Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_10-cv-00981/USCOURTS-caed-2_10-cv-00981-4/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
Gateway Unified School District
Defendant
Kendall Lynn
Plaintiff

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MEMORANDUM AND ORDER 

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 

KENDALL LYNN, 

 Plaintiff 

v. 

GATEWAY UNIFIED SCHOOL 

DISTRICT and DOES 1-50, inclusive, 

 Defendants. 

_____________________________/ 

No. 2:10-CV-00981-JAM-CMK 

SECOND AMENDED

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER 

 

Defendant Gateway Unified School District’s motion for dismissal, sanctions 

and/or for disqualification of Plaintiff’s counsel Robert A. Thurbon, Jr., and the law firm 

of Thurbon & McHaney filed November 9, 2011, (Dkt # 46), came on regularly before 

this court for hearing on December 7, 2011. John P. Kelley, Esq., appeared as 

attorney for the Defendant, and Jacqueline S. McHaney, Esq., appeared as attorney 

for Plaintiff. Having read and considered the memorandum submitted by counsel, the 

attachments thereto, the pleadings and the arguments of counsel, the Court now 

renders the following memorandum, decision and order. 

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MEMORANDUM AND ORDER 

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FACTUAL BACKGROUND 

A. THE PLAYERS

The Gateway Unified School District (hereinafter “School District”) is a K-12 

public school district in Shasta County. In January 2009, the Superintendent was 

John Strohmayer, the Assistant Superintendent/Chief Business Official was Jody 

Thulin and the Director of Technology was Kendall Lynn. In February 2009, Thulin 

submitted a letter to the School Board claiming Strohmayer had engaged in improper 

financial practices. Thulin’s claims were investigated by the Board and found 

meritless. 

In the summer 2009, John Strohmayer retired, Robert Hubbell was hired to 

replace him as Superintendent. Hubbell had no prior affiliation with the School 

District. Hubbell determined Thulin lacked the qualifications and experience to be 

Chief Business Official and recommended to the School Board she be reassigned to a 

teaching position. The Board agreed. Thulin refused the position and instituted civil 

litigation in Shasta County Superior Court claiming whistleblower retaliating. (The 

Thulin case). Attorney Robert A. Thurbon, Jr., of the Thurbon and McHaney law firm 

filed the Thulin case. 

When Hubbell took over as Superintendent on July 1, 2009, he informed Lynn 

there would likely be cuts in the Technology Department, including potentially Lynn’s 

position. Lynn immediately consulted with Thurbon, having been referred to him by 

Thulin. The initial consultation between Lynn and Thurbon was July 7, 2009. 

On August 19, 2010, Hubbell recommended to the Board Lynn’s position be 

eliminated for economic reasons. Both Lynn and Thurbon were present at this Board 

meeting. Thurbon spoke out against Lynn’s layoff. The Board approved the 

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MEMORANDUM AND ORDER 

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recommendation and eliminated the Director of Technology position. This resulted in 

Lynn being issued a layoff notice. Pursuant to the Education Code, Lynn was given 

45-days notice of his layoff so it was not effective until October 6, 2009; however, 

Lynn went out on medical leave starting August 24, 2009. Lynn’s last day of working 

was August 21, 2009. Having turned in a note from his doctor stating he would be on 

medical leave for six weeks, Lynn never returned from his medical leave following 

August 21, 2009, before his layoff became effective. Believing his layoff was the 

result of racial discrimination, Lynn is black, Lynn hired Thurbon to pursue this racial 

discrimination lawsuit in Federal Court. 

B. EMAIL THEFT 

Late on August 26, 2009, or early morning on August 27, 2009, Lynn made a 

copy of all of the emails on the School District’s server. The server contained the 

emails of every employee in the entire School District for at least four months. The 

total number of emails Lynn copied was 39,312. Lynn did not have permission or 

authority to take these emails, which are School District property. Lynn did not tell 

anyone he made this copy. The evidence points to Lynn making this copy from home 

since he was on sick leave, or he returned to the School District office late at night 

when no one else was present to make this copy. Lynn then started going through 

these emails looking for ones he hoped would support his racial discrimination case. 

As early as October 12, 2009, Lynn started forwarding some of the emails to 

Thurbon to try and bolster his discrimination case. The emails were sent to Thurbon 

both electronically and in hard copy (printed) format. 

Thurbon has claimed in court documents he researched whether Lynn was 

entitled to possess the emails before he himself took possession of them. This 

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research has never been identified by Thurbon. After doing this alleged research, 

Thurbon asked Lynn to send all the emails to his office. Thurbon took possession of 

the electronic emails in June 2009 and had them loaded onto his office computer. 

About the same time, Lynn told Thurbon there were emails he thought would help 

Thulin’s case. 

In Thulin’s case, Lynn’s deposition was taken on June 23, 2010. At the time of 

Lynn’s deposition, the School District did not know of his email theft, but emails were 

discussed for other reasons. Lynn testified all emails on the School District’s server 

were School District property. Lynn also acknowledged he was only allowed to access 

other employees’ emails at the School District if he was given specific permission from 

the Superintendent. This understanding is confirmed by both former Superintendents 

Hubbell and Strohmayer, the School Board’s technology use policy and the School 

District’s expert. Lynn acknowledged in his deposition he was only asked by a 

Superintendent to check other employees’ emails on two occasions, neither of those 

occasions would have encompassed the emails the School District later learned he 

had stolen. 

Thurbon was present at Lynn’s deposition and heard about Lynn’s limited 

authority to access emails. Four days later, on June 29, 2010, Thurbon had Thulin 

come to his office and review the electronic emails. Thulin spent four hours searching 

through the emails looking for ones she thought would be relevant to her case. Thulin 

printed off 147 pages of emails (“Thulin emails”) and gave them to Thurbon. Two of 

those emails were then used by Thurbon to oppose the School District’s motion for 

summary judgment in the Thulin case. 

On June 29, 2010, Thulin was deposed and discussed emails which the School 

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MEMORANDUM AND ORDER 

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District had not released and which were clearly protected by the attorney-client 

privilege. Thurbon was present at the deposition, heard her testify about the emails 

that were clearly protected by the attorney-client privilege, but did nothing to stop the 

deposition. The next day, June 30, 2010, the School District received Thulin’s 

supplemental discovery responses which included the 147 Thulin emails. It was this 

date, June 30, 2010, the School District realized there had been a security breach in 

its email system and Thulin and Thurbon had obtained emails the School District did 

not release. Lynn’s involvement at this point was suspected, but unknown by the 

School District. 

C. STATE LITIGATION OVER THE EMAILS 

With Thulin’s production of 147 pages of emails the School District had not 

released, some clearly covered by the attorney-client privilege, the School District 

sought and was given an emergency temporary restraining order preventing the use, 

discussion and dissemination of the emails in the Thulin case. On August 9, 2010, the 

Shasta County Superior Court granted a permanent injunction requiring Thurbon and 

Thulin to return the 147 pages of emails and all copies in their possession and not to 

use or discuss the emails for any purpose. The Court held the School District 

demonstrated Thulin “did not lawfully obtain the emails.” The Court noted Thulin did 

not produce any evidence or explanation of how the documents were obtained. Even 

though Thurbon, Thulin and Lynn all provided declarations in opposition to the 

injunction motion, none of them revealed how the emails had been obtained. 

Despite the injunctive order stating the emails and their contents were not to be 

used for any purpose, Thurbon, in the Thulin case, initiated discovery requests that 

were obviously aimed at trying to re-obtain the Thulin emails. Meanwhile, the School 

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District’s counsel sent numerous meet and confer letters to Thurbon to try and 

ascertain how many emails were in Thurbon’s possession and how they had been 

acquired. Thurbon refused to provide any information. 

Based on Thurbon’s continued use of the emails to drive litigation, a motion to 

dismiss the litigation and a motion to disqualify Thurbon were brought in the Thulin 

case. In opposing this motion, Thurbon submitted a lengthy declaration revealing for 

the first time how Lynn had taken the emails. The Shasta County Superior Court 

granted the motion to disqualify Thurbon and removed him from the Thulin case. The 

Court denied the motion to dismiss finding Thulin herself was innocent of the theft and 

should not be held accountable for Lynn and Thurbon’s conduct. Instead, the Court 

granted an evidentiary sanction precluding use of the Thulin emails at trial. A month 

later, Thurbon filed a motion for reconsideration of both orders and this time submitted 

a declaration from Lynn which described how Lynn had taken the emails without 

permission. 

The School District filed a new lawsuit in the Shasta County Superior Court, 

Gateway v. Thurbon, Thulin and Lynn (‘Gateway”) to seek return of all the emails. 

The School District then sought and obtained an injunctive order in this new litigation 

all the emails taken by Lynn had to be returned to the School District, whether in 

electronic or paper format. Further, Thurbon, Thulin and Lynn were ordered not to 

use, discuss or disseminate the emails for any purpose and were ordered to return all 

documents summarizing or discussed the contents of the stolen emails. In granting 

this injunctive relief, the Court once again found Lynn had not obtained the emails 

through a lawful process. 

This new injunctive order was entered by the Shasta County Superior Court on 

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MEMORANDUM AND ORDER 

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November 8, 2010. Thurbon, Thulin and Lynn proclaimed compliance with this order 

in early December, 2010, by handing over their electronic copy of the emails. 

However, Thurbon did not return any paper copies of any emails to the School 

District’s counsel or turn over any documents summarizing or quoting from the emails. 

Therefore, inquiries were made by the School District’s counsel of Thurbon regarding 

compliance with the order. In a letter dated December 9, 2010, Thurbon stated he had 

fully complied with the Court’s order and represented “the only documents we ever 

printed off or reviewed were the documents that were dealt with extensively in the 

Thulin litigation.” This representation was inaccurate. 

In the present case, on October 11, 2010, Lynn served a cryptic Rule 26 

disclosure identifying “emails” in support of his case. Meet and confer letters were 

sent by the School District’s counsel asking Thurbon to identify these emails. When 

no response was given, the School District noticed Lynn’s deposition and asked these 

documents be produced. 

At Lynn’s February 17, 2011, deposition, Lynn produced 227 pages of 

documents, including 115 pages of emails. These 115 pages have since been known 

as the “Lynn emails.” During the deposition Lynn acknowledged all 115 pages of 

emails were part of the 39,312 emails he had taken from the School District. He 

further testified he had printed some of these emails and given them to Thurbon for 

use in his discrimination case at least 15 months previous. Lynn claims these emails 

are racial jokes that support his racial discrimination case. 

In the State Thulin and Gateway cases, the School District sought and obtained 

an order to show cause re contempt against Thurbon for violation of the state 

injunctive orders pertaining to these emails. After a hearing, the Shasta County 

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MEMORANDUM AND ORDER 

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Superior Court Judge Stephen H. Baker found five intentional violations of these order 

and sanctioned Thurbon for contempt in the amount of $2,500.00. 

D. THE CONFIDENTIAL NATURE OF THE EMAILS 

When the 39,312 emails were returned to the School District by Lynn, pursuant 

to the injunctive order in the Gateway case, the School District hired attorney Richard 

Clopine to review the emails. Mr. Clopine read every single email and found that 

approximately 11-12% of the emails, about 4,300, are subject to various privileges and 

privacies. These privileges include the attorney-client privilege, the work-product 

doctrine, protection of student records under the California Education Code and 

Federal Law, personnel records, disciplinary records of both students and employees 

of the School District, test scores on grades of students, as well as individual 

education plans of special education students. In addition, some of the these emails 

have been confirmed by the sender and/or recipient as protected by the attorney-client 

privilege. None of these privileges were waived prior to Lynn taking the emails. 

E. THURBON AND LYNN HAVE MADE INCONSISTENT STATEMENTS 

ABOUT THE ACQUISITION AND USE OF THE EMAILS 

Both Thurbon and Lynn were deposed in the Thulin case, as well as this 

Federal Court matter about the acquisition and use of the emails. Both have also 

submitted at least two declarations in the State cases on this subject. Some of this 

sworn testimony contradicts other statements by the same witness, other statements 

have been proven false based on other evidence. 

There is inconsistency in Lynn and Thurbon’s testimony on the date Lynn 

downloaded the emails. Lynn claimed in deposition he only made a “personal copy” of 

the email server once. Assuming this is true, then the date he downloaded the emails 

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was either late on August 26, 2009, or early morning on August 27, 2009. However, 

Lynn claimed in deposition he never accessed the School District’s server after August 

25th. Further, Lynn testified he downloaded the emails while at the School District 

office and still working by inserting a “flash drive” into one of the office computers; 

however, Lynn’s last day physically working was August 21, 2009. Lynn called in sick 

starting on August 24, 2009, and never returned to work before his layoff became 

effective in October. Thus on August 26th or 27th Lynn either had to download the 

emails from home or sneak into the School District office after hours to take the 

emails. 

The date the emails were taken also contradicts Lynn’s motive for doing so. 

According to a declaration Lynn filed in State court, he copied the emails in July 

because he was concerned emails were being deleted and he would be accused of a 

security breach. This is repeated in Thurbon’s State court declaration wherein he 

claims Lynn made the backup copy immediately after an outside consultant was asked 

by Hubbell to look at emails. Thurbon’s declaration states Lynn made the backup 

copy in anticipation for being fired off “for cause” which then would result in an 

evidentiary hearing about misconduct by Lynn. Thurbon continues the emails were no 

longer needed once Lynn was laid off for economic reasons, but Lynn kept the emails 

anyway. But all of this is a inaccurate. Lynn did not copy the emails in July, nor did 

Lynn download the emails in anticipation of being fired “for cause.” Instead, Lynn 

downloaded the emails after the Board voted to eliminate his position for economic 

reasons and after he no longer was working for the School District. 

ANALYSIS

For taking from the School District 39,312 emails, the School District asks 

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Lynn’s lawsuit be dismissed, or in the alternative for an evidentiary sanction 

prohibiting the use of the emails in this litigation, and for an award of attorney’s fees. 

The School District also asks Thurbon and the law firm of Thurbon & McHaney be 

disqualified from further work on this case for violation of criminal and ethical 

standards. 

When a party wrongfully obtains documents outside the normal discovery 

process, a number of different types of sanctions are available. These include 

dismissal of the action, the compelled return of all documents, restrictions regarding 

the use of the documents at trial, disqualification of counsel and monetary sanctions. 

Fayemi v. Hambrecht & Quist, Inc., 174 F.R.D. 319, 324-27 (S.D.N.Y.1997). Courts 

have considerable discretion in choosing the appropriate sanction under its inherent 

authority and may, for example, dismiss claims, enter default judgment, and award 

attorney’s fees and costs. United States v. Shaffer Equip. Co., 11 F.3d 450, 461-62 

(4th Cir.1993); see also Glynn v. EBO Corp., 2010 WL 3294347 (D.Md.2010). 

A. THE EMAILS WERE STOLEN. 

The School District has presented uncontroverted evidence Lynn made a copy 

of the School District’s entire email server on or about August 26, 2009. This copy of 

the email server captured 39,312 emails transmitted by, from or between School 

District employees. According to the School District’s internet use policy, the 

Superintendent or the Superintendent’s designee can review emails without prior 

notification to the employee. Former Superintendents Hubbell and Strohmayer have 

submitted declarations stating Lynn was only designated to review emails on two 

specific occasions, neither one of which would have encompassed the 39,312 emails 

which Lynn downloaded. While Lynn as Director of Technology had access to the 

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email server and the ability to review employee emails, this ability does not translate 

into the unfettered right to exercise that authority. Even if Lynn had the right as 

Director of Technology to review other employee’s emails, this did not give him the 

right to take and keep a copy of the emails at a time when his employment was 

essentially over. 

Lynn has argued the emails are non-privileged, non-exempt public records 

available to any person in the State via California’s Public Records Act, Government 

Code § 6250 et seq. He also argues the key inquiry is not the manner of the 

acquisition of the emails, but rather their non-privileged, non-exempt status. The 

Court disagrees. First, Lynn did not obtain the emails through California’s Public 

Records Act, but rather took them without making a request as required by 

Government Code section 6253. Further, as shown by attorney Clopine’s declaration, 

at least 11% of the emails taken by Lynn are covered by various privileges, including 

the attorney-client privilege. Finally, the manner of acquisition of a document is 

important as one cannot obtain even non-exempt public documents through illegal 

conduct. See Williams v. Superior Court (1978) 81 Cal.App.3d 330, 345-346; People 

v. Dolbeer (1963) 241 Cal.App.2d 619, 623. 

In taking the emails without permission, Lynn possibly violated 18 U.S.C. § 

2701 which provides it is a federal offense to intentionally exceed authorization to 

access electronic communication. The Court also finds Lynn possibly violated 

California Penal Code section 502; knowingly accessing and without permission take, 

copy and/or make use of any data from the computer, computer system, or computer 

network. 

B. SANCTIONS AGAINST LYNN. 

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The School District has asked the litigation be dismissed for Lynn’s theft of the 

emails, or in the alternative for an evidentiary sanction the emails be excluded from 

trial, and for $43,315.00 in attorney’s fees for the investigation of the theft as 

associated with this federal case. The Court has much discretion in choosing the 

appropriate sanction. The Court declines to dismiss the litigation as public policy 

strongly favors having cases decided on their merits. The Court will issue an 

evidentiary sanction the emails are not to be used by Lynn in any way at trial. 

Regardless of whether Lynn has obtained the emails through his theft or through a 

public records request, Lynn is prohibited from attempting to introduce into evidence 

any of the 39,312 emails Lynn took from the School District. Further, neither Lynn nor 

his counsel shall attempt to introduce any evidence, including cross-examining any 

witnesses, about the contents of these emails. 

The Court at this time declines to award the attorney’s fees asked for by the 

School District as there is insufficient evidence presented with the motion as to how 

these fees were incurred. This portion of the motion is denied without prejudice to the 

School District refilling the request with better documentation as to how the fees were 

incurred. 

C. DISQUALIFICATION OF THURBON AND HIS FIRM. 

The Court grants the motion to disqualify Thurbon and the law firm of Thurbon 

and McHaney from further participation in this case effective 5:00 p.m., December 7, 

2011. The Court agrees with the defense position Thurbon took possession of the 

39,312 emails from Lynn knowing Lynn had taken them from the School District 

illegally. In doing so, Thurbon possibly violated California Penal Code section 496, 

receiving stolen property. Thurbon then created a conflict of interest by showing those 

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emails to his other client Thulin to support her litigation and, in doing so, possibly 

violated California Penal Code section 502, making it a felony to use information from 

a computer database without permission. Thurbon continued to stubbornly hold on to 

most of these emails even after the first State Court injunctive order finding the Thulin 

emails had been wrongfully obtained and it was unlawful for Thurbon and Thulin to 

have possession of them. Thurbon then gave the emails back to Lynn, after the first 

state court injunctive order, despite knowing the court’s finding the emails had been 

stolen. Thurbon’s conduct arguably suppressed evidence of a crime in violation of his 

ethical duties. See People v. Meredith (1981) 29 Cal.3d 682, 690-695; People v. Lee 

(1970) 3 Cal.App.3d 514, 526; State Bar Formal Opinion 1986-89. Then, in the Thuiln

case, when faced with a motion to dismiss and a motion to disqualify Thurbon, 

Thurbon violated his legal and ethical duties to Lynn be revealing Lynn’s crime in a 

declaration. After those motions were granted in part and Thurbon was disqualified in 

the Thulin case, Thurbon filed a motion for reconsideration and supported it with a 

declaration from Lynn setting forth Lynn’s theft. In revealing Lynn’s theft of the emails, 

Thurbon violated his ethical duty of confidentiality owed to Lynn in order to try and 

assist his other client, Thulin. California Rules of Professional conduct, Rule 3-100, 

which the Eastern District has adopted as the professional standards of conduct, Local 

Rule 180(e), requires an attorney to maintain the confidences of his client. 

Communication between an attorney and a client as they relate to a completed crime 

may not be disclosed. People v. Singh (1932) 123 Cal.App.3d 365, 369-371; People 

v. Meredith (1981) 29 Cal.3d 682, 689-694. Upon learning of Lynn’s taking of the 

emails, Thurbon should have immediately advised Lynn to obtain a criminal attorney 

and advised Lynn of his rights against self-incrimination. Instead, Thurbon’s 

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disclosure of Lynn’s theft has opened Lynn up to criminal prosecution as well as 

adverse consequences in this federal case. 

While Thurbon claims he informed Lynn of the consequences of disclosing the 

theft and Lynn agreed to waive the conflict of interest, this is a conflict Lynn cannot 

waive. People ex. rel. Dept. of Corrections v. SpeeDee Oil Change Systems, Inc

(1999) 20 Cal.4th 1135, 1147. Thus Thurbon violated his duty of loyalty to Lynn, 

violated his ethical duties to maintain his client’s confidence, and proceeded to 

represent Thulin and Lynn despite a conflict of interest. This warrants disqualification. 

Because Thurbon is a member of a small law firm and other members of his firm 

have participated in various aspects of the Thulin and Gateway cases and this 

litigation, the Court disqualifies from further work on this action not only Thurbon, but 

all attorneys and employees of the law firm of Thurbon & McHaney. 

The scope of this disqualification applies to all official and unofficial work on 

behalf of Lynn related to this case. Not only is Thurbon and his law firm prohibited 

from officially representing Lynn in this case, they are prohibited form providing any 

legal representation, advice, or performing any work on behalf of Lynn in this federal 

case. This includes drafting, preparing or typing any documents or motions on Lynn’s 

behalf, researching or advising Lynn on any aspect of this case or in any fashion 

working behind the scenes to assist Lynn with the prosecution of this case. Further, 

Thurbon and his firm are precluded from filing any appeal or any court document on 

behalf of Lynn. There are four narrow exceptions to the disqualification: (1) the 

Thurbon & McHaney law firm has been ordered to draft and submit to the Court an 

order on the motion for summary judgment which was also heard on December 7, 

2011, (2) Lynn’s current address, phone number and other contact information shall 

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be supplied to the Court and the School District’s counsel, (3) Thurbon and his firm 

are not precluded from seeking appellate review of this disqualification order so long 

as it is filed in their individual capacity and not as a representational capacity of Lynn; 

and, (4) they may assist Kendall Lynn in searching for a new attorney to pursue this 

litigation. 

D. OBJECTIONS TO EVIDENCE: 

The School District objected to Exhibit “B” to Thurbon’s declaration as 

constituting hearsay. This exhibit is the deposition of James Fruuen taken in the 

Thulin case. As a state court deposition, it is hearsay. Pursuant to Federal Rules of 

Evidence, Rule 804(b)(1), prior testimony, even under oath, can only be offered as 

evidence if the witness is unavailable and the party against whom the testimony is 

offered had an opportunity to develop the testimony. Kirk v. Raymark Industries, Inc., 

61 F.3d 147, 164 (3rd Cir.1995). As there has been no effort by Lynn to show these 

elements have been met, the objection to the James Fruuen deposition is sustained. 

CONCLUSION 

For the reasons stated above, the motion to dismiss for Lynn’s misconduct in 

taking the emails is hereby DENIED. Defendant’s request for an evidentiary sanction 

prohibiting Lynn from using the emails, using their contents, or attempting to introduce 

any evidence about the contents of these emails at trial is hereby GRANTED. The 

motion to disqualify attorney Robert A. Thurbon, Jr., and the law firm of Thurbon and 

McHaney from further representation of Plaintiff Kendall Lynn in this litigation is 

hereby GRANTED. Defendant’s request for attorney’s fees for the investigation of 

Lynn and Thurbon’s conduct is DENIED WITHOUT PREJUDICE. 

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MEMORANDUM AND ORDER 

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IT IS SO ORDERED. 

DATED: 12/15/2011 

 /s/ John A. Mendez_______________ 

 JOHN A. MENDEZ 

 UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE 

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