# Pfeifle v. Portland Terminal Railroad Company

> District Court, D. Oregon · January 18, 2022

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/cases/10394233

## Case

- **Court:** District Court, D. Oregon
- **Decided:** January 18, 2022
- **Opinion:** 100trialcourt
- **Cited by:** 0 later opinions in the Frix Law Library

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## Opinion text

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF OREGON

GREG PFEIFLE, an individual, Case No. 3:19-cv-01436-IM
Plaintiff,
OPINION AND ORDER
v.

PORTLAND TERMINAL RAILROAD
COMPANY, an Oregon corporation

Defendant.

Paul S. Bovarnick and Kay Teague, Rose, Senders & Bovarnick, LLC, 1205 NW 25th Avenue,
Portland, OR 97210. Attorneys for Plaintiff.

David Patrick Morrison, Nicholas E. Wheeler, Julie Annette Smith, and Amber Beyer, Cosgrave
Vergeer Kester, LLP, 900 SW Fifth Avenue, 24th Floor, Portland, OR 97204. Attorneys for
Defendant.

IMMERGUT, District Judge.

This matter comes before the Court on Plaintiff Greg Pfeifle’s two Motions to Compel
production by Defendant Portland Terminal Railroad Company (“PTRC”). ECF 56; ECF 58.
One motion (“Motion One”) seeks the production of certain documents listed in Defendant’s
privilege log. ECF 56. The other, (“Motion Two”), seeks the production of witnesses and
documents sought in Plaintiff’s requests for production. ECF 58. In response to Motion Two,
Defendant seeks a protective order limiting the scope of discovery. ECF 62.
Because the Court has determined that oral argument would not help resolve this matter,
the parties’ requests for argument are DENIED. For the following reasons, Plaintiff’s Motion
One, ECF 56, is GRANTED IN PART and DENIED IN PART, and Plaintiff’s Motion Two,
ECF 58, is DENIED. On November 17, 2021, the Court entered a protective order stipulated to
by the parties. ECF 68.

BACKGROUND
Plaintiff filed suit on September 6, 2019. ECF 1. Plaintiff’s first claim under the Federal
Employers Liability Act, 49 U.S.C. § 51, asserts that Plaintiff was injured because of
Defendant’s negligence in failing to provide Plaintiff with safe tools and equipment and a safe
place to work. ECF 1 at ¶ 11. Plaintiff’s second claim under the Federal Rail Safety Act, 49
U.S.C. § 20109(b)(1)(A), broken down into three counts, asserts that Defendant disciplined
Plaintiff in whole or in part for reporting a hazardous safety condition to Defendant, that
Defendant denied Plaintiff prompt medical attention after reporting an injury, and that Defendant
retaliated against Plaintiff for reporting an injury. Id. at ¶ ¶ 15–17.
Plaintiff alleges that in 2018, he reported in good faith to Defendant that some of

Defendant’s track switches were dangerous to operate. ECF 1 at ¶ 5. On or about April 20, 2018,
Plaintiff was injured when he operated a switch. Id. at ¶ 6. He reported his injury and requested
to go to the emergency room, but his supervisor denied the request until Plaintiff completed
paperwork. Id. at ¶ 7. Following Plaintiff’s report, Defendant gave him “Level 3” discipline and
placed him on probation for a year. Id. at ¶ 8. Plaintiff filed a retaliation complaint under 49
U.S.C. § 20109 with the United States Department of Labor, Occupational Health and Safety
Administration on May 7, 2018. Id. at ¶ 9. The Department of Labor issued a finding of no bad
faith and recognized Plaintiff’s election to proceed with this action in federal court. Id. Plaintiff
alleges that Defendant threatened termination in whole or in part in retaliation for his reports of
unsafe conditions and his injury. Id. at ¶ 10.
On March 10, 2021, Defendant moved for Judgment on the Pleadings. ECF 32. On June
25, 2021, this Court denied Defendant’s Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings. ECF 51. In a
declaration filed in support of a later-filed motion to extend discovery deadlines, counsel for

Defendant declared that the Court’s “ruling did not provide guidance . . . on whether [P]laintiff
may properly litigate in this action his actual termination that occurred . . . after [P]laintiff filed
the present action[.]” ECF 53 at ¶ 3. In denying that motion, the Court clarified:
While Defendant’s motion for partial judgment on the pleadings
posits that Plaintiff brings a claim regarding actual termination,
ECF 32 at 5–6, Plaintiff only alleges that he was “threatened” with
termination in his Complaint, ECF 1 at ¶ 10, and Plaintiff’s
responsive briefing only discussed threats of termination, not
actual termination itself. See ECF 35 at 6, 8, 9–10. Indeed,
Defendant’s reply brief apparently recognizes that plaintiff is
bringing a threat-of-termination claim rather than an actual-
termination claim. See ECF 40 at 2, 4, 7, 8. Because the parties
agreed that Plaintiff only brings a threat-of-termination claim by
the end of their briefing, this Court did not (and still need not)
opine on the actual termination claim that Defendant alludes to in
its opening brief.
ECF 54 at 2.
STANDARDS
Under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 26(b)(1), parties may discover any unprivileged
information that is relevant to any party’s claim or defense and proportional to the needs of the
case. Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(b)(1). Pre-trial discovery is “accorded a broad and liberal treatment.”
Shoen v. Shoen, 5 F.3d 1289, 1292 (9th Cir. 1993) (internal quotation marks omitted) (quoting
Hickman v. Taylor, 329 U.S. 495, 507 (1947)).
“[A] party asserting the attorney-client privilege has the burden of establishing the
[existence of an attorney-client] relationship and the privileged nature of the communication.”
United States v. Graf, 610 F.3d 1148, 1156 (9th Cir. 2010) (alterations in original) (quoting
United States v. Ruehle, 583 F.3d 600, 607 (9th Cir. 2009)). An eight-part test determines
whether the information sought is covered by the attorney-client privilege:
(1) Where legal advice of any kind is sought (2) from a
professional legal adviser in his capacity as such, (3) the
communications relating to that purpose, (4) made in confidence
(5) by the client, (6) are at his instance permanently protected (7)
from disclosure by himself or by the legal adviser, (8) unless the
protection be waived.
Id. (quoting Ruehle, 583 F.3d at 607). “The attorney-client privilege extends ‘to communications
by any corporate employee regardless of position when the communications concern matters
within the scope of the employee’s corporate duties and the employee is aware that the
information is being furnished to enable the attorney to provide legal advice to the corporation.’”
Ozgur v. Daimler Trucks N. Am. LLC, No. 20-35920, 2021 WL 4776994, at *1 (9th Cir. Oct. 13,
2021) (quoting Admiral Ins. Co. v. U.S. Dist. Ct. for Dist. Ariz., 881 F.2d 1486, 1492 (9th Cir.
1989).1
The work-product doctrine generally protects from discovery “documents and tangible
things that are prepared in anticipation of litigation or for trial by or for another party or its
representative.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(b)(3)(A); see United States v. Richey, 632 F.3d 559, 567 (9th
Cir. 2011). That said, work product may be discovered if the seeking party “shows that is has

1 Plaintiff asserts that “numerous federal courts have found that emails between one
party’s employee and its non-legal officers within the corporation is not privileged
communication.” ECF 36 at 5. Plaintiff points to two cases in support: Evergreen Trading, LLC
v. United States, 80 Fed. Cl. 122, 139 n.26 (2007) and Computer Network Corp. v. Spohler, 95
FRD 500, 502 (D.D.C. 1982). Evergreen addressed a situation in which a party claimed attorney-
client privilege over documents not otherwise protected because they were “attached” to
communication with an attorney. 80 Fed. Cl. at 138–139. Computer Network Corp. clarified that
“[t]he mere fact that [a corporate officer] is an attorney does not render privileged all of his
communications with other corporate officials.” 95 F.R.D. at 502.
substantial need for the materials to prepare its case and cannot, without undue hardship, obtain
their substantial equivalent by other means.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(b)(3)(A)(ii).
DISCUSSION
A. Motion One: to Compel Production of Documents from Defendant’s Privilege Log
(ECF 56)
First, Plaintiff seeks the production of three emails from General Manager Terry Brown
to the PTRC Board about Plaintiff’s lawsuit. ECF 56 at 7; see also ECF 63 at 3. Defendant’s
privilege log lists three emails as protected by attorney-client privilege and the work-product
doctrine. ECF 56 at 7. Defendant represents that two of the three emails were also copied to
counsel for PTRC and BNSF Railway (“BNSF”). ECF 63 at 3.
Defendant argues that the two emails copied to Defendant’s attorney are privileged under

the attorney-client privilege. Specifically, Defendant points out that the sender, Terry Brown,
was PTRC’s General Manager, ECF 63 at 3, so disciplining employees such as Plaintiff is part of
his corporate responsibilities, and the fact that PTRC’s attorney was copied on the email shows
awareness that the communications related to the furnishing of legal advice. Ozgur, 2021 WL
4776994, at *1. Even so, simply copying the company’s attorney does not bring a
communication within the ambit of the attorney-client privilege. See United States v. Heine, No.
3:15-cr-238-SI, 2016 WL 6138245, at *2 (D. Or. Oct. 21, 2016) (quoting Phillips v. C.R. Bard,
Inc., 290 F.R.D. 615, 630 (D. Nev. 2013) (“[T]he court agrees that merely copying or ‘cc-ing’
legal counsel, in and of itself is not enough to trigger the attorney-client privilege. Instead, each
element of the privilege must be met when the attorney-client privilege is being asserted.”).

Here, Defendant has made no showing whatsoever that the communication was made for the
purpose of securing legal advice from the attorney. This same reasoning applies with equal or
greater force to the remaining email, which Defendant does not argue was sent to counsel and
about which Defendant has not provided any detail.
Still, the three emails in question are protected by the work product doctrine. Plaintiff
filed this lawsuit on September 6, 2019. ECF 1. Thus, the absolute latest date at which Defendant
could be said to anticipate litigation was September 6, 2019. The emails Plaintiff seeks were sent

on September 17, 2019, October 4, 2019, and January 4, 2020 and were all “regarding
[P]laintiff’s lawsuit.” ECF 56 at 7. Plaintiff notes that “Mr. Brown is not an attorney
representative, and neither is the Board for Defendant’s company.” Id. But this is immaterial for
purposes of work-product protection, which extends to” documents . . . prepared in anticipation
of litigation . . . by . . . another party.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(b)(3)(A). To the extent that Plaintiff is
arguing that Mr. Brown and the Board are not defendants in this case, work-product protection
extends to documents prepared by the “other party’s representative.” Richey, 632 F.3d at 567
(quoting In re Grand Jury Subpoena, Mark Torf/Torf Envtl. Mgmt. (Torf), 357 F.3d 900, 907
(2004).

Second, Plaintiff seeks the production of BNSF’s log of employee personal injury claims
and lawsuits involving switches at the same locations where Plaintiff worked and was injured.
ECF 56 at 8. Defendant’s privilege log listed this information as “[c]onfidential or privileged
information about persons not party to this lawsuit; Health Insurance Portability and
Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) and other privacy laws.” Id. Defendant represents that the
list contains four results: two involving PTRC employees who asserted claims/lawsuits involving
switches (one of whom was Plaintiff), one involving an employee whose injury occurred while
switching cars (not while operating a switch), and one involving a BNSF employee whose injury
did not occur on PTRC property or on the location of Plaintiff’s alleged incident. ECF 63 at 3.
As to the claim involving an employee switching cars, Defendant properly identified the
claim as unrelated to this lawsuit and need not produce it. As to the two claims by PTRC
employees involving switches, Defendant has already produced the names of these employees.
Id. But Plaintiff requested the log itself, not just the names of the employees. Defendant has not
identified what confidential or privileged information might be in the log warranting

nondisclosure. Rather, Defendant just makes the conclusory assertion that “their unredacted
production could violate the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).” Id.
Defendant has not made any argument that it is a “covered entity” as contemplated by HIPAA.
See 45 C.F.R. 160.103 (defining “covered entity” as a health plan, a health care clearinghouse, or
a health care provider transmitting health information in electronic form in connection with
certain transactions). As to the claim by a BNSF employee, that incident “did not occur on PTRC
property or on the location of [P]lainitff’s alleged incident.” ECF 63 at 3. Plaintiff’s motion to
compel only seeks the production of the switch-related log entries “at the same locations where
Plaintiff worked and was injured.” ECF 56 at 8. The BNSF employee’s claim is outside of the
scope of Plaintiff’s motion to compel.2 Thus, Plaintiff’s motion is GRANTED as to the two log

entries related to switches on PTRC property, but DENIED as to the other two entries. Defendant
may redact any personally identifying information that is not relevant to the case, such as dates
of birth or Social Security numbers.

2 This Court notes that Plaintiff’s original Request for Production sought “BNSF
Employee Personal Injury Claims and Lawsuits Involving Switch.” ECF 56 at 8. The Court also
notes that Plaintiff has asserted—and Defendant does not deny—that “Defendant’s company
operates the intersection of railroad where both BNSF Railroad and Union Pacific Railroad
(UPR) own railroad in Portland, Oregon’s commercial district.” Id.. As a result, “Defendant
maintains a database of all lawsuits made against BNSF and itself.” Id. Thus, Plaintiff’s original
request, at least arguably, covers the BNSF employee’s claim. But Plaintiff’s motion to compel
unequivocally narrows its request to those claims that arose at the site where Plaintiff worked
and where Plaintiff’s claim arose.
Third, Plaintiff seeks the production of “trouble tickets” about switches in the document
titled PTRC.Pfeifle_01144-001157. Id. at 9. Defendant had objected, asserting that the trouble
tickets are “[u]nrelated trouble tickets to [the] subject matter of [the] action.” Id. Defendant now
represents that, having agreed to do so during conferral, it has produced a log showing all trouble
tickets relating to switches. ECF 63 at 4. Thus, Plaintiff’s motion as to the trouble tickets is

DENIED as moot.
B. Motion Two: to Compel Discovery on Plaintiff’s Second and Third Requests for
Production (ECF 58)
First, Plaintiff seeks to compel Defendant to produce witnesses identified in Plaintiff’s
Second Request for Production, Request No. 1. ECF 58 at 6. Although the Request for
Production is for the “documents provided by Defendant to Val Schultz, Derek Chapin, C.J.
Dickey and Terry Brown,” the Motion to Compel only claims that “Defendant has refused to
produce [these] employees . . . for deposition.” Id. (emphasis added). The Court will limit its
analysis, then, to whether Defendant must make these employees available for deposition.
As to former employees Schultz and Brown, Defendant represents that they are no longer
PTRC employees. ECF 60 at 4–5. Plaintiff is, of course, free to depose these witnesses
regardless of their employment status with Defendant. But this Court cannot compel Defendant
to produce witnesses over whom it has no authority. Plaintiff may subpoena these witnesses to
secure their deposition testimony. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 45.
As to employees Chapin and Dickey, Defendant does not object to producing them for

deposition. ECF 60 at 5. Rather, Defendant objects to Plaintiff’s intent to ask these employees
about his actual termination rather than just the threats of termination. Id; see ECF 61 at ¶ 4
(“Also during that call, [Defense counsel] conveyed that under the Court’s August 21, 2021
Order, [parties] understood that [P]laintiff’s actual termination was not part of the case.
Plaintiff’s counsel acknowledged the Court’s ruling and agreed that [P]laintiff’s actual
termination was not part of the case. However, he has continued to assert that he may examine
witnesses about it.”) The Court understands that Defendant will produce the employees for
deposition upon the entry of a protective order from the Court. ECF 60 at 5. With that
understanding, Plaintiff’s Motion to Compel depositions of former employees Schultz and

Brown is DENIED. The Court will, however, allow Plaintiff to examine witnesses Chapin and
Dickey about Plaintiff’s actual termination. By this ruling, the Court is not deciding the ultimate
admissibility at trial of any such evidence but finds that information about Plaintiff’s actual
termination may be relevant to his claim, for example by showing knowledge or motivation.
Second, Plaintiff seeks to compel the production of documents sought in Plaintiff’s Third
Request for Production, Request No.2. ECF 58 at 7. Specifically, Plaintiff seeks records related
to “discipline, coaching or counseling of employees who have been observed getting on and off
moving equipment.” Id. In its response to that request and in its response to the motion to
compel, Defendant clarified that it would produce these records if the Court entered an

appropriate protective order. ECF 60 at 5–6. On November 16, 2021, parties submitted a
stipulated protective order. ECF 67. The Court adopted the stipulated protective order on
November 17, 2021. ECF 68. With the understanding that Defendant will now produce the
relevant records, this motion is DENIED as moot.
CONCLUSION
For these reasons, Plaintiff’s Motion to Compel, ECF 56, is GRANTED IN PART and
DENIED IN PART, and Plaintiff’s Motion to Compel, ECF 58, is DENIED. The Court
DECLARES as follows. On the motion to compel production of emails from Terry Brown to the
PTRC Board, ECF 56 at 7, Plaintiff’s motion is DENIED because the emails are protected by the
work product doctrine. On the motion to compel production of the log of claims and lawsuits
related to switches, ECF 56 at 8, Plaintiff’s motion is GRANTED as to the claims involving
switches on PTRC property but DENIED as to the claim involving the BNSF employee and to
the claim involving switching cars. Defendant must produce the logs, even for the claims for
which it has provided Plaintiff with the names of the employee involved, but may redact
confidential information. On the motion to compel production of the trouble tickets, ECF 56 at 9,

Plaintiff’s motion is DENIED as moot. On the motion to compel production of witnesses for
deposition, ECF 60 at 4, Plaintiff’s motion is DENIED. Plaintiff may subpoena former
employees under Fed. R. Civ. P. 45 and Defendant does not object to producing those current
employees for deposition. Plaintiff may examine any witnesses about Plaintiff’s actual
termination, even though his actual termination is not at issue in this case, because the
information might be otherwise relevant to his claims. On the motion to compel production of
documents related to employee discipline, counseling, or coaching, the motion is DENIED as
moot because Defendant agreed to produce these documents upon entry of a protective order,
ECF 60 at 5, and such a protective order has now been entered, ECF 68.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

DATED this 18th day of January, 2022.

/s/ Karin J. Immergut
Karin J. Immergut
United States District Judge

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/cases/10394233. Public record. Not legal advice.