. LAMMER:

But

I don't want to

Yeah.

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MR. DAULERIO:

Main Document

The Brett Farve story

is not about his dick.

MR. LAMMER:

MR. DAULERIO:

Yeah.
What his dick did was

basically prove that the woman who told me

about this story about him sexually

harassing him was true.

MR. LAMMER:

MR. DAULERIO:

Right.

10

MR. LAMMER:

11

MR. DAULERIO:

That's what that did.


Yeah.
But, you know, this

12

notion that because we paid for it, that

13

information, or that it was done for page

14

view purposes on clicks or however people

15

want to say it, all that did was kind of

16

just put nine months of work to bed and say

17

just like, yeah, she was not lying, she's

18

not an opportunist, and if we're not going

19

to hold Brett Farve accountable for his

20

personal life, why are we always kind of

21

talking about his wife's illness or his

22

father's death or his struggle with

23

Vicodin.

24

And every single person that

25

I talked to in main stream media who was

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covering Brett Farve knew about this story.

MR. LAMMER:

Yeah.

MR. DAULERIO:

Like, I mean, that's

the fight.

couldn't do it in that way, because they

had just heard about it, they hadn't seen

any evidence of it.

And, you know, they obviously

MR. LAMMER:

Right.

MR. DAULERIO:

And Brett Farve was

10

the most famous quarterback on the planet

11

at that point.

12

year, and a lot of television companies and

13

the NFL had built a lot of the season

14

around his last year.

15

He was going into his last

MR. LAMMER:

It's interesting, a lot

16

of the way this stuff ends up getting

17

talked about is through pages and clicks as

18

if like doing a -- like in-depth, like

19

months-long investigation is like the

20

easiest cheapest way to get how many clicks

21

you got on that story.

22

MR. DAULERIO:

23

MR. LAMMER:

24
25

Whatever, yeah.
It's not -- it's not a

one-to-one relationship like that.


MR. DAULERIO:

Yeah.

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MR. LAMMER:

But as you're going

after stories like this, was there ever

oversight from above about what you should

and shouldn't do?

MR. DAULERIO:

God or Nick Denton?

MR. LAMMER:

Are we talking about

Nick Denton or any --

or anyone else, but yeah, Nick Denton

(Inaudible.)

10
11

Main Document

MR. DAULERIO:

Like Nick and I,

we have the editorial DNA --

12

MR. LAMMER:

Yeah.

13

MR. DAULERIO:

-- ultimately, and

14

I think that's a lot of the reason why

15

we did get along mostly.

16

MR. LAMMER:

17

MR. DAULERIO:

Yeah.
And I think that

18

he felt like that I was probably the person

19

who was catering to his kind of instincts

20

more than anyone else.

21

M R . LAMMER:

22

MR. DAULERIO:

23

Yeah.
So I had a lot of

(Inaudible.)

24

MR. LAMMER:

25

MR. DAULERIO:

Yeah.
And, you know, that

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was -- you know, that's a level of autonomy

that you can't -- it's irreplaceable in a

lot of ways.

MR. LAMMER:

Yeah.

MR. DAULERIO:

I mean, I knew that

I was in kind of a situation where just

like, wow, you know, here's a guy that is

supporting me on a lot of this stuff.

9
10

MR. LAMMER:

Yeah.

MR. DAULERIO:

Even though

even

11

though there was a huge backlash from, you

12

know, readers or other publications --

13

MR. LAMMER:

Yeah.

14

MR. DAULERIO:

-- or I have people

15

calling me an asshole or monster or

16

whatever and all this stuff, and this guy

17

was, you know, always the first in line to

18

basically say just, you know, how are you,

19

and then I'd be just like, man, I'm like

20

kind of just beaten up over this.

21

He's just like, all right, take a

22

day, but then get right back to it, because

23

you're

24

about what we were doing was true.

25

there was never any question

MR. LAMMER:

Right.

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MR. DAULERIO:

Main Document

It was just -- it was

always a point where just, oh, is this


MR. LAMMER:

Is that like a loud

form of (Inaudible.)
MR. DAULERIO:

Yeah and I think --

I think there's some of that, and I'm

like -- believe me, I mean, I'm the first

to admit that I -- I reveled in the heel

factor of some of the stuff I was doing.

10

MR. LAMMER:

Yeah.

11

MR. DAULERIO:

I didn't have any

12

question about just like, you know,

13

whether -- if it was right, it was true,

14

I wasn't throwing shit against the wall

15

just to kind of start a reaction.

16

I made sure that all that stuff was pretty

17

airtight.

18

MR. LAMMER:

19

MR. DAULERIO:

I --

Yeah.
And then I was going

20

to take the backlash anyway, because at

21

some point it's just like, you know, my --

22

my vantage point is just like the people

23

that matter the least for a publication are

24

the readers and other people in the media.

25

MR. LAMMER:

Right.

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The person -- the

people that I end up putting forward first

are the writers and that's it.

MR. LAMMER:

MR. DAULERIO:

Main Document

Yeah.
And especially at an

operation like Gawker where you're on a

shoestring budget, per se, and you don't

have the same sort of, you know, cushion to

kind of, you know, have fact checkers and

10

all that other stuff like online.

11

you really kind of have to put yourself out

12

there as the last line of defense --

13

MR

LAMMER:

14

MR

DAULERIO:

You --

Yeah.
-- in terms of just

15

like, okay, if there's going to be an

16

asshole in this situation, it will be me.

17

MR. LAMMER:

18

MR. DAULERIO:

19

Yeah.
And everybody else

can look smart.

20

MR. LAMMER:

21

MR

Yeah.

DAULERIO:

And but when I edited

22

Deadspin and when I edited Gawker, I think

23

most people confused my byline with the

24

rest of the site.

25

MR. LAMMER:

Yeah.

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MR. DAULERIO:

And, you know, that,

you know, Gawker 2012, which is always

probably going to be remembered for the

Hulk Hogan story, unfortunately.

MR. LAMMER:

MR. DAULERIO:

Main Document

Yeah.
And, you know,

interesting enough in terms of just like,

like I said, stories that I stared over the

cliff about --

10

MR. LAMMER:

Yeah.

11

MR. DAULERIO:

-- Hulk Hogan was not

12

one of them.

13

people ended up with in court which was

14

also like -- you know, most people I think

15

that was just like, oh, that's going to

16

trial, wow, that's weird --

What about the version that

17

MR. LAMMER:

18

MR. DAULERIO:

19

this toilet fire happen.

20

Yeah.

MR. LAMMER:

and let's watch

If I was suing Gawker

21

and I wanted a story to sue Gawker over,

22

it wouldn't have been my pick, right?

23

MR. DAULERIO:

24

MR. LAMMER:

25

Urn, yeah.
It's not the

it's

not the most out-there thing Gawker did,

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it's not -- it didn't get the most traffic.

MR. DAULERIO:

MR. LAMMER:

random story in a way.

It's

MR. DAULERIO:

No.
it's kind of a

And it was kind --

it was -- what it was was a more -- it was

just an outgrowth of the way that I had

done Deadspin.

MR. LAMMER:

10

Right.

MR. DAULERIO:

I mean, I had become

11

known for doing those very splashy tabloid

12

sleazy, scumbaggy stories.

13

MR. LAMMER:

Yeah.

14

MR. DAULERIO:

And that was

15

something that I embraced in some way, so

16

obviously people who like the gentleman who

17

sent me the Hulk Hogan tape are going to

18

come to m e .

19

MR. LAMMER:

Yeah.

20

MR. DAULERIO:

21

MR. LAMMER:

22

MR. DAULERIO:

I understand that.
Right.
What I never wanted

23

to do with that was present it as a sex

24

tape.

25

tape.

It was more a story about a sex

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MR. LAMMER:

Right.

MR. DAULERIO:

And more than

anything it was a meditative piece, and

I don't want to put too much of a halo

around it.

MR. LAMMER:

MR. DAULERIO:

8
9
10

Yeah.
But if you read the

way it's constructed, it's 1,400 words.


MR. LAMMER:

Yeah.

MR. DAULERIO:

It's a 33-minute tape

11

that's spliced down to a minute which is

12

basically just to show that, you know,

13

okay, the guy that was out there recently

14

just talking about this story in TMZ, and

15

this is already in the public sphere --

16

MR. LAMMER:

17

MR. DAULERIO:

18
19

Yeah.

I got ahold of it,

this is what this is all about.


MR. LAMMER:

So has this experience

20

made you rethink anything about your

21

experience at Gawker, like what kind of a

22

lens do you see those years on now with

23

this removed?

24
25

MR. DAULERIO:

Well, obviously

there's a part -- like when the first

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judgment was handed down, especially the

punitive damages --

MR. LAMMER:

MR. DAULERIO:

Yeah.
-- that were handed

down.

MR. LAMMER:

MR. DAULERIO:

How long was that?


I guess March at this

point.
MR. LAMMER:

9
10

March.

MR. DAULERIO:

Okay.

So the end of --

11

well, the verdict came on my birthday,

12

actually.
MR. LAMMER:

13
14
15

Main Document

Oh, happy birthday to

you.
MR. DAULERIO:

That was wonderful,

16

but once the punitive damages came down,

17

and they wanted to give me $100,000 in,

18

I believe, yard work for the State of

19

Florida for all eternity, it was obviously

20

something that seemed steep in its own way,

21

but at the same time I began to think of

22

that as, okay, that's a tax that I would be

23

willing to pay, because I loved that

24

experience at Gawker so much.

25

MR. LAMMER:

Yeah.

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You have to

understand that, you know, that site during

that year, there were four site leads on

that staff.

MR. LAMMER:

Yeah.

MR. DAULERIO:

Between Leah

Beckmann, Max Read, John Cook, and Emma

Carmichael.

9
10

MR. LAMMER:

Right.

MR. DAULERIO:

The rest of the staff

11

was Adrian Chen and Neetzan Zimmerman and

12

Rich Juzwiak and Camille Dodero and Cord

13

Jefferson.

14

MR. LAMMER:

Yeah.

15

MR. DAULERIO:

It's a site that will

16

never exist again with that caliber of

17

people.

18

MR. LAMMER:

Yeah.

19

MR. DAULERIO:

They were all people

20

who were really hitting their stride for

21

what they were going to do after Gawker --

22

MR. LAMMER:

23

MR. DAULERIO:

24
25

Yeah, I mean

or at least after

that year.
MR. LAMMER:

Adrian was, what, 23

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or 24 years old at that point.


MR. DAULERIO:

No, I don't I think

he was -- I mean, he was -- he was there

for three years at that point.


Yeah.

MR. LAMMER:

MR. DAULERIO:

MR. LAMMER:

8
9

But he was -He's a young man

now he's writing for the New Yorker


MR. DAULERIO:

Well, I mean,

10

the -- and the system that I had put into

11

place was ultimately one that I wanted the

12

writers to kind of have the time to do the

13

things they really wanted to do.

14

MR. LAMMER:

Yeah.

15

MR. DAULERIO:

I didn't want them to

16

hate Gawker, I didn't want them to feel

17

like they were fulfilling some sort of

18

quota --

19

MR. LAMMER:

Yeah.

20

MR. DAULERIO:

but this was all

21

about traffic for me.

22

business problem I needed to solve, so

23

I hired Neetzan.

24

MR. LAMMER:

25

MR. DAULERIO:

I -- traffic was a

Right.
And it's like there's

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your traffic.

MR. LAMMER:

MR. DAULERIO:

Yeah.
And then the rest of

the staff, I said to them, just like go do

whatever the fuck you want

MR. LAMMER:

Yeah.

MR. DAULERIO:

and let's make the

site work for you as opposed to you working

for the site, because I mean, it's

10

traffic is something that you inherit with

11

any Gawker property.

12

you know, how you basically get other

13

people to take advantage of that audience,

14

that's -- that's what I think the job of

15

the editor is, is to basically just like

16

have the writers on that staff enjoy that

17

privilege of basically just having a huge

18

audience all the time, because it's very

19

interesting that once you either leave

20

Gawker, how that goes away real quickly.

21

It's there.

Like,

That year was so special to me just

22

because of like the people that worked

23

there and the people that worked there, you

24

know, how close they were to one another

25

and how everyone really believed in this

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style of doing Gawker, that, you know,

having -- having it kind of just completely

obliterated --

MR. LAMMER:

Yeah.

MR. DAULERIO:

-- by, you know, both

critics on the outside and then obviously

legally, it was -- it was something that

I was just like, oh, well, that's a

bittersweet ending in some ways.

10

MR. LAMMER:

It's pretty rare that

11

anyone would say, oh, I would still feel

12

like that was worth it, that I worked that

13

job that year, even if my salary was --

14

MR. DAULERIO:

15

MR. LAMMER:

16
17

Right.

negative $100,000

for it.
MR. DAULERIO:

Well, you know,

18

that's -- that's the thing, it's just like

19

I did, and I actually written a story for

20

Max Read at Select All spelling that out

21

when I thought it was just a $100,000 that

22

I owed.

23

MR. LAMMER:

24

MR. DAULERIO:

25

Yeah.
Because at that point

once the Peter Theal came -- was revealed.

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this was after --

MR. LAMMER:

MR. DAULERIO:

Yeah.
I was just like, oh,

well, this is just like Nick and Peter

Theal.

MR. LAMMER:

MR. DAULERIO:

8
9
10

Main Document

Yeah.
They're not going to

go after me.
MR. LAMMER:

Yeah, this is going to

be like ended with like a charity -charity boxing match or something.

12

MR. DAULERIO:

Well, it was also one

13

of those things where before the trial

14

I was running a site called Ratter.

15

MR. LAMMER:

Yeah.

16

MR. DAULERIO:

I was doing it for

17

two years, and it was a startup and was

18

just at the precipice of basically were

19

we going to raise more money and continue

20

or were we going to shut it down.

21

to put it on hold until after the trial to

22

see where the trial left me.

23

I wanted

Probably not the best time to raise

24

money for a website at that point that's

25

basically in the image of Gawker being run

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by m e .

MR. LAMMER:

MR. DAULERIO:

Yeah.
I don't think anybody

was going to give me, the child

pornographer, like any sort of money at

that point, but what I did think initially

was that, well, all is lost, but I do still

have a copy of the sex tape, and it is

completely newsworthy at this point.

I was

10

just like, okay, well, how about I do a

11

post on Ratter that says here's what $140

12

million sex tape looks like, and then just

13

"peace out," and then just go to Miami, and

14

just like be on the lam and just do that.

15

And this is what I was planning on doing.

16

I was getting -- I was getting

17

phones, like, you know, I was basically

18

going to get burner phones, I was going to

19

do this all kind of covert and have, you

20

know, signals and all these people I was

21

working for, and thankfully some people

22

talked me off the ledge --

23

MR. LAMMER:

24

MR. DAULERIO:

25

Yeah.

and just said, you

know, you're not out of this yet,

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obviously, and Gawker is not out of this,

and I didn't want to do anything to

jeopardize Gawker more so than I already

had in trial, but that was my first

instinct was basically just like, you know,

that -- that much frustration and that much

kind of anger and that much sadness over

just like what had transpired.

It was just like I had that brief

10

sliver of a revenge fantasy so to speak,

11

and also at that time I said to myself,

12

well, what is a thing that we can do that

13

makes this a positive experience in some

14

ways for someone.

15

MR. LAMMER:

16

MR. DAULERIO:

Yes.
So I began making

17

monthly donations to the NAACP in the name

18

of Hulk Hogan, and then I told the lawyers

19

that, and they freaked out.

20

MR. LAMMER:

Yeah.

21

MR. DAULERIO:

Rightfully so, and,

22

you know, it's obviously something, too,

23

that I -- but my thought was just like,

24

okay, well, you know, obviously everybody's

25

an asshole out of this thing, but, you

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know, let's not forget the racist guy.

MR. LAMMER:

Yeah, yeah.

MR. DAULERIO:

If I have to pay for

this, why don't I start paying it now, but

I'm going to start paying it in his name to

the NAACP.

MR. LAMMER:

MR. DAULERIO:

Yeah.
And I did do that,

and then my checking account got shut down,

10

so but also now that all my spending is

11

basically being kind of raked over the

12

coals and I'm being poked and prodded --

13

MR. LAMMER:

Yeah.

14

MR. DAULERIO:

-- for every single

15

amount of spending that I do, because it's

16

all supposed to go toward him in some

17

capacity, it's not the best idea right now,

18

even though I think it's a great one and

19

I think it's obviously one that's necessary

20

in order for anyone to kind of come out of

21

this with somewhat clean hands.

22
23

MR. LAMMER:

What's -- I mean,

what's you're existence like right now?

24

MR. DAULERIO:

25

MR. LAMMER:

I
Are you able to work.

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are you able -MR. DAULERIO:

Yeah, I started --

I started a new job, I'm not able to

disclose at this point, but I did move out

here to L.A. to work.

6
7
8
9
10

Main Document

MR. LAMMER:

Here in lovely Downtown

Los Angeles.
MR. DAULERIO:

I have a limited

amount of money that I can make at this


point.

11

MR. LAMMER:

Got it.

12

MR. DAULERIO:

And a limited amount

13

of money that I can take in and, you know,

14

a lot of friends and family have been

15

helping me out just until I get everything

16

straightened out legally, which is not

17

really kind of straightened out that this

18

is going to go away but what they are going

19

to take from me at this point, what

20

possessions of mine they can take.

21

You know, they have -- Hulk Hogan

22

I think owns 44.8 percent of Ratter and all

23

my Gawker stock and everything that he can

24

take at this point legally he's allowed to

25

take it.

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And I still have to find a

collections attorney in California who will

let me know exactly what the exemptions are

here, but in the meantime, I will be

hassled for the $115 million that I have to

pay back up until hopefully the appeals

process reverses it.

8
9

MR. LAMMER:

I mean, what has this

been like for you personally?

I mean, your

10

comments in the deposition are certainly

11

like the main thing that got recorded about

12

you in the trial --

13

MR. DAULERIO:

14

MR. LAMMER:

I know, right.
-- not so much that you

15

have spent years of your life fighting

16

against a unjust verdict.

17

and I don't really even feel like it's a

18

particularly arguable position, but, you

19

know, what is it like for people you know,

20

people who are not in the like New York

21

media journal -- journalism circle to have

22

this --

23

MR. DAULERIO:

In my opinion,

Well, I had two funny

24

experiences with that where it just like

25

was -- and I've had these experiences

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before where stories blowup.

MR. LAMMER:

MR. DAULERIO:

Yeah.
And, you know, people

have from my past have reached out to me,

et cetera.

MR. LAMMER:

Yeah.

MR. DAULERIO:

And just like, you

know, what the hell are you doing with your

life, this is a strange existence.

10

At the

time after the video deposition had


dropped, I was back in, you know, the hotel

12

in Florida just not paying attention to

13

anything, because you do this long enough,

14

you don't have to see what people are

15

saying on Twitter to just feel it, you

16

know.

17
18
19

MR. LAMMER:

Yeah, it's a low hum,

yeah.
MR. DAULERIO:

And the text messages

20

I was getting from people, I mean were

21

from people that, you know, I was very

22

close to basically just like were showing

23

their support and obviously like that.

24

MR. LAMMER:

Yeah.

25

MR. DAULERIO:

And then I had a

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friend of mine from high school who I

hadn't spoken to in four or five months,

and he was in London at the time, and

he Face Times me, and he's basically like

A.J., it seems like you're involved in a

child pornography ring.

what I can do, no questions asked.

Just let me know

Just like -- I'm like, no, obviously

that's not it, but he was clearly reading

10

the scroll and my comments --

11

M R . LAMMER: Yeah.

12

MR. DAULERIO:

13

MR. LAMMER:

14

MR. DAULERIO:

about what was

Yeah.
-- I said in, you

15

know, that deposition, but yeah, that

16

was -- that was a -- a tough moment.

17

It was a tough moment to process on every

18

single level that you would think it would

19

be.

20

years.

21

Main Document

I knew it was coming clearly for two

Looking back on that day in that

22

deposition, I mean, ultimately what I was

23

thinking was that there was a person across

24

from me who was asking me the same question

25

time and time again who was trying to take

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away a thing that I loved.

to basically not give them anything and

also just did my best to try to keep

control --

MR. LAMMER:

MR. DAULERIO:

Main Document

I did my best

Yeah.

at that point, but

then there was that moment --

MR. LAMMER:

Yeah.

MR. DAULERIO:

- where it was hour

10

eight or so, and I -- there was also

11

remember, there was no trial at this point,

12

this was just for the purposes of kind of

13

information gathering.

14

MR. LAMMER:

It was a bunch of like

15

lawyers sitting in a conference room kind

16

of situation.

17

MR. DAULERIO:

Yeah, I was a year

18

away from Gawker at that point, and, you

19

know, I came into that with a lot of

20

attitude and was there to basically mumble

21

and grunt and give them a hard time.

22

was my thinking in my head, and never in a

23

minute thinking that this would come back

24

to haunt me in the way that it did, nor the

25

company in that way.

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MR. LAMMER:

MR. DAULERIO:

Yeah.
But -- and after --

after I got out of that deposition,

I remember chatting with Tommy, and he was

just like

great, I didn't give them shit, I didn't

give them anything.

one part.

9
10

Main Document

I was just like, man, I did

MR. LAMMER:

Well, there was this

Yeah.

MR. DAULERIO:

And, you know, but --

11

but never thinking that. A, people would

12

take it literally, and I understand just so

13

you know how it was edited and presented in

14

court and presented to a jury of six who

15

were not happy to be there

16

MR. LAMMER:

17

MR. DAULERIO:

18
19
20

21

Yeah.
-- and obviously

think of the media some way as not me.


MR. LAMMER:

And we're in Florida

just in general.
MR. DAULERIO:

Well, but

but

22

I think

23

consider that something like that can and

24

will be used against you in a court of law

I think that, hey, you never do

25

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MR. LAMMER:

MR. DAULERIO:

Yeah.
-- even though that

that is something that is basically

engrained in everyone's head, and that was

definitely something that I didn't -- this

was never going to go to trial in my mind.

MR. LAMMER:

MR. DAULERIO:

Main Document

Right.
I mean, this was

something that was going to be settled.

10

MR. LAMMER:

Yeah.

11

MR. DAULERIO:

And, you know, that

12

was the part of this where I knew something

13

was amiss was the fact that it was not,

14

because I didn't think that Hulk Hogan, who

15

had seemingly suffered all of this

16

embarrassment from this publication and who

17

has, you know, had his world turned upside

18

down over this would actually want to

19

suffer the indignity of revisiting it in a

20

trial format where like a lot more people

21

would potentially hear about it who may

22

have not.

23

MR. LAMMER:

24

MR. DAULERIO:

25

Yeah.
So that was the part

where I was just like this is something

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that's kind of bigger than anything that's

happening -- going to happen in this

courtroom.

MR. LAMMER:

Did you feel like

Gawker supported you in the ways they

should have?

Main Document

MR. DAULERIO:

It's a question I go

over in a lot of ways, and the short answer

is basically just I think everyone was in

10

over their head.

11

MR. LAMMER:

Yeah.

12

MR. DAULERIO:

I don't think anyone

13

knew exactly just like what the full scope

14

of this was going to be.

15

Gawker at the time was also trying to

16

basically protect their company as best as

17

they possibly can.

18

MR. LAMMER:

19

MR. DAULERIO:

I think that

Yeah.
I think that I was in

20

a situation which, I mean, especially after

21

the Geithner story had run, that, you know,

22

Gawker was in this mode of being 20 percent

23

nicer, which I think was just ultimately a

24

protective way for Nick to kind of just

25

like distance, try to basically, you know.

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have the

above some of this stuff, even though that

this was the thing that was actually going

to trial.

the good Gawker kind of rise

MR. LAMMER:

MR. DAULERIO:

Yeah.
I realized I did not

fit in that 20 percent nicer category in

any way, shape, or form.

9
10

Main Document

MR. LAMMER:

Yeah.

MR. DAULERIO:

And I knew I was

11

going there, and they had told me this.

12

I mean, I entered into Florida never having

13

met some of the lawyers that were

14

representing me, them having not met me,

15

and I get presented with a manilla folder

16

with basically every single thing I've ever

17

done on the internet that could now be

18

presented in this Court to basically make

19

me look like an asshole.

20

MR. LAMMER:

Yeah.

21

MR. DAULERIO:

And I was just like,

22

well, how do I

because you can't

23

apologize.

24

an asshole, you are expressionless, which

25

is mostly what they told me to be the whole

Like, I mean, you smile, you're

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time.

you're going to be perceived.

Main Document

You're a sociopath, that's how

And I knew that, and it was -- it

was something that everyday was basically

just, okay, you're going to get punched in

the face today, they're going to go hard on

you today.

We're going to take this, and they

shouldn't be coming after you.

10

Just sit there and take it.

They're

after the money, which is Gawker.

11

I -- I think that it was clear that

12

I was a major part of what the plaintiff

13

was trying to present as the story of who

14

Gawker was.

15

Yeah, but I don't think anybody can really

16

kind of prepare you for exactly what was

17

going on there, because it didn't seem

18

real.

Did I feel under prepared?

19

MR. LAMMER:

Yeah.

20

MR. DAULERIO:

It seemed at some

21

point someone would just kind of just like

22

either move on, or just like, okay, what's

23

the issue at hand here, but it wasn't,

24

it was -- it was troubling on all fronts.

25

I -- I -- I hated the way we were

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going after Hulk Hogan and his family and

just like showing pictures of him and his

family at that time.

is all dirty pool.

an ugly situation.

I was just like this


This is basically like

MR. LAMMER:

MR. DAULERIO:

Right.
And then everyone

like after it was basically, well, that's

kind of what happens in trial.

10

MR. LAMMER:

11

MR. DAULERIO:

12

13

right.

Main Document

Yeah.
And just like, all

So there's no truth at all.


MR. LAMMER:

Well, it's an ugly

14

situation that the stakes had no real

15

reason to exist.

16

you know, I don't know, the Pentagon papers

17

or something.

I mean, it's one thing,

18

MR. DAULERIO:

19

MR. LAMMER:

Yeah, yeah.
You know, a legal

20

battle about an American atrocity or

21

something like that.

22

MR. DAULERIO:

23

MR. LAMMER:

Right.
This is about -- this

24

is an argument that only has stakes in --

25

through -- in the justice system, otherwise

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it really is a totally meaningless,

frivolous chapter in human history --

MR. DAULERIO:

MR. LAMMER:

MR. DAULERIO:

Main Document

Exactly.
-- in almost every way.
Yeah, so I mean, like

I mean, my -- I was -- I was shell shocked

and just completely just defenseless in a

lot of ways, and that's how I felt.

the worst feeling in the world, and that

It was

10

year was kind of -- I knew -- I knew it was

11

going to be bad, I didn't know it was going

12

to be apocalyptic in any sort of way,

13

because I didn't think that was possible of

14

happening.

15

I don't think most people did.

MR. LAMMER:

I mean, is it right to

16

say that this sets a precedent that a

17

writer on the internet or an editor on the

18

internet is equally liable

19

MR. DAULERIO:

20

MR. LAMMER:

Yeah.

for what they

21

publish to the publisher even if the

22

publisher instructed them to publish that

23

sort of thing --

24

MR. DAULERIO:

25

MR. LAMMER:

Yeah.

and it was perhaps

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even part of the terms of their employment?


MR. DAULERIO:

Here's the thing,

they obviously did not instruct me to

publish that.

have -- I, like a lot of other Gawker

editors, had a lot of editorial freedom,

especially at that time.

I mean, I had a lot

MR. LAMMER:

MR. DAULERIO:

you

Sure.
I mean, Gawker was a

10

different company in 2012 than it is now or

11

was in 2015, 2014.

12

MR. LAMMER:

And it was a company

13

set up by design to give editors that

14

editorial freedom.

15

MR. DAULERIO:

Yes, and you make

16

those decisions basically just like never

17

about the -- the risking kind of just like

18

having the company fall into the ocean is

19

never -- like that's never a moment where

20

you're basically this is going to happen

21

with this story.

22

MR. LAMMER:

Right.

23

MR. DAULERIO:

I never felt that

24

with that story, especially since it was

25

vetted internally.

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MR. LAMMER:

MR. DAULERIO:

Main Document

Yeah.
I mean, there's a

reason it s a minute and 4 seconds.

MR. LAMMER:

Right.

MR. DAULERIO:

I mean, there's a

reason the snippets of sex that are shown

are there.

to all of the stories that had already been

talking about this tape.

There's a reason we linked back

10

MR. LAMMER:

11

MR. DAULERIO:

12

MR. LAMMER:

13

Right.
So -And Gawker was fighting

off __ i mean, Gawker was used to lawsuits.

14

MR. DAULERIO:

15

MR. LAMMER:

Right.
Like part of the Gawker

16

business involved knowing that they would

17

be sued.

18

MR. DAULERIO:

19

MR. LAMMER:

20

MR. DAULERIO:

Of course.
Yeah.
And that's -- I think

21

any tabloid publication is basically just

22

like subjected to that.

23

knows that end of it.

24

but -- and you definitely don't feel safe

25

one hundred percent of the time, but this

Everyone kind of
It's not pleasant,

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was one where it's like this was not an

option where I was presented with this,

it's just like, look, you're really

risking -- really putting the company as

risk by publishing this story.

Main Document

That conversation never happened,

and I don't think many, many people have

had that conversation at Gawker, and that's

not to say that just like anything was

10

just -- it's not as reckless as that

11

sounds, but at the same time, the editors

12

had -- it was the editors' judgment in

13

terms of just like what was something that

14

people would read.

15

MR. LAMMER:

Well, it's

16

impossible

I mean -- okay.

17

scenario to throw at 2012 A.J. Daulerio.

18

MR. DAULERIO:

19

MR. LAMMER:

20

Here's a

Yeah.
In four years you'll be

owing $115 million to Hulk Hogan

21

MR. DAULERIO:

22

MR. LAMMER:

Yeah.
-- as a result of a

23

lawsuit by Peter Thiel

24

MR. DAULERIO:

25

MR. LAMMER:

Right.

who is being talked

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1

about as a potential supreme court justice

under the presidency of Donald Trump.

MR. DAULERIO:

MR. LAMMER:

Yes.
That -- like how on

Earth do you plan for these kind of

eventualities.

MR. DAULERIO:

Well, and thats the

thing is just like I had gone over that

scenario actually and prepared for that

10

question specifically in terms of just like

11

going back in time and, you know, this

12

is -- I hope this doesn't incriminate --

13

I mean, what the fuck is there to lose at

14

this point, obviously, but, you know, I'm

15

saying this -- like if I had that

16

conversation with Nick, and Nick and I are

17

sitting there basically just saying this

18

story will result in this culture war.

19

MR. LAMMER:

Yeah.

20

MR. DAULERIO:

If it smokes out

21

those enemies, yes, you absolutely do it.

22

I think Nick fights this one hundred

23

percent of the way.

24

like just end Gawker.com, no, nobody would

25

absolutely do that.

If it can potentially

And, you know, that

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wasn't

risk here, you know.

that wasn't -- that wasn't at

MR. LAMMER:

MR. DAULERIO:

Yeah.
But, you know,

ultimately, I mean, this is -- this is

something -- as -- as sleazy as the story

is, all this is, is basically just like me

catching a powerful person lying.

9
10

Main Document

MR. LAMMER:

Yeah.

MR. DAULERIO:

That's it, and

11

that's -- you know, the -- the sex tape

12

factor of it, basically if people just want

13

to kind of just look at it and say, oh,

14

this is what you get for publishing a sex

15

tape, I also question basically just like

16

their interest in this story.

17

nobody is kind of interested in that case

18

if it's about a lien against Hulk Hogan's

19

house.

20

MR. LAMMER:

21

MR. DAULERIO:

Like I mean,

Right.
So like, I mean,

22

I think a lot of people are getting kind of

23

self-righteous over something that, I mean,

24

they're basically participating in at the

25

same time.

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MR. LAMMER:

Right.

MR. DAULERIO:

So the fact that

it is a story and it's still one hundred

percent a story --

MR. LAMMER:

MR. DAULERIO:

Yeah.

story forever, unfortunately --

MR. LAMMER:

MR. DAULERIO:

10
11
12

-- and will now be a

Yeah.
That is something

that was never in doubt for me.


MR. LAMMER:

You bring up this idea

of smoking out the enemies.

13

MR. DAULERIO:

14

MR. LAMMER:

Yeah.
And now that it is

15

pretty clear that Gawker is not the end

16

target but --

17

MR. DAULERIO:

18

MR. LAMMER:

Yeah.
-- that there is a

19

larger target of suing journalists and

20

publishers out of business and using the

21

infinite resources of at least one person,

22

Peter Thiel, but it's a tactic that could

23

be replicated --

24

MR. DAULERIO:

25

MR. LAMMER:

Absolutely.
-- mostly by the rich

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people, what do we do?

here?

MR. DAULERIO:

What can be done

Well, I mean, here's

the thing.

not going to settle at all.

this thing gets to the appeals court, I'm

not settling.

this is obviously something that's hanging

over my head, this is not something I wish

Like I said, I am not -- I am


Like until

This is an inconvenience,

10

upon anyone else.

11

MR. LAMMER:

12

MR. DAULERIO:

Yeah.
I'm getting through

13

it by persevering, and that's it.

14

cannot for the life of me sign a piece of

15

paper that in any way puts me on that side

16

of the table.

17

I -- I think that more than ever, like

18

I said, this would be a really great time

19

to be a journalist.

20

I still

I just can't do it, and I

Everybody talks about this chilling

21

effect, it's already happened.

22

you that there are publishers that are

23

basically just absolutely backing off

24

things or --

25

Main Document

MR. LAMMER:

I guarantee

And there's

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22-year-olds listening to this show who are

going do I want like a career in internet

writing where I'm liable, you know.

MR. DAULERIO:

Yeah, and it's just

like -- remember also like this is not --

this is not about just whether or not

I publish a sex tape for why I got in

trouble.

to basically set a company through this

This was a thing that was picked

10

kind of grinder, and if it wasn't this

11

case, there were five other ones coming

12

right after it.

13

I mean, this was

this was a

14

tactical approach that will probably be

15

used against other people who piss off

16

powerful people on the side of the media.

17

I'm in a good position right now where it's

18

basically like I have no wife, I have no

19

kids, I have no house, I have none of the

20

assets and the trappings that can

21

ultimately kind of be -- I mean, I'm never

22

going to get a great mortgage rate on a

23

house, I don't think.

24
25

You know, ultimately, I mean,


that -- that's the thing that I had to kind

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of just make that decision when I was

offered a settlement that was just

atrocious in my mind, which was essentially

just say basically, all right, you know,

it's sign away and say that you basically

just like this is all your fault, or it's

not all your fault, it's all Nick's fault,

or sign a piece of paper that basically

just like incriminates everyone, or

10

basically just like has to capitulate to

11

like the demands of people who are

12

absolutely just -- this has nothing to do

13

with Hulk Hogan at this point.

14

MR. LAMMER:

Yeah.

15

MR. DAULERIO:

He's just one guy

16

sitting at the other end of the table with

17

an uncashed lottery ticket --

18

MR. LAMMER:

Yeah.

19

MR. DAULERIO:

and I'm at the

20

other end, and the part -- the thing is, is

21

just like, you know, I'll be able to kind

22

of get through this hopefully for a year or

23

two.

24

people about it, because it's just like one

25

of these things that is going to be

I'm not going to talk to a lot of

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ongoing, and I have to kind of just --

I have good days and bad days about it.

I hope I wasn't yelling too much or

sounding too bitter about it this whole

time.

MR. LAMMER:

MR. DAULERIO:

Main Document

Not at all.
Because that's the

part about this that's really hard is

definitely being trapped, and also that

10

feeling of being trapped and kind of just

11

not only being trapped but still I have a

12

hearing on October 31st where I'm basically

13

going to be sitting in front of that judge

14

who is going to kind of decide whether or

15

not I was lying on my financial affidavit

16

about these indemnity rights which

17

apparently are worth money, that I was

18

lying about them to cover up this fact, and

19

then she can fine me some more.

20

Like that's preposterous, but that's

21

the way the legal system works right now,

22

and that's the position that I'm in.

23

you know, the choices ultimately just like

24

they're giving me are kind of just like

25

take back everything you loved about Nick,

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Gawker, and your job, and we'll give you

your thousand dollars back, or your ability

to make money, or you can walk away from

this, but you just can't talk about it ever

again.
I don't see there's any question for

me.

hard about it, and I've definitely talked

to a lot of people about it.

10
11

I mean, I definitely thought long and

It's just not

in m e .
Some days I absolutely just like

12

wish I can say like is there a phone call

13

I can make to make this all go away,

14

because I want my life back.

15

MR. LAMMER:

Yeah.

16

MR. DAULERIO:

That's happened, but

17

for the most part I -- I just think I would

18

regret doing that.

19

That's it.

MR. LAMMER:

Well, thank you for

20

being so open about this.

21

back on if you ever want to talk about

22

it again.

23

in a couple of years.

24
25

You're invited

I'd love to know where you are

MR. DAULERIO:

Yeah, I mean, I think

that -- hopefully, that's -- I mean, that's

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the part about this, I would like to talk

about this in another capacity after Phase

17 of this happens.

MR. LAMMER:

All right.

Main Document

Well,

I hope that people listening -- man, this

episode made me a little emotional, I'll be

honest.

MR. DAULERIO:

MR. LAMMER:

Uh-huh.
I got a little like

10

weird teary voice there.

11

listening, guys, that if this is what can

12

be done to someone over a --

13

MR. DAULERIO:

14

MR. LAMMER:

I hope you were

Blog post.
-- meaningless blog

15

post, what are the stakes of the actually

16

important truths that many people who are

17

on this show are working on, and see you in

18

a couple of years.

19

MR. DAULERIO:

20

MAX:

Yeah.

And that was the Longform

21

Podcast.

Thank you very much to A.J.

22

Daulerio for doing this.

23

cohost Max Linsky and Evan Ratliff for

24

holding down the fort in my absence.

25

you to our editor, Mickey Capper.

Thanks to my

Thank

Thank

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you to our intern, Courtney Perell.

you to our sponsors, EA Sports FIFA 17,

MailChimp, School of the Art Institute of

the Chicago, yeah, Casper, Texture.

you all.

Thank

Thank

We'll be back here next week.

(End of recording.)

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10

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12

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Main Document

CERTIFICATE

3
4
I, Matthew J. Haas, Court Reporter and

5
6

Transcriptionist, do hereby certify that I was

authorized to and did listen to and

stenographically transcribe the foregoing

recorded proceedings and that the transcript is a

10

true record to the best of my professional

11

ability.

12

13
14
15
16

Dated this 29th day of September


2016 .

17
18
19
20
21

22

23

MATTHEW J. HAAS
Court reporter

24
25

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EXHIBIT B
to Plaintiffs Emergency Motion to Enforce Permanent
Injunction and Prevent A.J. Daulerio from Engaging in
Revenge Porn, Extortion and Video Voyeurism

ELECTRONICALLY FILED 10/06/2016 03:36:16 PM: KEN BURKE, CLERK OF THE CIRCUIT COURT, PINELLAS COUNTY***

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Main Document

U nited S ta te s B an k ru p tcy C ourt, S o u th e rn D istrict o f New York


Please select applicable Debtor (select only one Debtor per claim form):

Gawker Media, LLC (Case No. 16-11700)

Kinja, Kft. (Case No. 16-11718)

Gawker Media Group, Inc. (Case No. 16-11719)

Official Form 410

Proof o f Claim ___________________________________________ 4m


Read the instructions before filling out this form. This form is for making a claim for paym ent in a bankruptcy case. Do not u se this form to
make a request for payment of an administrative expense. Make such a request according to 11 U.S.C. 503.
Filers m ust leave out or redact information that is entitled to privacy on this form or on any attached documents. Attach redacted copies of any
documents that support the claim, such as promissory notes, purchase orders, invoices, itemized statements of running accounts, contracts, judgments,
mortgages, and security agreements. Do not sen d original docum ents; they may be destroyed after scanning. If the documents are not available,
explain in an attachment.
A person who files a fraudulent claim could be fined up to $500,000, imprisoned for up to 5 years, or both. 18 U.S.C. 152,157, and 3571.
Fill in all th e information about the claim as of th e date the case w as filed. That date is on the notice of bankruptcy (Form 309) th at you received.

Id e n tify th e C laim
1. Who is the current
creditor?

Albert James Daulerio (born 1974)


Name of the current creditor (the person o r entity to be paid for this claim)
Other nam es the creditor used with the debtor

2. Has this claim been


acquired from
som eone else?
3.

Where should notices


and payments to the
creditor be sent?
Federal Rule of
Bankruptcy Procedure
(FRBP) 2002(g)

4. Does this claim amend


one already filed?

A.J. Daulerio

^ No
Yes. From whom?
Where should notices to the creditor be sen t?

Where should payments to the creditor be s e n t? (if


different)

Marburger Law LLC attn: David Marburger


14650 Detroit Avenue, Suite 450
Cleveland, OH 44107

Contact phone

216 930 0500 ______________

Contact

Contact email

david@marburger-laW.COm

Contact email

1^ No
Yes. Claim number on court claims reaistrv (if known)

phone

Filed on
MM

5.

Claim

Do you know if anyone


else has filed a proof
of claim for this claim?

95

/ DD

I YYYY

No
Yes. Who made the earlierfilina?

Proof of Claim

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Give Inform ation A bout th e Claim a s of th e D ate th e C a se W as Filed

6. Do you have any number


you use to identify the
debtor?

7. How much is the claim?

(3 No

Q yes. Last 4 digits of the debtor's account or any number you use to identify the debtor:

S 6 ,0 0 0 ,0 0 0 -0 0 ________________ Does this amount include interest or other charges?


Of No
Q Yes. Attach statement itemizing interest, fees, expenses, or other
charges required by Bankruptcy Rule 3001(c)(2)(A).

8. What is the basis of the


Claim'

Examples: Goods sold, money loaned, lease, services performed, personal injury or wrongful death, or credit card.
Attach redacted copies of any documents supporting the claim required by Bankruptcy Rule 3001(c).
Limit disclosing information that is entitled to privacy, such as health care information.

Duty to defend and indemnify - see Supplement & Exhibits


9. Is all or part of the claim
secured?

0 No
y es ypg c|a m s secured by a lien on property.

Nature of property:
Real estate. If the claim is secured by the debtors principal residence, file a Mortgage Proof of Claim
Attachment (Official Form 410-A) with this Proof of Claim.
Q Motor vehicle
Other. Describe:
______________________________________________________________

Basis for perfection:


_______________________________________________________________
Attach redacted copies of documents, if any, that show evidence of perfection of a security interest (for
example, a mortgage, lien, certificate of title, financing statement, or other document that shows the lien has
been filed or recorded.)
Value of property:

$__________________

Amount of the claim that is secured:

$.

Amount of the claim that is unsecured: $__________________ (The sum of the secured and unsecured

amounts should match the amount in line 7.)

Amount necessary to cure any default as of the date of thepetition:

$.

Annual Interest Rate (when case was filed)_______ %


Fixed
Variable
10. Is this c l a i m based on a
lease?

No
Yes. Amount necessarv t o cure anv default as of the date of the D e titio n .

11. Is this claim subject to a


right of setoff?

0 No
Q Yes. Identify the prooertv:

Official Form 410

Proof of Claim

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Si No

12. Is all or part of the claim


entitled to priority under
11 U.S.C. 507(a)?

Yes. Check one:

A claim may be partly


priority and partly
nonpriority. For example,
in some categories, the
law limits the amount
entitled to priority.

Amount entitled to priority:

Domestic support obligations (including alimony and child support) under


11 U.S.C. 507(a)(1)(A) or (a)(1)(B).

$____________________ _

Up to $2,850* of deposits toward purchase, lease, or rental of property or services for


personal, family, or household use. 11 U.S.C. 507(a)(7).

$________________

Q Wages, salaries, or commissions (up to $12,850*) earned within 180 days before the
bankruptcy petition is filed or the debtors business ends, whichever is earlier.
11 U.S.C. 507(a)(4).

$ ________________

Taxes or penalties owed to governmental units. 11 U.S.C. 507(a)(8).

$ ________________

Contributions to an employee benefit plan. 11 U.S.C. 507(a)(5).

$ ________________

Other. Specify subsection of 11 U.S.C. 507(a)(

$ ________________

) that applies.

* Amounts a re subject to adjustment on 4/01/19 and every 3 years after that for c a s e s begun on or after the d ate of adjustment.

13. Is all or part of the


claim entitled to
administrative priority
pursuant to
11 U.S.C. 503(b)(9)?

No
Q Yes. Indicate the amount of your claim arising from the value of any goods received
by the Debtor within 20 days before the date of commencement of the above case, in
which the goods have been sold to the Debtor in the ordinary course of such
Debtor's business. Attach documentation supporting such claim.

$.

Sign Below
The person completing
this proof of claim must
sign and date it.
FRBP 9011(b).

If you file this claim


electronically, FRBP
5005(a)(2) authorizes courts
to establish local rules
specifying what a signature
is.
A person who files a
fraudulent claim could be
fined up to $500,000,
imprisoned for up to 5
years, or both.
18 U.S.C. 152,157, and
3571.

Check the appropriate box:


Si

I am the creditor.
I am the creditor's attorney or authorized agent.
I am the trustee, or the debtor, or their authorized agent. Bankruptcy Rule 3004.
I am a guarantor, surety, endorser, or other codebtor. Bankruptcy Rule 3005.

I understand that an authorized signature on this Proof of Claim serves as an acknowledgment that when calculating the
amount of the claim, the creditor gave the debtor credit for any payments received toward the debt.
I have examined the information in this Proof of Claim and have a reasonable belief that the information is true
and correct.
I declare under penalty of perjury that the foregoing is true and correct.

Signature: ^ ' l a ^ e s
33

Albert JamoB-Sahleiio (Sep ?9. 2016)

Email: david@marburger-law.com
Signature

Print the name of the person who is completing and signing this claim:

Name

Albert James Daulerio (bom 1974)______________________


First nam e

Middle nam e

Last name

Title

n/a__________________________________________________

Company

nla__________________________________________________
Identify the corporate servicer a s the company If the authorized agent is a servicer.

A ddress

c/o Marburger Law LLC, 14650 Detroit Avenue, Suite 450______________


Number

Street

Cleveland____________________________OH
City
Contact phone

Official Form 410

State

216 930 0500_________________

Proof of Claim

44107____________
ZIP Code

Emaildavid@marburaer-law.com

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Attach Supporting Documentation


have supporting documentation.
(attach below)

Main Document

(limited to a single PDF attachment that is less than 5 megabytes in size and under 100 pages):

I do not have supporting documentation.

PLEASE REVIEW YOUR PROOF OF CLAIM AND SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS AND REDACT
ACCORDINGLY PRIOR TO UPLOADING THEM. PROOFS OF CLAIM AND ATTACHMENTS ARE
PUBLIC DOCUMENTS THAT WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR ANYONE TO VIEW ONLINE.

IMPORTANT NOTE REGARDING REDACTING YOUR PROOF OF CLAIM AND SUPPORTING


DOCUMENTATION When you submit a proof of claim and any supporting documentation you must show
only the last four digits of any social-security, individuals tax-identification, or financial-account number, only
the initials of a minors name, and only the year of any persons date of birth. If the claim is based on the delivery
of health care goods or services, limit the disclosure of the goods or services so as to avoid embarrassment or the
disclosure of confidential health care information.
A document has been redacted when the person filing it has masked, edited out, or otherwise deleted, certain
information. The responsibility for redacting personal data identifiers (as defined in Federal Rule of Bankruptcy
Procedure 9037) rests solely with the party submitting the documentation and their counsel. Prime Clerk and the
Clerk of the Court will not review any document for redaction or compliance with this Rule and you hereby
release and agree to hold harmless Prime Clerk and the Clerk of the Court from the disclosure of any personal
data identifiers included in your submission. In the event Prime Clerk or the Clerk of the Court discover that
personal identifier data or information concerning a minor individual has been included in a pleading. Prime
Clerk and the Clerk of the Court are authorized, in their sole discretion, to redact all such information from the
text of the filing and make an entry indicating the correction.

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Official Form 410

Instructions fo r Proof o f Claim ______________________________


United States Bankruptcy Court

12/15

These instructions and definitions generally explain the law. In certain circumstances, such as bankruptcy cases that debtors
do not file voluntarily, exceptions to these general rules may apply. You should consider obtaining the advice of an attorney,
especially if you are unfamiliar with the bankruptcy process and privacy regulations.
A person who files a fraudulent claim could be fined up
to $500,000, imprisoned for up to 5 years, or both.
18 U.S.C. $ 152, 157 and 3571.

How to fill o u t th is form


Fill In all of the information about the claim as of the
date the case was filed.

b A Proof o f Claim form and any attached documents


must show only the last 4 digits of any social security
number, individuals tax identification number, or
financial account number, and only the year of any
persons date of birth. See Bankruptcy Rule 9037.

Fill in the caption at the top of the form.


8 If the claim has been acquired from someone else,
then state the identity of the last party who owned the
claim or was the holder of the claim and who transferred
it to you before the initial claim was filed.
Attach any supporting documents to this form.
Attach redacted copies o f any documents that show thatthe
debt exists, a lien secures the debt, or both. (See the
definition of redaction on the next page.)
Also attach redacted copies of any documents that show
perfection o f any security interest or any assignments or
transfers of the debt. In addition to the documents, a
summary may be added. Federal Rule of Bankruptcy
Procedure (called Bankruptcy Rule) 3001(c) and(d).

x For a minor child, fill in only the childs initials and the
full name and address of the childs parent or
guardian. For example, write A.B., a minor child (John
Doe, parent, 123 Main St., City, State). See Bankruptcy
Rule 9037.

C onfirm ation th a t th e claim h a s b e e n filed


To receive confirmation that the claim has been filed, enclose a
stamped self-addressed envelope and a copy of this form. You
may view a list o f filed claims in this case by visiting the
Claims and Noticing Agent's website at
http://cases.primeclerk.com/gawker.

U n d e rsta n d th e te rm s u s e d in th is form
s Do not attach original documents because
attachments may be destroyed after scanning.
s

If the claim is based on delivering health care goods


or services, do not disclose confidential health care
information. Leave out or redact confidential
information both in the claim and in the attached
documents.

Administrative expense: Generally, an expense that arises


after a bankruptcy case is filed in connection with operating,
liquidating, or distributing the bankruptcy estate.
11 U.S.C. 503.
Claim: A creditors right to receive payment for a debt that
the debtor owed on the date the debtor filed for bankruptcy.
11 U.S.C. 101 (5). A claim may be secured or unsecured.

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Claim Pursuant to 11 U.S.C. 503(b)(9): A claim arising


from the value of any goods received by the Debtor within
20 days before the date of commencement of the above case,
in which the goods have been sold to the Debtor in the
ordinary course of the Debtor's business. Attach
documentation supporting such claim.
Creditor: A person, corporation, or other entity to whom a
debtor owes a debt that was incurred on or before the datethe
debtor filed for bankruptcy. 11 U.S.C. 101 (10).
Debtor: A person, corporation, or other entity who is in
bankruptcy. Use the debtors name and case number asshown
in the bankruptcy notice you received. 11 U.S.C. 101 (13).
Evidence of perfection: Evidence of perfection of asecurity
interest may include documents showing that a security
interest has been filed or recorded, such as a mortgage, lien,
certificate of title, or financing statement.
Information that is entitled to privacy: A P roof o f Claim
form and any attached documents must show only the last 4
digits of any social security number, an individuals tax
identification number, or a financial account number, only the
initials of a minors name, and only the year of any persons
date of birth. If a claim is based on delivering healthcare
goods or services, limit the disclosure of the goods or services
to avoid embarrassment or disclosure of confidential health
care information. You may later be required to give more
information if the trustee or someone else in interest objectsto
the claim.
Priority claim: A claim within a category of unsecured
claims that is entitled to priority under 11 U.S.C. 507(a).
These claims are paid from the available money or
property in a bankruptcy case before other unsecured
claims are paid. Common priority unsecured claims
include alimony, child support, taxes, and certain unpaid
wages.
Proof of claim: A form that shows the amount of debt the
debtor owed to a creditor on the date of the bankruptcy filing.
The form must be filed in the district where the case is
pending.
Redaction of information: Masking, editing out, or deleting
certain information to protect privacy. Filers must redactor
leave out information entitled to privacy on the P roof o f
Claim form and any attached documents.

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Secured claim under 11 U.S.C. 506(a): A claim backed by


a lien on particular property of the debtor. A claim is secured
to the extent that a creditor has the right to be paid from the
property before other creditors are paid. The amount o f a
secured claim usually cannot be more than the value o f the
particular property on which the creditor has a lien. Any
amount owed to a creditor that is more than the value o f the
property normally may be an unsecured claim. But exceptions
exist; for example, see 11 U.S.C. 1322(b) and the final
sentence of 1325(a).
Examples of liens on property include a mortgage on real
estate or a security interest in a car. A lien may be voluntarily
granted by a debtor or may be obtained through a court
proceeding. In some states, a court judgment may be a lien.
Setoff: Occurs when a creditor pays itself with money
belonging to the debtor that it is holding, or by canceling a
debt it owes to the debtor.
Unsecured claim: A claim that does not meet the
requirements of a secured claim. A claim may be unsecured in
part to the extent that the amount o f the claim is more than the
value o f the property on which a creditor has a lien.

O ffers to p u rc h a s e a claim
Certain entities purchase claims for an amount that is less than
the face value of the claims. These entities may contact
creditors offering to purchase their claims. Some written
communications from these entities may easily be confused
with official court documentation or communications from the
debtor. These entities do not represent the bankruptcy court,
the bankruptcy trustee, or the debtor. A creditor has no
obligation to sell its claim. However, if a creditor decides to
sell its claim, any transfer of that claim is subjectto
Bankruptcy Rule 3001(e), any provisions of the Bankruptcy
Code (11 U.S.C. 101 et seq.) that apply, and any orders of
the bankruptcy court that apply.

P le a se s e n d co m p le te d P roof(s) o f Claim to :
Gawker Media, LLC Claims Processing Center
c/o Prime Clerk LLC
830 3rd Avenue, 3rd Floor
New York, NY 10022

Do not file these instructions with your form j

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United States Bankruptcy Court


Southern District of New York

(
(
(
(
(

In re
G aw k er M edia, LLC, e t

ah,

C h a p te r ti
Case No. 16-11700 (SMB)
(Jo in tly A d m in iste re d )

(
D e b to rs .

(
(

S u p p le m e n t to A.J. D a u le rio 's p ro o fs o f


claim

(
(

(
B ack g ro u n d
1

This Supplement accompanies and is incorporated within each of the

three separate proofs of claim that A.J. Daulerio is filing: one against debtor Gawker
Media, LLC and one against each of two affiliated debtors, Gawker Media Group, Inc.
and Kinja Kft in their Chapter 11 bankruptcy matters. The information in this
Supplement and in the proof of claim form itself comes from various records and
information assembled on Mr. Daulerio's behalf by his counsel, David Marburger, who
prepared this Supplement for Mr. Daulerio.
A.

The last four digits of the taxpayer identification number of

Gawker Media LLC are

0492

. Its mailing address is: c/o Opportune LLP, Attn:

William D. Holden, Chief Restructuring Officer,


NY 1 0 0 2 0 .

10

East

53

rd St., 3 3 rd Floor, New York,

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The last four digits of the taxpayer identification number of

Gawker Media Group, Inc. are 3 2 3 1 . Its mailing address is the same as Gawker Media
LLC's mailing address.
C.
Kft are

5056

The last four digits of the taxpayer identification number of Kinja

. Its mailing address is the same as Gawker Media LLC's mailing address.

On June

10 201 6

, debtor Gawker Media LLC filed a voluntary petition for

relief under Chapter 11 of Title

11

of the United States Code in the United States

Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York. Gawker Media LLC's
bankruptcy is pending under Bankruptcy Case No. 16-11700.

On June

12 2 0 1 6

, affiliated debtor Gawker Media Group, Inc. filed a

voluntary petition for relief under Chapter 11 of Title 11 of the United States Code in
the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York. Affiliated
debtor Gawker Media Group, Inc.'s bankruptcy is pending under Bankruptcy C ase No.
16-11719.

Also on June

12 2 0 1 6

, affiliated debtor Kinja Kft filed a voluntary petition

for relief under Chapter 11 of Title 11 of the United States Code in the United States
Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York. Affiliated debtor Kinja Kft's
bankruptcy is pending under Bankruptcy Case No. 16-11718.

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This proof of claim asserts an ongoing duty to provide a legal defense to

claimant A.J. Daulerio in recent, continuing, and expected legal proceedings and
litigation.

This proof of claim also asserts certain rights of Daulerio of indemnity

against Gawlcer Media, LLC and/or the affiliated debtors.


J u d g m e n t a g a in s t c la im a n t D aulerio a n d G a w k e r M edia, LLC
in
7

Bollea v. Gawker Media, LLC, et al.

Claimant A.J. Daulerio is one of three defendants named in a final

judgment entered on June 8 , 2 0 1 6 , in the civil suit of Terry Bollea v. Gawker Media,
LLC, et al, Circuit Ct of the Sixth Judicial Circuit for Pinellas County, Fla., Case No. 1 2 012447

CI-0 1 1 .

In his suit, Bollea accused Daulerio of posting a video of Bollea on the

website Gawker.com with the knowledge and authority of Gawker Media, LLC. Bollea
claimed that posting the video invaded Bollea's privacy and committed other civil
wrongs. At the timeOctober,

2012

2012

Daulerio was Editor-in-Chief of Gawker.com.

Gawker Media, LLC, published Gawker.com and its content. In October,

, Gawker Media, LLC owned a subsidiary Gawker Entertainment, LLCwhich

employed Daulerio and others to create the content shown on Gawker.com. A copy of
Daulerio's employment contract with Gawker Entertainment, LLC accompanies this
Supplement as E xhibit 8.

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In December,

2012

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, Gawlcer Media, LLC restructured how it operated. It

assumed the rights and liabilities of Gawker Entertainment, LLC and other
subsidiaries. Gawker Media, LLC assumed Gawker Entertainment, LLC's employment
relationships. One of those employment relationships was the employment of
Daulerio. Gawker Media, LLC assumed the rights and duties expressed in Daulerio's
employment contract with Gawker Entertainment, LLC. See Gawker Media LLC's
verified responses to interrogatories, a copy of which accompanies this Supplement as
Exhibit 6 .

11

Daulerio left the employ of Gawker Media, LLC in January,

Entertainment, LLC dissolved in February,

12

2013

2013

. Gawker

The final judgment of June 8 , 2 0 1 6 , in the Bollea suit adjudges that Bollea

shall recover jointly and severally the sum of $115 million in compensatory damages at
an annual interest rate of 4 .7 8 % from Daulerio, Gawker Media, LLC, and Nicholas
Denton (founder and CEO of Gawker Media, LLC). It also adjudges that Bollea shall
recover $1 0 0 , 0 0 in punitive damages from Daulerio at the same interest rate. A copy of
the judgment accompanies this Supplement as Exhibit 2.

13

Daulerio and the other two defendants have appealed that final

judgment to the Florida Second District Court of Appeal, where that appeal is
pending. Proceedings there are stayed because of Gawker Media, LLC's bankruptcy

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proceedings in this Court. A copy of the notice of appeal accompanies this


Supplement as E xhibit 3.

14

Holding Gawker Media, LLC liable for the acts of Daulerio means that

the trial court in the Bollea case adjudged Daulerio's acts to have been within the
scope of his employment.
B o llea's e x e c u tio n o f th e ju d g m e n t a g a in s t c la im a n t D aulerio
15

Gawker Media, LLC's bankruptcy proceedings in this Court have effected

an automatic stay of further proceedings in the Florida trial court in the Bollea case as
to Gawker Media, LLC. One of the other three defendants, Nick Denton, also has
petitioned for bankruptcy, resulting in the same kind of stay of proceedings against
Denton.

16

Daulerio has not petitioned for relief in any bankruptcy court. The

Florida trial court has not stayed proceedings in aid of Bollea executing the $u 5 .i
million judgment against Daulerio. Such proceedings have been and continue to be
underway.

17

On August 1 7 , 2 0 1 6 , the Florida trial court issued an order finding that

Daulerio possessed certain property or assets which may be used to satisfy all or part
of the final judgment. The court decided that Daulerio owned legal rights "arising
from a policy and practice" of Gawker Media, LLC and its parent, affiliated debtor

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Gawker Media Group, Inc., under which "the companies agreed to defend against and
pay all of the Final Judgment entered against Mr. Daulerio." A copy of that order
accompanies this Supplement as Exhibit 4 . See paragraph 7 d of the order.

18

The same order of August 1 7 , 2 0 1 6 , "hereby transferred and assigned to

Mr. Bollea" the rights of Daulerio to have Gawker Media, LLC and Gawker Media
Group, Inc. "pay part or all of the Final Judgment." It added: "Mr. Bollea is hereby
deemed to be the owner of the rights, with full power and authority to seek to enforce
said rights" against Gawker Media, LLC and Gawker Media Group, Inc., subject to the
bankruptcy stay. The order also added that "any payments" received by enforcing the
transferred rights "shall be applied toward satisfaction of the Final Judgment."

19

Daulerio has appealed the order of August 1 7 , 2 0 1 6 , to the Florida Second

District Court of Appeal. His appeal remains pending. A copy of his notice of appeal
accompanies this Supplement as Exhibit 5 .

20

Toward satisfying the judgment, Bollea has served a writ of garnishment

approved by the Florida trial court upon Chase Bank covering all of the money in
Daulerio's personal bank account (about $1,5 0 0 ).

21

As Daulerio acquires assets in the future, he expects Bollea to undertake

further proceedings to seize those assets toward satisfaction of the $115.1 million

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judgment. That may require Daulerio to engage counsel licensed to practice law in
California who has experience with creditors' and debtors' rights under California law.

22

Since the Bollea suit's inception through the filing of Gawker Media

LLC's bankruptcy petition, Gawker Media, LLC and/or one of the affiliated debtors
supplied Daulerio with a defense by paying for the services of the law firm Levine
Sullivan Koch & Schulz LLP and the law firm of Thomas & LoCicero to represent
Daulerio.

23

Since the filing of Gawker Media, LLC's bankruptcy petition, the Levine

Sullivan firm and the Thomas firm have provided legal services for Daulerio. The fees
for the services performed by the Levine Sullivan firm between the time of filing the
bankruptcy petition through late September,
Levine Sullivan firm dated September

28

2016

, are about $1 9 0 ,0 0 0 . See letter from

, 2 0 1 6 , a copy of which accompanies this

Supplement as E xhibit 1.

24

Daulerio expects the Levine Sullivan and Thomas law firms to continue

to render services to defend him in the Bollea litigation after September,

2016

, such as

by continuing him and the other two defendants in their appeals of the final
judgment. Daulerio does not know yet the amount of the fees that would be incurred
for those future services by those firms.

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Because a conflict of interest prevents the Levine Sullivan and Thomas

firms from counseling Daulerio about whatever rights he has against Gawlcer Media,
LLC and the affiliated debtors for indemnity and a continued defenseand in
asserting any such rights on Daulerio's behalfthose firms have not provided those
kinds legal services to Daulerio.

26

So in September,

2016

, Daulerio retained the law firm of Marburger Law

LLC to provide legal services to him arising from the Bollea litigation that the other
firms cannot provide, and to provide legal services to him arising from the Bollea
litigation where it seems prudent for Daulerio to have Marburger Law LLC providing
services only for him instead of the same counsel simultaneously representing him,
Gawker Media, LLC and the affiliated debtors. The fees for the services of Marburger
Law LLC will be about $2 0 , 0 0 0 for the month of September,

2016

. See letter from

Marburger Law LLC, dated September 2 9 , 2 0 1 6 , a copy of which accompanies this


Supplement as E xhibit 9.

27

Services from Marburger Law LLC will continue after September,

2016

, in

defending Daulerio in matters arising from the Bollea suit. Daulerio does not know yet
the amount of the fees that he will incur from Marburger Law LLC for those future
services. Those services will include at least prosecuting Daulerio's appeal of the trial
court's order of August 1 7 , 2 0 1 6 , transferring his indemnity rights and other property

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to Bollea (Exhibit 8 ) and representing Daulerio at a hearing before the trial court in
the Bollea suit set for late October,

2016

W h a t D aulerio s e e k s in th is p r o o f o f claim
28

D uty to d e fe n d .

Daulerio asserts that the debtor Gawker Media, LLC

and/or the affiliated debtors owe to him a continuing duty to provide all of the
following, beginning on June

10 201 6

, and continuing into the future:

legal services and related expenses in defending Daulerio in


the Bollea suit through all stages of the litigation in all
courts, arbitrations, mediations, agencies, and other
tribunals;

legal services and related expenses in defending


proceedings before any court, tribunal, arbiter, mediator,
official, or agency that arise from Bollea's attempts to
satisfy the trial court's judgment of June 8 , 2 0 1 6 ; or to
satisfy a judgment rendered on any new trial or remittitur;
or to satisfy any other judgment or order entered in the
Bollea suit against Daulerio;

legal services and related expenses in asserting and


defending Daulerio's proofs of claim before this Court
against debtor Gawker Media, LLC and the affiliated
debtors Gawker Media Group, Inc. and Kinja Kft;

legal services and related expenses in settling, or in


attempts to settle, Daulerio's duty to satisfy any judgment,
order, claim, demand, decision, or award against Daulerio
arising out of the Bollea litigation;

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all other legal services and related expenses necessary or


beneficial to protect Daulerio's legal interests as affected or
potentially affected by the Bollea litigation and by any and
every claim, demand, and proceeding arising from that
litigation;

payment to the Levine Sullivan and Thomas law firms for


services rendered in representing Daulerio in the Bollea suit
since June 1 0 , 2 0 1 6 , and related expenses;

29

payment to Marburger Law LLC for services rendered in


preparing this proof of claim and for all other services
rendered in representing Daulerio in matters arising from
the Bollea litigation, and related expenses.

D uty to in d e m n ify re Bollea Ju d g m e n t.

This proof of claim seeks from

debtor Gawker Media, LLC and/or the affiliated debtors the full amount of all money
seized by Bollea toward satisfying the Florida trial court's June 8 , 2 0 1 6 , judgment
(E xhibit 2)

and the full value of all other property of Daulerio seized by or on behalf of

Bollea as of September 2 9 , 2 0 1 6 , and in the future toward satisfying the judgment plus
all associated costs and expenses paid by or demanded from Daulerio, the total
amount of which is not known yet. Among such property is the value of Daulerio's
shares in affiliated debtor Gawker Media Group, Inc., which Daulerio transferred to
Bollea under the trial court's order of August 1 7 , 2 0 x6 (E xhibit 4) and all amounts
seized by Bollea from Daulerio's bank account or seized by Bollea by writ of
garnishment or attachment (or some functionally equivalent instrument of the law) of

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compensation earned by Daulerio as an employee or independent contractor. The


total value and amount of such money and property is not known yet.

30

D uty to in d e m n ify re f u tu r e o r d e r s , ju d g m e n ts .

This proof of claim also

seeks from debtor Gawker Media, LLC and/or the affiliated debtors the full amount
that Daulerio pays, or that a court orders him to pay, or that any person demands
from him to pay to satisfy any and every future order or judgment, if any, entered
against him by any court in the Bollea litigation, or to satisfy any and every future
order, judgment, decision, or award against Daulerio imposed by any other court,
tribunal, arbiter, official, or agency in any proceeding arising from the Bollea
litigation. This includes associated costs and expenses incurred by Daulerio. The total
amount is not known yet.

31.

D uty t o in d e m n ify

re f u tu r e s e ttle m e n ts . This proof of claim also seeks

from debtor Gawker Media, LLC and/or the affiliated debtors the full value and
amount of all money or other property that Daulerio pays or transfers to settle his
duty to satisfy any and every judgment, order, claim, demand, decision, litigation, or
award against him arising in and arising from the Bollea litigation. This includes the
full value and amount of all money or other property that Daulerio has not paid or
transferred, but is obligated to pay or transfer, to settle such a dutyto the extent
that the person to which he is obligated (or that person's assignee) makes a demand

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for the payment or transfer. The total amount or value of such payment or transfer is
not known yet.

32

A m o u n t o f claim liste d o n F orm 410.

listed on Form 4 1 0 , line

The amount of Daulerio's claim

is $ 6 million. The $ 6 million amount is an estimate only,

based on legal fees incurred as of September,

2016

, potential future legal fees, amounts

and valu of Daulerio's property seized by (and transferred to) Bollea as of September
29

, 2 0 1 6 , and potential future seizures by or on behalf of Bollea.

T he s o u rc e s o f th e o b lig a tio n to d e fe n d a n d in d e m n ify D aulerio


33

The sources of Gawker Media LLC's and/or the affiliated debtors' duty to

defend Daulerio and to indemnify him arise from at least each of three independent
sources:
i.

his employment contract with Gawker Entertainment, LLC


(E xhibit 8), which Gawker Media, LLC and/or the affiliated
debtors Gawker Media Group, Inc. and Kinja Kft assumed;

ii.

the general company practice and policy of Gawker Media,


LLC and/or the affiliated debtors Gawker Media Group,
Inc. and Kinja Kft (see declaration of William Holden, chief
restructuring officer *]s 1 9 , 2 4 , a copy of which accompanies
this Supplement as E xhibit 7), and Gawker Media, LLC's
established course of providing a defense to Daulerio since
the inception of the Bollea suit;

iii.

the law of the State of New York.

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D au lerio 's re s e rv a tio n s o f rig h ts


34

Daulerio reserves the right to amend and further supplement his proof

of claim against debtor Gawker Media, LLC and/or the affiliated debtors Gawker
Media Group. Inc. and Kinja Kit.

35

Daulerio reserves the right to file additional proofs of claim for

additional claims or for higher priorities and to use any setoff rights that he may have
against additional claims.

36

Daulerio further reserves all rights accruing to him.

37

The filing of this Proof of Claim is not intended to be, and shall not be,

construed as any of the following: (x) an election of remedy; (2 ) a waiver of any past,
present, or future defaults or events of default; (3 ) a waiver or limitation of any of his
rights; (4 ) a waiver of any theories of recovery; (5 ) a waiver as to any other claims; (6 )
an admission that any or all of the claims in his proofs of claim are not entitled to be
treated as expenses of administration; (7 ) a consent to the determination of the
debtor's or affiliated debtors' liabilities to Daulerio by this Bankruptcy Court or by any
other court; (8 ) a consent to the jurisdiction or venue of this Bankruptcy Court or any
other court.

- o -

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EXHIBIT C
to Plaintiffs Emergency Motion to Enforce Permanent
Injunction and Prevent A.J. Daulerio from Engaging in
Revenge Porn, Extortion and Video Voyeurism

* * *ELECTRONICALLY FILED 10/06/2016 03:36:16 PM: KEN BURKE, CLERK OF THE CIRCUIT COURT, PINELLAS COUNTY***

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LEVINE SULLIVAN
KOCH & SCHULZ, LLP
1899 L Street, NW
Suite 200
Washington, DC 20036
(202) 508-1100 | Phone
(202) 861-9888 | Fax
Seth D. Berlin
(202) 508-1122
sberlin@lskslaw.com

September 28, 2016


VIA ELECTRONIC MAIL
David Marburger, Esq.
Marburger Law, LLC
14650 Detroit Ave
Suite 450
Lakewood, OH 44107
david@marburger-law.com
Re:

A.J. Daulerios Legal Fees

Dear Mr. Marburger:


As you know, along with local counsel, this firm represents A.J. Daulerio in connection
with the proceeding captioned Terry Gene Bollea v. Gawker Media, LLC, et al., No.
12012447CI-011, currently pending in the Circuit Court of the Sixth Judicial Circuit in and for
Pinellas County, Florida, as well as in various appellate proceedings arising out of that
proceeding (collectively, the Bollea Proceedings).
As you requested, I am writing to advise you that LSKSs outstanding fees and costs for
representing Mr. Daulerio in the Bollea Proceedings are approximately $190,000. This figure
covers the period between June 10, 2016 (when Mr. Daulerios co-defendant Gawker Media,
LLC filed for bankruptcy) and August 31, 2016, and includes fees incurred representing Mr.
Daulerio individually and his share of fees incurred in connection with our joint representation of
all three defendants in the Bollea Proceedings. It does not include any fees or costs for work
performed this month or any fees or costs that might be incurred going forward.
Please let me know if you have any questions. Thank you.
Sincerely,
LEVINE SULLIVAN KOCH & SCHULZ, LLP

Washington

N e w York

Philadelphia

D enver

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EXHIBIT D
to Plaintiffs Emergency Motion to Enforce Permanent
Injunction and Prevent A.J. Daulerio from Engaging in
Revenge Porn, Extortion and Video Voyeurism

* * *ELECTRONICALLY FILED 10/06/2016 03:36:16 PM: ICEN BURKE, CLERIC OF THE CIRCUIT COURT, PINELLAS COUNTY***

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MARBURGERLAW

September

29

, 2016

A,J. Daulerio
via email: adaulerio@gmail.com
Re: Services arising from Bolleo, litigation
Dear Mr. Daulerio:
This confirms that Marburger Law LLC has provided services and incurred expenses
on your behalf during September, 2 0 1 6 , arising from the Bolleo litigation.
Among those services: preparing proofs of claim to be filed in the United States
Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York; assessing and planning to
protect your legal interests in the Bolleo litigation where such services have not been,
or cannot be, provided by the law firms of Levine Sullivan Koch & Schulz, LLP and
Thomas and LoCicero.
I estim ate th a t M a rb u rg e r Law LLCs legal Fees an d related ex p en ses for th e m o n th of
September, 2 0 1 6 will be about $2 0 ,0 0 0 .
Very truly yours,
<C-S

David Marburger

14650 D etroit Ave., Suite 450

Cleveland, O H 44107

office

316.9 3 0 .0 5 0 0

mobile 216,577.8754

david@marburger--iaw.com

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EXHIBIT E
GMGI Board Resolution

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Annex A
RESOLUTIONS OF THE BOARD OF
DIRECTORS OF GAWKER MEDIA GROUP, INC.

WHEREAS, the Board of Directors (the Board of Directors) of Gawker Media Group,
Inc. (the Company), a Cayman Islands exempted company, does hereby consent to the taking
of the following actions and does hereby adopt the following resolutions;
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors has considered presentations by the management of,
and the financial and legal advisors to, the Company regarding the potential liabilities and
liquidity situation of the Company, the strategic alternatives available to it, and the effect of the
foregoing on the Companys business, creditors, and other parties in interest;
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors has had the opportunity to consult with the
Companys management, and financial and legal advisors and other professionals, and fully
consider each of the strategic alternatives available to the Company; and
WHEREAS, based on its review of all available alternatives and advice provided by such
advisors and professionals, the Board of Directors has determined that it is in the best interest of
the Company, its subsidiaries and their respective stakeholders, for the Company and its
subsidiaries to take the actions specified in the following resolutions:
Chapter 11 Filing
RESOLVED: That in the judgment of the Board of Directors of the Company, it is desirable and
in the best interests of the Company, its creditors, and other parties in interest, that
the Company and its affiliates file or cause to be filed a voluntary petition for
relief (the Chapter 11 Case) under the provisions of chapter 11 of title 11 of the
United States Code (the Bankruptcy Code) in the United States Bankruptcy
Court for the Southern District of New York (the Bankruptcy Court).
RESOLVED: That the Company file or cause to be filed the Chapter 11 Case under the
provisions of the Bankruptcy Code in the Bankruptcy Court.
RESOLVED: That any officer of the Company, including the Chief Executive Officer, the
President or the Chief Restructuring Officer (collectively, the Authorized
Officers) be, and hereby are, authorized to execute and file, or cause to be
executed and filed, on behalf of the Company or any of its affiliates or
subsidiaries, a chapter 11 petition for relief in the Bankruptcy Court.
RESOLVED: That any Authorized Officer of the Company, acting alone or with one or more
other Authorized Officers be, and hereby are, authorized to execute and file on
behalf of the Company all schedules, lists and other papers or documents, and to
take any and all action which they deem reasonable, advisable, expedient,

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convenient, necessary or proper to obtain chapter 11 relief, including, without


limitation, any action necessary to maintain the ordinary course operation of the
Companys business.
RESOLVED: That in order to minimize disruption during the pendency of the Chapter 11 cases,
it is in the best interests of the Company to amend the Operating Agreement of
Gawker Media LLC in accordance with that certain Amendment No. 3 to the
Operating Agreement of Gawker Media LLC, dated on or about the date hereof,
to allow a person not to be disqualified as Member (as defined therein) of Gawker
Media LLC due to the bankruptcy- or insolvency-related circumstances
enumerated therein.
RESOLVED: That in order to minimize disruption during the pendency of the Chapter 11 cases,
the Operating Agreement of Gawker Media LLC be amended in accordance with
that certain Amendment No. 3 to the Operating Agreement of Gawker Media
LLC, dated on or about the date hereof, to allow a person not to be disqualified as
Member of Gawker Media LLC due to the bankruptcy- or insolvency-related
circumstances enumerated therein.
Retention of Professionals
RESOLVED: That the Authorized Officers be, and they hereby are, and each of them acting
singly is, authorized to employ the law firm of Ropes & Gray LLP as bankruptcy
counsel to represent and assist the Company in carrying out its duties under the
Bankruptcy Code, and to take any and all actions to advance the Companys
rights and obligations, including filing any pleadings; and in connection
therewith, the Authorized Officers be, and they are, and each of them acting
singly is, authorized to execute appropriate retention agreements, pay appropriate
retainers prior to and immediately upon filing of the Chapter 11 Case, and cause
to be filed an appropriate application for authority to retain the services of Ropes
& Gray LLP.
RESOLVED: That the Authorized Officers be, and they hereby are, and each of them acting
singly is, authorized to employ and retain the firm of Opportune LLP (including
for William Holden of Opportune to serve as the Companys CRO), to provide
management services, in accordance with the terms of an engagement agreement
between the Company and Opportune, LLP (the Opportune Services
Agreement), to represent and assist the Company in carrying out its duties under
the Bankruptcy Code and to take any and all actions to advance the Companys
rights and obligations; and in connection therewith, the Authorized Officers be,
and they are, and each of them acting singly is, authorized to negotiate the final
terms of the Opportune Services Agreement, execute the Services Agreement, and
cause to be filed an appropriate application for authority to retain the services of
Opportune LLP.

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RESOLVED: That the Authorized Officers be, and they hereby are, and each of them acting
singly is, authorized to employ and retain the firm of Houlihan Lokey Capital,
Inc. (Houlihan Lokey), as investment banker in accordance with the terms of an
engagement agreement between the Company and Houlihan Lokey (the HL
Services Agreement) to represent and assist the Company in carrying out its
duties under the Bankruptcy Code, and to take any and all actions to advance the
Companys rights and obligations; and in connection therewith, the Authorized
Officers be, and they are, and each of them acting singly is, authorized to
negotiate the final terms of the HL Services Agreement, execute the HL Services
Agreement, and cause to be filed an appropriate application for authority to retain
the services of Houlihan Lokey.
RESOLVED: That the Authorized Officers be, and they hereby are, and each of them acting
singly is, authorized to employ and retain the firm of Prime Clerk LLC as notice,
claims, and balloting agent and as administrative advisor to represent and assist
the Company in carrying out its duties under the Bankruptcy Code, and to take
any and all actions to advance the Companys rights and obligations; and in
connection therewith, the Authorized Officers be, and they are, and each of them
acting singly is, authorized to negotiate the final terms of Prime Clerk LLCs
retention, execute appropriate retention agreements, and cause to be filed an
appropriate application for authority to retain the services of Prime Clerk LLC.
RESOLVED: That the Authorized Officers be, and they hereby are, and each of them acting
singly is, authorized to employ any other professionals to assist the Company in
carrying out its duties under the Bankruptcy Code; and in connection therewith,
each of the Authorized Officers, with power of delegation, is hereby authorized
and directed to execute appropriate retention agreements, pay appropriate
retainers, and to cause to be filed an appropriate application for authority to retain
the services of any other professionals as necessary.
Cash Collateral & Adequate Protection
RESOLVED: That the Company will obtain benefits from the use of collateral, including cash
collateral, as that term is defined in section 363(a) of the Bankruptcy Code (the
Cash Collateral), which is security for certain prepetition secured lenders
(collectively, the Secured Lenders) party to:
a. The loan and security agreement (as subsequently amended, the First Lien
Credit Agreement) with Silicon Valley Bank (Silicon Valley Bank),
pursuant to which Silicon Valley Bank agreed to provide to Gawker Media
LLC a term loan facility in the aggregate principal amount of $7,666,666.67
(the First Lien Term Loan) and a letter of credit with an undrawn face
amount of $5,302,066.00 (the First Lien Letter of Credit). The obligations
under the First Lien Credit Agreement are guaranteed by the Company and
Kinja Kft. and are secured on a first priority basis by liens on substantially all
of the assets of Gawker Media LLC, Kinja Kft., and the Company.

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b. The loan and security agreement (the Second Lien Credit Agreement) with
US VC Partners LP (US VC Partners), a Delaware limited partnership,
pursuant to which US VC Partners agreed to extend a term loan facility to the
Company in the initial amount of $15,000,000 (the Second Lien Term
Loan). The obligations under the Second Lien Credit Agreement are
guaranteed by Gawker Media LLC and Kinja Kft. and the Second Lien Debt
is secured by a second priority lien on substantially all of the assets of the
Company, Gawker Media LLC, and Kinja Kft.
RESOLVED: That in order to use and obtain the benefits of the Cash Collateral, and in
accordance with section 363 of the Bankruptcy Code, the Company will provide
certain adequate protection to the Secured Lenders (the Adequate Protection
Obligations), to be documented in a proposed order with terms substantially
similar to those considered by the Board of Directors (the Cash Collateral
Order).
RESOLVED: That the general terms proposed to be included in the Cash Collateral Order to
which the Company will be subject, and the actions and transactions contemplated
thereby be, and hereby are authorized and approved, and each of the Authorized
Officers of the Company be, and hereby is, authorized and empowered, in the
name of and on behalf of the Company, to take such actions and negotiate or
cause to be prepared and negotiated and to execute, deliver, perform and cause the
performance of, the terms proposed to be included in the Cash Collateral Order,
and such other agreements, certificates, instruments, receipts, petitions, motions
or other papers or documents to which the Company is or will be a party, incur
and pay or cause to be paid all fees and expenses and engage such persons, with
such changes, additions and modifications thereto as the officers of the Company
executing the same shall approve, such approval to be conclusively evidenced by
such officers execution and delivery thereof.
RESOLVED: That the Company, as debtor and debtor in possession under the Bankruptcy Code
be, and hereby is, authorized to incur the Adequate Protection Obligations and to
undertake any and all related transactions, and that that the Authorized Officers
be, and they hereby are, authorized and directed, and each of them acting alone
hereby is, authorized, directed, and empowered in the name of, and on behalf of,
the Company, as debtor and debtor in possession, to take such actions as in their
discretion is determined to be necessary, desirable, or appropriate to secure and
maintain use of the Cash Collateral.
RESOLVED: That each of the Authorized Officers of the Company be, and hereby is,
authorized, directed and empowered in the name of, and on behalf of, the
Company to file or to authorize the filing of any Uniform Commercial Code (the
UCC) financing statements, any other equivalent filings, any intellectual
property filings and recordation and any necessary assignments for security or
other documents in the name of the Company that are deemed necessary or
appropriate to perfect any lien or security interest granted under the Cash
Collateral Order, including any such UCC financing statement containing a

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generic description of collateral, such as all assets, all property now or


hereafter acquired and other similar descriptions of like import, and to execute
and deliver, and to record or authorize the recording of, such mortgages and deeds
of trust in respect of real property of the Company and such other filings in
respect of intellectual and other property of the Company, in each case as the
Agents may reasonably request to perfect the security interests of the Agents
under the Cash Collateral Order.
RESOLVED: That each of the Authorized Officers of the Company be, and they hereby are,
authorized, directed and empowered in the name of, and on behalf of, the
Company to take all such further actions, including, without limitation, to pay or
approve the payment of all fees and expenses payable in connection with the
Adequate Protection Obligations and all fees and expenses incurred by or on
behalf of the Company in connection with the foregoing resolutions, which shall
in their sole judgment be necessary, proper or advisable to perform the
Companys obligations under or in connection with the Cash Collateral Order or
any of the other adequate protection documents and the transactions contemplated
therein and to carry out fully the intent of the foregoing resolutions.
Debtor-In-Possession Financing
RESOLVED: That the Company would obtain benefits from debtor-in-possession financing
(DIP Financing) in connection with the chapter 11 case, part of which would be
used to satisfy the Companys and subsidiaries obligations under the First Lien
Credit Agreement, depending on the size of the DIP Financing. Accordingly, (a)
the Board of Directors authorizes and approves (i) the execution, delivery, and
performance of a debtor in possession credit agreement (the Credit Agreement),
in the initial amount of up to $22 million, generally on the terms described to the
Board of Directors (but with any such changes thereto as the Authorized
Officer(s) executing the same shall approve), and any security agreements,
guarantee agreements, other agreements, notes, consents, certificates,
amendments, assignments, and instruments in connection therewith (the Credit
Documents, together with the Credit Agreement, the Financing Documents),
(ii) the granting of a security interest in any assets of the Company as collateral or
the guaranty of the obligations of the debtors under the Credit Agreement, and
(iii) any transactions effected or to be effected pursuant to the terms and
provisions of the Financing Documents; and (b) any Authorized Officer(s) be, and
hereby is, authorized and empowered, in the name and on behalf of the Company,
to negotiate, execute, deliver, and perform or cause the performance of the
Financing Documents, as such Authorized Officer executing the same considers
necessary, appropriate, proper, or desirable to effectuate the transactions
contemplated by the Financing Documents and other financing arrangements
necessary, appropriate, proper, or desirable in the interest of the Company in
connection with the chapter 11 case, such determination to be conclusively
evidenced by such execution or taking of such action.
Sale of Assets and Indemnification

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RESOLVED: That each of the Authorized Officers shall be, and hereby are, authorized to
commence the process of marketing and selling the assets of the Company and its
subsidiaries outside of a chapter 11 filing and/or in a process approved by the
Bankruptcy Court after a chapter 11 filing. Furthermore, each of the Authorized
Officers shall be, and hereby are, authorized to enter into an asset purchase
agreement to sell the assets of the Company and its subsidiaries (the Sale),
which Sale may be subject to potential higher or better offers in a chapter 11
proceeding. Each of the Authorized Officers are authorized to adjust the terms of
the Sale as necessary, including with respect to price and the particular assets to
be sold.
RESOLVED: That the Company would obtain benefits in connection with the chapter 11 case
from indemnifying writers and editors who are named as defendants in civil
actions, in connection with their work for the Company (each a CompanyRelated Action), in which the Company or any of its subsidiaries are also named
(Employee Defendants). Accordingly, the Board of Directors authorizes any
Authorized Officer to take any actions necessary, appropriate, proper, or desirable
in the interest of the Company in connection with the chapter 11 case, such
determination to be conclusively evidenced by such execution or taking of such
action, to indemnify any Employee Defendant up to the full amount of their costs
and expenses in connection with any Company-Related Action.
General
RESOLVED: That each of the Authorized Officers be, and hereby is, with power of delegation,
authorized, empowered and directed to execute and file all petitions, schedules,
motions, lists, applications, pleadings, and other papers and, in connection
therewith, to employ and retain all assistance by legal counsel, accountants,
financial advisors, and other professionals and to take and perform any and all
further acts and deeds that each of the Authorized Officers deem necessary,
proper, or desirable in connection with the Companys chapter 11 case, with a
view to the successful prosecution of such case.
RESOLVED: That the omission from these resolutions of any agreement, document or other
arrangement contemplated by any of the agreements, documents or instruments
described in the foregoing resolutions or any action to be taken in accordance
with any requirement of any of the agreements, documents or instruments
described in the foregoing resolutions shall in no manner derogate from the
authority of the Authorized Officers to take all actions necessary, desirable,
advisable or appropriate to consummate, effectuate, carry out or further the
transactions contemplated by, and the intent and purposes of, the foregoing
resolutions.
RESOLVED: That all acts, actions, and transactions relating to the matters contemplated by the
foregoing Resolutions previously done, on or prior to the date hereof, in the name

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and on behalf of the Company, in connection with the transactions contemplated


by the foregoing resolutions, are in all respects ratified, approved, confirmed and
adopted as acts and deeds by and on behalf of the Company.
RESOLVED: That the Authorized Officers be, and hereby are, and each of them acting singly
is, authorized and directed, on behalf of and in the name of the Company, to enter
into, execute, deliver, certify, file, and/or record and perform such agreements,
instruments, motions, affidavits, applications for approvals or ruling of
governmental or regulatory authorities, certificates, and other documents and to
take such other actions as in the judgment of the Authorized Officer shall be or
become necessary, appropriate, and desirable to prosecute to a successful
completion the Chapter 11 Case and otherwise exercise the rights and powers of
the Company as a member or manager (however denominated, or any officer of
the Company so empowered) of the Companys subsidiary, Gawker Media, LLC,
including any amendments as may be necessary or advisable to the Operating
Agreement of Gawker Media, LLC.
RESOLVED: That each of the Authorized Officers (and their designees and delegates) be and
hereby is authorized and empowered to take all actions or to not take any action in
the name of the Company with respect to the transactions contemplated by these
resolutions hereunder as the sole shareholder, partner, member, or managing
member of each direct subsidiary of the Company, in each case, as such
Authorized Officer shall deem necessary or desirable in such Authorized Officers
reasonable business judgment as may be necessary or convenient to effectuate the
purposes of the transactions contemplated herein.
RESOLVED: That all members of the Board of Directors of the Company have received
sufficient notice of the actions and transactions relating to the matters
contemplated by the foregoing resolutions, as may be required by the
organizational documents of the Company, or hereby waive any right to have
received such notice.

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