Abeyta et al v. CF&I Steel, L.P.

Filing 35

PROTECTIVE ORDER signed by Magistrate Judge Craig B. Shaffer on 11/21/11. (cbssec)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLORADO
Civil Action No. 11-cv-00663-RBJ-CBS
RALPH ABEYTA, et al.,
Plaintiffs,
v.
CF&I STEEL, L.P.,
a Delaware Limited Partnership,
d/b/a EVRAZ ROCKY MOUNTAIN STEEL,
Defendant.

STIPULATED PROTECTIVE ORDER
Plaintiffs Ralph Abeyta, et al., by and through their counsel, McNamara, Roseman &
Kazmierski LLP, and Defendant CF&I Steel, L.P., d/b/a/ Evraz Rocky Mountain Steel, by and
through its counsel, Holland & Hart LLP, hereby stipulate and agree as follows, and the Court,
having been fully advised, hereby ORDERS as follows:
1.

All production and disclosure of “Confidential Information” as defined in

paragraph 2 below shall be governed by this Order.
2.

“Confidential Information” as used herein includes, but is not limited to,

documents, materials, and information (in electronic, hard copy, or any other form or media),
including without limitation, documents produced, answers to interrogatories, responses to
requests for admission, deposition testimony, and other information disclosed pursuant to
discovery in this case and designated as “Confidential” pursuant to the terms of this Protective
Order. In general, Confidential Information includes and may be claimed with respect to:
(a)

information concerning present or former employees of Defendant

(whether Plaintiffs or not), such as pay, benefits, hours worked, pay rates, personnel files,
evidence of protected activity, and other personal information;
(b)

confidential and proprietary business information regarding Defendant

and its operations, contracts, customers, processes, and equipment;
(c)

medical and financial information of Plaintiffs; and

(d)

any other information reasonably deemed to be of a confidential or

proprietary nature by the designating party.
The parties shall endeavor to limit the designation of information as Confidential
Information to the information that genuinely warrants the protection provided by the terms of
this Order.
3.

Documents may be designated as Confidential by placing or affixing on them (in

a manner that will not interfere with their legibility) the following or other appropriate notice:
“CONFIDENTIAL.” In lieu of marking the original documents, a party may mark the copies
that are produced or exchanged.
4.

Confidential documents, materials, and/or information shall be used solely for the

purpose of prosecution or defense of this action, and such documents may only be used,
consistent with the terms of this Order, in pretrial discovery, the trial or preparation for trial, any
ADR proceedings, or any appeal of this action; provided, however, any party may use its own
Confidential Information for any purpose whatsoever. The use of Confidential Information at
the trial or in pretrial discovery or other proceedings shall not be deemed a waiver of the
protections of this Order.
5.

Documents labeled “Confidential” shall not, without the consent of the party

producing it or further Order of the Court, be disclosed except that such information may be
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disclosed to:
(a)

attorneys for each party actively engaged in this litigation; including, but

not limited to, attorneys from Holland & Hart LLP and McNamara, Roseman &
Kazmierski LLP;
(b)

persons regularly employed or associated with the attorneys and actively

engaged in this litigation;
(c)

Plaintiffs, provided, however, that Plaintiffs may only review such

material, or a copy of such material, at the office of, or otherwise in the presence of, their
counsel;
(d)

current directors, officers, and employees of Defendant who need to

review such documents to assist in the litigation of this matter; provided, however, that
such directors, officers and employees of Defendant agree to be individually bound by
the terms of this Protective Order as described in Paragraph 7 below.
(e)

expert witnesses and consultants retained in connection with this

proceeding, to the extent such disclosure is necessary for preparation, trial or other
proceedings in this case;
(f)

the Court, jurors, and court staff involved in this case;

(g)

stenographic reporters who are engaged in proceedings necessarily

incident to the conduct of this action;
(h)

deponents, witnesses, or potential witnesses who are reasonably expected

to testify at deposition or trial provided, however, that such deponents, witnesses and
potential witnesses agree to be individually bound by the terms of this Protective Order
as described in Paragraph 7 below;
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(i)

other persons by written agreement of the parties; and

(j)

outside vendors who perform indexing, photocopying, or similar clerical

functions for the parties’ attorneys.
6.

Any party objecting to the designation of any information as Confidential

shall clearly state the basis for the objection in a written notice to counsel for the party
making the designation. The written notice shall identify the information to which the
objection is made. If the parties are unable to resolve the objection within ten (10)
business days after the time the notice is received, the party objecting to the confidential
designation shall within fifteen (15) business days of the aforementioned notice file an
appropriate motion with the Court requesting resolution of the matter, otherwise any
objection is waived. Until an objection to the designation of information has been
resolved by agreement of counsel or by order of the Court, the information shall be
deemed to be properly designated and subject to the terms of this Order. The party
making the designation in question shall bear the burden of justifying that designation in
any dispute before the Court requesting modification or striking of the designation.
7.

Certain individuals, as identified in paragraphs 5(d) and (h) above, may be

shown confidential information pursuant to the terms of this Order only if such
individuals are provided with a copy of this Order by disclosing counsel and agree to be
individually bound by the terms of this Order by executing Exhibit A. Disclosing
counsel shall be responsible for maintaining executed copies of Exhibit A for a period of
no less than three (3) years following the conclusion of the hearing, including any appeal
thereof, and shall provide them to opposing counsel upon request.
7.

8.

This Order shall continue to be binding throughout and after the
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conclusion of the hearing, including any appeal thereof. Upon conclusion of this case,
upon written request, any and all copies of the opposing party’s Confidential documents
shall be returned to opposing counsel or destroyed by counsel, except that copies may be
maintained by counsel for a time period as may be required for any ethical or malpractice
insurance obligations, who shall so certify to opposing counsel. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, all briefs, pleadings, or other filings with the Court, or attorney work product
which incorporates or discloses material covered by this Order may remain in the
possession of counsel, and need not be destroyed, but shall remain subject to this Order.
8.

9.

The terms of this Order may be modified by further order of the

Court upon good cause shown.

DATED at Denver, Colorado, this 21st day of November, 2011.
BY THE COURT:

s/Craig B. Shaffer
Craig B. Shaffer
United States Magistrate Judge

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STIPULATED TO AND APPROVED AS TO FORM:

/s/ Mathew S. Shechter, Esq.
Todd J. McNamara, Esq.
Mathew S. Shecter, Esq.
McNamara, Roseman & Kazmierski
LLP
1840 E. 18th Avenue
Denver, CO 80218
[phone]

/s/ Steven M. Gutierrez, Esq.
Jeffrey T. Johnson, Esq.
Steven M. Gutierrez, Esq.
Emily Hobbs-Wright, Esq.
Holland & Hart, LLP
555 17th Street, Suite 3200
Denver, CO 80202
[phone]

Attorneys for Plaintiffs

Attorneys for Defendant

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Exhibit A
Agreement to be Bound by Terms of Protective Order
I, _________________________________, have been provided a copy of the Protective
Order entered in Abeyta, et al, v. CF&I Steel, L.P., and have reviewed the contents of such
Order.
I understand that I am to be provided Confidential information in accordance with the
terms of the Order. I understand that this information may only be used for the within litigation
and for no other purpose. I further understand that I may receive information related to current
or former employees of Evraz Rocky Mountain Steel, or other confidential information
belonging to Evraz Rocky Mountain Steel, and that I may not use this information for any
purpose except the within litigation. I agree to be bound by the terms of the Protective Order,
and understand that violation of these terms may result in sanctions against one or more of the
parties and/or against me personally.

Signed: _____________________________________ Date:_________________

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