Adrian Humberto Rios v. City of Azusa

Case 2:22-cv-03968-SPG-RAO Document 34 Filed 11/14/22 Page 1 of 25 Page ID #:305 [7] UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT [8] CENTRAL DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA [9] 10 ADRIAN HUMBERTO RIOS, a individual, by and through his Case No. 2:22-cv-03968 SVW 11 Guardian ad Litem, Brenda Yvette (RAOx) Ceja, [12] Plaintiff, STIPULATED PROTECTIVE 13 ORDER1 v. [14] CITY OF AZUSA; COUNTY OF 15 LOS ANGELES, and DOES 1 through 10, inclusive, [16] Defendants. [18] 19 1. A. PURPOSES AND LIMITATIONS 20 Discovery in this action is likely to involve production of confidential, 21 proprietary or private information for which special protection from public disclosure 22 and from use for any purpose other than prosecuting this litigation may be warranted. 23 Accordingly, the parties hereby stipulate to and petition the Court to enter the 24 following Stipulated Protective Order. 25 The parties acknowledge that this Order does not confer blanket protections on 26 all disclosures or responses to discovery and that the protection it affords from public [28] 1 This Stipulated Protective Order is substantially based on the model protective order provided under Magistrate Judge Rozella A. Oliver’s Procedures. 4870-9607-8138.1 Case 2:22-cv-03968-SPG-RAO Document 34 Filed 11/14/22 Page 2 of 25 Page ID #:306 1 disclosure and use extends only to the specified information or items that are entitled 2 to confidential treatment under the applicable legal principles. 3 The parties further acknowledge, as set forth below, that this Stipulation and 4 Order creates no entitlement to file confidential information under seal, except to the 5 extent specified herein; Central District Local Rules 79-5.1 and 79-5.2 set(s) forth the 6 procedures that must be followed and reflects the standards that will be applied when 7 a party seeks permission from the court to file material under seal. 8 Nothing in this Stipulation or associated Order shall be construed so as to 9 require or mandate that any Party disclose or produce privileged information or 10 records that could be designated as Confidential Documents/Protected Material 11 hereunder. 12 B. GOOD CAUSE STATEMENT 13 Defendant City of Azusa contends that there is good cause and a particularized 14 need for a protective order to preserve the interests of confidentiality and privacy in 15 peace officer personnel file records and associated investigative or confidential 16 records for the following reasons. 17 First, Defendant City of Azusa contends that peace officers have a federal 18 privilege of privacy in their personnel file records: a reasonable expectation of privacy 19 therein that is underscored, specified, and arguably heightened by the Pitchess 20 protective procedure of California law. See Sanchez v. Santa Ana Police Dept., 936 21 F.2d 1027 , 1033-1034 (9th Cir. 1990); Hallon v. City of Stockton, 2012 U.S. Dist. 22 LEXIS 14665 , *2-3, 12-13 (E.D. Cal. 2012) (concluding that “while “[f]ederal law 23 applies to privilege based discovery disputes involving federal claims,” the “state 24 privilege law which is consistent with its federal equivalent significantly assists in 25 applying [federal] privilege law to discovery disputes”); Soto v. City of Concord, 162 26 F.R.D. 603 , 613 n. 4, 616 (N.D. Cal. 1995) (peace officers have constitutionally-based 27 “privacy rights [that] are not inconsequential” in their police personnel records); cf. [28] Cal. Penal Code §§ 832.7 , 832.8; Cal. Evid. Code §§ 1040-1047 . Defendant City of 4870-9607-8138.1 2 Case 2:22-cv-03968-SPG-RAO Document 34 Filed 11/14/22 Page 3 of 25 Page ID #:307 1 Azusa further contend that uncontrolled disclosure of such personnel file information 2 can threaten the safety of non-party witnesses, officers, and their 3 families/associates. 4 Second, Defendant City of Azusa contends that municipalities and law 5 enforcement agencies have federal deliberative-executive process privilege, federal 6 official information privilege, federal law enforcement privilege, and federal 7 attorney-client privilege (and/or attorney work product protection) interests in the 8 personnel files of their peace officers – particularly as to those portions of peace 9 officer personnel files that contain critical self-analysis, internal 10 deliberation/decision-making or evaluation/analysis, or communications for the 11 purposes of obtaining or rendering legal advice or analysis – potentially including but 12 not limited to evaluative/analytical portions of Internal Affairs type records or reports, 13 evaluative/analytical portions of supervisory records or reports, and/or reports 14 prepared at the direction of counsel, or for the purpose of obtaining or rendering legal 15 advice. See Sanchez, 936 F.2d at 1033-1034; Maricopa Audubon Soc’y v. United 16 States Forest Serv., 108 F.3d 1089 , 1092-1095 (9th Cir. 1997); Soto, 162 F.R.D. at 17 613, 613 n. 4; Kelly v. City of San Jose, 114 F.R.D. 654 , 668-671 (N.D. Cal. 1987); 18 Tuite v. Henry, 181 F.R.D. 175, 176-177 (D. D.C. 1998); Hamstreet v. Duncan, 2007 19 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 89702 (D. Or. 2007); Admiral Ins. Co. v. United States Dist. Ct., [20] 881 F.2d 1486 , 1492, 1495 (9th Cir. 1988). Defendant City of Azusa further contends 21 that such personnel file records are restricted from disclosure by the public entity’s 22 custodian of records pursuant to applicable California law and that uncontrolled 23 release is likely to result in needless intrusion of officer privacy; impairment in the 24 collection of third-party witness information and statements and related legitimate law 25 enforcement investigations/interests; and a chilling of open and honest discussion 26 regarding and/or investigation into alleged misconduct that can erode a public entity’s 27 ability to identify and/or implement any remedial measures that may be required. 28 Third, Defendant City of Azusa contends that, since peace officers do not have 4870-9607-8138.1 3 Case 2:22-cv-03968-SPG-RAO Document 34 Filed 11/14/22 Page 4 of 25 Page ID #:308 1 the same rights as other private citizens to avoid giving compelled statements, it is 2 contrary to the fundamental principles of fairness to permit uncontrolled release of 3 officers’ compelled statements. See generally Lybarger v. City of Los Angeles, 40 4 Cal.3d 822, 828-830 (1985); cf. U.S. Const., amend V. 5 Accordingly, Defendant City of Azusa contends that, without a protective order 6 preventing such, production of confidential records in this case can and will likely 7 substantially impair and harm Defendant City of Azusa’sinterests in candid self8 critical analysis, frank internal deliberations, obtaining candid information from 9 witnesses, preserving the safety of witnesses, preserving the safety of peace officers 10 and peace officers’ families and associates, protecting the privacy officers of peace 11 officers, and preventing pending investigations from being detrimentally undermined 12 by publication of private, sensitive, or confidential information – as can and often 13 does result in litigation. 14 Plaintiff does not agree with and does not stipulate to Defendant City of Azusa's 15 contentions herein above, and nothing in this Stipulation or its associated Order shall 16 resolve the parties’ disagreement, or bind them, concerning the legal statements and 17 claimed privileges set forth above. 18 However, plaintiff agrees that there is Good Cause for a Protective Order so as 19 to preserve the respective interests of the parties without the need to further burden 20 the Court with such issues. Specifically, the parties jointly contend that, absent this 21 Stipulation and its associated Protective Order, the parties' respective privilege 22 interests may be impaired or harmed, and that this Stipulation and its associated 23 Protective Order may avoid such harm by permitting the parties to facilitate discovery 24 with reduced risk that privileged and/or sensitive/confidential information will 25 become matters of public record. 26 The parties jointly contend that there is typically a particularized need for 27 protection as to any medical or psychotherapeutic records, because of the privacy [28] 4870-9607-8138.1 4 Case 2:22-cv-03968-SPG-RAO Document 34 Filed 11/14/22 Page 5 of 25 Page ID #:309 1 interests at stake therein. Because of these sensitive interests, a Court Order should 2 address these documents rather than a private agreement between the parties. 3 The parties therefore stipulate that there is Good Cause for, and hereby jointly 4 request that the honorable Court issue/enter, a Protective Order re confidential 5 documents consistent with the terms and provisions of this Stipulation. However, the 6 entry of a Protective Order by the Court pursuant to this Stipulation shall not be 7 construed as any ruling by the Court on the aforementioned legal statements or 8 privilege claims in this Section, nor shall this section be construed as part of any such 9 Court Order. 10 C. ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF PROCEDURE FOR FILING UNDER SEAL 11 The parties further acknowledge, as set forth in Section 12.3, below, that this 12 Stipulated Protective Order does not entitle them to file confidential information 13 under seal; Local Civil Rule 79-5 sets forth the procedures that must be followed and 14 the standards that will be applied when a party seeks permission from the court to file 15 material under seal. 16 There is a strong presumption that the public has a right of access to judicial 17 proceedings and records in civil cases. In connection with non-dispositive motions, 18 good cause must be shown to support a filing under seal. See Kamakana v. City and 19 County of Honolulu, 447 F.3d 1172, 1176 (9th Cir. 2006); Phillips v. Gen. Motors 20 Corp., 307 F.3d 1206 , 1210-11 (9th Cir. 2002); Makar-Welbon v. Sony Electrics, Inc., [21] 187 F.R.D. 576, 577 (E.D. Wis. 1999) (even stipulated protective orders require good 22 cause showing), and a specific showing of good cause or compelling reasons with 23 proper evidentiary support and legal justification, must be made with respect to 24 Protected Material that a party seeks to file under seal. The parties’ mere designation 25 of Disclosure or Discovery Material as CONFIDENTIAL does not—without the 26 submission of competent evidence by declaration, establishing that the material 27 sought to be filed under seal qualifies as confidential, privileged, or otherwise 28 protectable—constitute good cause. 4870-9607-8138.1 5 Case 2:22-cv-03968-SPG-RAO Document 34 Filed 11/14/22 Page 6 of 25 Page ID #:310 1 Further, if a party requests sealing related to a dispositive motion or trial, then 2 compelling reasons, not only good cause, for the sealing must be shown, and the relief 3 sought shall be narrowly tailored to serve the specific interest to be protected. See 4 Pintos v. Pacific Creditors Ass’n, 605 F.3d 665, 677-79 (9th Cir. 2010). For each 5 item or type of information, document, or thing sought to be filed or introduced under 6 seal in connection with a dispositive motion or trial, the party seeking protection must 7 articulate compelling reasons, supported by specific facts and legal justification, for 8 the requested sealing order. Again, competent evidence supporting the application to 9 file documents under seal must be provided by declaration. 10 Any document that is not confidential, privileged, or otherwise protectable in 11 its entirety will not be filed under seal if the confidential portions can be redacted. If 12 documents can be redacted, then a redacted version for public viewing, omitting only 13 the confidential, privileged, or otherwise protectable portions of the document shall 14 be filed. Any application that seeks to file documents under seal in their entirety 15 should include an explanation of why redaction is not feasible. 16 2. DEFINITIONS 17 2.1. Party: any party to this action, including all of its officers, directors, 18 employees, agents, consultants, retained experts, house counsel and outside counsel 19 (and/or the support staff thereof). 20 2.2. Disclosure or Discovery Material: all items or information, regardless 21 of the medium or manner generated, stored or maintained (including, among other 22 things, testimony, transcripts, or tangible things) that are produced – or generated in 23 disclosures or responses to discovery – by any Party in this matter. 24 2.3. “Confidential” Information or Items: information (regardless of the 25 medium or how generated, stored, or maintained) or tangible things that qualify for 26 protection under standards developed under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 26(c) 27 and/or applicable federal privileges. This material includes, but is not limited to, 28 medical records, psychotherapeutic records, and autopsy photographs; as well as 4870-9607-8138.1 6 Case 2:22-cv-03968-SPG-RAO Document 34 Filed 11/14/22 Page 7 of 25 Page ID #:311 1 peace officer personnel records as defined by California Penal Code sections 832.8, 2 832.5, 832.7 and the associated case law; and other similar confidential records 3 designated as such. 4 2.4. Receiving Party: a Party that receives Disclosure or Discovery Material 5 from a Producing Party, including a Party that has noticed or subpoenaed and is taking 6 a deposition or comparable testimony. 7 2.5. Producing Party: a Party or non-party that produces Disclosure or 8 Discovery Material in this action, including a Party that is defending a deposition 9 noticed or subpoenaed by another Party; additionally, for the limited purpose of 10 designating testimony subject to this Stipulation and Order pursuant to section 6.2(b) 11 (infra), a “Producing Party” shall also be construed to include a Party that is attending 12 and/or participating in a non-party deposition noticed/subpoenaed by another Party. 13 2.6. Designating Party: a Party or non-party public entity employer of a Party 14 that designates information or items that it produces in disclosures or in responses to 15 discovery as “CONFIDENTIAL.” 16 2.7. Protected Material: any Disclosure or Discovery Material that is 17 designated as “CONFIDENTIAL” under the provisions of this Stipulation and 18 Protective Order. (The term “Confidential Document” shall be synonymous with the 19 term “Protected Material” for the purposes of this Stipulation and any associated 20 Protective Order.) 21 2.8. Outside Counsel: attorneys who are not employees of a Party but who 22 are retained to represent or advise a Party in this action (as well as their support staffs). 23 2.9. House Counsel: attorneys who are employees of a Party (as well as their 24 support staffs). 25 2.10. Counsel (without qualifier): Outside Counsel and House Counsel (as 26 well as their support staffs). 27 2.11. Expert: a person with specialized knowledge or experience in a matter 28 pertinent to the litigation who has been retained by a Party or its counsel to serve as 4870-9607-8138.1 7 Case 2:22-cv-03968-SPG-RAO Document 34 Filed 11/14/22 Page 8 of 25 Page ID #:312 1 an expert witness or as a consultant in this action and who is not a past or a current 2 employee of a Party and who, at the time of retention, is not anticipated to become an 3 employee of a Party or a competitor of a Party’s; as well as any person retained, 4 designated, or disclosed by a Party as an expert pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil 5 Procedure 26(a)(2) or other applicable discovery Rules or statutes. 6 2.12. Professional Vendors: persons or entities that provide litigation support 7 services (e.g., photocopying; videotaping; translating; preparing exhibits or 8 demonstrations; and/or organizing, storing, retrieving data in any form or medium; 9 etc.); and their employees and subcontractors. 10 3. SCOPE 11 The protections conferred by this Stipulation and its associated Order cover not 12 only Protected Material/Confidential Documents (as defined above), but also (1) any 13 information copied or extracted from Protected Material; (2) all copies, excerpts, 14 summaries, or compilations of Protected Material; and (3) any testimony, 15 conversations, or presentations by Parties or their Counsel that might reveal Protected 16 Material. However, the protections conferred by this Stipulation and its associated 17 Order do not cover the following information: (a) any information that is in the public 18 domain at the time of disclosure to a Receiving Party or becomes part of the public 19 domain after its disclosure to a Receiving Party as a result of publication not involving 20 a violation of this Order, including becoming part of the public record through trial or 21 otherwise; and (b) any information known to the Receiving Party prior to the 22 disclosure or obtained by the Receiving Party after the disclosure from a source who 23 obtained the information lawfully and under no obligation of confidentiality to the 24 Designating Party. 25 Except to the extent specified herein (if any), any use of Protected Material at 26 trial shall not be governed by this Order, but may be governed by a separate agreement 27 or order. [28] 4870-9607-8138.1 8 Case 2:22-cv-03968-SPG-RAO Document 34 Filed 11/14/22 Page 9 of 25 Page ID #:313 1 Any use of Protected Material at trial shall be governed by the Orders of the 2 trial judge: this Stipulation and its associated Protective Order do(es) not govern the 3 use of Protected Material at trial. 4 Nothing in this Stipulation or its associated Order shall be construed as binding 5 upon the Court or its court personnel, who are subject only to the Court’s internal 6 procedures regarding the handling of materials filed or lodged, including materials 7 filed or lodged under seal. 8 4. DURATION 9 Even after final disposition of this litigation, the confidentiality obligations 10 imposed by this Order shall remain in effect until a Designating Party agrees 11 otherwise in writing or a court order otherwise directs. 12 Final disposition shall be deemed to be the later of (1) dismissal of all claims 13 and defenses in this action, with or without prejudice; and (2) final judgment herein 14 after the completion and exhaustion of all appeals, rehearings, remands, trials, or 15 reviews of this action, including the time limits for filing any motions or applications 16 for extension of time pursuant to applicable law. 17 5. DESIGNATING PROTECTED MATERIAL 18 5.1. Exercise of Restraint and Care in Designating Material for Protection. 19 Each Party or non-party that designates information or items for protection 20 under this Stipulation and its associated Order must take care to limit any such 21 designation to specific material that qualifies under the appropriate standards. A 22 Designating Party must take care to designate for protection only those parts of 23 material, documents, items, or oral or written communications that qualify – so that 24 other portions of the material, documents, items or communications for which 25 protection is not warranted are not swept unjustifiably within the ambit of this Order. 26 Mass, indiscriminate, or routine designations are prohibited. Designations that 27 are shown to be clearly unjustified, or that have been made for an improper purpose 28 (e.g., to unnecessarily encumber or retard the case development process, or to impose 4870-9607-8138.1 9 Case 2:22-cv-03968-SPG-RAO Document 34 Filed 11/14/22 Page 10 of 25 Page ID #:314 1 unnecessary expenses and burdens on other parties), expose the Designating Party to 2 sanctions. 3 If it comes to a Party’s or a non-party’s attention that information or items that 4 it designated for protection do not qualify for protection at all, or do not qualify for 5 the level of protection initially asserted, that Party or non-party must promptly notify 6 all other parties that it is withdrawing the mistaken designation. 7 5.2. Manner and Timing of Designations. Except as otherwise provided in 8 this Order, or as otherwise stipulated or ordered, material that qualifies for protection 9 under this Order must be clearly so designated before the material is disclosed or 10 produced. 11 Designation in conformity with this Order requires: 12 (a) For information in documentary form (apart from transcripts of 13 depositions or other pretrial or trial proceedings, and regardless of whether produced 14 in hardcopy or electronic form), that the Producing Party affix the legend 15 “CONFIDENTIAL” to each page that contains Protected Material. If only a portion 16 or portions of the material on a page qualifies for protection, the Producing Party also 17 must clearly identify the protected portion(s) (e.g., by making appropriate markings 18 in the margins) and must specify, for each portion that it is “CONFIDENTIAL.” The 19 placement of such “CONFIDENTIAL” stamp on such page(s) shall not obstruct the 20 substance of the page’s (or pages’) text or content. 21 A Party or Non-Party that makes original documents or materials available for 22 inspection need not designate them for protection until after the inspecting Party has 23 indicated which material it would like copied and produced. During the inspection 24 and before the designation, all of the material made available for inspection shall be 25 deemed “CONFIDENTIAL.” After the inspecting Party has identified the documents 26 it wants copied and produced, the Producing Party must determine which documents, 27 or portions thereof, qualify for protection under this Order. Then, before producing 28 the specified documents, the Producing Party must affix the “CONFIDENTIAL” 4870-9607-8138.1 10 Case 2:22-cv-03968-SPG-RAO Document 34 Filed 11/14/22 Page 11 of 25 Page ID #:315 1 legend to each page that contains Protected Material. If only a portion or portions of 2 the material on a page qualifies for protection, the Producing Party also must clearly 3 identify the protected portion(s) (e.g., by making appropriate markings in the 4 margins). 5 (b) For testimony given in deposition or in other pretrial or trial proceedings, 6 that the Party or non-party offering or sponsoring the testimony identify on the record, 7 before the close of the deposition, hearing, or other proceeding, all protected 8 testimony, and further specify any portions of the testimony that qualify as 9 “CONFIDENTIAL.” When it is impractical to identify separately each portion of 10 testimony that is entitled to protection, and when it appears that substantial portions 11 of the testimony may qualify for protection, the Producing Party may invoke on the 12 record (before the deposition or proceeding is concluded) a right to have up to twenty 13 (20) days to identify the specific portions of the testimony as “CONFIDENTIAL.” 14 Only those portions of the testimony that are appropriately designated as 15 “CONFIDENTIAL” for protection within the 20 days shall be covered by the 16 provisions of this Stipulation and its associated Protective Order. 17 The court reporter must affix to each such transcript page containing Protected 18 Material the legend “CONFIDENTIAL,” as instructed by the Producing Party. 19 (c) For information produced in some form other than documentary, and for 20 any other tangible items (including but not limited to information produced on disc or 21 electronic data storage device), that the Producing Party affix in a prominent place on 22 the exterior of the container or containers in which the information or item is stored 23 the legend “CONFIDENTIAL.” If only portions of the information or item warrant 24 protection, the Producing Party, to the extent practicable, shall identify the protected 25 portions, specifying the material as “CONFIDENTIAL.” 26 5.3. Inadvertent Failures to Designate. If timely corrected (preferably, 27 though not necessarily, within 30 days of production or disclosure of such material), 28 an inadvertent failure to designate qualified information or items as 4870-9607-8138.1 11 Case 2:22-cv-03968-SPG-RAO Document 34 Filed 11/14/22 Page 12 of 25 Page ID #:316 1 “CONFIDENTIAL” does not, standing alone, waive the Designating Party’s right to 2 secure protection under this Stipulation and its associated Order for such material. 3 If material is appropriately designated as “CONFIDENTIAL” after the material 4 was initially produced, the Receiving Party, on timely notification of the designation, 5 must make reasonable efforts to assure that the material is treated in accordance with 6 this Stipulation and its associated Order. 7 5.4. Alteration of Confidentiality Stamp Prohibited. A Receiving Party shall 8 not alter, edit, or modify any Protected Material so as to conceal, obscure, or remove 9 a “CONFIDENTIAL” stamp or legend thereon; nor shall a Receiving Party take any 10 other action so as to make it appear that Protected Material is not subject to the terms 11 and provisions of this Stipulation and its associated Order. However, nothing in this 12 section shall be construed so as to prevent a Receiving Party from challenging a 13 confidentiality designation subject to the provisions of section 6, infra. 14 6. CHALLENGING CONFIDENTIALITY DESIGNATIONS 15 6.1. Timing of Challenges. Any Party or Non-Party may challenge a 16 designation of confidentiality at any time that is consistent with the Court's 17 Scheduling Order. Unless a prompt challenge to a Designating Party’s confidentiality 18 designation is necessary to avoid foreseeable substantial unfairness, unnecessary 19 economic burdens, or a later significant disruption or delay of the litigation, a Party 20 does not waive its right to challenge a confidentiality designation by electing not to 21 mount a challenge promptly after the original designation is disclosed. 22 6.2. Meet and Confer. Prior to challenging a confidentiality designation, a 23 Challenging Party shall initiate a dispute resolution process by providing written 24 notice of each specific designation it is challenging, and describing the basis (and 25 supporting authority or argument) for each challenge. To avoid ambiguity as to 26 whether a challenge has been made, the written notice must recite that the challenge 27 to confidentiality is being made in accordance with this specific paragraph of the 28 associated Protective Order. The parties shall attempt to resolve each challenge in 4870-9607-8138.1 12 Case 2:22-cv-03968-SPG-RAO Document 34 Filed 11/14/22 Page 13 of 25 Page ID #:317 1 good faith and must begin the process by conferring directly (in voice to voice 2 dialogue, either in person, telephonically, or by other comparable means, but not by 3 correspondence) within 14 days of the date of service of notice. 4 In conferring, the Challenging Party must explain the specific basis for its belief 5 that the confidentiality designation was not proper and must give the Designating 6 Party an opportunity to review the designated material, to reconsider the 7 circumstances, and, if no change in designation is offered, to explain the basis for the 8 chosen designation. A Challenging Party may proceed to the next stage of the 9 challenge process only if it has engaged in this meet and confer process first or 10 establishes that the Designating Party is unwilling to participate in the meet and confer 11 process in a timely manner. 12 Frivolous challenges, and those challenges made for an improper purpose (e.g., 13 to harass or impose unnecessary expenses and burdens on other parties), may expose 14 the Challenging Party to sanctions. 15 6.3. Judicial Intervention. If the Parties cannot resolve a confidentiality 16 challenge without court intervention, the Challenging Party shall file and serve a 17 motion to remove confidentiality (under the applicable rules for filing and service of 18 discovery motions) within 14 days of the parties agreeing that the meet and confer 19 process will not resolve their dispute, or by the first day of trial of this matter, 20 whichever date is earlier – unless the parties agree in writing to a longer time. 21 The parties must strictly comply with Central District Local Rules 37-1 and 3722 2 (including the joint stipulation re discovery dispute requirement) in any motion 23 associated with this Protective Order. 24 Each such motion must be accompanied by a competent declaration affirming 25 that the movant has complied with the meet and confer requirements imposed in the 26 preceding paragraph. In addition, the Challenging Party may file a motion 27 challenging a confidentiality designation at any time if there is good cause for doing 28 so, including a challenge to the designation of a deposition transcript or any portions 4870-9607-8138.1 13 Case 2:22-cv-03968-SPG-RAO Document 34 Filed 11/14/22 Page 14 of 25 Page ID #:318 1 thereof. Any motion brought pursuant to this provision must be accompanied by a 2 competent declaration affirming that the movant has complied with the meet and 3 confer requirements imposed by the preceding paragraph. 4 The burden of persuasion in any such challenge proceeding shall be on the 5 Designating Party, regardless of whether the Designating Party is the moving party or 6 whether such Party sought or opposes judicial intervention. Frivolous challenges, and 7 those made for an improper purpose (e.g., to harass or impose unnecessary expenses 8 and burdens on other parties) may expose the Challenging Party to sanctions. Unless 9 the Designating Party has waived the confidentiality designation by failing to oppose 10 a motion to remove confidentiality as described above, all parties shall continue to 11 afford the material in question the level of protection to which it is entitled under the 12 Producing Party’s designation until the court rules on the challenge. 13 6.4. Withdrawal of “CONFIDENTIAL” Designation. At its discretion, a 14 Designating Party may remove Protected Material/Confidential Documents from 15 some or all of the protections and provisions of this Stipulation and its associated 16 Order at any time by any of the following methods: 17 (a) Express Written Withdrawal. A Designating Party may withdraw a 18 “CONFIDENTIAL” designation made to any specified Protected Material 19 /Confidential Documents from some or all of the protections of this Stipulation and 20 its associated Order by an express withdrawal in a writing signed by such Party (or 21 such Party’s Counsel, but not including staff of such Counsel) that specifies and 22 itemizes the Disclosure or Discovery Material previously designated as Protected 23 Material/Confidential Documents that shall no longer be subject to all or some of the 24 provisions of this Stipulation and Order. Such express withdrawal shall be effective 25 when transmitted or served upon the Receiving Party. If a Designating Party is 26 withdrawing Protected Material from only some of the provisions/ protections of this 27 Stipulation and Order, such Party must state which specific provisions are no longer 28 to be enforced as to the specified material for which confidentiality protection 4870-9607-8138.1 14 Case 2:22-cv-03968-SPG-RAO Document 34 Filed 11/14/22 Page 15 of 25 Page ID #:319 1 hereunder is withdrawn: otherwise, such withdrawal shall be construed as a 2 withdrawal of such material from all of the protections/provisions of this Stipulation 3 and Order; 4 (b) Express Withdrawal on the Record. A Designating Party may withdraw 5 a “CONFIDENTIAL” designation made to any specified Protected 6 Material/Confidential Documents from all of the provisions/protections of this 7 Stipulation and its associated Order by verbally consenting in court proceedings on 8 the record to such withdrawal – provided that such withdrawal specifies the 9 Disclosure or Discovery Material previously designated as Protected Material/ 10 Confidential Documents that shall no longer be subject to any of the provisions of this 11 Stipulation and Order. A Designating Party is not permitted to withdraw Protected 12 Material from only some of the protections/provisions of this Stipulation and Order 13 by this method; 14 (c) Implicit Withdrawal by Publication or Failure to Oppose Challenge. A 15 Designating Party shall be construed to have withdrawn a “CONFIDENTIAL” 16 designation made to any specified Protected Material/Confidential Documents from 17 all of the provisions/protections of this Stipulation and Order by either (1) making 18 such Protected Material/Confidential Records part of the public record – including 19 but not limited to attaching such as exhibits to any filing with the court without 20 moving, prior to such filing, for the court to seal such records; or (2) failing to timely 21 oppose a Challenging Party’s motion to remove a “CONFIDENTIAL” designation to 22 specified Protected Material/Confidential Documents. Nothing in this Stipulation and 23 Order shall be construed so as to require any Party to file Protected 24 Material/Confidential Documents under seal, unless expressly specified herein. 25 7. ACCESS TO AND USE OF PROTECTED MATERIAL 26 7.1. Basic Principles. A Receiving Party may use Protected Material that is 27 disclosed or produced by another Party or by a non-party in connection with this case 28 only for preparing, prosecuting, defending, or attempting to settle this litigation – up 4870-9607-8138.1 15 Case 2:22-cv-03968-SPG-RAO Document 34 Filed 11/14/22 Page 16 of 25 Page ID #:320 1 to and including final disposition of the above-entitled action – and not for any other 2 purpose, including any other litigation or dispute outside the scope of this action. 3 Such Protected Material may be disclosed only to the categories of persons and under 4 the conditions described in this Stipulation and its associated Order. When the above 5 entitled litigation has been terminated, a Receiving Party must comply with the 6 provisions of section 13, below (FINAL DISPOSITION). 7 Protected Material must be stored and maintained by a Receiving Party at a 8 location and in a secure manner that ensures that access is limited to the persons 9 authorized under this Stipulation and its Order. 10 7.2. Disclosure of “CONFIDENTIAL” Information or Items. Unless 11 otherwise ordered by the Court or permitted in writing by the Designating Party, a 12 Receiving Party may disclose any information or item designated CONFIDENTIAL 13 only to: 14 (a) the Receiving Party’s Outside Counsel of record in this action, as well 15 as employees of such Counsel to whom it is reasonably necessary to disclose the 16 information for this litigation; 17 (b) the officers, directors, and employees (including House Counsel) of the 18 Receiving Party to whom disclosure is reasonably necessary for this litigation – each 19 of whom, by accepting receipt of such Protected Material, thereby agree to be bound 20 by this Stipulation and Order; 21 (c) Experts (as defined in this Stipulation and Order) of the Receiving Party 22 to whom disclosure is reasonably necessary for this litigation – each of whom, by 23 accepting receipt of such Protected Material, thereby agree to be bound by this 24 Stipulation and Order; 25 (d) court reporters, their staffs, and Professional Vendors to whom 26 disclosure is reasonably necessary for this litigation – each of whom, by accepting 27 receipt of such Protected Material, thereby agree to be bound by this Stipulation and 28 Order; 4870-9607-8138.1 16 Case 2:22-cv-03968-SPG-RAO Document 34 Filed 11/14/22 Page 17 of 25 Page ID #:321 1 (e) during their depositions, witnesses in the action to whom disclosure is 2 reasonably necessary – each of whom, by accepting receipt of such Protected 3 Material, thereby agree to be bound by this Stipulation and Order. Pages of 4 transcribed deposition testimony or exhibits to depositions that reveal Protected 5 Material must have a confidential designation affixed by the court reporter to such 6 pages containing Protected Material and such may not be disclosed to anyone except 7 as permitted under this Stipulation and its Protective Order. 8 (f) the author or custodian of a document containing the information that 9 constitutes Protected Material, or other person who otherwise possessed or knew the 10 information. 11 7.3. Notice of Confidentiality. Prior to producing or disclosing Protected 12 Material/Confidential Documents to persons to whom this Stipulation and its Order 13 permits disclosure or production, a Receiving Party shall provide a copy of this 14 Stipulation and Order to such persons so as to put such persons on notice as to the 15 restrictions imposed upon them herein: except that, for court reporters, Professional 16 Vendors, and for witnesses being provided with Protected Material during a 17 deposition, it shall be sufficient notice for Counsel for the Receiving Party to give the 18 witness a verbal admonition (on the record, for witnesses) regarding the provisions of 19 this Stipulation and its Order and such provisions’ applicability to specified Protected 20 Material at issue. 21 7.4. Reservation of Rights. Nothing in this Stipulation and Order shall be 22 construed so as to require any Producing Party to designate any records or materials 23 as “CONFIDENTIAL.” Nothing in this Stipulation and Order shall be construed so 24 as to prevent the admission of Protected Material into evidence at the trial of this 25 action, or in any appellate proceedings for this action, solely on the basis that such 26 Disclosure or Discovery Material has been designated as Protected 27 Material/Confidential Documents. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this 28 Stipulation and Order shall be construed as a waiver of any privileges or of any rights 4870-9607-8138.1 17 Case 2:22-cv-03968-SPG-RAO Document 34 Filed 11/14/22 Page 18 of 25 Page ID #:322 1 to object to the use or admission into evidence of any Protected Material in any 2 proceeding; nor shall anything herein be construed as a concession that any privileges 3 asserted or objections made are valid or applicable. Nothing in this Stipulation and 4 Order shall be construed so as to prevent the Designating Party (or its Counsel or 5 custodian of records) from having access to and using Protected Material designated 6 by that Party in the manner in which such persons or entities would typically use such 7 materials in the normal course of their duties or profession – except that the waiver of 8 confidentiality provisions shall apply (see section 6.4(c), supra). 9 7.5. Requirement to File Confidential Documents Under Seal. Confidential 10 Documents may be submitted in all law and motion proceedings before the Court if 11 done so under seal pursuant to Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 5.2 and 26 and/or 12 United States District Court, Central District of California Local Rules 79-5.1 and 7913 5.2 (as applicable) and pursuant to the provisions of this Stipulation and any 14 associated Order. If any Receiving Party attaches any Confidential Documents to any 15 pleading, motion, or other paper to be filed, lodged, or otherwise submitted to the 16 Court, such Confidential Document(s) shall be filed/lodged under seal pursuant to 17 Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 5.2 and 26 and/or United States District Court, 18 Central District of California Local Rules 79-5.1 and 79-5.2 to the extent applicable. 19 However, this paragraph (¶ 7.5) shall not be construed so as to prevent a 20 Designating Party or counsel from submitting, filing, lodging, or publishing any 21 document it has previously designated as a Confidential Document without 22 compliance with this paragraph’s requirement to do so under seal (i.e., a producing23 disclosing party or counsel may submit or publish its own Confidential Documents 24 without being in violation of the terms of this Stipulation and its Protective Order). 25 Furthermore, a Receiving Party shall be exempted from the requirements of 26 this paragraph as to any specifically identified Confidential Document(s) where – 27 prior to the submission or publication of the Confidential Document(s) at issue – the 28 Designating Party of such specifically identified Confidential Document(s) has 4870-9607-8138.1 18 Case 2:22-cv-03968-SPG-RAO Document 34 Filed 11/14/22 Page 19 of 25 Page ID #:323 1 waived/withdrawn the protections of this Stipulation and its Order (pursuant to 2 paragraph 6.4, supra). 3 A Receiving Party shall also be exempt from the sealing requirements of this 4 paragraph (¶ 7.5) where the Confidential Documents/Protected Material at issue is/are 5 not documents, records, or information regarding or incorporating: 6 (1) private, personal information contained in peace officer personnel files 7 (such as social security numbers, driver’s license numbers or comparable personal 8 government identification numbers, residential addresses, compensation or pension 9 or personal property information, credit card numbers or credit information, dates of 10 birth, tax records and information, information related to the identity of an officer’s 11 family members or co-residents, and comparable personal information about the 12 officer or his family); 13 (2) any internal affairs or comparable investigation by any law enforcement 14 agency into alleged officer misconduct; and/or 15 (3) the medical records or records of psychiatric or psychological treatment 16 of any peace officer or party to this action. 17 Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to bind the Court or its authorized 18 staff so as to limit or prevent the publication of any Confidential Documents to the 19 jury or factfinder, at the time of trial of this matter, where the Court has deemed such 20 Confidential Documents to be admissible into evidence. 21 Nothing in this Stipulation or in any associated Order shall be construed as any 22 entitlement for the parties to file any documents or materials under seal; nor shall the 23 parties’ Stipulation or this Order be construed as any exemption from any of the 24 requirements of Central District Local Rule 79-5. The parties are required to comply 25 with the applicable Local Rules in their entirety. If the Court denies a party’s request 26 for filing material under seal, that material may be filed in the public record unless 27 otherwise instructed by the Court. 28 8. PROTECTED MATERIAL SUBPOENAED OR ORDERED PRODUCED 4870-9607-8138.1 19 Case 2:22-cv-03968-SPG-RAO Document 34 Filed 11/14/22 Page 20 of 25 Page ID #:324 1 IN OTHER LITIGATION 2 If a Party is served with a subpoena or a court order issued in other litigation 3 that compels disclosure of any information or items designated in this action as 4 “CONFIDENTIAL,” that Party must: 5 (a) promptly notify in writing the Designating Party, preferably (though not 6 necessarily) by facsimile or electronic mail. Such notification shall include a copy of 7 the subpoena or court order at issue; 8 (b) promptly notify in writing the party who caused the subpoena or order to 9 issue in the other litigation that some or all of the material covered by the subpoena 10 or order is subject to this Stipulation and its Protective Order. Such notification shall 11 include a copy of this Stipulation and its Protective Order; and 12 (c) cooperate with respect to all reasonable procedures sought to be pursued 13 by all sides in any such situation, while adhering to the terms of this Stipulation and 14 its Order. 15 If the Designating Party timely seeks a protective order, the Party served with 16 the subpoena or court order shall not produce any information designated in this action 17 as “CONFIDENTIAL” before a determination by the court from which the subpoena 18 or order issued, unless the Party has obtained the Designating Party’s permission. The 19 Designating Party shall bear the burden and expense of seeking protection in that court 20 of its confidential material – and nothing in these provisions should be construed as 21 authorizing or encouraging a Receiving Party in this action to disobey a lawful 22 directive from another court. 23 The purpose of this section is to ensure that the affected Party has a meaningful 24 opportunity to preserve its confidentiality interests in the court from which the 25 subpoena or court order issued. 26 9. A NON-PARTY’S PROTECTED MATERIAL SOUGHT TO BE 27 PRODUCED IN THIS LITIGATION 28 (a) The terms of this Order are applicable to information produced by a 4870-9607-8138.1 20 Case 2:22-cv-03968-SPG-RAO Document 34 Filed 11/14/22 Page 21 of 25 Page ID #:325 1 Non-Party in this Action and designated as “CONFIDENTIAL.” Such information 2 produced by Non-Parties in connection with this litigation is protected by the 3 remedies and relief provided by this Order. Nothing in these provisions should be 4 construed as prohibiting a Non-Party from seeking additional protections. 5 (b) In the event that a Party is required, by a valid discovery request, to 6 produce a Non-Party’s confidential information in its possession, and the Party is 7 subject to an agreement with the Non-Party not to produce the Non-Party’s 8 confidential information, then the Party shall: 9 (1) promptly notify in writing the Requesting Party and the Non-Party 10 that some or all of the information requested is subject to a confidentiality agreement 11 with a Non-Party; 12 (2) promptly provide the Non-Party with a copy of the Stipulated 13 Protective Order in this Action, the relevant discovery request(s), and a reasonably 14 specific description of the information requested; and 15 (3) make the information requested available for inspection by the Non16 Party, if requested. 17 (c) If the Non-Party fails to seek a protective order from this court within 18 14 days of receiving the notice and accompanying information, the Receiving Party 19 may produce the Non-Party’s confidential information responsive to the discovery 20 request. If the Non-Party timely seeks a protective order, the Receiving Party shall 21 not produce any information in its possession or control that is subject to the 22 confidentiality agreement with the Non-Party before a determination by the court. 23 Absent a court order to the contrary, the Non-Party shall bear the burden and expense 24 of seeking protection in this court of its Protected Material. 25 10. UNAUTHORIZED DISCLOSURE OF PROTECTED MATERIAL 26 10.1. Unauthorized Disclosure of Protected Material. 27 If a Receiving Party learns that, by inadvertence or otherwise, it has disclosed 28 Protected Material to any person or in any circumstance not authorized under this 4870-9607-8138.1 21 Case 2:22-cv-03968-SPG-RAO Document 34 Filed 11/14/22 Page 22 of 25 Page ID #:326 1 Stipulation and Order, the Receiving Party must immediately: 2 (a) notify in writing the Designating Party of the unauthorized disclosures; 3 (b) use its best efforts to retrieve all copies of the Protected Material; 4 (c) inform the person or persons to whom unauthorized disclosures were made 5 of all the terms of this Order; and 6 (d) request such person or persons consent to be bound by the Stipulation and 7 Order. 8 10.2. Inadvertent Production of Privileged or Otherwise Protected Material. 9 When a Producing Party gives notice to Receiving Parties that certain 10 inadvertently produced material is subject to a claim of privilege or other protection, 11 the obligations of the Receiving Parties are those set forth in Federal Rule of Civil 12 Procedure 26(b)(5)(B). This provision is not intended to modify whatever procedure 13 may be established in an e-discovery order that provides for production without prior 14 privilege review. Pursuant to Federal Rule of Evidence 502(d) and (e), insofar as the 15 parties reach an agreement on the effect of disclosure of a communication or 16 information covered by the attorney-client privilege or work product protection, the 17 parties may incorporate their agreement in the stipulated protective order submitted 18 to the court. 19 11. INADVERTENT PRODUCTION OF PRIVILEGED OR OTHERWISE 20 PROTECTED MATERIAL 21 When a Producing Party gives notice to Receiving Parties that certain 22 inadvertently produced material is subject to a claim of privilege or other protection, 23 the obligations of the Receiving Parties are those set forth in Federal Rule of Civil 24 Procedure 26(b)(5)(B). This provision is not intended to modify whatever procedure 25 may be established in an e-discovery order that provides for production without prior 26 privilege review. Pursuant to Federal Rule of Evidence 502(d) and (e), insofar as the 27 parties reach an agreement on the effect of disclosure of a communication or 28 information covered by the attorney-client privilege or work product protection, the 4870-9607-8138.1 22 Case 2:22-cv-03968-SPG-RAO Document 34 Filed 11/14/22 Page 23 of 25 Page ID #:327 1 parties may incorporate their agreement in the stipulated protective order submitted 2 to the court. 3 12. MISCELLANEOUS 4 12.1. Right to Further Relief. Nothing in this Stipulation and its Order 5 abridges the right of any person to seek its modification by the Court in the future. 6 12.2. Right to Assert Other Objections. By stipulating to the entry of a 7 Protective Order pursuant to this Stipulation, no Party waives any right it otherwise 8 would have to object to disclosing or producing any information or item on any 9 ground not addressed in this Stipulation and its Order. Similarly, no Party waives 10 any right to object on any ground to use in evidence any of the material covered by 11 this Stipulation and its Protective Order. 12 12.3. This Stipulation may be signed in counterpart and a facsimile or 13 electronic signature shall be as valid as an original signature. 14 13. FINAL DISPOSITION 15 Unless otherwise ordered or agreed in writing by the Producing Party, within 16 thirty (30) days after the final termination of this action (defined as the dismissal or 17 entry of judgment by the above named court, or if an appeal is filed, the disposition 18 of the appeal), upon written request by the Producing Party, each Receiving Party 19 must return all Protected Material to the Producing Party – whether retained by the 20 Receiving Party or its Counsel, Experts, Professional Vendors, agents, or any non21 party to whom the Receiving Party produced or shared such records or information. 22 As used in this subdivision, “all Protected Material” includes all copies, 23 abstracts, compilations, summaries or any other form of reproducing or capturing any 24 of the Protected Material, regardless of the medium (hardcopy, electronic, or 25 otherwise) in which such Protected Material is stored or retained. 26 In the alternative, at the discretion of the Receiving Party, the Receiving Party 27 may destroy some or all of the Protected Material instead of returning it – unless such 28 Protected Material is an original, in which case, the Receiving Party must obtain the 4870-9607-8138.1 23 Case 2:22-cv-03968-SPG-RAO Document 34 Filed 11/14/22 Page 24 of 25 Page ID #:328 1 Producing Party’s written consent before destroying such original Protected Material. 2 Whether the Protected Material is returned or destroyed, the Receiving Party 3 must submit a written certification to the Producing Party (and, if not the same person 4 or entity, to the Designating Party) within thirty (30) days of the aforementioned 5 written request by the Designating Party that specifically identifies (by category, 6 where appropriate) all the Protected Material that was returned or destroyed and that 7 affirms that the Receiving Party has not retained any copies, abstracts, compilations, 8 summaries or other forms of reproducing or capturing any of the Protected material 9 (in any medium, including but not limited to any hardcopy, electronic or digital copy, 10 or otherwise). 11 Notwithstanding this provision, Counsel are entitled to retain an archival copy 12 of all pleadings, motion papers, transcripts, legal memoranda filed with the court in 13 this action, as well as any correspondence or attorney work product prepared by 14 Counsel for the Receiving Party, even if such materials contain Protected Material; 15 however, any such archival copies that contain or constitute Protected Material remain 16 subject to this Protective Order as set forth in Section 4 (DURATION), above. This 17 court shall retain jurisdiction in the event that a Designating Party elects to seek court 18 sanctions for violation of this Stipulation and its Order. 19 14. PUBLICATION OF PROTECTED MATERIAL PROHIBITED 20 14.1. Filing of Protected Material. 21 Without advance written permission from the Designating Party, or a court 22 order secured after appropriate notice to all interested persons, a Receiving Party may 23 not file in the public record in this action any Protected Material. A Party that seeks 24 to file under seal any Protected Material must comply with the applicable Federal and 25 Local Rules. 26 14.2. Public Dissemination of Protected Material. 27 A Receiving Party shall not publish, release, post, or disseminate Protected 28 Material to any persons except those specifically delineated and authorized by this 4870-9607-8138.1 24 Case 2:22-cv-03968-SPG-RAO Document 34 Filed 11/14/22 Page 25 of 25 Page ID #:329 1 Stipulation and its Order (see section 7, supra); nor shall a Receiving Party publish, 2 release, leak, post, or disseminate Protected Material/Confidential Documents to any 3 news media, member of the press, website, or public forum (except as permitted under 4 section 7.5 regarding filings with the court in this action and under seal). [5] 6 IT IS SO STIPULATED, THROUGH COUNSEL OF RECORD. [7] 8 DATED 11-09-22 [9] 10 /s/ Matthew T. Falkenstein Attorneys for Plaintiff, ADRIAN HUMBERTO RIOS, an individual, by and 11 through his Guardian ad Litem, Brenda Yvette Ceja [12] DATED 11-09-22 [14] /s/ Garros Chan 15 Attorneys for Defendant, CITY OF AZUSA [16] DATED 11-09-22 [17] 18 /s/ Gil Burkwitz 19 Attorneys for Defendant, COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES [20] FOR GOOD CAUSE SHOWN, IT IS SO ORDERED. [22] DATED:11/14/2022 [24] _______/s/______________________________ 25 HON. ROZELLA A. OLIVER United States Magistrate Judge [28] 4870-9607-8138.1 25