Ashokkumar v Elbaum, et al

Filing 84

PROTECTIVE ORDER granting 83 Motion. Ordered by Magistrate Judge Cheryl R. Zwart. (Zwart, Cheryl)

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF NEBRASKA PADMAPRIYA ASHOKKUMAR, an Individual, ) ) ) Plaintiff, ) ) v. ) ) SEBASTIAN ELBAUM, Professor at ) the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, ) SCOTT HENNINGER, Former ) Professor at the University of ) Nebraska-Lincoln, LORIN ) HOCHSTEIN, Former Professor at the ) University of Nebraska-Lincoln, ) STEVE GODDARD, Current Chair of ) the Department of Computer Science ) and Engineering at the University of ) Nebraska-Lincoln, KIMBERLY ) ANDREWS ESPY, Former Associate ) Vice Chancellor for Research at the ) University of Nebraska-Lincoln, ) PREM PAUL, Vice Chancellor for ) Research and Dean of Graduate ) Studies, all in their individual and ) official capacities, ) ) Defendants. ) Case No. 4:12-cv-3067 STIPULATED PROTECTIVE ORDER Pursuant to the parties’ Joint Motion for Entry of Protective Order (Filing No. 8 ), it is hereby ORDERED as follows: 1. Materials Deemed Confidential. If a party or an attorney for a party (or a third-party subject to subpoena issued by the Court in this case or an attorney for such third-party) has a good faith belief that certain documents or other materials or information (including digital information) subject to disclosure pursuant to a discovery or other request, are confidential and should not be disclosed other than in connection with this action pursuant to Rule 26(c) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, the party or attorney shall mark each such document or other materials as “CONFIDENTIAL.” A party or an attorney may mark documents “ATTORNEYS’ EYES ONLY” if the party or attorney has a good faith belief that the documents contain highly sensitive information that could result in injury to the disclosing party or a third-party if disclosed to another party or parties in this case. 2. Redesignation of Materials as Confidential. inadvertently produces confidential documents or In the event a party materials without the designation “CONFIDENTIAL” or “ATTORNEYS’ EYES ONLY”, it shall not be deemed a waiver of the confidential nature of the documents or materials provided that the producing party notify all other parties of the inadvertent production within a reasonable time after the producing party discovers the inadvertent production. In the event that the disclosing party notifies the receiving party that a document or thing was produced without the appropriate confidentiality designation, the disclosing party shall provide the receiving party with replacement copies of the documents or things bearing the appropriate confidentiality designation. Upon receipt of the replacement copies, the receiving party shall retrieve and return or destroy all copies of the previously produced documents or things. 3. Inadvertent Disclosure. As to documents produced before filing of this Stipulated Protective Order, any disputes related to instances in which a party or third party has produced or disclosed materials for which any privilege or 2 protection is claimed, including but not limited to the attorney-client privilege or work product protection, will be governed in accordance with Rule 26 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, Rule 502 of the Federal Rules of Evidence, and any applicable provisions of the Initial Progression Order (Filing No. 64) entered in this case. As to documents produced after filing of this Protective Order, the following procedures shall govern instances in which a party or third-party has inadvertently produced or disclosed materials for which any privilege or protection is claimed, including but not limited to the attorney-client privilege or workproduct protection: a. The disclosing party must notify the receiving party promptly, in writing or on the record, upon discovery that a document has been inadvertently produced. Upon receiving written notice from the disclosing party that privileged and/or work-product material has been inadvertently produced, all such information, and all copies thereof, shall be returned to the disclosing party within five business days of receipt of such notice and the receiving party shall not use such information for any purpose, until further order of the Court. The receiving party shall also attempt, in good faith, to retrieve and return or destroy all copies of the document in electronic format, and shall provide the disclosing party with written notice that all copies of the document have been returned or destroyed. If the receiving party intend to file a motion under paragraph 3(b), below, it may maintain a copy of the document for purposes of filing such a motion. b. If the receiving party contests the privilege or work-product designation by the disclosing party, it shall file a motion to compel 3 production of the document or information. The receiving party shall not assert as a ground for compelling production the facts or circumstances of the inadvertent production, unless it is asserted that privilege or workproduct protection was knowingly and intentionally waived. c. The disclosing party retains the burden of establishing the privileged or protected nature of any document or information that is claimed as privileged or otherwise protected. Nothing in this paragraph shall limit the right of any party to petition the Court for an in camera review of such documents or information. d. Upon notification of inadvertent disclosure from the disclosing party, the receiving party shall place any analyses, memoranda, or notes which were internally generated based upon such inadvertently-produced information in sealed envelopes if in hard copy form or shall segregate such analyses, memoranda, or notes if in electronic form. e. Pursuant to Rule 502 of the Federal Rules of Evidence, if the receiving party does not contest that the information is privileged or otherwise protected or if the Court so rules, then the inadvertent disclosure of the information shall not be deemed a waiver or impairment of any claim of privilege or protection, including, but not limited to, the attorney-client privilege, the protection afforded to work-product materials or the subject matter thereof, as to the inadvertently disclosed document or information and any related material, and such documents and information shall be destroyed or returned to the producing party. 4 4. Challenging Designation of Confidentiality. If a party or an attorney for a party disputes whether a document or other material should be marked “CONFIDENTIAL” or “ATTORNEYS’ EYES ONLY”, the parties and/or attorneys shall attempt to resolve the dispute between themselves. If they are unsuccessful, the party or attorney challenging the confidentiality designation shall do so by filing an appropriate motion. 5. Distribution of Confidential Materials. No party or attorney or other person subject to this Protective Order shall distribute, transmit, or otherwise divulge any document or other material which is marked “CONFIDENTIAL” or “ATTORNEYS’ EYES ONLY”, or the contents thereof, except in accordance with this Protective Order. 6. Persons Entitled to View Confidential Materials. Any document or other material which is marked “CONFIDENTIAL,” or the contents thereof may only be disclosed to the following individuals: a. counsel for the parties to this action who are involved in the conduct of this action, together with the partners, associates, secretaries, paralegals, assistants, agents and employees of such counsel; b. court officials involved in this action (including persons such as court reporters and persons operating video recording equipment at depositions); c. the parties; d. any person designated by the Court in the interest of justice, upon such terms as the Court may deem proper; 5 e. persons noticed for depositions or designated as trial witnesses, but only to the extent reasonably necessary to prepare them to testify; f. outside consultants or experts retained for the purpose of assisting counsel in this action who sign the undertaking attached hereto as Exhibit “A”, but only to the extent reasonably necessary for them to provide such services in this action; and g. any person or entity who created or previously received the document. Any document or other material which is marked “ATTORNEYS’ EYES ONLY,” or the contents thereof, may only be disclosed to the individuals listed in subparagraphs (a), (b), (d), (f), and (g), above. 7. Use of Confidential Materials. Any document or other material which is marked “CONFIDENTIAL” or “ATTORNEYS’ EYES ONLY”, or the contents thereof, may be used by a party, or a party’s attorney, expert witness, consultant, or other person to whom disclosure is made, only for the purpose of this action. Nothing contained in this Protective Order shall prevent the use of any document or other material which is marked “CONFIDENTIAL” or “ATTORNEYS’ EYES ONLY”, or the contents thereof, as evidence at trial, or at any deposition taken in this action, as long as the party using the document or other material complies with the other provisions of this Protective Order. The parties, attorneys, and other persons to whom disclosure is made shall take appropriate measures in court filings and proceedings to protect the confidentiality of any document or other material which is marked “CONFIDENTIAL” or “ATTORNEYS’ EYES ONLY.” Such measures may include filing pleadings and evidence as “Restricted Access” 6 documents on the CM/ECF system and/or filing a motion requesting the Court to seal a document or a portion thereof. 8. Return or Destruction of Confidential Materials After Litigation. At the conclusion of the proceedings in this action, all documents and materials marked “CONFIDENTIAL” or “ATTORNEYS’ EYES ONLY”, including any copies or extracts or summaries thereof, or documents containing or derived from information taken therefrom, shall be returned to producing counsel with producing counsel to pay the shipping costs associated with the return of such documents or materials. Upon the consent of the producing party, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, the recipient of such materials may, as an alternative to returning the materials to the producing party, submit a written certification that all “CONFIDENTIAL” and “ATTORNEYS’ EYES ONLY” materials have been destroyed. Notwithstanding the other provisions of this paragraph, counsel for each party may retain one (1) complete set of the pleadings, trial transcripts, exhibits admitted in any deposition, documents filed with the court, deposition transcripts (including deposition exhibits), and discovery responses and shall remain bound to preserve the confidentiality of such documents in accordance with the provisions of this Protective Order. Nothing herein shall require legal counsel for any party to return or destroy correspondence, including electronic email correspondence, which has “CONFIDENTIAL” or “ATTORNEYS’ EYES ONLY” materials attached thereto. 9. Subpoenas and Legal Process. In the event that any of the parties is subpoenaed or is served with any other legal process by a person not a party to this litigation, and is requested to produce or otherwise disclose “CONFIDENTIAL” 7 or “ATTORNEYS’ EYES ONLY” information that was so designated by another party, the party subpoenaed or served as referred to in this paragraph shall object to the production of the such information by setting forth the existence of this Protective Order and shall give prompt written notice to the party who produced the information in this litigation. Nothing in this Protective Order shall be construed as requiring the party from whom “CONFIDENTIAL” or “ATTORNEYS’ EYES ONLY” information was requested to challenge or appeal any order requiring production of such information covered by this Protective Order, to subject itself to any penalties for noncompliance with any legal process or order, or to seek any relief from this Court. Notwithstanding the other provisions of this paragraph, a party from whom “CONFIDENTIAL” or “ATTORNEYS’ EYES ONLY” documents or information are subpoenaed or otherwise required by a governmental agency may produce the documents or information to that agency without itself making objections, but shall provide prompt written notice of any such subpoena to the party who disclosed the “CONFIDENTIAL” or “ATTORNEYS’ EYES ONLY” information. 10. No Effect on Other Issues. Nothing contained in this Protective Order and no action taken pursuant to it shall prejudice the right of any party to contest the alleged relevancy, admissibility, or discoverability of the documents or other materials marked “CONFIDENTIAL” or “ATTORNEYS’ EYES ONLY” and disclosed pursuant to this Protective Order. 11. Waiver. To be effective, any waiver under this Protective Order must be made in writing or on the record in a deposition or court proceeding. 8 12. Henninger Grievance Documents. Plaintiff has requested that Defendant produce documents related to a grievance procedure initiated by Dr. Scott Henninger and Defendant has agreed to produce responsive documents with the designation “ATTORNEYS’ EYES ONLY” (the “Henninger Grievance Documents”). Plaintiff and Defendant agree that should either party seek to change the designation of any or all of the Henninger Grievance Documents, the party seeking such change will provide written notice to Dr. Henninger’s counsel, Dave Watermeier, at least 10 days prior to initiating the change in designation. Dated this 2nd day of August, 2013 BY THE COURT: Hon. Cheryl R. Zwart United States Magistrate Judge 9 EXHIBIT A ACKNOWLEDGMENT AND AGREEMENT TO BE BOUND I declare under penalty of perjury that I have read in its entirety and understand the Stipulated Protective Order that was issued by the United States District Court for the District of Nebraska in the case of Padmapriya Ashokkumar v. Steve Goddard, Case No. 4:12-cv-3067. I agree to comply with and to be bound by all the terms of this Stipulated 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 further agree to submit to the jurisdiction of the United States District Court for the District of Nebraska for the purpose of enforcing the terms of this Stipulated Protective Order, even if such enforcement proceedings occur after termination of this action. I hereby appoint __________________________ of ____________________________ as my Nebraska agent for service of process in connection with any proceedings related to enforcement of this Stipulated Protective Order. Dated this ____ day of _________, _____. By: [Signature] [Printed Name] 4836-1734-6837, v. 1 10

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