Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_07-cv-00997/USCOURTS-caed-1_07-cv-00997-1/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 110
Nature of Suit: Insurance
Cause of Action: 28:1441 Petition for Removal- Contract Default

---

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

G

ord

o

n

&

Rees L

L

P

2

7

5

B

attery

Street, S

uite 2

0

0

0

S

a

n

Fra

ncisco, C

A

9

4111

-1- 

STIPULATION TO AND [PROPOSED] QUALIFIED PROTECTIVE ORDER 

ROBERT A. BRAGALONE (Pro Hac Vice) 

bbragalone@gordonrees.com

GORDON & REES LLP 

2100 Ross Ave., Suite 2800 

Dallas TX, 75201 

Telephone: (214) 231-4660 

Facsimile: (214) 461-4053 

LESLIE CRARY (SBN: 148260) 

lcrary@gordonrees.com

GORDON & REES LLP 

275 Battery Street, Suite 2000 

San Francisco, CA 94111 

Telephone: (415) 986-5900 

Facsimile: (415) 986-8054 

Attorneys for Defendant TIME INSURANCE COMPANY 

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA – FRESNO DIVISION 

FRESNO COMMUNITY HOSPITAL AND 

MEDICAL CENTER, dba UNIVERSITY 

MEDICAL CENTER, a California not for profit 

corporation, 

Plaintiff, 

vs. 

TIME INSURANCE COMPANY dba 

ASSURANT HEALTH, a Wisconsin for profit 

corporation, and DOES 1 through 25, inclusive,

Defendants. 

) 

) 

) 

) 

) 

) 

) 

) 

) 

) 

) 

) 

) 

) 

CASE NO.: 1:07-cv-00997-LJO-SMS 

STIPULATION TO AND QUALIFIED 

PROTECTIVE ORDER 

FRESNO COMMUNITY HOSPITAL (Plaintiff) and TIME INSURANCE COMPANY 

(“Time”), (collectively the “Parties”), enter into this stipulation based on the following facts: 

A. This action will likely involve the production and disclosure of (i) “protected 

health information,” as that term is used in the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability 

Act of 1996 (Pub. L. 104-191), and regulations promulgated there under at 45 C.F. R. Parts 160-

164; (ii) “medical information,” as that term is used in California’s Confidentiality of Medical 

Information Act, Civil Code Section 56 et seq, and; (iii) other information which may be 

confidential and/or proprietary in nature. Categories (i) and (ii) are hereinafter referred to as 

PDF created with pdfFactory trial version www.pdffactory.com

Case 1:07-cv-00997-LJO -SMS Document 12 Filed 12/18/07 Page 1 of 7
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

G

ord

o

n

&

Rees L

L

P

2

7

5

B

attery

Street, S

uite 2

0

0

0

S

a

n

Fra

ncisco, C

A

9

4111

-2- 

STIPULATION TO AND [PROPOSED] QUALIFIED PROTECTIVE ORDER 

“Protected Information” and category (iii) is referred to as “Confidential Information.” 

B. Under applicable federal regulations, a “qualified protective order” includes, with 

respect to protected health information, an order of a court or administrative tribunal, or a 

stipulation by the parties to the litigation in accordance with statutory requirements. 

C. California Civil Code Section 56.1(b)(3) permits the disclosure of “Protected 

Medical Information” by parties to proceedings before a court, pursuant to any provision 

authorizing discovery in such proceeding. 

In light of the foregoing, the Parties, by and through their counsel of record, 

STIPULATE TO THE FOLLOWING: 

1. This Stipulation and its Order entered thereon, constitute a Qualified Protective 

Order as defined at 45 C.F.R. Section 164.512(e). 

2. Protected Information or material shall mean all information or material that a 

party reasonably and in good faith believes to constitute or contain private or protected medical 

information, including health records that otherwise constitute private and/or confidential 

material, and shall specifically include the health records of the patient at issue in this action 

(“the Patient”). 

3. The term "documents," as that term is used in this Stipulation and [Proposed] 

Qualified Protective Order ("Protective Order"), shall have the same meaning as in the Federal 

Rules of Civil Procedure. 

4. Documents produced to any party may be designated and marked as 

"Confidential." Such designated documents will be defined as "Confidential Documents" for the 

purposes of this Protective Order. 

5. Deposition testimony may be designated as "Confidential" either at the time of the 

deposition, or within 30 days after the deposition transcript is made available to all parties. Such 

designated testimony will be defined as "Confidential Testimony" for the purposes of this 

Protective Order. 

6. The Parties will not use or disclose Protected Information, Confidential 

Documents or Confidential Testimony (collectively referred to as “Protected and Confidential 

PDF created with pdfFactory trial version www.pdffactory.com

Case 1:07-cv-00997-LJO -SMS Document 12 Filed 12/18/07 Page 2 of 7
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

G

ord

o

n

&

Rees L

L

P

2

7

5

B

attery

Street, S

uite 2

0

0

0

S

a

n

Fra

ncisco, C

A

9

4111

-3- 

STIPULATION TO AND [PROPOSED] QUALIFIED PROTECTIVE ORDER 

Information”) in pleadings, law and motion submissions, or discovery for any purpose other than 

in this action which includes settlement discussions, mediation and any other alternative dispute 

resolution proceeding or efforts. This Protective Order: 

a. Prohibits the parties from using or disclosing Protected and Confidential 

Information for any purpose other than in this litigation; and 

b. Requires the return to the producing party or the destruction of the 

Protected and Confidential Information (including all copies made) at the end of the litigation or 

proceeding. 

7. Any party producing Protected and Confidential Documents in discovery, 

submitting Protected and Confidential Information to the Court, or otherwise disclosing 

Protected and Confidential Information to the Court, or otherwise disclosing Protected and 

Confidential Information shall mark in a reasonably conspicuous manner the Protected and 

Confidential Information “Confidential- Subject to Protective Order,” or with words of similar 

meaning. 

8. Protected and Confidential Information designated as “Confidential – Subject to 

Protective Order” may be disclosed only to the following “Qualified Persons,” as defined below: 

a. Counsel of record for the parties in this action, and employees of such 

counsel; 

b. The parties to this action; 

c. Any author, addressee or other proper recipient of the disclosed Protected 

and Confidential Information, provided that such person shall be a Qualified Person by 

virtue of this subsection only with respect to documents of which such person was the 

author, addressee or other proper recipient; 

d. A witness, other than the parties, during that witness's deposition or 

hearing testimony provided, however, that witness shall not retain any copies of the 

Protected and Confidential Information or the deposition or hearing transcripts designated 

pursuant to paragraph 5 of this Stipulation. In addition, the party that designated the 

documents or transcripts "Confidential" pursuant to this Order may object to the 

PDF created with pdfFactory trial version www.pdffactory.com

Case 1:07-cv-00997-LJO -SMS Document 12 Filed 12/18/07 Page 3 of 7
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

G

ord

o

n

&

Rees L

L

P

2

7

5

B

attery

Street, S

uite 2

0

0

0

S

a

n

Fra

ncisco, C

A

9

4111

-4- 

STIPULATION TO AND [PROPOSED] QUALIFIED PROTECTIVE ORDER 

unnecessary or improper disclosure of such Confidential Documents or Confidential 

Testimony to the witness and may seek appropriate relief to prevent such disclosure. 

e. Experts, consultants, and other vendors such as photocopiers, 

investigators, litigation support services, (together with their staff) expressly employed or 

retained by counsel of record to assist in the litigation of the above-captioned action; 

f. Any stenographic reporter, videographic reporter or videographer (other 

than a court employed reporter) involved in any deposition, hearing or other pre-trial 

proceeding in this action, provided that such person shall be a Qualified Person by virtue 

of this subsection only with respect to documents that are disclosed during such 

deposition, hearing or other pre-trial proceeding; 

g. A mediator or other alternative dispute resolution provider; 

h. The Court, as restricted in Paragraph 9; 

i. Any other person to whom the parties mutually agree in writing. 

Prior to receiving any Protected or Confidential Information, each Qualified Person 

described in subparagraph (d) and (e) shall execute a nondisclosure agreement in the form of 

Exhibit A hereto. Each such Qualified Person agrees to be bound by this Protective Order, and 

further agrees to secure and strictly maintain the confidentiality of all such Protected and 

Confidential Information. All counsel shall maintain copies of any executed nondisclosure 

agreements they obtain pursuant to this Protective Order until one year after the termination of 

the above-captioned action. Copies of such nondisclosure agreements shall be provided to 

counsel for the other party, upon written request or a request made on the record in open court or 

at a deposition: (a) at the deposition of any Qualified Person required to sign a nondisclosure 

agreement by this section; (b) not later than fifteen (15) days prior to trial, or within three (3) 

business days following a request made later than fifteen (15) days prior to trial, for any experts 

who may testify at the trial but who have not been deposed; (c) upon the written request of 

counsel for the other party if the Qualified Person is not an expert, consultant or other person the 

identify of which is not subject to work product protection; or (d) upon the written request of 

counsel for the other party in the event such counsel has a good faith belief that the person to 

PDF created with pdfFactory trial version www.pdffactory.com

Case 1:07-cv-00997-LJO -SMS Document 12 Filed 12/18/07 Page 4 of 7
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

G

ord

o

n

&

Rees L

L

P

2

7

5

B

attery

Street, S

uite 2

0

0

0

S

a

n

Fra

ncisco, C

A

9

4111

-5- 

STIPULATION TO AND [PROPOSED] QUALIFIED PROTECTIVE ORDER 

whom Protected or Confidential Information have been disclosed has failed to abide by the terms 

of this Protected Order. 

9. To the extent any party wishes to use Protected and Confidential Information in, 

or as an exhibit to, a filing with the Court prior to trial, the exhibit, or other portion of the filing 

containing the Protected and Confidential Information must be placed in a sealed envelope with 

the legend “Sealed Pursuant to Protective Order” place on the outside of the envelope. 

10. The purpose of this Protective Order is to protect Protected and Confidential 

Information disclosed during the discovery process. This Agreement does not and is not 

intended to restrict a party’s use of such documents or testimony at trial. 

9. Any party may, for good cause, challenge another party’s designation of 

information as “Protected and Confidential Information.” 

10. This Protective Order will not prejudice the right of either party to oppose 

production of any information on the grounds of attorney-client privilege, work product doctrine, 

or any other privilege or protection provided under the law. 

11. If a third party produces discovery in this action, the provisions of this Protective 

Order shall apply to such third-party discovery and testimony as if such discovery or testimony 

was being provided by a party. Under such circumstances, the third party shall have the same 

rights and obligations under this Protective Order as held by the parties to this action. 

12. Entering into, agreeing to and/or complying with the terms of this Protective 

Order shall not: 

a. Prejudice in any way the rights of any party to apply to the Court for a 

further protective order relating to any purportedly confidential information; or 

b. Prejudice in any way the rights of any party to object to the authenticity or 

admissibility into evidence of any document, testimony or other evidence subject to this 

Protective Order. 

13. The terms of this Protective Order shall survive and remain in full force and effect 

after the termination of this litigation. 

At the conclusion of the above-captioned action, all Protected Information (including all 

PDF created with pdfFactory trial version www.pdffactory.com

Case 1:07-cv-00997-LJO -SMS Document 12 Filed 12/18/07 Page 5 of 7
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

G

ord

o

n

&

Rees L

L

P

2

7

5

B

attery

Street, S

uite 2

0

0

0

S

a

n

Fra

ncisco, C

A

9

4111

-6- 

STIPULATION TO AND [PROPOSED] QUALIFIED PROTECTIVE ORDER 

copies) shall either be returned to the producing party, or destroyed. In the latter case, the party 

destroying the Protected Information shall so attest in writing to the other party. 

Dated: 12/11/2007 GORDON & REES LLP 

Dated: 12/11/2007

By: /s/ Robert Braglone

 Robert Bragalone 

Leslie K. Crary 

Attorneys for Defendant TIME 

INSURANCE COMPANY 

By: /s/ Barry Sullivan

 Eligio Jose Luevanos BARRY 

SULLIVAN 

Attorneys for Plaintiff FRESNO 

COMMUNITY HOSPITAL 

Good cause appearing, IT IS SO ORDERED. 

Dated: 12/18/2007 /s/ Sandra M. Snyder 

 Magistrate Judge of the United States District Court 

PDF created with pdfFactory trial version www.pdffactory.com

Case 1:07-cv-00997-LJO -SMS Document 12 Filed 12/18/07 Page 6 of 7
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

G

ord

o

n

&

Rees L

L

P

2

7

5

B

attery

Street, S

uite 2

0

0

0

S

a

n

Fra

ncisco, C

A

9

4111

-7- 

STIPULATION TO AND [PROPOSED] QUALIFIED PROTECTIVE ORDER 

EXHIBIT A 

AGREEMENT TO BE BOUND BY PROTECTIVE ORDER 

I, _________________________, in connection with the case of, FRESNO 

COMMUNITY HOSPITAL AND MEDICAL CENTER, dba UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER v. 

TIME INSURANCE COMPANY dba ASSURANT HEALTH, Case No. 1:07-cv-00997-LJO-SMS, 

now pending in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of California, hereby 

acknowledge that I have received a copy of the Protective Order entered by the Court in this 

action. 

I have carefully read and understand the provisions of the Protective Order, and agree to 

be bound by all of the provisions thereof. I will hold in confidence, will not disclose to anyone 

other than those persons specifically authorized by the Protective Order, and will not copy or use 

except for purposes of this proceeding, any protected information, as defined in the Protective 

Order. 

I declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the State of California that the 

foregoing is true and correct. 

Dated: _______________________ 

 _____________________________ 

ASHE/1045971/5244001v.1 

PDF created with pdfFactory trial version www.pdffactory.com

Case 1:07-cv-00997-LJO -SMS Document 12 Filed 12/18/07 Page 7 of 7