Cathryn Kennedi v. Midland Credit Management, Inc.

Summary

This document is a stipulated protective order, as modified and ordered by the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, in Kennedi v. Midland Credit Management, Inc. The order governs the designation, use, disclosure, challenge, filing under seal, and final disposition of confidential discovery materials in the pending federal action.

Holdings

1. The court found good cause and entered the parties' stipulated protective order as modified, limiting protection to information qualifying for confidential treatment under applicable legal principles.
2. Protected material and information derived from it may be used only for prosecuting, defending, or attempting to settle the action and may be disclosed only to persons authorized by the order.
3. The protective order does not itself authorize filing protected material under seal; a party must comply with the Central District of California's local rules and obtain a court order authorizing sealing of specific material.
4. Willful violations of the protective order may be addressed through civil or criminal contempt, financial or evidentiary sanctions, referral to disciplinary authorities, or other appropriate relief at the court's discretion.

Questions Presented

1. Whether good cause existed under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 26(c) to enter a stipulated protective order governing confidential business and personal financial information.
2. What procedures and restrictions should govern the designation, use, disclosure, challenge, filing under seal, return, destruction, and enforcement of protected discovery material.

Disposition

other