JAY C. GANDHI, Magistrate Judge.
Plaintiff JORGE AVILA, and defendants CITY OF SANTA MONICA, SCOTT MATSUDA, GEORGE MENDEZ, SCOTT McGOWAN and MARILYN AMIACHE, have stipulated and agreed to a SECOND STIPULATED PROTECTIVE ORDER now before this Court, pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. 26(a)(1) to govern the disclosure of CONFIDENTIAL information described therein, precluding publication and limiting the use of said documents and information which defendants maintain ontain confidential and privileged information.
After due consideration of the SECOND STIPULTED PROTECTIVE ORDER; submitted by the parties, and good cause appearing therefore, the Court rules as Follows:
The terms and conditions of the SECOND STIPULATED PROTECTIVE ORDER Shall govern the disclosure of the information/documents set forth therein.
Plaintiff JORGE AVILA, and defendants CITY OF SANTA MONICA, SCOTT MATSUDA, GEORGE MENDEZ, SCOTT McGOWAN and MARILYN AMIACHE, hereby stipulate and agree as follows:
The defendants and/or plaintiff will disclose documents and/or discovery requests have or will be served that require Defendants and/or plaintiff to disclose confidential information. The following procedures shall be employed and the terms, conditions, and restrictions shall govern with respect to all applicable documents disclosed under Fed.R.Civ.P. 26(a)(1) and discovery propounded by any party to this case, including all summaries, copies, abstracts, extracts and/or other documents pertaining to this case and the information contained therein which shall be designated as CONFIDENTIAL, as well as any summaries, copies, abstracts, extracts and/or other documents derived in whole or in part from the material designated as CONFIDENTIAL (hereinafter "Confidential Material"):
(a) Any party or other person producing information in this case may, in good faith, designate information as CONFIDENTIAL. Confidential Material is any information produced in connection with this litigation that the producing party reasonably believes is information that has not been, and should not be, made public, and includes, but not limited to, confidential, private, medical or proprietary information, the disclosure of which would constitute either (1) an invasion of the privacy of any party or non-party to this action; (2) a potential for harm to the Santa Monica Police Department's internal investigatory system; and/or (3) a potential for harm to significant governmental interests. At the time of production or other disclosure of such CONFIDENTIAL information, the producing party or other person shall designate such material by placing the word or words CONFIDENTIAL or "Confidential Material subject to Protective Order" on each such document or other material, or if it is not possible to do so label the material, by means of such other designation as will identify the CONFIDENTIAL information with sufficient specificity to permit counsel to adhere to the provisions of this Protective Order.
(b) The designation of information as CONFIDENTIAL shall not be considered conclusive or binding on any party, and such designation may be contested by noticed motion. However, unless and until an order of this Court sets aside a designation of CONFIDENTIAL, all documents and information so designated' shall be treated as CONFIDENTIAL, pursuant to the terms of this Protective Order. If any party who receives CONFIDENTIAL information is served with a subpoena or other request seeking documents containing CONFIDENTIAL information, he/she shall immediately give written notice to counsel for the party that disclosed the CONFIDENTIAL information, identifying the CONFIDENTIAL information sought and the time in which production or other disclosure is required, and shall object to the request or subpoena on the grounds of this Order so as to afford the party that disclosed the CONFIDENTIAL information an opportunity to obtain an Order barring production or other disclosure, or to otherwise respond to the subpoena or other request for production or disclosure of documents containing CONFIDENTIAL information. In no event should production or disclosure be made without written approval by the party that disclosed the CONFIDENTIAL information unless required by Court order, of which the party disclosing the CONFIDENTIAL information has been given prior notice, arising from a motion to compel production or disclosure of documents containing CONFIDENTIAL information.
(c) Any CONFIDENTIAL information that is produced pursuant to this Stipulation may be produced only to counsel of record for the parties in this litigation. Counsel for any party who obtains any CONFIDENTIAL information from any other party shall protect it and its contents from all disclosure to anyone save the persons designated in this paragraph. CONFIDENTIAL material and information derived from CONFIDENTIAL material shall be used only as reasonably necessary for preparation of mediation briefs, arbitration briefs and/or trial of this action, including use at depositions and in support of motions as further set forth in this Stipulation, and, including any appeal or retrial, and shall not be used for any other purpose, including, without limitation, any other litigation or proceeding, or any business, or governmental purpose or function. Copies of the records deemed CONFIDENTIAL may be used at the time of trial only if so ordered by the Court, or agreed to between the parties. Additionally, reference to the content of any CONFIDENTIAL records or the existence of any such record shall only be made after so ordered by the Court, or agreed to between the parties. Counsel of record may disclose CONFIDENTIAL information where necessary to the proper preparation for, and trial of, this case to:
(i) their employees, including paralegal, clerical and secretarial staff, as well as contract staff
(ii) experts and consultants retained only for the purpose of aiding counsel of record in connection with counsel's preparation for trial, including the use at depositions, and in support of motions and Rule 26 Declarations;
(iii) individuals testifying under oath at deposition in this action
(iv) a party, or officer, director or employee of a party to this action, deemed necessary by counsel to aid in the prosecution, defense or settlement of this action;
(v) the Court and members of its staff, including stenographic and other reporters; or
(vi) court reporters employed by counsel in this action.
(d) Each person identified in subparagraphs (i) through (vi) above, excluding the Court and its staff, shall, before s/he receives CONFIDENTIAL information, be provided by the person furnishing him with such information a copy of this order and agree in writing to be bound by its terms, and shall certify that s/he has carefully read the order and fully understands its terms. Such person also must consent in writing to be subject to the jurisdiction of this court with respect to any proceeding relating to enforcement of this order. An agreement incorporating these terms shall be prepared and agreed to by the parties and executed by the person before receiving the CONFIDENTIAL information. The executed agreement shall be made a part of the deposition transcript when it is executed by a deponent.
(e) Whenever any CONFIDENTIAL information is introduced or used at a deposition, those portions of the deposition that concern CONFIDENTIAL information (i) shall be conducted in such a way that only persons authorized by the Protective Order to have access to such matters are present; and (ii) shall be separately bound after transcription and marked as CONFIDENTIAL, and then shall be deemed to be subject to the terms of the Protective Order. For convenience, if a deposition transcript contains repeated references to CONFIDENTIAL material that cannot conveniently be segregated from non-CONFIDENTIAL material, any party may request that the entire transcript or exhibits be maintained by the reporter as CONFIDENTIAL.
(f) If a party wishes to file with the court documents which contain information designated as CONFIDENTIAL, that party shall notify the party disclosing the CONFIDENTIAL information, in writing, via personal delivery and/or fax, at least 10 court days prior to filing any pleadings, motions, briefs, declarations, stipulations, exhibits or other written submissions (collectively "papers") with this Court, which contain, reflect, incorporate or refer to CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION, in order to allow the party disclosing the CONFIDENTIAL information, to make a written application to seal the subject material. Pending a ruling on the application, the "papers" are to be filed in strict complaint with Local Rule 79-5.1.
(g) Failure of counsel to designate testimony or exhibits as CONFIDENTIAL at deposition shall not constitute a waiver of the confidentiality of the testimony or exhibits. Upon receipt of the transcript of the deposition, counsel shall be entitled to designate specific pages and lines of the transcript or exhibits as CONFIDENTIAL; however, any other party shall be entitled to treat the transcript or exhibits as non-CONFIDENTIAL material until such time as the CONFIDENTIAL designation is made.
(h) Discovering counsel may show CONFIDENTIAL material to a deponent at a deposition and examine that deponent concerning same, subject to the provisions of paragraph(c)(iii). Examining counsel will, at the outset of the deposition, inquire as to whether the deponent agrees to be bound by the terms of this Protective Order. If the deponent does not agree, the CONFIDENTIAL material shall not be disclosed to the deponent. If the deponent agrees to be bound by the terms of the Protective Order and executes the agreement referred to in I (d) above, the reporter shall be instructed to give the deponent written notice when the transcript has been prepared, stating that the deponent may inspect the transcript and its exhibits, including the CONFIDENTIAL material, in the reporter's office. If the original deposition transcript is not signed within thirty (30) days after the date of the notice, it will be used as if it is signed. The deponent shall not be furnished with a copy of the portions of the deposition transcript or exhibits that have been designated as CONFIDENTIAL. Alternatively, counsel for the parties who have executed this Protective Order, or their authorized representatives, may make other arrangements for the review and signing of a deposition in this matter that uphold the stipulations herein and protect the confidentiality of the CONFIDENTIAL MATERIAL provided pursuant to this Protective Order. Furthermore, any audiotape and/or videotape of any such deposition shall be subject to this Order.
(i) If any CONFIDENTIAL material is provided to a discovering party without being marked as CONFIDENTIAL, the failure to mark the material shall not be deemed a waiver of its confidentiality. Until the material is designated as CONFIDENTIAL by the producing party, however, the discovering party shall be entitled to treat the material as non-CONFIDENTIAL. Upon designation, such material shall be treated as CONFIDENTIAL in accordance with the provisions of this Protective Order.
(j) This Stipulation for Protective Order shall survive the final termination of this action, to the extent that the information contained in CONFIDENTIAL Material is not or does not become known to the public, and the Court shall retain jurisdiction to resolve any dispute concerning the use of information disclosed hereunder. Within thirty (30) days after the final settlement or conclusion of this action, discovering counsel shall return to producing counsel all CONFIDENTIAL documents including, without limitation, depositions and trial, hearing, or other transcripts containing information designated as CONFIDENTIAL, as well as all copies, and shall return or destroy any extracts, summaries, or material derived from the information.
(k) This Stipulation for Protective Order is entered solely for the purpose of facilitating the exchange of documents and information between the parties to this action without involving the Court unnecessarily in the process. Nothing in this Order nor the production of any information or document under the terms of this Order nor any proceedings pursuant to this Order shall be deemed to have the effect of an admission or waiver by either party or of altering the confidentiality or non-confidentiality of any such document or information or altering any existing obligation of any party of the absence thereof. Further, nothing in this Order shall constitute a waiver by any party of any applicable privilege or other protection, nor shall this Order or the production of the documents in question be construed so as to make any document or other material described herein admissible in any proceeding before this or any other court. Nothing in this Order shall prejudice any parties' rights to object to the introduction of any CONFIDENTIAL information into evidence, on grounds, including, but not limited to, relevance and privilege.
(m) Pursuant to the [proposed] protective order herein, defendant, the City of Santa Monica, ("DISCLOSING PARTY") contends that the below listed confidential material related to underlying incident of April 6, 2012, involving the arrest of plaintiff, which plaintiff seeks, is subject to various protections, including, but not limited to, Governmental Privilege, the Official Information Privilege, and also the privilege of critical self-examination/analysis and/or the deliberative process privilege, Evidence Code § § 1040, et seq., Penal Code § § 146e, 832.5, 832.7, 832.8, and Government Code § § 3300, et seq. and 6254. Further, such material also contains private and confidential information including private and confidential third-party information.
(n) Such CONFIDENTIAL material kept by DISCLOSING PARTY are governmental documents that contain official information. Such CONFIDENTIAL material has been maintained by the DISCLOSING PARTY in confidence and contains sensitive and private information.
(o) The DISCLOSING PARTY is extremely concerned that dissemination of subject information, documents, and materials related to the incident, relevant personnel, and other confidential internal investigations could compromise the efficacy of such undertakings in the future and act to discourage cooperation from the public. Further, disclosure of which without a protective order may compromise the safety of the subject peace officers and their families and third parties.
(p) In light of the aforementioned facts, and given the strong public policies in favor of encouraging witnesses to cooperate in investigations, protecting those who assist in investigations, protecting society's interests in investigating such incidents, it is necessary and proper to enter into an order carefully limiting the use and dissemination of the information, documents, and materials that are the subject of this Stipulation. In order to informally resolve this matter, the Parties have agreed to this stipulated protective order.
(q) This Order, based upon the assertions and stipulations herein, shall apply to protect from unauthorized disclosure the following CONFIDENTIAL information, which will be provided to plaintiff as CONFIDENTIAL material after the parties have executed the instant Stipulated Protective Order and the Court has thereafter signed the [Proposed] Order thereon.
1. Recorded LA interview of Jorge Avila (1)
2. Recorded I.A. interview of Officer Marilyn Amiache
3. Recorded I.A. interview of Officer George Mendez
4. Recorded I.A. interview of Witness Louis Emile
5. Recorded I.A. interview of Officer Blake Cooper
6. Recorded I.A. interview of Officer Russ Grimmond
7 Recorded I.A. interview of Officer James Weese
8. Recorded I.A. interview of Officer Scott McGowan
9. Recorded I.A. interview of Jorge Avila (2)
10. Recorded I.A. interview of Officer Scott Matsuda
(r) This Stipulation for Protective Order is entered into without prejudice to the right of any party to waive the applicability of this Stipulation for Protective Order as to any information produced by the party. Upon the application to this Court by noticed motion, any party may:
(i) seek additional protective treatment for any information or documents that might become the subject of discovery;
(ii) object to the designation of any document as CONFIDENTIAL; or
(iii) seek any modification of, or relief from, this Protective Order and such other relief as may seem appropriate. Prior to any such application, counsel shall confer to try to obtain agreement without resort to the intervention of the Court.
(s) Attorneys of the parties receiving CONFIDENTIAL documents/information shall not cause or knowingly permit disclosure of the contents of the CONFIDENTIAL DOCUMENTS beyond the disclosure permitted under the terms and conditions of this Stipulation.
(t) No document covered by this Stipulation may be used for any purpose not set forth herein, or revealed to any person not described herein, absent further order of this Court.
(u) This Stipulation shall survive the termination of this action, and the Court retains jurisdiction to resolve any dispute concerning the disclosure or use of the CONFIDENTIAL material disclosed pursuant to this Stipulation.
