Metellus v. USA et al

Filing 18

PROTECTIVE ORDER. Signed by Magistrate Judge Sharon L. Ovington on 10/31/17. (pb)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF OHIO
WESTERN DIVISION AT DAYTON
JOHNATHAN METELLUS,
Plaintiff,
v.
HEATHER WILSON, SECRETARY OF THE
UNITED STATES AIR FORCE, et al.,

Defendants.

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Case No. 3:16-cv-300
District Judge Thomas M. Rose
Magistrate Judge Sharon L. Ovington

PROTECTIVE ORDER
Because discovery in the above-captioned case involves confidential information
covered by the Privacy Act, 5 U.S.C. § 522a, including the contents of personnel files of persons
employed or formerly employed by the United States Air Force, it is hereby ordered that the
following restrictions and procedures shall apply to certain information, documents, and excerpts
from documents supplied by the parties to each other in response to discovery requests:
1. Counsel for any party may designate any document, information contained in a document,
information revealed in an interrogatory response, or information revealed during a
deposition as confidential if counsel determines, in good faith, that such information is
covered by the Privacy Act or that such designation is necessary to protect the interests of the
client. Information and documents designated by a party as confidential will be stamped
“CONFIDENTIAL.” “Confidential” information or documents may be referred to
collectively as “Confidential Information.”

2. Unless ordered by the Court, or otherwise provided for herein, the Confidential Information
disclosed will be held and used by the person receiving such information solely for use in
connection with the above-captioned action.
3. In the event a party challenges another party’s confidential designation, counsel shall make a
good faith effort to resolve the dispute, and in the absence of a resolution, the challenging
party may thereafter seek resolution by the Court. Nothing in this Stipulation and Order
constitutes an admission by any party that Confidential Information disclosed in this case is
relevant or admissible. Each party specifically reserves the right to object to the use or
admissibility of all Confidential Information disclosed, in accordance with applicable law
and Court rules.
4. Information or documents designated as “confidential” shall not be disclosed to any person,
except:
a. The requesting party and counsel, including agency counsel;
b. Employees of such counsel assigned to and necessary to assist in the litigation;
c. Consultants or experts assisting in the prosecution or defense of the matter, to the
extent deemed necessary by counsel;
d. Any person from whom testimony is taken or is to be taken in these actions, except
that such a person may only be shown that Confidential Information during and in
preparation for his/her testimony and may not retain the Confidential Information;
and
e. The Court (including any clerk, stenographer, or other person having access to any
Confidential Information by virtue of his or her position with the Court) or the jury at
trial or as exhibits to motions.

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5. Prior to disclosing or displaying the Confidential Information to any person, counsel shall:
a. Inform the person of the confidential nature of the information or documents; and
b. Inform the person that this Court has enjoined the use of the information or
documents by him/her for any purpose other than this litigation and has enjoined the
disclosure of that information or documents to any other person.
6. The Confidential Information may be displayed to and discussed with the persons identified
in Paragraphs 4(c) and (d) only on the condition that prior to any such display or discussion,
each such person shall be asked to sign an agreement to be bound by this Order in the form
attached hereto as Exhibit A. In the event such person refuses to sign an agreement in the
form attached as Exhibit A, the party desiring to disclose the Confidential Information may
seek appropriate relief from the Court.
7. The disclosure of a document or information without designating it as “confidential” shall
not constitute a waiver of the right to designate such document or information as
“Confidential Information” provided that the material is designated pursuant to the
procedures set forth herein no later than that latter of fourteen (14) days after the close of
discovery or fourteen (14) days after the document or information’s production. If so
designated, the document or information shall thenceforth be treated as Confidential
Information subject to all the terms of this Stipulation and Order.
8. All information subject to confidential treatment in accordance with the terms of this
Stipulation and Order that is filed with the Court, and any pleadings, motions or other papers
filed with the Court disclosing any Confidential Information, shall be filed under seal to the
extent permitted by law (including without limitation any applicable rules of court) and kept
under seal until further order of the Court. To the extent the Court requires any further act by

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the parties as a precondition to the filing of documents under seal (beyond the submission of
this Stipulation and Order regarding Confidential Information), it shall be the obligation of
the producing party of the documents to file with the Court to satisfy any such precondition.
Where possible, only confidential portions of filings with the Court shall be filed under seal.
9. This Stipulation and Order does not authorize filing protected materials under seal. No
document may be filed with the Court under seal without prior permission as to each such
filing, upon motion and for good cause shown, including the legal basis for filing under seal.
See Procter & Gamble Co. v. Bankers Trust Co., 78 F.3d 219 (6th Cir. 1996). Unless the
Court orders otherwise, all sealed documents shall be filed according to S. D. Ohio Civ. R.
79.3.
10. At the conclusion of litigation, the Confidential Information and any copies thereof shall be
promptly (and in no event later than sixty (60) days after entry of final judgment no longer
subject to further appeal) returned to the producing party or certified as destroyed, except that
the parties’ counsel shall be permitted to retain their working files on the condition that those
files will remain confidential.
11. Defendant will produce to Plaintiff all responsive documents in her possession covered by
the Privacy Act pursuant to the terms of this Stipulation and Order within seven (7) days of
the entry of this Order.
The foregoing is entirely without prejudice to the right of any party to apply to the Court
for any further Protective Order relating to confidential information; or to object to the
production of documents or information; or to apply to the Court for an order compelling
production of documents or information; or for modification of this Order. This Order may be
enforced by either party and any violation may result in the imposition of sanctions by the Court.

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STIPULATED:
FOR THE PLAINTIFF:

FOR THE DEFENDANT:

s/
Serah E. Siemann (0088687)
Siemann & Associates Co., L.P.A.
1015 E. Centerville Station Rd.
Centerville, Ohio 45459
[phone] Phone
[phone] Facsimile
[e-mail]

s/
Kevin Koller (NY 5180609)
Assistant United States Attorney
200 W. Second Street, Suite 600
Dayton. Ohio 45402
Office: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]

ORDER
The parties having stipulated to the foregoing terms of the Protective Order and the Court
having found them reasonable and appropriate:
IT IS SO ORDERED.

s/Sharon L. Ovington
SHARON L. OVINGTON
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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Stipulation to Proposed Protective Order
I have been informed by counsel that certain documents or information to be disclosed to
me in connection with the matter entitled Metellus v. Heather Wilson, Secretary of the United
States Air Force, et al., have been designated as confidential. I have been informed that any such
documents or information labeled “CONFIDENTIAL – PRODUCED PURSUANT TO
PROTECTIVE ORDER” are confidential by Order of the Court.
I hereby agree that I will not disclose any information contained in such documents to
any other person. I further agree not to use any such information for any purpose other than this
litigation.

_____________________________________

DATED:

Signed in the presence of:

____________________________________
(Attorney)

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