Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-5_18-cv-00404/USCOURTS-cand-5_18-cv-00404-8/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 890
Nature of Suit: Other Statutory Actions
Cause of Action: 18:1836(b) - Civil Action to Protect Trade Secrets

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United States District Court

Northern District of California

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

SAN JOSE DIVISION

ALTA DEVICES, INC.,

Plaintiff,

v.

LG ELECTRONICS, INC.,

Defendant.

Case No.18-cv-00404-LHK (VKD)

ORDER RE DISCOVERY DISPUTE RE 

ESI CUSTODIANS

Re: Dkt. No. 103

This Court previously issued an order regarding a dispute over LG Electronics, Inc. 

(“LGE”) custodians from whom Alta Devices, Inc. (“Alta”) could obtain discovery. Among other 

things, that order provided that Alta could seek custodial ESI discovery from no more than 10 

LGE custodians likely to have relevant documents. Dkt. No. 93.

On May 24, 2019, the parties submitted a joint discovery dispute letter concerning Alta’s 

designation of five LGE custodians. Dkt. No. 103. The Court heard oral argument on June 4, 

2019. Dkt. No. 115. For the reasons stated on the record and as further explained below, the 

Court orders as follows:

Alta’s motion for discovery is granted as to Jeong Soo Lee, but is denied with respect to 

the four remaining proposed custodians at issue. The Court is not persuaded that Alta has 

articulated a non-speculative factual basis to believe Messrs. Kyungchul Kim, Youngtae Kim, and 

Jae Kyu Lee have information relevant to the alleged breach of the 2011 NDA. Based on Alta’s 

own description, these custodians’ activities appear to be limited to the use of information 

received pursuant to the 2014 NDA, which is not at issue in this case. The Court also is not 

persuaded that Alta has articulated a non-speculative factual basis to believe Mr. Sungwook Kim 

Case 5:18-cv-00404-LHK Document 117 Filed 06/04/19 Page 1 of 2
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United States District Court

Northern District of California

has information relevant to the alleged breach of the 2011 NDA, as he is only alleged to have 

participated in a pre-NDA meeting with Alta and to have been copied on an email concerning 

negotiation of the 2011 NDA. 

This order is without prejudice to Alta’s ability to move for ESI discovery from those four 

remaining custodians if additional discovery reveals a non-speculative basis to believe that those 

individuals are likely to have relevant information.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: June 4, 2019

VIRGINIA K. DEMARCHI

United States Magistrate Judge

Case 5:18-cv-00404-LHK Document 117 Filed 06/04/19 Page 2 of 2