Hathaway v. Mental Health Center of East Central Kansas et al
Filing
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JOINT PROTECTIVE ORDER. The court finds good cause to enter the order submitted by the parties, but with minor changes. The court has deleted the last sentence of the proposed second paragraph because the "public's right of access to judi cial records," i.e. whether documents should be filed under seal, is a separate issue from whether there is good cause for the entry of a protective order governing discovery between the parties. Signed by Magistrate Judge James P. O'Hara on 4/17/2017. (amh)
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF KANSAS
TINA HATHAWAY,
Plaintiff,
v.
MENTAL HEALTH CENTER
OF EAST CENTRAL KANSAS
and ROBERT RUNQUIST,
Defendants.
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Case No. 17-4016-DDC
JOINT PROTECTIVE ORDER
The parties agree that during the course of discovery it may be necessary to disclose certain
confidential information relating to the subject matter of this action. They agree that certain
categories of such information should be treated as confidential, protected from disclosure outside
this litigation, and used only for purposes of prosecuting or defending this action and any appeals.
The parties jointly request entry of this proposed Protective Order to limit the disclosure,
dissemination, and use of certain identified categories of confidential information.
The parties assert in support of their request that protection of the identified categories of
confidential information is necessary to: (1) prevent the disclosure of matters deemed confidential
under the terms of this Order to persons or entities other than those involved in the prosecution or
defense of this case; and (2) prevent any disclosure of the confidential matters by those involved in
the prosecution or defense of this case for any purpose other than that which is necessary to fully
litigate the issues. In addition, the Order is necessary to protect both the parties and other persons
from annoyance and embarrassment.
For good cause shown under Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(c), the Court grants the parties’ joint
request and enters the following Protective Order:
1.
Scope. All documents and materials produced in the course of discovery of this
case, including initial disclosures, responses to discovery requests, all deposition testimony and
exhibits, and information derived directly therefrom (hereinafter collectively “documents”), are
subject to this Order concerning confidential information as set forth below. As there is a
presumption in favor of open and public judicial proceedings in the federal courts, this Order will
be strictly construed in favor of public disclosure and open proceedings wherever possible.
2.
Definition of Confidential Information. As used in this Order, “Confidential
Information” is defined as information that the producing party designates in good faith has been
previously maintained in a confidential manner and should be protected from disclosure and use
outside the litigation because its disclosure and use is restricted by statute or could potentially
cause harm to the interests of disclosing party or nonparties. For purposes of this Order, the
parties will limit their designation of “Confidential Information” to the following categories of
information or documents:
(a)
Employment/Personnel Records and Information.
Any and all
information contained in the employment/personnel record of any party or witness in this
case that would otherwise be considered confidential and protected from public disclosure
shall remain so during and after the course of this present litigation. Such information
shall include, but is not limited to: applications, personal identifying information, progress
reports, performance evaluations, statements regarding the nature of separations,
disciplinary documentation and confidential agreements.
(b)
Financial Information. Any and all information that reveals the past,
present or future state of the finances of any party or witness in this case, including, but not
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limited to: donor information, financial statements, financial records, and tax returns.
(c)
Medical Information and Records.
Any and all protected health
information that is otherwise protected by HIPAA shall be deemed confidential and
protected during and after the course of this present litigation. Such information includes,
but is not limited to: charts, graphs, images, notes, physical exams, psychological exams,
x-rays, or any other document or information that is in any way protected by statute or
regulation in any other context.
(d)
Proprietary Business Records. Any and all information that reveals how
Defendant Mental Health Center of East-Central Kansas (d/b/a “CrossWinds”) conducts its
operations, including, but not limited to: board minutes, business operations and processes,
fundraising initiatives and human resources plans and protocols.
(e)
Materials Otherwise Prohibited or Restricted by Statute. Any and all
information that is otherwise prohibited or restricted from disclosure by statute shall be
given the added layer of protection as afforded by and through this Order. Information or
documents that are available to the public may not be designated as Confidential
Information.
3.
Form and Timing of Designation.
The producing party may designate
documents as containing confidential information and therefore subject to protection under this
Order by marking or placing the words “CONFIDENTIAL” (hereinafter “the marking”) on the
document and on all copies in a manner that will not interfere with the legibility of the document.
As used in this Order, “copies” includes electronic images, duplicates, extracts, summaries or
descriptions that contain the Confidential Information. The marking will be applied prior to or at
the time the documents are produced or disclosed. Applying the marking to a document does not
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mean that the document has any status or protection by statute or otherwise except to the extent
and for the purposes of this Order. Copies that are made of any designated documents must also
bear the marking, except that indices, electronic databases, or lists of documents that do not
contain substantial portions or images of the text of marked documents and do not otherwise
disclose the substance of the confidential information are not required to be marked. By marking
a designated document as Confidential, the designating attorney thereby certifies that the
document contains confidential information as defined in this Order.
4.
Inadvertent Failure to Designate. Inadvertent failure to designate any document
or material as containing confidential information will not constitute a waiver of an otherwise
valid claim of confidentiality pursuant to this Order, so long as a claim of confidentiality is
asserted within three business days after discovery of the inadvertent failure.
5.
Depositions. Deposition testimony will be deemed confidential only if designated
as such when the deposition is taken or within a reasonable time period after receipt of the
deposition transcript. Such designation must be specific as to the portions of the transcript and/or
any exhibits to be protected.
6.
Protection of Confidential Material.
(a)
General Protections. Designated confidential information must be used
or disclosed solely for purposes of prosecuting or defending this lawsuit, including any and
all appeals, or any other related legal proceeding brought by one or both of the parties to
this litigation.
(b)
Who May View Designated Confidential Information. Except pursuant
to the prior written consent of the designating party or prior order of the Court, designated
confidential information may only be disclosed to the following persons:
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(i)
The Court, including the judge, court personnel, appointed
special masters, and members of the jury;
(ii)
The parties to this litigation, including any agent, associate,
employee, and/or representative of the parties;
(iii)
Counsel for the parties to this litigation, including any agent,
associate, employee, and/or representatives of counsel;
(iv)
Any court reporter, recorder, and/or videographer engaged
for depositions;
(v)
Any mediator appointed by the Court and/or jointly selected
by the parties;
(vi)
Any expert witness, outside consultant, and/or investigator
retained specifically in connection with this litigation, but
only after such persons have completed the certification
contained in Attachment A: Acknowledgment and
Agreement to be Bound;
(vii)
Any potential, anticipated, or actual fact witness and his/her
counsel, but only to the extent such confidential documents
or information will assist the witness in recalling, relating, or
explaining facts or in testifying, and only after such persons
have completed the certification contained in Attachment A;
(viii) The author and/or recipient of the document (not including a
person who received the document during the course of this
present litigation);
(ix)
(x)
(c)
Independent providers of document reproduction, electronic
discovery, or other litigation services retained or employed
specifically in connection with this litigation; and
Other persons only upon consent of the producing party and
on such conditions as the parties may agree.
Attorneys Eyes Only.
If the confidential documents contain highly
sensitive trade secrets or other highly sensitive competitive or confidential information and
disclosure to another party would result in demonstrable harm to the disclosing party, then
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the parties may stipulate or move for the establishment of an additional category of
protection, (“Attorneys’ Eyes Only”) that would prohibit disclosure of such documents or
information to category or that would limit disclosure only to specifically designated
in-house counsel and/or party representative(s) whose assistance is reasonably necessary to
the conduct of the litigation and who agree to be bound by the terms of the Order.
(d)
Control of Documents.
The parties must take reasonable efforts to
prevent unauthorized and/or inadvertent disclosure of documents designated as containing
confidential information pursuant to the terms of this Order. Counsel for the parties must
maintain a record of those persons, including employees of counsel, who have reviewed or
been given access to the documents, along with the originals of the forms signed by those
persons acknowledging their obligations under this Order.
7.
Filing of Confidential Information. In the event a party seeks to file any
document containing confidential information subject to protection under this Order with the
Court, that party must take appropriate action to ensure that the document receives the proper
protection from public disclosure including: (a) filing a redacted document with the consent of the
party who designated the document as Confidential; (b) where appropriate (e.g., in relation to
discovery and evidentiary motions), submitting the document solely for in camera review; or
(c) when the preceding measures are inadequate, seeking permission to file the document under
seal by filing a motion for leave to file under seal in accordance with D. Kan. Rule 5.4.6.
Nothing in this Order will be construed as a prior directive to allow any document to be
filed under seal. The parties understand that the requested documents may be filed under seal
only with the permission of the Court after proper motion. If the motion is granted and the
requesting party permitted to file the requested documents under seal, only counsel of record and
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unrepresented parties will have access to the sealed documents. Pro hac vice attorneys must
obtain sealed documents from local counsel.
8.
Challenges to a Confidential Designation. The designation of any material or
document as confidential information is subject to challenge by any party. Before filing any
motion or objection to a confidential designation, the objecting party must meet and confer in good
faith to resolve the objection informally without judicial intervention. A party that elects to
challenge a confidentiality designation may file and serve a motion that identifies the challenged
material and sets forth in detail the basis for the challenge. The burden of proving the necessity of
a confidentiality designation remains with the party asserting confidentiality. Until the Court
rules on the challenge, all parties must continue to treat the materials as confidential information
under the terms of this Order.
9.
Use of Confidential Documents or Information at Trial or Hearing. Nothing
in this Order will be construed to affect the use of any document, material, or information at any
trial or hearing. A party that intends to present, or that anticipates that another party may present,
confidential information at a hearing or trial must bring that issue to the attention of the Court and
the other parties without disclosing the confidential information. The Court may thereafter make
such orders as are necessary to govern the use of such documents or information at the hearing or
trial.
10.
Obligations on Conclusion of Litigation.
(a)
Order Remains in Effect. Unless otherwise agreed by the parties and/or
ordered by the Court, all provisions of this Order will remain in effect and continue to be
binding after conclusion of the litigation.
(b)
Return of Confidential Documents. Within seven calendar days after
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this litigation concludes by settlement, final judgment, or final order, including all appeals,
all documents designated as containing confidential information, including copies as
defined above, must be returned to the party who previously produced the document
unless: (1) the document has been offered into evidence or filed without restriction as to
disclosure; (2) the parties agree to destruction of the document to the extent practicable in
lieu of return;1 or (3) as to documents bearing the notations, summations, or other mental
impressions of the receiving party, that party elects to destroy the documents and certifies
to the producing party that it has done so.
(c)
Retention of Work Product. Notwithstanding the above requirements to
return or destroy documents, counsel may retain attorney work product, including an index
which refers or relates to designated confidential information, so long as that work product
does not duplicate verbatim substantial portions of the text or images of designated
documents. This work product will continue to be confidential under this Order. An
attorney may use his or her own work product in subsequent litigation provided that its use
does not disclose Confidential Information.
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In this case, the parties agree that the receiving party may destroy documents containing confidential
information within seven calendar days after the litigation concludes and certify the fact of destruction; and
that the receiving party must not be required to locate, isolate and return e-mails (including attachments to
e-mails) that may include confidential information, or confidential information contained in deposition
transcripts or drafts or final expert reports.
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11.
Order Subject to Modification. This Order is subject to modification by the
Court on its own motion or on motion of any party or any other person with standing concerning
the subject matter. The Order must not, however, be modified until the parties have been given
notice and an opportunity to be heard on the proposed modification.
12.
No Prior Judicial Determination.
This Order is entered based upon the
representations and agreements of the parties and for the purpose of facilitating discovery. Thus,
nothing in this Order will be construed or presented as a judicial determination that any document
or material designated as confidential information by counsel or the parties is entitled to protection
under Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(c), or otherwise, until such time as the Court may rule on a specific
document or issue.
13.
Persons Bound by Protective Order. This Order will take effect when entered
and is binding upon all counsel of record and their law firms, the parties, and persons made subject
to this Order by its terms.
14.
Jurisdiction. The Court’s jurisdiction to enforce the provisions of this Order will
terminate on the final disposition of this case. But a party may file a motion to seek leave to
reopen the case to enforce the provisions of this Order.
15.
Applicability to Parties Later Joined. If additional persons or entities become
parties to this lawsuit, they must not be given access to any confidential information until they
execute and file with the Court their written agreement to be bound by the provisions of this Order.
16.
Protections Extended to Third-Party’s Confidential Information. The parties
agree to extend the provisions of this Protective Order to confidential information produced in this
case by third parties, if timely requested by the third party.
17.
Confidential Information Subpoenaed or Ordered Produced in Other
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Litigation. If a receiving party is served with a subpoena or an order issued in other litigation that
would compel disclosure of any material or document designated in this action as confidential
information, the receiving party must so notify the designating party, in writing, immediately and
in no event more than three business days after receiving the subpoena or order. Such notification
must include a copy of the subpoena or court order.
The receiving party also must immediately inform in writing the party who caused the
subpoena or order to issue in the other litigation that some or all of the material covered by the
subpoena or order is the subject of this Order. In addition, the receiving party must deliver a copy
of this Order promptly to the party in the other action that caused the subpoena to issue.
The purpose of imposing these duties is to alert the interested persons to the existence of
this Order and to afford the designating party in this case an opportunity to try to protect its
confidential information in the Court from which the subpoena or order issued. The designating
party bears the burden and the expense of seeking protection in that court of its confidential
information, and nothing in these provisions should be construed as authorizing or encouraging a
receiving party in this action to disobey a lawful directive from another court. The obligations set
forth in this paragraph remain in effect while the party has in its possession, custody, or control
confidential information designated by the other party to this case.
18.
Inadvertent Disclosure of Confidential Information Covered by the
Attorney-Client Privilege and/or Work-Product Doctrine. The inadvertent disclosure or
production of any information or document that is subject to an objection on the basis of
attorney-client privilege or work-product protection, including, but not limited to, information or
documents that may be considered confidential information under the Protective Order, will not be
deemed to waive a party’s claim to its privileged or protected nature or estop that party or the
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privilege holder from designating the information or document as attorney-client privileged or
subject to the work product doctrine at a later date. Any party receiving any such information or
document must return it upon request to the producing party. Upon receiving such a request as to
specific information or documents, the receiving party must return the information or documents
to the producing party within three business days, regardless of whether the receiving party agrees
with the claim of privilege and/or work product protection. Disclosure of the information or
document by the other party prior to such later designation will not be deemed a violation of the
provisions of this Order. The provisions of this section constitute an order pursuant to Rules
502(d) and (e) of the Federal Rules of Evidence.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
Dated: April 17, 2017
s/ James P. O’Hara
James P. O’Hara
U.S. Magistrate Judge
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WE SO MOVE
and agree to abide by the
terms of this Order
WE SO MOVE
and agree to abide by the
terms of this Order
Alan v. Johnson, #9992
Stephen D. Lanterman, #18844
Sloan, Eisenbarth, Glassman,
McEntire & Jarboe, L.L.C
534 S. Kansas Ave., Ste. 1000
Topeka, KS 6660
Attorneys for Plaintiff
Lawrence J. Logback, #16608
Megan L. Moseley, #23719
Ryan C. H. McCarty, #24913
Simpson, Logback, Lynch, Norris, P.A.
7400 W. 110th St., Ste. 600
Overland Park, KS 66210
Attorneys for Defendants
/s/ Stephen D. Lanterman
Signature
/s/ Megan L. Moseley
Signature
Dated: 04/14/2017
Dated: 04/14/2017
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ATTACHMENT A
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
AND
AGREEMENT TO BE BOUND
The undersigned hereby acknowledges that he/she has read the Protective Order dated
_______________ in the case captioned: Tina Hathaway v. Mental Health Center of East Central
Kansas and Robert Runquist, Case No. 17-4016-DDC, and attached hereto, understands the terms
thereof, and agrees to be bound by its terms. The undersigned submits to the jurisdiction of the
United States District Court for the District of Kansas in matters relating to this Protective Order
and understands that the terms of the Protective Order obligate him/her to use materials designated
as confidential information in accordance with the order solely for the purposes of the
above-captioned action, and not to disclose any such confidential information to any other person,
firm, or concern, except in accordance with the provisions of the Protective Order.
The undersigned acknowledges that violation of the Protective Order may result in
penalties for contempt of court.
Name:
______________________________________
Job Title:
______________________________________
Employer:
______________________________________
Business Address:
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
Signature
Date
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