Opinion

Community Association for Restoration of the Environment Inc v. DBD Washington LLC

Court
District Court, E.D. Washington
Filed
Nov 19, 2020
Cited by
0 cases
Authority
More cited than 32.3%

The opinion

1 Jeff B. Kray, WSBA No. 22174

Marten Law, LLP

2 1191 Second Ave, Suite 2200

Seattle, Washington 98101

3 (206) 292-2600

(206) 292-2601 fax

4 jkray@martenlaw.com

5 Additional Counsel Identified on Signature Page

6 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE

EASTERN DISTRICT OF WASHINGTON

7

COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION FOR Case No.: 1:19-CV-03110-TOR

RESTORATION OF THE

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ENVIRONMENT, INC., a Washington STIPULATED PROTECTIVE

nonprofit corporation; FRIENDS OF ORDER

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TOPPENISH CREEK, a Washington

nonprofit corporation; and CENTER FOR

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FOOD SAFETY, a Washington, D.C.

nonprofit corporation,

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Plaintiffs,

12

v.

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DBD WASHINGTON, LLC, a

Washington limited liability company;

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and SMD, LLC, a Washington limited

liability company,

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Defendants.

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BEFORE THE COURT is the Parties’ Stipulated Protective Order. Pursuant

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to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 26(c), and it appearing to the Defendants that

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discovery in the above-captioned matter will involve the disclosure of confidential

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information, it is hereby stipulated by and between the Parties through their

1 respective counsel and ordered that the following Protective Order be entered to give

2 effect to the terms and conditions set forth below.

3 1. Introduction and Scope. This Protective Order shall govern any and

4 all manner and means of discovery, including entry onto land or premises, and

5 inspection of books, computer records, documents, electronic files, testimony,

6 information and tangible things, furnished by any party or non-party, that the

7 Designating Party believes contains any trade secret, personal or other confidential

8 research, development, marketing, technical, business, or financial information that

9 has not been made public, subject to protection under the Federal Rules of Civil

10 Procedure or other applicable law. Plaintiffs agree to the Protective Order to expedite

11 document production, reserving all rights to challenge confidentiality designations.

12 This designation shall apply regardless of the form in which the discovery material

13 is kept or maintained and extends to any testimony or documents, including without

14 limitation exhibits, copies, notes, abstracts, summaries, or analyses that reflect

15 discovery material.

16 2. Limitation of Protective Order. This Protective Order is not intended

17 to address discovery objections to produce, answer, or respond on the grounds of

18 attorney-client privilege or work product immunity nor to preclude either party from

19 seeking further relief or protective orders from the Court as may be appropriate under

20 the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure or other applicable law.

1 3. Confidentiality of Certain Documents or Information. A party or

2 nonparty that produces information may claim confidential treatment for

3 documents and information (and any portions or summaries thereof) that the party

4 or nonparty reasonably believes constitutes or contains material that is particularly

5 sensitive in nature, including but not limited to trade secrets, processes, operations,

6 research, technical or development information or apparatus, production, financial,

7 marketing, sales, shipments, or other information considered by the designating

8 party to be commercially or personally sensitive, confidential, and/or proprietary to

9 the person or the individual facility.

10 4. “CONFIDENTIAL” Designation. Any party or nonparty that

11 produces information in response to a discovery demand may identify confidential

12 documents or information by designating such documents or information as

13 “CONFIDENTIAL.” Such party or nonparty shall be referred to as the

14 “designating party.”

15 5. Confidentiality of Party’s Own Documents. This Protective Order has

16 no effect upon, and shall not apply to, a party’s use or disclosure of its own

17 “CONFIDENTIAL” information for any purpose, insofar as such confidentiality is

18 reasonably maintained. Such disclosure shall not waive the protection of this

19 Protective Order and shall not entitle other parties or their attorneys to disclose

20 such information in violation of it.

1 6. Prior or Public Knowledge. Nothing contained herein shall impose

2 any restrictions on the use or disclosure by a party of documents or information

3 designated “CONFIDENTIAL” that was obtained lawfully by such party

4 independently of any proceedings in this action, or that:

5 a. was already known to such party by lawful means prior to

6 acquisition from, or disclosure by, the other party in this action;

7 b. was already in the public realm;

8 c. is or becomes publicly known through no fault or act of such

9 party;

10 d. is rightfully received by such party from a third party which has

11 authority to provide such information without restriction as to disclosure; or

12 e. is independently developed by the recipient of the information

13 without use of or reference to the information.

14 7. Designation. The designation of information as “CONFIDENTIAL”

15 for purposes of this Protective Order shall be made in the following manner by the

16 party or nonparty seeking protection (“designating party”), and shall further be

17 consistent with any applicable Local Rule of the United States District Court for

18 the Eastern District of Washington:

19 a. In the case of documents or discovery responses, by affixing the

20 label “CONFIDENTIAL” at the time such documents are produced or served, or as

1 soon thereafter as the party or nonparty seeking protection becomes aware of the

2 confidential nature of the information disclosed and sought to be protected

3 hereunder. If such documents were produced by a nonparty, any party seeking

4 protection other than the producing nonparty must also provide written notice to all

5 parties of the relevant document numbers or other reasonable identification of the

6 relevant information within ten (10) calendar days of receiving the information;

7 b. In the case of depositions: (i) by a statement on the record, by

8 counsel, during such deposition that the entire transcript or a portion thereof shall

9 be designated as “CONFIDENTIAL” hereunder with reasons stated on the record

10 and followed up in writing within ten (10) calendar days following the receipt of

11 the transcript of the deposition by the designating party of the reasons therefor; or

12 (ii) by written notice of such designation, with the reasons therefor, to counsel for

13 all other parties and the court reporter within ten (10) calendar days following the

14 receipt of the transcript of the deposition by the designating party. During a

15 deposition, the deponent or his counsel, or any other counsel of record, may invoke

16 the provisions of this Protective Order in a timely manner, giving adequate oral

17 warning to counsel for the party or nonparty that the testimony about to be given is

18 deemed “CONFIDENTIAL” by the designating party. The designating party shall

19 have the right to exclude any person not entitled under this Protective Order to

20 receive the “CONFIDENTIAL” information from the deposition. Unless

1 designated as “CONFIDENTIAL,” any confidentiality is waived after the

2 expiration of the ten (10) day written notice period discussed above, under subpart

3 (ii) of this paragraph, but during this ten (10) day period the deposition and

4 transcript thereof shall be treated as confidential. The Parties may modify this

5 procedure for any particular deposition or proceeding through agreement on the

6 record at such deposition or proceeding or otherwise by written stipulation, without

7 further order of the Court. If any information designated as “CONFIDENTIAL” is

8 used during the course of a deposition, that portion of the deposition record

9 reflecting such “CONFIDENTIAL” information shall be so labeled, and access

10 thereto shall be limited pursuant to the other terms of this Protective Order. The

11 time required to address questions of claimed confidentiality shall not be counted

12 against the deposition time available to the non-designating party taking the

13 deposition. The court reporter shall account for the amount of time it takes to

14 designate documents or testimony as confidential; and

15 c. In the case of hearing testimony or argument, a party may

16 disclose “CONFIDENTIAL” information upon consent of the designating party or

17 permission of the Court. Should the designating party object to the disclosure of

18 “CONFIDENTIAL” information, the designating party shall make the appropriate

19 Motion to the Court pursuant to any applicable local rule. As the moving party, the

20 burden of establishing the “CONFIDENTIAL” nature of the information so

1 designated and/or appropriateness of the designation shall be upon the designating

2 party.

3 8. Access To “CONFIDENTIAL” Information. Information designated

4 as “CONFIDENTIAL” shall be used solely in connection with and for purposes of

5 this litigation between the parties. Information designated as “CONFIDENTIAL,”

6 or copies or extracts therefrom and compilations and summaries thereof, may be

7 disclosed, summarized, described, characterized, or otherwise communicated or

8 made available in whole or in part only to the persons identified in the

9 subparagraphs below. It is understood, however, that counsel for a party may give

10 advice and opinions to his or her client based on his or her evaluation of

11 information designated as “CONFIDENTIAL” produced by the opposing party

12 provided that such rendering of advice and opinions shall not directly or indirectly

13 reveal the content of such information except by prior agreement with opposing

14 counsel.

15 a. Parties’ counsel of record in this action.

16 b. One (1) designated individual representative, separate from any

17 counsel of record, from each named party in this action.

18 If necessary to make decisions regarding this litigation, such designated

19 individual representative may provide CONFIDENTIAL information to an

20 executive decisional body of a named party, provided members of the decisional

1 body receive, sign, and agree to be bound by a copy of this Protective Order and

2 expressly indicate that agreement by completing and signing a copy of the

3 declaration attached hereto as Exhibit A [at ECF No. 81] as provided below in

4 paragraph 11. The executed Exhibit A shall be served on opposing counsel within

5 10 days of receipt. This subparagraph is not intended to preclude any counsel of

6 record, including counsel of record who are members of the named parties, from

7 receiving CONFIDENTIAL information pursuant to subparagraph a.

8 c. Consulting experts as defined in Paragraph 10 herein and

9 pursuant to the provisions regarding consulting experts herein;

10 d. The Court pursuant to Paragraphs 16 and 17 herein;

11 e. To any person designated by the Court in the interests of

12 justice, upon such terms as the Court deems proper;

13 f. Court reporters employed in connection with this action;

14 g. Graphics or design services retained by counsel of record for a

15 party for purposes of preparing demonstrative or other exhibits for deposition, trial

16 or other court proceedings in this action, subject to and conditioned upon

17 compliance with Paragraph 12 herein;

18 h. Non-technical jury or trial consulting services retained by

19 counsel of record for a party, database managers and the like, subject to and

20 conditioned upon compliance with Paragraph 12 herein; and

1 i. To private mediators, arbitrators, and their staff to assist in the

2 resolution of this matter conditioned upon compliance with Paragraph 12 herein.

3 9. Custody of Designated Materials. All “CONFIDENTIAL”

4 information covered by this Stipulation and Protective Order shall be kept in

5 secure facilities at the offices of persons permitted to see such material and

6 information as set forth in Paragraphs 8 of this Stipulation and Protective Order.

7 10. Consultant Expert Defined. For purposes of this Order, a consultant

8 expert shall be defined as a person, and his or her secretarial or similar assistants to

9 whom it is necessary to disclose “CONFIDENTIAL” information for the purposes

10 of this litigation, who is neither an employee or member of a party nor anticipated

11 to become an employee or member, and who is retained solely as a bona fide

12 consultant expert for purposes of this litigation, whether full or part time, by or at

13 the direction of counsel of record for a party. Any consultant expert may be

14 designated as an expert witness under the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.

15 a. Procedure For Consultant Expert Access To Confidential

16 Information. The party seeking to have a Consultant Expert, as defined in

17 Paragraph 10 herein, access information designated as CONFIDENTIAL shall

18 require such Consultant Expert to sign a copy of the declaration attached hereto as

19 Exhibit A [at ECF No. 81] prior to such access. On the date provided by rule and

20 case schedule for disclosure of expert witnesses, the party who has disclosed

1 information designated as CONFIDENTIAL to any Consultant Expert shall

2 provide to counsel for all other parties by electronic transmission or facsimile (1) a

3 copy of all declarations completed and signed by Consultant Experts who are then

4 designated as testifying experts and (2) the number of non-testifying Consultant

5 Experts to whom the party has provided access to information designated as

6 CONFIDENTIAL. If one party identifies the number of non-testifying Consultant

7 Experts, the other party must similarly identify the number of non-testifying

8 Consultant Experts it has used and provide proof of compliance with this Order.

9 Upon request, either party shall disclose to the Court or a magistrate judge, if

10 available, the declarations completed and signed by non-testifying Consultant

11 Experts in order to verify compliance with this Order.

12 11. Procedure For Access To Confidential Information By Individuals

13 From Named Parties. All persons listed in Paragraph 8(b) above may be given

14 access to information designated as “CONFIDENTIAL,” provided that they first

15 confirm their understanding and agreement to abide by the terms of this Protective

16 Order by completing and signing a copy of the declaration attached hereto as

17 Exhibit A [at ECF No. 81]. This declaration shall be served in a timely manner on

18 the opposing Party, as provided in Paragraph 8(b).

19 12. Procedure For Access To Confidential Information Other Than By

20 Consultants. All persons listed in Paragraphs 8(e), 8(g), 8(h) and 8(i) above may

1 be given access to information designated as “CONFIDENTIAL”, provided that

2 they first confirm their understanding and agreement to abide by the terms of this

3 Protective Order by completing and signing a copy of the declaration attached

4 hereto as Exhibit A [at ECF No. 81].

5 13. Use By Witness Who Received Or Authored. Notwithstanding the

6 Paragraphs above, any person may be examined as a witness at trial or during a

7 deposition concerning any information designated as “CONFIDENTIAL” which

8 that person had authored or been clearly identified as an addressee or copy

9 recipient prior to and apart from this action. If a document or testimony makes

10 reference to the actual or alleged statements or conduct of a deponent who is a

11 potential witness and revealing information designated as CONFIDENTIAL in a

12 deposition is necessary to understand such statements or conduct, counsel may

13 reveal the document or testimony designated as CONFIDENTIAL to the potential

14 witness during the deposition without waiving the CONFIDENTIAL designation.

15 Before such disclosure, the witness shall sign Exhibit A [at ECF No. 81] and agree

16 to be bound by the terms of this Order.

17 14. Challenge to Confidentiality Designation. If, within sixty (60)

18 calendar days from the date that a “CONFIDENTIAL” designation is made, a party

19 contends that the designating party has unreasonably or incorrectly designated

20 certain documents or information as “CONFIDENTIAL,” the objecting party may

1 challenge the designation. A challenge may be made by serving on counsel for all

2 parties a notice of objection, which shall identify with reasonable particularity the

3 items as to which the designation is challenged, state the basis for each challenge,

4 and propose a new designation for each item. The challenge must specifically state

5 that the designating party has ten (10) calendar days to respond to the challenge.

6 The challenged material shall be deemed redesignated as proposed unless, within

7 ten (10) calendar days after service of the notice of objection, the designating party

8 serves an opposing notice to maintain the original “CONFIDENTIAL”

9 designation. If the party challenging the designation remains dissatisfied, it may

10 request relief from the Court, with confidential portions thereof to be kept under

11 seal, requesting that specifically identified documents, information, and/or

12 deposition testimony be excluded from the provisions of this Stipulation and

13 Protective Order. In responding to such a Motion, the designating party shall have

14 the burden of proving that the challenged documents or information are rightfully

15 afforded protection as “CONFIDENTIAL.” Furthermore, this paragraph shall not

16 preclude any party from challenging a confidentiality designation as part of a

17 particular pretrial motion, pretrial document designation or at trial.

18 15. Filing Confidential Information. To the extent that a party or

19 nonparty believes it necessary to submit “CONFIDENTIAL” information in a

20 document to be filed with the Court, that party or nonparty shall comply with the

1 requirements for filing material under seal in the United States District Court for

2 the Eastern District of Washington, including the then-current Procedures for the

3 Filing of Sealed and Ex Parte Documents For Civil Cases. If such information is

4 attached to court filings, “compelling reasons” must be shown to seal records

5 attached to a dispositive motion and “good cause” must be shown to seal records

6 attached to a non-dispositive motion. Kamakana v. City and County of Honolulu,

7 447 F.3d 1172, 1178-80 (9th Cir. 2006), or any applicable subsequent legal

8 standard.

9 16. Use of Confidential Information in Court Proceedings. In the event

10 that any information designated as “CONFIDENTIAL” is used in any court

11 proceeding in this action or any appeal therefrom, such information shall not lose

12 its status as “CONFIDENTIAL” through such use. Counsel for the Parties shall

13 confer on such procedures as are necessary to protect the confidentiality of any

14 information used in the course of any court proceedings, and shall incorporate such

15 procedures in a document to be filed with the court, as is appropriate.

16 17. Counsel Bound by Protective Order. All counsel and their employees

17 for the Parties who have access to information designated as “CONFIDENTIAL”

18 acknowledge they are bound by this Order and submit to the jurisdiction of this

19 Court for purposes of enforcing this Order.

20 18. No Prejudice. Entering into, agreeing to, and/or producing or

1 receiving information designated as “CONFIDENTIAL” or otherwise complying

2 with the terms of this Protective Order shall not:

3 a. Prejudice in any way the rights of a party to seek a

4 determination by the Court whether any information should be subject to the terms

5 of this Protective Order;

6 b. Prejudice in any way the rights of a party to petition the Court

7 for a further protective order relating to any purportedly “CONFIDENTIAL”

8 information;

9 c. Prevent the parties to this Protective Order from agreeing in

10 writing or on the record during a deposition or hearing in this action to alter or

11 waive the provisions or protections provided for herein with respect to any

12 particular information.

13 19. Inadvertent Production of Confidential Information. If a party

14 inadvertently produces “CONFIDENTIAL” information without marking or orally

15 designating it as such on the record, it may be disclosed to others until the

16 receiving party becomes aware of the error, but in no case more than ten (10)

17 calendar days from the date it could have been designated. As soon as the receiving

18 party becomes aware of the inadvertent production, the information must be treated

19 as if it had been timely designated under this Protective Order, and the receiving

20 party must endeavor in good faith to obtain all copies, notes and synopses of the

1 document which it distributed or disclosed to persons not authorized to access such

2 information by Paragraphs 8 and 9 above, as well as any copies, notes and

3 synopses made by such persons.

4 20. Modification. This Protective Order may be modified and any matter

5 related to it may be resolved by written agreement of the parties, or upon motion

6 and entry of an Order of the Court.

7 21. Sanctions. The parties agree to be bound by the terms of this

8 Protective Order pending its entry by the Court, or pending the entry of an

9 alternative thereto which is satisfactory to all parties, and any violation of its terms

10 shall be subject to sanctions, except for monetary sanctions, as the Court deems

11 appropriate. Any party seeking any enforcement of this Protective Order in any

12 jurisdiction or tribunal by injunction, temporary restraining order, or otherwise,

13 shall not be required to post a bond.

14 22. Final Disposition. The provisions of this Protective Order shall,

15 absent written permission of the producing party or further order of the Court,

16 continue to be binding throughout and after the conclusion of this action, including

17 without limitation any appeals therefrom. Within sixty (60) calendar days after

18 receiving notice of the entry of an order, judgment or decree finally disposing of

19 this action, including any appeals therefrom, all persons having received

20 information designated “CONFIDENTIAL” hereunder shall return such

1 information to counsel for the producing party, or shall certify destruction thereof,

2 including copies, and synopses and related notes incorporating such information to

3 the extent reasonable and consistent with other language in this Protective Order.

4 Counsel described in Paragraph 8(a) herein shall be entitled to retain court papers,

5 deposition and trial transcripts, and attorney work product (including court papers,

6 transcripts, and attorney work product that contain information designated as

7 “CONFIDENTIAL”) provided that such counsel, and employees of such counsel,

8 shall not disclose any such information designated as “CONFIDENTIAL”

9 contained in such court papers, transcripts, or attorney work product to any person

10 or entity except pursuant to court order or a written agreement with the producing

11 party of the information. All “CONFIDENTIAL” information returned to the

12 parties or their counsel by the Court likewise shall be returned or otherwise

13 disposed of in accordance with this Paragraph. This Protective Order shall be

14 construed consistent with LR 79.1.

15 23. Subpoena of Confidential Information in Another Action. If any party

16 (a) is subpoenaed in another action or proceeding, (b) is served with a demand in

17 another action or proceeding to which it is a party, or (c) is served with any other

18 legal process by one not a party to this action, seeking information which was

19 designated as “CONFIDENTIAL” by someone other than that party, the party shall

20 give written notice within seven (7) calendar days of receipt of such subpoena,

1] demand, or legal process, to those who designated the information

2| “CONFIDENTIAL,” and shall refuse to produce the information designated as

3} “CONFIDENTIAL.” Should the person seeking access to the information take

4] action against the party or anyone else covered by this Protective Order to enforce

5| such a subpoena, demand or other legal process, the party shall respond by setting

6| forth the existence of this Protective Order. Nothing herein shall be construed as

7| requiring the party or anyone else covered by this Protective Order to challenge or

8| appeal any order requiring production of information covered by this Protective

9} Order, or to subject itself to any penalties for noncompliance with any legal

process or order, or to seek any relief from this Court.

11 24. Non-Parties to This Action. Any non-party producing documents,

12] tangible things, or testimony in this action who may reasonably be expected to

desire confidential treatment therefor may designate such documents, tangible

things, or testimony confidential pursuant to this Protective Order.

15} ITIS SO ORDERED.

16 The District Court Clerk is directed to enter this Order and provide copies to

counsel.

17

18| DATED November 19, 2020.

fiwag CO Kes

20 Came THOMAS O. RICE

“ims” UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

MARTEN LAW LLP

1191 SECOND AVENUE, SUITE 2200

ECTIDITT ATLRNH DONTLEMTIVER OBDNMELP _ 17 Seattle WA 98101

1

2

Respectfully submitted,

3

MARTEN LAW, LLP

4

5 s/ Jeff B. Kray

Jeff B. Kray, WSBA No. 22174

6 Marten Law, LLP

1191 Second Ave, Suite 2200

7 Seattle, Washington 98101

(206) 292-2600

8 (206) 292-2601 fax

jkray@martenlaw.com

9

Attorney for Defendants

10

11 s/ Charles M. Tebbutt

Charles M. Tebbutt, WSBA #47255

12 Daniel C. Snyder, pro hac vice

B. Parker Jones, pro hac vice

13 Law Offices of Charles M. Tebbutt, P.C.

941 Lawrence Street

14 Eugene, Oregon 97401

Tel: (541) 344-3505

15 charlie@tebbuttlaw.com

dan@tebbuttlaw.com

16 parker@tebbuttlaw.com

17 s/ Andrea K. Rodgers

Andrea K. Rodgers, WSBA # 38683

18 Law Offices of Andrea K. Rodgers

3026 NW Esplanade

19 Seattle, Washington 98117

Tel: (206) 696-2581

20 adrearodgers42@gmail.com

1 s/ Toby J. Marshall

Toby J. Marshall, WSBA # 32726

2 Blythe H. Chandler, WSBA #43387

Terrell Marshall Law Group PLLC

3 936 North 34th Street, Suite 300

Seattle, Washington 98103-8869

4 Tel: (206) 816-6603

tmarshall@terrellmarshall.com

5 bchandler@terrellmarshall.com

6 s/ Amy van Saun

Amy van Saun, pro hac vice

7 Center for Food Safety

2009 NE Alberta Street, Suite 207

8 Portland, Oregon 97211

Tel: (971) 271-7372

9 avansaun@centerforfoodsafety.org

10 Attorneys for Plaintiffs

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This is a copy of a public record, reproduced as it was published. It is not legal advice, and it may not be the version a court would rely on. Check the official source before you cite it.

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