Opinion
Case No. 2:12 CV-00013-WBS-DAD
07-25-2012
BETH A. RHODES, M.D., Plaintiff, v. SUTTER HEALTH, A California Corporation, SUTTER GOULD MEDICAL FOUNDATION, a California Corporation, THE GOULD MEDICAL GROUP, INC., a California Corporation, Defendants.
LAW OFFICES OF STEPHEN M. MURPHY STEPHEN M. MURPHY P. BOBBY SHUKLA Stephen M. Murphy P. Bobby Shukla Attorney for plaintiff BETH A. RHODES, M.D. LITTLER MENDELSON, P.C. MAUREEN E. MCCLAIN MAIKO NAKARAI-KANIVAS Maureen E. McClain Maiko Nakarai-Kanivas Attorneys for Defendant SUTTER GOULD MEDICAL FOUNDATION DILLINGHAM & MURPHY, LLP CARLA J. HATLEY DANIELLE L. TIZOL Carla J. Hartley Danielle L. Tizol Attorneys for Defendant GOULD MEDICAL GROUP, INC.
LAW OFFICES OF STEPHEN M. MURPHY
STEPHEN M. MURPHY (SBN 103768)
P. BOBBY SHUKLA (SBN 229736)
Attorney for Plaintiff
BETH A. RHODES, M.D.
LITTLER MENDELSON, P.C.
MAUREEN E. MCCLAIN (SBN 62050)
MAIKO NAKARAI-KANIVAS (SBN 271710)
Attorneys for Defendant
SUTTER GOULD
MEDICAL FOUNDATION
DILLINGHAM & MURPHY, LLP
CARLA J. HARTLEY (SBN 117213)
DANIELLE L. TIZOL (SBN 259702)
Attorneys for Defendant
GOULD MEDICAL GROUP, INC.
STIPULATION AND PROTECTIVE
ORDER REGARDING THE EXCHANGE
AND DISCLOSURE OF CONFIDENTIAL
INFORMATION
STIPULATION AND PROPOSED PROTECTIVE ORDER IN REGARD TO THE
EXCHANGE AND DISCLOSURE OF CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION
Disclosure and discovery activity in this action are likely to involve production of confidential, trade secret, proprietary or personal information, including but not limited to private medical information of patients and highly confidential and proprietary business agreements, for which special protection from public disclosure and from use for any purpose other than prosecuting or defending this litigation would be warranted. Accordingly, in order to protect the confidentiality of Confidential Information obtained by the parties in connection with the lawsuit entitled Beth Rhodes, M.D. v. Sutter Health, et al., Case No. 2:12 CV 00013-WBS-DAD in the District Court for the Eastern District of California, the parties, by and through their respective attorneys of record, hereby agree to stipulate to and petition the Court to enter the following Stipulated Protective Order. The parties acknowledge that this Stipulated Protective Order does not confer blanket protections on all disclosures or responses to discovery, and that the protection it affords extends only to the limited information or items that are entitled under the applicable legal principles to treatment as confidential.
I. DESIGNATION OF DOCUMENTS AND TESTIMONY AS CONFIDENTIAL OR ATTORNEYS' EYES ONLY
A. Any party to this Stipulation may designate as "Confidential" any document, thing, electronically-stored information, response to discovery, or deposition testimony, or any portion thereof, which that party considers in good faith to contain Confidential Information subject to protection under California law.
B. As used herein, the designation "Confidential" is to be used to identify any testimony, document, thing, electronically-stored information, or other response to discovery, or any portion thereof, that contains private, confidential and/or nonpublic personal, business, financial, proprietary, commercial, trade secret or personnel information about any party to this litigation or third parties.
C. A party may designate as "Confidential" documents or discovery materials produced in connection with the case by providing written notice to all parties of the relevant document numbers or other identification within thirty (30) days after receiving such documents or discovery materials. Any party may voluntarily disclose to others without restriction any information designated by that party as confidential, although a document may lose its confidential status if it is made public.
D. Any party may designate highly confidential material as "Attorneys' Eyes Only" if such information contains personal information pertaining to patients or other highly confidential information, including, but not limited to any peer review documents, complaints, appeals, or things, or any documents or agreements containing highly confidential proprietary information, the disclosure of which would create a substantial risk of serious injury that could not be avoided by less restrictive means. Designation of such information shall be made in the same manner as information designated "Confidential" as stated in Subsection C of this Section. Special care shall be taken with respect to material designated "Attorneys' Eyes Only" so as to prevent inadvertent disclosure.
II. IDENTIFICATION OF DOCUMENTS AND TESTIMONY DESIGNATED AS CONFIDENTIAL OR ATTORNEYS' EYES ONLY
A. A party may designate a document produced voluntarily, in response to written discovery and/or a subpoena as "Confidential" or "Attorneys' Eyes Only" by stamping or otherwise marking the document as "Confidential" or "Attorneys' Eyes Only." If only a portion of the document is to be identified "Confidential" or "Attorneys' Eyes Only," the first page of the document shall be marked as "Subject to Protective Order" and the party producing the document should stamp or otherwise mark the specific portion(s) of the document that are "Confidential" or "Attorneys' Eyes Only." If portions of a document identified as "Confidential" or "Attorneys' Eyes Only" contain highly confidential information that is neither relevant to this lawsuit nor reasonably likely to lead to the discovery of admissible evidence, such highly confidential, irrelevant information may be redacted.
B. A party may designate a written response to discovery as "Confidential" or "Attorneys' Eyes Only" by stamping or otherwise marking the response as "Confidential" or "Attorneys' Eyes Only."
C. A party may designate an audio and/or video recording, computer disk, or other electronic media as "Confidential" or "Attorneys' Eyes Only" by stamping or otherwise marking the audio and/or video tape, computer disk, or other electronic media as "Confidential" or "Attorneys' Eyes Only." If only a portion of the audio and/or video tape, computer disk, or other electronic media is to be identified "Confidential" or "Attorneys' Eyes Only," the exterior of the audio and/or video tape, computer disk, or other electronic media shall be marked as "Subject to Protective Order" and the party producing the audio and/or video tape, computer disk, or other electronic media should identify or otherwise mark the specific portion(s) of the audio and/or video tape, computer disk, or other electronic media that are "Confidential" or "Attorneys' Eyes Only."
D. A party may designate information disclosed during deposition as "Confidential" or "Attorneys' Eyes Only" by so indicating on the record at the deposition and requesting the preparation of a separate transcript of such material. Additionally, a party may designate in writing, within twenty (20) days after receipt of said deposition transcript or which the designation is proposed, that specific pages of the transcript be treated as "Confidential" or "Attorneys' Eyes Only."
E. Material designated as "Confidential" may be referred to herein as "Confidential Information." Similarly, material designated as "Attorneys' Eyes Only" may be referred to herein as "Attorneys' Eyes Only Information."
III. OBJECTION TO DESIGNATION OF INFORMATION AS CONFIDENTIAL OR ATTORNEYS' EYES ONLY
A. If a party contends that any material is not entitled to confidential or attorneys' eyes only treatment such party may at any time give written notice to the party who designated the material. The party who designated the material shall have twenty-five (25) days from the receipt of such written notice to apply to the court for an order designating the material as confidential or attorneys' eyes only. The party seeking the order has the burden of establishing that the material is entitled to protection.
B. Notwithstanding any challenge to the designation of material as Confidential Information or Attorneys' Eyes Only Information, all material shall be treated as such and shall be subject to the provisions hereof unless and until one of the following occurs:
(1) the party who claims that the material is Confidential Information or Attorneys' Eyes Only Information withdraws such designation in writing; or
(2) the party who claims that the material is Confidential Information or Attorneys' Eyes Only Information fails to apply to the court for an order designating the material confidential within the time period specified above after receipt of a written challenge to such designation; or
(3) the court rules the material is not Confidential Information or Attorneys' Eyes Only Information.
IV. LIMITATIONS ON DISCLOSURE OF CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION OR ATTORNEYS' EYES ONLY INFORMATION
A. All information produced or exchanged in the course of this litigation (other than information that is publicly available) shall be used by the party or parties to whom the information is produced solely for the purpose of this litigation.
B. Except with the prior written consent of the other parties, or upon prior order of the court obtained upon notice to all parties, information designated as "Confidential" shall not be disclosed to any person other than:
(1) Counsel for the respective parties to this litigation and employees of such counsel;
(2) A Party to this action. For parties that are not individuals, "Party" is defined to include those employees, principals, officers, partners, directors, and/or successors corporations of the Party who that Party's counsel deems necessary for the prosecution or defense of this litigation;
(3) An insurer of a Party to this action, including the insurer's representatives;
(4) Court reporters and videographers employed by counsel for the purpose of recording deposition testimony in this litigation;
(5) Consultants or expert witnesses retained for the prosecution or defense of this litigation, provided that each such person shall execute a copy of the Certification annexed to this Order (which shall be retained by counsel to the party so disclosing the Confidential Information and made available for inspection by opposing counsel during the pendency or after the termination of the action only upon good cause shown and upon order of the Court) before being shown or given any Confidential Information;
(6) Authors or recipients of the information designated as Confidential Information; and
(7) The judge, court, or court personnel, and court reporters.
C. Except with the prior written consent of the other parties, or upon prior order of the court obtained upon notice to all parties, information designated "Attorneys' Eyes Only" shall not be disclosed to any person other than:
(1) Counsel for the respective parties to this litigation and employees of such counsel;
D. Any persons receiving Confidential Information or Attorneys' Eyes Only Information shall not reveal or discuss such information to or with any person who is not entitled to receive such information, except as set forth herein.
E. Any persons receiving Confidential Information or Attorneys' Eyes Only Information shall sign the "Certification" attached hereto.
V. PROCEDURE FOR SUBMITTING CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION TO COURT FOR FILING
A. Nothing contained in this Stipulation and Order shall prohibit a party from using or referring to Confidential Information or Attorneys' Eyes Only Information in motion papers or other pleadings filed with the court.
B. Documents to be filed with the court that disclose Confidential Information or Attorneys' Eyes Only Information, or information derived from documents containing Confidential Information or Attorneys' Eyes Only Information, shall be submitted to the court either in redacted form in conformity with Local Rule 140 or with a request to seal documents and proposed sealing order in conformity with Federal Rule of Civil Procedure Rules 5.2 and 26 and Local Rules 141 and 141.1.
C. Any party who wishes to file documents with the court that disclose information that another party has designated as Confidential Information or Attorneys' Eyes Only Information shall give the party designating the information as Confidential Information or Attorneys' Eyes Only Information at least five days' advance notice before filing the Confidential Information or Attorneys' Eyes Only Information with the court, unless the Confidential Information or Attorneys' Eyes Only Information is needed to be filed in support of a request for extraordinary relief or in opposition to a motion filed by the opposing party.
VI. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
A. All provisions of this Order restricting the communication or use of Confidential Information or Attorneys' Eyes Only Information shall continue to be binding after the conclusion of this dispute, unless otherwise agreed or ordered. Upon conclusion of the litigation, a party in the possession of Confidential Information or Attorneys' Eyes Only Information, other than that which is contained in motions, pleadings, correspondence, and deposition transcripts, shall either:
(1) return such documents no later than thirty (30) days after conclusion of this dispute to counsel for the party or non-party who provided such information, or
(2) destroy such documents within the time period upon consent of the party who provides the information and certify in writing within thirty (30) days that the documents have been destroyed.
B. Nothing herein shall prohibit a party from using Confidential Information or Attorneys' Eyes Only Information for purposes of this action, including pre-trial motions, depositions, alternative dispute resolution, as well as any arbitration, trial, hearing or appeal in this matter.
C. Nothing herein shall be deemed to waive any applicable privilege or work product protection, or to affect the ability of a party to seek relief for an inadvertent disclosure of material protected by privilege or work product protection.
D. Nothing herein shall be deemed to waive any objections by any party under California Civil Code 1157 pertaining to the discoverability of peer review records or objections under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) concerning the disclosure of confidential patient health information. Nothing herein shall be deemed to waive the right or ability of any party to seek relief for an inadvertent disclosure of such material.
E. Any witness or other person, firm or entity from which discovery is sought may be informed of and may obtain the protection of this Order by written advice to the parties' respective counsel or by oral advice at the time of any deposition or similar proceeding.
F. Neither the execution of this Stipulation, approval of the Order by a court, nor conducting discovery in accordance with this Stipulation and Order shall be deemed a waiver of the parties' right to compel arbitration pursuant to the terms of any applicable arbitration provision.
VII. ENFORCEMENT OF STIPULATION AND ORDER
A. It is the intent of the parties that this Stipulation shall be effective and fully enforceable in the absence of an order issued by a judge. Any documents or things produced before the court issues an order on this Stipulation shall be subject to this Stipulation as if the order had been entered.
B. If the court, on motion of any party, finds that a party or its, his, or her counsel are responsible for the unauthorized disclosure of information designated as Confidential Information or Attorneys' Eyes Only Information as provided for in this Stipulation and Order, the party and/or its, his, or her counsel may be subject to sanctions, civil contempt, and/or such other relief as the court deems appropriate.
C. This stipulation for protective order is subject to modification on further written stipulation of the parties, executed by its, his, or her counsel, or on motion to the court, provided that counsel for the moving party provides notice and serves a complete copy of the motion and supporting papers on all parties no less than 72 hours prior to the hearing of any ex parte motion.
LAW OFFICES OF STEPHEN M. MURPHY
STEPHEN M. MURPHY
P. BOBBY SHUKLA
By:_________________
Stephen M. Murphy
P. Bobby Shukla
Attorney for plaintiff
BETH A. RHODES, M.D.
LITTLER MENDELSON, P.C.
MAUREEN E. MCCLAIN
MAIKO NAKARAI-KANIVAS
By: _________________
Maureen E. McClain
Maiko Nakarai-Kanivas
Attorneys for Defendant
SUTTER GOULD
MEDICAL FOUNDATION
DILLINGHAM & MURPHY, LLP
CARLA J. HATLEY
DANIELLE L. TIZOL
By: _________________
Carla J. Hartley
Danielle L. Tizol
Attorneys for Defendant
GOULD MEDICAL GROUP, INC.
ATTACHMENT
CERTIFICATION
I hereby certify my understanding that Confidential Information is being provided to me pursuant to the terms and restrictions of the Protective Order dated
_________________, in the matter of Beth Rhodes, M.D. v. Sutter Health, et al., No. 2:12 CV 00013-WBS-DAD in the District Court for the Eastern District of California. I have been given a copy of the Protective Order and have read it. I agree to be bound by the Protective Order. I will not reveal the Confidential Information to anyone, except as allowed by the Protective Order. I will maintain all such Confidential Information, including copies, notes, or other transcripts made therefrom, in a secure manner to prevent unauthorized access to it. No later than 30 days after the conclusion of this litigation, I will return the Confidential Information, including copies, notes, or other transcripts made therefrom, to the counsel who provided me with the Confidential Information.
I hereby consent to the jurisdiction of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of California, Sacramento Division for the purpose of enforcing the Protective Order.
_________________
Signature
BETH A. RHODES, M.D., Plaintiff,
v.
SUTTER HEALTH, A California Corporation, SUTTER GOULD MEDICAL FOUNDATION, a California Corporation, THE GOULD MEDICAL GROUP, INC., a California Corporation, Defendants.
Case No. 2:12 CV-00013-WBS-DAD
ORDER ON STIPULATED
PROTECTIVE ORDER REGARDING
THE EXCHANGE AND DISCLOSURE
OF CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION
IT IS SO ORDERED:
The Parties' Stipulated Protective Order Regarding the Exchange and Disclosure of Confidential Information is hereby adopted by this Court.
_________________
DALE A. DROZD
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE