Wilk v. St. Vrain Valley School District et al.

Filing 37

PROTECTIVE ORDER filed by each party, by Judge Richard P. Matsch on 11/18/15. (ktera)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLORADO
Civil Action No. 1:15-cv-01925-RPM
ERIK WILK,
DEREK WILK, and
JAMI WILK,
Plaintiffs,
v.
ST. VRAIN VALLEY SCHOOL DISTRICT,
JOHN CREIGHTON,
JOIE SIEGRIST,
BOB SMITH,
DEBBIE LAMMERS,
JOHN AHRENS,
PAULA PEAIRS,
MIKE SCHIERS, members of the District’s Board, in their individual and official capacities,
DON HADDAD, Superintendent of Schools, in his individual and official capacity,
GREG WINGER, Expulsion Officer of the District, in his individual capacity,
MATTHEW BUCHLER, Principal of Erie High School, in his individual capacity,
TOWN OF ERIE POLICE DEPARTMENT,
MARC VASQUEZ, Erie Police Department, in his individual and official capacity,
DAN NIEMOTH, Erie Police Department, in his individual capacity, and
AARON HADDOX, Erie Police Department, in his individual capacity,
Defendants.

STIPULATED PROTECTIVE ORDER
______________________________________________________________________________
Each party and each counsel of record stipulate and move the Court for the entry of a
Protective Order pursuant to Rule 26(c) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure concerning the
treatment of Confidential Information, and, as grounds therefor, state as follows:

1.

The nature of the claims, defenses, and damages asserted in this lawsuit involve

discovery of documents and information containing Confidential Information (as defined in
paragraph four below).
2.

The purpose of this Protective Order is to preclude disclosure of Confidential

Information to any person or entity not subject to this litigation as defined in this Protective Order.
The disclosure of such information outside the scope of this litigation could result in significant
injury to one or more of the parties’ business or privacy interests.
3.

The parties have entered into this stipulation and request the Court to enter the

within Protective Order for the purpose of preventing the disclosure and use of Confidential
Information except as set forth herein, and prohibiting the parties from using or disclosing the
Confidential Information for any purpose other than this litigation.
4.

“Confidential Information” means any document, file, portions of files, recordings,

deposition or transcribed testimony, or response to a discovery request, including any extract,
abstract, chart, summary, note, or copy made therefrom, which contains information that is
confidential and implicates common law and statutory privacy interests of the individuals who are
named, and may include, but is not necessarily limited to, student files or information contained in
student files1, personnel files, medical records, other records that may pertain to any party or
third-party, and/or documentation from underlying juvenile delinquency matters that have
previously been expunged, which are not made available to the public, and as to which a
reasonable expectation of privacy or confidentiality exists.

1

Student records are confidential pursuant to FERPA, codified at 20 U.S.C. § 1232(g) and C.R.S. § 22-1-123.

2

5.

The disclosure of student files and related Confidential Information requires

parental notification and may also require consent. Pursuant to the Family Education Rights &
Privacy Act (“FERPA”), “personal information shall only be transferred to a third-party on the
condition that such party will not permit any other party to have access to such information
without the written consent of the parents of the student. If a third-party outside the educational
agency or institution permits access to information in violation of paragraph (2)(A), or fails to
destroy information in violation of paragraph (1)(F), the educational agency or institution shall be
prohibited from permitting access to information from education records to that third-party for a
period of not less than five years.” 20 U.S.C. § 1232g(4)(B).
6.

Additionally, upon the entry of an expungement order, the person, agency and

court may properly indicate that no record exists. COLO.REV.STAT. § 19-1-306(1). Expungement
is effectuated by physically sealing or conspicuously indicating on the face of the record or at the
beginning of the computerized file of the record that said record has been designated as expunged.
COLO.REV.STAT. § 19-1-306(2)(b). Subsequently, records designated as expunged shall not be
open to the public and may only be inspected by order of the court. COLO.REV.STAT. § 19-1306(3)-(4).
7.

Information designated as confidential must first be reviewed by the attorney for

the designating party, who must have a good faith belief that the information is confidential or
otherwise entitled to protection under Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(c). Gillard v. Boulder Valley Sch. Dist.,
196 F.R.D. 382, 386 (D. Colo. 2000).
8.

When Confidential Information is produced, provided or otherwise disclosed by a

Party in response to any discovery request, it will be designated in the following manner by:
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a.

imprinting the word “Confidential” or “Subject to Protective Order” on the
first page or cover of any document produced;

b.

imprinting the word “Confidential” or “Subject to Protective Order” next
to or above any response to a discovery request; and

c.

designating deposition testimony as “Confidential” or “Subject to
Protective Order” or containing “Confidential Information” on the record
at the time of the deposition, or by designating portions of depositions as
“Confidential” after transcription, provided written notice of the
designation is given to all counsel of record within thirty (30) days after
notice by the court reporter of the completion of the transcript.

9.

All Confidential Information provided by a party in response to a discovery

request or transcribed testimony shall be subject to the following restrictions:
a.

It shall be used only for the purposes of this litigation and not for any
other purpose;

b.

It shall not be communicated or disclosed by any party’s counsel or a
party in any manner, either directly or indirectly, except for purposes of
this litigation, to anyone other than those specified in this subparagraph:
(i)

attorneys actively working on this case;

(ii)

persons regularly employed or associated with the attorneys
actively working on this case, whose assistance is required by said
attorneys for the purpose of this litigation;

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(iii)

expert witnesses and consultants retained in connection with this
litigation, to the extent such disclosure is necessary for the
purposes of this litigation, who execute the attached Exhibit A;

(iv)
(v)

stenographic reporters who are engaged in this litigation;

(vi)

deponents and witnesses who execute the attached Exhibit A;

(vii)

the parties or a party’s representatives, if the party is an entity;

(viii)

adjusters for an insurer covering any of the parties; and

(ix)
10.

the Court and its employees;

other persons by written agreement of the Parties.

The party’s counsel who discloses Confidential Information shall be responsible

for assuring compliance with the terms of this Protective Order with respect to persons to whom
such Confidential Information is disclosed and shall retain the original affidavits signed by
qualified recipients of Confidential Information and maintain a list of all persons to whom any
Confidential Information is disclosed.
11.

During the pendency of this action, opposing counsel may upon court order or

agreement of the parties inspect the list maintained by counsel pursuant to paragraph 8 above
upon showing of substantial need. If counsel disagrees with opposing counsel’s showing of
substantial need, then counsel may seek a court order requiring inspection under terms and
conditions deemed appropriate by the Court. To the extent that such a challenge arises prior to
the Parties’ expert disclosures, the names of the experts to whom documents were sent will not
need to be disclosed, unless the Court orders such disclosures, and then the names will be
disclosed to the Court only, in camera.
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12.

No copies of Confidential Information shall be made except by or on behalf of

counsel in this litigation for work product purposes, including for review by experts in this case.
Any such copies shall be made and used solely for purposes of this litigation, and subject to all
restrictions herein.
13.

A party may object to the designation of particular Confidential Information by

giving written notice to the party designating the disputed information. The written notice shall
identify the information to which the objection is made. If the parties cannot resolve the
objection within ten (10) business days after the time the notice is received, it shall be the
obligation of the party designating the information as confidential to file an appropriate motion
requesting that the Court determine whether the disputed information should be subject to the
terms of this Protective Order within fourteen (14) days of the aforementioned notice. If such a
motion is timely filed, the disputed information shall be treated as confidential under the terms of
this Protective Order until the Court rules on the motion. If the designating party fails to file such
a motion within the prescribed time, the disputed information shall lose its designation as
confidential and shall not thereafter be treated as confidential in accordance with this Protective
Order. In connection with a motion filed under this provision, the party designating the
information as confidential shall bear the burden of establishing the grounds for the disputed
information to be treated as confidential.
14.

In the event it is necessary for the parties to file or refer to Confidential Information

with the Court in connection with any proceeding, motion, pleading, brief or other filing, the
Confidential Information shall be filed in accordance with the requirements of D.C.COLO.LCiv.R
7.2.
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15.

In the event information or documentation is inadvertently disclosed to an

opposing party, any information or documentation so disclosed shall be immediately returned to
the producing party without any copies being made or notes taken regarding said
information/documentation by those who have received the inadvertent disclosure. Further, no
recipient of inadvertently disclosed information or documentation shall utilize such
information/documentation or any fruits derived therefrom for the purposes of this litigation. The
inadvertent disclosure of information or documentation shall not constitute a waiver of any
privilege that may otherwise apply.
16.

Within thirty (30) days after the conclusion of this action, including any appeals,

unless other arrangements are agreed upon, each document and copies thereof which have been
designated as Confidential shall be returned to the producing party, destroyed, or stored by
counsel in a confidential manner consistent with the provisions of this Protective Order.
Moreover, copies of all deposition transcripts referring to Confidential documents shall be sealed
by counsel.
17.

The termination of this action shall not relieve counsel or any party or other

persons obligated hereunder from their responsibility to maintain the confidentiality of
Confidential Information pursuant to this Protective Order, and the Court shall retain continuing
jurisdiction to enforce the terms of this Protective Order, even after this action is terminated.
18.

By agreeing to the entry of this Protective Order, the parties adopt no position as

to the authenticity or admissibility of documents produced subject to it, and admissibility of the
designated Confidential Information will be reserved for and addressed at trial. Neither the

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taking of any action in accordance with the provisions of this Protective Order, nor the failure to
object thereto, shall be construed as a waiver of any claim or defense in this action.
19.

Nothing in this Protective Order shall preclude any party from filing a motion

seeking further or different protection from the Court under Rule 26(c) of the Federal Rules of
Civil Procedure, or from filing a motion with respect to the manner in which Confidential
Information shall be treated at trial.
20.

Nothing in this Protective Order shall relieve any party of its obligation under

Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(b)(5) to prepare and provide a privilege log.
21.

This Protective Order may be modified by the Court at any time for good cause

shown following notice to all Parties and the opportunity for them to be heard.
DATED this 18th day of November, 2015.
BY THE COURT:
s/Richard P. Matsch
_______________________________________
Richard P. Matsch
United States Magistrate Judge

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APPROVED AS TO FORM:
JOEL W. CANTRICK, P.C.

SENTER GOLDFARB & RICE, LLC

s/ Joel W. Cantrick
Joel W. Cantrick
900 Arapahoe Ave., Suite 101
Boulder, CO 80302
[phone]
[e-mail]
Attorney for Plaintiffs

s/ Eric M. Ziporin
Eric M. Ziporin
Courtney B. Kramer
3900 E. Mexico Avenue, Suite 700
Denver, Colorado 80210
[phone]
[e-mail]
[e-mail]
Attorneys for Defendants St. Vrain Valley
School District, Creighton, Siegrist, Smith,
Lammers, Ahrens, Peairs, Schiers, Haddad,
Winger and Buchler

LAW OFFICE OF
LUKE W. McCONNELL, LLC

s/ Luke W. McConnell
Luke W. McConnell
900 Arapahoe Avenue
Boulder, CO 80302
[phone]
[e-mail]
Attorney for Plaintiffs
NATHAN DUMM & MAYER P.C.

s/ Marni Nathan Kloster
Marni Nathan Kloster
J. Andrew Nathan
Nicholas C. Poppe
7900 E. Union Avenue, Suite 600
Denver, CO 80237-2776
[phone]
[e-mail]
[e-mail]
[e-mail]
Attorneys for the Erie Defendants

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AFFIDAVIT
STATE OF COLORADO )
) ss.
COUNTY OF
)
_________________________, swears or affirms and states under penalty of perjury:
1.
I have read the Protective Order in Wilk, et al. v St. Vrain Valley School District,
et al., United States District Court for the District of Colorado, Civil Action No. 15-cv-01925RPM, a copy of which is attached to this Affidavit.
2.
I have been informed by _____________________________, Esq., counsel for
_____________________________, that the materials described in the list attached to this
Affidavit are Confidential Information as defined in the Protective Order.
3.
I promise that I have not and will not divulge, or undertake to divulge to any
person or recording device any Confidential Information shown or told to me except as
authorized in the Protective Order. I will not use the Confidential Information for any purpose
other than this litigation.
4.
For the purposes of enforcing the terms of the Protective Order, I hereby submit
myself to the jurisdiction of the court in the civil action referenced above.
5.

I will abide by the terms of the Protective Order.
____________________________________
(Signature)
____________________________________
(Print or Type Name)
Address:
____________________________________
____________________________________
Telephone No.: (_____) ________________

SUBSCRIBED AND SWORN to before me this ________ day of __________________, 20__,
by ______________________________.
WITNESS my hand and official seal.
____________________________________
Notary Public
My commission expires: _______________

[SEAL]

EXHIBIT A
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