Rachael Roberts and Michael Fuson v. City of Newport Beach et al.

Summary

This document is a court-entered Stipulated Protective Order governing the designation, use, disclosure, challenge, filing, and disposition of confidential discovery materials in Rachael Roberts and Michael Fuson v. City of Newport Beach et al. It addresses confidential police personnel files, internal affairs materials, recordings, photographs, administrative materials, and other protected information. The order was issued by the United States District Court for the Central District of California on June 12, 2025.

Holdings

1. Good cause supported entry of the stipulated protective order to protect qualifying confidential, proprietary, private, privileged, or otherwise protected discovery material while permitting reasonable use of that material in prosecuting, defending, or attempting to settle the action.
2. A designation of discovery material as confidential does not itself authorize filing the material under seal; a party must comply with Local Civil Rule 79-5 and make the required showing of good cause or compelling reasons, supported by competent evidence and narrowly tailored relief.
3. Protected material may be used only for prosecuting, defending, or attempting to settle the action and may be disclosed only to the categories of persons and under the conditions specified in the protective order.
4. When a producing party gives notice that inadvertently produced material is privileged or otherwise protected, the receiving parties' obligations are governed by Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 26(b)(5)(B).

Questions Presented

1. Whether good cause supported entry of the parties' stipulated protective order under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 26(c).
2. What restrictions and procedures should govern designation, disclosure, use, challenge, sealing, and final disposition of confidential discovery material.

Disposition

other