laurie partial deposition
DESCRIPTION
Laurie Partial DepositionTRANSCRIPT
EXHIBIT A
to the
DECLARATION OF THOMAS CURLEY IN SUPPORT OF
DEFENDANTS’ MOTION FOR AN ORDER FINDING PLAINTIFF TO BE A PUBLIC FIGURE
Case 5:12-cv-00836-DEP Document 97-3 Filed 09/30/15 Page 1 of 28
·1· · · · · · ·UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
·2· · · · FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK
·3
·4· ·LAURIE J. FINE,·5· · · · · · · · · ·Plaintiff,· · · ·Index No.·6· · · -against-· · · · · · · · · · ·5:12-cv-00836·7· · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · (LEK) (DEP)
·8 ESPN, Inc., a subsidiary of· ·Walt Disney, Inc.; MARK·9 SCHWARZ, in his individual· ·capacity and as an employee10 of ESPN, and ARTHUR BERKO,· ·in his individual capacity11 and as an employee of ESPN,
12· · · · · · · · ·Defendants.
13
14
15· · · · · · · · · ·VIDEO DEPOSITION OF16· · · · · · · · · ·LAURIE J. FINE
17
18· · · · · · · · · September 3, 2014· · · · · · · · · · · · 9:56 a.m.19
20· · · · · · · · · · · Law First· · · · · · · · · · One Oxford Centre21· · · · · · · · · · ·Suite 4300· · · · · · ·Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 1521922
23
24· · Dana M. Cunningham, Professional Court Reporter25
LAURIE J. FINE·FINE vs. ESPN
September 03, 2014
800.211.DEPO (3376)EsquireSolutions.com
LAURIE J. FINE·FINE vs. ESPN
September 03, 20141
800.211.DEPO (3376)EsquireSolutions.com
Case 5:12-cv-00836-DEP Document 97-3 Filed 09/30/15 Page 2 of 28
·1· APPEARANCES OF COUNSEL:
·2· On Behalf of the Plaintiff:
·3· · ·LAWRENCE H. FISHER, ESQ.· · · ·Law First·4· · ·One Oxford Centre· · · ·Suite 4300·5· · ·Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15219· · · ·412-577-4040·6· · ·[email protected]
·7
·8· On Behalf of the Defendants:
·9· · ·PAUL J. SAFIER, ESQ.· · · ·NATHAN SIEGEL, ESQ.10· · ·Levine, Sullivan, Koch & Schulz, LLP· · · ·1899 L Street, NW11· · ·Suite 200· · · ·Washington, DC 2003612· · ·202-508-1184· · · ·[email protected]· · ·[email protected]
14· · Also Present:· Brandon Wilczek, Videographer15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
LAURIE J. FINE·FINE vs. ESPN
September 03, 2014
800.211.DEPO (3376)EsquireSolutions.com
LAURIE J. FINE·FINE vs. ESPN
September 03, 20142
800.211.DEPO (3376)EsquireSolutions.com
Case 5:12-cv-00836-DEP Document 97-3 Filed 09/30/15 Page 3 of 28
·1· working?
·2· · · ·A.· · Yes.
·3· · · ·Q.· · Did you continue to work as you had
·4· children?
·5· · · ·A.· · On and off.
·6· · · ·Q.· · Doing what?
·7· · · ·A.· · Hairdressing.
·8· · · ·Q.· · And did you participate in the
·9· activities of the basketball team to any extent?
10· · · ·A.· · What activities?
11· · · ·Q.· · Did you go to games?
12· · · ·A.· · Yes.
13· · · ·Q.· · Did you go to any sports banquets or
14· dinners or things like that that they had?
15· · · ·A.· · Yes, yes.
16· · · ·Q.· · Have you worked at different salons
17· over time?
18· · · ·A.· · No.
19· · · ·Q.· · So what's -- the same one?
20· · · ·A.· · Yes.
21· · · ·Q.· · Which one is that?
22· · · ·A.· · Headlines.
23· · · ·Q.· · Has Headlines been owned by the same
24· person throughout your --
25· · · ·A.· · Yes.
LAURIE J. FINE·FINE vs. ESPN
September 03, 2014
800.211.DEPO (3376)EsquireSolutions.com
LAURIE J. FINE·FINE vs. ESPN
September 03, 201414
800.211.DEPO (3376)EsquireSolutions.com
YVer1f
Case 5:12-cv-00836-DEP Document 97-3 Filed 09/30/15 Page 4 of 28
·1· · · ·Q.· · We obtained and we provided to your
·2· counsel several news stories about that boutique
·3· on local media.· How did those come about?
·4· About the opening of that boutique -- do you
·5· remember that?
·6· · · ·A.· · Yes.· My partner, who had a daughter,
·7· who had passed away, and they were trying to
·8· feature the story around her and what she was
·9· doing, now that her life was getting back on
10· track.
11· · · ·Q.· · Who was your partner?
12· · · ·A.· · Mary Joe Hicamp.
13· · · ·Q.· · To your knowledge how did -- did
14· somebody approach these television stations?
15· · · ·A.· · I don't recall.· I don't recall.
16· · · ·Q.· · I don't remember seeing anything
17· about Ms. Hicamp in those stories.· You were
18· featured in those stories --
19· · · ·A.· · I have a whole page with Mary Joe
20· featured on the back of the Post Standard.· Mary
21· Joe's name was mentioned all through it.
22· · · ·Q.· · What about the television stories?
23· · · ·A.· · The television stories -- I don't
24· recall how that came to be, but I know they did
25· come up to the salon and film me there in the
Case 5:12-cv-00836-DEP Document 97-3 Filed 09/30/15 Page 5 of 28
·1· dog boutique because it was a new trend, you
·2· know, doggie things.
·3· · · ·Q.· · Okay.
·4· · · · · · ·Other than them coming up to the
·5· boutique did you have any contact with anyone
·6· from the television station?
·7· · · ·A.· · I don't recall.
·8· · · ·Q.· · Did you talk to anyone at any
·9· television station beforehand about them doing
10· this story?
11· · · ·A.· · I can't recall.
12· · · ·Q.· · When did you stop working for the
13· Boys and Girls Club?
14· · · ·A.· · October 2000 -- I think '11 or '12,
15· when this came to be.· I was already done there.
16· Going into a different job.
17· · · ·Q.· · And why did you stop working at the
18· Boys and Girls Club?
19· · · ·A.· · They merged with the Salvation Army,
20· so my position was eliminated.
21· · · ·Q.· · What was the different job you were
22· going into?
23· · · ·A.· · Save the Children, through a
24· detention center there, to work with youth that
25· were, you know, troubled.
Case 5:12-cv-00836-DEP Document 97-3 Filed 09/30/15 Page 6 of 28
·1· · · ·Q.· · And how did you obtain that job?
·2· · · ·A.· · A gentleman who worked at the Boys
·3· and Girls Club had been at this new job and
·4· approached me after the Boys and Girls Club had,
·5· you know, merged.
·6· · · ·Q.· · And what was that job going to be?
·7· · · ·A.· · You know, working with the children,
·8· doing some fundraising for them.· You know, just
·9· get funds for the children there.
10· · · ·Q.· · And what happened to that?
11· · · ·A.· · What happened?
12· · · ·Q.· · Did you ever start?
13· · · ·A.· · No.
14· · · ·Q.· · Why not?
15· · · ·A.· · The whole thing broke with this news
16· and I never started.
17· · · ·Q.· · And why is that?· What was the
18· relationship to the news breaking and you're not
19· starting?
20· · · ·A.· · You know, to be honest with you,
21· probably, you know, I just wasn't a good fit at
22· that point for them.
23· · · ·Q.· · Who was the name of the gentleman
24· who --
25· · · ·A.· · Jim Zarneack.
Case 5:12-cv-00836-DEP Document 97-3 Filed 09/30/15 Page 7 of 28
·1· · · ·Q.· · Did Mr. Zarneack or anybody else tell
·2· you that they no longer wanted you to work
·3· there?
·4· · · ·A.· · Not in so many words, but I got the
·5· idea.
·6· · · ·Q.· · How did you get the idea?
·7· · · ·A.· · I asked him would the position still
·8· be open and he said, you know, he would have to
·9· think about it and I never heard back from him.
10· · · ·Q.· · And do you attribute that to the news
11· stories?
12· · · ·A.· · Yes.
13· · · ·Q.· · Why so?
14· · · ·A.· · Well, it was very disparaging, and,
15· you know, I understood his reasoning.· I'd be
16· working with children.· So, you know, I totally
17· understood.
18· · · ·Q.· · Was raising money for children's
19· organization something that you had developed an
20· interest in by that point?
21· · · ·A.· · For any organization that needed
22· help, children, adult, any of them.
23· · · ·Q.· · In your Complaint -- your Complaint
24· alleges in Paragraph No. 2 that in light of her
25· connection to the basketball program charitable
Case 5:12-cv-00836-DEP Document 97-3 Filed 09/30/15 Page 8 of 28
·1· organizations often competed to employ Plaintiff
·2· in various capacities.· Is that true?
·3· · · ·A.· · Can you rephrase that?· I'm kind
·4· of --
·5· · · ·Q.· · It says in light of her connection to
·6· the basketball program, charitable organizations
·7· often competed to employ Plaintiff in various
·8· capacities.
·9· · · ·A.· · I wouldn't say competed, but, you
10· know, yes.· I did a good job, so yeah.
11· · · ·Q.· · And what was the connection to the
12· basketball program?
13· · · ·A.· · Very little because at that point I
14· developed my own thing and I didn't, you know,
15· rely on the basketball program at all.
16· · · · · · ·I mean, I got the job.· The
17· basketball program was a plus, but at the end of
18· the day you can be as good as you want, but you
19· got to do the job.
20· · · ·Q.· · How was the basketball program a
21· plus?
22· · · ·A.· · Because they were, you know, very
23· obviously loved in the community.· So that
24· certainly helped.
25· · · ·Q.· · Backtracking a little bit, prior to
LAURIE J. FINE·FINE vs. ESPN
September 03, 2014
800.211.DEPO (3376)EsquireSolutions.com
LAURIE J. FINE·FINE vs. ESPN
September 03, 201428
800.211.DEPO (3376)EsquireSolutions.com
YVer1f
Case 5:12-cv-00836-DEP Document 97-3 Filed 09/30/15 Page 9 of 28
·1· seriously and I did a good job.
·2· · · ·Q.· · Referring to your years of dedication
·3· to the city of Syracuse, what are you referring
·4· to?
·5· · · ·A.· · My fundraising.
·6· · · ·Q.· · Which had only begun a couple of
·7· years earlier; correct?
·8· · · ·A.· · Um-hum.
·9· · · ·Q.· · So you weren't referring to anything
10· else?
11· · · ·A.· · Other charity work that I had done.
12· · · ·Q.· · Which was what?
13· · · ·A.· · The Make-A-Wish Foundation.
14· · · ·Q.· · What's the Make-A-Wish Foundation?
15· · · ·A.· · It's for, you know, youth, children
16· with cancer.· You know, wishes are granted.
17· · · ·Q.· · What did you do for them?
18· · · ·A.· · Just volunteered, you know, raised
19· money, volunteered.
20· · · ·Q.· · Any other charitable organizations?
21· · · ·A.· · The Kidney Foundation, I raised very
22· little money for them.· It was just a very short
23· stint with them.· Enable -- we co-chaired an
24· event.· I really didn't raise any money.· We
25· just co-chaired the event.
Case 5:12-cv-00836-DEP Document 97-3 Filed 09/30/15 Page 10 of 28
·1· · · ·Q.· · Why did you consider your charitable
·2· work to be dedication to the City of Syracuse?
·3· · · ·A.· · Because I dedicated a lot of time and
·4· a lot of good effort and it was a dedication.
·5· Whether it was to Syracuse or anywhere, it was
·6· dedicated to, you know, the kids and whomever we
·7· raised money for.
·8· · · ·Q.· · Starting in April of 2010, or at
·9· least it appears to us, there were several times
10· that you served as a cohost on a television
11· program called Bridge Street?
12· · · ·A.· · Correct.
13· · · ·Q.· · That's a program on WSYR is the --
14· how did that come about?
15· · · ·A.· · They -- I filled in for the cohost
16· who was out that day.· They just called me and
17· asked me and I did it.
18· · · ·Q.· · Who called you?
19· · · ·A.· · I believe the producer of the show.
20· And I don't know -- I really forgot her name.
21· She's no longer there.
22· · · ·Q.· · Had you had any contact with that
23· producer of the show or anything before?
24· · · ·A.· · She may have come to an event.· I'm
25· unclear.· She may have come to a few things that
Case 5:12-cv-00836-DEP Document 97-3 Filed 09/30/15 Page 11 of 28
·1· I had done.
·2· · · ·Q.· · Why did she call you?
·3· · · ·A.· · Because I have a great personality
·4· and I was good with people.
·5· · · ·Q.· · It looks to us like you did that on
·6· -- again, I can show you these, but to save
·7· time, you did that on several different
·8· occasions in 2010 and at least once again in
·9· 2011.· How did that occur?
10· · · ·A.· · I did a good job and they asked me to
11· come back when someone was out and I gladly came
12· to them.
13· · · ·Q.· · Do you remember about how many times
14· you did it, you were the cohost of the show?
15· · · ·A.· · I don't, I don't.
16· · · ·Q.· · There were also several times when
17· you were invited as a guest on that program?
18· · · ·A.· · I remember one, for the Boys and
19· Girls Club perhaps, but other than that, no.
20· · · ·Q.· · Can we agree that the television
21· programs have given us the material and it is
22· what it is?
23· · · ·A.· · Okay.
24· · · ·Q.· · The time that you recall when you
25· talked about the work -- I think it was a
Case 5:12-cv-00836-DEP Document 97-3 Filed 09/30/15 Page 12 of 28
·1· fundraising galla or an event that the Boys and
·2· Girls Club --
·3· · · ·A.· · Yes, yes.
·4· · · ·Q.· · How did that come about that you came
·5· onto the program to talk about that?
·6· · · ·A.· · I believe the one time I recall we
·7· did a fashion show at my house and we came on to
·8· show the models clothing on there and we were a
·9· guest.· You know, I don't think I even appeared.
10· They had someone else speak.· So -- and we had
11· the models on there.
12· · · ·Q.· · There were times when you appeared to
13· talk about that --
14· · · ·A.· · Yes.
15· · · ·Q.· · And how did it come about that you
16· came on?
17· · · ·A.· · Onto the show?
18· · · ·Q.· · Yes.
19· · · ·A.· · I think I approached them because it
20· was a great selling point to get everything out
21· there.
22· · · ·Q.· · Who did you approach?
23· · · ·A.· · I'm not sure if it was Maggie or
24· someone else there.· I'm not sure.· At the --
25· you know, at the TV station whom.
Case 5:12-cv-00836-DEP Document 97-3 Filed 09/30/15 Page 13 of 28
·1· · · ·Q.· · But by that point, by the time that
·2· you appeared on the television programs, was
·3· at-risk youths something that you had taken a
·4· particular interest in?
·5· · · ·A.· · I took an interest in fundraising
·6· period.
·7· · · ·Q.· · You also in March of 2010 acted as
·8· sort of a guest reporter for WSYR --
·9· · · ·A.· · Correct.
10· · · ·Q.· · -- prior to a NBA playoff basketball
11· game.· How did that come about?
12· · · ·A.· · I think they asked me if I would do
13· it and I, you know, said yes, just to get, you
14· know, the inside scope.
15· · · ·Q.· · Who asked you?
16· · · ·A.· · I don't know.· It was someone at the
17· channel, but I don't -- I don't recall if the
18· president or Maggie or someone else.· I don't
19· recall that, how that came about.
20· · · ·Q.· · Who is Maggie?
21· · · ·A.· · Maggie was the producer of Bridge
22· Street.· Now that I said her name, now I know
23· it, Maggie.
24· · · ·Q.· · Is that the same Maggie who
25· participated in the fashion show?
Case 5:12-cv-00836-DEP Document 97-3 Filed 09/30/15 Page 14 of 28
·1· · · ·A.· · I don't know if Maggie did walk in
·2· the fashion.· She could have.· She could have.
·3· I did a few of them and she could have.
·4· · · ·Q.· · Okay.
·5· · · · · · ·Long blond hair?
·6· · · ·A.· · No.
·7· · · ·Q.· · Different Maggie probably.
·8· · · ·A.· · No, no, no.
·9· · · ·Q.· · What's Maggie's last name, the
10· producer Maggie?
11· · · ·A.· · I don't know.· It just came to my
12· mind.· I don't know.· She's no longer there.· So
13· I don't recall her last name.
14· · · ·Q.· · What about the -- was Maggie the one
15· who approached you for the basketball gig?
16· · · ·A.· · I don't recall that.· I don't.
17· · · ·Q.· · Okay.
18· · · · · · ·Your appearances on Bridge Street
19· were those -- were you paid for those?
20· · · ·A.· · No.
21· · · ·Q.· · The same thing with the basketball
22· story?
23· · · ·A.· · No.
24· · · ·Q.· · You were not paid?
25· · · ·A.· · No.
Case 5:12-cv-00836-DEP Document 97-3 Filed 09/30/15 Page 15 of 28
·1· · · ·Q.· · Was it Maggie that approached you for
·2· the basketball story?
·3· · · ·A.· · I don't recall.
·4· · · ·Q.· · Other than Bridge Street and the
·5· basketball story, was there any other work that
·6· you did in, let's first say TV media?
·7· · · ·A.· · Not that I recall, no.
·8· · · ·Q.· · Your complaint alleges that in 2011
·9· you were hired by a radio station owned by
10· Galaxy Communications.· It said in Paragraph No.
11· 26, "to conduct a radio show discussing the
12· Syracuse men's basketball program", is that
13· right?
14· · · ·A.· · Yes.· I did a morning show on
15· Wednesday's, correct.
16· · · ·Q.· · Tell me about that?
17· · · ·A.· · It was four or five minutes with Big
18· Mike with just talking about the basketball
19· team, just giving them an inside scope.
20· · · ·Q.· · Is that radio station Sunny 102?· Is
21· that what it's referred to?
22· · · ·A.· · Yes.
23· · · ·Q.· · And Big Mike is a host; right?
24· · · ·A.· · Yes.
25· · · ·Q.· · How often did you do that?
Case 5:12-cv-00836-DEP Document 97-3 Filed 09/30/15 Page 16 of 28
·1· · · ·A.· · I did it every Wednesday for maybe a
·2· year, you know, on and off.· It wasn't totally a
·3· year, but on and off for about a year or so.
·4· · · ·Q.· · And how did that come about?
·5· · · ·A.· · I think I was doing something again
·6· with the Boys and Girls Club and they heard me
·7· and they asked me if I wanted to come on just to
·8· do that and I don't know who approached me about
·9· that.
10· · · ·Q.· · And when you appeared on there did
11· you discuss the basketball program?
12· · · ·A.· · Some of the time.
13· · · ·Q.· · Anything else?
14· · · ·A.· · The Boys and Girls Club, any charity
15· events going on.
16· · · ·Q.· · What was the source of your knowledge
17· of the basketball program?
18· · · ·A.· · A source meaning?
19· · · ·Q.· · Well, how did you know about what you
20· were talking about?
21· · · ·A.· · Because I was married to one of the
22· coaches so --
23· · · ·Q.· · -- from talking to Bernie?
24· · · ·A.· · Yes.
25· · · ·Q.· · Did you ever talk to Bernie about
Case 5:12-cv-00836-DEP Document 97-3 Filed 09/30/15 Page 17 of 28
·1· what you were going to say on the air?
·2· · · ·A.· · No.
·3· · · ·Q.· · And when did you stop doing that
·4· radio program?
·5· · · ·A.· · Right about the time this whole case
·6· happened.
·7· · · ·Q.· · And why did you stop?
·8· · · ·A.· · Because I didn't really feel like I
·9· could, you know, any longer do it.· So I kind of
10· took myself out of the picture.
11· · · ·Q.· · As a result of the ESPN stories?
12· · · ·A.· · Correct.
13· · · ·Q.· · Were you -- did you ever do any paid
14· work for that radio station of any kind?
15· · · ·A.· · I'm trying to think.· I did some work
16· for them for an event.· Let me just think.· For
17· one of the events.· I don't know that I got
18· paid.· I can't recall, but I did do selling of
19· some -- you know, I marketed for Midnight
20· Madness.· I did marketing for them.
21· · · ·Q.· · Midnight Madness can mean a lot of
22· things in a lot of places.· What exactly does it
23· mean --
24· · · ·A.· · It was the start of the season at
25· midnight.· The first day we could practice is
Case 5:12-cv-00836-DEP Document 97-3 Filed 09/30/15 Page 18 of 28
·1· Midnight Madness.
·2· · · ·Q.· · Was there an individual named Ed
·3· Levine --
·4· · · ·A.· · Yes.
·5· · · ·Q.· · -- at the station?
·6· · · ·A.· · Yes.
·7· · · ·Q.· · Was he the person who approached you
·8· about it?
·9· · · ·A.· · It could have been.· He was the CEO.
10· · · ·Q.· · When you say you just took yourself
11· out of doing it after the news stories, did you
12· have a conversation with Mr. Levine about your
13· continuing or not to --
14· · · ·A.· · I don't recall.· I don't recall.
15· · · ·Q.· · Was there -- are there other media
16· appearances for want of a better word that you
17· did, around this timeframe, 2009, 2010 --
18· · · ·A.· · Other than Galaxy and Channel 9 WSYR,
19· no, not that I can think of, except the charity
20· work.
21· · · ·Q.· · Okay.
22· · · · · · ·How old is Bernie Fine today?
23· · · ·A.· · Today is he 68.
24· · · ·Q.· · And when did you meet him?
25· · · ·A.· · 1976, '77.
LAURIE J. FINE·FINE vs. ESPN
September 03, 2014
800.211.DEPO (3376)EsquireSolutions.com
LAURIE J. FINE·FINE vs. ESPN
September 03, 201445
800.211.DEPO (3376)EsquireSolutions.com
YVer1f
Case 5:12-cv-00836-DEP Document 97-3 Filed 09/30/15 Page 19 of 28
·1· it.· That was it.· Never, hey, Laurie, what do
·2· you think about this.· Nothing.· Because no one
·3· could knock at the door.
·4· · · ·Q.· · Well, the District Attorney did ask
·5· you what you thought about it; right, and the
·6· police -- the Syracuse Police asked you what you
·7· thought about it?
·8· · · ·A.· · I don't recall them asking me what I
·9· thought about it, but to defend this in a way
10· where ESPN might have not printed it or printed
11· something else or you talk, no one ever knocked
12· on my door.
13· · · · · · ·Every other news entity came to that
14· door.· Every other one.· Not ESPN.
15· · · ·Q.· · And what did you tell them?
16· · · ·A.· · I had no comment.· I didn't want to
17· comment to CNN or MS-NBC.· They're not the ones
18· that wrote the story.
19· · · ·Q.· · Why didn't you want to comment to
20· them?
21· · · ·A.· · Because I was told not to talk on the
22· advice of my lawyer and I didn't talk.· All they
23· had to do was knock.· At least I would have had
24· a right to say no, I don't or yes, I do.· I was
25· never afforded that right.· They took that all
LAURIE J. FINE·FINE vs. ESPN
September 03, 2014
800.211.DEPO (3376)EsquireSolutions.com
LAURIE J. FINE·FINE vs. ESPN
September 03, 2014179
800.211.DEPO (3376)EsquireSolutions.com
YVer1f
Case 5:12-cv-00836-DEP Document 97-3 Filed 09/30/15 Page 20 of 28
·1· away from me.· All away from me.· They ran with
·2· a story maliciously, that they never vetted.
·3· They ran with facts they never asked me about.
·4· Again, malicious.· Everything they did was to
·5· hurt me.· They intended to hurt me and they did.
·6· They accomplished that.
·7· · · ·Q.· · Why do you have any reason to believe
·8· that your attorney wouldn't have advised you not
·9· to talk to ESPN?
10· · · ·A.· · Because they would make it my
11· decision.· I was advised not to, but if ESPN --
12· ESPN the one who wrote -- you know, published
13· this whole thing -- and at some point this story
14· or this tape went to the Post Standard.· They
15· found it not reasonable to publish it.· You
16· know, they didn't want to do that.
17· · · ·Q.· · Well, if you wanted to get your side
18· of the story out, why didn't you tell them --
19· · · ·A.· · I wanted to tell ESPN my side of the
20· story and at least give me a chance to speak on
21· this.· They are the ones who wrote the story.
22· Nobody else.· Or released the story.· No one
23· else did.
24· · · ·Q.· · Did you ever contact ESPN to ask them
25· to give --
LAURIE J. FINE·FINE vs. ESPN
September 03, 2014
800.211.DEPO (3376)EsquireSolutions.com
LAURIE J. FINE·FINE vs. ESPN
September 03, 2014180
800.211.DEPO (3376)EsquireSolutions.com
YVer1f
Case 5:12-cv-00836-DEP Document 97-3 Filed 09/30/15 Page 21 of 28
·1· · · ·A.· · No, I did not.
·2· · · ·Q.· · Why not?
·3· · · ·A.· · Because apparently, you know, there
·4· was people waiting for me to come out and
·5· waiting for me to talk.· And they wanted to
·6· again, hearsay, they wanted to get me alone so
·7· Bernie wouldn't know about that they were
·8· waiting to talk to me.
·9· · · · · · ·Well, at the end of the day, you
10· know, again, never came, never saw them, never
11· knocked, never called ever, ever.· You know, so
12· you print one side of the story and you run with
13· it.
14· · · · · · ·You know, it's funny to me how the
15· Jerry Sandusky story comes out and this is all
16· piggie-backed to Jerry Sandusky.· Then we get
17· Zak Tommaselli.· Gee, someone should have looked
18· into that.· You know.
19· · · · · · · · ·MR. SIEGEL:· We're at 12 minutes
20· ·and 38 seconds.
21· · · · · · · · · ·(Tape playing)
22· BY MR. SIEGEL:
23· · · ·Q.· · So he says the thing about Bernie, I
24· call him a pedophile --
25· · · ·A.· · He --
LAURIE J. FINE·FINE vs. ESPN
September 03, 2014
800.211.DEPO (3376)EsquireSolutions.com
LAURIE J. FINE·FINE vs. ESPN
September 03, 2014181
800.211.DEPO (3376)EsquireSolutions.com
YVer1f
Case 5:12-cv-00836-DEP Document 97-3 Filed 09/30/15 Page 22 of 28
·1· · · · · · · · ·MR. FISHER:· Right here
·2· ·(indicating).
·3· BY MR. SIEGEL:
·4· · · ·Q.· · We just got to the second graph from
·5· you on Pg. 12.· Where it says, hey, I married
·6· him and he never helped me.· You never said
·7· that --
·8· · · ·A.· · I mean, let me just -- right.· You
·9· know, I mean, he never did help me.· I mean, I
10· worked at a salon where he could have maybe
11· opened the door so I could do other things.· No.
12· He never helped me.· I worked at the salon.· I
13· didn't make like great money.· Then, you know, I
14· could have done bigger, better things which when
15· this whole case developed I was on my way to
16· really come into myself and really make a name,
17· you know, a good name for myself.
18· · · · · · ·At that time, obviously, with this
19· case coming out I couldn't.· But at this time he
20· wasn't looking to help me.· We had three kids.
21· I think he wanted me to stay home.· He wasn't
22· really looking to offering me anything or help
23· me out in the least because he wanted me at
24· home.· Is where -- because I worked maybe
25· part-time at that point at the salon.· I wasn't
LAURIE J. FINE·FINE vs. ESPN
September 03, 2014
800.211.DEPO (3376)EsquireSolutions.com
LAURIE J. FINE·FINE vs. ESPN
September 03, 2014194
800.211.DEPO (3376)EsquireSolutions.com
YVer1f
Case 5:12-cv-00836-DEP Document 97-3 Filed 09/30/15 Page 23 of 28
·1· there full-time.
·2· · · ·Q.· · You were on your way to making a good
·3· name for yourself with what?
·4· · · ·A.· · I was going to another job, Save the
·5· Children, when this whole case came to fruition.
·6· I was going to start a morning talk show for
·7· Galaxy to, you know, get the women's inside take
·8· on basketball.· I was starting to market for
·9· some plastic surgeons in town.· I was really
10· starting to build a career.· I really did it on
11· my own merit because I wasn't in the shadow of
12· Bernie Fine anymore.· The good work I had done,
13· people recognized that.
14· · · · · · ·You can hire anybody.· If you don't
15· tow the weight, you're gone and I knew that.
16· · · ·Q.· · You had discussed with Galaxy doing
17· your own show?
18· · · ·A.· · No.· It was with two other gentlemen
19· that hosted a sports show, but I would be the
20· women's perspective on that show.
21· · · ·Q.· · Who were the other gentlemen?
22· · · ·A.· · Steve and I forgot the other kid was
23· from Galaxy.· And the other guy is from Channel
24· 9, Steve Insante.
25· · · ·Q.· · That was something different than the
LAURIE J. FINE·FINE vs. ESPN
September 03, 2014
800.211.DEPO (3376)EsquireSolutions.com
LAURIE J. FINE·FINE vs. ESPN
September 03, 2014195
800.211.DEPO (3376)EsquireSolutions.com
YVer1f
Case 5:12-cv-00836-DEP Document 97-3 Filed 09/30/15 Page 24 of 28
·1· Big Mike Show?
·2· · · ·A.· · Yeah.· It was totally different.
·3· Totally, yes.· So I was coming to start this and
·4· then this all happened.· So there was no way the
·5· show was going to happen.
·6· · · · · · · · ·MR. SIEGEL:· We're at 14 minutes
·7· ·and 34 seconds into the tape.
·8· · · · · · · · · ·(Tape playing)
·9· BY MR. SIEGEL:
10· · · ·Q.· · So when Bobby said the only thing he
11· cared about, referring to Bernie, was one thing,
12· that was like touching me or whatever.
13· · · ·A.· · Yeah.· Again, I -- again, now looking
14· at what he was saying there, I didn't know.· But
15· it truly wasn't the one thing he only cared
16· about was the friendship.· He cared about the
17· money.· That was his basis for everything.· It
18· wasn't a friendship with Bernie.· It wasn't a
19· friendship at all with Bernie.· He didn't care
20· about that.· He didn't care about a friendship
21· at all with Bernie.
22· · · ·Q.· · You understood that Bobby was talking
23· about touching him sexually?
24· · · ·A.· · At this point, I gotta be honest with
25· you, I cannot say for sure.· I do not know at
LAURIE J. FINE·FINE vs. ESPN
September 03, 2014
800.211.DEPO (3376)EsquireSolutions.com
LAURIE J. FINE·FINE vs. ESPN
September 03, 2014196
800.211.DEPO (3376)EsquireSolutions.com
YVer1f
Case 5:12-cv-00836-DEP Document 97-3 Filed 09/30/15 Page 25 of 28
·1· working.· Just, you know, the damage to my name
·2· and what they put out there.· Just for my
·3· sanity.· You know, I'm on high blood pressure
·4· medication.· I'm on Xanax.· I wouldn't recognize
·5· the person I am now.· I don't even know her.
·6· · · ·Q.· · Anything else?
·7· · · ·A.· · No.
·8· · · ·Q.· · The job that you testified that you
·9· were going to start at the Save the Children
10· Foundation, how much did that pay?
11· · · ·A.· · We had not worked that out yet.· We
12· had not worked that out.
13· · · ·Q.· · Do you believe or did you have any
14· belief as to whether it would pay more than the
15· Boys and Girls Club, about the same, less?
16· · · ·A.· · Probably more than the Boys and Girls
17· Club because now I had experience doing it and
18· they were looking for me at that point.· So more
19· than the Boys and Girls Club.
20· · · ·Q.· · Do you have any belief as to how much
21· money you would be earning today, roughly, on an
22· annual basis if these stories did not get out?
23· · · ·A.· · Well, the one radio show that I was
24· going to be paid for -- I did some work for
25· Paradise Medical which is a local thing.· The
LAURIE J. FINE·FINE vs. ESPN
September 03, 2014
800.211.DEPO (3376)EsquireSolutions.com
LAURIE J. FINE·FINE vs. ESPN
September 03, 2014322
800.211.DEPO (3376)EsquireSolutions.com
YVer1f
Case 5:12-cv-00836-DEP Document 97-3 Filed 09/30/15 Page 26 of 28
·1· doctors.· I don't know.· It could have been --
·2· at that point with what I was doing it could
·3· have been well over $200,000 year.
·4· · · ·Q.· · You think that you were making 50 to
·5· 60 in 2011 and you could be making well over
·6· 200 --
·7· · · ·A.· · I had come into my own.· I finally
·8· found a niche that I was actually good at.
·9· Yeah, absolutely.
10· · · · · · ·I mean, prior to the Boys and Girls
11· Club I was making nothing.· I came from hundreds
12· of dollars to at least something at least a good
13· job.· 50 to 60,000 a year.
14· · · ·Q.· · Do you contend that the broadcast
15· affected you physically?· Did it cause any --
16· · · ·A.· · Yes.
17· · · ·Q.· · What?
18· · · ·A.· · The high blood pressure which I never
19· had and now I'm being treated for.· The anxiety
20· which I never had, now I'm being treated for.
21· Things of that nature.
22· · · ·Q.· · Is there a contention that you never
23· had high blood pressure before the broadcast --
24· · · ·A.· · I was never taking any medication for
25· high blood pressure.· No.· I was good.· Pretty
LAURIE J. FINE·FINE vs. ESPN
September 03, 2014
800.211.DEPO (3376)EsquireSolutions.com
LAURIE J. FINE·FINE vs. ESPN
September 03, 2014323
800.211.DEPO (3376)EsquireSolutions.com
YVer1f
Case 5:12-cv-00836-DEP Document 97-3 Filed 09/30/15 Page 27 of 28
·1· · · · · · · · · · ·CERTIFICATE
·2· · COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA )·3· · · · · · · · · · · · · · · ·) SS.· · COUNTY OF WESTMORELAND· · · ·)·4· · · ·I, Dana M. Cunningham, a Court Reporter -·5· Notary Public in and for the Commonwealth of· · Pennsylvania, do hereby certify that the·6· witness, LAURIE FINE, was by me first duly sworn· · to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing·7· but the truth, and that the above deposition was· · recorded in stenotype by me and reduced to·8· typewriting under my direction.
·9· · ·I further certify that the said deposition· · constitutes a true record of the testimony given10· by said witness; that the foregoing deposition· · was taken at the time and place stated herein.11· · · ·I further certify that the inspection,12· reading and signing of said deposition were· · waived by counsel for the respective parties and13· by the witness.
14· · ·I further certify that I am not a relative,· · employee or attorney or counsel of any of the15· parties, or a relative or employee of such· · attorney or counsel or financially interested16· directly or indirectly in this action.
17· · ·IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my· · hand and affixed my seal of office this 15th day18· of September, 2014.
19
20
21
22· · · · · · · · · · · · · ·_______________________· · · · · · · · · · · · · · · ·Dana M. Cunningham23
24
25
LAURIE J. FINE·FINE vs. ESPN
September 03, 2014
800.211.DEPO (3376)EsquireSolutions.com
LAURIE J. FINE·FINE vs. ESPN
September 03, 2014353
800.211.DEPO (3376)EsquireSolutions.com
Case 5:12-cv-00836-DEP Document 97-3 Filed 09/30/15 Page 28 of 28