Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-5_04-cv-04329/USCOURTS-cand-5_04-cv-04329-3/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 290
Nature of Suit: Other Real Property Actions
Cause of Action: 28:1332 Diversity-Injunctive &amp; Declaratory Relief

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United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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*E-FILED 11/7/05*

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

SAN JOSE DIVISION

AMERICAN BUILDERS & 

CONTRACTORS SUPPLY CO., 

INC.,

Plaintiff,

 v.

ERIC KASTNER, ET AL.,

Defendants.

 /

NO. 5:04-cv-4329 JF (RS)

ORDER SUSTAINING

DEFENDANT'S ASSERTION OF

WORK PRODUCT PROTECTION

FOLLOWING IN CAMERA

REVIEW

Pursuant to stipulationofthe parties,theCourtconducted anin camera review of a document withheld

from production to plaintiff American Builders & Contractors Supply Co., Inc. ("ABC") by defendant Eric

Kastner ("Kastner") on the grounds of both attorney client privilege and work production protection. Based

onitsreview, the Court concludes that the document is not protected by the attorney client privilege since the

communication does not include a legal opinion formed and advice given bythe attorney. Cal. Evid. Code §

952. Nonetheless, pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. Pro. 26(b)(3), the document is afforded qualified work production

protection, since it was generated in preparationforthe litigationbetweenthese parties. Greenv. Baca, 2004

WL 1151649 (C.D. Cal. 2004). Accordingly, in order to obtain the document, ABC must show a substantial

need for the material and an inability to obtain the substantial equivalent of the information without undue

hardship. Id. That showing has not beenmade inthisinstance, nor could it be since ABC may simply depose

Case 5:04-cv-04329-JF Document 43 Filed 11/07/05 Page 1 of 3
United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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28 2

George Kastner and ask himabout hisrecollectionconcerning the chronology of events which occurred in this

case. Accordingly, Kastner's objection to production is sustained.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: 11/7/05 /s/ Richard Seeborg 

RICHARD SEEBORG

United States Magistrate Judge

Case 5:04-cv-04329-JF Document 43 Filed 11/07/05 Page 2 of 3
United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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THIS IS TO CERTIFY THAT NOTICE OF THIS ORDER HAS BEEN DELIVERED TO:

Robert K. Hillison rhillison@caswellbell.com, gina@caswellbell.com; candace@caswellbell.com

Eric C. Kastner eck@kastnerbanchero.com, fh@kastnerbanchero.com; ln@kastnerbanchero.com

Peter D. Langley peter@gdwp.com, marilyn@gdwp.com

Dated: 11/7/05 Chambers of Judge Richard Seeborg

By: /s/ BAK 

Case 5:04-cv-04329-JF Document 43 Filed 11/07/05 Page 3 of 3