UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

IN THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF MICHIGAN

SOUTHERN DIVISION

PENNZOIL-QUAKER STATE COMPANY

Plaintiff,

vs.

BLC REAL ESTATE, L.L.C., D/B/A

CHECKER FLAG QUICK LUBE & CAR

WASH; BILAL CHAMI, 

SAFE WAY QUICK LUBE, INC., 

BWH INVESTMENT GROUP, INC., 

WESAM NADIM ISSA, and

ROB CHAMI

Defendants.

Case No. 09-13766

District Judge Robert H Cleland

Magistrate Judge Mark A. Randon

Jill M. Wheaton (P49921)

Joseph A. Doerr (P66109)

Attorneys for Plaintiff

Dykema Gossett PLLC

39577 Woodward Avenue, Suite 300

Bloomfield Hills, MI 48304

(248) 203-0700

jwheaton@dykema.com

jdoerr@dykema.com

Helal A. Farhat (P64872)

Attorney for Defendants

Salamey & Farhat, PLLC

6053 Chase Road

Dearborn, MI 48126

(313) 945-5100

helal_F@Hotmail.com

STIPULATED PROTECTIVE ORDER

1. Proceedings and Information Governed. This Order (“Protective Order”) is made

under Rule 26(c) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure (“FED. R. CIV. P.”). 

This Protective Order applies to any document, information, or other tangible or intangible thing

(collectively, “documents”) furnished by a party to any other party, as well as documents

furnished by non-parties who receive subpoenas in connection with this action, if and when the

documents are designated by a party or non-party as “Confidential Information” or “Highly

Confidential Information” in accordance with the terms of this Protective Order. This Protective

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Order also applies to copies, excerpts, abstracts, analyses, summaries, descriptions, or other

forms of recorded information or data containing, reflecting, or disclosing all or parts of

designated documents.

2. Designation and Maintenance of Documents and Information.

A. The “Confidential Information” designation means that the document contains

trade secrets or commercial information not publicly known, which trade secrets or commercial

information is of technical or commercial advantage to its possessor, in accordance with FED. R.

CIV. P. 26(c)(7), or other information required by law or agreement to be kept confidential. 

B. The “Highly Confidential Information” designation means that the document

contains information that the producing party deems especially sensitive, which may include, but

is not limited to, confidential research and development, financial, technical, marketing, any

other sensitive trade secret information, or information capable of being utilized for the

preparation or prosecution of a patent application dealing with such subject matter. It is intended

by the parties, and is so ordered, that this designation shall be used sparingly and construed

narrowly, applying only to the most sensitive of information and should in practice only amount

to a small percentage of the total documents produced by each party. 

C. “Confidential Information” and “Highly Confidential Information” does not

include, and this Protective Order does not apply to, documents already in the knowledge or

possession of the party to whom disclosure is made unless that party is already bound by an

agreement not to disclose such information, or information that has been disclosed to the public

or third persons in a manner making such information no longer confidential.

3. Documents Produced in Discovery and Depositions.

A. Documents and things produced during the course of this litigation within the

scope of paragraph 2(A) or 2(B) above, may be designated by the producing party as containing

“Confidential Information” by placing on each page and each thing a legend substantially as

follows:

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CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION

SUBJECT TO PROTECTIVE ORDER

Documents and things produced during the course of this litigation within the scope of paragraph

2(A) above may be designated by the producing party as containing “Highly Confidential

Information” by placing on each page and each thing a legend substantially as follows:

HIGHLY CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION

SUBJECT TO PROTECTIVE ORDER

B. Depositions

(i) For deposition testimony or exhibits to be entitled to protection under this

Order, a party must designate the testimony and exhibits disclosed at a deposition as

“Confidential Information” or “Highly Confidential Information” by requesting the reporter to so

designate the transcript or any portion of the transcript at the time of the deposition. 

(ii) If no such designation is made at the time of the deposition, any party has

fourteen (14) calendar days after delivery by the court reporter of the transcript of the deposition

session to designate, in writing to the other parties and to the court reporter, what portions of the

transcript and which exhibits the party designates as “Confidential Information” and “Highly

Confidential Information.”

(iii) During the transcription and following fourteen (14) day period after a

deposition session, the transcript and exhibits must be treated as Highly Confidential

Information, unless the disclosing party consents to less confidential treatment of the

information.

(iv) Each party and the court reporter must attach a copy of any final and

timely written designation notice to the transcript and each copy of the transcript in its

possession, custody or control, and the portions designated in such notice must thereafter be

treated in accordance with this Protective Order. It is the responsibility of counsel for each party

to maintain materials containing Confidential Information or Highly Confidential Information in

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a secure manner and appropriately identified so as to allow access to such information only to

such persons and under such terms as is permitted under this Protective Order.

(v) If no such designation is made at the deposition or within the fourteen (14)

calendar day period following delivery of the transcript, then the entire deposition will be

considered devoid of Confidential Information or Highly Confidential Information. 

4. Inadvertent Failure to Designate.

A. The inadvertent failure to designate a document as “Confidential Information” or

“Highly Confidential Information” will not be a waiver of a claim that the document contains

confidential information, nor will it prevent the producing party from designating such

information as confidential at a later date in writing, so long as the designation is done timely

and with particularity. 

B. Specifically, the disclosing party may, within 10 days after becoming aware of

that inadvertently omitted designation, inform the receiving party of same and send the

receiving party a copy of such document, information or material marked as “Confidential” or

“Highly Confidential”. The receiving party shall then destroy the document, information or

material lacking the confidentiality designation or mark it appropriately and then treat it

accordingly.

C In the event a producing party later designates a document as “Confidential

Information” or “Highly Confidential Information,” the document must be treated by the

receiving party as confidential from the time of receipt of the notice of the appropriate

confidentiality designation.

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5. Production of Privileged Documents.

A. If information produced in discovery is subject to a claim of privilege or of

protection as trial-preparation materials, within ten (10) business days of becoming aware of the

inadvertent production, the party making the claim may notify in writing any party that received

the information of the claim and the basis of it, and the production of the document shall not

constitute a waiver or impairment of any claim of privilege relating to the document. 

B. After being so notified, a party must promptly return or destroy the specified

information, any copies of it and all notes made regarding such documents within ten (10)

business days, unless the parties mutually agree upon a longer time for return and destruction of

the privileged documents.

C. Further, the notified party must not use or disclose the information until the claim

is resolved; must take reasonable steps to retrieve and destroy or return the information if the

party disclosed it before being notified; and may promptly present the information to the Court

under seal for a determination of the claim. The producing party must preserve the information

until the claim is resolved. The party returning such information may move the Court for an

Order compelling production of such information.

D. This Section is not intended to limit or narrow any rule or law concerning

inadvertent production of privileged materials. However, disclosure of documents, information

or other material relevant to one subject or topic shall not waive any applicable privileges to the

rest of that subject or topic.

6. Challenges to Designations.

A party’s designation of documents as “Confidential Information” or “Highly

Confidential Information” is not binding if the procedures below are followed:

A. A receiving party may challenge a producing party’s designation at any time.

Any receiving party may request in writing that the producing party change the designation. The

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producing party within fourteen (14) calendar days after receipt of a written challenge, must

advise the receiving party whether or not it will change the designation.

B. If the parties are unable to reach agreement after the expiration of this fourteen

(14) calendar day period, they shall confer. If they cannot resolve the issue, the receiving party

may seek an order to alter the confidential status of the designated information.

C. Until the presiding judge has ruled on a dispute under this paragraph, the

“Confidential Information” or “Highly Confidential Information” designation will remain in full

force and effect, and the document continues to be protected by this Protective Order. 

D. Burden of Proof: If, after attempting to resolve in good faith with the other party

the propriety of a designation, a party shall apply for relief from this Protective Order on the

grounds that information or documents designated “Confidential” or “Highly Confidential” are

in fact not properly so designated, the party asserting confidentiality shall have the burden of

proving the information or documents in question are “Confidential” or “Highly Confidential”

within the scope of this Order. A failure of a party to challenge a designation of confidentiality

when made shall not be a waiver of that party’s right later to assert that the information actually

is not “Confidential” or “Highly Confidential”. If a party desires to provide access to

information or documents to any person restricted from such access by this Order, the parties

shall attempt in good faith to resolve the question by agreement, and if agreement cannot be

reached, the party seeking access may move the Court for relief expanding access to such

person.

E. In order to discourage overly broad designations of materials and/or satellite

litigation over the designations, the Court shall, after any opportunity to be heard, order the

losing party to pay the prevailing party’s reasonable expenses incurred in making the motion or

defending against the motion, including attorney’s fees. But the court must not order this

payment if:

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(i) the movant filed the motion before attempting in good faith to obtain agreement

for the access to such person restricted from access without court action;

(ii) the opposing party’s resistance to agreement to grant access to such person was

substantially justified; or

(ii) other circumstances make an award of expenses unjust.

7. Disclosure and Use of Confidential Information.

A. Information designated as “Confidential Information” or “Highly Confidential

Information” may only be used for purposes of preparation, trial, and appeal of this action.

“Confidential Information” or “Highly Confidential Information” may not be used under any

circumstances for prosecuting any patent application, for patent licensing, or for any other

purpose.

B. Subject to paragraph 9 below, “Confidential Information” may be disclosed by

the receiving party only to the following individuals, provided that such individuals are informed

of the terms of this Protective Order: 

(i) two employees or officers of the receiving party (or the general partner of

the receiving party) who are required in good faith to provide assistance in the conduct of

this litigation, including any settlement discussions, and who are identified as such in

writing to counsel for the designating party in advance of the disclosure;

(ii) two in-house counsel who are full-time employees for a receiving party

(or the general partner of a receiving party) who are identified by the designating party in

advance of the disclosure;

(iii) outside counsel of record for the receiving party including counsel in

related proceedings;

(iv) supporting personnel employed by (ii) and (iii), such as paralegals, legal

secretaries, data entry clerks, legal clerks, and private photocopying services; 

(v) experts or consultants; and

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(vi) any persons requested by counsel to furnish services such as document

coding, image scanning, mock trial, jury profiling, translation services, court reporting

services, demonstrative exhibit preparation, or the creation of any computer database

from documents. 

C. Subject to paragraph 9 below, “Highly Confidential Information” may be

disclosed by the receiving party only to the following individuals, provided that such individuals

are informed of the terms of this Protective Order: 

(i) outside counsel of record for the receiving party including counsel in

related proceedings;

(ii) supporting personnel employed by outside counsel, such as paralegals,

legal secretaries, data entry clerks, legal clerks, private photocopying services;

(iii) experts or consultants;

(iv) any persons requested by counsel to furnish services such as document

coding, image scanning, mock trial, jury profiling, translation services, court reporting

services, demonstrative exhibit preparation, or the creation of any computer database

from documents; and,

(iv) those individuals qualifying under paragraph 7(E) below.

D. Further, prior to disclosing “Confidential” or “Highly Confidential Information”

to a receiving party’s proposed expert, consultant, or their employees, the Counsel for receiving

party must ensure those persons have signed the Confidentiality Agreement in the form attached

as Exhibit A. Prior to disclosing “Confidential” or “Highly Confidential Information” to a any

persons qualifying under paragraph 7(B)(vi), the Counsel for receiving party must ensure those

persons have signed the Confidentiality Agreement in the form attached as Exhibit B.

E. “Confidential Information” or “Highly Confidential Information” may be

disclosed to a person who is not already allowed access to such information under this Protective

Order if: (a) the information was previously received or authored by the person or was authored

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or received by a director, officer, employee or agent of the company for which the person is

testifying as a designee under FED. R. CIV. P. 30(b)(6); (b) the designating party is the person or

is a party for whom the person is a director, officer, employee, consultant or agent; or (c)

counsel for the party designating the material agrees that the material may be disclosed to the

person. 

In the event of disclosure under this section 7, only the reporter, the person, his or her

counsel, the presiding judge, and persons to whom disclosure may be made and who are bound

by this Protective Order, may be present during the disclosure or discussion of Confidential

Information. 

Disclosure of material pursuant to this section 7 does not constitute a waiver of the

confidential status of the material so disclosed.

8. Non-Party Information.

The existence of this Protective Order must be disclosed to any person producing

documents, tangible things, or testimony in this action who may reasonably be expected to desire

confidential treatment for such documents, tangible things or testimony. Any such person may

designate documents, tangible things, or testimony confidential pursuant to this Protective Order.

9. Filing Documents With the Court.

If any party wishes to submit Confidential Information to the court, the submission must

be filed only in a sealed envelope bearing the caption of this action and a notice in the following

form:

CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION

[ case caption]

This envelope, which is being filed under seal, 

contains documents that are subject to a Protective Order

governing the use of confidential discovery material. 

10. No Prejudice.

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Producing or receiving “Confidential Information” or “Highly Confidential Information,”

or otherwise complying with the terms of this Protective Order, will not: (a) operate as an

admission by any party that any particular “Confidential Information” or “Highly Confidential

Information” contains or reflects trade secrets or any other type of confidential or proprietary

information; (b) prejudice the rights of a party to object to the production of information or

material that the party does not consider to be within the scope of discovery; (c) prejudice the

rights of a party to seek a determination by the presiding judge that particular materials be

produced; (d) prejudice the rights of a party to apply to the presiding judge for further protective

orders; or (e) prevent the parties from agreeing in writing to alter or waive the provisions or

protections provided for in this Protective Order with respect to any particular information or

material.

11. Conclusion of Litigation.

Within sixty (60) calendar days after final judgment in this action, including the

exhaustion of all appeals, or within sixty (60) calendar days after dismissal pursuant to a

settlement agreement, each party or other person subject to the terms of this Protective Order is

under an obligation to destroy or return to the producing party all materials and documents

containing “Confidential Information” or “Highly Confidential Information,” and to certify to

the producing party that this destruction or return has been done. However, outside counsel for

any party is entitled to retain all court papers, trial transcripts, exhibits, and attorney work

provided that any such materials are maintained and protected in accordance with the terms of

this Protective Order.

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12. Other Proceedings.

By entering this Protective Order and limiting the disclosure of information in this case,

the presiding judge does not intend to preclude another court from finding that information may

be relevant and subject to disclosure in another case. Any person or party subject to this

Protective Order who may be subject to a motion to disclose another party’s information

designated “Confidential” or “Highly Confidential” pursuant to this Protective Order must

promptly notify that party of the motion so that the party may have an opportunity to appear and

be heard on whether that information should be disclosed.

13. Remedies.

It is ORDERED that this Protective Order will be enforced by the sanctions set forth in

FED. R. CIV. P. 37(a) and any other sanctions as may be available to the presiding judge,

including the power to hold parties or other violators of this Protective Order in contempt. All

other remedies available to any person injured by a violation of this Protective Order are fully

reserved.

14. Relief from Protective Order.

Any party may petition the presiding judge for good cause shown if the party desires

relief from a term or condition of this Protective Order.

 S/Robert H. Cleland 

ROBERT H. CLELAND

UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

Dated: December 30, 2009

I hereby certify that a copy of the foregoing document was mailed to counsel of record on this

date, December 30, 2009, by electronic and/or ordinary mail.

 S/Lisa Wagner 

Case Manager and Deputy Clerk

(313) 234-5522

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____________________________________

STIPULATED AS TO FORM AND SUBSTANCE:

By: s/ Joseph A. Doerr________ 

Joseph A. Doerr (P66109)

DYKEMA GOSSETT PLLC.

39577 Woodward Ave., Suite 300

Bloomfield Hills, MI 48304

(248) 203-0875

jdoerr@dykema.com

Attorneys for Plaintiff

By: s/ Helal A. Farhat (w/consent)

Helal A. Farhat (P64872)

SALAMEY & FARHAT, PLLC

6053 Chase Road

Dearborn, MI 48126

(313) 945-5100

helal_F@Hotmail.com

Attorney for Defendants

Dated: 

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Exhibit A

PENNZOIL-QUAKER STATE COMPANY

Plaintiff,

vs.

BLC REAL ESTATE, L.L.C., D/B/A

CHECKER FLAG QUICK LUBE & CAR

WASH; BILAL CHAMI, 

SAFE WAY QUICK LUBE, INC., 

BWH INVESTMENT GROUP, INC., 

WESAM NADIM ISSA, and

ROB CHAMI

Defendants.

Case No. 09-13766

District Judge Robert H Cleland

Magistrate Judge Mark A. Randon

CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENT FOR EXPERT,

CONSULTANT OR EMPLOYEES OF ANY PARTY

I, ______________________________, under penalty of perjury, 28 U.S.C. § 1746, that:

1. Information, including documents and things, designated as “Confidential

Information” or “Highly Confidential Information,” as defined in the Protective Order entered in

the above-captioned action (“Protective Order”), is being provided to me pursuant to the terms

and restrictions of the Protective Order.

2. I have been given a copy of and have read the Protective Order.

3. I am familiar with the terms of the Protective Order and I agree to comply with

and to be bound by its terms.

4. I submit to the jurisdiction of the United States District Court for the Eastern

District of Michigan for enforcement of the Protective Order. 

5. I agree not to use any “Confidential Information” or “Highly Confidential

Information” disclosed to me pursuant to the Protective Order except for purposes of the abovecaptioned litigation and not to disclose any of this information to persons other than those

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specifically authorized by the Protective Order, without the express written consent of the party

who designated the information as confidential or by order of the presiding judge.

6. I also agree to notify any stenographic, clerical or technical personnel who are

required to assist me of the terms of this Protective Order and of its binding effect on them and

me.

7. I understand that I am to retain all documents or materials designated as or

containing “Confidential Information” or “Highly Confidential Information” in a secure manner,

and that all such documents and materials are to remain in my personal custody until the

completion of my assigned duties in this matter, whereupon all such documents and materials,

including all copies thereof, and any writings prepared by me containing any “Confidential

Information” or “Highly Confidential Information” are to be returned to counsel who provided

me with such documents and materials.

Signed at _______________, _________, this ________, day of ___________, 20__.

_______________________________

Signature

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Exhibit B

PENNZOIL-QUAKER STATE COMPANY

Plaintiff,

vs.

BLC REAL ESTATE, L.L.C., D/B/A

CHECKER FLAG QUICK LUBE & CAR

WASH; BILAL CHAMI, 

SAFE WAY QUICK LUBE, INC., 

BWH INVESTMENT GROUP, INC., 

WESAM NADIM ISSA, and

ROB CHAMI

Defendants.

Case No. 09-13766

District Judge Robert H Cleland

Magistrate Judge Mark A. Randon

CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENT FOR THIRD-PARTY VENDORS

I, ______________________________, under penalty of perjury, 28 U.S.C. § 1746, that:

1. Information, including documents and things, designated as “Confidential

Information” or “Highly Confidential Information” as defined in the Protective Order entered in

the above-captioned action (“Protective Order”), is being provided to me pursuant to the terms

and restrictions of the Protective Order.

2. I have been given a copy of and have read the Protective Order. 

3. I am familiar with the terms of the Protective Order and I agree to comply with

and to be bound by its terms.

4. I submit to the jurisdiction of the United States District Court for the Southern

District of Michigan for enforcement of the Protective Order.

5. I agree not to use any Confidential Information or Highly Confidential

Information disclosed to me pursuant to the Protective Order except for purposes of the above2:09-cv-13766-RHC-MAR Doc # 25 Filed 12/30/09 Pg 15 of 16 Pg ID 144
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captioned litigation and not to disclose any of this information to persons other than those

specifically authorized by the Protective Order, without the express written consent of the party

who designated the information as confidential or by order of the presiding judge.

Signed at _______________, _________, this ________, day of ___________, 20__.

__________________________________

Signature 

BH01\1085882.3

ID\JAD - 074095/0155

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