Opinion
22-cv-04844-BLF (VKD)
08-28-2024
ORDER FOLLOWING REVIEW OF IN CAMERA DOCUMENTS
Virginia K. DeMarchi United States Magistrate Judge
As directed by the Court, on August 22, 2024 Zazzle submitted for in camera review the 14 documents identified in the Court's August 15, 2024 order. See Dkt. No. 256. Having reviewed these documents, the Court concludes that some of Zazzle's privilege claims are not supported by its privilege log or its prior briefing. See Dkt. No. 236. Rather, these redactions have been applied to factual statements and/or to communications that have only a business purpose, and none of them seek or reveal legal advice. Other privilege claims are valid and supported. The Court finds no evidence supporting Ms. Laatz's contention that the crime-fraud exception to the attorney-client privilege applies to any of the redacted or withheld documents.
The Court summarizes its specific findings below:
Log No.
Bates Number
Privilege Claim
Privilege Applies?
1
ZAZZLE-003054
Email thread reflecting and/or seeking the legal advice of counsel regarding font licensing
B. Beaver email (5/4/17, 2:52 p.m.)
Yes - redaction ok
M. Alkhatib email (5/4/17 @ 2:50 p.m.)
No
B. Beaver email (5/4/17 @ 2:44 p.m.)
No
M. Alkhatib email (5/4/17 @ 2:43 p.m.)
No
L. Larson email (5/4/17 @ 2:40 p.m.)
Yes - redaction ok
B. Beaver email (5/4/17 @ 14:37)
Yes - redaction ok
M. McGhie email (5/3/17 @ 12:43 p.m.)
Yes - redaction ok
4
ZAZZLE-003065
Email thread reflecting and/or seeking the legal advice of counsel regarding font licensing
K. Liu email (1/18/17 @ 12:11:26 p.m.)
Yes - redaction ok
C. Sheu email (11/9/16 @ 5:33 p.m.)
Yes - first redaction ok No - second redaction
5
ZAZZLE-003068
Email thread reflecting and/or seeking the legal advice of counsel regarding font licensing
B. Beaver email (11/9/16 @ 11:33:40 a.m.
No
C. Sheu email (11/8/16 @ 3:19 p.m.)
Yes - redaction ok
181
ZAZZLE-003230
Attachment. Email thread reflecting and/or seeking the legal advice of counsel regarding font licensing
L. Larson email (5/4/17 @ 12:02 p.m.)
Yes - redaction ok
K. Liu email (5/4/17 @
Yes - redaction ok
15:17)
I. Pashchenko (5/4/17 @ 2:48 p.m.)
Yes - redaction ok
M. Alkhatib email (5/4/17 @ 2:42 p.m.)
No
L. Larson email (5/4/17 @ 2:40 p.m.)
Yes - redaction ok
B. Beaver email (5/4/17 @ 14:37)
Yes - redaction ok
M. McGhie email (5/3/17 @ 12:43 p.m.)
Yes - redaction ok
240
ZAZZLE-004335
Email thread reflecting and/or seeking the legal advice of counsel regarding font licensing
Yes - redaction ok
254
ZAZZLE-003391
Email reflecting and/or seeking the legal advice of counsel in response to the threat of litigation from Laatz
No
260
ZAZZLE-003525
Email reflecting and/or seeking the legal advice of counsel in response to the threat of litigation from Laatz
No
270
ZAZZLE-003651
Email thread reflecting and/or seeking the legal advice of counsel regarding font licensing and in response to the threat of litigation from Laatz
M. McGhie email (8/26/20 @ 2:47:09 p.m.)
Yes - redaction ok
L. Larson email (5/4/17 @ 12:02 p.m.)
Yes - redaction ok
K. Liu email (5/4/17 @ 15:17)
Yes - redaction ok
I. Pashchenko (5/4/17 @ 2:48 p.m.)
Yes - redaction ok
M. Alkhatib email (5/4/17 @ 2:42 p.m.)
No
L. Larson email (5/4/17 @ 2:40 p.m.)
Yes - redaction ok
B. Beaver email (5/4/17 @ 14:37)
Yes - redaction ok
M. McGhie email (5/3/17 @ 12:43 p.m.)
Yes - redaction ok
271
ZAZZLE-003657
Email thread reflecting and/or seeking the legal advice of counsel regarding font licensing
C. Sheu email (11/9/16 @ 5:33 p.m.)
Yes - first redaction ok No - second redaction
272
ZAZZLE-003661
Email thread reflecting and/or seeking the legal advice of counsel regarding font licensing
Yes - withholding ok
273
ZAZZLE-003662
Attachment. Document reflecting mental impressions and/or legal conclusions of counsel regarding font licensing
Yes - redaction ok
462
ZAZZLE-003959
Messages reflecting and/or seeking the legal advice of counsel in response to the threat of litigation from Laatz
No
611
ZAZZLE-004068
Messages reflecting and/or seeking the legal advice of counsel in response to the threat of litigation from Laatz
Yes - redaction ok
663
ZAZZLE-004537
Document reflecting the legal advice of counsel regarding font licensing
New Fonts (Sept 2017) table, col. G & note to cell A106
Yes - redaction ok
Final Purchasing List table, cell D4
No
Final Purchasing List table, cols. E, M
Yes - redaction ok
Because the Court has found no evidence that the crime-fraud exception to the attorneyclient privilege applies to any of the redacted or withheld documents reviewed in camera, an evidentiary hearing on that issue is unnecessary. See In re Napster, Inc. Copyright Litigation, 479 F.3d 1078, 1093 (9th Cir. 2007) (party seeking to preserve privilege has right to introduce countervailing evidence following in camera review before court orders disclosure based on application of crime-fraud exception). Otherwise, the Court has already afforded Zazzle an opportunity to elaborate upon and file declarations in support of its privilege claims, and the Court has considered that material in making the determinations summarized above. See Dkt. Nos. 236, 236-1, and supporting exhibits.
Accordingly, the Court concludes that no further proceedings are necessary to resolve the parties' dispute regarding these 14 privilege log entries. Zazzle shall produce to Ms. Laatz the documents corresponding to Entries 1, 4, 5, 181, 254, 260, 270, 271, 462 and 663, with revised redactions conforming to the Court's determinations regarding application of the privilege, no later than September 11, 2024.
IT IS SO ORDERED.