Tagirova v. Elizabeth City State University

Filing 34

PROTECTIVE ORDER - Signed by United States Magistrate Judge Robert B. Jones, Jr on 2/9/2017. (Briggeman, N.)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF NORTH CAROLINA
NORTHERN DIVISION
2: 16-CV-00070-D
DR. TATIANAA. TAGIROVA,
Plaintiff,

v.

PROTECTIVE ORDER

ELIZABETH CITY STATE
UNIVERSITY,
Defendant.

WHEREAS, in this action, Dr. Tatiana A. Tagirova ("Plaintiff'), a former/current
employee of the Elizabeth City State University ("the University"), alleged a violation of Title VII
of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 ("Title VII"), the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as
amended ("ADA"), and the Family Medical Leave Act ("FMLA"), which include claims of
retaliation, discrimination because of her disabilities, and harassment which created a hostile work
environment by Defendant the University;
WHEREAS, discovery sought in this action may require the production of certain
confidential information, such as State employee personnel files protected pursuant to N.C. Gen.
Stat. § 126-22 et seq. and information protected by the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act
(FERPA), 20 U.S.C. § 1232g; and
WHEREAS, the University requests the entry of this Order protecting the confidentiality
of such information, and there is good cause for the issuance of this Order pursuant to Rule 26(c)
of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure;
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED as follows:
1.

In accordance with the provisions set forth below, the Court intends that

confidential information and documents produced, obtained or exchanged in the course of this
action shall be used by the party to whom such documents are produced, obtained or exchanged
solely for the purpose of this lawsuit and for no other purpose.
2.

Any documents produced or exchanged between Plaintiff and the University, and

any information contained in discovery, including but not limited to deposition testimony and
deposition exhibits, which a party believes is protected from disclosure under governing law, may
be designated as "Confidential." All documents and information so designated and all copies
thereof (hereinafter referred to collectively as "Confidential Information"), shall be treated as
confidential and shall not be disclosed except as provided in this Order; provided, however, that
counsel for the party designating information as Confidential may, in writing and without Court
approval, agree to release any of the Confidential Information from the requirements of this Order;
and provided further that nothing in this Order shall prevent any party from challenging the
designation of any document as Confidential.
3.

Any party may designate a document as Confidential pursuant to the terms of this

Order by affixing to the first page thereof a stamp with the legend "CONFIDENTIAL" or may, in
the alternative, by written notice inform opposing counsel that the document is to be treated as
Confidential Information.

It is agreed by the parties that if a party wishes to maintain the

confidentiality of the document in a brief or other court filed document, then the party must follow
the procedures set forth in paragraphs 9 and 10 of this Consent Protective Order. Further, initially
designating a document as Confidential does not obligate either party to later file it under seal
unless so required by this Court.
4.

Confidential Information shall be produced only to counsel of record in this action,

each of whom is bound by the terms of this Order.
5.

Neither the Confidential Information nor its contents shall be disclosed to any other

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person without the agreement of the party designating information as Confidential, except that
counsel may, without further agreement, disclose the Confidential Information or its contents to
the following persons for use solely in connection with this action under the following conditions:
a.

The parties and their attorneys, legal assistants, and other employees of the
parties who have a need to handle the Confidential Information under
normal office procedure;

b.

Experts or consultants retained by the parties with respect to this action;

c.

Any person from whom testimony has been taken or is reasonably expected
to be taken in this action (whether by deposition or at trial);

d.

This Court and its staff; and

e.

Any court reporters present m their official capacity at any hearing,
deposition or other proceeding in this action.

6.

Any party may also designate portions of a deposition as Confidential Information

by notifying the other party in writing within twenty (20) days of receipt of the transcript of the
portions that are designated Confidential. All depositions shall be treated as confidential during
this twenty (20) day period. Confidential Information within the deposition transcript may be
designated by underlining the portions of the pages that are confidential and marking such pages
with the following: "CONFIDENTIAL." Any party wishing to use Confidential Information
within a deposition transcript shall follow the procedures set forth in paragraph 9 and 10 in this
Consent Protective Order.
7.

Confidential Information shall be used solely for the purpose of prosecution or

defense of this action, and such documents may be used, consistent with the terms ofthis Order, in
pretrial discovery and at the trial or preparation for trial and any appeals of this action.
8.

Producing or receiving materials or otherwise complying with the terms of this

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Order shall not:
a.

operate as an admission by any party that any particular discovery material
contains or reflects any Confidential Information; or

b.

prejudice in any way the rights of any party to object to the production of
documents it considers not subject to discovery or otherwise protected from
or limited in discovery on the basis of privilege or otherwise; or

c.

prejudice in any way the rights of a party to seek a court determination
whether particular discovery materials should be produced or considered
confidential; or

d.

prejudice in any way the rights of a party to apply to the Court for any
additional protection with respect to the confidentiality of documents or
information as that party may consider appropriate.

9.

Each time a party seeks to file under seal confidential documents, things, and/or

information, said party shall accompany the request with a motion to seal and a supporting
memorandum of law specifying (a) the exact documents, things, and/or information, or portions
thereof, for which filing under seal is requested; (b) where it is necessary for the court to determine
the source of the public's right to access before a request to seal may be evaluated, whether any
such request to seal seeks to overcome the common law or the First Amendment presumption to
access; (c) the specific qualities of the material at issue which justify sealing such material, taking
into account the balance of competing interests in access; (d) the reasons why alternatives to
sealing are inadequate; and, (e) whether there is consent to the motion. Finally, in addition to the
motion and supporting memorandum, said party must set out findings in a proposed order to seal
for the court.
10.

When Plaintiff seeks to file confidential documents, things, and/or information,

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including confidential portions of any transcript, she shall submit such materials to the court in a
sealed envelope or other appropriately sealed container, which covering shall be endorsed with the
title of this action and a statement substantially in the following form: "Filed Under Seal Pursuant
to Protective Order." When Defendant seeks to file confidential documents, things, and/or
information, including confidential portions of any transcript, they shall submit such materials to
the court electronically, unless otherwise ordered by the court.
11.

The Confidentiality provisions ofthis Order shall survive any settlement, judgment

or other disposition or conclusion of this action, and all appeals therefrom, and this Court shall
retain continuing jurisdiction in order to enforce the terms of this Order. At the conclusion of this
litigation, including any appeals which may be filed, each party will return to the other all
Confidential Information, including copies, received from the other during the course of this
litigation, or shall destroy all Confidential Information and certify in writing to counsel that the
Confidential Information has been destroyed.
12.

Any party may at any time and for any reason seek modification of this Protective

Order. This Protective Order can be modified only by written agreement of the parties or by
Order of this Court. Each party reserves the right to object to any party's motion or request to
modify this Protective Order.
IT IS SO ORDERED.

DATE: February _i, 2017.

United States Magistrate Judge

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