Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_04-cv-05423/USCOURTS-caed-1_04-cv-05423-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 365
Nature of Suit: Personal Injury - Product Liability
Cause of Action: 28:1332 Diversity-Product Liability

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STIPULATION & PROTECTIVE ORDER RE CONFIDENTIAL, COMMERCIAL & PROP. DOCS. 

IVERSON, YOAKUM ,

PAPIANO & HATCH

Arnold D. Larson, Esq., State Bar No. 77118

Melissa A. Immel, Esq., State Bar No. 137082

Darren M. Ballas, Esq., State Bar No. 198584

IVERSON, YOAKUM, PAPIANO & HATCH

624 South Grand Avenue, 27th Floor

Los Angeles, California 90017

(213) 624-7444 - (213) 629-4563 (Fax)

Attorneys for Defendant BRIDGESTONE/FIRESTONE NORTH AMERICAN

TIRE, LLC (formerly known as BRIDGESTONE/FIRESTONE, INC.)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

MARIA GUADALUPE

CONTRERAS, individually and as

Guardian ad Litem for YVONNE

CONTRERAS and ALEXANDER

CONTRERAS, minors, and as

Successors in Interest of ARTEMIO

CONTRERAS, deceased,

Plaintiffs,

vs.

BRIDGESTONE/FIRESTONE,

INC.; SEARS ROEBUCK and CO.;

and DOES 1 through 200, inclusive,

Defendants.

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CASE NO. 1:04-cv-05423 REC SMS

STIPULATION AND

PROTECTIVE ORDER

REGARDING CONFIDENTIAL,

COMMERCIAL AND

PROPRIETARY DOCUMENTS

AND INFORMATION PRODUCED

BY BRIDGESTONE/FIRESTONE

NORTH AMERICAN TIRE, LLC,

(Formerly Known As

BRIDGESTONE/FIRESTONE,

INC.)

Plaintiffs MARIA GUADALUPE CONTRERAS, individually and as

Guardian ad Litem for YVONNE CONTRERAS and ALEXANDER

CONTRERAS, minors, and as Successors in Interest of ARTEMIO

CONTRERAS, deceased ("Plaintiffs"), and Defendants BRIDGESTONE/

FIRESTONE NORTH AMERICAN TIRE, LLC, (formally known as

Case 1:04-cv-05423-OWW -SMS Document 35 Filed 07/11/05 Page 1 of 13
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STIPULATION & PROTECTIVE ORDER RE CONFIDENTIAL, COMMERCIAL & PROP. DOCS. 

IVERSON, YOAKUM ,

PAPIANO & HATCH

BRIDGESTONE/FIRESTONE, INC.) (hereinafter “FIRESTONE”), FORD

MOTOR COMPANY, being all of the parties to this action, by and through their

respective attorneys of record, have reviewed and agreed to the terms of the

following Protective Order regarding the production of documents and

information of a confidential, commercial, and proprietary nature by Defendant

FIRESTONE in this matter. All parties agree that this stipulation can be signed in

counter-parts.

Dated: June 27, 2005 PEREZ, WILLIAM & MEDINA

By: /s/ Robert Williams 

Robert Williams, Esq.

Attorneys for Plaintiffs MARIA GUADALUPE

CONTRERAS, individually and as 

Guardian ad Litem for YVONNE CONTRERAS

and ALEXANDER CONTRERAS, minors, and as

Successors-in-Interest of ARTEMIO

 CONTRERAS

Dated: June 13, 2005 BARNHART, EKKER and McNALLY LLP

BY: /s/ Michael J. McNally 

Woodson Randolph Barnhart, Esq.

Michael J. McNally, Esq.

Attorneys for Plaintiffs MARIA GUADALUPE 

CONTRERAS, individually and as Guardian ad Litem

for YVONNE CONTRERAS and ALEXANDER 

CONTRERAS, minors, and as Successors-in-Interest 

of ARTEMIO CONTRERAS

Dated: June 14, 2005 BOWMAN and BROOKE LLP

BY: /s/ Vadim R. Alden-Alaverdov 

Janice K. O'Grady, Esq.

Linda K. Adler, Esq.

Vadim R. Alden-Alaverdov, Esq.

Attorneys for Defendant FORD MOTOR COMPANY

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STIPULATION & PROTECTIVE ORDER RE CONFIDENTIAL, COMMERCIAL & PROP. DOCS. 

IVERSON, YOAKUM ,

PAPIANO & HATCH

Dated: June 14, 2005 SNELL & WILMER LLP

BY: /s/ Amy Leinen 

Robert J. Gibson, Esq.

Daniel S. Rodman, Esq.

Amy Leinen, Esq.

Laurie S. Gormican, Esq.

Attorneys for Defendant FORD MOTOR COMPANY

Dated: June 22, 2005 IVERSON, YOAKUM, PAPIANO & HATCH

BY: /s/ Melissa A. Immel 

Melissa A. Immel, Esq.

Attorneys for Defendant BRIDGESTONE/

FIRESTONE NORTH AMERICAN TIRE, LLC,

(formerly known as BRIDGESTONE/FIRESTONE, 

INC.)

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STIPULATION & PROTECTIVE ORDER RE CONFIDENTIAL, COMMERCIAL & PROP. DOCS. 

IVERSON, YOAKUM ,

PAPIANO & HATCH

It appearing to the Court that all counsel of record for the parties to this

action have seen and agreed to the terms of a protective order regarding the

production of documents of a confidential, commercial, and proprietary nature, in

order to preserve and maintain the confidentiality of certain documents to be

produced in this litigation by Defendant BRIDGESTONE/FIRESTONE NORTH

AMERICAN TIRE, LLC, (formally known as BRIDGESTONE/FIRESTONE,

INC.) (hereinafter “FIRESTONE”), THE COURT HEREBY ORDERS as

follows:

1. Terms

(a) “Confidential Information” means information that constitutes

a trade secret or reveals confidential research, development, or commercial

information, sensitive or proprietary business or financial information, personal

information, or information furnished to the party producing the information in

confidence by a third party. Confidential information does note include

information that has been disclosed in the public domain.

(b) “Protectible Documents” means writings and recordings as

defined by Federal Rules of Evidence, Rule 1001 and deposition testimony, to be

produced by FIRESTONE that contain Confidential Information.

(c) “Confidential Material” means any document(s) designated

pursuant to section 2(a) or (b) of this Order and any Confidential Information

contained therein and the information derived from such Protectible Documents,

including any copies, abstracts, summaries, compilations, or other such record

derived from such Protectible Documents, and any new or other record concerning

the components of such Protectible Documents.

(d) “Trial Preparation Material” means documents and materials such as

pleading, court papers and briefs, exhibits, depositions, interrogatories and the like

and summaries thereof or notes pertaining therein.

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STIPULATION & PROTECTIVE ORDER RE CONFIDENTIAL, COMMERCIAL & PROP. DOCS. 

IVERSON, YOAKUM ,

PAPIANO & HATCH

2. Designations

 (a) A document (or portion of a document) that a party determines

in good faith to be a Protectible Document may be designated as confidential by

(1) stamping the word “CONFIDENTIAL” on the document, (2) otherwise

indicating the portion that is confidential, (3) employing other means provided for

this Order, or (4) using any other reasonable method agreed to by the parties.

 (b) A party may, on the record of a deposition or by written notice

to opposing counsel not later than seventy-two (72) hours after receipt of the

deposition transcript, designate any portion(s) of the deposition as

"CONFIDENTIAL" based on a good faith determination that any portions so

designated constitute a Protectible Document. To the extent possible, any portions

so designated shall be transcribed separately and marked by the court reporter as

"CONFIDENTIAL." Until expiration of the above seventy-two (72) hour period,

all deposition transcripts and information therein will be deemed "Confidential

Material."

 (c) By designating a document Confidential Material pursuant to

section 2(a) or (b), a party represents that it has made a bond fide, good faith

determination that the document does, in fact, contain Confidential Information.

(d) No party concedes that any documents designated by another

party as Confidential Material are in fact Protectible Documents.

3. Challenge to Designation

 (a) Any party may challenge a designation made under section 2(a)

by written notice of its objection to counsel for the designating party or non-party,

stating the basis for such a challenge. Challenge to a designation made under

section 2(b) may be made either upon the record of the deposition or as provided

in the preceding sentence.

 (b) In the event a designation is challenged, the challenging and

designating parties shall attempt to resolve any challenges in good faith on an

Case 1:04-cv-05423-OWW -SMS Document 35 Filed 07/11/05 Page 5 of 13
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STIPULATION & PROTECTIVE ORDER RE CONFIDENTIAL, COMMERCIAL & PROP. DOCS. 

IVERSON, YOAKUM ,

PAPIANO & HATCH

expedited and informal basis. If the challenge cannot be expeditiously and

informally resolved within ten (10) days, the party requesting confidential

treatment will move for an appropriate ruling from the Court. The material shall

continue to be treated as Confidential Material until the expiration of ten (10) days

if no motion is made by the party requesting confidential treatment, or, if a motion

is made, until the Court rules. With any such motion, the movant shall have the

burden of making the requisite showing that the materials are entitled to

confidential treatment.

(c) A party shall not be obligated to challenge the propriety of the

designation of documents as Confidential Materials at the time of designation, and

failure to do so shall not preclude a subsequent challenge to the designation.

4. Use of Confidential Material Limited

Confidential -Material and the portion of all writings, including the portion

of pre-trial court papers, that quote from, summarize, or comment upon such

materials shall be treated as confidential and used (1) by counsel in the above

captioned litigation solely for the litigation of the above captioned case. Persons

having access to the Confidential Materials shall not disclose or provide

Confidential Materials to any person not authorized under this Protective Order.

No Confidential Material may be made available to, or in any manner revealed to

or discussed with any other person or entity, except: (1) solely in accordance with

the procedures set forth in this Protective Order; or (2) upon the written

permission of the producing party. 

5. Not Applicable to Trial

This Order does not apply to the offer of or admission into evidence of

Protectible Documents or Confidential Material of their contents at trial or in any

evidentiary hearing, nor does it apply for any other purpose under the Federal

/ / /

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STIPULATION & PROTECTIVE ORDER RE CONFIDENTIAL, COMMERCIAL & PROP. DOCS. 

IVERSON, YOAKUM ,

PAPIANO & HATCH

Rules of Evidence. Such evidentiary issues may be raised as a separate matter

upon the motion of any party at the time of trial or evidentiary hearing.

6. Filing Under Seal

Any briefs, transcripts, exhibits, depositions, or documents which are filed

or lodged with the Court which comprise, embody, summarize, discuss, or quote

from Confidential Material shall be sealed, unless the parties otherwise agree or

the Court otherwise orders. No motion or other request to file or lodge

Confidential Material under seal shall be required of the filing or lodging party.

Such Confidential Material shall be filed or lodged in sealed envelopes or other

appropriately sealed containers. Each sealed envelope or container shall be

endorsed with the title and case number of the action and a statement substantially

in the following form: 

This envelope is sealed pursuant to Order of the Court and contains

Confidential Material filed in this action by [name of producing

party], and is not to be opened or the contents thereof displayed or

revealed except by the Court or upon order of the Court. 

In the event that a non-producing party seeks to use Confidential Material at

trial, or as a basis for adjudication of matters other than discovery motions or

Proceeding, the non-producing party shall notify the producing party in the

individual action, in writing no later than thirty (30) days prior to the date of the

pretrial conference (or prior to moving for adjudication of the particular matters)

so as to allow the producing party to obtain permission from the Court to have the

Confidential Material filed under seal and shall cooperate with the producing

party's efforts to seek such relief on shortened notice, including ex parte notice. At

the same time the non-producing party provides said notice, the non-producing

party shall provide to the producing party a list of Bates stamp numbers (where

applicable) of the Confidential Material sought to be, used by that party, and 

Case 1:04-cv-05423-OWW -SMS Document 35 Filed 07/11/05 Page 7 of 13
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STIPULATION & PROTECTIVE ORDER RE CONFIDENTIAL, COMMERCIAL & PROP. DOCS. 

IVERSON, YOAKUM ,

PAPIANO & HATCH

where the Confidential Material sought to be used cannot be identified by Bates

stamp numbers, provide copies of the Confidential Material sought to be used.

7. Permitted Disclosures

Confidential Material may be shown, disseminated, or disclosed only to the

following persons:

 (a) all attorneys of record for the parties in the above captioned

litigation, including members of their respective law firms, and any other attorney

associated to assist in the preparation of the above captioned case for trial;

(b) all employees of parties' counsel assisting in the preparation of

the above captioned case for trial;

(c) experts and consultants retained by the parties for the

preparation or trial of the above captioned case;

(d) translators retained by the parties for the preparation or trial of

the above captioned case;

(e) the Court, its staff, witnesses, and the jury in the above

captioned case;

(f) employees of BRIDGESTONE/FIRESTONE NORTH

AMERICAN TIRE, LLC, (formally known as BRIDGESTONE/FIRESTONE,

INC.), FORD MOTOR COMPANY;

(g) persons noticed for depositions or designated as trial witnesses

to the extent reasonably necessary in preparing said persons to testify; provided,

however, that in all such cases the person to whom disclosure is made must signify

assent to the terms of this Protective Order by executing the acknowledgement

attached as Appendix A, indicating that he or she has read and understood this

Protective Order and has agreed to be bound by its terms.

8. Agreement by Disclosures

Before being given access to Confidential Material, each person described

in paragraphs 7(a), (b), (c); (d), (f), or (g) shall be advised of the terms of this

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STIPULATION & PROTECTIVE ORDER RE CONFIDENTIAL, COMMERCIAL & PROP. DOCS. 

IVERSON, YOAKUM ,

PAPIANO & HATCH

Order, shall be given a copy of this Order, and shall agree in writing to be bound

by its terms and to submit to the jurisdiction of this Court by executing the

acknowledgement attached as Appendix A, indicating that he or she has read and

understood this Protective Order and has agreed to be bound by its terms. If a

deponent or the attorney for a deponent refuses to execute the acknowledgement

attached as Appendix A, he or she shall be requested on the deposition record to

agree to the terms of the Protective Order. Every deposition witness whose

appearance at deposition is obtained pursuant to the process of this Court and to

whom Confidential Material is disclosed at deposition is hereby ordered (1) to

maintain all Confidential Material in confidence, and (2) not to disclose

Confidential Material to anyone other than in accordance with the terms of this

Protective Order.

9. Production Not a Waiver

The production of Confidential Material pursuant to this Order is not

intended to constitute a waiver of any privilege or right to claim the trade secret or

confidential status of the documents, materials, or information produced.

10. Authentication

Documents ostensibly prepared by Firestone personnel and produced by

Firestone subject to this Order will be deemed authentic for purposes of discovery

and trial, each party retaining the right to object to admissibility.

11. Inadvertent Disclosure

The inadvertent, unintentional, or in camera disclosure of confidential

information shall not, under any circumstances, be deemed a waiver, in whole or

in part, of any party's claims of confidentiality. If a claim of inadvertent production

is made pursuant to this paragraph the non-producing party shall promptly return

the Protectible Material to the producing party and make no use of the Protectible

Material for any purpose.

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STIPULATION & PROTECTIVE ORDER RE CONFIDENTIAL, COMMERCIAL & PROP. DOCS. 

IVERSON, YOAKUM ,

PAPIANO & HATCH

12. Return or Destruction of Confidential Materials

Counsel of record for each party, upon final disposition (which shall mean

for purpose of this Order the exhaustion of all case related appeals) of the above

captioned litigation, shall ensure that any person described in paragraphs 7(a), (b),

(c), (d), (f), or (g) who has received copies of Confidential Materials from or

through such counsel of record destroys such Confidential Materials and confirms

in writing to counsel for the producing party that the Confidential Materials have

been destroyed or returns such Confidential Materials to counsel of record for the

producing party.

13. Public Health and Safety

Nothing in this Order is intended to prevent any party from raising with the

Court any concern that the non-disclosure of certain Confidential Material may

have a possible adverse effect upon the general public health or safety, or the

administration or operation of government or public office.

14. Final Disposition

Upon final disposition of this action, all Confidential Materials (other than

Trial Preparation Materials of the receiving party, any pleadings filed with the

Court, or any other material protected by a privilege, such as the work-product or

attorney-client privilege) shall be returned to the producing party's counsel of

record or disposed of in some other manner agreed to by the partiers. Confidential

Material retained by the receiving party pursuant to this Section shall retain the

status of Confidential Material despite termination of this action, and shall be

treated in accordance with the terms of this Protective Order. Counsel of record for

the receiving party shall provide a written declaration that all Confidential

Material has been returned or disposed of in accordance with this provision, and

said declaration shall include as attachments a copy of all executed Appendix A

acknowledgments referenced in paragraph 8, above.

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STIPULATION & PROTECTIVE ORDER RE CONFIDENTIAL, COMMERCIAL & PROP. DOCS. 

IVERSON, YOAKUM ,

PAPIANO & HATCH

15. Court Procedures

Any court hearing which refers to or describes "Confidential" information

shall in the Court's discretion be in camera. A party must request such an in

camera hearing.

16. Amendment

This Protective Order may be amended by agreement of counsel of record

for the parties in the form of a written stipulation filed with the Court and subject

to Court's approval

17. No Waiver Due to Review

Review of Confidential Materials by counsel of record, experts, or

consultants for the litigants in the litigation shall not waive the confidentiality of

the documents or objections to production.

18. Penalties for Breach

This Protective Order shall be strictly enforced by the Court, and any

violation is punishable by the Court's contempt power, including monetary

sanctions. The District Court shall retain jurisdiction at the conclusion of its

proceedings for the purpose of enforcing this agreement between the parties.

So ordered this 8 day of July, 2005 

 /s/ Sandra M. Snyder 

MAGISTRATE JUDGE SANDRA SNYDER

United States District Court – Eastern District of California

Case 1:04-cv-05423-OWW -SMS Document 35 Filed 07/11/05 Page 11 of 13
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STIPULATION & PROTECTIVE ORDER RE CONFIDENTIAL, COMMERCIAL & PROP. DOCS. 

IVERSON, YOAKUM ,

PAPIANO & HATCH

ATTACHMENT A

WRITTEN ASSURANCE

STATE OF ______________________________

COUNTY OF _____________________________

I, ____________________________________, hereby attest to my

understanding that the information or documents designated Confidential are

provided to me pursuant to the terms and conditions and restrictions of the

Protective Order dated ______________, in Maria Guadalupe Contreras, et al. v.

Bridgestone/Firestone, Inc., et al., Case No.: F-04-5423 REC SMS, in the U.S.

District Court for Eastern District of California; that I have been given a copy of

and have read that Protective Order and have had its meaning and effect explained

to me by the designated attorney receiving the documents; and that I hereby agree

to be bound by it and its terms. I further agree that I shall not disclose to others,

except in accordance with that Protective Order, such information or documents

including notes or other memorandum or writings regarding information contained

in them, and that such information or documents shall be used for the purposes of

this litigation. I further agree and attest to my understanding that my obligation to

honor the confidentiality of such information or documents will continue even

after the termination of that legal proceeding. I further agree and attest to my

understanding that, in the event that I fail to abide by the terms of the Protective

Order, I may be subject to sanctions, including sanctions by way of contempt of

court, imposed by the Court for such a failure. Further, I agree to subject myself

to the jurisdiction of the United States District Court, Eastern District California, 

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STIPULATION & PROTECTIVE ORDER RE CONFIDENTIAL, COMMERCIAL & PROP. DOCS. 

IVERSON, YOAKUM ,

PAPIANO & HATCH

in and for any contempt proceedings or other appropriate sanctions as the Court

may deem proper for a violation of the Court's Protective Order. 

I declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the State of California

that the foregoing is true and correct. 

Dated: ____________________ Signed:____________________________

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