RYAN P. WALTERS, an Individual v. State of California, by and through the California Highway Patrol, Beau Biter, Enrique Ayala, John Betz, and Brandon Urrutia

Summary

This document is a proposed Stipulated Protective Order concerning discovery in Ryan P. Walters v. State of California and related defendants in the Central District of California. It governs the designation, disclosure, use, challenge, filing, and final disposition of confidential discovery materials, including peace-officer personnel records, law-enforcement policies, privileged materials, and third-party private information. The order was stipulated through counsel and dated January 13, 2026.

Holdings

1. The court approved and entered the parties' stipulated protective order upon a showing of good cause, limiting protection to information or items entitled to confidential treatment under applicable legal principles.
2. Designation of discovery material as confidential does not itself authorize filing that material under seal; a party seeking to file protected material under seal must comply with Central District of California Local Rule 79-5 and obtain a court order authorizing sealing of the specific material.

Questions Presented

1. Whether good cause existed to enter a stipulated protective order under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 26(c) for qualifying confidential discovery materials.
2. What procedures should govern designation, access, use, challenge, disclosure, filing under seal, and final disposition of protected discovery materials.

Disposition

other