Murphy v. Cleveland County Department of Social Services et al

Filing 10

CONSENT PROTECTIVE ORDER for Cleveland County Department of Social Services Records, County Personnel Files, and Medical Information. Signed by Magistrate Judge Dennis Howell on 10/14/16. (ejb)

UNITED STATED DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF NORTH CAROLINA
ASHEVILLE DIVISION
1:16CV125
DANTE MURPHY ,
Plaintiff,
CONSENT PROTECTIVE ORDER
FOR CLEVELAND COUNTY
DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL
SERVICES RECORDS, COUNTY
PERSONNEL FILES, AND
MEDICAL INFORMATION

vs.
CLEVELAND COUNTY
DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL
SERVICES ET. AL. ,
Defendants.

Pending before the Court is the Consent Motion for Protective Order [# 9].
Documents and information have been and will be sought, produced or exhibited by
and among the parties to the above captioned proceeding, which documents and
information relate to: (1) juvenile cases alleging abuse, neglect, or dependency in
the custody of the Cleveland County Department of Social Services that may be
disclosed only by court order, pursuant to N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7B-2901; (2) employee
personnel matters that may be disclosed only under court order, pursuant to N.C.
Gen. Stat. § 153A 98 (c); and (3) confidential medical records and reports or other
personal health-related information (collectively “confidential information”). The
parties have sought such an order so as to be in compliance with these statutes. The
Court GRANTS the motion [# 9] and ORDERS that:

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1.
Upon proper request pursuant to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure,
the Parties may obtain confidential information. The Parties may redact social
security information, and any information which may identify the reporter of the
abuse, neglect, or dependency allegations.
2.
Any such confidential information obtained in this action shall be
clearly and prominently marked on its face with the legend: "CONFIDENTIAL" or
a comparable notice.
3.
In the absence of written permission from the Parties or an order by the
Court, any confidential information obtained in accordance with the provisions of
paragraph 1 above shall not be disclosed to any person other than: (i) the Court and
the employees thereof, (ii) court reporters and stenographers engaged for the taking
of testimony, (iii) counsel to this action, including necessary secretarial, paralegal
and clerical personnel assisting such counsel; (iv) experts and their staff who are
employed for the purposes of this litigation but who are not otherwise employed by,
consultants to, or otherwise affiliated with a party; (v) witnesses who may see their
own personnel records; and (vi) parties or witnesses as necessary to prepare for trial
or testimony in this action. Any confidential information shall be used solely for the
purpose of this original action and in preparation for trial. Nothing in this Order is
intended to interfere with an individual’s right to examine confidential records under
N.C.G.S. § 7B-2901(a) or N.C.G.S. § 153A-98, to the extent permitted by law.
4.
Information obtained in accordance with the provisions of paragraph1
above shall not be made available to any person designated in paragraph 3 (iv) unless
he or she shall have first read this Order and shall have agreed, by letter submitted
to both Parties (i) to be bound by the terms thereof, (ii) not to reveal such confidential
information to anyone other than another person designated in paragraph 3, and (iii)
to utilize such confidential information solely for purposes of this litigation.
5.
If the Court orders, or if the Parties agree, that access to, or
dissemination of, information obtained as confidential information shall be made to
persons not included in paragraph 3 above, such matters shall only be accessible to,
or disseminated to, such persons based upon the conditions pertaining to, and
obligations arising from this Order, and such persons shall be considered subject to
it.
6.
Any confidential information submitted to the Court in connection with
a motion or other proceeding within the purview of this action shall be submitted
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WCSR 4431995v1

under seal and marked in accordance with paragraphs 1 and 2 above. Any portion of
a transcript in connection with this action containing any confidential, information
submitted pursuant to paragraphs 1 and 2 shall be bound separately and filed under
seal. When any confidential information is included in an authorized transcript of a
proceeding or exhibits thereto, arrangements shall be made with the court reporter
recording the proceeding to bind such confidential portions and separately label
them "CONFIDENTIAL."
7.
If confidential information obtained in accordance with paragraphs 1
and 2 is disclosed to any person other than in the manner authorized by this
Protective Order, the party responsible for the disclosure must immediately bring all
pertinent facts relating to this disclosure to the attention of the Court, and opposing
counsel, and, without prejudice to other rights and remedies of the other party, make
every reasonable effort to prevent further disclosure by it or by the person who was
the recipient of such information.
8.
Upon final adjudication of this action, the disposition of all confidential
information subject to the provisions of this Order (including any copies made and/or
computer materials made or stored) shall be subject to further Order of this Court.
9.
This Order is entered without prejudice to any Party seeking further
orders from the Court regarding the additional disclosure of, or restriction of,
confidential information.

Signed: October 14, 2016

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WCSR 4431995v1