Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_05-cv-01609/USCOURTS-caed-1_05-cv-01609-7/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 360
Nature of Suit: Other Personal Injury
Cause of Action: 28:1331 Federal Question: Other Civil Rights

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____________________________

Stip. Order for Autopsy Photos

James D. Weakley, Esq. Bar No. 082853

James J. Arendt, Esq. Bar No. 142937

Lara Z. Moriarty, Esq. Bar No. 242318

THE LAW FIRM OF

WEAKLEY, RATLIFF,

ARENDT & McGUIRE, LLP

1630 East Shaw Avenue, Suite 176

Fresno, California 93710

Telephone: (559) 221-5256

Facsimile: (559) 221-5262

Attorneys for Defendants, Sheriff Mark Pazin, Undersheriff William Blake, 

Deputies Doug Hays, Jon McKnight and Russ Sharrock

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

HELEN WATHAN, JAMES F. WATHAN, 

and as surviving heirs of JAMES WATHAN,

JR., deceased.

Plaintiffs,

vs.

MERCED COUNTY SHERIFF, MARK N.

PAZIN, MERCED COUNTY DEPUTY

SHERIFF WILLIAM BLAKE, DEPUTY

JOHN MCKNIGHT, AND DEPUTY RUSS

SHARROCK, AND DOES 6-100, Inclusive

Defendants.

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CASE NO. 1:05-CV-01609 AWI DLB

STIPULATED PROTECTIVE ORDER 

RE: PHOTOGRAPHS OF DECEDENT

JAMES WATHAN, JR. TAKEN BY OR

AT THE DIRECTION OF DR. STEPHEN

AVALOS AT PATHOLOGY ASSOCIATES

Complaint Filed: December 9, 2005

Trial Date: 

It is stipulated by and between the parties through their respective counsel and ordered by

the Court that the County of Merced may release to counsel in this case, all photographs taken by

or at the direction of Dr. Stephen Avalos, Pathology Associates, in connection with the death of

James Wathan, Jr., including but not limited to, the scene of the incident and autopsy photographs.

Based on the foregoing, IT IS HEREBY STIPULATED:

1. The subject documents are to be designated as “Confidential Material.” Such

designations shall be made by stamping or otherwise marking the material prior to use in this

litigation, as follows: “Confidential material subject to protective order.”

Case 1:05-cv-01609-LJO-DLB Document 51 Filed 04/19/07 Page 1 of 3
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Stip. Order for Autopsy Photos 2

2. The "Confidential Material" shall be used solely in connection with this litigation

in the preparation and trial of this case, or any related proceeding, and not for any other purpose or

in any other litigation.

3. The "Confidential Material" may be disclosed only to the following persons: 

a) counsel for any party to this action;

b) paralegal, clerical, and secretarial personnel regularly employed by counsel

referred to in (a), including stenographic deposition reporters retained in connection with this

action; 

c) court personnel including stenographic reporters engaged in proceedings as are

necessarily incidental to preparation for the trial of this action; 

d) any outside expert or consultant retained in connection with this action and not

otherwise employed by either party;

e) any in-house expert designated by defendants to testify at trial in this matter;

f) witnesses may have the documents disclosed to them during deposition

proceedings, arbitration and/or trial, only; the witnesses may not leave the deposition, arbitration

or trial with copies of the documents, and shall be bound by the provisions of paragraph 4;

g) the finder of fact at the time of trial subject to the court’s rulings on in limine

motions and objections of counsel.

4. Each person to whom disclosure is made with the exception of counsel who are

presumed to know of the contents of this protective order shall, prior to the time of disclosure, be

provided by the person furnishing him/her such material, a copy of this order, and shall agree on

the record or in writing that he/she has read the protective order and that he/she understands the

provisions of the protective order. Such person must also consent to be subject to the jurisdiction

of the United States District Court, Eastern District of California, with respect to any proceeding

related to enforcement of this order, including without limitation, any proceeding for contempt.

Provisions of this order insofar as they restrict disclosure and use of the material shall be in effect

until further order of this Court.

5. Any document filed with the Court that reveals confidential material shall be filed

Case 1:05-cv-01609-LJO-DLB Document 51 Filed 04/19/07 Page 2 of 3
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____________________________

Stip. Order for Autopsy Photos 3

under sealed label with a cover sheet as follows: "This document is subject to a protective order

issued by the Court and may not be copied or examined except in compliance with that order."

Such documents shall be kept by the Court under seal and made available only to the Court or

counsel.

6. At the conclusion of this litigation, all confidential material received under the

provisions of this order, including copies made, shall be destroyed. The conclusion of litigation

means the termination of the case following applicable post-trial motions, appeal and/or retrial.

IT IS SO AGREED.

THE PACIFIC LAW CENTER

Dated: January 25, 2007 By: /s/ John V. Bell 

John V. Bell

Attorney for Plaintiffs

IT IS SO AGREED.

Dated: January 25, 2007 WEAKLEY, RATLIFF, ARENDT & McGUIRE, LLP

By: /s/ James J. Arendt 

James J. Arendt

Attorneys for Defendants

IT IS SO ORDERED

With the exception of paragraph 5, local rule require an order of Court before the filing of any

documents under seal. The party offering the documents must apply to the Court for an Order

permitting the filing of documents under seal. 

Dated: April 19, 2007

/s / Dennis L. Beck 

Hon. Dennis L. Beck

United States Magistrate Judge

Case 1:05-cv-01609-LJO-DLB Document 51 Filed 04/19/07 Page 3 of 3