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denying a motion to compel and granting a protective order upon a finding that a "personnel file and the draft workplace investigation report [we]re not relevant" where they implicated privacy concerns and did not address the accident being litigated
Summary of this case from Henman v. Ind. Harbor Belt R.R.Opinion
For Ingram Barge Company In the matter of the Complaint of Ingram Barge Company as owner of the M/V Dale A. Heller and the IBIB9525, IN025300, IN085089, IN095041, IN096081, IN107057, and IN117513, Petitioning for Exoneration from or Limitation of Liability, Petitioner (1:13-cv-03453): Simon Tonkin, LEAD ATTORNEY, Richard Dean Mcnelley, Tonkin & Mondl, Lc, St. Louis, MO; Brett Daniel Wise, PRO HAC VICE, Liskow & Lewis, PLC, New Orleans, LA; Don K Haycraft, Hunter A. Chauvin, Liskow & Lewis, New Orleans, LA; Gary Ray Eiten, Herbolsheimer, Lannon, Henson, Duncan & Reagan, P.C., LaSalle, IL.
For Raymond & Kimberly Daniels, Defendant (1:13-cv-03453): Kenneth John Brennan, LEAD ATTORNEY, TorHoerman Law LLC, Edwardsville, IL; Jacob W. Plattenberger, Torhoerman Law LLC, Chicago, IL.
For Peggy Addis, Charles E. Bachman, Karina Bachman, Karen Barnes, Christopher Blue, Melony Blue, Danielle Cavalear, Robert Cavalear, April Clements, Michael Clements, Matthew Clements, Craig Collier, Bill Downey, Teri Downey, Marie Drake, Patrick Drake, Tony Farmer, Michael Graves, Vicki Graves, Amy Grooms, Cheryl Hanson, Michael Hanson, Amanda Hauger, Erin Henry, Lloyd Henry, Adrienne Kleinmaier, Michael Krause, Keith Kummerow, Jenna Mann, Josh Miner, Gina Miskell, Nicholas Stanford, Ernest Robert Tonelli, Terry Tonelli, Emily Whalen, Mary Kay Wheatley, Snug Harbor Marina, Inc., Patricia Guilfoyle, Nyckkie Boaz, Phoneny Verly, Kurt Boaz, Sharon L. Jennings, Earl, Jr. Jennings, Brandon Streu, Jim Barnes, Donny Bennett, Jr., Ashley L Barnes, Gary Nelson, Donald Lockas, Virginia Lockas, Keith Roth, Brian Underwood, Dan Biba, Mary Biba, Jeanette Duggan, David Duggan, Claimants (1:13-cv-03453): Kevin J. Conway, LEAD ATTORNEY, Cooney & Conway, Chicago, IL.
Faith Navarro, Claimant (1:13-cv-03453), Pro se, Marseilles, IL.
For James Reynolds, Claimant (1:13-cv-03453): Kenneth John Brennan, LEAD ATTORNEY, TorHoerman Law LLC, Edwardsville, IL; Kevin J. Conway, LEAD ATTORNEY, Cooney & Conway, Chicago, IL; Jacob W. Plattenberger, Torhoerman Law LLC, Chicago, IL.
Joseph Scott, Claimant (1:13-cv-03453), Pro se, Marseilles, IL.
For Michael Scott Young, Claimant (1:13-cv-03453): Kenneth John Brennan, LEAD ATTORNEY, TorHoerman Law LLC, Edwardsville, IL.
For Dale Roketa, Rhonda Roketa, Larry Alexander, Karen Allen, Charles Allen, John Aquino, Angelique Aquino, Jenna Aquino, Francine Babcock, Lewis Babcock, Lorie Bianco, Janet Bird, Sandra Bivens, Terry Blue, Mary Blue, Edward Bouley, Steven Broadus, Lucille Brockman, Gloria Brown, James Buckingham, Catherine Buckingham, William Buffington, Wayne Cain, Antoinette Calhan, Matthew Callahan, Brenna Callahan, James Cappellini, Ida Carlock, Christy Carpenter, Robert Carver, Scott Caselli, Jose DeJesus Castillo, Blanca Castillo, Ed Cavanaugh Jr., Lloyd Chapman, Steve Chirico, Paula Christensen, Dale Christensen, Tomas Contreras, Rebbecca Contreras, Tina Couch, Tim Cowan, Greg Cox, Mike Crabbe, Christina Crabbe, Dennis Crask, Deborah Crask, Rigoberto Cruz, Asusena Frausto, Angela Dahl, Robert DeBenedetti, Jessicalyn DeFord, Greg DeMoss, Chris DeNunzio, Deborah Deskin, Joelle Ehrenberg, Arlene Farmer, Terry Frederick, Nancy Frederick, William Fuller, Mary Fuller, Marlene Fuller, Todd Gordon, Kirby Grabow, Colleen Grabow, Sarah Grant, Daniel Graves, Martha Graves, Curtis Grooms, David Grooms, Marlene Hall, Peter Hall, Kay Harvey, Maureen Harvey, Kathryn Harvey, Robert Hauge, Janice Holcomb, Aaron Hollenbeck, Leo Ingmanson, Rita Ingmanson, Jeremy Jacobsen, Amy Jacobsen, Ronald Johnson, Brenda Johnson, Kornelia Juergensen, Keith Keegan, Jeff Kiper, Melissa Klicker, Trent Klicker, Douglas Knudson, Rosalie Knudson, Linda Lamb, Sondra Schweneker, Chris Leiteritz, Ron Leiteritz, Kevin Leiteritz, Barry Leiteritz, Mike London, Michelle Buivis, Donna Luttrell, Georgia Marshall, Mike Maskel, Lori Maskel, Frank McCallum, DeeAnn McCallum, Tammy McCormick, Larry mcGuire, Shirlene McGuire, Kathleen McIntyre, Shawne Meroney, Brian Miller, Tina Miller, Gerald Miskell, Patricia Miskell, Lucille Mooneyham, Ennis Mooneyham, Peter Morello, Tony Morello, Jennifer Morello, William Murphy, Kathleen Murphy, William Murray, Sharon Murray, Carol Mussatto, Richard Neill, Roberta Neill, Joseph Nelle, Amie Nelle, Robert Newkirk, Michael Norsen, LeAnne Norsen, Connie O'Neal, Alan Osborne, Cheryl Osborne, Janice Osborne, Gary Osborne, Joyce Panti, Philip Panti, Jeffery Parini, Denise Parini, Jennifer Parker, Stephen Parker, Colleen Pellegrini, James Perona, James Petty, Michelle Platt, David Platt, Kevin Platt, Mark Przybylski, JoAnn Reilly, Carolyn Rinker-Russick, Lesa Ross, Renee Schaefer, Christoph Schoepfer-Grosskurth, Jessica Schoepfer, Jack Seaborn, Nancy Seaborn, Helen Sharp, Robert Simpson, Lily Simpson, Mary Lou Sineni, Tamara Sment, Janet Smith, John Spampanato, John Spampanato, Daniel Talbott, Mark Thomas, Dawn Thomas, Eli Thomas, Jennifer Thomas, Eleanor Thomas, Gordon Treest, Audrey Treest, James Trager, Sandra Trager, Thomas Tucker, Armon Tuntland, Kenneth Upshaw, Susan Manisco, Scott Vicich, Sheila Vicich, Mike Weidemann, William Wells, David Wheeler, Michael Wheeler, Paula Wheeler, James White, II, Laura White, Charles Wood, Mary Wood, Doreen Yankura, Michael Yankura, Karen Young, Alexander Young, Tracy Clark, Troy Clark, Craig Reppine, Robert Sineni, William Kuiper, as administrator of the estate of Darcene Czachura, Edward Drackley, Joan Drackley, Clyde Gaffney, Patricia Gaffney, Kevin Jennings, Phyllis Lowery, Gary Davidson, Elizabeth Davidson, Claimants (1:13-cv-03453): Kenneth John Brennan, LEAD ATTORNEY, TorHoerman Law LLC, Edwardsville, IL; Jacob W. Plattenberger, Torhoerman Law LLC, Chicago, IL.
For Marseilles Elementary School District #150, Claimant (1:13-cv-03453): Timothy S McGovern, LEAD ATTORNEY, Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP, Chicago, IL; Bridget Ann Liccardi, Michael Leonard Foran, Foran Glennon, Palandech Ponzi & Rudloff PC, Chicago, IL; George Daniel Pilja, Foran, Glennon, Palandech & Ponzi PC, Chicago, IL.
For United States of America, Claimant (1:13-cv-03453): Jill Dahlmann Rosa, U.S. Dept of Justice, Torts Branch, Civil Division, Washington, DC; Michelle Terry Delemarre, PRO HAC VICE, Deparment of Justice, Washington, DC; Robert Emmett Kellym, United States Department of Justice, Washington, DC.
Angelica Flores, Claimant (1:13-cv-03453), Pro se, Marseilles, IL.
Jonathan O'Brien, Claimant (1:13-cv-03453), Pro se, Marseilles, IL.
For City of Marseilles, Claimant (1:13-cv-03453): Devon C. Bruce, Powers, Rogers & Smith, Chicago, IL; Kathryn Lynn Conway, 1984, Power Rogers & Smith, P.c., Chicago, IL.
For St. Joseph Roman Catholic Congregation of Marseilles, Illinois, Claimant (1:13-cv-03453): Joseph Gerard Feehan, LEAD ATTORNEY, Heyl, Royster, Voelker & Allen, Peoria, IL; Daniel J. Cheely, Heyl, Maura Yusof, Royster, Voelker & Allen, Chicago, IL; Jana L Brady, Heyl, Royster, Voelker & Allen, Rockford, IL.
For Service List (1:13-cv-03453): Alex E Campos, Cassiday Schade LLP, Cassiday Schade Llp, Chicago, IL; Megan C. Ahrens, Todd M Powers, Schroeder Maundrell Barbiere & Powers, Mason, OH.
For Raymond & Kimberly Daniels, Counter Claimant (1:13-cv-03453): Kenneth John Brennan, LEAD ATTORNEY, TorHoerman Law LLC, Edwardsville, IL.
For Ingram Barge Company, In the matter of the Complaint of Ingram Barge Company as owner of the M/V Dale A. Heller and the IBIB9525, IN025300, IN085089, IN095041, IN096081, IN107057, and IN117513, Petitioning for Exoneration from or Limitation of Liability, Counter Defendant (1:13-cv-03453): Simon Tonkin, LEAD ATTORNEY, Richard Dean Mcnelley, Tonkin & Mondl, Lc, St. Louis, MO; Brett Daniel Wise, PRO HAC VICE, Liskow & Lewis, PLC, New Orleans, LA; Don K Haycraft, Hunter A. Chauvin, Liskow & Lewis, New Orleans, LA.
For Marseilles Elementary School District #150, Counter Claimant (1:13-cv-03453): Timothy S McGovern, LEAD ATTORNEY, Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP, Chicago, IL; George Daniel Pilja, Michael Leonard Foran, Foran, Glennon, Palandech & Ponzi PC, Chicago, IL.
For United States of America, Counter Claimant (1:13-cv-03453): Michelle Terry Delemarre, PRO HAC VICE, Deparment of Justice, Washington, DC; Robert Emmett Kelly, United States Department of Justice, Washington, DC.
For American Commercial Lines, LLC, Plaintiff (1:13-cv-04292): Todd M Powers, PRO HAC VICE, Megan C. Ahrens, Schroeder Maundrell Barbiere & Powers, Mason, OH; Todd Randall Burgett, Cassiday Schade LLP, Chicago, IL.
For Inland Marine Service, Inc., Plaintiff (1:13-cv-04292): Megan C. Ahrens, Schroeder Maundrell Barbiere & Powers, Mason, OH; Todd Randall Burgett, Cassiday Schade LLP, Chicago, IL.
For Raymond H Daniels, Kimberly D Daniels, Tracy Clark, Larry Alexander, Charles Allen, Karen Allen, John Aquino, Angelique Aquino, Jenna Aquino, Francine Babcock, Lewis Babcock, Lorie Bianco, Janet Bird, Sandra Bivens, Terry Blue, Mary Blue, Edward Bouley, Steven Broadus, Lucille Brockman, Gloria Brown, James Buckingham, Catherine Buckingham, William Buffington, Wayne Cain, Antoinette Calhan, Matthew Callahan, Brenna Callahan, James Cappellini, Ida Carlock, Christy Carpenter, Robert Carver, Scott Caselli, Jose DeJesus Castillo, Blanca Castillo, Ed Cavanaugh, Jr, Lloyd Chapman, Steve Chirico, Paula Christensen, Dale Christensen, Tomas Contreras, Rebbecca Contreras, Tina Couch, Tim Cowan, Greg Cox, Mike Crabbe, Christina Crabbe, Dennis Crask, Deborah Crask, Rigoberto Cruz, Asusena Frausto, William Kuiper, as administrator of the estate of Darcene Czachura, Angela Dahl, Robert DeBenedetti, Jessicalyn DeFord, Greg DeMoss, Chris DeNunzio, Deborah Deskin, Joelle Ehrenberg, Arlene Farmer, Terry Frederick, Nancy Frederick, William Fuller, Mary Fuller, Marlene Fuller, Todd Gordon, Kirby Grabow, Sarah Grant, Daniel Graves, Martha Graves, Curtis Grooms, David Grooms, Marlene Hall, Peter Hall, Kay Harvey, Maureen Harvey, Kathryn Harvey, Robert Hauge, Janice Holcomb, Aaron Hollenbeck, Leo Ingmanson, Rita Ingmanson, Jeremy Jacobsen, Amy Jacobsen, Ronald Johnson, Brenda Johnson, Kornelia Juergensen, Keith Keegan, Jeff Kiper, Claimants (1:13-cv-04292): Kenneth John Brennan, LEAD ATTORNEY, TorHoerman Law LLC, Edwardsville, IL; Jacob W. Plattenberger, Torhoerman Law LLC, Chicago, IL.
For Peggy Addis, Charles E. Bachman, Karina Bachman, Karen Barnes, Christopher Blue, Melony Blue, Kurt Boaz, Kurt Boaz, Danielle Cavalear, Robert Cavalear, April Clements, Matthew Clements, Michael Clements, Craig Collier, Snug Harbor Marina, Inc., Bill Downey, Teri Downey, Marie Drake, Patrick Drake, Tony Farmer, Angelica Flores, Michael Graves, Vicki Graves, Amy Grooms, Cheryl Hanson, Michael Hanson, Amanda Hauger, Erin Henry, Lloyd Henry, Earl L Jennings, Jr, Sharon, L. Jennings, Adrienne Kleinmaier, Michael Krause, Keith Kummerow, Jenna Mann, Josh Miner, Gina Miskell, Faith Navarro, Jonathan O'Brien, James M Reynolds, Joseph H. Scott, Nicholas Stanford, Ernest Robert Tonelli, Terry Tonelli, Phoneny Verly, Emily Whalen, Mary Kay Wheatley, Michael Scott Young, Brandon Streu, Jim Barnes, Donny Bennett, Jr., Gary Nelson, Ashley L Barnes, Donald Lockas, Virginia Lockas, Keith Roth, Brian Underwood, Dan Biba, Mary Biba, Jeanette Duggan, David Duggan, Claimants (1:13-cv-04292): Kevin J. Conway, LEAD ATTORNEY, Timothy R. Ocasek, Cooney & Conway, Chicago, IL.
For Marseilles, City of, Claimant (1:13-cv-04292): Devon C. Bruce, Powers, Rogers & Smith, Chicago, IL; Kathryn Lynn Conway, 1984, Power Rogers & Smith, P.c., Chicago, IL.
For Marseilles Elementary School District #150, Claimant (1:13-cv-04292): Daniel Gene Wills, LEAD ATTORNEY, Swanson, Martin & Bell, Chicago, IL; Timothy S McGovern, LEAD ATTORNEY, Jonathan Rowan Walton, Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP, Chicago, IL.
For Patricia Guilfoyle, Claimant (1:13-cv-04292): Konstantinos T. Sparagis, LEAD ATTORNEY, Morgan Ian Marcus, The Law Offices Of Konstantine, Chicago, IL.
Edward Bouley, Claimant (1:13-cv-04292), Pro se.
For Melissa Klicker, Trent Klicker, Douglas Knudson, Rosalie Knudson, Linda Lamb, Sondra Schweneker, Chris Leiteritz, Ron Leiteritz, Kevin Leteritz, Barry Leteritz, Mike London, Michelle Buivis, Donna Luttrell, Georgia Marshall, Mike Maskel, Lori Maskel, Frank McCallum, DeeAnn McCallum, Tammy McCormick, Troy Clark, Susan Manisco, Kenneth Upshaw, Kathleen McIntyre, Shawne Meroney, Peter Morello, Carol Mussatto, Robert Newkirk, Connie O'Neal, Colleen Pellegrini, James Perona, James Petty, Kevin Platt, Mark Przybylski, JoAnn Reilly, Carolyn Rinker-Russick, Lesa Ross, Renee Schaefer, Helen Sharp, Mary Lou Sineni, Tamara Sment, Janet Smith, John Spampanato, Brad Stock, Daniel Talbott, Eleanor Thomas, Thomas Tucker, Armon Tuntland, Mike Weidemann, William Wells, David Wheeler, Karen Young, Alexander Young, Edward Drackley, Joan Drackley, Larry McGuire, Shirlene McGuire, Brian Miller, Tina Miller, Gerald Miskell, Patricia Miskell, Lucille Mooneyham, Ennis Mooneyham, Tony Morello, Jennifer Morello, William Murphy, Kathleen Murphy, William Murray, Sharon Murray, Richard Neill, Roberta Neill, Joseph Nelle, Amie Nelle, Michael Norsen, LeAnne Norsen, Alan Osborne, Cheryl Osborne, Janice Osborne, Gary Osborne, Joyce Panti, Philip Panti, Jeffrey Parini, Denise Parini, Jennifer Parker, Jennifer Parker, Stephen Parker, II, Michelle Platt, David Platt, Craig Reppine, Robert Sineni, Dale Roketa, Rhonda Roketa, Christoph Schoepfer-Grosskurth, Jessica Schoepfer, Jack Seaborn, Nancy Seaborn, Robert Simpson, Lily Simpson, Mark Thomas, Dawn Thomas, Eli Thomas, Jennifer Thomas, James Trager, Sandra Trager, Gordon Treest, Audrey Treest, Scott Vicich, Sheila Vicich, Michael Wheeler, Paula Wheeler, James White, II, Laura White, Charles Wood, Mary Wood, Doreen Yankura, Michael Yankura, Colleen Grabow, Clyde Gaffney, Patricia Gaffney, Kevin Jennings, Phyllis Lowery, Gary Davidson, Elizabeth Davidson, Claimants (1:13-cv-04292): Kenneth John Brennan, LEAD ATTORNEY, TorHoerman Law LLC, Edwardsville, IL; Jacob W. Plattenberger, Torhoerman Law LLC, Chicago, IL.
For United States of America, Claimant (1:13-cv-04292): Jill Dahlmann Rosa, U.S. Dept of Justice, Torts Branch, Civil Division, Washington, DC; Robert Emmett Kelly, United States Department of Justice, Washington, DC.
For St. Joseph Roman Catholic Congregation of Marseilles, Illinois, Claimant (1:13-cv-04292): Joseph Gerard Feehan, LEAD ATTORNEY, Heyl, Royster, Voelker & Allen, Peoria, IL; Daniel J. Cheely, Maura Yusof, Heyl, Royster, Voelker & Allen, Chicago, IL; Jana L Brady, Heyl, Royster, Voelker & Allen, Rockford, IL.
For United States of America, Counter Claimant (1:13-cv-04292): Robert Emmett Kelly, United States Department of Justice, Washington, DC.
For American Commercial Lines, LLC, Counter Defendant, Counter Claimant (1:13-cv-04292): Megan C. Ahrens, Todd M Powers, Schroeder Maundrell Barbiere & Powers, Mason, OH; Todd Randall Burgett, Cassiday Schade LLP, Chicago, IL.
For Inland Marine Service, Inc., Counter Defendant, Counter Claimant (1:13-cv-04292): Megan C. Ahrens, Schroeder Maundrell Barbiere & Powers, Mason, OH; Todd Randall Burgett, Cassiday Schade LLP, Chicago, IL.
ORDER
AMY J. ST. EVE, United States District Judge.
The Court denies Ingram Barge Co.'s Motion to Compel Production by the United States of Larry Rodriguez's Personnel File [430] and grants the United States' Motion for Protective Order [432].
STATEMENT
Before the Court are Ingram Barge Co.'s (" Ingram" ) Motion to Compel Production by the United States of Larry Rodriguez's Personnel File (R. 430) and the United States' Motion for Protective Order (R. 432.) For the following reasons, the Court denies Ingram's motion and grants the United States' motion.
BACKGROUND
On May 8, 2013, Ingram, as owner of the M/V Dale A. Heller (" Dale Heller" ) and seven barges, filed a complaint for exoneration from or limitation of liability. The complaint anticipates that claimants will bring various claims against Ingram, the Dale Heller, and the seven barges as a result of an April 18, 2013 incident. (Case No. 13-cv-3453, R. 1, Compl. at 3). Ingram's Complaint alleges that due to severe weather conditions on April 17, 2013, the Dale Heller temporarily moored at Mile 248.0 in the Illinois River to plan for its traversal past the Marseilles, Illinois Dam and into the Marseilles Canal. ( Id.) On April 18, 2013, the M/V Loyd Murphy, owned by American Commercial Lines, LLC (" ACL" ) and operated by Inland Marine, and two United States Army Corps of Engineers vessels agreed to assist the Dale Heller and its tow navigate past the Marseilles Dam. ( Id.) Ingram's complaint alleges that " while traversing Mile 247.0 near the Marseilles Dam, due to unanticipated outdrafts from open gates of the dam, the tow broke up, and [Ingram's] seven [] barges were swept into the Marseilles Dam" and " may have allided" with the dam. ( Id.) The Complaint also asserts that " [t]he event was caused by an Act of God, and/or the acts or omissions of others for whom Ingram is not responsible." ( Id. at 4.)
On November 26, 2013, Ingram filed an Amended Counterclaim against the United States. (R. 373.) In that Amended Counterclaim, Ingram alleges that Mr. Rodriguez was aware of the risk that the flotilla of barges might break loose and damage the Dam. Specifically, Ingram alleges that Mr. Rodriguez " offered to lower the gates of the Marseilles Dam to a total opening of or about 16 feet to allow the flotilla to safely navigate into the Marseilles Canal, in exchange for Ingram's agreement to navigate the flotilla into the Marseilles Canal, where the flotilla would not pose a threat to the Marseilles Dam." ( Id. ¶ 32.) Ingram further alleges that Mr. Rodriguez breached the agreement with Ingram in a number of ways, but primarily by failing to lower the Marseilles Dam gates to approximately 16 feet. ( Id. ¶ 35.)
On January 21, 2014, Ingram served on the United States its Rule 34 Requests for Production of Documents. Request Number 6 sought the " Personnel and payroll files for all Marseilles Lock and Dam personnel present on April 18, 2013..." The United States objected to this request on the basis of relevance and privilege pursuant to the Privacy Act, 5 U.S.C. § 552a. The United States listed Mr. Rodriguez's Official Personnel Folder (" OPF" ) on its privilege log as a document subject to the Privacy Act. Ingram deposed Mr. Rodriguez on July 30, 2014. At his deposition, Mr. Rodriguez testified that in August 2013, the U.S. Army Corps interviewed him as part of the " Commander's Inquiry" into the April 18, 2013 allision. He also testified that at approximately the same time, the Army Corps initiated an investigation (" Investigation" ) due to issues between him and other lockmen who worked at the lockhouse at the Marseilles Dam. In September 2013, the U.S. Army Corps reassigned Mr. Rodriguez to the Starved Rock Lock & Dam, and he resigned from the U.S. Army Corps in January 2014. Both parties agree that Mr. Rodriguez was reluctant to discuss the Investigation at his deposition, but that he did testify that it had nothing to do with the April 18, 2013 allision. The United States has acknowledged that the U.S. Army Corps created a draft workplace investigation report related to the Investigation.
On August 1, 2014, Ingram moved to compel Mr. Rodriguez's personnel file " to see documents that reveal reasons for [Mr. Rodriguez's] reassignment to Starved Rock and why he was demoted from the Lockmaster job position. We need to learn whether his resignation in January 2014 from the Army Corps was voluntary or forced." (R. 430-1, Ingram Mem. at 2.) Also on August 1, the United States filed a motion for a protective order precluding the disclosure of Mr. Rodriguez's personnel file and the draft workplace investigation report as not relevant and privileged under the Privacy Act, 5 U.S.C. § 552a. The United States produced Mr. Rodriguez's personnel file and the draft workplace investigation report to the Court for an in camera and ex parte review.
LEGAL STANDARD
The Court has broad discretion when resolving discovery disputes. See James v. Hyatt Regency Chicago, 707 F.3d 775, 784 (7th Cir. 2013); Central States, Se. & Sw. Areas Pension Fund v. Waste Mgmt. of Mich. Inc., 674 F.3d 630, 636 (7th Cir. 2012). Pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 26(b)(1), " [p]arties may obtain discovery regarding any nonprivileged matter that is relevant to any party's claim or defense ... Relevant information need not be admissible at the trial if the discovery appears reasonably calculated to lead to the discovery of admissible evidence." Fed.R.Civ.P. 26(b)(1). " The burden rests upon the objecting party to show why a particular discovery request is improper." Kodish v. Oakbrook Terrace Fire Prot. Dist., 235 F.R.D. 447, 450 (N.D. Ill. 2006). In the context of motions to compel, the Seventh Circuit instructs that a " district court may grant or deny the motion in whole or in part, and similar to ruling on a request for a protective order under Rule 26(c), the district court may fashion a ruling appropriate for the circumstances of the case." Gile v. United Air Lines, Inc., 95 F.3d 492, 496 (7th Cir. 1996).
ANALYSIS
After reviewing Mr. Rodriguez's personnel file and the draft workplace investigation report, the Court finds that these documents are not relevant to this litigation or Mr. Rodriguez's role in the April 18, 2013 allision. Rather, as the United States previously informed Ingram, they are confidential documents protected by the Privacy Act of 1974, 5 U.S.C. § 552a.
" The Privacy Act directs agencies to establish safeguards to protect individuals against the disclosure of confidential records 'which could result in substantial harm, embarrassment, inconvenience, or unfairness to any individual on whom information is maintained.'" F.A.A. v. Cooper, ___ U.S. ___, 132 S.Ct. 1441, 182 L.Ed.2d 497 (2012) (quoting 5. U.S.C. § 552a(e)(10)). The Privacy Act provides that " [n]o agency shall disclose any record which is contained in a system of records by any means of communication to any person, or to another agency, except pursuant to a written request by, or with the prior written consent of, the individual to whom the record pertains..." 5 U.S.C. § 552a(b).
The Privacy Act defines " record" as " any item, collection, or grouping of information about an individual that is maintained by an agency, including, but not limited to, his education, financial transactions, medical history, and criminal or employment history..." 5 U.S.C. § 552a(a)(4). While the statute requires the consent of the relevant individual before disclosure, one of the exceptions is when the disclosure is pursuant to a court order. 5 U.S.C. § 552a(b)(11). The documents at issue -- Mr. Rodriguez's personnel file and the draft workplace investigation report that led to his reassignment -- clearly fall within the scope of the Privacy Act. The United States, therefore, may not produce those documents in this litigation without Mr. Rodriguez's consent or a court order.
In its Motion to Compel, Ingram asserted:
The parties need Rodriguez's personnel file to evaluate any documents involved in the Corps' investigation of Rodriguez's job performance. His performance evaluations may shed light on any communications issues he has evinced over his 28 years at Marseilles Lock & Dam. In particular, we need to see documents that reveal reasons for his reassignment to Starved Rock and why he was demoted from the Lockmaster job position. We need to learn whether his resignation in January 2014 from the Army Corps was voluntary or forced.
(Ingram Mem. at 2.) While Ingram made a passing reference to Mr. Rodriguez's " communications issues" over his 28 year career at Marseilles Lock & Dam, Ingram's motion clearly focuses on the workplace investigation report and the reason for Mr. Rodriguez's demotion and eventual resignation. Further, Ingram's motion indicates that its primary concern is whether the Investigation and Rodriguez's demotion and resignation were related to the April 18, 2013 allision.
In its response to the United States' motion for a protective order, Ingram identified additional concerns bearing on Mr. Rodriguez's credibility that it felt might " aid the Court as it reviews the file." (R. 434, Ingram Resp. to U.S. Mot. at 2.) While some of these questions might trigger the often baseless objections of " vague" and " overly broad," the Court kept Ingram's concerns in mind as it reviewed the documents. Nevertheless, the Court finds that Mr. Rodriguez's personnel file and the draft workplace investigation report are not relevant to this litigation. The personnel file contains administrative documents that do not address the April 18, 2013 allision and do not touch on the concerns that Ingram identified in its motion and response. Further, the draft workplace investigation report is unrelated to the April 18, 2013 allision that is at issue in this case. " Discovery of matter not 'reasonably calculated to lead to the discovery of admissible evidence' is not within the scope of Rule 26(b)(1)." Miller UK Ltd. v. Caterpillar, Inc., 17 F.Supp.3d 711, 2014 WL 67340 at *4 (N.D. Ill. 2014) (citing Oppenheimer Fund, Inc. v. Sanders, 437 U.S. 340, 352, 98 S.Ct. 2380, 57 L.Ed.2d 253 (1978). Thus the United States does not need to produce Mr. Rodriguez's personnel file or the draft workplace investigation report.
For example, Ingram asks, " [t]hroughout his 28-year career at Marseilles Lock & Dam have there been any issues with Rodriguez and the clarity of communications with colleagues and vessels? Have there been any instances of miscommunication?" (Ingram Resp. to U.S. Mot. at 2.)
CONCLUSION
For these reasons, the Court denies Ingram's Motion to Compel Production by the United States of Larry Rodriguez's Personnel File and grants the United States' Motion for Protective Order.