Court Opinion

ID: 2659480
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-04-03 02:40:07.190992+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:14:53.700721
License: Public Domain

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
                              FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

_________________________________________
                                          )
ESTATE OF ESTHER KLIEMAN, et al.,         )
                                          )
            Plaintiffs,                   )
                                          )
      v.                                  )                    Civil Action No. 04-1173 (PLF)
                                          )
PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY, et al.,            )
                                          )
            Defendants.                   )
_________________________________________ )

                           MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER

               On September 19, 2013, the Court ordered the British Broadcasting Corporation

(the “BBC”) to provide to plaintiffs a copy of a 2003 BBC documentary and certain related

outtakes, accompanied by one or more affidavits attesting to the authenticity of those materials.

Order, Dkt. No. 210 (Sept. 19, 2013); see Estate of Klieman v. Palestinian Auth., 293 F.R.D. 235

(D.D.C. 2013). In its decision, the Court rejected the BBC’s argument that the “reporter’s

privilege” precluded compelled disclosure of these materials. Estate of Klieman v. Palestinian

Auth., 293 F.R.D. at 243. Although the Court recognized the BBC’s interest in protecting the

recordings from discovery, it found that the BBC’s interest was outweighed by the plaintiffs’

interest in disclosure, due to the relevance of the materials to plaintiffs’ case and the lack of

reasonably available alternative sources of that information. Id.

               The BBC has moved for reconsideration, or in the alternative, for certification for

immediate appeal and for a stay of the Court’s decision. BBC Motion for Reconsideration, Dkt.

No. 216 (Oct. 17, 2013). For the reasons discussed below, the Court will hold the BBC’s motion
in abeyance pending resolution of a related discovery matter and will stay its September 19, 2013

Order during that time.

               Magistrate Judge John M. Facciola, who is overseeing discovery in this case,

recently issued an order directing the defendants to provide “all documents in their possession,

custody, or control, which discuss any payments to families of persons denominated as martyrs

and include the words ‘Al Aqsa.’” Order at 6, Dkt. No. 226 (Jan. 6, 2014). As the BBC notes,

the information to be discovered pursuant to Magistrate Judge Facciola’s Order could serve as an

alternative source of information to the BBC video recordings. See BBC’s Supplemental Mem.,

Dkt. No. 228 (Jan. 9, 2014). If so, it may be appropriate for the Court to reconsider its decision

that the reporter’s privilege does not apply.

               Plaintiffs argue that these documents “may not necessarily be a reasonable

alternative source for the documents sought by the Plaintiffs from the BBC.” Plaintiffs’

Response at 3, Dkt. No. 229 (Jan. 14, 2014) (emphasis added). The plaintiffs also note that

Magistrate Judge Facciola’s order is not final, as defendants have filed a motion for

reconsideration of that decision. Id. at 2-3; see Defendants’ Motion for Reconsideration, Dkt.

No. 230 (January 17, 2014).

               In light of the uncertainty as to whether alternative sources of information are

reasonably available to plaintiffs, the Court finds that it is appropriate to hold the BBC’s motion

for reconsideration in abeyance until it is clear what Al-Aqsa related materials – if any – will be

disclosed by the defendants in discovery.

               Accordingly, it is hereby

               ORDERED that the BBC’s motion for reconsideration, or in the alternative, for

certification for immediate appeal and for a stay [Dkt. No. 216] shall be HELD IN ABEYANCE

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until such time as (a) the discovery ordered in Magistrate Judge Facciola’s January 6, 2014 Order

is complete, or (b) the January 6, 2014 Order has been vacated or otherwise amended; it is

               FURTHER ORDERED that if and when the discovery ordered in Magistrate

Judge Facciola’s January 6, 2014 Order is complete, the plaintiffs shall file a status report within

fourteen days of completion informing the Court of the materials disclosed; and it is

               FURTHER ORDERED that [Dkt. No. 210] this Court’s September 19, 2013

Order is STAYED pending resolution of [Dkt. No. 216] the BBC’s motion for reconsideration,

or in the alternative, for certification for immediate appeal and for a stay.

               SO ORDERED.

                                               /s/_______________________________
                                               PAUL L. FRIEDMAN
DATE: February 21, 2014                        United States District Judge

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