Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-3_15-md-02672/USCOURTS-cand-3_15-md-02672-61/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 370
Nature of Suit: Other Fraud
Cause of Action: 15:2301 Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act

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1291603.1 -1- ORDER NO. 14

(COUNSEL COMMUNICATIONS)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

SAN FRANCISCO DIVISION

IN RE: VOLKSWAGEN “CLEAN 

DIESEL” MARKETING, SALES 

PRACTICES, AND PRODUCTS 

LIABILITY LITIGATION

/

MDL No. 2672 CRB (JSC)

PRETRIAL ORDER NO. 14 REGARDING 

PROTECTED COUNSEL 

COMMUNICATIONS

This Order Relates to: Hon. Charles R. Breyer

ALL ACTIONS (except securities actions)

/

WHEREAS, on December 8, 2015, the United States Judicial Panel on Multidistrict 

Litigation transferred 56 civil actions against Volkswagen AG and related entities to the United 

States District Court for the Northern District of California for coordinated or consolidated 

pretrial proceedings (Dkt. No. 1);

WHEREAS, since December 8, 2015, a number of additional transfers to this Court for 

coordinated or consolidated pretrial proceedings have occurred, and further transfers may occur in 

the future;

WHEREAS, all such actions have been assigned to the Honorable Charles R. Breyer;

WHEREAS, on January 4, 2016, the United States notified the Clerk of the United States 

Panel on Multidistrict Litigation of its potential tag-along action, United States of America v. 

Volkswagen AG, Audi AG, Volkswagen Group of America, Inc., Volkswagen Group of America 

Chattanooga Operations, LLC, Dr. Ing. h.c.F. Porsche AG, and Porsche Cars North America, 

Inc. (Dkt. No. 1044); 

Case 3:15-md-02672-CRB Document 1326 Filed 03/04/16 Page 1 of 3
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1291603.1 -2- ORDER NO. 14

(COUNSEL COMMUNICATIONS)

WHEREAS, the conditional transfer order of the United States’ action against 

Volkswagen AG, et al., was finalized on January 15, 2016 (Dkt. No. 928), and the United States’ 

action was transferred to the Honorable Charles R. Breyer on January 21, 2016 (3:16-cv-295, 

Dkt. No. 13); and

WHEREAS, on January 21, 2016, the Court ordered the creation of the Plaintiffs’ 

Steering Committee, and appointed Government Coordinating Counsel (Pretrial Order No. 7, Dkt. 

No. 1084).

NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS ORDERED THAT: 

1. Cooperation by and among Government Coordinating Counsel and/or his 

designees and the Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee and/or its designees (collectively, “Plaintiffs’ 

Counsel”), and by and among Defendants’ Liaison Counsel and/or his/her designees

(“Defendants’ Counsel”), is essential for the orderly and expeditious resolution of this litigation. 

The communication of information among and between Plaintiffs’ Counsel, including 

communications among and between Government Coordinating Counsel and/or his designees and 

Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee and/or its designees, and/or among and between Defendants’ 

Counsel, shall not be deemed a waiver of the attorney-client privilege or the protections afforded 

attorney’s work product. Nothing contained in this provision shall be construed to limit the rights 

of any party or counsel to assert the attorney-client privilege or attorney work product doctrine.

2. Neither communications among and between Plaintiffs’ Counsel nor 

communications among and between Defendants’ Counsel are required to be identified on a 

producing party’s privilege log.

3. Nothing herein is intended to authorize disclosure by Government Coordinating 

Counsel and/or his designees to the Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee and/or its designees in 

contravention of any confidentiality agreement between the United States and any defendant.

4. Except as otherwise provided herein, nothing in this Order is intended to protect 

from disclosure documents and/or information otherwise discoverable under the Federal Rules of 

Civil Procedure. The fact that information and/or documents are shared pursuant to this Order 

does not prevent the discovery of that information and/or documents if otherwise discoverable 

Case 3:15-md-02672-CRB Document 1326 Filed 03/04/16 Page 2 of 3
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1291603.1 -3- ORDER NO. 14

(COUNSEL COMMUNICATIONS)

under the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

DATED: March 4, 2016

CHARLES R. BREYER

United States District Judge

Case 3:15-md-02672-CRB Document 1326 Filed 03/04/16 Page 3 of 3