Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_22-cv-01454/USCOURTS-caed-2_22-cv-01454-5/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
Randall Bradley
Defendant
City of Tracy
Defendant
South San Joaquin County Fire Authority
Defendant
Patrick Vargas
Plaintiff

Document Text:

- 1 -

Stipulated Protective Order Case No. 2:22-cv-01454-WBS-KJN

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

ATKINSON, ANDELSON, LOYA, RUUD 

&

ROMO

A PROFESSIONAL CORPORATION

ATTORNEYS AT LAW

1 H ARBOR DRIVE , SUITE 101

S AUSALITO , C ALIFORNIA 94965-1433

T E LEPHONE : (628) 234 -6200

F A X : (628) 234- 6899

005089.0000542

260254.1

ATKINSON, ANDELSON, LOYA, RUUD & ROMO

A Professional Law Corporation

Ruth M. Bond (SBN 214582)

Ruth.Bond@aalrr.com

Cassandra D. Lo (SBN 291294)

Cassandra.Lo@aalrr.com

1 Harbor Drive, Suite 101

Sausalito, California 94965-1433

Telephone: (628) 234-6200

Fax: (628) 234-6899

Attorneys for Defendant 

CITY OF TRACY

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

PATRICK VARGAS, individually, and 

on behalf of others similarly situated,

Plaintiff,

v.

CITY OF TRACY; SOUTH SAN 

JOAQUIN COUNTY FIRE 

AUTHORITY; RANDALL 

BRADLEY, in his individual and 

official capacities; DOES 1 through 20, 

inclusive,

Defendant.

Case No. 2:22-CV-01454-WBS-KJN

STIPULATED PROTECTIVE 

ORDER

Plaintiff PATRICK VARGAS and Defendants CITY OF TRACY, SOUTH 

SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY FIRE AUTHORITY, and RANDALL BRADLEY, in 

his individual and official capacities, (collectively, the “Parties”), by and through 

their respective attorneys of record, hereby stipulate for the purpose of jointly 

requesting that the honorable Court enter a protective order re confidential 

documents in this matter (and pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 5.2, 7, and 26, as well as 

Eastern District Local Rule 141, 141.1, 143, and 251) as follows:

/ / /

Case 2:22-cv-01454-WBS-CSK Document 61 Filed 08/24/23 Page 1 of 17
- 2 -

Stipulated Protective Order Case No. 2:22-cv-01454-WBS-KJN

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

ATKINSON, ANDELSON, LOYA, RUUD 

&

ROMO

A PROFESSIONAL CORPORATION

ATTORNEYS AT LAW

1 H ARBOR DRIVE , SUITE 101

S AUSALITO , C ALIFORNIA 94965-1433

T ELEPHONE : (628) 234 -6200

F A X : (628) 234- 6899

005089.0000542

260254.1

1. A. PURPOSES AND LIMITATIONS

Disclosure and discovery activity in this action are likely to involve 

production of confidential, proprietary, or private information for which special 

protection from public disclosure and from use for any purpose other than 

prosecuting this litigation may be warranted. Accordingly, the parties hereby 

stipulate to and petition the court to enter the following Stipulated Protective Order. 

The parties acknowledge that this Order does not confer blanket protections on all 

disclosures or responses to discovery and that the protection it affords from public 

disclosure and use extends only to the limited information or items that are entitled 

to confidential treatment under the applicable legal principles. The parties further 

acknowledge, as set forth below, that this Stipulated Protective Order creates no 

entitlement to file confidential information under seal; Eastern District Local Rule 

141 sets forth the procedures that must be followed and reflects the standards that

will be applied when a party seeks permission from the Court to file material under 

seal.

B. GOOD CAUSE STATEMENT

Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, Rule 26(c)(1) states in pertinent part, that 

the Court, upon a showing of good cause may “issue an order to protect a party from 

annoyance, embarrassment, oppression, or undue burden or expense.” 

Fed.R.Civ.P.26(c)(1). In the instant matter, discovery will require disclosure of 

information including, but not limited to, firefighter personnel records subject to 

protection under the Firefighters Procedural Bill of Rights Act, Cal. Gov. Code § 

3250, et seq.; medical records; materials relating to internal workplace 

investigations involving third parties, and documents containing protected personal, 

private, or confidential information about third parties, the disclosure of which 

would constitute an unwarranted invasion of the affected individual’s constitutional, 

statutory or common law right to privacy or confidentiality. The personnel records 

at issue implicate third party rights to privacy and confidentiality that would not 

Case 2:22-cv-01454-WBS-CSK Document 61 Filed 08/24/23 Page 2 of 17
- 3 -

Stipulated Protective Order Case No. 2:22-cv-01454-WBS-KJN

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

ATKINSON, ANDELSON, LOYA, RUUD 

&

ROMO

A PROFESSIONAL CORPORATION

ATTORNEYS AT LAW

1 H ARBOR DRIVE , SUITE 101

S AUSALITO , C ALIFORNIA 94965-1433

T ELEPHONE : (628) 234 -6200

F A X : (628) 234- 6899

005089.0000542

260254.1

receive sufficient protection through a private agreement among the parties to this 

litigation. Plaintiff intends to produce personal medical records. There is typically 

a particularized need for protection as to any medical or psychotherapeutic records, 

because of the privacy interests at stake. See Aranda v. County of Los Angeles, 2019 

WL 11838767 at *3 (C.D. Cal. 2019). Because of these acutely sensitive interests, a 

court order is necessary to protect these documents and information rather than a 

private agreement between the parties.

2. DEFINITIONS

2.1 Challenging Party: a Party or Non-Party that challenges the designation 

of information or items under this Order.

2.2 “CONFIDENTIAL” Information or Items: information (regardless of 

how it is generated, stored or maintained) or tangible things that qualify for 

protection under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 26(c).

2.3 Counsel (without qualifier): Outside Counsel of Record and House 

Counsel (as well as their support staff).

2.4 Designating Party: a Party or Non-Party that designates information or 

items that it produces in disclosures or in responses to discovery as 

“CONFIDENTIAL.”

2.5 Disclosure or Discovery Material: all items or information, regardless 

of the medium or manner in which it is generated, stored, or maintained (including, 

among other things, testimony, interrogatory responses, transcripts, and tangible 

things), that are produced or generated in disclosures or responses to discovery in 

this matter.

2.6 Expert: a person with specialized knowledge or experience in a matter 

pertinent to the litigation who has been retained by a Party or its counsel to serve as 

an expert witness or as a consultant in this action.

/ / /

Case 2:22-cv-01454-WBS-CSK Document 61 Filed 08/24/23 Page 3 of 17
- 4 -

Stipulated Protective Order Case No. 2:22-cv-01454-WBS-KJN

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

ATKINSON, ANDELSON, LOYA, RUUD 

&

ROMO

A PROFESSIONAL CORPORATION

ATTORNEYS AT LAW

1 H ARBOR DRIVE , SUITE 101

S AUSALITO , C ALIFORNIA 94965-1433

T ELEPHONE : (628) 234 -6200

F A X : (628) 234- 6899

005089.0000542

260254.1

2.7 House Counsel: attorneys who are employees of a party to this action. 

House Counsel does not include Outside Counsel of Record or any other outside 

counsel.

2.8 Non-Party: any natural person, partnership, corporation, association, or 

other legal entity not named as a Party to this action.

2.9 Outside Counsel of Record: attorneys who are not employees of a party 

to this action but are retained to represent or advise a party to this action and have 

appeared in this action on behalf of that party or are affiliated with a law firm which 

has appeared on behalf of that party.

2.10 Party: any party to this action, including all of its officers, directors, 

employees, consultants, retained experts, and Outside Counsel of Record (and their 

support staff).

2.11 Producing Party: a Party or Non-Party that produces Disclosure or 

Discovery Material in this action.

2.12 Professional Vendors: persons or entities that provide litigation support 

services (e.g., photocopying, videotaping, translating, preparing exhibits or 

demonstrations, and organizing, storing, or retrieving data in any form or medium) 

and their employees and subcontractors.

2.13 Protected Material: any Disclosure or Discovery Material that is 

designated as “CONFIDENTIAL.” 

2.14 Receiving Party: a Party that receives Disclosure or Discovery Material 

from a Producing Party.

3. SCOPE

The protections conferred by this Stipulation and Order cover not only 

Protected Material (as defined above), but also (1) any information copied or 

extracted from Protected Material; (2) all copies, excerpts, summaries, or 

compilations of Protected Material; and (3) any testimony, conversations, or 

presentations by Parties or their Counsel that might reveal Protected Material. 

Case 2:22-cv-01454-WBS-CSK Document 61 Filed 08/24/23 Page 4 of 17
- 5 -

Stipulated Protective Order Case No. 2:22-cv-01454-WBS-KJN

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

ATKINSON, ANDELSON, LOYA, RUUD 

&

ROMO

A PROFESSIONAL CORPORATION

ATTORNEYS AT LAW

1 H ARBOR DRIVE , SUITE 101

S AUSALITO , C ALIFORNIA 94965-1433

T ELEPHONE : (628) 234 -6200

F A X : (628) 234- 6899

005089.0000542

260254.1

However, the protections conferred by this Stipulation and Order do not cover the 

following information: (a) any information that is in the public domain at the time of 

disclosure to a Receiving Party or becomes part of the public domain after its 

disclosure to a Receiving Party as a result of publication not involving a violation of 

this Order, including becoming part of the public record through trial or otherwise; 

and (b) any information known to the Receiving Party prior to the disclosure or 

obtained by the Receiving Party after the disclosure from a source who obtained the 

information lawfully and under no obligation of confidentiality to the Designating 

Party. Any use of Protected Material at trial shall be governed by a separate 

agreement or order.

4. DURATION

Even after final disposition of this litigation, the confidentiality obligations 

imposed by this Order shall remain in effect until a Designating Party agrees 

otherwise in writing or a court order otherwise directs. Final disposition shall be 

deemed to be the later of (1) dismissal of all claims and defenses in this action, with 

or without prejudice; and (2) final judgment herein after the completion and 

exhaustion of all appeals, rehearings, remands, trials, or reviews of this action, 

including the time limits for filing any motions or applications for extension of time 

pursuant to applicable law.

5. DESIGNATING PROTECTED MATERIAL

5.1 Exercise of Restraint and Care in Designating Material for Protection. 

Each Party or Non-Party that designates information or items for protection under 

this Order must take care to limit any such designation to specific material that 

qualifies under the appropriate standards. The Designating Party must designate for 

protection only those parts of material, documents, items, or oral or written 

communications that qualify – so that other portions of the material, documents, 

items, or communications for which protection is not warranted are not swept 

unjustifiably within the ambit of this Order.

Case 2:22-cv-01454-WBS-CSK Document 61 Filed 08/24/23 Page 5 of 17
- 6 -

Stipulated Protective Order Case No. 2:22-cv-01454-WBS-KJN

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

ATKINSON, ANDELSON, LOYA, RUUD 

&

ROMO

A PROFESSIONAL CORPORATION

ATTORNEYS AT LAW

1 H ARBOR DRIVE , SUITE 101

S AUSALITO , C ALIFORNIA 94965-1433

T ELEPHONE : (628) 234 -6200

F A X : (628) 234- 6899

005089.0000542

260254.1

Mass, indiscriminate, or routinized designations are prohibited. Designations 

that are shown to be clearly unjustified or that have been made for an improper 

purpose (e.g., to unnecessarily encumber or retard the case development process or 

to impose unnecessary expenses and burdens on other parties) expose the 

Designating Party to sanctions.

If it comes to a Designating Party’s attention that information or items that it 

designated for protection do not qualify for protection, that Designating Party must 

promptly notify all other Parties that it is withdrawing the mistaken designation.

5.2 Manner and Timing of Designations. Except as otherwise provided in 

this Order (see, e.g., second paragraph of section 5.2(a) below), or as otherwise 

stipulated or ordered, Disclosure or Discovery Material that qualifies for protection 

under this Order must be clearly so designated before the material is disclosed or 

produced.

Designation in conformity with this Order requires:

(a) For information in documentary form (e.g., paper or electronic documents, 

but excluding transcripts of depositions or other pretrial or trial proceedings), that 

the Producing Party affix the legend “CONFIDENTIAL” to each page that contains 

protected material. If only a portion or portions of the material on a page qualifies 

for protection, the Producing Party also must clearly identify the protected portion(s) 

(e.g., by making appropriate markings in the margins). A Party or Non-Party that 

makes original documents or materials available for inspection need not designate 

them for protection until after the inspecting Party has indicated which material it 

would like copied and produced. During the inspection and before the designation, 

all of the material made available for inspection shall be deemed 

“CONFIDENTIAL.” After the inspecting Party has identified the documents it 

wants copied and produced, the Producing Party must determine which documents, 

or portions thereof, qualify for protection under this Order. Then, before producing 

the specified documents, the Producing Party must affix the “CONFIDENTIAL” 

Case 2:22-cv-01454-WBS-CSK Document 61 Filed 08/24/23 Page 6 of 17
- 7 -

Stipulated Protective Order Case No. 2:22-cv-01454-WBS-KJN

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

ATKINSON, ANDELSON, LOYA, RUUD 

&

ROMO

A PROFESSIONAL CORPORATION

ATTORNEYS AT LAW

1 H ARBOR DRIVE , SUITE 101

S AUSALITO , C ALIFORNIA 94965-1433

T ELEPHONE : (628) 234 -6200

F A X : (628) 234- 6899

005089.0000542

260254.1

legend to each page that contains Protected Material. If only a portion or portions of 

the material on a page qualifies for protection, the Producing Party also must clearly 

identify the protected portion(s) (e.g., by making appropriate markings in the 

margins). 

(b) for testimony given in deposition or in other pretrial or trial proceedings, 

that the Designating Party identify on the record, before the close of the deposition, 

hearing, or other proceeding, all protected testimony. 

(c) for information produced in some form other than documentary and for 

any other tangible items, that the Producing Party affix in a prominent place on the 

exterior of the container or containers in which the information or item is stored the 

legend “CONFIDENTIAL.” If only a portion or portions of the information or item 

warrant protection, the Producing Party, to the extent practicable, shall identify the 

protected portion(s).

5.3 Inadvertent Failures to Designate. If timely corrected, an inadvertent 

failure to designate qualified information or items does not, standing alone, waive 

the Designating Party’s right to secure protection under this Order for such material. 

Upon timely correction of a designation, the Receiving Party must make reasonable 

efforts to assure that the material is treated in accordance with the provisions of this 

Order.

6. CHALLENGING CONFIDENTIALITY DESIGNATIONS

6.1 Timing of Challenges. Any Party or Non-Party may challenge a 

designation of confidentiality at any time. Unless a prompt challenge to a 

Designating Party’s confidentiality designation is necessary to avoid foreseeable, 

substantial unfairness, unnecessary economic burdens, or a significant disruption or 

delay of the litigation, a Party does not waive its right to challenge a confidentiality 

designation by electing not to mount a challenge promptly after the original 

designation is disclosed.

/ / /

Case 2:22-cv-01454-WBS-CSK Document 61 Filed 08/24/23 Page 7 of 17
- 8 -

Stipulated Protective Order Case No. 2:22-cv-01454-WBS-KJN

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

ATKINSON, ANDELSON, LOYA, RUUD 

&

ROMO

A PROFESSIONAL CORPORATION

ATTORNEYS AT LAW

1 H ARBOR DRIVE , SUITE 101

S AUSALITO , C ALIFORNIA 94965-1433

T ELEPHONE : (628) 234 -6200

F A X : (628) 234- 6899

005089.0000542

260254.1

6.2 Meet and Confer. The Challenging Party shall initiate the dispute 

resolution process by providing written notice of each designation it is challenging 

and describing the basis for each challenge. To avoid ambiguity as to whether a 

challenge has been made, the written notice must recite that the challenge to 

confidentiality is being made in accordance with this specific paragraph of the 

Protective Order. The parties shall attempt to resolve each challenge in good faith 

and must begin the process by conferring directly (in voice-to-voice dialogue; other 

forms of communication are not sufficient) within 14 days of the date of service of 

notice. In conferring, the Challenging Party must explain the basis for its belief that 

the confidentiality designation was not proper and must give the Designating Party 

an opportunity to review the designated material, to reconsider the circumstances, 

and, if no change in designation is offered, to explain the basis for the chosen 

designation. A Challenging Party may proceed to the next stage of the challenge 

process only if it has engaged in this meet and confer process first or establishes that 

the Designating Party is unwilling to participate in the meet and confer process in a 

timely manner.

6.3 Judicial Intervention. 

If the Parties cannot resolve a challenge without court intervention, the 

Designating Party shall file and serve a motion to retain confidentiality under 

Eastern District Local Rules 230 and 251 (and in compliance with Eastern District 

Local Rules 141 and 141.1, if applicable) within 21 days of the initial notice of 

challenge or within 14 days of the parties agreeing that the meet and confer process 

will not resolve their dispute, whichever is earlier. Each such motion must be 

accompanied by a competent declaration affirming that the movant has complied 

with the meet and confer requirements imposed in the preceding paragraph. Failure 

by the Designating Party to make such a motion including the required declaration 

within 21 days (or 14 days, if applicable) shall automatically waive the 

confidentiality designation for each challenged designation. In addition, the 

Case 2:22-cv-01454-WBS-CSK Document 61 Filed 08/24/23 Page 8 of 17
- 9 -

Stipulated Protective Order Case No. 2:22-cv-01454-WBS-KJN

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

ATKINSON, ANDELSON, LOYA, RUUD 

&

ROMO

A PROFESSIONAL CORPORATION

ATTORNEYS AT LAW

1 H ARBOR DRIVE , SUITE 101

S AUSALITO , C ALIFORNIA 94965-1433

T ELEPHONE : (628) 234 -6200

F A X : (628) 234- 6899

005089.0000542

260254.1

Challenging Party may file a motion challenging a confidentiality designation at any 

time if there is good cause for doing so, including a challenge to the designation of a 

deposition transcript or any portions thereof. Any motion brought pursuant to this 

provision must be accompanied by a competent declaration affirming that the 

movant has complied with the meet and confer requirements imposed by the 

preceding paragraph.

The burden of persuasion in any such challenge proceeding shall be on the 

Designating Party. Frivolous challenges, and those made for an improper purpose 

(e.g., to harass or impose unnecessary expenses and burdens on other parties) may 

expose the Challenging Party to sanctions. Unless the Designating Party has waived 

the confidentiality designation by failing to file a motion to retain confidentiality as 

described above, all parties shall continue to afford the material in question the level 

of protection to which it is entitled under the Producing Party’s designation until the 

court rules on the challenge.

7. ACCESS TO AND USE OF PROTECTED MATERIAL

7.1 Basic Principles. A Receiving Party may use Protected Material that is 

disclosed or produced by another Party or by a Non-Party in connection with this 

case only for prosecuting, defending, or attempting to settle this litigation. Such 

Protected Material may be disclosed only to the categories of persons and under the 

conditions described in this Order. When the litigation has been terminated, a 

Receiving Party must comply with the provisions of section 13 below (FINAL 

DISPOSITION).

Protected Material must be stored and maintained by a Receiving Party at a 

location and in a secure manner that ensures that access is limited to the persons 

authorized under this Order.

7.2 Disclosure of “CONFIDENTIAL” Information or Items. Unless 

otherwise ordered by the court or permitted in writing by the Designating Party, a 

Receiving Party may disclose any information or item designated 

Case 2:22-cv-01454-WBS-CSK Document 61 Filed 08/24/23 Page 9 of 17
- 10 -

Stipulated Protective Order Case No. 2:22-cv-01454-WBS-KJN

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

ATKINSON, ANDELSON, LOYA, RUUD 

&

ROMO

A PROFESSIONAL CORPORATION

ATTORNEYS AT LAW

1 H ARBOR DRIVE , SUITE 101

S AUSALITO , C ALIFORNIA 94965-1433

T ELEPHONE : (628) 234 -6200

F A X : (628) 234- 6899

005089.0000542

260254.1

“CONFIDENTIAL” only to:

(a) the Receiving Party’s Outside Counsel of Record in this action, as well as 

employees of said Outside Counsel of Record to whom it is reasonably necessary to 

disclose the information for this litigation and who have signed the 

“Acknowledgment and Agreement to Be Bound” that is attached hereto as Exhibit 

A;

(b) the officers, directors, and employees (including House Counsel) of the 

Receiving Party to whom disclosure is reasonably necessary for this litigation and 

who have signed the “Acknowledgment and Agreement to Be Bound” (Exhibit A);

(c) Experts (as defined in this Order) of the Receiving Party to whom 

disclosure is reasonably necessary for this litigation and who have signed the 

“Acknowledgment and Agreement to Be Bound” (Exhibit A);

(d) the court and its personnel;

(e) court reporters and their staff, professional jury or trial consultants, mock 

jurors, and Professional Vendors to whom disclosure is reasonably necessary for this 

litigation and who have signed the “Acknowledgment and Agreement to Be Bound” 

(Exhibit A);

(f) during their depositions, witnesses in the action to whom disclosure is 

reasonably necessary and who have signed the “Acknowledgment and Agreement to 

Be Bound” (Exhibit A), unless otherwise agreed by the Designating Party or ordered 

by the court. Pages of transcribed deposition testimony or exhibits to depositions 

that reveal Protected Material must be separately bound by the court reporter and 

may not be disclosed to anyone except as permitted under this Stipulated Protective 

Order.

(g) the author or recipient of a document containing the information or a 

custodian or other person who otherwise possessed or knew the information.

/ / /

Case 2:22-cv-01454-WBS-CSK Document 61 Filed 08/24/23 Page 10 of 17
- 11 -

Stipulated Protective Order Case No. 2:22-cv-01454-WBS-KJN

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

ATKINSON, ANDELSON, LOYA, RUUD 

&

ROMO

A PROFESSIONAL CORPORATION

ATTORNEYS AT LAW

1 H ARBOR DRIVE , SUITE 101

S AUSALITO , C ALIFORNIA 94965-1433

T ELEPHONE : (628) 234 -6200

F A X : (628) 234- 6899

005089.0000542

260254.1

8. PROTECTED MATERIAL SUBPOENAED OR ORDERED 

PRODUCED IN OTHER LITIGATION 

If a Party is served with a subpoena or a court order issued in other litigation 

that compels disclosure of any information or items designated in this action as 

“CONFIDENTIAL,” that Party must: 

(a) promptly notify in writing the Designating Party. Such notification shall 

include a copy of the subpoena or court order; 

(b) promptly notify in writing the party who caused the subpoena or order to 

issue in the other litigation that some or all of the material covered by the subpoena 

or order is subject to this Protective Order. Such notification shall include a copy of 

this Stipulated Protective Order; and 

(c) cooperate with respect to all reasonable procedures sought to be pursued 

by the Designating Party whose Protected Material may be affected.

If the Designating Party timely seeks a protective order, the Party served with 

the subpoena or court order shall not produce any information designated in this 

action as “CONFIDENTIAL” before a determination by the court from which the 

subpoena or order issued, unless the Party has obtained the Designating Party’s 

permission. The Designating Party shall bear the burden and expense of seeking 

protection in that court of its confidential material – and nothing in these provisions 

should be construed as authorizing or encouraging a Receiving Party in this action 

to disobey a lawful directive from another court.

9. A NON-PARTY’S PROTECTED MATERIAL SOUGHT TO BE 

PRODUCED IN THIS LITIGATION

(a) The terms of this Order are applicable to information produced by a NonParty in this action and designated as “CONFIDENTIAL.” Such information 

produced by Non-Parties in connection with this litigation is protected by the 

remedies and relief provided by this Order. Nothing in these provisions should be 

construed as prohibiting a Non-Party from seeking additional protections. 

Case 2:22-cv-01454-WBS-CSK Document 61 Filed 08/24/23 Page 11 of 17
- 12 -

Stipulated Protective Order Case No. 2:22-cv-01454-WBS-KJN

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

ATKINSON, ANDELSON, LOYA, RUUD 

&

ROMO

A PROFESSIONAL CORPORATION

ATTORNEYS AT LAW

1 H ARBOR DRIVE , SUITE 101

S AUSALIT O , C ALIFORNIA 94965-1433

T ELEPHONE : (628) 234 -6200

F A X : (628) 234- 6899

005089.0000542

260254.1

(b) In the event that a Party is required, by a valid discovery request, to 

produce a Non-Party’s confidential information in its possession, and the Party is 

subject to an agreement with the Non-Party not to produce the Non-Party’s 

confidential information, then the Party shall: 

(1) promptly notify in writing the Requesting Party and the Non-Party 

that some or all of the information requested is subject to a confidentiality 

agreement with a Non-Party;

(2) promptly provide the Non-Party with a copy of the Stipulated 

Protective Order in this litigation, the relevant discovery request(s), and a 

reasonably specific description of the information requested; and 

(3) make the information requested available for inspection by the NonParty. 

(c) If the Non-Party fails to object or seek a protective order from this court 

within 14 days of receiving the notice and accompanying information, the Receiving 

Party may produce the Non-Party’s confidential information responsive to the 

discovery request. If the Non-Party timely seeks a protective order, the Receiving 

Party shall not produce any information in its possession or control that is subject to 

the confidentiality agreement with the Non-Party before a determination by the 

court. Absent a court order to the contrary, the Non-Party shall bear the burden and 

expense of seeking protection in this court of its Protected Material.

10. UNAUTHORIZED DISCLOSURE OF PROTECTED MATERIAL

If a Receiving Party learns that, by inadvertence or otherwise, it has disclosed 

Protected Material to any person or in any circumstance not authorized under this 

Stipulated Protective Order, the Receiving Party must immediately (a) notify in 

writing the Designating Party of the unauthorized disclosures, (b) use its best efforts 

to retrieve all unauthorized copies of the Protected Material, (c) inform the person or 

persons to whom unauthorized disclosures were made of all the terms of this Order, 

and (d) request such person or persons to execute the “Acknowledgment and 

Case 2:22-cv-01454-WBS-CSK Document 61 Filed 08/24/23 Page 12 of 17
- 13 -

Stipulated Protective Order Case No. 2:22-cv-01454-WBS-KJN

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

ATKINSON, ANDELSON, LOYA, RUUD 

&

ROMO

A PROFESSIONAL CORPORATION

ATTORNEYS AT LAW

1 H ARBOR DRIVE , SUITE 101

S AUSALITO , C ALIFORNIA 94965-1433

T ELEPHONE : (628) 234 -6200

F A X : (628) 234- 6899

005089.0000542

260254.1

Agreement to Be Bound” that is attached hereto as Exhibit A.

11. INADVERTENT PRODUCTION OF PRIVILEGED OR OTHERWISE 

PROTECTED MATERIAL

When a Producing Party gives notice to Receiving Parties that certain 

inadvertently produced material is subject to a claim of privilege or other protection, 

the obligations of the Receiving Parties are those set forth in Federal Rule of Civil 

Procedure 26(b)(5)(B). This provision is not intended to modify whatever 

procedure may be established in an e-discovery order that provides for production 

without prior privilege review. Pursuant to Federal Rule of Evidence 502(d) and 

(e), insofar as the parties reach an agreement on the effect of disclosure of a 

communication or information covered by the attorney-client privilege or work 

product protection, the parties may incorporate their agreement in the stipulated 

protective order submitted to the court.

12. PUBLICATION OF PROTECTED MATERIAL

12.1 Filing Protected Material. Without written permission from the 

Designating Party or a court order secured after appropriate notice to all interested 

persons, including denial of a motion to seal, a Receiving Party may not file in the 

public record in this action any Protected Material. A Party that seeks to file under 

seal any Protected Material must comply with Eastern District Local Rule 141 

and/or 141.1. to the extent applicable.

12.2 Public Dissemination of Protected Material. A Receiving Party shall 

not publish, release, post, or disseminate Protected Material to any persons except 

those specifically delineated and authorize by this Stipulation and Order (see section 

7, supra); nor shall a Receiving Party publish, release, post, or disseminate Protected 

Material/Confidential Documents to any news media, member of the press, website, 

or public forum (except as permitted under section 12.1 regarding filings with the 

Court in this action under seal).

/ / /

Case 2:22-cv-01454-WBS-CSK Document 61 Filed 08/24/23 Page 13 of 17
- 14 -

Stipulated Protective Order Case No. 2:22-cv-01454-WBS-KJN

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

ATKINSON, ANDELSON, LOYA, RUUD 

&

ROMO

A PROFESSIONAL CORPORATION

ATTORNEYS AT LAW

1 H ARBOR DRIVE , SUITE 101

S AUSALITO , C ALIFORNIA 94965-1433

T ELEPHONE : (628) 234 -6200

F A X : (628) 234- 6899

005089.0000542

260254.1

13. FINAL DISPOSITION

Within 60 days after the final disposition of this action, as defined in 

paragraph 4, each Receiving Party must return all Protected Material to the 

Producing Party or destroy such material. As used in this subdivision, “all Protected 

Material” includes all copies, abstracts, compilations, summaries, and any other 

format reproducing or capturing any of the Protected Material. Whether the 

Protected Material is returned or destroyed, the Receiving Party must submit a 

written certification to the Producing Party (and, if not the same person or entity, to 

the Designating Party) by the 60 day deadline that (1) identifies (by category, where 

appropriate) all the Protected Material that was returned or destroyed and (2) affirms 

that the Receiving Party has not retained any copies, abstracts, compilations, 

summaries or any other format reproducing or capturing any of the Protected 

Material. Notwithstanding this provision, Counsel are entitled to retain an archival 

copy of all pleadings, motion papers, trial, deposition, and hearing transcripts, legal 

memoranda, correspondence, deposition and trial exhibits, expert reports, attorney 

work product, and consultant and expert work product, even if such materials 

contain Protected Material. Any such archival copies that contain or constitute 

Protected Material remain subject to this Protective Order as set forth in Section 4 

(DURATION).

14. MISCELLANEOUS

14.1 Right to Further Relief. Nothing in this Stipulation and Order abridges 

the right of any person to seek its modification by the Court in the future.

14.1 Right to Assert Other Objections. By stipulating to the entry of this 

Protective Order no Party waives any right it otherwise would have to object to 

disclosing or producing any information or item on any ground not addressed in this 

Stipulation and Order. Similarly, no Party waives any right to object on any ground 

to use in evidence any of the material covered by this Protective Order.

/ / /

Case 2:22-cv-01454-WBS-CSK Document 61 Filed 08/24/23 Page 14 of 17
- 15 -

Stipulated Protective Order Case No. 2:22-cv-01454-WBS-KJN

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

ATKINSON, ANDELSON, LOYA, RUUD 

&

ROMO

A PROFESSIONAL CORPORATION

ATTORNEYS AT LAW

1 H ARBOR DRIVE , SUITE 101

S AUSALITO , C ALIFORNIA 94965-1433

T ELEPHONE : (628) 234 -6200

F A X : (628) 234- 6899

005089.0000542

260254.1

14.3 Signatures. This Stipulation may be signed in counterpart and a 

facsimile or electronic signature shall be as valid as an original signature.

IT IS SO STIPULATED, THROUGH COUNSEL OF RECORD.

Dated: August 22, 2023 WYLIE, McBRIDE, PLATTEN & RENNER

By: /s/ Christopher A. Kee 

 Christopher A. Kee

Attorneys for Plaintiff

PATRICK VARGAS

Dated: August 22, 2023 BORTON PETRINI, LLP

By: /s/ Sarah Ornelas 

 Sarah Ornelas

Attorneys for Defendants

SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY FIRE AUTHORITY 

and RANDALL BRADLEY

Dated: August 22, 2023 ATKINSON, ANDELSON, LOYA, RUUD & 

ROMO

By: /s/ Ruth M. Bond 

 Ruth M. Bond

 Cassandra D. Lo

Attorneys for Defendants

CITY OF TRACY

ORDER

The court has reviewed the parties’ stipulated protective order. (See ECF No. 

60.) The stipulation comports with the relevant authorities and the court’s 

applicable local rule. See L.R. 141.1. The court APPROVES the protective order, 

Case 2:22-cv-01454-WBS-CSK Document 61 Filed 08/24/23 Page 15 of 17
- 16 -

Stipulated Protective Order Case No. 2:22-cv-01454-WBS-KJN

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

ATKINSON, ANDELSON, LOYA, RUUD 

&

ROMO

A PROFESSIONAL CORPORATION

ATTORNEYS AT LAW

1 H ARBOR DRIVE , SUITE 101

S AUSALITO , C ALIFORNIA 94965-1433

T ELEPHONE : (628) 234 -6200

F A X : (628) 234- 6899

005089.0000542

260254.1

subject to the following clarification. Once an action is closed, “the court will not 

retain jurisdiction over enforcement of the terms of any protective order filed in that 

action.” L.R. 141.1(f); see also, e.g., MD Helicopters, Inc. v. Aerometals, Inc., 2017 

WL 495778 (E.D. Cal., Feb. 03, 2017) (noting that courts in the district generally do 

not retain jurisdiction for disputes concerning protective orders after closure of the 

case). Thus, the court will not retain jurisdiction over this protective order once the 

case is closed.

Dated: August 24, 2023

varg.1454

Case 2:22-cv-01454-WBS-CSK Document 61 Filed 08/24/23 Page 16 of 17
- 17 -

Stipulated Protective Order Case No. 2:22-cv-01454-WBS-KJN

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

ATKINSON, ANDELSON, LOYA, RUUD 

&

ROMO

A PROFESSIONAL CORPORATION

ATTORNEYS AT LAW

1 H ARBOR DRIVE , SUITE 101

S AUSALITO , C ALIFORNIA 94965-1433

T ELEPHONE : (628) 234 -6200

F A X : (628) 234- 6899

005089.0000542

260254.1

EXHIBIT A

ACKNOWLEDGMENT AND AGREEMENT TO BE BOUND

I, _____________________________ [print or type full name], of 

_________________ [print or type full address], declare under penalty of perjury 

that I have read in its entirety and understand the Stipulated Protective Order that 

was issued by the United States District Court for the Eastern District of California 

on [date] in the case Patrick Vargas v. City of Tracy, et al. Case Number 2:22-cv01454-WBS-KJN. I agree to comply with and to be bound by all the terms of this 

Stipulated Protective Order and I understand and acknowledge that failure to so 

comply could expose me to sanctions and punishment in the nature of contempt. I 

solemnly promise that I will not disclose in any manner any information or item that 

is subject to this Stipulated Protective Order to any person or entity except in strict 

compliance with the provisions of this Order.

I further agree to submit to the jurisdiction of the United States District Court 

for the Eastern District of California for the purpose of enforcing the terms of this 

Stipulated Protective Order, even if such enforcement proceedings occur after 

termination of this action.

I hereby appoint __________________________ [print or type full name] of 

_______________________________________ [print or type full address and 

telephone number] as my California agent for service of process in connection with 

this action or any proceedings related to enforcement of this Stipulated Protective 

Order.

Date: _________________

City and State where sworn and signed: _________________________________

Printed name: _______________________________

Signature: _________________________________

Case 2:22-cv-01454-WBS-CSK Document 61 Filed 08/24/23 Page 17 of 17