Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_13-cv-02638/USCOURTS-caed-2_13-cv-02638-0/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
Eric Hill
Plaintiff
The Sygma Network, Inc.
Defendant

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US_ACTIVE-117363920.1 – 1 – CASE NO. 2:13-CV-02638-MCE-EFB

STIPULATION AND PROTECTIVE ORDER

REED SMITH LLP 

A limited liability partnership formed in the State of Delaware

L. Julius M. Turman, Esq. (SBN. No. 226126)

Philip Smith, Esq. (SBN No. 232462)

REED SMITH LLP

101 Second Street

Suite 1800

San Francisco, CA 94105-3659

Telephone: +1 415 543 8700

Facsimile: +1 415 391 8269 

Email: jturman@reedsmith.com

psmith@reedsmith.com

Attorneys for Defendant

THE SYGMA NETWORK, INC.

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

SACRAMENTO DIVISION

ERIC HILL,

Plaintiff,

vs.

THE SYGMA NETWORK, INC. and DOES 1 

through 100, INCLUSIVE,

Defendants.

Case No. 2:13-cv-02638-MCE-EFB

STIPULATION OF CONFIDENTIALITY 

AND ORDER GRANTING PROTECTIVE 

ORDER

 

Plaintiff ERIC HILL (“Plaintiff” or “Hill”) and Defendant THE SYGMA NETWORK, 

INC. (“Defendant” or “Sygma”) by and through their counsel, hereby stipulate as follows:

WHEREAS, in connection with discovery in this case, the parties have sought and/or 

anticipate seeking certain documents and/or information that the others contend is private, 

highly confidential, and/or proprietary;

WHEREAS, the parties desire to protect the confidentiality of such documents and 

information consistent with applicable law, to ensure that they can obtain and pursue discovery 

with a minimum of delay and expense;

WHEREAS, 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 

Case 2:13-cv-02638-MCE-EFB Document 12 Filed 05/22/14 Page 1 of 11
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REED SMITH LLP 

A limited liability partnership formed in the State of Delaware

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 stipulation and order does not entitle them to file confidential 

information under seal; Civil Local Rule 141 sets forth the procedures that must be followed 

and the standards that will be applied when a party seeks permission from the court to file 

material under seal;

NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereby stipulate and agree as follows:

1. DEFINITIONS As used in this Protective Order: 

The term “Person” includes a natural person, association, organization, partnership, 

limited liability company, business, trust, corporation, or public entity and any agent of the 

foregoing.

The term “Material” means the original and any copy (regardless of origin or location) 

of any written, reported, recorded or graphic matter, however stored, produced or reproduced, 

including, but not limited to, computer-stored and computer retrievable information; testimony 

at depositions upon oral examinations or upon written questions; answers to interrogatories; 

information obtained from the inspection of premises; tangible objects or documents; answers 

to requests for admission; and anything that is a “writing” under the Federal Rules of Evidence. 

The term “Provide” means the production, delivery, or transfer of any Material, 

voluntarily or involuntarily, regardless of whether it is performed pursuant to a request or 

subpoena.

The term “Confidential Information” means any information, whether documentary or 

oral, so designated by any producing Person or party which it reasonably, under standards 

developed under federal statutory and common law, believes is of the type entitled to protection 

by law, subject to any party’s right to challenge such designation through court intervention, as 

specified herein. 

The term “Action” means the case entitled ERIC HILL v. THE SYGMA NETWORK, 

INC., United States District Court, Eastern District of California, Sacramento Division, Case

No. 2:13-cv-02638-MCE-EFB.

Case 2:13-cv-02638-MCE-EFB Document 12 Filed 05/22/14 Page 2 of 11
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– 3 –

REED SMITH LLP 

A limited liability partnership formed in the State of Delaware

The term “Plaintiff” means Plaintiff ERIC HILL, and any person or entity purporting to 

act on his behalf.

The term “Defendant” means Defendant THE SYGMA NETWORK, INC. and 

Defendant’s current and former employees, agents, managers, officers, directors, subsidiaries, 

parent companies, and divisions, and any person or entity purporting to act on their behalf.

2. DESIGNATION/DISCLOSURE OF CONFIDENTIAL MATERIAL

A. Manner and Timing of Designation. The parties may designate as 

confidential at the time of production any Materials or information that contains Confidential 

Information by placing or affixing on each page of such Material the legend 

“CONFIDENTIAL” or a similar legend. Portions of deposition testimony and transcripts may 

be designated “CONFIDENTIAL” pursuant to the provisions of Paragraph 3, below. 

B. Permitted Disclosures. Material designated as “CONFIDENTIAL” shall 

not be used for any purpose other than the prosecution or defense of the Action by the party or 

parties receiving such Material in discovery. 

B.1 Material designated as “CONFIDENTIAL” shall only be provided, 

exhibited, or disclosed to the following persons:

B.1.a. Parties to the Action (Plaintiff and Defendant Sygma)

B.1.b. Outside counsel of record engaged in the prosecution or defense of this 

litigation for the parties, including the paralegals, legal assistants, stenographic, or clerical 

employees who assist such counsel;

B.1.c. In-house counsel of any party engaged in the prosecution or defense of 

this litigation for the parties including the paralegals, legal assistants, stenographic, or clerical 

employees and vendors who assist such counsel;

B.1.d. Outside experts (including without limitation, any translators), consultants, 

or investigators retained by the parties or their counsel of record in connection with this 

litigation under the conditions described in Paragraph 6 below;

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REED SMITH LLP 

A limited liability partnership formed in the State of Delaware

B.1.e. A current or former employee of a producing Person or party interviewed 

(to the extent consistent with applicable law) under the conditions described in Paragraph 6 

below;

B.1.f. Court reporters, videographers, mediators or other professional vendors 

engaged for this litigation, and their staff; 

B.1.g. The United States District Court, Eastern District of California, 

Sacramento Division, and its personnel, or other persons acting on its behalf, including without 

limitation members of any jury that may serve in proceedings in the Action; and 

C. Restrictions on Use. Persons described in paragraph 2.B.1.a.- g. to whom 

Material designated as “CONFIDENTIAL” are to be Provided, exhibited, or disclosed pursuant 

to this Paragraph 2 must have (a) read this order; (b) agreed to be bound by the terms thereof, 

(c) agreed to maintain said information in confidence, (d) agreed not to disclose the same except 

as permitted by this Paragraph 2, and (e) agreed to use said information solely for purposes of 

the prosecution and defense of this litigation and not for any business, competitive or other 

purposes whatsoever. Notwithstanding the foregoing, United States District Court, Eastern 

District of California, Sacramento Division, and its personnel, or other persons acting on its 

behalf, are not subject to the provisions in this Paragraph. 

3. DEPOSITIONS

A. The parties may designate any information disclosed during depositions as 

“CONFIDENTIAL” either on the record at the deposition or within 15 calendar days after 

completion of the deposition transcript. 

B. Designation of the portion of the transcript (including exhibits) as 

“CONFIDENTIAL” shall be made as follows: Upon review of the transcript by the party 

whose information the contents of the deposition relate, that party shall designate within 15 

calendar days after his or her receipt of the transcript, by written communication to the other 

parties, the specific pages and lines to be designated as “CONFIDENTIAL.” If no designation 

is made within 15 calendar days after receipt of the transcript, the transcript shall be considered 

not to contain any confidential material. 

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REED SMITH LLP 

A limited liability partnership formed in the State of Delaware

C. A person not otherwise authorized to be shown information or documents 

designated “CONFIDENTIAL” under this Protective Order may be examined as a witness at 

deposition and may be shown and may testify concerning any such information or documents as 

follows:

C.1. A present employee of a producing Person or party may be examined, may 

be shown, and may testify concerning any “CONFIDENTIAL” information of that producing 

Person or party.

C.2. A former employee or consultant of a producing Person or party may be 

examined, may be shown, may be interviewed, and may testify concerning any 

“CONFIDENTIAL” information of a producing Person or party that pertains in any way to the 

subject matter of his/her consultation or employment or to the subject matter of his/her 

communications with the producing Person or party.

C.3. A non-party who has had any contact or relationship with a party may be 

examined, may be shown, may be interviewed, and may testify:

C.3.a. Concerning any Material containing “CONFIDENTIAL” information that 

appears on its face to have been communicated between the non-party and any party; and

C.3.b. Concerning any “CONFIDENTIAL” information of a party that 

documentary or testimonial evidence indicates was communicated between the non-party and 

the party.

4. CHALLENGING DESIGNATION OF CONFIDENTIAL MATERIAL

A. A party may only designate materials as CONFIDENTIAL when it in 

“good faith” believes it is entitled to protection from disclosure under the law. In the event that 

any party at any time believes designated material should not be so designated, such party shall 

so notify the designating party in writing, and the parties then shall meet and confer in good 

faith concerning such disputed confidential information within ten (10) calendar days of receipt 

of the notice. If agreement is not reached, the designating party shall then have fifteen (15) 

calendar days file a motion requesting that the Court enter a protective order formally 

designating such materials as confidential. In such a proceeding, the designating party bears the 

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– 6 –

REED SMITH LLP 

A limited liability partnership formed in the State of Delaware

burden of proof under applicable legal standards with respect to any challenged designation. 

The designated material shall be subject to and protected by this Stipulation and Order under 

the designation assigned by the designating party, at least until the Court has ruled on any such 

application. No party shall be obliged to challenge the propriety of a confidential designation, 

and a failure to do so shall not preclude a subsequent challenge to the propriety of such 

designation.

5. INADVERTENT DISCLOSURE

A. If a producing Person or party inadvertently fails to stamp or otherwise 

appropriately designate certain documents or information as “CONFIDENTIAL” upon 

production or disclosure, the producing Person or any other party may thereafter designate by 

promptly giving written notice to all parties that the Material is to be so designated. All parties 

shall then stamp or otherwise mark the designated Material with a “CONFIDENTIAL” or a 

similar legend.

B. To the extent provided by law, the inadvertent production of any 

privileged or otherwise protected Materials shall not be deemed a waiver or impairment of any 

claim of privilege or protection, including but not limited to, the attorney-client privilege and 

the protection afforded to work-product Materials, or the subject matter thereof. Upon 

receiving notice from a producing Person or party that Materials have been inadvertently 

produced, all such Materials (including all copies) shall be returned to the producing Person or 

party within five (5) business days of receipt of that notice, unless timely application is made to 

the Court within that period to challenge the claim of privilege.

6. DISCLOSURE OF CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION TO EXPERTS, 

CONSULTANTS, EMPLOYEES AND INVESTIGATORS

A. Before a party discloses Materials designated as “CONFIDENTIAL” to any 

expert, consultant, current or former employee, or investigator, the expert, consultant or 

investigator must certify that he or she has read this Protective Order and must sign a copy of 

the “Agreement to be Bound by Protective Order,” attached hereto as Exhibit A. Once the 

expert, consultant, former employee or investigator has executed the “Agreement to be Bound 

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REED SMITH LLP 

A limited liability partnership formed in the State of Delaware

by Protective Order,” it shall not be necessary for that person to sign a separate statement each 

time he or she is subsequently given access to information or Materials designated as 

“CONFIDENTIAL.” An expert, consultant, former employee or investigator that is shown 

Material designated as “CONFIDENTIAL” may retain copies of that Material or information 

subject to the provisions of Paragraph 7 below. 

B. The original, executed “Agreement to be Bound by Protective Order” signed by 

Persons receiving Materials designated as “CONFIDENTIAL,” pursuant to this Paragraph 7 

shall be maintained by the attorney of record who obtained the Agreement. 

7. COMPLETION OF LITIGATION

Upon completion of all proceedings in this Action, including the expiration of all rights 

to judicial review, all Materials produced in discovery that are designated as 

“CONFIDENTIAL” shall be returned to the producing party or destroyed. If the receiving 

party elects to destroy instead of returning such Materials, the receiving party shall confirm in 

writing to the producing party within sixty (60) days after final termination of the Action that 

the Materials have been destroyed. Each party shall also ensure that all experts retained by the 

party to whom Materials designated as “CONFIDENTIAL” were disclosed shall return all such 

Materials to the party retaining such expert or, alternatively, shall confirm in writing that all 

such Materials have been destroyed. Returning parties are not required to return or destroy any 

pleadings, discovery requests, documents filed with the Court, hearing transcripts, or attorney 

work-product. The provisions of this Protective Order restricting the dissemination, exhibition 

or other use of Materials designated as “CONFIDENTIAL” shall continue to be binding on any 

person subject to the terms of the Protective Order after conclusion of this Action.

8. RIGHT TO SEEK RELIEF FROM THE COURT

Nothing in this Protective Order shall be deemed to limit, prejudice or waive any rights 

of any party or person: (a) to resist or compel discovery with respect to, or to seek additional or 

different protection for, Material claimed to be protected by attorney work-product or other 

applicable privilege, Material as to which the party or person claims a legal obligation not to 

disclose, or Material not required to be produced pursuant to governing laws and rules; (b) to 

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– 8 –

REED SMITH LLP 

A limited liability partnership formed in the State of Delaware

seek to modify or obtain relief from any aspect of this Protective Order; (c) to object to the use, 

relevance or admissibility at trial of any evidence, whether or not comprised of Confidential 

Information governed by this Protective Order; (d) otherwise to require that discovery be 

conducted according to governing laws and rules; or (e) to oppose production of any 

information on any ground allowed under the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, or any other 

law, rule or regulation. By signing this Protective Order, a producing party is not deemed to 

waive any objection to the production of any document. In addition, the election by any party 

to disclose any portion of its “CONFIDENTIAL” information to others shall not be deemed a 

waiver of any of the rights established by this Protective Order. The placing of any 

“CONFIDENTIAL” designation or a production identification number on the face of a 

document produced shall have no effect on the authenticity or admissibility of that document at 

trial.

9. FILING CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION WITH THE COURT

Whenever a party files any document with the Court that contains (a) Materials that 

have been designated as “CONFIDENTIAL” or (b) Confidential Information of any party, the 

filing party shall comply with Civil Local Rule 141.

10. USE OF “CONFIDENTIAL” MATERIAL IN COURT

Should any party desire to use “CONFIDENTIAL” Material, or any portion or summary 

thereof, during any proceedings held in open court, he or she shall, prior to such use and upon 

conferring with the opposing party, make a request to the Court that the materials designated as 

“CONFIDENTIAL” be filed under seal with this Court. The parties shall exercise due care not 

to disclose “CONFIDENTIAL” information needlessly in the public record of any 

proceedings.’

11. MAINTENANCE OF “CONFIDENTIAL” MATERIAL

Persons described in paragraph 2.B.1.a.- g. with custody of Materials designated as 

“CONFIDENTIAL” shall maintain them in a manner that ensures that access to it is strictly 

limited to Persons entitled to receive Confidential Information in accordance with this 

Protective Order.

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– 9 –

REED SMITH LLP 

A limited liability partnership formed in the State of Delaware

12. SUBPOENAS

If a receiving party is served with a subpoena or an order issued in other litigation that 

would compel disclosure of Materials designated in this action as “CONFIDENTIAL,” the 

receiving party must so notify the designating party, in writing immediately and in no event 

more than three court days after receiving the subpoena or order. Such notification must 

include a copy of the subpoena or court order. 

13. JURISDICTION

Upon conclusion of this litigation, this Court shall retain such jurisdiction with respect 

to this Protective Order for purposes of enforcing its terms and conditions and to enable any 

party herein affected to apply for such other and further orders concerning the subject of this 

Protective Order as may be necessary or appropriate. The designating party shall have the 

opportunity to oppose any request for public inspection of Materials designated as 

“CONFIDENTIAL.” 

14. RIGHTS INTACT

Except as described herein, this Protective Order shall not abrogate or diminish any 

contractual, statutory or other legal obligation or right of any party or person with respect to any 

Confidential Information.

DATED: May 2, 2014 REED SMITH LLP

By: /s/ L. Julius M. Turman

L. Julius M. Turman

Philip J. Smith

Attorneys for Defendant, 

THE SYGMA NETWORK, INC.

DATED: May 2, 2014 LAW OFFICE OF JEFFREY D. FULTON

By: /s/ Jeffrey D. Fulton

Jeffrey D. Fulton

Natalya Grunwald

Attorneys for Plaintiff,

ERIC HILL

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– 10 –

REED SMITH LLP 

A limited liability partnership formed in the State of Delaware

ORDER

The Court having reviewed the foregoing Stipulation, and good cause appearing 

therefore, the Parties’ Stipulation of Confidentiality and Protective Order, ECF No. 11, is 

HEREBY GRANTED.

IT IS SO ORDERED. 

Dated: May 21, 2014

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– 11 –

REED SMITH LLP 

A limited liability partnership formed in the State of Delaware

EXHIBIT A

AGREEMENT TO BE BOUND BY PROTECTIVE ORDER

I hereby acknowledge that I am about to receive Confidential Information provided in 

connection with the litigation entitled ERIC HILL v. THE SYGMA NETWORK, INC., United 

States District Court, Eastern District of California, Sacramento Division, Case No. 2:13-cv02638-MCE-EFB. I certify my understanding that such Confidential Information is to be 

provided to me pursuant to the terms and restrictions of the Protective Order in the action and 

that I have been given a copy of and have read said Protective Order and agree to be bound by 

the terms thereof. I understand that such Confidential Information and any copies I make of 

any Material containing Confidential Information or any notes or other records that may be 

made regarding any such Confidential Information shall not be disclosed to any persons other 

than those persons to whom such information may be disclosed pursuant to this Protective 

Order.

LAW OFFICE OF JEFFREY D. FULTON

Jeffrey D. Fulton

[Print name]

/s/ Jeffrey D. Fulton

Signature

May 2, 2014

Date

Based on the parties’ stipulation, and good cause appearing, IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated:____________________________________ .

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