American Petroleum Institute, et al v. Roy A. Cooper, III, Attorney General of the State of North Carolina

Filing 154

ORDER denying 118 Motion in Limine and discussing 123 Motion to Seal; 128 Motion to Seal and 147 Final Joint Trial Report - Upon the parties' joint offering of exhibits sought to be admitted into evidence, this order memorializes the court's admission into evidence of the offered exhibits as listed in the attached order. The clerk is DIRECTED to maintain the following trial exhibit nos. under seal: 81-84,92,94, 104, 133, 137-38, 142-43, 145-52, 154-55, 157-66,232-33,279 , and 286. Moreover, of its own initiative, the court provisionally seals exhibit no. 116, the Chevron Report, and no. 181, Hick and Jenni Presentation. Good cause having been shown, the court SEALS responses of Pope (DE 126) and in this part, plain tiffs' motion (DE 128) is ALLOWED. Before ruling finally on remaining part of plaintiffs' motion to seal (DE 128) and defendants' motion (DE 123), a party may show cause within ten (10) days hereof, why the court should not now deny th ese motions as moot in whole or in any remaining part, as it is inclined so to do. Moreover, out of an abundance of caution, where in light of the pendency of the instant motions to seal, the court provisionally has ordered sealed exhibits nos. 116 and 181, within ten (10) days any party may show cause why this provisional seal should be continued and exhibit nos. 116 and 181 ordered to be sealed in accordance with the terms and conditions of this order. If no cause is offered, in accordance with the parties' joint report, the court will order unsealed these exhibits. Signed by District Judge Louise Wood Flanagan on 08/11/2014. (Baker, C.)

Download PDF
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF NORTH CAROLINA WESTERN DIVISION No. 5:08-CV-396-FL AMERICAN PETROLEUM INSTITUTE, and AMERICAN FUEL & PETROCHEMICAL MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION, Plaintiffs, v. ROY A. COOPER, III, ATTORNEY GENERAL OF THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA, Defendant, and NORTH CAROLINA PETROLEUM AND CONVENIENCE MARKETERS ASSOCIATION, Intervenor-Defendant. ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ORDER This matter came before the court for bench trial in February 18-20, 2014, after which the court issued directives and made rulings as summarized in order entered February 21, 2014. (DE 138). The matter comes now before the court on joint report filed by the parties seeking to admit various trial exhibits into evidence and to have parts of the record sealed (DE 147). Also before the court are separate requests to seal case materials (DE 123, 128). Too, there remains pending a motion in limine wherein defendants seek to exclude the 2009 Chevron Report and testimony of Ted Hick ("Hick") and Dr. Karen Jenni ("Jenni"). The issues raised are ripe for decision, as herein • • • I. '' ' provided. ·!' I. Final Joint Trial Report (DE 147) _ I I l ·''·. A. Admission Into Evidence , - Upon the parties' joint offering of exhibits sought to be admitted into evidence, this order memorializes the court's admissi,on into evidence of the No. 2 5 -6 8 10 11 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 exhibits: Pro_p_onent · _ De~cription Pltfs. (P) CV of David Preston {20 10)_ p Shell Presentation on Blending Economics (12/2009) Both Shell Presentation- "IncorrectAinoilnt ofEthanol in Gasoiin~at Truck Rack'' (2010) _ Both PQ InCident Bulletin: Excess Ethanol in Gasoline _ Leaving:'terminal/Depot(12/2009) _ D Email chain from Layne Polocheck to Kevin Autin, Laura Yellig; Paul Cannon, and David Preston re: One arm at SOPUS Anacorte~, WA put out £10 gasoline at greater than 10% ethanol (9/24/20 10) D Compilation of Shell Emails ( 10/8/2008) D Wholesale Marketer Agreement form (9/29/2008) Both Marathon Sample Branded Product Supply and Trademark License Agreement Both Marathon Addendum to Branded Product Supply and Trademark License Agreement [North Carolina] Both Marathon ALIRTS Report, Incident No. 1024-2010 (6/26/2010) Both Marathon ALIRTS Report, Incident No. 1334-2009 (1119/2009) Both Marathon ALIRTS Report, Incident No. 1347-2008 (8/30/2008) Both Marathon ALIRTS Report, Incident No. 1842-2008 (12/7/2008) Both Marathon ALIRTS Report, Incident No. 398-2010 (2116/2010) Both Marathon ALIRTS Report, Incident No. 493-2009 (4/25/2009) Both Marathon ALIRTS Report, Incident No. 705-2009 (6/13/2009) Both Marathon ALIRTS Report, Incident No. 714-2008 (4/8/2008) '" " 9 of~ered 2 Confidential ; --' '' No. 26 Proponent Both 27 Both 35 p 38 39 Both Both 40 Both 42 p 43 p 44 p 45 D 46 D 47 D 49 p 51 p 58 60 p D 63 p 65 Both Description Marathon ALIRTS Report, Incident No. 868-2007 ( 12/8/2007) Marathon ALIRTS Report, Incident No. 873-2008 (5/7/2008) BP Document re Ethanol Blends at Charlotte Terminal .(2009) BP Log re Blending Incidents (8/24/20 10) Email from Jim Nicholas re: FW: BOLs RE: Wilmington. Possible quality issue, high ethanol in loads (12/5/2008) Email from Betty Ross re: FW: Wilmington NC Hess Terminal Issue- Potentially Too Much Ethanol in Fuel ( 12/8/2008) Email from Heidi Huffre: High Ethanol Content in Raleigh Station [2/6/2009) Email from David Kovach re: High Ethanol Content in Ultimate from Selma Terminal Representative Station (2/4/2009) Email from Heidi Huff re: High Ethanol Content in Ultimate from Selma Terminal Representative Station (2/6/2009) Email chain from Bill Downes to John Steury re: High Ethanol Content in Premium Sample from Hendersonville, NC Station (3/25/20 10) Email chain from John Steury to Jessica Goble re: High Ethanol Content in Premium Sample from Hendersonville, NC Station (3/24/20 10) Email chain from Jim Nicholas to Irene Banas and James Simnick re: BOLs, Wilmington - Possible quality issue, high ethanol in loads (12/8/2008) Letter from Liza Clechenko granting waiver to A. Craig Stephenson from requirement to sell finished products along with Temporary Splash Blending Agreement (7/28/2008) Collection of letters from Liza Clechenko revoking splash blending waivers (2008) List of Cruizers I Holmes Oil Sites Invoice from P & F Environmental, Inc. to Holmes Oil Company re: vacuuming out Premium tank bottom and disposal (511 0/2008) Bills of Lading for Fuel Delivery to Cruizers #30 (3/16/2008) Bills of Lading for Fuel Delivery to Cruizers #44 (3116/2008) 3 Confidential No. Proponent Descri~>_tion p 67 NCDA&CS Inspection Report 441789, Exxon 13 70 Both 71 p 74 p 80 p 81 p 82 p 83 p 84 Both 85 p 86 p 87 88 D p 89 p 91 D 92 p 93 Both 94 Both 95 p 96 p {5/29/2008) ExxonMobil Oil Corp.-Holmes Oil Branded Wholesaler PMPA Franchise Agreement (1 0/13/201 0) Response and Objections by Intervenor to Plaintiffs' First Set of Interrogatories (4/25/2011) Email from Scott Driscoll Re: HM Ethanol (3/27/2009) Defendant-Intervenor's Response to Plaintiffs' First and Second Sets of Document Requests to E.J. Pope & Son, Inc. (4/25/2011) Bills of Lading for Fuel Deliveries Driven by Curtis Cox (3115/2008) Bills of Lading for Fuel Deliveries Driven by T Gilbert (3/15/2008) Bills of Lading for Fuel Delivery to Circle K #6139 (7/1/2008) Pope Transport Bills of Lading and Trip Sheet for Fuel Delivery to Eno BP (7/4/2008) Bills of Lading for Fuel Deliveries Driven by W McKinnon (3/15/2008) U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Guide on Federal and State Summer RVP Standards for Conventional Gasoline Only (3/20 I 0) Expert Report ofRobert E. Reynolds (10/18/2013) Robert Reynolds, The Current Fuel Ethanol Industry Transportation, Marketing, Distribution and Technical Considerations (5/15/2000) Robert Reynolds, Changes in Gasoline & the Classic Auto Report (5/19961 Email with attachment from Alison Chassin to multiple recipients re: SOPUS Seattle Over-Injection of ethanol: Final Holding Statement (7/29/2009) Bills of Lading for Fuel Deliveries to Various Sites (7/2013) Email from John Steury re: High Ethanol Content in Premium Sample from Hendersonville, NC Station (3/24/20 10) Bills of Lading for Fuel Delivery to Abercrombie Oil _(9/28/2013) Reynolds Presentation on Ethanol Industry Technical Agenda (1 0118/2006) National Renewable Energy Lab., Technical Report, Issues Associated with the Use of Higher Ethanol Blends (10/2002) 4 Confidential y y y y y y No. 97 104 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 115 116 117 118 119 120 121 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 Proponent Description Both Pope Transport, Ethanol Blend Chart (4/16/2007) Both Bills of Lading for Fuel Deliveries to Various Sites (7 /18/2013) D NCDOA & CS, Standards Division Analytical Record of Sample Taken, Yadkin County (5/29/2012) D NCDOA & CS, Standards Division Analytical Record of Sample Taken, Harnett County (6/27/2012) D NCDOA & CS, Standards Division Analytical Record of Sample Taken, Pitt County (8/17/20 12) D NCDOA & CS, Standards Division Analytical Record of Sample Taken, Wayne County (9/18/2012) D NCDOA & CS, Standards Division Analytical Record of Sample Taken, Burke County (10/1112012) D NCDOA & CS, Standards Division Analytical Record of Sample Taken, Greene County (11130/2012) D NCDOA & CS, Standards Division Analytical Record of Sample Taken, Onslow County (1/1112008) ASTM International, D4815-09, Standard Test Both Method for Determination of MTBE, ETBE, TAME, DIPE, tertiary-Amyl Alcohol and C 1 to C4 Alcohols in Gasoline by Gas Chromatography (10/16/2013) p Southern Weight and Measures Association Newsletter (1 0/2008) p Chevron, Analysis of Alternative Methods for Ethanol Blending (4/30/2009) Email from Dave Roche to Erv Pickell (1 0/20/2005) Both Letter from Don Gistrap to Duong Trinh ( 12/19/20 13) D Letter from Don Gilstrap to Dickman Lum D (1 0/25/20 12) Letter from Don Gilstrap to Dickman Lum D (10/5/2012) Letter from Don Gilstrap to Dickman Lum D (9/26/2012) D Letter from Karen Means to Dickman Lum (8115/2011) Letter from Karen Means to Dickman Lum (9/4/2009) D Email from Robert Anderson to Don Gilstrap re: D Chevron -Martinez Terminal (4/211201 0) Email from Mark Apman to Brian Taniguchi Both (12/2/2009) Chevron Chart of Blending Incidents D p Defendant's Responses to Plaintiffs' First Set of Interrogatories to Defendant Roy Cooper (4/25/2011) p Marathon Trademark Registrations 5 Confidential y No. 129 130 133 Proponent Descri~tion p BP Trademark Registrations p p 134 p 135 p 136 p 137 p 138 p 139 p 140 p 141 p 142 p 143 p 144 p 145 p 148 p 149 p 150 p 151 p 152 p 153 p 154 p 155 p Shell Trademark Registrations Bills of Lading for Fuel Delivery to Circle K #2705144{3/15/2008) Bills of Lading for Fuel Delivery to Cruizers #31 (3/1 7/2008) Bills of Lading for Fuel Delivery to Snackers #265 (311 7/2008) Bills of Lading for Fuel Delivery to Chocowinity Handy Mart (3/17/20081 Bills of Lading for Fuel Delivery to Circle K #6264 (3/17/2008) Bills of Lading for Fuel Delivery to Circle K #8221 (3117/2008) Bills of Lading for Wilson Mills HandyMart (3117/2008) Bills of Lading for Fuel Delivery to Cruizers #30 (3/19/2008) Bills of Lading for Fuel Delivery to Cruizers #44 (3/19/2008) Bills of Lading for Fuel Deliveries to Garrett Rd BP and Westside BP (7/1/2008) Bills of Lading for Fuel Deliveries to Circle K #8620 and #8627 {_7/112008)_ Bills of Lading for Fuel Deliveries to HandyMart 36 and HandyMart 65 (7/1/2008) Bills of Lading for All Fuel Deliveries Driven by Joe King (711 /2008) Bills of Lading for Fuel Deliveries to Circle K #6330 and #6312 (7/2/2008) Bills of Lading for Fuel Delivery to Circle K # 1819 (7/2/2008) Bills of Lading for Fuel Delivery to Glennlennon BP (7/2/2008) Bills of Lading for Fuel Delivery to Circle K #6329 (7/2/2008) Bills of Lading for Fuel Delivery to Circle K #6119 .(7/2/2008) Bills of Lading for Fuel Delivery to HandyMart 60 (7/2/2008) Bills of Lading for Fuel Deliveries to Knightdale BP and Zebulon BP (7/3/2008) Bills of Lading for Fuel Delivery to West Campus BP (7/3/2008) 6 Confidential y y y y y y y y y y y y y No. 156 Proponent 157 p 158 p 159 p 160 p 161 p 163 p 166 p 168 p 169 p 170 p 171 p 172 p 173 Both 179 p 180 p 181 p 182 p p Description Bills of Lading for Fuel Delivery to HandyMart 68 (7/3/2008) Bills of Lading for Fuel Deliveries to Knightdale BP and Zebulon BP (7/4/2008) Bills of Lading for Fuel Deliveries to Circle K #6139 and #6264 {7/4/2008) Bills of Lading for Fuel Deliveries to Circle K #6119 (7/4/2008) Bills of Lading for Fuel Deliveries to Circle K #8620 and #8627 (7/5/2008) Bills of Lading for Fuel Deliveries to Brayton BP and Forest Hills (7/6/2008) Bills of Lading for Fuel Deliver to Circle K #8610 (717/2008) Bills of Lading for Fuel Deliveries to Lake Boone 66 and Spring Forest 66 (7/8/2008) NCDA&CS Standards Division Inspection Reports for E.J. Pope (Handy Mart) Locations (1/11/2008 through 12119/2008) NCDA&CS Standards Division Inspection Reports for E.J. Pope (Handy Mart) Locations (1/22/2009 through 12/11/2009) NCDA&CS Standards Division Inspection Reports for Holmes Oil Locations (217/2008 through 11/4/2008_) NCDA&CS Standards Division Inspection Reports for Holmes Oil Locations (1/8/2009 through 12/3/2009) ASTM International, D4814-0 1a, Standard Specification for Automotive Spark-Ignition Engine Fuel (11/10/2001) API Recommended Practice 1626, Storing and Handling Ethanol and Gasoline-ethanol Blends at Distribution Terminals and Filling Stations (8/20 10) U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Regulation to Mitigate the Misfueling of Vehicles and Engines with Gasoline Containing Greater Than Ten Volume Percent Ethanol and Modifications to the Reformulated and Conventional Gasoline Programs, 76 Fed. Reg. 44406 (7/25/2011) Email from Steve Benjamin to Rick Thomas [without attachment] (4/23/2010) Ted Hick and Karen Jenni, Presentation, Analysis of Alternative Methods for Ethanol Blending (4/2009) Chevron In-Terminal Blending Error Data (June-Nov. 2013) 7 Confidential y y y y y y y No. 184 Proponent Description p Robert Reynolds, Expert Report for In re MTBE 185 p 188 189 p p 190 p 195 198 p p 210 p 211 p 212 p 213 p 214 p 215 p 216 p 217 p 218 p 219 p 220 p 221 p 222 p 223 p Prods. Liab. Litig. (County of Suffolk v. Amerada Hess) (3/22/2007) Robert Reynolds, The Challenge of Expanding the Ethanol Distribution System (I 0/17/2000) Supplemental Report of John O'Brien ( l 0/17/20131 Terminology & Routes to Conventional Clear, Conventional E10, and RFG (5/28/2010) Typical Tank Truck In-Line Blending System (5/28/20 10) How Splash Blendin_g T_ypically Occurs (10/17/2013) Yoram (Jerry) Wind, A Study to Analyze Whether Consumers of Major Brand Gasoline in North Carolina Are Likely to Be Deceived by the Fact That the Major Brand Gasoline They Purchase Is Blended with Ethanol by a Process That Is Not Approved by the Major Brand Companies (10/2013) Wind Study, Appendix A: North Carolina Screening Results ( 10/20 13) Wind Study, Appendix B: Original Survey Questionnaires (Green and Yellow) (10/2013) Wind Study, Appendix C: Revised Survey Questionnaires (Blue and Re<!) (1 0/201 n_ Wind Study, Appendix D: Field Instructions (10/2013) Wind Study, Appendix E: Verification Questionnaire (10/2013) Wind Study, Appendix E: Verification Certification (10/2013) Wind Study, Appendix F: Computer Tabulation (10/2013) Wind Study, Appendix Gl: Verbatim ResponsesGreen Version (10/2013) Wind Study, Appendix G2: Verbatim ResponsesYellow Version (10/2013) Wind Study, Appendix G3: Verbatim ResponsesBlue Version (10/20131 Wind Study, Appendix G4: Verbatim ResponsesRed Version (10/2013) Wind Study, Appendix H: Excluded Control Group Verbatim Responses to Q3 and Q5 (10/2013) Wind Study, Appendix 1: Statistical Analysis (10/2013) Wind Study, Appendix J, Supporting Data Table 1 (10/2013) Confidential No. Proponent 224 p 225 D 226 D 227 D 228 D 229 D 230 D 231 D 232 D 233 D 234 D 235 D 236 D 237 D 238 D 239 D Description Wind Study, Appendix J, Supporting Data Table 2 (10/2013) Email chain with attachments from Susan Nettleton to Jene Goll re: splash blend option I IN & OH (6/30/2005) Email with attachment from David Tew to Judson Pope and Kaye Thompson re: link for the MSDS for Ethanol (12/20/2007) Ethanol Retail Tank Conversion Checklist from Marathon Petroleum Company LLC (2/14/2008) Memo from BP to BP Jobbers with BP retail sites in North Carolina and South Carolina re: splash blending (3/12/2008) . Temporary Splash Blending Waiver Agreement between BP Products North America, Inc. and E J Pope & Son Inc. (3/12/2008) Temporary Splash Blending Waiver Agreement between BP Products North America, Inc. and Holmes Oil Co Inc. (3/12/2008) Email chain with attachments from Steve Sefter to multiple recipients re: last ethanol training call before RVP Changeover- Memphis Makeup and North Carolina Splash Blending (4/8/2008) Pope Transport Bills of Lading and Trip Sheet- BOL 0157611 and related documents (711/2008) Pope Transport Bills of Lading and Trip Sheet- BOL 0157824 and related documents (7/3/2008) Email chain with attachment from Craig Payne to Delmer Wood re: report of Port Tampa verification samples (10/8/20081 Email from David Preston to Delmer Wood re: Tampa ethanol issue (1 0/9/2008) Email chain with attachment from Craig Payne to Delmer Wood re: balance of results for the sampled g_as stations in Tampa, FL (10/9/200~ Email chain from Anne Peebles to Karen LeonardiCattolica, Delmer Wood, and David Press re: DOE: Initial Study Shows Few Problems with El5 and E20 Ethanol Blends (1 0/1 0/2008) Email with attachment from Jenny Powers to multiple recipients re: Tampa Ethanol Holding Statement Final ( 10/1 0/2008) Email chain from Delmer Wood to Richard Kimsey re: Discussion follow-up (1 0/13/2008) 9 Confidential y y No. 240 241 242 243 244 246 247 250 251 252 253 254 255 256 257 259 Proponent Description D Email chain from Jerry LeBus to Kirk Brammer re: Tampa PU (1 0/14/2008) D Email chain from Mark Bryan to Justin Pope re: HM 59 Product, Exxon billing (1 0/21/2008) D Email chain with attachment from Jim Nicholas to James McGetrick, Kelley Lane, and John Steury re: Wilmington NC Hess Ethanol issue (12/5/2008) D Email chain from Jim Nicholas to Kenneth Cobbs re: Wilmington NC Hess Terminal Issue- Potentially Too Much Ethanol in Fuel (12/5/2008) D Email chain from Jim Nicholas to John Steury, James Bergeron, Petra Steinmetz, and Barbara Bibbs re: cause of Wilmington Hess Terminal Issue (12/6/2008) D Letter from Motiva Enterprises to Richard Kimsey, FL Dept. of Agriculture and Consumer Services re: operational issues with blending of Premium and midgrade gas (12/8/2008) D Email chain from David Bunch re: issues loading products at Wilmington Hess terminal (1/7/2009) D Talking Points from BP re: Ethanol Splash Blending in North Carolina (4/27/2009) Email with attachment from Kent Daigre to Peter D Robison, Daniel Porras, Joy Davis, and Mary Whitaker re: Incident report from Tampa Ethanol investigation (5/28/2009) D Branded Jobber Contract between BP and E.J. Pope & Son, Inc. (6/1/2009) D Branded Jobber Contract between BP and Holmes Oil Co. (7/21/2009) D Email chain from David Preston to multiple recipients re: Seattle ElO Mitigation_(7/29/2009) D Email chain from Layne Polocheck to Larry Burch, Kevin Autin, and Laura Yellig re: SOP US Seattle Over-injection of ethanol (7/30/2009)_ D Quality Control Procedures for Gasolines and Diesel Fuel, Branded Wholesaler, by ExxonMobil (11112010) D Email without attachment from Mary Beth Kinman to Steve Majid, Rich Russo, John Bates, and Aisha Albimani re: Motiva Fairfax Incident InvestigationTerms ofReference_(2/16/2010) D Email chain with attachment from John Steury to William Zudic re: High Ethanol Content in Premium Sample from Henderson, NC Station (3/23/2010) 10 Confidential No. Proponent Description 260 D Email chain with attachment from Mary Beth Kinman to Chad Ewing and Delmer Wood re: Nashville State Sample Data (6/3/2010) 261 D Email from Delmer Wood to multiple recipients re: Nashville Update_(6/6/2010) 262 D Email from Karyn Leonardi-Cattolica to multiple recipients re: Approved: Nashville PQ Holding Statement and Q&A (6/7/2010) 263 D Email from Delmer Wood to Randy Jennings re: Motiva Nashville Terminal Incident Summary (7 /3 0/201 0) 264 D Branded Wholesaler PMPA Franchise Agreement between ExxonMobil and E.J. Pope & Son Inc. (8/20/20 10) 265 D Holmes Oil Company documents re: Cruizers 265 pump out (9/30/20 10} 267 D Plaintiff American Petroleum Institute's Objections and Responses to Defendants' First Set of Requests for Admission, Interrogatories, and Requests for Production of Documents (12/13/2010) 269 D Article from Department of Commerce, Weights and Measures re: Commissioner reassures consumers in areas affected by bad gasoline (10/13/2011) D 276 QA Log Database Search: API Discovery NC (Supplemental) (11/20/2013) 278 D Ethanol Blending Addendum to Distributor PMP A Franchise Agreement (Branded) between ExxonMobil and Holmes Oil Co Inc. 279 D Bill of Lading for Fuel Delivery to MM Fowler (7/8/2008) 280 D Demonstrative Exhibit of In-line Misblends p 281 Demonstrative Exhibits for Testimony of John O'Brien p 282 Demonstrative Exhibits for Testimony of Karen Jenni p 283 Demonstrative Exhibits for Testimony of Dr. Yoram (Jerry) Wind p 284 Demonstrative Exhibit of Shell/Motiva In-line Blending Errors (2008-2010) p 285 Demonstrative Exhibit of Marathon In-Line Blending Errors p 286 Demonstrative Exhibit of Joint Exhibit 81 (Bills of Lading for Fuel Deliveries Driven by Curtis Cox (3/15/2008)) 11 Confidential y y B. Request to Seal In the joint report, the parties have noted certain exhibits that are deemed confidential (as referred to above). Consented-to request is made that the court seal designated exhibits for a period of one year after this action has closed and the time for all appeals has run. Good cause having been shown, the request to seal is GRANTED. In accordance herewith, the clerk is DIRECTED to maintain the following trial exhibit nos. under seal: 81-84,92,94, 104, 133, 137-38, 142-43, 145-52, 154-55, 157-66,232-33,279, and 286. Moreover, of its own initiative, the court provisionally seals exhibit no. 116, the Chevron Report, and no. 181, Hick and Jenni Presentation, for reasons discussed below. II. Motion in Limine (DE 118) Where the court heard the testimony of Hick and Jenni at trial, and reference was made to the Chevron Report, introduced at trial, it is noted here that the court overruled defendants' objections thereto. Moreover, the parties' joint report makes reference to the Chevron Report at exhibit nos. 116 and 181. Accordingly, where this motion was DENIED, the clerk shall conform the record to reflect this. III. Motions to Seal (DE 123, 128) In the motion made by defendants (DE 123), defendants seek to seal the cover sheet of the Chevron Report (DE 120), Hick's deposition testimony discussing how the Chevron Report was prepared (DE 121 ), and J enni' s testimony discussing her qualifications and how the Chevron Report was prepared (DE 122). In the motion made by plaintiffs (DE 128), they seek to seal certain responses of E. J. Pope & Sons, Inc. ("Pope") (DE 126) as well as the Chevron Report (DE 127). The proposed sealed materials have remained provisionally sealed pending final determination by 12 the court. Only one part of one of these motions is able now to be decided. Good cause having been shown, the court SEALS responses of Pope (DE 126) and in this part, plaintiffs' motion (DE 128) is ALLOWED. As to remaining part of plaintiffs' motion, and defendants' motion to seal, in the parties' later filed joint report (DE 14 7), neither side requested that the Chevron Report be marked as confidential and sealed in connection with its admission at trial. If this report is not to be sealed, it would seem to obviate any need to seal DE 120, the Chevron Report, and likely obviate need to seal corresponding testimony of Hicks and Jenni at DE 121 and DE 122. As such, defendants' motion would be denied as moot and these items unsealed on the record. Similarly, as to remaining part of plaintiffs' motion, where the Chevron Report at DE 127 is sought to be sealed, this sealing action, too, would seem now unnecessary. Before ruling finally on remaining part of plaintiffs' motion to seal (DE 128) and defendants' motion (DE 123 ), a party may show cause within ten ( 10) days hereof, why the court should not now deny these motions as moot in whole or in any remaining part, as it is inclined so to do. Moreover, out of an abundance of caution, where in light of the pendency of the instant motions to seal, the court provisionally has ordered sealed exhibits nos. 116 and 181, within ten ( 10) days any party may show cause why this provisional seal should be continued and exhibit nos. 116 and 181 ordered to be sealed in accordance with the terms and conditions ofthis order. If no cause is offered, in accordance with the parties' joint report, the court will order unsealed these exhibits. 13 SO ORDERED, this the//J-day of August, 2014. ~-u-~L<::::;) UE w. FLANAGAN United States District Judge 14

Disclaimer: Justia Dockets & Filings provides public litigation records from the federal appellate and district courts. These filings and docket sheets should not be considered findings of fact or liability, nor do they necessarily reflect the view of Justia.


Why Is My Information Online?