EMS, Inc. v. Chegg, Inc.
Filing
17
PROTECTIVE ORDER granting 15 Motion for Protective Order. Ordered by Magistrate Judge Thomas D. Thalken. (TRL)
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF NEBRASKA
EMS, INC., a Nebraska corporation,
Plaintiff,
vs.
CHEGG, INC., a California corporation,
Defendant.
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8:11CV113
STIPULATED
PROTECTIVE ORDER
This matter is before the Court on the parties’ motion to enter a stipulated
protective order (Filing No. 15). The Court has determined that the terms set forth
herein are appropriate to protect the respective interests of the parties, the public, and
the Court. Upon consideration,
1.
Scope.
All documents produced in the course of discovery, including
initial disclosures, all responses to discovery requests, all deposition testimony and
exhibits, other materials which may be subject to restrictions on disclosure for good
cause and information derived directly therefrom (hereinafter collectively "documents"),
shall be 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 shall be strictly construed in favor of public disclosure and open
proceedings wherever possible. The Order is also subject to the applicable rules of
procedure and local rules on matters of procedure and calculation of time periods.
2.
Form and Timing of Designation. A party may designate documents as
confidential and restricted in disclosure under this Order by placing or affixing the words
"CONFIDENTIAL – SUBJECT TO PROTECTIVE ORDER" on the document in a
manner that will not interfere with the legibility of the document and that will permit
complete removal of the CONFIDENTIAL – SUBJECT TO PROTECTIVE ORDER
designation. Documents shall be designated CONFIDENTIAL – SUBJECT TO
PROTECTIVE ORDER prior to or at the time of the production or disclosure of the
documents. Any document produced by either party prior to entry of this Order may be
designated and deemed Confidential subject to the terms of this Order by identifying
each such document in writing within twenty (20) days of the date of this Order. The
designation "CONFIDENTIAL – SUBJECT TO PROTECTIVE ORDER" does not mean
that the document has any status or protection by statute or otherwise except to the
extent and for the purposes of this Order.
3.
Documents Which May be Designated CONFIDENTIAL – SUBJECT
TO PROTECTIVE ORDER. Any party may designate documents as CONFIDENTIAL –
SUBJECT TO PROTECTIVE ORDER upon making a good faith determination that the
documents contain information protected from disclosure by statute or that should be
protected from disclosure as confidential personal information, medical or psychiatric
information, trade secrets, personnel records, or such other sensitive commercial
information that is not publicly available.
4.
Depositions. Deposition testimony shall be deemed CONFIDENTIAL –
SUBJECT TO PROTECTIVE ORDER only if designated as such within 30 days of
receipt of the deposition transcript, in writing. Such designation shall be specific as to
the portions of the transcript or any exhibit to be designated as CONFIDENTIAL –
SUBJECT TO PROTECTIVE ORDER. Thereafter, the deposition transcripts and any of
those portions so designated shall be protected as CONFIDENTIAL – SUBJECT TO
PROTECTIVE ORDER, pending objection, under the terms of this Order.
5.
Protection of Confidential Material.
(a)
General Protections. Documents designated CONFIDENTIAL –
SUBJECT TO PROTECTIVE ORDER under this Order shall not be used or
disclosed by the parties, counsel for the parties or any other persons identified in
¶5(b) for any purpose whatsoever other than to prepare for and to conduct
discovery and trial in this action, including any appeal thereof.
(b)
Limited Third-Party Disclosures. The parties and counsel for the
parties shall not disclose or permit the disclosure of any CONFIDENTIAL –
SUBJECT TO PROTECTIVE ORDER documents to any third person or entity
except as set forth in subparagraphs (1)-(5). Subject to these requirements, the
following categories of persons may be allowed to review documents that have
been designated CONFIDENTIAL – SUBJECT TO PROTECTIVE ORDER:
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(1)
Counsel.
Counsel (or the parties and employees and
agents of counsel) who have responsibility for the preparation and
trial of the action;
(2)
Parties. Parties and employees of a party to this Order;1
(3)
Court Reporters and Recorders.
Court reporters and
recorders engaged for depositions;
(4)
Consultants, Investigators and Experts.
Consultants,
investigators, or experts (hereinafter referred to collectively as
"experts") employed by the parties or counsel for the parties to
assist in the preparation and trial of this action or proceeding, but
only after such persons have completed the certification contained
in
Attachment
A,
Acknowledgment
of
Understanding
and
Agreement to Be Bound; and
(5)
Others by Consent. Other persons only by written consent
of the producing party or upon order of the Court and on such
conditions as may be agreed or ordered. All such persons shall
execute
the
certification
contained
in
Attachment
A,
Acknowledgment of Understanding and Agreement to Be Bound.
(c)
Control of Documents.
Counsel for the parties shall take
reasonable and appropriate measures to prevent unauthorized disclosure of
documents designated as CONFIDENTIAL pursuant to the terms of this Order.
Counsel shall maintain the originals of the forms signed by persons
acknowledging their obligations under this Order for a period of one year after
dismissal of the action, the entry of final judgment and/or the conclusion of any
appeals arising therefrom.
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NOTE: If the CONFIDENTIAL – SUBJECT TO PROTECTIVE ORDER docum ents contain highly sensitive
trade secrets or other highly sensitive com petitive or confidential inform ation and disclosure to another party
would result in dem onstrable harm to the disclosing party, then the parties m ay stipulate or m ove for the
establishm ent of an additional category of protection that prohibits disclosure of such docum ents or
inform ation to category (2) or that lim its disclosure only to specifically designated in-house counsel or party
representative(s) whose assistance is reasonably necessary to the conduct of the litigation and who agree
to be bound by the term s of the order.
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(d)
Copies. Prior to production to another party, all copies, electronic images,
duplicates, extracts, summaries or descriptions (hereinafter referred to
collectively as ("copies") of documents designated as CONFIDENTIAL –
SUBJECT TO PROTECTIVE ORDER under this Order, or any individual portion
of such a document, shall be affixed with the designation "CONFIDENTIAL –
SUBJECT TO PROTECTIVE ORDER" if the word does not already appear on
the copy. All such copies shall thereafter be entitled to the protection of this
Order. The term "copies" shall not include indices, electronic databases or lists
of documents provided these indices, electronic databases or lists do not contain
substantial portions or images of the text of confidential documents or otherwise
disclose the substance of the confidential information contained in those
documents.
(e)
Inadvertent Production.
Inadvertent production of any document or
information without a designation of "CONFIDENTIAL – SUBJECT TO
PROTECTIVE ORDER" shall be governed by the applicable rules of procedure.
6.
Filing of CONFIDENTIAL – SUBJECT TO PROTECTIVE ORDER
Documents Under Restricted Access. Any documents filed under either restricted
access or under seal shall comply with NECivR 5.0.3 and 7.5, respectively. To the
extent that a brief, memorandum, or pleading references any document marked as
CONFIDENTIAL – SUBJECT TO PROTECTIVE ORDER, then the brief, memorandum
or pleading shall refer the Court to the particular exhibit filed under restricted access
without disclosing the contents of any confidential information.
(a)
Before any document marked as CONFIDENTIAL – SUBJECT TO
PROTECTIVE ORDER is filed under restricted access, the filing party shall first
consult
with
the
party
that
originally
designated
the
document
as
CONFIDENTIAL – SUBJECT TO PROTECTIVE ORDER to determine whether,
with the consent of that party, the document or a redacted version of the
document may be filed with the Court without restricted access.
(b)
Where agreement is not possible or adequate, a CONFIDENTIAL –
SUBJECT TO PROTECTIVE ORDER document may be filed under restricted
access pursuant to NECivR 5.0.3. The title of the document should contain a
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notation that the document was filed under restricted access by authority of this
protective order identified by filing number. Any dispute between the parties
about the level of restriction given to the document may then be resolved by
motion filed in accordance with NECivR 7.0.1.
(c)
To the extent that it is necessary for a party to discuss the contents
of any confidential information in a written motion or other paper, then such
portion of the document may be filed under restricted access by authority of this
protective order.
If appropriate, counsel may prepare two versions of the
documents, a public and a confidential version, for filing. The public version shall
contain a redaction of references to CONFIDENTIAL – SUBJECT TO
PROTECTIVE ORDER documents. The confidential version shall be a full and
complete version of the document and shall be filed under restricted access as
above.
(d)
If any party notifies another party that they intend or need to file one
or more of the Protected Documents in response to a motion previously filed, the
party who filed such motion specifically agrees to provide whatever extension or
continuance is necessary to file such response to allow for compliance with this
order. Specifically, upon request, the parties agree to provide an extension or
continuance for the filing of any response to any motion to provide appropriate
time to comply with applicable law regarding filing such documents under
restricted access.
7.
Challenges by a Party to Designation as Confidential.
Any
CONFIDENTIAL – SUBJECT TO PROTECTIVE ORDER designation is subject to
challenge by any party or nonparty with standing to object (hereafter "party"). Before
filing any motions or objections to a confidentiality designation with the Court, the
objecting party shall have an obligation to meet and confer in a good faith effort to
resolve the objection by agreement. If agreement is reached confirming or waiving the
CONFIDENTIAL – SUBJECT TO PROTECTIVE ORDER designation as to any
documents subject to the objection, the designating party shall serve on all parties a
notice specifying the documents and the nature of the agreement.
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8.
Action by the Court. Applications to the Court for an order relating to
any documents designated CONFIDENTIAL – SUBJECT TO PROTECTIVE ORDER
shall be by motion under the applicable rules of procedure and local rules of the Court
and any other procedures set forth in the presiding judge’s standing orders or other
relevant orders. Nothing in this Order or any action or agreement of a party under this
Order limits the Court's power to make any orders that may be appropriate with respect
to the use and disclosure of any documents produced or use in discovery or at trial.
9.
Use of Confidential Documents or Information at Trial. All trials are
open to the public. Absent order of the Court, there will be no restrictions on the use of
any document that may be introduced by any party during the trial. If a party intends to
present at trial CONFIDENTIAL – SUBJECT TO PROTECTIVE ORDER documents or
information derived therefrom, such party shall provide advance notice to the other party
at least five (5) days before the commencement of trial by identifying the documents or
information at issue as specifically as possible (i.e., by Bates number, page range,
deposition transcript lines, etc.) without divulging the actual CONFIDENTIAL –
SUBJECT TO PROTECTIVE ORDER documents or information. The Court may
thereafter make such orders as are necessary to govern the use of such documents or
information at trial.
10.
Obligations on Conclusion of Litigation.
(a)
Order Remains in Effect. Unless otherwise agreed or ordered,
this Order shall remain in force after dismissal or entry of judgment not subject to
further appeal.
(b)
Return of CONFIDENTIAL – SUBJECT TO PROTECTIVE
ORDER Documents. Within thirty days after dismissal or entry of final judgment
not subject to further appeal of all other lawsuits in which HOP is lead counsel in
an FTS Case, all documents treated as CONFIDENTIAL – SUBJECT TO
PROTECTIVE ORDER under this Order, including copies as defined in ¶5(d),
shall be returned to the producing party unless: (1) the document has been
offered into evidence or filed without restriction as to disclosure; OR (2) the party
in possession of such document(s) elects to destroy the documents and certifies
to the producing party that it has done so.
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Notwithstanding the above
requirements to return or destroy documents, counsel may retain attorney work
product, including an index which refers or relates to information designated
CONFIDENTIAL – SUBJECT TO PROTECTIVE ORDER, so long as that work
product does not duplicate verbatim substantial portions of the text or images of
confidential documents. This work product shall continue to be CONFIDENTIAL
– SUBJECT TO PROTECTIVE ORDER under this Order. An attorney may use
his or her work product in a subsequent litigation provided that its use does not
disclose or use CONFIDENTIAL – SUBJECT TO PROTECTIVE ORDER
documents.
(c)
Return of Documents Filed under Seal. After dismissal or entry
of final judgment not subject to further appeal, the Clerk may elect to return to
counsel for the parties or, after notice, destroy documents filed or offered at trial
under seal or otherwise restricted by the Court as to disclosure.
11.
Order Subject to Modification. This Order shall be subject to
modification by the Court on its own motion or on motion of a party or any other person
with standing concerning the subject matter.
12.
No Prior Judicial Determination. This Order is entered based on the
representations and agreements of the parties and for the purpose of facilitating
discovery. Nothing herein shall be construed or presented as a judicial determination
that any documents or information designated CONFIDENTIAL - SUBJECT TO
PROTECTIVE ORDER by counsel or the parties is subject to protection applicable law
until such time as the Court may rule on a specific document or issue.
13.
Persons Bound. This Order shall take effect when entered and shall be
binding upon all counsel and their law firms, the parties, and persons made subject to
this Order by its terms.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
Dated this 11th day of January, 2012.
BY THE COURT:
s/ Thomas D. Thalken
United States Magistrate Judge
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ATTACHMENT A
ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF UNDERSTANDING
AND
AGREEMENT TO BE BOUND
The undersigned hereby acknowledges that he/she has read the Protective
Order dated January 11, 2012, in the above-captioned action and attached hereto,
understands the terms thereof; and agrees to be bound by its terms. The undersigned
submits to the jurisdiction of the Court herein in matters relating to the Protective Order
and understands that the terms of the Protective Order obligate him/her to use
documents designated CONFIDENTIAL – SUBJECT TO PROTECTIVE ORDER in
accordance with the Order solely for the purposes of the above captioned action, and
not to disclose any such documents or information derived directly therefrom to any
other person, firm or concern.
The undersigned acknowledges that violation of the Protective Order may result
in penalties for contempt of court.
Name:
______________________________________
Job Title:
______________________________________
Employer:
______________________________________
Business Address: _________________________________
________________________________
________________________________
Date: _______________________
________________________________
Signature
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