Chang v. Little Monster LLC et al

Filing 24

ORDER denying Defendant's 23 Unopposed Motion for Protective Order. Signed by Judge Ricardo S. Martinez. (SB)

Case 2:22-cv-00847-RSM Document 24 Filed 01/18/23 Page 1 of 2

1
2
3
4
5
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
WESTERN DISTRICT OF WASHINGTON
AT SEATTLE

6
7
8

HONG CHANG, a Washington State resident,
CASE NO. C22-847RSM

9
10

Plaintiff,
ORDER DENYING UNOPPOSED
MOTION FOR PROTECTIVE ORDER

v.

11
12
13

LITTLE MONSTER LLC dba DL BBQ, a
Washington State Limited Liability, et al.,
Defendants.

14
15
16
17
18
19
20

This matter comes before the Court on Defendant WA Fan Tuan Inc.’s Unopposed
Motion for Entry of Stipulated Protective Order, Dkt. #23.
The Court finds that the proposed Protective Order does not conform to the requirement
that its “protection from public disclosure and use extends only to the limited information or
items that are entitled to confidential treatment under the applicable legal principles” as stated by

21

Local Rule 26(c)(2). Under the section entitled Confidential Material, the Court’s model

22

protective order instructs: “[t]he parties must include a list of specific documents such as

23

‘company’s customer list’ or ‘plaintiff’s medical records;’ do not list broad categories of

24
25

documents such as ‘sensitive business material.’” Defendant Fan Tuan has not followed these
instructions and instead lists the following: “(i) confidential communications between any party

26
27
ORDER DENYING UNOPPOSED MOTION FOR PROTECTIVE ORDER – 1

Case 2:22-cv-00847-RSM Document 24 Filed 01/18/23 Page 2 of 2

1
2

or non-party and its vendors, customers, or partners; and (ii) non-public financial information
produced by any party or any non-party.” Dkt. #23 at 2.

3

The Court finds that the parties have impermissibly left the door open to labeling a wide

4

variety of documents as confidential, including categories that can be summed up as “sensitive

5
6

business material.” The parties submit no argument to justify this departure from the model
protective order’s guidelines. Accordingly, this Motion will be denied.

7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15

Having reviewed the briefing, along with the remainder of the record, the Court hereby
finds and ORDERS that Defendant WA Fan Tuan Inc.’s Unopposed Motion for Entry of
Stipulated Protective Order, Dkt. #23, is DENIED.
DATED this 18th day of January, 2023.

A

RICARDO S. MARTINEZ
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
ORDER DENYING UNOPPOSED MOTION FOR PROTECTIVE ORDER – 2