Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_23-cv-01672/USCOURTS-caed-1_23-cv-01672-3/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 440
Nature of Suit: Other Civil Rights
Cause of Action: 42:1983 Civil Rights Act

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STIPULATION FOR PROTECTIVE ORDER RE: PROTECTED HEALTH INFORMATION

Estate of Kartchner v. County of Merced, United States District Court, Eastern District of California, Case No. 1:23-cv-01672-KES-SKO

Mark E. Merin (State Bar No. 043849)

Paul H. Masuhara (State Bar No. 289805)

LAW OFFICE OF MARK E. MERIN

1010 F Street, Suite 300

Sacramento, California 95814

Telephone: (916) 443-6911

Facsimile: (916) 447-8336

E-Mail: mark@markmerin.com

paul@markmerin.com

LINDSEY M. ROMANO (SBN: 337600)

lromano@grsm.com

GORDON REES SCULLY MANSUKHANI, LLP

275 Battery Street, Suite 2000

San Francisco, CA 94111

Telephone: (415) 875-4126

Facsimile: (415) 986-8054

Attorneys for Defendants

CALIFORNIA FORENSIC MEDICAL GROUP

dba WELLPATH, SAETERN KAO, TERESA

OLVERA, and DYLAN FULCHER

Attorneys for Plaintiffs

ESTATE OF TOMI KARTCHNER, S.B.,

KERRY CALVERT, and AARON KARTCHNER

A PROFESSIONAL CORPORATION

Carl L. Fessenden, SBN 161494

cfessenden@porterscott.com

Matthew W. Gross, SBN 324007

mgross@porterscott.com

2180 Harvard Street, Suite 500

Sacramento, California 95815

TEL: 916.929.1481

FAX: 916.927.3706

Attorneys for Defendants 

COUNTY OF MERCED, MERCED COUNTY

SHERIFF’S OFFICE, and VERNON WARNKE

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

FRESNO DIVISION

ESTATE OF TOMI KARTCHNER, S.B.,

KERRY CALVERT, and AARON KARTCHNER,

Plaintiffs,

vs.

COUNTY OF MERCED, MERCED COUNTY 

SHERIFF’S OFFICE, VERNON WARNKE, 

CALIFORNIA FORENSIC MEDICAL GROUP 

dba WELLPATH, SAETERN KAO, TERESA 

OLVERA, DYLAN FULCHER, and DOE 1 to 20,

Defendants.

Case No. 1:23-cv-01672-KES-SKO

STIPULATION FOR PROTECTIVE ORDER 

RE: PROTECTED HEALTH INFORMATION;

ORDER

(Doc. 40)

Case 1:23-cv-01672-KES-SKO Document 42 Filed 06/26/24 Page 1 of 4
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STIPULATION FOR PROTECTIVE ORDER RE: PROTECTED HEALTH INFORMATION

Estate of Kartchner v. County of Merced, United States District Court, Eastern District of California, Case No. 1:23-cv-01672-KES-SKO

STIPULATION

Pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 26(c), Local Rule 141.1, and 45 C.F.R. §

164.512(e)(1)(v), the parties stipulate to the entry of a qualified protective order as follows:

1. The parties and their attorneys are authorized to receive, subpoena, and transmit 

“protected health information” pertaining to Tomi Kartchner including that which is contained in the 

records of the County of Merced, Merced County Sheriff’s Office, and/or California Forensic Medical 

Group dba Wellpath, to the extent and subject to the conditions outlined herein.

2. For the purposes of this qualified protective order, “protected health information” shall 

have the same scope and definition as set forth in 45 C.F.R. §§ 160.103, 164.501. Protected health 

information includes, but is not limited to, health information, including demographic information, 

relating to either: (a) the past, present, or future physical or mental condition of an individual; (b) the 

provision of care to an individual; or (c) the payment for care provided to an individual, which identifies 

the individual or which reasonably could be expected to identify the individual.

3. All “covered entities” (as defined by 45 C.F.R. § 160.103) are hereby authorized to 

disclose protected health information to attorneys representing any parties in the above-captioned matter, 

including Plaintiffs and Defendants.

4. The parties and their attorneys shall be permitted to use or disclose the protected health 

information for purposes of prosecuting or defending this action including any appeals of this case. This 

includes, but is not necessarily limited to, disclosure to their attorneys, experts, consultants, court 

personnel, court reporters, copy services, trial consultants, and other entities or persons involved in the 

litigation process. Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit counsel in this matter from 

sharing information as permitted by law.

5. Prior to disclosing protected health information to persons involved in this litigation, 

counsel shall inform each such person that the protected health information may not be used or disclosed 

for any purpose other than this litigation. Counsel shall take all other reasonable steps to ensure that 

persons receiving the protected health information do not use or disclose such information for any 

purpose other than this litigation.

6. Within 45 days after the conclusion of the litigation including appeals, the parties, their 

Case 1:23-cv-01672-KES-SKO Document 42 Filed 06/26/24 Page 2 of 4
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STIPULATION FOR PROTECTIVE ORDER RE: PROTECTED HEALTH INFORMATION

Estate of Kartchner v. County of Merced, United States District Court, Eastern District of California, Case No. 1:23-cv-01672-KES-SKO

attorneys, and any person or entity in possession of protected health information received from counsel 

pursuant to paragraph four of this Order, shall return the protected health information to the covered 

entity or destroy any and all copies of protected health information, except that counsel are not required 

to secure the return or destruction of protected health information submitted to the court.

7. This Order does not authorize either party to seal court filings or court proceedings. A 

party may seek permission from the Court to file protected health information under seal pursuant to 

Local Rule 141.

IT IS SO STIPULATED.

Dated: June 19, 2024 Respectfully Submitted,

LAW OFFICE OF MARK E. MERIN

/s/ Mark E. Merin

By: __________________________________

Mark E. Merin

Paul H. Masuhara

Attorneys for Plaintiffs

ESTATE OF TOMI KARTCHNER, S.B.,

KERRY CALVERT, and AARON KARTCHNER

Dated: June 24, 2024 Respectfully Submitted,

/s/ Matthew W. Gross

(as authorized on June 24, 2024)

By: __________________________________

Carl L. Fessenden

Matthew W. Gross

Attorneys for Defendants

COUNTY OF MERCED, MERCED COUNTY

SHERIFF’S OFFICE, and VERNON WARNKE

Case 1:23-cv-01672-KES-SKO Document 42 Filed 06/26/24 Page 3 of 4
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STIPULATION FOR PROTECTIVE ORDER RE: PROTECTED HEALTH INFORMATION

Estate of Kartchner v. County of Merced, United States District Court, Eastern District of California, Case No. 1:23-cv-01672-KES-SKO

Dated: June 19, 2024 Respectfully Submitted,

GORDON REES SCULLY MANSUKHANI, LLP

/s/ Alexander M. Jurenka

(as authorized on June 19, 2024)

By: __________________________________

Allison J. Becker 

Lindsey M. Romano

Alexander M. Jurenka

Attorneys for Defendants

CALIFORNIA FORENSIC MEDICAL GROUP

dba WELLPATH, SAETERN KAO, TERESA

OLVERA, and DYLAN FULCHER

ORDER

The parties’ foregoing stipulation (Doc. 40) is GRANTED.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: June 26, 2024 /s/ Sheila K. Oberto .

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 1:23-cv-01672-KES-SKO Document 42 Filed 06/26/24 Page 4 of 4