Judds Brothers Construction Co. v. Mersino Dewatering, Inc.
Filing
16
STIPULATED PROTECTIVE ORDER granting 15 Motion for Protective Order. Ordered by Magistrate Judge F.A. Gossett. (LAC)
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF NEBRASKA
JUDDS BROTHERS CONSTRUCTION CO.,
a Nebraska Corporation,
CASE NO. 8:16CV1
Plaintiff,
v.
STIPULATED PROTECTIVE
ORDER
MERSINO DEWATERING, INC.,
a Michigan Corporation,
Defendant and Counterclaim Plaintiff,
v.
JUDDS BROTHERS CONSTRUCTION CO.
Counterclaim Defendant.
This matter comes before the court on the Joint Motion for Protective Order (Filing No.
15) filed by the parties. The court hereby grants the motion and adopts the parties'
stipulated protective order. Accordingly,
It is ORDERED:
1.
Scope. All materials produced or adduced in the course of discovery,
including initial disclosures, responses to discovery requests, deposition testimony and
exhibits,
and
information
derived
directly
therefrom
(hereinafter
collectively
“documents”), shall be subject to this Order concerning Confidential Information as
defined below. This Order is subject to the Local Rules of this District and the Federal
Rules of Civil Procedure on matters of procedure and calculation of time periods.
2.
Confidential Information. As
used
in
this
Order,
“Confidential
Information” means information designated as “CONFIDENTIAL-SUBJECT TO
PROTECTIVE ORDER” or "HIGHLY CONFIDENTIAL – ATTORNEYS' EYES ONLY"
by the producing party that falls within one or more of the following categories: (a)
information prohibited from disclosure by statute; (b) information that is proprietary or
reveals trade secrets; (c) research, technical, commercial or financial information that
the party has maintained as confidential; (d) medical information concerning any
individual; (e) personal identity information; (f) income tax returns (including attached
schedules and forms), W-2 forms and 1099 forms; or (g) personnel or employment
records of a person who is not a party to the case. Information or documents that are
available to the public may not be designated as Confidential Information.
3.
Designation.
(a)
A party may designate a document as Confidential Information for
protection under this Order by placing or affixing the words “CONFIDENTIAL SUBJECT TO PROTECTIVE ORDER” on the document and on all pages and 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 “CONFIDENTIAL - SUBJECT TO
PROTECTIVE ORDER” shall be applied prior to or at the time of the documents are
produced or disclosed. Applying the marking “CONFIDENTIAL - SUBJECT TO
PROTECTIVE ORDER” to a document 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. Any copies that are made of any documents marked “CONFIDENTIAL SUBJECT TO PROTECTIVE ORDER” shall also be so marked, 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.
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(b)
Materials For Attorneys' Eyes Only. Counsel
for
a
disclosing party may further designate Confidential Information as "HIGHLY
CONFIDENTIAL - ATTORNEYS' EYES ONLY" if such counsel concludes that the
material constitutes or contains non-public information that is highly personal in
nature or is competitively sensitive and proprietary to the producing party, or from
which competitively sensitive and proprietary information belonging to a producing
party could be derived. Material designated as "HIGHLY CONFIDENTIAL ATTORNEYS' EYES ONLY" may not be disclosed to the parties, any expert or
consultant, or contractor as identified in paragraph 5(b) infra, and in all other
respects shall be treated as "CONFIDENTIAL" material under this Protective Order.
(c) The designation of a document as Confidential Information is a
certification by an attorney or party appearing pro se that the document contains
Confidential Information as defined in this order.
4.
Depositions.
Deposition
“CONFIDENTIAL
testimony is protected by this Order only if designated as
–
SUBJECT
TO
PROTECTIVE
ORDER”
and/or
"HIGHLY
CONFIDENTIAL - ATTORNEYS' EYES ONLY" on the record at the time the testimony
is taken. Such designation shall be specific as to the portions that contain Confidential
Information. Deposition testimony so designated shall be treated as Confidential
Information protected by this Order until fourteen days after delivery of the transcript
by the court reporter to any party or the witness. Within fourteen days after delivery of
the transcript, a designating party may serve a Notice of Designation to all parties of
record identifying the specific portions of the transcript that are designated Confidential
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Information, and thereafter those portions identified in the Notice of Designation shall
be protected under the terms of this Order. The failure to serve a timely Notice of
Designation waives any designation of deposition testimony as Confidential
Information that was made on the record of the deposition, unless otherwise ordered
by the Court.
5.
Protection of Confidential Material.
(a)
General Protections. Confidential Information shall not be used or
disclosed by the parties, counsel for the parties or any other persons identified in
subparagraph (b) for any purpose whatsoever other than in this litigation, 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 Information to any
third person or entity except as set forth in subparagraphs (1)-(9). Subject to these
requirements, the following categories of persons may be allowed to review Confidential
Information:
(1)
Counsel. Counsel for the parties and employees of counsel who
have responsibility for the action;
(2)
Parties. Individual parties and employees of a party but only to the
extent counsel determines in good faith that the employee’s
assistance is reasonably necessary to the conduct of the litigation
in which the information is disclosed (except that, per paragraph 3
(b) supra, materials marked as "HIGHLY CONFIDENTIAL –
ATTORNEYS' EYES ONLY" may not be disclosed to the parties).;
(3)
The Court and its personnel;
(4)
Court Reporters and Recorders. Court reporters and recorders
engaged for depositions;
(5)
Contractors. Those persons specifically engaged for the limited
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purpose of making copies of documents or organizing or
processing documents, including outside vendors hired to process
electronically stored documents (except that, per paragraph 3(b)
supra, materials marked as "HIGHLY CONFIDENTIALATTORNEYS' EYES ONLY" may not be disclosed);
(6)
Consultants and Experts. Consultants, investigators, or experts
employed by the parties or counsel for the parties to assist in the
preparation and trial of this action but only after such persons have
completed the certification contained in Attachment A,
Acknowledgment of Understanding and Agreement to Be
Bound(except that, per paragraph 3 (b) supra, materials marked as
"HIGHLY CONFIDENTIAL – ATTORNEYS' EYES ONLY" may not
be disclosed);
(7)
Witnesses at depositions. During their depositions, witnesses in
this action to whom disclosure is reasonably necessary. Witnesses
shall not retain a copy of documents containing Confidential
Information, except witnesses may receive a copy of all exhibits
marked at their depositions in connection with review of the
transcripts. Pages of transcribed deposition testimony or exhibits to
depositions that are designated as Confidential Information
pursuant to the process set out in this Order must be separately
bound by the court reporter and may not be disclosed to anyone
except as permitted under this Order (except that, per paragraph 3
(b) supra, materials marked as "HIGHLY CONFIDENTIAL –
ATTORNEYS' EYES ONLY" may not be disclosed to parties,
consultants, or experts);.
(8)
Author or recipient. The author or recipient of the document (not
including a person who received the document in the course of
litigation); and
(9)
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.
(c)
Control of Documents. Counsel for the parties shall make
reasonable efforts to prevent unauthorized or inadvertent disclosure of Confidential
Information. Counsel shall maintain the originals of the forms signed by persons
acknowledging their obligations under this Order for a period of three years after the
termination of the case.
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6.
Inadvertent Failure to Designate. An inadvertent failure to designate a
document as Confidential Information does not, standing alone, waive the right to so
designate the document; provided, however, that a failure to serve a timely Notice of
Designation of deposition testimony as required by this Order, even if inadvertent,
waives any protection for deposition testimony. If a party designates a document as
Confidential Information after it was initially produced, the receiving party, on
notification of the designation, must make a reasonable effort to assure that the
document is treated in accordance with the provisions of this Order. No party shall be
found to have violated this Order for failing to maintain the confidentiality of material
during a time when that material has not been designated Confidential Information,
even where the failure to so designate was inadvertent and where the material is
subsequently designated Confidential Information.
7.
Filing of Confidential Information. This Order does not, by itself,
authorize the filing of any document under seal. Any party wishing to file a document
designated as Confidential Information in connection with a motion, brief or other
submission to the Court must comply with LR 5.3.
8.
No Greater Protection of Specific Documents. Except on privilege
grounds not addressed by this Order, no party may withhold information from discovery
on the ground that it requires protection greater than that afforded by this Order unless
the party moves for an order providing such special protection.
9.
Challenges by a Party to Designation as Confidential Information.
The designation of any material or document as Confidential Information is subject to
challenge by any party. The following procedure shall apply to any such challenge.
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(a)
Meet and Confer.
A party challenging the designation of
Confidential Information must do so in good faith and must begin the process by
conferring directly with counsel for the designating party. In conferring, the challenging
party must explain the basis for its belief that the confidentiality designation was not
proper and must give the designating party an opportunity to review the designated
material, to reconsider the designation, and, if no change in designation is offered, to
explain the basis for
the designation. The designating party must respond to the
challenge within five (5) business days. The Meet and Confer may occur
telephonically.
(b)
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. Each such motion must be
accompanied by a competent declaration that affirms that the movant has complied
with the meet and confer requirements of this procedure. The burden of persuasion in
any such challenge proceeding shall be on the designating party. Until the Court rules
on the challenge, all parties shall continue to treat the materials as Confidential
Information under the terms of this Order.
10.
Action by the Court. Applications to the Court for an order relating to
materials or documents designated Confidential Information shall be by motion.
Nothing in this Order or any action or agreement of a party under this Order limits the
Court’s power to make orders concerning the disclosure of documents produced in
discovery or at trial.
11.
Use of Confidential Documents or Information at Trial. Nothing in this
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Order shall 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 shall bring that issue to the
Court’s and parties’ attention by motion or in a pretrial memorandum 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 trial.
12.
Confidential Information Subpoenaed or Ordered Produced in Other
Litigation.
(a)
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 court days
after receiving the subpoena or order. Such notification must include a copy of the
subpoena or court order.
(b)
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.
(c)
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 shall bear the burden and the expense
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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 by the other party to this case.
13.
Challenges by Members of the Public to Sealing Orders. A party or
interested member of the public has a right to challenge the sealing of particular
documents that have been filed under seal, and the party asserting confidentiality will
have the burden of demonstrating the propriety of filing under seal.
14.
Obligations on Conclusion of Litigation.
(a)
Order Continues in Force. Unless otherwise agreed or ordered,
this Order shall remain in force after dismissal or entry of final judgment not subject to
further appeal.
(b)
Obligations
at
Conclusion
of
Litigation
for
Materials
Designated "CONFIDENTIAL – SUBJECT TO PROTECTIVE ORDER". Within sixtythree days after dismissal or entry of final judgment not subject to further appeal, all
documents marked “CONFIDENTIAL - SUBJECT TO PROTECTIVE ORDER” under
this Order, including copies as defined in ¶ 3(a), shall be returned to the producing
party unless: (1) the document has been offered into evidence or filed without
restriction as to disclosure; (2) the parties agree to destruction to the extent
practicable in lieu of return 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.
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(c)
Obligations
at
Conclusion
of
Litigation
for
Materials
Designated "HIGHLY CONFIDENTIAL – ATTORNEYS' EYES ONLY." Within 20
days after dismissal or entry of final judgment not subject to further appeal, all
documents marked "HIGHLY CONFIDENTIAL – ATTORNEYS" EYES ONLY" under
this Order, including copies as defined in paragraph 3(b) shall be returned to the
producing party unless the parties agree to the destruction to the extent practicable in
lieu of return. If the receiving attorney elects to destroy documents designated
"HIGHLY CONFIDENTIAL – ATTORNEYS' EYES ONLY" the receiving attorney must
certify in writing the fact of such destruction.
(d)
Retention of Work Product and one set of Filed Documents
for Materials Designated "CONFIDENTIAL – SUBJECT TO PROTECTIVE
ORDER." Notwithstanding the above requirements to return or destroy documents,
and except as limited by paragraph 14 (e) infra, counsel may retain (1) attorney work
product, including an index that refers or relates to designated Confidential
Information so long as that work product does not duplicate verbatim substantial
portions of Confidential Information, and (2) one complete set of all documents filed
with the Court including those filed under seal. Any retained Confidential Information
shall continue to be protected under this Order. An attorney may use his or her work
product in subsequent litigation, provided that its use does not disclose or use
Confidential Information.
(e)
If demanded by the producing party, the receiving attorney may
not retain materials designated as "HIGHLY CONFIDENTIAL – ATTORNEYS' EYES
ONLY."
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(f)
Deletion of Documents filed under Seal from Electronic Case
Filing (ECF) System. Filings under seal shall be deleted from the ECF system only
upon order of the Court.
15.
Order Subject to Modification. This Order shall be subject to
modification by the Court on its own initiative or on motion of a party or any other
person with standing concerning the subject matter.
16.
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 document or material designated Confidential Information by counsel or the
parties is entitled to protection under Rule 26(c) of the Federal Rules of Civil
Procedure or otherwise until such time as the Court may rule on a specific document
or issue.
17.
Persons Bound. This Order shall take effect when entered and shall
be binding upon all counsel of record and their law firms, the parties, and persons
made subject to this Order by its terms.
DATED: April 8, 2016
S/ F.A. Gossett
U.S. Magistrate Judge
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