Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_23-cv-02312/USCOURTS-caed-2_23-cv-02312-1/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 110
Nature of Suit: Insurance
Cause of Action: 28:1332 Diversity-Breach of Contract

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United States District Court

Northern District of California

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

NALINI KUMAR, et al.,

Plaintiffs,

v.

NATIONWIDE MUTUAL INSURANCE 

COMPANY,

Defendant.

Case No. 22-cv-03852-TLT (LJC)

ORDER REGARDING DISCOVERY 

DISPUTE

Re: Dkt. No. 28

Pending before the Court is the parties’ Joint Discovery Letter. Dkt. 28. The parties 

dispute the sufficiency of Defendant Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company’s (Nationwide) 

privilege log, as well as the bases on which Nationwide is withholding certain documents and 

communications relevant to the underlying action. Plaintiffs contend that Nationwide improperly 

asserts the attorney-client privilege and work product doctrine for communications with Julian 

Pardini, counsel retained by Nationwide in the course of processing Plaintiffs’ insurance claim. 

According to Plaintiffs, “[t]he law is clear that an insurer cannot shield its claims process simply 

by assigning an attorney to do the work of a claims adjuster.” Id. (quoting Renovate America, Inc. 

v. Lloyd's Syndicate 1458, 2020 WL 5106657, at *4 (S.D.Cal. 2020)).

Nationwide is ordered to file a letter brief of no more than three pages establishing a prima 

facie showing of the applicability of the attorney-client privilege and work product doctrine to the 

documents it is withholding. In particular, Nationwide shall file any declaration(s) and/or 

documentation setting forth the facts of the nature of its relationship with Mr. Pardini and Mr. 

Pardini’s role in processing and handling Plaintiffs’ insurance claim. Nationwide shall file its 

letter brief no later than Saturday, April 1, 2023, at 12:00 P.M. In addition, Nationwide shall 

concurrently file the most recent version of its privilege log produced to Plaintiffs.

Case 2:23-cv-02312-DAD-AC Document 33 Filed 03/28/23 Page 1 of 2
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United States District Court

Northern District of California

Plaintiffs shall file their own letter brief in response of no more than three pages by 

Wednesday, April 5, 2023, at 12:00 P.M. Plaintiffs may likewise file any declaration(s) and/or 

documentation in opposition to Nationwide’s assertion of the attorney-client privilege and work 

product doctrine, if they so choose.

A hearing on this matter will be held on Thursday, April 6, 2023, at 1:30 P.M. via Zoom 

videoconferencing.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: March 28, 2023

LISA J. CISNEROS

United States Magistrate Judge

Case 2:23-cv-02312-DAD-AC Document 33 Filed 03/28/23 Page 2 of 2