Day 4 Notes:
"I was down at the Cook County Courthouse for day 4 of the Dr. Chris Amann vs.
CM Punk &
Colt Cabana trial.
Here all the full notes from the morning session:
After pre-trial discussion between counsel about suits, “Do you remember when suspenders were in?” “No,” the plaintiff’s side rested. This led to defense motioning for a Direct To Verdict, on the grounds that the Plaintiff has yet to prove any defaming statements. Judge denies the motion. The trial resumed at 9:45am.
Testimony of Scott Colton (Colt Cabana)
- Defense tries to get Cabana to talk about his childhood and early days of wrestling but a series of objections derails this line of questioning.
- Colt talks about wrestling being a “different, niche world.”
- Colt says he wrestles, “[does] YouTube,” produce podcasts, sew costumes, “comedian, kind of.”
- Colt says he met Punk at Steel City Domain Wrestling School in 1999 and they became fast friends.
- “Two of the ones who really loved wrestling the most.”
- Colt confirms that their friendship continued after wrestling school.
- Punk gives a history of the ways he and Punk have stayed in contact, (text, email, applications, etc.)
- “How often did you see each other?” “All the time.”
- Colt describes Punk as “passionate,” before counsel objects to the line of questioning.
- Colt confirmed that he was introduced to WWE through Dr. Tom Pritchard, and would try and get booked as an extra any time they were within 8-10 hours driving.
- Colt signed his contract in 2007, while plaintiff’s lawyers start to object to the relevance of the statements.
SIDEBAR, Colt is left on the stand, Punk goes into a side room. Leading to a tense moment as Amann and Colt tried not to make eye-contact.
- Colt confirms employment with WWE from Apr. 2007-Feb. 2009.
- Colt confirms that Art of Wrestling started in 2010.
- Colt describes Art of Wrestling as having an intro, a middle, and a conclusion.
- Colt says he “gives [his] friends an outlet in the world of wrestling that fans don’t hear.”
- Colt describes learning to podcast as a “trial and error” process.
- When asked how he books his podcast he says, “I ask them if they’d like to be on my podcast.”
- “I bring my recorder, plug it in, give my friend a microphone, hit record…hit stop when it’s done.”
- Colt confirms that Punk was the one to bring up the idea of Punk being on AoW.
- Cabana says he was “well aware” of Punk’s situation.
- “The wrestling community wanted to hear what he had to say.”
- “At the time we were living 4 blocks from each other.”
- Colt describes riding his bike to Punk’s, entering through the back entrance, and recording the podcast on Punk’s couch.
- AJ Mendez-Brooks might’ve been present but Colt cannot confirm.
- “Phil and I talked everyday.”
- “I was living the situation as he was living it.”
- Colt believes he met Dr. Amann prior to podcast.
- Colt doesn’t remember Dr. Amann’s name coming up during recording, and didn’t call Dr. Amann afterwards.
- Colt says Punk showed him the lump, “Hey wanna see this thing?” This is met with an objection.
- Colt confirms he heard about the lump, and saw it before the 2014 Royal Rumble.
At this point, an entire class of 8th graders enter the courtroom.
- Colt says he saw Punk shirtless in his house in 2013. Punk was shirtless and “wearing the camo shorts he always wears.”
- Defense produces Punk’s camo shorts from seemingly under the desk, as Exhibit 117.
- Colt identifies the shorts as Punk’s.
- Colt, on the lump: “It was disgusting.”
- Colt says the lump was on the left side of Punk’s waistline, and that it was raised, discolored, gross.
- Colt talked to Punk “every day that I was home.”
- Colt saw the lump “at least more than once.”
- “It was my understanding that he was constantly asking WWE-” [cut off by an objection]
- Colt confirms he didn’t see the Royal Rumble until after the podcast, had no way of knowing Amann was ringside.
- Colt does not believe Punk brought up Amann.
- The only part where Colt thinks Punk brought up Amann had to do with an unrelated story about Punk’s elbow.
- Colt believes that the “they” in “They Z-Packed me to death” was general WWE Medical Staff.
- Colt says the same for every comment in podcast.
- Counsel is stopped from asking about getting emails from listeners.
- “I knew it was gonna be a big episode.”
- Colt confirms he never received an email from Amann.
SIDEBAR
- Colt recalls receiving the Cease & Desist but objections aplenty derails the line of questioning.
- Colt restates that his pre-podcast knowledge of Amann was limited, if at all.
- Plaintiff’s counsel takes over.
- Colt was aware that Amann “had beefs” (plaintiff’s counsel’s words) regardless of not getting email.
- Colt did not know that the “doc” from the podcast quotes were Amann, or even if they were talking about an actual doctor.
- Colt confirms seeing lump because Punk had his shirt off.
- Colt recalls seeing the lump a second time, but couldn’t recall in original deposition.”
- Cabana: “I think there’s a long answer.” Counsel: “You answered in about six words.”
- Colt can’t recall how many times he saw the lump.
- Colt can’t recall seeing the lump change size.
- Colt confirms being in Japan in fall of 2013, but gets confused on dates.
- Colt confirms Punk in Europe until 11/17/2013
- Colt can’t confirm if Punk told him he was on anti-biotics.
- “I don’t want to say anything wrong.”
- When pressed, Colt can’t remember any of Punk’s comments about anti-biotics.
- Colt confirms he has never been treated by Amann.
- Counsel plays podcast clip, in which Cabana says he wants the story to be heard by “as many ears as possible.”
- “I thought it was a wild story.”
- Counsel tries to get Cabana to define what he meant by as many ears as possible, but Cabana keeps the definition at “whoever was listening.”
- Colt expected people to talk about the story. “I just wanted people to listen.”
- Colt’s lawyer takes over.
- Colt confirms that he saw the lump a “variety” of times.
- Colt confirms he didn’t believe Amann was the doctor.
BREAK
Before court resumes, the attorneys get in a fight over how much footage from the 2014 Royal Rumble can be shown. Amann is on screen, but his lawyers do not want footage of Kane chokeslamming Punk through the announce table shown to the jury.
Judge: “I don’t know who Kane is.” Counsel: “The big man without a shirt.”
Judge calls counsel into the hallway, where indistinct shouting is heard.
Court resumes.
Testimony of Phil Brooks (CM Punk)
- Punk identifies himself as a UFC Fighter and freelance comic writer for Marvel Comics.
- Punk says he didn’t listen to the podcast until just before the trial.
- “I sure do swear a lot.”
- Punk says he’s a different person.
- “I sure was bitter.”
- Punk almost starts crying, saying hearing who he was back then “brings up memories” of things he doesn’t care about anymore.
- Punk confirms that he started wrestling at age 15, as The Punk.
- Punk talks about hitting a wrestling with a roll of quarters and says, “Alls I’m saying is I’ve got a lot cents.” [possibly stating this is his first promo]
- Punk confirms that being a member of a tag team The Chick Magnets is where his CM comes from, thus entering into public record that CM stands for “Chick Magnet”
- Punk discusses growing up in Lockport, IL and his early friendship with Cabana.
- Punk confirms signing with WWE in 2005.
- He describes his character as “punk rock kid, what you see is what you get, straight edge.”
- Punk describes the straight edge lifestyle.
- Punk confirms he is still straight edge.
- Punk describes tactics in playing a straight edge face vs. playing a straight edge heel.
- “I like punk rock.”
- Punk describes DIY [the movement, not the tag team]
- “Everyone has guilty songs on their iPod, enjoy it.”
- “Genesis of podcast was I’d left WWE. Up until that point I’d been silent, the other side…not so much.”
- “I just wanted to set the record straight for my fans.”
- Punk explains what a Shoot Interview, as well as the overall concept of “shooting” in pro-wrestling.
- Punk says goal of podcast was to “paint a picture.”
- “It’s my story. I’m just telling my story.”
- Punk confirms Cabana’s testimony.
- Punk cannot confirm AJ’s presence during podcast recording.
- Punk says there was no formality, no difference between normal conversation.
- Punk hated holding the microphone.
- Punk had not seen his WWE Medical Report, was not copied on it.
- Punk confirms feeling symptoms listed in Medical Report.
- “I felt sick overall.” Headaches, lack of sleep, no appetite, vomiting after exaggeration. Narrowed vision, dizziness, neck couldn’t support head.
- Punk defines taking bumps and running the ropes.
- Punk confirms vomiting after every match.
- “My head was a fishbowl.”
- Punk discusses having crying spells.
- “I’d be in catering, one sec fine, next welling up.”
- I’m sure I wasn’t fun to be around.
- Coughing started in September of 2014, subsided, and then came back in November.
- Punk describes rib pain but can’t describe the initial injury.
- Defense reads podcasts statements about concussion before Europe 2013.
- Punk talks about “getting [his] bell rung” by Luke Harper.
- Punk confirms no one but Dr. Samson treated him on European tour.
- Punk confirms no one but Dr. Samson talked to Punk about concussion.
- Punk confirms symptoms worsening in Europe.
- Punk confirms Dr. Samson gave him a Z-Pack.
Break For Lunch
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CM Punk & Colt Cabana v Dr Chris Amann Trial Day 4 Morning Notes "
Source: CM Punk & Colt Cabana v Dr Chris Amann Trial Day 4 Morning Notes
"I was over at the Cook County Courthouse for Day 4 of the trial of Dr. Chris Amman v CM Punk & Colt Cabana. Here are the notes from the afternoon session.
Continued Testimony of Phil Brooks (CM Punk)
- Punk cannot confirm the definition of Z-Pack. “It’s antibiotics.”
- Punk recalls only officially being prescribed antibiotics once.
- Punk says the rest of his antibiotics were received in a small envelope. He’d text Drs. Amman or Samson, or he’d ask them in person for antibiotics.
- Punk notes he could ask for them anywhere in the building. “Whenever I wanted them.”
- Punk confirms getting Z-Packs from Dr. Samson
- Antibiotic line of questioning is derailed by objection after objection from Amman’s attorney. Judge sustains as Punk’s attorney is not doing a great job of laying foundation for her line of questioning.
- Punk confirms getting a little envelope of antibiotics on 2013 European Tour.
- Punk confirms he was never given paperwork, electronic or otherwise, for antibiotics
- Punk confirms symptoms would get worse as he wrestled, and would subside when he rested.
- Punk’s attorney tries to ask about the Z-Pack stories from the podcast, but can’t ask without leading and is stopped by Amman’s attorney repeatedly, until line of questioning is abandoned.
- Punk confirms being at 2014 Royal Rumble.
- Punk describes the Royal Rumble match rules.
- Punk describes the pre-match meeting that wrestlers attend for Royal Rumble.
- While the eighth graders from the morning session did not return, a few wandered in for Punk’s testimony.
- Punk, about the Royal Rumble being scripted: “Writers don’t have a lot of say in what happens in the ring.”
- “Writers write storylines. Wrestlers put their matches together.”
- Punk describes the process of wrestlers deciding eliminations. Wrestlers are given a list of entry numbers and eliminations and are supposed to build from there.
- Punk can’t recall how many wrestlers he interacted with that day.
- Punk was supposed to be one of the last 4 in the ring.
- Punk describes a clothesline, both the move and the laundry equipment.
- “Is there contact or is there simulated contact?” “Oh no. There’s contact.”
- Punk describes what makes up a wrestling ring.
- Footage of Kofi Kingston clotheslining Punk from the 2014 Royal Rumble is shown.
- Punk confirms clothesline was planned.
- Punk praises Kofi’s athleticism.
- Punk confirms the clothesline gave him a concussion.
- Punk can’t confirm how long he’d been in the Rumble.
- Punk explains a flat back bump.
- Punk says there’s no ill will or blame on Kofi for the concussion. “We probably crowded each other.”
- Punk describes the feeling of being concussed.
- Punk confirms he had no notes for Cabana’s podcast.
- Punk told a camera guy, whom Punk only knows as “Johnny Photo,” to get Dr. Amman.
- Punk stands by his version of the conversation he relayed in podcast.
- Punk confirms feeling “helpless” when Amman responded to his concussion with “What do you want me to do?”
- Punk confirms asking to compose himself mid-match during the 2014 Royal Rumble.
- Punk has started crying.
- Punk describes his judgement in 2014 as “poor.”
SIDEBAR
- 10-15 minute break is called, Judge tells Punk to compose himself.
- Punk agrees that he disagreed with instructions during Royal Rumble.
- Punk says he only had one conversation with Amman during Rumble.
- Punk confirms viewing the entire Royal Rumble PPV(at a later date)
- Punk cannot recall his conversation with Amman happening on screen.
- Video footage of Amman is shown from later in the match, counsel states it is the only time Amman’s face is visible on tv.
- Punk confirms not seeing Amman’s face on TV in his Rumble viewing.
- Punk recalls The Lump first appearing in fall 2013.
- Punk confirms traveling by bus from city to city while working for WWE.
- Punk confirms providing his own bus.”It cut down on wear and tear.”
- Punk confirms changing and showering on bus.
- Punk confirms himself, AJ, Kofi Kingston and the bus driver as the main group that traveled on the bus, but there would be a “rotating crew of people.”
- Punk describes the process of dropping off wrestlers at the arena. After which, Punk would stay on the bus until it was time for him to be at the arena.
- Punk confirms changing on bus.
- Punk confirms changing alone.
Punk is handed a target bag by his attorney.
- Punk defines wrestling gear
- Punk confirms that all of his gear came from a WWE seamstress, Julie.
- Punk is asked to describe his gear: Speedo, trunks, kickpads, etc.
- Punk takes exhibit 119, his speedo, out of the target bag.
- Punk positively identifies the speedo as his speedo.
- Punk mentions that it is the only speedo he ever wore in WWE, and calls the fact a “little piece of WWE Trivia.”
- Punk takes exhibit 120, a pair of black and white wrestling trunks, out of the bag and positively identifies them as his trunks from the 2014 Royal Rumble.
- Punk confirms that he’d wash his speedo in the sink.
- Punk pulls out a pair of shorts that he would wear backstage, so as not to appear bottomless, and positively identifies them.
- Punk says wearing a Gracie hoodie in his entrance was “not typical,” but it was what he had in the bus at the time.
- Punk describes the fit of his gear. Trunks are tighter than speedo.
- Punk shows on his person where The Lump was, points to his beltline.
- Punk claims to still have a scar where The Lump was.
- Punk doesn’t know why he said “back,” and not “butt.”
- Punk points out on his RR trunks that The Lump would’ve been “above or around the star,” on the left side of his waist.
- Punk defines a hydroculator (used to warm hot packs)
- “If no one was in the trainer’s room, I’d do it myself.”
- “I had a bad everything,” Punk, on his injuries.
- Punk points out the area on his lowerback where he would use hot packs.
- Punk said no one ever applied a heat pack near The Lump.
- Punk says he never received a heat pack inside his shorts.
- Punk says Larry Heck never would’ve seen The Lump.
- Heck was never on bus or in shower.
- Punk says he was never undressed around Mark Carrano, John Cone, Tim Gaeng or Larry Heck.
- Punk described the color of The Lump as “purple, reddish, blue.”
- Punk confirms taking no notes about The Lump.
- Punk confirms taking no photos of his butt.
- Punk unsure when The Lump started getting “tough.”
- Punk describes The Lump as “super, super sore,” even when getting dressed.
- Punk said The Lump felt like it was radiating heat.
- “A lot of things hurt, I’m still throwing myself on the ground.”
- Punk confirms Cabana’s account of seeing The Lump.
- “If anyone’s gonna see my butt, that isn’t my wife, it’s Scott.”
- Punk describes the camo shorts entered into evidence as “standard issue…straight edge kid pants.”
- Punk, on wearing shorts in winter: “Shorts and a hoodie, that’s what I wear.”
- Punk says massage therapist from Spa Soak on Milwaukee Ave. in Chicago would’ve seen The Lump.
- “It was hard to miss if I was naked.”
- Massage therapist was told, and asked about The Lump twice.
- Punk confirms AJ was employed by WWE.
Text messages between AJ & Punk, regarding The Lump
- 1/28/2014- “This fucking lump hurts.”
Punk describes this text as “telling [AJ] how my day went,” which got a chuckle from the court.
- “I’m going to stab it.” -Punk, joking in a text about The Lump.
- Later text message: “I’m going to poke this growth on my butt. it’s time.”
- AJ: “Let me bring you to a doctor.”
- Punk: “Noooo, baby” “I don’t like ’em.”
- Later text: “This thing on my butt/back fucking hurts. I hate doc Amman for not helping me.”
- When AJ texts Punk, saying she’s on her way to orlando, Punk responds: “I have a giant growth on my upper left butt.”
- Punk, in a text: “This thing is starting to really hurt. I think it’s a person.”
- Punk on 2/13/2014 (date of visit with Physician’s Assistant Patrick Duffy): “Your dreamy doc says its a staph infection.” -Punk believed Duffy was a doctor because AJ believed Duffy was a doctor.
End of text messages
- Punk confirms never texting Amman about The Lump.
- Punk dates showing Amman The Lump in fall of 2013.
- Amman asked how long it’d been there, Punk wasn’t sure, and said it didn’t hurt.
- Punk made no notes, no one was there.
- Punk says this conversation happened in the trainer’s room.
- Punk describes showing Amman The Lump a second time, as Punk was hoping to get it cut out.
- When asked about wrestlers routinely have everything from zits to lumps cut out, Punk says “Wrestlers are a strange breed.”
- Punk says he showed Amman The Lump at the Royal Rumble.
- When asked about comparing The Lump to a baseball, Punk says, “It’s what I said and it’s what it looked like.”
- “It looked raised.”
- Punk on The Lump: “It felt like a giant mass, and it felt like it was on my butt.”
- AJ is present at the Rumble meeting.
- Punk says AJ cared more about Punk’s health than Punk did.
- Punk confirms hundreds backstage at Royal Rumble.
- Punk stands by conversation described in podcast, but “not accurately.”
- Punk described constant pain caused by The Lump.
- Punk stands by his podcast statements, or at least the “gist” of it.
- Punk says golfball and baseball comparisons felt right.
- Punk says The Lump looked like a bruise at the Royal Rumble.
- Punk says Amman said he’d take care of The Lump.
- After the Royal Rumble, Punk felt “hurt,” “furious,” and “confused.”
- Punk recalls asking “cut this fucking thing out of me,” but cannot recall Amman’s response.
- Punk believed Duffy was a doctor, and supposedly told him to take antibiotics for two weeks and then return for removal.
- Punk confirms that Patrick Bateman is “an eccentric serial killer,” played by Christian Bale, and felt that Patrick Duffy looked like Patrick Bateman with white hair.
- Punk stands by description of visit to Duffy, but cannot speak to the intent of the words.
- Punk recalls Duffy calling The Lump staph infection.
- Punk confirms not knowing the difference between Staph and MRSA.
- Text Message from Punk to AJ: “gotta be out on antibiotics for two weeks before he can remove it.”
- Text Message from Punk to AJ: “I’m going to fucking email Vince and bury Dr. Amman.”
- About the idea to email Vince, “I had a eureka moment as to why I’d felt so bad for so long.”
- Text from AJ to Punk: “I can’t believe Dr. Amman didn’t catch that.”
- Text from Punk to AJ: “I showed this to doc twice.”
- AJ and Punk continue to discuss treatment.
- Text from Punk to AJ: “He’s going to cut it open and drain it.”
- Text from Punk to AJ: “This is dumb. Staph can kill you.”
- Punk felt discharge on his neck during procedure, hence podcast comment about fluid hitting the ceiling.
Texts From Punk to AJ, rapid succession it seems:
- “Says its all infected.”
- “They’re squeezing me to death.”
- “I died.”
- “Ugh.”
- “Saying it was a cyst.”
End of text messages.
- Punk confirms memory of Duffy diagnosing The Lump as staph upon initial exam.
- Counsel shows Punk Duffy’s medical report.
- Punk, about antibiotics: “I felt better immediately.”
- There is a series of objections to Punk’s attorney’s next bit of evidence, a page of texts between Punk and his “adopted sister” Chez, and it ends in a furious judge calling a 10-15 minute break, while they determine if the text exchange. Judge is also furious about unwillingness by both sides to set an actual schedule for Monday and Tuesday.
Break
- Judge allows just the first text to be admitted. It is Punk telling Chez about The Lump, the treatment by Duffy, and Amman. This is dated 2/14/2014 (one day after Duffy procedure)
- Punk explains his relationship with Chez.
- Punk stands by the text message.
- Punk felt “relief” after the podcast. “I could move on with my life.”
- Punk never listened to the podcast because “he lived it.”
- Counsel: “Do you feel bad about anything you said in this podcast?” Punk: “No.”
- Punk confirms the text exchange with Colt that ends in “but fuck him.” Him referring to Amman.
- “Everything was the truth, and I think the truth can hurt.”
- “He was threatening my friend with lawyers.”
- Punk stands by the “essential truth” of his story on the podcast.
End of Day 4.
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CM Punk & Colt Cabana v Dr Chris Amann Trial Day 4 Afternoon Notes "
Source: CM Punk & Colt Cabana v Dr Chris Amann Trial Day 4 Afternoon Notes