Sinsel v. Hitachi Koki USA, Ltd.

Filing 26

STIPULATED HIPPA QUALIFIED PROTECTIVE ORDER - Signed by United States Magistrate Judge Robert T. Numbers, II on 5/31/2017. (Briggeman, N.)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF NORTH CAROLINA
SOUTHERN DIVISION
Case No. 7:16-cv-00412-D
THOMAS SINSEL,
Plaintiff,
vs.

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HITACHI KOKI USA, LTD.,
Defendant.

STIPULATED
HIPPA QUALIFIED
PROTECTIVE ORDER

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This cause coming to be heard on the motion of Hitachi Koki USA, Ltd., for entry of a
Stipulated Qualified Protective Order pursuant to the Health Insurance Portability and
Accountability Act of 1996 (“HIPAA”), due notice having been given, and the Court being fully
advised in the premises:
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED AS FOLLOWS:
1.
The current parties (and their attorneys) and any future parties (and their attorneys)
to the above-captioned matter are hereby authorized to receive, subpoena, and transmit “protected
health information” (“PHI”) pertaining to Thomas Sinsel to the extent and subject to the conditions
outlined herein.
2.
For purposes of this Qualified Protective Order, “protected health information” or
“PHI” shall have the same scope and definition as set forth in 45 CFR 160.103 and 160.501.
Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, “PHI” includes, but is not limited to, health
information, including demographic information, relating to either
(a)

the past, present or future physical condition of an individual;

(b)

the provision of care to an individual; and/or

(c)

the payment for care provided to an individual, which identifies the
individual or which reasonably could be expected to identify the individual.

3.
All “covered entities” (as defined by 45 CFR 160.13) are hereby authorized to
disclose “PHI” pertaining to Thomas Sinsel to all attorneys, now of record, or who may become
of record in the future of this litigation.

4.
The parties and their attorneys shall be permitted to use the “PHI” of Thomas
Sinsel, in any manner reasonably connected with the above-captioned litigation. This includes,
but is not limited to, disclosure to the parties, the attorneys’ firms (i.e., attorneys, support staff,
agents, and consultants), the parties’ insurers, experts, consultants, court personnel, court reporters,
copy services, trial consultants, jurors, venire members, and other entities involved in the litigation
process.
5.
At the conclusion of the litigation as to any defendant (defined as the point at which
final orders disposing of the entire case as to any defendant have been entered, or the time at which
all trial and appellate proceedings have been exhausted as to any defendant), that defendant, and
any person or entity in possession of “PHI” received pursuant to Paragraph 4, supra, shall destroy
any and all copies of “PHI” pertaining to Thomas Sinsel, except:
(a)

the defendant that is no longer in the litigation may retain “PHI” generated
by him/her/it; and

(b)

the remaining defendants in the litigation, and persons or entities receiving
“PHI” from those defendants, pursuant to Paragraph 4, supra, may retain
“PHI” in their possession.

6.
This order shall not control or limit the use of “PHI” pertaining to Thomas Sinsel
that comes into the possession of any party, or any party’s attorney, from a source other than a
“covered entity” (as defined in 45 CFR 160.103).
7.
Nothing in this Order authorizes defense counsel to obtain medical records or
information through means other than formal discovery requests, subpoena, depositions, patient
authorization, or through attorney-client communications.
8.

Nothing in this Order relieves any party from complying with the requirements of:
(a)

the North Carolina Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and
Substance Abuse Act of 1985 (N.C.G.S. Chapter 122C);

(b)

the North Carolina HIV Confidentiality Law (N.C.G.S. § 130A-143);

(c)

federal law which protects certain drug and alcohol records (42 USC 290dd3, 290ee-3, and 42 CFR Part 2).

Dated: May 31, 2017

ENTER:
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______________________________________
JUDGE
Robert T. Numbers, II
United States Magistrate Judge

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