Culpepper v. Consolidated Container Company LP

Filing 28

ORDER: Defendant shall submit the 4/7/2014 email communications that remain at issue to the undersigned's chambers for in camera inspection on or before 4/25/2016. Signed by Magistrate Judge Richard L. Bourgeois, Jr on 4/20/2016. (LLH)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
MIDDLE DISTRICT OF LOUISIANA
RONNIE E. CULPEPPER

CIVIL ACTION

VERSUS

NO. 15-125-BAJ-RLB

CONSOLIDATED CONTAINER
COMPANY LP
ORDER
Before the court is Plaintiff’s Motion to Compel Production of Internal E-Mails (R. Doc.
19) filed on March 4, 2016. The motion is opposed. (R. Doc. 22). Plaintiff has filed a Reply. (R.
Doc. 24).
On August 19, 2015, Defendant identified and described the two sets of emails sought by
Plaintiff on a privilege log, claiming that the emails are protected pursuant to the work product
doctrine. (R. Doc. 19-2).
The first set of emails sought are March 17, 2014 communications described on the
privilege log as follows: “E-mails between Laurie Walker (Regional Human Resources
Manager) and Kathy Cashion (Director, Human Resources & Talent Management) re: severance
agreement offered to Plaintiff.” (R. Doc. 19-2). In response to Plaintiff’s motion to compel,
Defendant agreed to voluntarily produce these emails. (R. Doc. 22-1; R. Doc. 22 at 4).
The second set of emails sought are April 7, 2014 communications described on the
privilege log as follows: “E-mails between David Holroyd (Former Kentwood Plant Manager),
Laurie Walker, Luis Lopez (Senior Regional Human Resources Manager), and Paul Koziatek
(Director, Risk Management) re: Plaintiff’s unemployment claim.” (R. Doc. 19-2).
Defendant has offered to provide the emails at issue to the Court for in camera inspection
to determine whether the withheld emails are protected from disclosure pursuant to the work

product doctrine. The Court has determined that in camera inspection of the set of emails that
remain at issue would aid resolution of the instant motion.
Accordingly,
IT IS ORDERED that Defendant shall submit the April 7, 2014 email communications
that remain at issue to the undersigned’s chambers for in camera inspection on or before April
25, 2016.
Signed in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on April 20, 2016.

S

RICHARD L. BOURGEOIS, JR.
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE