Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_14-cv-01388/USCOURTS-caed-1_14-cv-01388-4/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 110
Nature of Suit: Insurance
Cause of Action: 12:635 Breach of Insurance Contract

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ORDER GRANTING STIPULATED PROTECTIVE ORDER RE CONFIDENTIAL MATERIALS

PAYNE & FEARS LLP

ATTORNEYS AT LAW

JAMBOREE CENTER, 4 PARK PLAZA, SUITE 1100

IRVINE, CALIFORNIA 92614

(949) 851-1100

J. Kelby Van Patten, Bar No. 167553

kvp@paynefears.com

Jeffrey M. Hayes, Bar No. 246511

jmh@paynefears.com

Jared De Jong, Bar No. 260921

jdj@paynefears.com

PAYNE & FEARS LLP

Attorneys at Law

Jamboree Center, 4 Park Plaza, Suite 1100

Irvine, California 92614

Telephone: (949) 851-1100

Facsimile: (949) 851-1212

Attorneys for CENTEX HOMES

and CENTEX REAL ESTATE CORPORATION

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA, FRESNO DIVISION

TRAVELERS PROPERTY CASUALTY 

COMPANY OF AMERICA, a Connecticut 

corporation; and ST. PAUL MERCURY 

INSURANCE COMPANY, a Connecticut 

corporation,

Plaintiffs,

v.

CENTEX HOMES, a Nevada general 

partnership; CENTEX REAL ESTATE 

CORPORATION, a Nevada corporation; and 

DOES 1 - 10, inclusive,

Defendants.

Case No. 1:14-cv-01388-MCE-SAB

Hon. Morrison C. England

ORDER GRANTING STIPULATED 

PROTECTIVE ORDER RE 

CONFIDENTIAL MATERIALS

Trial Date: April 10, 2017

Case 1:14-cv-01388-DAD-SAB Document 47 Filed 09/14/15 Page 1 of 7
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STIPULATED PROTECTIVE ORDER RE CONFIDENTIAL MATERIALS

PAYNE & FEARS LLP

ATTORNEYS AT LAW

JAMBOREE CENTER, 4 PARK PLAZA, SUITE 1100

IRVINE, CALIFORNIA 92614

(949) 851-1100

The Parties’ Stipulated Protective Order is before the Court. Having read the Order and 

good cause appearing therefore, the Court hereby enters the following Protective Order:

1. The Parties acknowledge that discovery may require disclosure of information that 

is private, personal, or confidential, or that constitutes proprietary and/or sensitive business, 

personnel, and/or commercial information, trade secrets, and/or confidential third-party 

information. As a result, the Parties agree that they will be required to enter into a Protective 

Order on the following terms to ensure the continuing confidentiality of such information.

2. This Protective Order shall limit the use or disclosure of documents, deposition 

testimony, and related information which are or which embody or disclose any information 

designated as “Confidential.” This shall include the following information, documents, and 

tangible things produced or otherwise exchanged (the “Confidential Information”):

(a) Invoices;

(b) Attorney billing records; and

(c) Expert billing records.

The following information, documents, and tangible things produced or otherwise 

exchanged shall not be deemed to be Confidential Information:

(a) AI Claim files;

(b) AI claims notes; and

(c) AI adjuster guidelines, including but not limited to construction defect file review 

Case 1:14-cv-01388-DAD-SAB Document 47 Filed 09/14/15 Page 2 of 7
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-3-

STIPULATED PROTECTIVE ORDER RE CONFIDENTIAL MATERIALS

PAYNE & FEARS LLP

ATTORNEYS AT LAW

JAMBOREE CENTER, 4 PARK PLAZA, SUITE 1100

IRVINE, CALIFORNIA 92614

(949) 851-1100

guidelines.

3. Any person or entity designating documents, testimony, or other information as 

“Confidential” (“Designating Party”) hereunder asserts that he, she or it believes in good faith that 

such material is Confidential Information which is not otherwise available to the public generally.

4. Designation of a document as “Confidential” shall be made by stamping or writing 

“CONFIDENTIAL” on the document(s). 

5. Designation of a deposition or other pretrial testimony, or portions thereof, as 

“Confidential” shall be made by a statement on the record by counsel for the party or other person 

making the claim of confidentiality at the time of such testimony. The portions of depositions so 

designated as “Confidential” shall be taken only in the presence of persons qualified to receive 

such information pursuant to the terms of this Protective Order. Failure of any other person to 

comply with a request to leave the deposition room will constitute sufficient justification for the 

witness to refuse to answer any question calling for disclosure of Confidential Information so long 

as persons not entitled by this Protective Order to have access to such information are in 

attendance. The parties shall instruct the court reporter to segregate such portions of the 

deposition in a separate transcript designated as “Confidential.” Portions of such deposition 

transcripts shall be clearly marked as “Confidential” on the cover or on each page, as appropriate.

6. No Confidential Information shall be disclosed by anyone receiving such 

information (“Receiving Party”) to anyone other than those persons designated herein, and in no 

event shall Confidential Information be used, either directly or indirectly, by anyone receiving 

such information for any business, commercial or competitive purpose or for any purpose 

whatsoever other than the direct furtherance of the litigation of this action in accordance with the 

provisions of this Protective Order.

Case 1:14-cv-01388-DAD-SAB Document 47 Filed 09/14/15 Page 3 of 7
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STIPULATED PROTECTIVE ORDER RE CONFIDENTIAL MATERIALS

PAYNE & FEARS LLP

ATTORNEYS AT LAW

JAMBOREE CENTER, 4 PARK PLAZA, SUITE 1100

IRVINE, CALIFORNIA 92614

(949) 851-1100

7. Unless otherwise ordered by the Court or permitted in writing by the Designating 

Party, a Receiving Party or non-party shall not disclose any information or item designated as 

“Confidential” to any other person except to:

(a) Attorneys for the parties and their respective associates, clerks and employees 

directly involved in the conduct of this litigation;

(b) The Parties hereto, including the employees of a Party;

(c) The Court and its personnel;

(d) Court reporters and their staff, provided further that Confidential Information filed 

with the Court shall be sealed subject to release only by order of the Court or by written agreement 

of the Designating Party;

(e) Expert witnesses of the Receiving Party to whom disclosure of the Confidential 

Information is reasonably necessary for this litigation;

(f) The author of the document containing the Confidential Information or the original 

source of the information; and

(g) Any other person with the prior written consent of the Designating Party or 

pursuant to an order of the Court.

8. Confidential Information may be disclosed to persons listed in paragraphs 7(e), 7(f) 

and 7(g) of this Order only after such person has been shown a copy of this Order, and has been 

advised of the terms and operation of this Order, and agrees to be bound by the terms of this 

Order; provided, however, a party who has produced Confidential Information may disclose its 

own documents to any persons, with or without any conditions to such disclosure, as it deems 

appropriate. All persons who obtain Confidential Information pursuant to paragraph 7 of this 

Order shall be prohibited from disclosing any Confidential Information to anyone except as 

permitted by further order of this Court or written agreement of all counsel. Except as provided 

above, the persons described in paragraphs 7(e), 7(f) and 7(g) of this Order shall have access to 

Confidential Information only after having been made aware of the provisions of this Order and 

having acknowledged their assent to be bound by executing and delivering a copy of the 

“Confidentiality Agreement” (attached as Exhibit “A” to this Order) to the party producing the 

Case 1:14-cv-01388-DAD-SAB Document 47 Filed 09/14/15 Page 4 of 7
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STIPULATED PROTECTIVE ORDER RE CONFIDENTIAL MATERIALS

PAYNE & FEARS LLP

ATTORNEYS AT LAW

JAMBOREE CENTER, 4 PARK PLAZA, SUITE 1100

IRVINE, CALIFORNIA 92614

(949) 851-1100

Confidential Information, or so stating under oath and on the record.

9. The Parties agree to meet-and-confer prior to filing “Confidential” materials with 

the Court, with the goal of determining whether the Parties’ interests can be preserved through the 

use of mutually-agreeable redaction rather than filing under seal. Without written permission from 

the Designating Party or an order of the Court secured after appropriate notice to all interested 

persons, the Parties may not file in the public record in this action any “Confidential” material. 

Parties that seek to file under seal any “Confidential” material must comply with Local Rule 141. 

However, if a Receiving Party’s request to file “Confidential” material under seal pursuant to 

Local Rule 141 is denied by the Court, the Receiving Party may file the information in the public 

record with all necessary redactions, unless otherwise ordered by the Court. 

10. Parties that wish to challenge the designation of a document or other information as 

“Confidential” may, for good cause, bring a motion before the Court requesting that the Court 

deny the designation of any document or information as “Confidential.” The interested parties or 

other persons shall attempt to resolve such disagreements before submitting them to the Court. 

Pending resolution of any dispute concerning such designation, the Parties and persons governed 

by this Protective Order shall treat all documents and information previously designated as 

“Confidential” as protected from further disclosure by this Protective Order. 

11. The provisions of this Protective Order shall continue in effect until otherwise 

ordered by the Court, after notice and an opportunity to be heard is afforded to the Parties to this 

action. The final determination or settlement of this action shall not relieve any person who has 

received Confidential Information or has agreed to be bound by the terms of this Protective Order 

of his, her, or its obligations hereunder. Upon completion of the litigation, all documents 

(including copies of documents) containing Confidential Information shall retain their 

“Confidential” designation and be destroyed after the requisite period under the law. 

Case 1:14-cv-01388-DAD-SAB Document 47 Filed 09/14/15 Page 5 of 7
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STIPULATED PROTECTIVE ORDER RE CONFIDENTIAL MATERIALS

PAYNE & FEARS LLP

ATTORNEYS AT LAW

JAMBOREE CENTER, 4 PARK PLAZA, SUITE 1100

IRVINE, CALIFORNIA 92614

(949) 851-1100

12. This Protective Order shall not apply to information designated or marked 

“Confidential” hereunder which is used at any evidentiary hearing or trial in this action. The 

Parties hereby reserve their rights to use, or seek to limit the disclosure of, Confidential 

Information at any such hearing or trial.

13. Nothing in this Protective Order shall limit the use by the Parties of his, her or its 

own proprietary documents or information for purposes other than this litigation even if such 

documents or information have been designated as “Confidential.”

14. This Protective Order shall not preclude or limit the Parties’ rights to oppose or 

object to discovery on any grounds which would be otherwise available. This Protective Order 

shall not preclude or limit the Parties’ rights to seek in camera review or to seek further and 

additional protection against or limitation upon production or dissemination of information 

produced in response to discovery, including documents and their contents.

15. Any person to or by whom disclosure or inspection is made in violation of this 

Protective Order, and who has knowledge of this Protective Order, shall be bound by the terms 

hereof.

16. The Parties, and all other persons who receive Confidential Information pursuant 

hereto, agree that the Parties injured by a violation of this Protective Order do not have an 

adequate remedy at law and that an injunction against such violation is an appropriate remedy. In 

the event any person shall violate or threaten to violate any terms of this Protective Order, the 

Parties agree that the aggrieved party may immediately apply to obtain injunctive relief against 

any such person. In the event the aggrieved party shall do so, the respondent person subject to the 

provisions of this Protective Order shall not employ as a defense thereto the claim that the 

aggrieved party has an adequate remedy at law. Any persons subject to the terms of this 

Protective Order agree that the Court shall retain jurisdiction over it and them for the purposes of 

Case 1:14-cv-01388-DAD-SAB Document 47 Filed 09/14/15 Page 6 of 7
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-7-

STIPULATED PROTECTIVE ORDER RE CONFIDENTIAL MATERIALS

PAYNE & FEARS LLP

ATTORNEYS AT LAW

JAMBOREE CENTER, 4 PARK PLAZA, SUITE 1100

IRVINE, CALIFORNIA 92614

(949) 851-1100

enforcing this Protective Order, including, but not limited to, issuing an injunction. In addition to 

injunctive relief, as specified herein, the Court may impose monetary and/or issue sanctions, as 

well as other relief deemed appropriate under the circumstances for a violation of this Protective 

Order.

17. Neither entering into this Stipulated Protective Order, nor receiving any documents 

or other information designated as “Confidential” shall be construed as an agreement or admission 

(1) that any document or information designated as “Confidential” is in fact Confidential 

Information; (2) as to the correctness or truth of any allegation made or position taken relative to 

any matter designated as “Confidential;” or (3) as to the authenticity, competency, relevancy or 

materiality of any information or document designated as “Confidential.”

18. In the event the Court does not issue this Protective Order, the parties hereby agree 

that the terms of the stipulation are binding on the Parties, except for those sections which require 

Court approval.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: September 14, 2015 

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 1:14-cv-01388-DAD-SAB Document 47 Filed 09/14/15 Page 7 of 7