Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-5_05-cv-05102/USCOURTS-cand-5_05-cv-05102-6/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 190
Nature of Suit: Other Contract Actions
Cause of Action: 15:2801 Petroleum Marketing Practices Act

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United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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*E-FILED 5/23/07*

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

SAN JOSE DIVISION

EQUILON ENTERPRISES LLC, 

Plaintiff,

 v.

MEHDI SHABAZI et al,

Defendants. /

NO. C 05 05102 JF (RS)

ORDER STRIKING

DECLARATION AND

ATTACHMENTS

On April 26, 2007, the Court entered an order requiring Mehdi Shahbazi to “provide to

Equilon” a written declaration regarding his compliance with discovery obligations. On May 11,

2007, Shahbazi filed such a declaration with the Court. (Docket No. 151) The declaration attaches

copies of additional documents, including correspondence between Shahbazi and counsel for

Balwinder Singh Pannu. 

Now before the Court is the request of Pannu for an order striking from the court file all the

letters from his counsel to Shahbazi on grounds that they comprise confidential settlement

negotiations. Alternatively, Pannu requests that only redacted versions of the documents, which he

has provided, be permitted to remain in the file. Pannu has not shown that Shahbazi was under any

duty not to disclose publicly any of the letters sent to or by him. Rule 408 of the Federal Rules of

Evidence merely renders inadmissible statements made in the context of settlement negotiations 

Case 5:05-cv-05102-JF Document 154 Filed 05/23/07 Page 1 of 3
United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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C 05 05102 JF (RS) 

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when offered to prove liability or the invalidity of a claim. California Evidence Code section 1152,

cited in one of the letters, similarly only renders statements made in settlement negotiations

inadmissible to prove liability. Shahbazi has not offered the letters as proof of liability.

That said, nothing in the Court’s April 26, 2007, order called for Shahbazi to file the

declaration, much less the documents attached thereto. Rather, like all materials a party produces in

discovery, the declaration and any document should only have been provided to the requesting party

and not filed with the Court. Accordingly, it is hereby ordered that the materials filed under Docket

No. 151 be stricken from the record.

 IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: May 23, 2007 

RICHARD SEEBORG

United States Magistrate Judge

Case 5:05-cv-05102-JF Document 154 Filed 05/23/07 Page 2 of 3
United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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C 05 05102 JF (RS) 

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THIS IS TO CERTIFY THAT NOTICE OF THIS ORDER WAS ELECTRONICALLY

PROVIDED TO:

Gary Ernest Gray ggray@ggraylaw.com

Kristen A. Palumbo kristen.palumbo@bingham.com

James Severson james.severson@bingham.com

Colin C. West colin.west@bingham.com

AND A COPY OF THIS ORDER WAS MAILED TO:

Mehdi Shahbazi

3030 Del Monte Blvd.

Marina, CA 93933 

Dated: May 23, 2007

 /s/ BAK 

Chambers of Magistrate Judge Richard Seeborg

Case 5:05-cv-05102-JF Document 154 Filed 05/23/07 Page 3 of 3