Bolton v. Solar Mosaic, LLC

Summary

This is an order of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of California approving and incorporating the parties’ stipulated protective order. It governs sealing requests, confidentiality designations, discovery disputes, modifications, enforcement jurisdiction, and conflicts between the stipulation and the court’s order. The order was issued by Magistrate Judge Allison Claire on July 25, 2025.

Holdings

1. The court approved and incorporated the parties' stipulated protective order, except that any provision conflicting with the court's order was disapproved.
2. Designation of a document as confidential under the protective order does not automatically authorize filing it under seal; a written sealing order must be obtained under E.D. Cal. Local Rule 141.
3. A request to seal material normally must satisfy the compelling-reasons standard, but material tangentially related to the merits may be sealed upon a showing of good cause.
4. For unresolved disputes concerning the protective order, including disputes concerning inadvertently produced materials under Federal Rule of Evidence 502, the parties must follow E.D. Cal. Local Rule 251; absent good cause, discovery disputes will not be heard ex parte or on shortened time.
5. The court will not retain jurisdiction to enforce the protective order after the action is terminated.

Questions Presented

1. Whether the parties' stipulated protective order should be approved and incorporated into the court's order.
2. What procedures and standards govern requests to seal documents, disputes concerning the protective order, modifications, and post-termination enforcement.

Disposition

other