Bamford, Inc. v. Regent Insurance Company et al

Filing 25

PROTECTIVE ORDER - Ordered by Chief Judge Laurie Smith Camp. (AOA)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF NEBRASKA

BAMFORD, INC., a Nebraska
business corporation,

CASE NO. 8:13-cv-00200

Plaintiff,
v.
PROTECTIVE ORDER
REGENT INSURANCE COMPANY
and GENERAL CASUALTY
INSURANCE COMPANY OF
WISCONSIN, both Wisconsin
business corporations,
Defendants.

This matter comes before the Court on the Joint Stipulation for Protective Order filed by
Plaintiff, Bamford, Inc., and Defendants, Regent Insurance Company and General Casualty
Company of Wisconsin, incorrectly named General Casualty Insurance Company of Wisconsin
in the caption (collectively, the “Parties”). The Court, being fully advised in the premises,
hereby orders that all documents, materials, things, information, answers, pleadings, testimony,
and other discovery information or items produced by the Parties and non-parties are governed
by the following:
1.

The Parties recognize that during the course of this proceeding issues may arise

which require the disclosure of Confidential Information (as defined in Paragraph 2 below). The
Parties also anticipate seeking Confidential Information during discovery and that there will be
questioning concerning Confidential Information in the course of depositions. The Parties assert
the disclosure of such information outside the scope of this litigation could result in injury to one

or more of the Parties’ business interests and wish to protect such Confidential Information from
public dissemination. The Parties also assert that the need for this Protective Order also applies
to any information or materials produced by a non-party as a result of discovery subpoenas or
other requests. The Parties have stipulated and agreed to entry of this Protective Order and
request the Court enter the Protective Order for the purpose of preventing the disclosure and use
of Confidential Information by any Party or non-party except as set forth herein. The terms of
this Protective Order shall apply to any information or materials produced by any Party or
non-party as part of discovery in this action. Each and every attorney with the law firms
representing the Parties in this case shall be deemed to be subject to this Protective Order and
shall be deemed to have actual knowledge of the restrictions herein.
2.

Definition of “Confidential Information.”

A.

Under the terms of this Protective Order, “Confidential Information” means any
document, file, electronic material, portions of files, transcribed testimony, or
responses to discovery requests, including any extract, abstract, chart, summary,
note, or copy made therefrom, designated by one of the Parties or a non-party in
the manner provided in Paragraph 3 below as containing or comprising
confidential information or material.

B.

“Confidential Information” shall not include any of the types of materials
identified above (a) which is or subsequently becomes available to the general
public other than through a breach of this Protective Order; (b) which is already in
the possession of a Party before disclosure by the other Party; (c) which is
developed through the independent efforts of a Party without reference to or
reliance upon another Party’s “Confidential Information”; (d) which the other
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Party rightly receives without restriction as to use from a third party under no
obligation of confidentiality; or (e) which is released without restriction as to use
by a Party to a third party (including governmental agencies) under no obligation
of confidentiality.
C.

Nothing in this Protective Order shall be construed in any way as a finding by the
Court that material designated as Confidential Information meets the standards of
this paragraph. In the event that either Party disagrees with the other Party’s
designation of any document or information as Confidential Information, the
Parties shall first attempt to resolve the dispute by meeting and conferring. If the
dispute is not resolved during the meet and confer process, the objecting party
may move the Court for an order respecting the subject matter of the dispute. It
will be up to the Court to determine the burden of proof in the event a Party
involves the Court in a dispute over whether material is confidential. It will also
be up to the Court to determine and apply the appropriate legal standard for
evaluating what is entitled to protection. Until a resolution of the dispute is
achieved, all Parties shall treat the designated document, thing or information as
Confidential Information.

3.

Designation of Confidential Information.

Where any kind of Confidential

Information is produced, provided or otherwise disclosed by a Party or a non-party in response to
any discovery request or subpoena, including by means of entry onto land or premises or by
inspection of books, records, documents, or tangible things, such Confidential Information will
be designated in the following manner:

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A.

By imprinting the word “Confidential,” as appropriate, on each page of any
document produced that contains confidential material;

B.

By imprinting the word “Confidential,” as appropriate, on a disk bearing any
document or file produced;

C.

By imprinting the word “Confidential,” as appropriate, next to or above any
response to a discovery request; and

D.

With respect to transcribed testimony, either during the deposition on the record,
or by giving written notice to opposing counsel sufficient to designate such
portions as “Confidential,” as appropriate, within twenty-one (21) calendar days
after receipt of the transcribed testimony.
During a deposition, the deponent or his counsel, or any other counsel of
record present at the deposition, may give notice on the record that testimony
about to be given is deemed “Confidential,” as appropriate. If during the course
of a deposition, a document or other material that has previously been designated
“Confidential,” is used, then that particular portion of the deposition shall be
deemed to be subject to the same level of protection accorded to the designated
document without further need of any written designation of the deposition
transcript by the designating party.

4.

Restrictions on Confidential Information. All Confidential Information provided

by a Party or a non-party in response to a discovery request or as transcribed testimony shall be
subject to the following restrictions:

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A.

Confidential Information shall be used only for the purpose of this litigation and
not for any business or other purpose whatsoever.

B.

Confidential Information shall not be communicated or disclosed by any Party’s
counsel or a Party in any manner, either directly or indirectly, to anyone except
for purposes of this litigation as described below.

C.

Confidential Information may only be disclosed or communicated to the
following persons:
(i)

The Court and its staff;

(ii)

The Parties and employees of each of the Parties or of entities
owned or controlled by a Party whose assistance is needed by
counsel for the purposes of this litigation;

(iii)

The Parties’ outside counsel of record in this action and any
regular or temporary employees of such counsel to whom it is
necessary that the information or material be shown for purposes
of this litigation;

(iv)

The Parties’ in-house counsel;

(v)

Third-Party Consultants or Expert Witnesses;

(vi)

Graphics or design services firms retained by counsel for a Party
for purposes of preparing demonstrative or other exhibits for
deposition, trial or other proceedings;

(vii)

Non-technical jury or trial consulting services including mock
jurors or focus group members retained by counsel for a Party; or

(viii)

Witnesses in the above-captioned action as necessary.
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D.

Undertaking: Confidential Information may be disclosed to a party or person
listed in Paragraph 4(C), subparagraphs (v) through (viii), only after such party or
person has executed a declaration in the form attached as Exhibit A.

5.

Use of Confidential Information in Court Proceedings. In the event any material

designated Confidential Information is used in any court filing or legal proceeding, including,
but not limited to, its use at trial, it shall not lose its confidential status as between the Parties
through such use.

Any memorandum, brief, or other pleading that contains Confidential

Information in the body of the document shall be prominently labeled on the applicable pages
with the following legend: “Contains Confidential Information Subject To Protective Order.”
6.

Continuing Duty. The termination of this action shall not relieve counsel, the

Parties, 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. The Parties agree that
in no event shall the obligations of this Protective Order continue beyond two years from the final
disposition of this matter, by order, settlement or otherwise.
7.

Protective Order Not Admission. 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.

Furthermore, by producing or receiving information or material designated

Confidential Information or by otherwise complying with the terms of this Protective Order, such
conduct shall not be deemed to:
a.

Operate as an admission by any Party that any designated material contains or
reflects trade secrets, proprietary or commercially sensitive information, or any
other type of confidential information;
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b.

Operate as an admission by any Party that the restrictions and procedures set forth
herein constitute or do not constitute adequate protection for any designated
information;

c.

Prejudice in any way the rights of the Parties to object to the production of
documents they consider not subject to discovery;

d.

Prejudice in any way the rights of any Party to object to the authenticity or
admissibility into evidence of any document, testimony or other evidence subject
to this Protective Order;

e.

Prejudice in any way the rights of any Party to seek a determination by the Court,
whether any information or material should be subject to the terms of this
Protective Order, including, but not limited to, designations made by a non-party;

f.

Prejudice in any way the rights of any Party to petition the Court for a further
protective order relating to any purportedly Confidential Information; or

g.

Prevent the Parties from agreeing in writing or on the record during a deposition
or hearing in this action to alter or waive the provisions or protections provided
for herein with respect to any particular information or material.

8.

Obligations After Final Disposition. The provisions of this Protective Order shall,

absent written permission of the producing Party or further order of the Court, continue to be
binding throughout and after the conclusion of this action, including any appeals or remands.
Within a reasonable time after receiving notice of the entry of an order, judgment or decree
finally disposing of this action, including any appeals therefrom, all persons having received
Confidential Information shall return such materials and all copies thereof (including summaries
and excerpts) to counsel for the producing Party or shall certify destruction thereof. The outside
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counsel for each Party shall be entitled to retain court papers, deposition transcripts, and attorney
work product that contains, reflects or summarizes Confidential Information, provided that such
counsel, and employees of such counsel, shall not disclose any such Confidential Information to
any person or entity except pursuant to a written agreement with the producing Party. All
materials returned to the Parties or their counsel by the Court likewise shall be disposed of in
accordance with this Paragraph.
9.

No Bar to Seeking Further Relief. Nothing in this Protective Order shall preclude

any Party from filing a motion seeking further or different protection from the Court or from
filing a motion with respect to the manner in which Confidential Information shall be treated at
trial.
10.

Examination of Witnesses Regarding Confidential Information. Any person may

be examined as a witness at trial or during a deposition concerning any information or material
that has been designated as Confidential Information which that person had lawfully received or
authored prior to and apart from this action. During such examination, any such witness may be
shown information or material designated as Confidential Information which appears on its face
or from other documents or testimony to have been received or authored by that witness.
Whenever a person appears from the face of a document that has been designated as
Confidential Information to have been the author or lawful recipient of that document, such
person may be shown, but not permitted to retain custody of, that specific document shown to
them despite the restrictions on access set out in Paragraph 4 of this Protective Order.
11.

Inadvertent Production of Undesignated/Misdesignated Confidential Information.

If timely corrected, an inadvertent production of Confidential Information without marking it as
such does not, standing alone, waive any party’s right to secure protection for such material.
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If information or material is appropriately designated as Confidential Information after the
material was initially produced, the receiving party, on timely notification of the designation,
must make reasonable efforts to assure that the material is treated in accordance with the
provisions herein.
12.

Binding Effect of Protective Order Before Entry by Court. The Parties agree to

be bound by the terms of this Protective Order pending its entry by the Court, even if this action
is ultimately dismissed. Any violation of the terms of this Protective Order prior to its entry, or
prior to the entry of an alternative order, shall be subject to the same sanctions and penalties as if
this Protective Order had been entered as an order of the Court before the violation occurred.
13.

Obligations Under Subpoena in Other Action. If a Party is (a) subpoenaed in

another action, (b) served with a demand in another action to which it is a party, or (c) served
with any other legal process by one not a Party to this action, seeking Confidential Information
which it received from the other Party, the Party so served shall give prompt, written notice to the
producing Party, by hand or electronic service, upon its receipt of such subpoena, demand, or
legal process.

The Party so served shall also object to the production of the requested

Confidential Information to the extent permitted by law. Should the person seeking access to the
information or material take action against the Party, or anyone else covered by this Protective
Order to enforce such a subpoena, demand or other legal process, the Party shall respond by
setting forth the existence of this Protective Order. Nothing herein shall be construed as requiring
the Party, or anyone else covered by this Protective Order, to challenge or appeal any order
requiring production of information or material covered by this Protective Order, or to subject
itself to any penalties for noncompliance with any legal process or order, or to seek any relief
from this Court.
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14.

Production of Confidential Information by Non-Parties. If a non-party is called

upon, by subpoena or otherwise, to provide or produce nonpublic documents, information or
things that the non-party reasonably and in good faith believes are confidential, the non-party
may designate such documents, information or things as Confidential Information in the manner
set forth in this Protective Order.

The producing non-party shall have the same rights and

obligations as a Party with regard to such documents, information or things.
Dated this 18th day of November, 2013.

BY THE COURT:
s/Laurie Smith Camp
LAURIE SMITH CAMP, CHIEF JUDGE
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

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EXHIBIT A – “Confidential Information”

DECLARATION OF _____________________

___________________ swears or affirms and states under penalty of perjury:
1.
I make this Declaration on behalf of _______________________ [identify name
of corporate Party or state “myself”].
2.
I have read the Protective Order filed in this action, Bamford, Inc. v. Regent
Insurance Company & General Casualty Insurance Company of Wisconsin, Case No. 8:13-cv00200 in the United States District Court for the District of Nebraska, a copy of which is
attached to this Declaration.
3.
I have been informed by _____________, Esq., counsel for ____________, that I
may be given access to information, documents or other materials that have been defined as
“Confidential Information” under the Protective Order.
4.
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. I will not use the Confidential Information for any commercial
purpose.
5.
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.
6.

I will abide by the terms of the Protective Order.

(Signature)

(Print or Type Name)
Address:

Telephone No.: (
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)