Wells Fargo Bank, National Association et al v. Transamerica Life Insurance Company

Filing 77

ORDER GRANTING STIPULATED PROTECTIVE ORDER by Magistrate Judge Gail J. Standish re Stipulation for Protective Order 68 . (efc)

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

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CENTRAL DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

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WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL
ASSOCIATION, et al.,

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Plaintiffs,
v.
TRANSAMERICA LIFE INSURANCE
COMPANY,
Defendant.

Case No. 2:19-cv-06478-CAS-GJS
[PROPOSED] ORDER
GRANTING STIPULATED
PROTECTIVE ORDER
[Discovery Matter Referred to Judge
Standish]
Judge: Hon. Christina A. Snyder
Magistrate Judge: Hon. Gail J.
Standish

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A. PURPOSES AND LIMITATIONS

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Discovery in this Action is likely to involve production of confidential and

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proprietary actuarial, business, technical and financial information of Plaintiffs Wells

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Fargo Bank, National Association (“Wells Fargo Bank”), solely as securities

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intermediary for Financial Credit Investment II Trust D (“FCI II Trust D”), Financial

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Credit Investment III Trust A (“FCI III Trust A”), and Financial Credit Investment

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III SPV-A (Cayman), L.P. (“FCI III SPV-A”); U.S. Bank National Association

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(“U.S. Bank”), solely as securities intermediary for Financial Credit Investment II

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Trust A (“FCI II Trust A”), Financial Credit Investment II Trust C (“FCI II Trust C”),

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Financial Credit Investment III Trust B (“FCI III Trust B”), and Financial Credit

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Investment III SPV-B (Cayman), L.P. (“FCI III SPV-B”); Wilmington Savings Fund

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Society, FSB (“WSFS”), solely as securities intermediary for Financial Credit

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Investment II Limited (“FCI II Ltd.”); Wilmington Trust, National Association

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(“Wilmington Trust” and, collectively with Wells Fargo Bank, U.S. Bank, and

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WSFS, the “Securities Intermediaries,” and each, a “Securities Intermediary”), solely

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as securities intermediary for FCI III SPV-A; FCI II Trust A, FCI II Trust C, FCI II

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Trust D, Financial Credit Investment II Trust WT (“FCI II Trust WT”), FCI II Ltd.,

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FCI III Trust A, FCI III Trust B, FCI III SPV-A, and FCI III SPV-B (collectively,

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“Plaintiffs”) and Defendant Transamerica Life Insurance Company (“TLIC”), for

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which special protection from public disclosure and from use for any purpose other

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than prosecuting this Action may be warranted. Accordingly, Plaintiffs and TLIC

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hereby stipulate to and petition the Court to enter the following Stipulated Protective

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Order (“Order”). The Parties acknowledge that this Order does not confer blanket

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protections on all disclosures or responses to discovery and that the protection it

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affords from public disclosure and use extends only to the limited information or

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items that are entitled to confidential treatment under the applicable legal principles.

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B. GOOD CAUSE STATEMENT

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This Action is likely to involve trade secrets, insured individuals’ medical data,

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customer and pricing lists and other valuable research, development, commercial,

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financial, technical and/or proprietary information for which special protection from

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public disclosure and from use for any purpose other than prosecution of this Action

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is warranted. Such confidential and proprietary materials and information consist of,

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among other things, confidential business or financial information, information

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regarding confidential business practices, or other confidential research,

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development or commercial information (including information implicating privacy

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rights of third parties), information otherwise generally unavailable to the public, or

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which may be privileged or otherwise protected from disclosure under any state or

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federal statute, court rule, case decision or common law. Accordingly, to expedite

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the flow of information, to facilitate the prompt resolution of any dispute over

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confidentiality of discovery materials, to adequately protect information the Parties

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are entitled to keep confidential, to ensure that the Parties are permitted reasonable

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necessary uses of such material in preparation for and in the conduct of discovery

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and trial, to address their handling at the end of the litigation, and serve the ends of

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justice, a protective order for such information is justified in this matter. It is the

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intent of the Parties that information will not be designated as confidential for tactical

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reasons and that nothing be so designated without a good faith belief that it has been

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maintained in a confidential, non-public manner, and there is good cause why it

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should not be part of the public record of this case.

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C. ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF PROCEDURE FOR FILING UNDER
SEAL

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The Parties further acknowledge, as set forth in Section 12.3 (Filing Protected

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Material), below, that this Protective Order does not entitle any of them to file

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confidential information under seal; Local Civil Rule 79-5 and the Court’s Guide to
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Electronically Filing Under Seal Documents in Civil Cases set forth the procedures

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that must be followed and the standards that will be applied when a Party seeks

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permission from the Court to file material under seal.

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There is a strong presumption that the public has a right of access to judicial

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proceedings and records in civil cases. In connection with non-dispositive motions,

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good cause must be shown to support a filing under seal. See Kamakana v. City and

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County of Honolulu, 447 F.3d 1172, 1176 (9th Cir. 2006); Phillips v. Gen. Motors

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Corp., 307 F.3d 1206, 1210-11 (9th Cir. 2002); Makar-Welbon v. Sony Electrics,

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Inc., 187 F.R.D. 576, 577 (E.D. Wis. 1999) (even stipulated protective orders require

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good cause showing). A specific showing of good cause or compelling reason with

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proper evidentiary support and legal justification must be made with respect to

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Protected Material that a Party seeks to file under seal. A Party’s mere designation

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of Disclosure or Discovery Material as “CONFIDENTIAL,” or “HIGHLY

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CONFIDENTIAL – ATTORNEYS’ EYES ONLY” does not—without the

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submission of competent evidence by declaration establishing that the material

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sought to be filed under seal qualifies as confidential, privileged or otherwise

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protectable—constitute good cause.

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Further, if a Party requests sealing related to a dispositive motion or trial, then

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compelling reason, not only good cause, for the sealing must be shown, and the relief

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sought shall be narrowly tailored to serve the specific interest to be protected. See

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Pintos v. Pacific Creditors Ass’n, 605 F.3d 665, 677-79 (9th Cir. 2010). For each

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item or type of information, document, or thing sought to be filed or introduced under

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seal in connection with discovery, a dispositive motion or trial, the Party seeking

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protection must articulate compelling reasons, supported by specific facts and legal

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justification, for the requested sealing order. Again, competent evidence supporting

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the application to file documents under seal must be provided by declaration.

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Any document that is not confidential, privileged or otherwise protectable in

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its entirety will not be filed under seal if the confidential portions can be redacted. If
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documents can be redacted, then a redacted version for public viewing, omitting only

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the confidential, privileged or otherwise protectable portions of the document, shall

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be filed. Any application that seeks to file documents under seal in their entirety

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should include an explanation of why redaction is not feasible.

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2.

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DEFINITIONS
2.1

Acknowledgment: the “Acknowledgment and Agreement to be Bound”

form attached as Exhibit A to this Order.
2.2

Action: Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, et al. v. Transamerica

Life Insurance Company, Case No. 2:19-cv-06478-CAS-GJS.
2.3

Challenging Party: A Party or Non-Party that challenges the designation

of information or items under this Order.
2.4

“CONFIDENTIAL” Information or Items: Confidential proprietary or

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commercially sensitive business and financial information, trade secrets, and

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personal information which is not generally known or publicly available and which

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the Designating Party would not normally reveal to a third party or information that

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otherwise meets the standard for protection set forth in Rule 26(c) of the Federal

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Rules of Civil Procedure. It is the intent of the Parties that information will not be

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designated as confidential for tactical reasons and that nothing be so designated

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without a good faith belief that it has been maintained in a confidential non-public

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manner, and there is good cause why it should not be part of the public record of this

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Action.

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2.5

Counsel: Outside Counsel of Record and House Counsel (as well as

their support staff).
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Designating Party: A Party or Non-Party that designates information or

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items that it produces or that are produced in disclosures or in response to discovery

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as “CONFIDENTIAL” or “HIGHLY CONFIDENTIAL – ATTORNEYS’ EYES

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ONLY.”

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2.7

Disclosure or Discovery Material: All items or information, regardless

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of the medium or manner in which it is generated, stored or maintained (including,

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among other things, testimony, transcripts and tangible things), that are produced or

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generated in disclosures or responses to discovery in this Action.

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2.8

Expert: A person with specialized knowledge or experience in a matter

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pertinent to the Action who has been retained by a Party or its Counsel to serve as an

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expert witness or as a consultant in this Action and who is not a past or current

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employee of a Party and who, at the time of retention, is not anticipated to become

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an employee of a Party. This definition includes a professional jury or trial consultant

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retained in connection with this Action.
2.9

“HIGHLY CONFIDENTIAL – ATTORNEYS’ EYES ONLY”

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Information or Items: Extremely sensitive “CONFIDENTIAL” Information or Items,

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the disclosure of which to another Party or Non-Party would create a substantial risk

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of serious harm that could not be avoided by less restrictive means.

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2.10 House Counsel: Attorneys who are employees of a Party, any affiliate

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thereof, or of an entity that owns an interest in a Party and is responsible for

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controlling, directing or advising on the Action. House Counsel does not include

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Outside Counsel of Record or any other outside counsel.

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2.11 Non-Party: Any natural person, partnership, corporation, association or
other legal entity not named as a Party to this Action.

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2.12 Outside Counsel of Record: Attorneys who are not employees of a Party

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to this Action but who are retained to represent or advise a Party to this Action and

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have appeared in this Action on behalf of that Party or are affiliated with a law firm

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that has appeared on behalf of that Party, including support staff.

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2.13 Party: Any party to this Action, including its House Counsel, officers,
directors, employees, consultants and retained experts.
2.14 Producing Party: A Party or Non-Party that produces Disclosure or
Discovery Material in this Action.
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2.15 Professional Vendors: Persons or entities that provide litigation support

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services (e.g., photocopying, videotaping, translating, preparing exhibits or

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demonstrations, and organizing, storing or retrieving data in any form or medium)

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and their employees and subcontractors.

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2.16 Protected Material: Any Disclosure or Discovery Material that is

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designated

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ATTORNEYS’ EYES ONLY.”

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as

“CONFIDENTIAL”

or

“HIGHLY

CONFIDENTIAL

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2.17 Receiving Party: A Party that receives Disclosure or Discovery Material
from a Producing Party.

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2.18 Related Cases: “Related Cases” means (1) Feller v. Transamerica Life

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Insurance Company, Case No. 2:16-cv-01378-CAS (C.D. Cal); (2) EFG Bank AG,

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Cayman Branch, et al. v. Transamerica Life Insurance Company, Case No. 2:16-cv-

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08104 CAS-GJSx (C.D. Cal); (3) LSH Co., et al. v. Transamerica Life Insurance

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Company, Case No. 2:18-cv-09711-AB-KS (C.D. Cal.) (formerly Case No. 2:18-cv-

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09711-SJO-KA (C.D. Cal.)); (4) Brighton Trustees, LLC, et al. v. Transamerica Life

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Insurance Company, Case No. 2:19-cv-04210-CAS-GJS (C.D. Cal.); (5) The Wolf

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2005 LLC v. Transamerica Life Insurance Company, Case No. 2:17-cv-00994-CAS-

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GJSx (C.D. Cal); (6) Credit Suisse Lending Trust (USA), et al. v. Transamerica Life

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Insurance Company, Case No. 2:20-cv-02516-CAS (GJSx) (C.D. Cal.); and (7) Wells

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Fargo Bank, National Association v. Transamerica Life Insurance Company, Case

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No. 2:19-cv-06791-CAS-GJS (C.D. Cal.). If Plaintiffs amend the complaint to

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include claims on policies subject to the 2017-2018 MDR increases, then “Related

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Cases” shall thereafter include Thompson v. Transamerica Life Ins. Co., Case No.

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2:18-cv-05422-CAS-GJSx (C.D. Cal.).

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3.

SCOPE

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The protections conferred by this Order cover not only Protected Material, but

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also (1) any information copied or extracted from Protected Material; (2) all copies,

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excerpts, summaries or compilations of Protected Material; and (3) any testimony,
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conversation or presentation by any Party or its Counsel or any of its Experts that

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reveals Protected Material. Any use of Protected Material at trial shall be governed

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by the orders of the trial judge. This Order does not govern the use of Protected

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Material at trial.

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4.

DURATION

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FINAL DISPOSITION of the Action is defined as the conclusion of any

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appellate proceedings, or, if no appeal is taken, when the time for filing of an appeal

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has run. Except as set forth below, the terms of this protective order apply through

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FINAL DISPOSITION of the Action.

The Parties stipulate that they will be

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contractually bound by the terms of this Order beyond FINAL DISPOSITION, and

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that they will have to file a separate action for enforcement of the Order once FINAL

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DISPOSITION of the Action occurs.

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Once a case proceeds to trial, information that was designated as

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CONFIDENTIAL, HIGHLY CONFIDENTIAL – ATTORNEYS’ EYES ONLY, or

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maintained pursuant to this Protective Order used or introduced as an exhibit at trial

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becomes public and will be presumptively available to all members of the public,

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including the press, unless compelling reasons supported by specific factual findings

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to proceed otherwise are made to the trial judge in advance of the trial. See

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Kamakana, 447 F.3d at 1180-81 (distinguishing “good cause” showing for sealing

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documents produced in discovery from “compelling reasons” standard when merits-

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related documents are part of court record). Accordingly, for such materials, the

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terms of this protective order do not extend beyond the commencement of the trial.

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5.

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DESIGNATING PROTECTED MATERIAL
5.1

Exercise of Restraint and Care in Designating Material for Protection.

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Each Party or Non-Party that designates information or items for protection under

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this Order must take care to limit any such designation to specific material that

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qualifies under the appropriate standards. To the extent it is practical to do so, the

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Designating Party must designate for protection only those parts of material,
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documents, items or oral or written communications that qualify so that other

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portions of the material, documents, items or communications for which protection

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is not warranted are not swept unjustifiably within the ambit of this Order.

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While mass, indiscriminate or routinized designations are prohibited, the

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Parties recognize that manually analyzing and designating large numbers of

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documents one-by-one for confidentiality can be an unduly burdensome task. The

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Parties agree that each Party may reasonably rely on metadata information and good-

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faith searches to designate documents for production. Designations that are shown to

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be clearly unjustified or that have been made for an improper purpose (e.g., to

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unnecessarily encumber the case development process or to impose unnecessary

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expenses and burdens on other Parties) that are not remediated by the Designating

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Party after notice may expose the Designating Party to sanctions.

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If it comes to a Designating Party’s attention that information or items that it

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designated for protection do not qualify for protection, that Designating Party must

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promptly notify all other Parties that it is withdrawing the inapplicable designation.

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5.2

Manner and Timing of Designations. Except as otherwise provided in

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this Order (see, e.g., second paragraph of section 5.2(a) below), or as otherwise

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stipulated or ordered, Disclosure or Discovery Material that qualifies for protection

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under this Order must be clearly so designated before the material is disclosed or

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produced. Designation in conformity with this Order requires:

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(a) for information in documentary form (e.g., paper or electronic

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documents, but excluding transcripts of depositions or other pretrial or trial

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proceedings), that the Producing Party affix at a minimum, the legend

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“CONFIDENTIAL” or “HIGHLY CONFIDENTIAL – ATTORNEYS’ EYES

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ONLY” to each page that contains protected material. If only a portion of the material

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on a page qualifies for protection, the Producing Party also must clearly identify the

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protected portion(s) (e.g., by making appropriate markings in the margins).

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A Party or Non-Party that makes original documents available for inspection

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need not designate them for protection until after the inspecting Party has indicated

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which documents it would like copied and produced. During the inspection and

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before the designation, all of the material made available for inspection shall be

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deemed “HIGHLY CONFIDENTIAL – ATTORNEYS’ EYES ONLY.” After the

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inspecting Party has identified the documents it wants copied and produced, the

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Producing Party must determine which documents, or portions thereof, qualify for

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protection under this Order. Then, before producing the specified documents, the

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Producing Party must affix the legend “CONFIDENTIAL” or “HIGHLY

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CONFIDENTIAL - ATTORNEYS’ EYES ONLY” to each page that contains

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Protected Material. If only a portion of the material on a page qualifies for protection,

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the Producing Party also must clearly identify the protected portion(s) (e.g., by

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making appropriate markings in the margins).

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(b) any Party may designate as Protected Material testimony given in a

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deposition or in other pretrial or trial proceedings by informing the reporter during

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the deposition or by sending a letter to all Outside Counsel of Record and to the

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deposition reporter designating by page and line any portions of the transcript to be

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so restricted, or the entire transcript if applicable, within thirty (30) days after

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receiving the deposition transcript and specifying the level of protection being

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asserted.

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During this 30-day period, a transcript will be treated as if it had been

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designated “HIGHLY CONFIDENTIAL ATTORNEYS’ EYES ONLY” in its

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entirety unless otherwise agreed. After the expiration of that period, the transcript

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shall be treated only as actually designated.

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When deposition testimony is designated Protected Material by informing the

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reporter during the deposition, the transcript containing Protected Material shall have

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an obvious legend on the title page that the transcript contains Protected Material,

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and the title page shall be followed by a list of all pages (including line numbers) that
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have been designated as Protected Material and the level of protection being asserted

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by the Designating Party. The Designating Party shall inform the court reporter of

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these requirements.

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Parties shall give the other Parties notice if they reasonably expect a

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deposition, hearing, or other proceeding to include Protected Material so that the

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other Parties can ensure that only authorized individuals who have signed the

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Acknowledgment are present at those proceedings. The use of a document as an

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exhibit at a deposition shall not in any way affect its designation as

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“CONFIDENTIAL” or “HIGHLY CONFIDENTIAL – ATTORNEYS’ EYES

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ONLY.”

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(c) for information produced in some form other than documentary and

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for any other tangible items, that the Producing Party affix in a prominent place on

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the exterior of the container or containers in which the information is stored the

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legend “CONFIDENTIAL” or “HIGHLY CONFIDENTIAL – ATTORNEYS’

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EYES ONLY.” If only a portion or portions of the information warrants protection,

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the Producing Party, to the extent practicable, shall identify the protected portion(s).

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5.3

Inadvertent Failures to Designate. If timely corrected, an inadvertent

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failure to designate qualified information or any item does not, standing alone, waive

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the Designating Party’s right to secure protection under this Order for such material.

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Upon timely correction of a designation, the Receiving Party must make reasonable

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efforts to assure that the material is treated in accordance with the provisions of this

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Order.

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5.4

Protected Health Information. Additionally, certain Confidential

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Information or Items may be Protected Health Information (“PHI”) as defined by

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the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (“HIPAA”) and the

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regulations promulgated thereunder at 45 CFR 160.103. Without limiting the

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generality of the foregoing, “PHI” includes, but is not limited to, health

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information, including demographic information, relating to either (a) the past,
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present or future physical or mental condition of an individual, (b) the provision of

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care to an individual or (c) the payment for care provided to an individual, which

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identifies the individual or which reasonably could be expected to identify an

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individual. All “covered entities” (as defined by 45 CFR 160.103) are hereby

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authorized to disclose PHI to all attorneys now of record in this Action or who may

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become of record in the future in this Action. Subject to the Federal Rules of Civil

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Procedure, and without prejudice to any Party’s objection except as otherwise

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provided herein, the Parties are authorized to receive, subpoena, transmit or

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disclose PHI relevant to the claims at issue in this Action, subject to all terms of

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this Order. All PHI disclosed under this Order must be designated as Confidential

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Information pursuant to this Order. A Receiving Party which receives PHI in

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discovery shall not use or disclose such PHI for any purpose other than this Action.

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To the extent documents or information produced in this Action have already been

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exchanged or will again be exchanged between the Parties in the normal course of

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business, treatment of such documents prior to or after the conclusion of this Action

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shall be governed by this Order.

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5.5

Specific Provisions Concerning the Disclosure of Personally

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Identifiable Information (“PII”). When PII (e.g., names, addresses, Social Security

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numbers, phone numbers, etc.) is disclosed between the Parties as authorized by this

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Order, the PII of each individual whose claims are not at issue in this Action and who

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are otherwise identified in the Discovery Material may either be redacted to protect

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the identity of such individuals, or produced without redactions. Upon receipt of any

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PII, a Receiving Party shall take all reasonable measures necessary for protecting the

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PII from unauthorized disclosure as required under both state and federal law.

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6.

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CHALLENGING CONFIDENTIALITY DESIGNATIONS
6.1

Timing of Challenges. Any Party or Non-Party may challenge a

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designation of confidentiality at any time that is consistent with the Court’s

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Scheduling Order. Unless a prompt challenge to a Designating Party’s confidentiality
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designation is necessary to avoid foreseeable, substantial unfairness, unnecessary

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economic burdens, or a significant disruption or delay of the Action, a Party does not

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waive its right to challenge a confidentiality designation by electing not to mount a

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challenge promptly after the original designation is disclosed.

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6.2

Meet and Confer. The Challenging Party shall initiate the dispute

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resolution process under Local Rule 37-1. In conferring, the Challenging Party must

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explain the basis for its belief that the confidentiality designation was not proper and

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must give the Designating Party an opportunity to review the designated material, to

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reconsider the circumstances, and, if no change in designation is offered, to explain

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the basis for the chosen designation.

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6.3

The burden of persuasion in any such challenge proceeding shall be on

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the Designating Party. Frivolous designations or challenges, and those designations

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or challenges made for an improper purpose (e.g., to harass or impose unnecessary

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expenses and burdens on other parties) may expose the respective Designating Party

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or Challenging Party to sanctions. Unless the Designating Party has waived or

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withdrawn the confidentiality designation, all Parties shall continue to afford the

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material in question the level of protection to which it is entitled under the

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Designating Party’s designation until the Court rules on the challenge.

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7.

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ACCESS TO AND USE OF PROTECTED MATERIAL
7.1

Basic Principles. A Receiving Party may use Protected Material that is

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disclosed or produced by another Party or by a Non-Party in connection with this

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Action only for prosecuting, defending or attempting to settle this Action. Such

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Protected Material may be disclosed only to the categories of persons and under the

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conditions described in this Order or the Stipulation Regarding Coordination of

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Discovery. When the Action has been terminated, a Receiving Party must comply

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with the provisions of section 13 below (FINAL DISPOSITION). Protected Material

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must be stored and maintained by a Receiving Party at a location and in a secure

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manner that ensures that access is limited to the persons authorized under this Order.
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7.2

Disclosure of “CONFIDENTIAL” Information or Items. Subject to

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Section 7.4 herein, unless otherwise ordered by the Court or permitted in writing by

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the Designating Party, a Receiving Party may disclose any information or item

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designated “CONFIDENTIAL” only to:

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(a) the Receiving Party’s Outside Counsel of Record in this Action, as

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well as employees of said Outside Counsel of Record to whom it is reasonably

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necessary to disclose the information for this Action;

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(b) the Receiving Party, including officers, directors and employees

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(including House Counsel) of the Receiving Party to whom disclosure is reasonably

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necessary for this Action;

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(c) the Receiving Party’s Parents and affiliates, and their respective

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officers, directors, employees, consultants, advisors, insurers and/or reinsurers (1) to

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whom disclosure is reasonably necessary for this Action, and (2) who have signed

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the Acknowledgment;

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(d) Experts of the Receiving Party to whom disclosure is reasonably
necessary for this Action and who have signed the Acknowledgment;

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(e) the Court and its personnel;

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(f) court reporters and their staff;

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(g) professional jury or trial consultants, mock jurors and Professional

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Vendors to whom disclosure is reasonably necessary for this Action and who have

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signed the Acknowledgement;

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(h) the author or recipient of a document containing the information or
a custodian or other person who otherwise possessed or knew the information;

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(i) during a deposition, the witness, and attorneys for the witness, in the

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Action to whom disclosure is reasonably necessary provided: (1) the deposing Party

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requests that the witness sign the Acknowledgment; and (2) such witness and

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attorneys for such witness will not be permitted to keep any confidential information

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unless each signs the Acknowledgment, unless otherwise agreed by the Designating

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Party or ordered by the Court; and

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(j) any mediator or settlement officer, and their supporting personnel,

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mutually agreed upon by the Parties engaged in settlement discussions and who have

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signed the Acknowledgment.

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7.3

Disclosure of “HIGHLY CONFIDENTIAL – ATTORNEYS’ EYES

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ONLY” Information or Items. Subject to Section 7.4 herein, unless otherwise ordered

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by the Court or permitted in writing by the Designating Party, a Receiving Party may

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disclose any information or item designated “HIGHLY CONFIDENTIAL-

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ATTORNEYS’ EYES ONLY” only to:

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(a) the Receiving Party’s Outside Counsel of Record in this Action, as

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well as employees of said Outside Counsel of Record, to whom it is reasonably

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necessary to disclose the information for this Action;

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(b) House Counsel and up to ten additional officers, directors,

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employees, consultants, advisors, insurers and/or reinsurers of TLIC if it is a

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Receiving Party, or Plaintiffs, combined, if they are a receiving party, to whom

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disclosure is reasonably necessary for this Action and who have signed the

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“Acknowledgment and Agreement to be Bound” (Exhibit A). A House Counsel who

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is a member of the Bar of any state in the United States need not sign the

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Acknowledgment.

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(c) Experts (as defined in this Order) of the Receiving Party to whom

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disclosure is reasonably necessary for this Action and who have signed the

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Acknowledgment;

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(d) the Court and its personnel;

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(e) court reporters and their staff;

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(f) professional jury or trial consultants, mock jurors and Professional

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Vendors to whom disclosure is reasonably necessary for this Action and who have

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signed the Acknowledgement;
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(g) the author or recipient of a document containing the information or
a custodian or other person who otherwise possessed or knew the information;

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(h) during a deposition, the witness and attorneys for the witness, in the

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Action to whom disclosure is reasonably necessary provided the witness signs the

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Acknowledgment; and

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(i) any mediator or settlement officer, and their supporting personnel,

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mutually agreed upon by any of the Parties engaged in settlement discussions and

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who have signed the Acknowledgment.

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7.4

Related Case Plaintiffs. Plaintiffs may share and discuss documents

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produced in this action with plaintiffs in any of the Related Cases, so long as such

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documents were also produced and bates-stamped to the plaintiffs in the Related

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Cases by TLIC, and plaintiffs in the Related Cases may share and discuss with

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Plaintiffs documents produced and bates-stamped in the Related Cases by TLIC so

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long as such documents were also produced to Plaintiffs in this action by TLIC

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(collectively, the “Shared Documents”). The limitations on categories of individuals

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able to view any documents designated CONFIDENTIAL or HIGHLY

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CONFIDENTIAL – ATTORNEYS’ EYES ONLY, as described in Sections 7.2 and

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7.3 herein, shall apply equally to any recipient of Shared Documents under this

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Section as if the recipient had received documents in this action.

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8.

PROTECTED

MATERIAL

SUBPOENAED

OR

ORDERED

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PRODUCED IN OTHER LITIGATION

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If a Party is served with a subpoena or a court order issued in other litigation

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that compels disclosure of any information or items designated in this Action as

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“CONFIDENTIAL” or “HIGHLY CONFIDENTIAL-ATTORNEYS’ EYES

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ONLY” that Party must:

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(a) promptly notify in writing the Designating Party. Such notification shall
include a copy of the subpoena or court order;

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(b) promptly notify in writing the party who caused the subpoena or order to

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issue in the other litigation that some or all of the material covered by the subpoena

3

or order is subject to this Protective Order. Such notification shall include a copy of

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this Order;

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(c) cooperate with respect to all reasonable procedures sought to be pursued
by the Designating Party whose Protected Material may be affected; and

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(d) otherwise comply with any applicable HIPAA rules or regulations with

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respect to any response or production in connection with a discovery request or

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subpoena.

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If the Designating Party timely seeks a protective order, the Party served with

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the subpoena or court order shall not produce any information designated in this

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action as “CONFIDENTIAL” or “HIGHLY CONFIDENTIAL-ATTORNEYS’

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EYES ONLY” before a determination by the court from which the subpoena or order

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issued, unless the Party has obtained the Designating Party’s permission. The

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Designating Party shall bear the burden and expense of seeking protection in that

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court of its confidential material and nothing in these provisions should be construed

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as authorizing or encouraging a Receiving Party in this Action to disobey a lawful

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directive from another court.

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9.

A NON-PARTY’S PROTECTED MATERIAL SOUGHT TO BE

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PRODUCED IN THIS ACTION

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(a) The terms of this Order are applicable to information produced by a Non-

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Party in this Action and designated as “CONFIDENTIAL” or “HIGHLY

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CONFIDENTIAL-ATTORNEYS’ EYES ONLY.” Such information produced by

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any Non-Party in connection with this Action is protected by the remedies and relief

25

provided by this Order. Nothing in these provisions should be construed as

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prohibiting a Non-Party from seeking additional protections.

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(b) In the event that a Party is required, by a valid discovery request, to

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produce a Non-Party’s confidential information in its possession, and the Party is
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subject to an agreement with the Non-Party not to produce the Non-Party’s

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confidential information, then the Party shall:

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(1) promptly notify in writing the Requesting Party and the Non-Party

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that some or all of the information requested is subject to a confidentiality agreement

5

with a Non-Party;

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(2) promptly provide the Non-Party with a copy of the Order in this

7

Action, the relevant discovery request(s), and a reasonably specific description of the

8

information requested; and

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(3) make the information requested available for inspection by the NonParty, if requested.

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(c) If the Non-Party fails to seek a protective order from this Court within 21

12

days of receiving the notice and accompanying information, the Receiving Party may

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produce the Non-Party’s confidential information responsive to the discovery

14

request. If the Non-Party timely seeks a protective order, the Receiving Party shall

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not produce any information in its possession or control that is subject to the

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confidentiality agreement with the Non-Party before a determination by the court.

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Absent a court order to the contrary, the Non-Party shall bear the burden and expense

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of seeking protection in this court of its Protected Material.

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10.

UNAUTHORIZED DISCLOSURE OF PROTECTED MATERIAL

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If a Receiving Party learns that, by inadvertence or otherwise, it has disclosed

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Protected Material to any person or in any circumstance not authorized under this

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Order, the Receiving Party must immediately (a) notify in writing the Designating

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Party of the unauthorized disclosures, (b) use its best efforts to retrieve all

24

unauthorized copies of the Protected Material, (c) inform the person or persons to

25

whom unauthorized disclosures were made of all the terms of this Order, and (d)

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request such person or persons to execute the Acknowledgment.

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11.

INADVERTENT PRODUCTION OF PRIVILEGED OR OTHERWISE

2

PROTECTED MATERIAL

3

When a Producing Party gives notice to each Receiving Party that certain

4

inadvertently produced material is subject to a claim of privilege or other protection

5

(e.g., work product immunity), the obligations of each Receiving Party are those set

6

forth in Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 26(b)(5)(B). This provision is not intended

7

to modify whatever procedure may be established in an e-discovery order that

8

provides for production without prior privilege review. Pursuant to Federal Rule of

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Evidence 502(d) and (e), the Parties agree that the inadvertent or unintentional

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disclosure by the Producing Party of material that is privileged or subject to other

11

protection shall not be deemed a waiver in whole or in part of the claim of privilege

12

or other protection, either as to the specific information disclosed or as to any other

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information relating thereto on the same or related subject matter.

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Upon learning of an inadvertent or unintentional disclosure of privileged

15

information, the Producing Party shall provide written notice to each party who has

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received such information. Within ten (10) business days of the date of that written

17

notice, the documents or materials described in that notice shall be returned to

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counsel for the Producing Party, destroyed or sequestered by the Receiving Party,

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and in the same time frame, any notes or other writing or recordings that copy,

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summarize, reflect, or discuss the content of the documents or materials shall be

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destroyed or sequestered by the Receiving Party. No use shall be made of such

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documents or materials from such inadvertent production during deposition or at

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trial, nor shall such documents or materials be provided to anyone who did not

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already have access to them prior to the request by the Producing Party that they be

25

returned.

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If the Receiving Party intends to challenge the assertion of privilege, it must

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provide written notice within this ten-day period, explaining the grounds for its

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challenge. The Receiving Party shall initiate the dispute resolution process under
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Local Rule 37.1 within ten (10) business days of date of service of the Receiving

2

Party’s notice disputing a claim of inadvertent production.

3

If the Parties cannot resolve a challenge without court intervention, the

4

Receiving Party may move the Court for an order compelling production of any

5

inadvertently produced or disclosed document or material in compliance with Local

6

Rule 37, but the motion shall not assert as a ground for production the fact of the

7

inadvertent production or disclosure. Pending the Court’s ruling, the party

8

challenging the assertion of privilege shall sequester the affected documents and

9

materials and shall not make any use of such information.

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12.

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12

MISCELLANEOUS
12.1 Right to Further Relief. Nothing in this Order abridges the right of any

person to seek its modification by the Court in the future.

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12.2 Right to Assert Other Objections. By stipulating to the entry of this

14

Order, no Party waives any right it otherwise would have to object to disclosing or

15

producing any information or item on any ground not addressed in this Order.

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Similarly, no Party waives any right to object on any ground to use in evidence of

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any of the material covered by this Protective Order.

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12.3 Filing Protected Material. A Party that seeks to file under seal any

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Protected Material must comply with Local Civil Rule 79-5. Protected Material may

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only be filed under seal pursuant to a court order authorizing the sealing of the

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specific Protected Material at issue. If a Party’s request to file Protected Material

22

under seal is denied by the court, then the Receiving Party may file the information

23

in the public record unless otherwise instructed by the court.

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13.

FINAL DISPOSITION

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After the final disposition of this Action, as defined in Section 4

26

(DURATION), within 60 days of a written request by the Designating Party, each

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Receiving Party must return all Protected Material to the Producing Party or destroy

28

such material. As used in this subdivision, “all Protected Material” includes all
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copies, abstracts, compilations, summaries, and any other format reproducing or

2

capturing any of the Protected Material. Whether the Protected Material is returned

3

or destroyed, the Receiving Party must submit a written certification to the Producing

4

Party (and, if not the same person or entity, to the Designating Party) by the 60 day

5

deadline that (1) identifies (by category, where appropriate) all the Protected Material

6

that was returned or destroyed and (2) affirms that the Receiving Party has not

7

retained any copies, abstracts, compilations, summaries or any other format

8

reproducing or capturing any of the Protected Material. Notwithstanding this

9

provision, Counsel are entitled to retain an archival copy of all pleadings, motion

10

papers, trial, deposition and hearing transcripts, legal memoranda, correspondence,

11

deposition and trial exhibits, expert reports, attorney work product, and consultant

12

and expert work product, even if such materials contain Protected Material. Any such

13

archival copies that contain or constitute Protected Material remain subject to this

14

Protective Order as set forth in Section 4 (DURATION).

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2

Dated: October 23, 2020

FRIEDMAN KAPLAN SEILER &
ADELMAN LLP

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4

By:

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/s/ Steven M. Pesner
STEVEN M. PESNER, P.C.

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7

ORRICK, HERRINGTON &
SUTCLIFFE LLP

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9

By:__/s/ Khai LeQuang_____________
KHAI LeQUANG

10

21

Attorneys for Plaintiffs Wells Fargo
Bank, National Association, as Securities
Intermediary; Wilmington Savings Fund
Society, FSB, as Securities Intermediary;
Wilmington Trust, National Association,
as Securities Intermediary; Financial
Credit Investment II Trust A; Financial
Credit Investment II Trust C; Financial
Credit Investment II Trust D; Financial
Credit Investment II Trust WT; Financial
Credit Investment II Limited; Financial
Credit Investment III Trust A; Financial
Credit Investment III Trust B; Financial
Credit Investment III SPV-A (Cayman),
L.P.; and Financial Credit Investment III
SPV-B (Cayman), L.P.

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DORSEY & WHITNEY LLP

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12
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By: /s/ Faisal Zubairi
FAISAL ZUBAIRI
Attorneys for Plaintiff U.S. Bank
National Association, as Securities
Intermediary

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1

Dated: October 23, 2020

2

McDOWELL HETHERINGTON LLP
By:
/s/ Hutson B. Smelley
HUTSON B. SMELLEY

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4

-and-

5
HINSHAW & CULBERTSON LLP

6

Attorneys for Defendant
TRANSAMERICA LIFE INSURANCE
COMPANY

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FOR GOOD CAUSE SHOWN, IT IS SO ORDERED.

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12

DATED: November 18, 2020

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17

_____________________________________
GAIL J. STANDISH
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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1
2

ECF ATTESTATION
I, Khai LeQuang, am the ECF User whose ID and password are being used to

3

file this STIPULATED PROTECTIVE ORDER. In accordance with Local Rule 5-

4

4.3.4, concurrence in and authorization of the filing of this document has been

5

obtained from counsel for Defendant and I shall maintain records to support this

6

concurrence for subsequent production for the Court if so ordered or for inspection

7

upon request by a party.

8
9
10
11
12

Dated: October 23, 2020

ORRICK, HERRINGTON &
SUTCLIFFE LLP
By: /s/ Khai LeQuang
KHAI LEQUANG
Attorneys for Plaintiffs

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EXHIBIT A
ACKNOWLEDGMENT AND AGREEMENT TO BE BOUND

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I, _____________________________ [print or type full name], of
_____________________ [print or type full address], declare under penalty of
perjury that I have read in its entirety and understand the Protective Order that was
issued by the United States District Court for the Central District of California on
_______________________________ [date] in the case of Wells Fargo Bank,
National Association, et al. v. Transamerica Life Insurance Company, Case No.
2:19-cv-06478-CAS-GJS. I agree to comply with and to be bound by all the terms
of this Protective Order and I understand and acknowledge that failure to so comply
could expose me to sanctions and punishment in the nature of contempt. I solemnly
promise that I will not disclose in any manner any information or item that is
subject to this Protective Order to any person or entity except in strict compliance
with the provisions of this Protective Order. I further agree to submit to the
jurisdiction of the United States District Court for the Central District of California
for enforcing the terms of this Protective Order, even if such enforcement
proceedings occur after termination of this action. I hereby appoint
_____________________ [print or type full name] of
_______________________________________ [print or type full address and
telephone number] as my California agent for service of process in connection with
this action or any proceedings related to enforcement of this Protective Order.

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Date:
City and State where sworn and signed:
Printed name: ____________________
Signature: _______________________

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