Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-5_19-mc-80131/USCOURTS-cand-5_19-mc-80131-3/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 950
Nature of Suit: Constitutionality of State Statutes
Cause of Action: Civil Miscellaneous Case

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United States District Court

Northern District of California

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

GUARDANT HEALTH, INC.,

Plaintiff,

v.

PERSONAL GENOME DIAGNOSTICS, 

INC., et al.,

Defendants.

Case No. 19-mc-80131-SVK 

ORDER APPOINTING SPECIAL 

MASTER

As set forth in this Court’s December 3, 2019 order (Dkt. 25), the Court has determined 

that the appointment of a Special Master is appropriate to review the Parties’ instant discovery 

dispute. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 53(a)(1). Pursuant to Rule 53(b)(1), the hearing on December 3, 

2019, and the stipulation filed by the Parties on December 12, 2019 (Dkt. 34), all Parties have 

notice of the Court’s intent to appoint a Special Master and have had an opportunity to be heard

with respect to such appointment. Accordingly, the Court ORDERS as follows:

1. The Court appoints Mark LeHocky, Esquire (hereinafter “Special Master”) to serve as 

Special Master for the purpose of assisting this Court in reviewing 637 documents that 

Respondents Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, P.C. and attorney Vern Norviel (collectively, 

“Respondents”) purport to be non-responsive to Movant Personal Genome Diagnostics, Inc.’s 

(“PGDx”) requests for production. After reviewing Mr. LeHocky’s declaration (Dkt. 37), the 

Court finds that the Special Master does not have a relationship with the parties, attorneys, action, 

or this Court that would require disqualification under 28 U.S.C. § 455. Additionally, the Parties 

stipulated to the appointment of Mr. LeHocky as the Special Master. 

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United States District Court

Northern District of California

I. DUTIES OF THE SPECIAL MASTER

2. Except as specifically set forth below, the Special Master will possess the full authority 

permitted under Rule 53(c) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure to perform the duties set forth 

in this order. 

3. The Special Master shall review the disputed documents in-camera and determine 

whether any of the disputed documents are responsive to PGDx’s request for documents are 

modified by this Court in Dkt. 14, and if responsive, if any such documents are privileged.

4. The Special Master shall proceed with all reasonable diligence, in accordance with the 

protocol described in this order and Rule 53(b)(2). The Special Master shall have discretion to set 

additional procedures as he sees fit. 

II. PROTOCOL

5. Pursuant to stipulation, the documents to be reviewed are 637 documents that

Respondents claim are non-responsive to PGDx’s requests for production. 

6. Upon the Special Master’s appointment, the Parties shall provide the Special Master 

with copies of the Parties’ submissions regarding this dispute and this Court’s prior orders. 

7. Pursuant to stipulation, Respondents shall provide to the Special Master copies of at

least 102 documents (143 with families) as their first production of documents. This first 

production is to be made on or before January 6, 2020. After the first production, Respondents 

shall make rolling productions of the remaining documents to the Special Master as they obtain 

client consent and complete any agreed-upon redactions. Respondents shall provide the 

documents in the form(s) specified by the Special Master (e.g., paper or electronic media). 

8. Pursuant to stipulation, each party may submit an ex parte confidential submission, 

consisting of no more than five pages, to the Special Master explaining the background of the 

dispute and providing context for the documents. This submission must be made to the Special 

Master on or before January 6, 2020 in the form specified by the Special Master (e.g., paper or 

electronic media). Each of Respondents’ rolling productions may be accompanied by a 

confidential submission of no more than one page. 

9. Pursuant to stipulation, the Special Master shall review the documents in camera. 

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United States District Court

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10. The documents provided to the Special Master will be designated “Highly Confidential 

– Special Master/Court’s Eyes Only” and, absent further order of the Court, will only be disclosed 

to the Special Master, the Court, and their employees necessary to assist in the Special Master’s 

review. Respondents do not waive privilege or confidentiality based on the Special Master’s or 

the Court’s review.

11. In resolving disputes about responsiveness, the Special Master may: permit the Parties 

to communicate on an ex parte basis with the Special Master, with notice to all other Parties (see

Dkt. 25 at 2); hear oral argument; and conduct other proceedings that the Special Master deems 

necessary to resolve the disputes. The Special Master may adopt any reasonable procedural 

requirements, with notice to the Parties thereof.

III. REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

12. Pursuant to stipulation, the Special Master shall report to the Court his recommended 

resolution of the Parties’ dispute by February 18, 2020.

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13. The Special Master shall file other reports as the Court may direct.

14. Pursuant to stipulation, the Special Master’s process and report will not disclose any 

privileged information (including as set forth in the produced documents) other than to the Court. 

The Special Master’s process and report will not disclose any confidential information belonging 

to non-Guardant entities other than to the Court. Should the Special Master’s process seek to 

disclose confidential (but not privileged) documents or information belonging to Guardant within 

the process or report, the Special Master shall notify the Parties and the Parties will promptly meet 

and confer as to the appropriate designation of such information, i.e., as subject to the protective 

order in the underlying matter.

15. Pursuant to Rule 53(e), the Special Master shall file any orders, reports, or 

recommendations with the Court under seal by e-filing the document as such, as required by Civil 

Local Rule 79-5(a). In addition, the Special Master shall email copies of his orders, reports, or 

recommendations to the Parties and the Court.

 

1 The Parties selected President’s Day in their stipulation. 

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16. Pursuant to Rule 53(b)(2)(D) and 53(f), any party wishing to file objections to or a 

motion to adopt or modify the Special Master’s order, report, or recommendation must file such 

objection or motion with the Court by February 20, 2020. The party filing the objection or 

motion shall submit with such objection or motion any record necessary for the Court to review 

the Special Master’s order, report, or recommendation, including any transcripts of proceedings 

before the Special Master and any documents submitted by the parties in connection with the 

Special Master’s order, report, and recommendation.

17. Pursuant to Rule 53(f)(1), in acting on an order, report, or recommendations of the

Special Master, the Court shall afford each party an opportunity to be heard and, at its discretion, 

may receive evidence and may adopt or affirm, modify, wholly or partly reject or reverse, 

resubmit to the Special Master with instructions, or make any further orders it deems appropriate. 

Pursuant to stipulation, the Parties will be heard on February 25, 2020 at 10:00 a.m.

IV. OTHER MATTERS

18. Pursuant to Rule 53(b)(2)(B), the Special Master may communicate ex parte with the 

Court at any time. Pursuant to stipulation, the Special Master shall not communicate ex parte with 

any party, third-party witness, or counsel for any party or third-party, except as provided above in 

paragraphs 8 and 11.

19. Pursuant to Rule 53(b)(2)(C), the Special Master shall maintain orderly files consisting 

of all documents submitted to him by the parties and any of his written orders, reports, and 

recommendations. 

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20. Pursuant to Rules 53(b)(2)(E) and 53(g), the Special Master shall be compensated at an 

hourly rate of $600.00 for his services pursuant to this order. The Special Master shall prepare an

invoice for his services, which he shall provide to the Parties. The Special Master’s invoice shall 

be paid promptly and in full by PGDx. The Court will review this allocation no later than at the 

conclusion of these proceedings and will adjust the allocation, as appropriate, after affording the 

Parties an opportunity to be heard.

SO ORDERED.

Dated: December 18, 2019

SUSAN VAN KEULEN

United States Magistrate Judge

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