February 6, 2026 (Minneapolis, MN) – Hawkins Parnell & Young has secured a significant discovery ruling on behalf of OrangeHook, Inc. in ongoing litigation with the company's bank lender in the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota. David Johanson and Douglas Rubel represent OrangeHook in the matter.

The case centers on a $5 million loan. OrangeHook sought to depose a former bank employee with knowledge of the bank's due diligence process and pre-loan involvement with the company. The bank opposed the deposition, filing a motion for a protective order and demanding witness compensation that would have made the deposition cost-prohibitive for OrangeHook.

The court rejected the bank's motion, permitted the deposition to proceed with an expanded scope covering the full period of the bank's pre-loan involvement, and capped witness fees at $1,000. In its ruling, the court found that OrangeHook's discovery requests cast a permissible "wide net" rather than the "fishing expedition" the bank alleged.

"This ruling ensures our client can fully develop the factual record around the bank's conduct before and during the relationship," said Johanson. "When lenders attempt to limit scrutiny of their own practices, borrowers need counsel prepared to push back vigorously."

About Hawkins Parnell & Young

Hawkins Parnell & Young is a national defense litigation firm that has represented many of the largest and most well-known companies in high-risk litigation and business disputes. The 250-strong litigation team works with clients to develop winning defense strategies and, if necessary, try cases to verdict in all 50 states.