Joseph Daniel Lasica v. America Online, Inc.

Filing 45

PROTECTIVE ORDER by Magistrate Judge Frederick F. Mumm, re: Stipulation for Protective Order, 39 . (mz)

Download PDF
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 9 10 CENTRAL DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA – WESTERN DIVISION 11 12 JOSEPH DANIEL LASICA, an individual, Plaintiff, 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 vs. AOL Inc., a Delaware corporation, Defendant. ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) Case No. 2:15-CV-04230-GW (FFMx) ORDER GOVERNING USE AND DISSEMINATION OF CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION 1 Pursuant to the Stipulation to Entry of Order Governing Use and 2 Dissemination of Confidential Information filed by Plaintiff Joseph Daniel Lasica 3 and Defendant AOL Inc. (each a “Party,” and collectively the “Parties”), the Court 4 hereby enters this Protective Order (the “Order”) to protect confidential information 5 and material that may be produced or otherwise disclosed by the parties or third 6 parties during the course of discovery in this case and in order to facilitate the 7 exchange of information and documents that may be subject to confidentiality 8 limitations on disclosure due to federal laws, state laws, and privacy rights. 9 10 IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that: 1. No person subject to this Order may disclose information of any kind 11 produced or disclosed in the course of discovery or settlement discussions in this 12 action (hereinafter “Discovery Material”) which a Party has designated as 13 “Confidential” or “Confidential Attorneys Eyes Only” (hereinafter “Confidential 14 AEO”) pursuant to this Order to anyone else except as this Order expressly permits. 15 2. The Party or person producing or disclosing Discovery Material 16 (hereinafter “Producing Party”) may designate as “Confidential” only the portion of 17 such material that it reasonably and in good faith believes consists of: 18 (a) previously non-disclosed financial information (including 19 without limitation profitability reports or estimates, percentage 20 fees, royalty rates, minimum guarantee payments, sales reports, 21 advertising sales data and sale margins); 22 (b) 23 24 control of any non-public company; (c) 25 26 27 previously non-disclosed material relating to ownership or previously non-disclosed business plans, product-development information, or marketing plans; (d) any information of a personal or intimate nature regarding any individual; 28 1 1 (e) information related to previously non-disclosed and/or sensitive 2 information regarding advertisers, licensees, suppliers, or other 3 entities with whom either Party has business relations; 4 (f) any information that any Party reasonably and in good faith 5 believes would give a direct competitor an unfair business 6 advantage by virtue of disclosure of that information; or 7 (g) 8 9 any other category of information this Court subsequently affords confidential status. 3. A Producing Party may designate as “Confidential AEO” only the 10 portion of Discovery Material that it reasonably and in good faith believes consists 11 of highly sensitive and/or commercially competitive Discovery Material. 12 4. A Producing Party or its counsel may designate the confidential portion 13 of any Discovery Material other than deposition transcripts and exhibits as 14 “Confidential” or “Confidential AEO” by stamping or otherwise clearly marking as 15 “Confidential” or “Confidential AEO” the protected portion in a manner that will not 16 interfere with legibility or audibility. 17 5. A Producing Party or its counsel may designate deposition exhibits or 18 portions of deposition transcripts as Confidential Discovery Material or Confidential 19 AEO Discovery Material either by: (a) indicating on the record during the 20 deposition that a question calls for Confidential or Confidential AEO information, in 21 which case the reporter will bind the transcript of the designated testimony in a 22 separate volume and mark it as “Confidential” or “Confidential AEO” and will 23 indicate “Information Governed by Protective Order” or (b) notifying the reporter 24 and all counsel of record, in writing, within this thirty (30) days after receiving a 25 transcript of the deposition, of the specific pages and lines of the transcript that are 26 to be designated “Confidential” or “Confidential AEO,” in which case all counsel 27 receiving the transcript will be responsible for marking the copies of the designated 28 transcript in their possession or under their control as directed by the Producing 2 4837-9572-4588.v1 1 Party or that person’s counsel. During the thirty (30) day period following the 2 Parties’ receipt of transcripts of the deposition, all Parties will treat the entire 3 deposition transcript as if it had been designated “Confidential.” 4 6. If at any time before the trial of this action a Producing Party realizes 5 that it should have designated as “Confidential” or “Confidential AEO” some 6 portion or portion(s) of Discovery Material that it previously produced without 7 limitation, the Producing Party may so designate such material by so apprising all 8 prior recipients in writing. Thereafter, all persons subject to this Order will treat 9 such designated portion(s) of the Discovery Material as “Confidential” or 10 11 “Confidential AEO.” 7. Nothing contained in this Order will be construed as: (a) a waiver by a 12 Party or person of its right to object to any discovery request; (b) a waiver of any 13 privilege or protection; or (c) a ruling regarding the admissibility at trial of any 14 document, testimony or other evidence. 15 8. Where a Producing Party has designated Discovery Material as 16 “Confidential,” other persons subject to this Order may disclose such information 17 only to the following persons: 18 (a) 19 20 the Parties to this action, their insurers, and counsel to their insurers; (b) counsel retained specifically for this action, including any 21 paralegal, clerical, or other assistant that such outside counsel 22 employs and assigns to this matter; 23 (c) outside vendors or service providers (such as copy service 24 providers and document management consultants) that counsel 25 hire and assign to this matter, provided such persons or entities 26 have first been notified of this Confidentiality Agreement and 27 Protective Order; 28 3 4837-9572-4588.v1 1 (d) any mediator or arbitrator that the Parties engage in this matter or 2 that this Court appoints, provided such person has first executed a 3 Nondisclosure Agreement in form attached hereto as Attachment 4 A; 5 (e) as to any document, its author, its addressee, and any other 6 person indicated on the face of the document as having received a 7 copy; 8 (f) 9 any witness who counsel for a Party in good faith believes may be called to testify at trial or deposition in this action, provided 10 such person has first executed a Nondisclosure Agreement in 11 form attached hereto as Attachment A; 12 (g) any person a Party retains to serve as an expert witness or to 13 otherwise provide specialized advice to counsel or a Party in 14 connection with this action and/or settlement of this action 15 (through a potential business arrangement or otherwise), 16 including but not limited to outside counsel, consultants, 17 accountants and other financial professionals, provided such 18 person has first executed a Nondisclosure Agreement in form 19 attached hereto as Attachment A; 20 (h) 21 conduct in this action; and 22 (i) 23 24 stenographers engaged to transcribe depositions the Parties this Court, including any appellate court, its support personnel, and court reporters. 9. Where a Producing Party has designated Discovery Material as 25 “Confidential AEO,” other persons subject to this Order may disclose such 26 information only to the following persons: 27 (a) a Parties’ in-house or inside legal counsel; 28 4 4837-9572-4588.v1 1 (b) 2 counsel retained specifically for this action, including any paralegal; 3 (c) outside vendors or service providers (such as copy service 4 providers and document management consultants) that counsel 5 hire and assign to this matter, provided such persons or entities 6 have first been notified of this Confidentiality Agreement and 7 Protective Order; 8 (d) 9 any mediator or arbitrator that the Parties engage in this matter or that this Court appoints, provided such person has first executed a 10 Nondisclosure Agreement in the form attached hereto as 11 Attachment A; 12 (e) as to any document, its author, its addressee, and any other 13 person indicated on the face of the document as having received a 14 copy; 15 (f) any person a Party retains to serve as an expert witness or to 16 otherwise provide specialized advice to counsel or a Party in 17 connection with this action and/or settlement of this action 18 (through a potential business arrangement or otherwise), 19 including but not limited to outside counsel, consultants, 20 accountants and other financial professionals, provided such 21 person has first executed a Nondisclosure Agreement; 22 (g) 23 conduct in this action; and 24 (h) 25 26 stenographers engaged to transcribe depositions the Parties this Court, including any appellate court, its support personnel, and court reporters. 10. Before disclosing any “Confidential” or “Confidential AEO” Discovery 27 Material to any person referred to in subparagraphs 8(d), (f), or (g), or 9(d) or (f), 28 counsel must provide a copy of this Order to such person, who must sign the 5 4837-9572-4588.v1 1 Nondisclosure Agreement attached hereto as Exhibit “A” stating that he or she has 2 read this Order and agrees to be bound by its terms. Said counsel must retain each 3 signed Nondisclosure Agreement, hold it in escrow, and produce it to opposing 4 counsel either before such person is permitted to testify (at deposition or trial) or at 5 the conclusion of the case, whichever comes first. 6 11. This Court retains discretion as to whether to afford confidential 7 treatment to any Discovery Material designated as “Confidential” or “Confidential 8 AEO” and submitted to the Court in connection with any motion, application, or 9 proceeding that may result in an order and/or decision by the Court. 10 12. In filing “Confidential” or “Confidential AEO” Discovery Material 11 with this Court, or filing portions of any pleadings, motions, or other papers that 12 disclose such “Confidential” or “Confidential AEO” Discovery Material 13 (“Confidential Court Submission”), the Parties shall publicly file a redacted copy of 14 the Confidential Court Submission via the Electronic Case Filing System. The 15 Parties shall file an application to file the papers under seal, which application must 16 demonstrate good cause for the under seal filing. Only if and to the extent the 17 application is granted, the Parties may then file an unredacted copy of the 18 Confidential Court Submission under seal with the Clerk of this Court. The Parties 19 shall serve this Court and opposing counsel with unredacted courtesy copies of the 20 Confidential Court Submission. 21 13. Any Party who objects to any designation of confidentiality may at any 22 time within the discovery period established by the District Judge to which this 23 action is assigned, serve upon counsel for the Producing Party a written notice 24 stating with particularity the grounds of the objection. If the Parties cannot reach 25 agreement promptly, counsel for all affected Parties will address their dispute to this 26 Court pursuant to the procedure set forth in Central District of California Local Rule 27 37. 28 6 4837-9572-4588.v1 1 14. Recipients of “Confidential” or “Confidential AEO” Discovery 2 Material under this Order may use such material solely for the prosecution and 3 defense of this action and any appeals thereto, and for the purpose of assessing 4 settlement of this action, and not for any business, commercial, or competitive 5 propose or in any other litigation proceeding. Nothing contained in this Order, 6 however, will affect or restrict the rights of any Party with respect to its own 7 documents or information produced in this action. 8 9 15. Nothing in this Order will prevent any Party from producing any “Confidential” or “Confidential AEO” Discovery Material in its possession in 10 response to a lawful subpoena or other compulsory process, or if required to 11 produce it by law or by any government agency having jurisdiction, provided 12 that such Party gives written notice to the Producing Party as soon as 13 reasonably possible, and if permitted by the time allowed under the request, at 14 least ten (10) days before any disclosure. Upon receiving such notice, the 15 Producing Party will bear the burden to oppose compliance with the subpoena, 16 other compulsory process, or other legal notice if the Producing Party deems it 17 appropriate to do so. 18 16. Each person who has access to Discovery Material designated as 19 “Confidential” or “Confidential AEO” pursuant to this Order must take all due 20 precautions to prevent the unauthorized or in advertent disclosure of such 21 material. 22 17. Within sixty (60) days of the final disposition of this action - 23 including all appeals- all recipients of “Confidential” or “Confidential AEO” 24 Discovery Material must either return the material – including all copies 25 thereof-to the Producing Party, or, upon permission of the Producing Party, 26 destroy such material-including all copies thereof, and provide evidence of 27 such destruction to the Producing Party. In either event, by the sixty (60) day 28 deadline, the recipient must certify its return or destruction by submitting a 7 4837-9572-4588.v1 1 written certification to the Producing Party that affirms that it has not retained 2 any copies, abstracts, compilations, summaries, or other forms of reproducing 3 or capturing any of the “Confidential” or “Confidential AEO” Discovery 4 Material. Notwithstanding this provision, the attorneys that the Parties have 5 specifically retained for this action may retain an archival copy of all 6 pleadings, motion papers, transcripts, expert reports, legal memoranda, 7 correspondence, or attorney work product, even if such materials contain 8 “Confidential” or “Confidential AEO” Discovery Material. Any such archival 9 copies that contain or constitute “Confidential” or “Confidential AEO” 10 11 Discovery Material remain subject to this Order. 18. The Parties acknowledge that any disclosure or exchange of 12 “Confidential” or “Confidential AEO” Discovery Material that has occurred 13 prior to the date of entry of this Order is subject to this Agreement. 14 19. This Court will retain jurisdiction over all persons subject to this 15 Order to the extent necessary to enforce any obligations arising hereunder or 16 to impose sanctions for any contempt thereof. 17 18 Good Cause being found, IT IS SO ORDERED. 19 20 Dated: February 16, 2016 /S/ Frederick F. Mumm Honorable Frederick F. Mumm United States Magistrate Judge 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 8 4837-9572-4588.v1 1 Attachment "A" 2 NONDISCLOSURE AGREEMENT 3 I, ___________________________________, state that: 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 1. My address is __________________________________________________________ 2. My present employer is __________________________________________________________ 3. My present occupation or job description is __________________________________________________________ 4. I have received a copy of the Protective Order entered in the case of 12 Joseph Daniel Lasica v. AOL Inc., United States District Court – Central District of 13 California Case No. 2:15-cv-04230 GW (FFMx). 14 5. I have read and understand the Order Governing Use and Dissemination 15 of Confidential Information (the “Order”). I hereby agree to comply with all of the 16 terms of the Order, including holding in confidence and not disclosing to any 17 unqualified person all documents, things, or information designated 18 “CONFIDENTIAL” or “CONFIDENTIAL ATTORNEYS EYES ONLY.” 19 6. I hereby expressly covenant that I will only use the documents, things, 20 or information designated as “CONFIDENTIAL” or “CONFIDENTIAL 21 ATTORNEYS EYES ONLY” in connection with the above-referenced litigation 22 and that I will not use such documents, things, or information for any other purpose. 23 Further, I expressly covenant that I will not use such documents, things, or 24 information for the benefit of myself or any other person or entity. 25 7. Within sixty (60) days of notice by any Party that this litigation is over, 26 or that my involvement is no longer deemed necessary, I expressly covenant that I 27 will return all information and materials provided to me with the designation of 28 “CONFIDENTIAL” or “CONFIDENTIAL ATTORNEYS EYES ONLY.” I will 9 4837-9572-4588.v1 1 also provide a Declaration, submitted under penalty of perjury, which identifies by 2 Bates Number, the information and materials that I am returning. 3 8. I hereby consent to the jurisdiction of the United States District Court – 4 Central District of California – Western Division for the purpose of enforcing the 5 Order and this agreement to be bound thereby. 6 7 8 Dated: __________________ ___________________________ Signature 9 ___________________________ Print Name 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 10 4837-9572-4588.v1

Disclaimer: Justia Dockets & Filings provides public litigation records from the federal appellate and district courts. These filings and docket sheets should not be considered findings of fact or liability, nor do they necessarily reflect the view of Justia.


Why Is My Information Online?