Brandon v. NPG Records, Inc.

Opinion

DOC #: UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT DATE FILED: 12/03/1 9 SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK JAMES M. BRANDON, Case No. 1:19-cv-01923-GHW Plaintiff, STIPUTLATED CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENT AND PROTECTIVE ORDER v. NPG RECORDS, INC.; NPG MUSIC PUBLISHING, LLC; THE ESTATE OF PRINCE ROGERS NELSON; COMERICA BANK & TRUST, N.A.; SHELTON JACKSON LEE; FORTY ACRES AND A MULE MUSICWORKS, INC.; TWENTIETH CENTURY FOX FILM CORPORATION, Defendants. ________________________________________ GREGORY H. WOODS, District Judge: WHEREAS, all of the parties to this action (collectively, the “Parties” and each individually, a “Party”) request that this Court issue a protective order pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 26(c) to protect the confidentiality of nonpublic and competitively sensitive information that they may need to disclose in connection with discovery in this action; WHEREAS, the Parties, through counsel, agree to the following terms; and WHEREAS, this Court finds that good cause exists for issuance of an appropriately tailored confidentiality order governing the pretrial phase of this action; IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the Parties to this action, their respective officers, agents, servants, employees, and attorneys, any other person in active concert or participation with any of the foregoing, and all other persons with actual notice of this Order will adhere to the following terms, upon pain of contempt: or disclosed in the course of discovery in this action) that a person has designated as “Confidential” or “Outside Counsel’s Eyes Only” pursuant to this Order (collectively “Confidential Discovery Material”), no person subject to this Order may disclose such Confidential Discovery Material to anyone else except as expressly permitted hereunder: 2. The Party or person producing or disclosing Discovery Material (each, “Producing Party”) may designate as Confidential only the portion of such material that it

reasonably and in good faith believes consists of: (a) previously non-disclosed financial information (including without limitation profitability reports or estimates, percentage fees, design fees, royalty rates, minimum guarantee payments, sales reports, and sale margins); (b) previously non-disclosed material relating to ownership or control of any non-public company; (c) previously non-disclosed business plans, product-development information, or marketing plans; (d) any information of a personal or intimate nature regarding any individual; or (e) any other category of information given confidential status by this Court after the date of this Order. 3. Either the person producing any given Discovery Material or any party to this litigation may designate as “Outside Counsel’s Eyes Only” information that it deems so

competitively sensitive that it should not be learned by other persons. Such information shall be disclosed only to: (i) outside counsel who have appeared of record for any party in this case and have signed this Protective Order, and partners, shareholders, associates, paralegal assistants, clerical staff and secretaries who are regularly employed by such counsel and are engaged in assisting such counsel with respect to this Litigation, (ii) the Court and its personnel involved in connection with this litigation; (iii) court reporters, stenographers, and videographers retained to record testimony taken in this action; (iv) any person who appears as the author or as an addressee on the face of the document or who has been identified by the producing party as having been provided with the document or the information by the producing party; and (v) any other person with the prior written consent of the producing party. Unless specifically noted, all other terms of this Protective Order apply equally to Discovery Material designated as Confidential and information designated as “Outside Counsel’s Eyes Only.” A designation of “Confidential” or “Outside Counsel’s Eyes Only” by any party shall have no evidentiary value

and shall not be admissible by one party against the other for any purpose. 4. With respect to the Confidential or Outside Counsel’s Eyes Only portion of any Discovery Material other than deposition transcripts and exhibits, the Producing Party or its counsel may designate such portion as “Confidential” or “Outside Counsel’s Eyes Only” by: (a) stamping or otherwise clearly marking as “Confidential” the protected portion in a manner that will not interfere with legibility or audibility; and (b) producing for future public use another copy of said Discovery Material with the confidential information redacted. 5. A Producing Party or its counsel may designate deposition exhibits or portions of deposition transcripts as Confidential Discovery Material either by: (a) indicating on the record during the deposition that a question calls for Confidential information, in which case the reporter will bind the transcript of the designated testimony in a separate volume and mark it as “Confidential” or “Outside Counsel’s Eyes Only;” or (b) notifying the reporter and all counsel of record, in writing, within 30 days after a deposition has concluded, of the specific pages and lines of

the transcript that are to be designated “Confidential” or “Outside Counsel’s Eyes Only,” in which case all counsel receiving the transcript will be responsible for marking the copies of the designated transcript in their possession or under their control as directed by the Producing Party or that person’s counsel. During the 30-day period following a deposition, all Parties will treat the entire deposition transcript as if it had been designated Outside Counsel’s Eyes Only. 6. If at any time before the termination of this action a Producing Party realizes that it should have designated as Confidential or Outside Counsel’s Eyes Only some portion(s) of Discovery Material that it previously produced without limitation, the Producing Party may so designate such material by notifying all Parties in writing. Thereafter, all persons subject to this Order will treat such designated portion(s) of the Discovery Material as Confidential or Outside Counsel’s Eyes Only. In addition, the Producing Party shall provide each other Party with replacement versions of such Discovery Material that bears the “Confidential” or “Outside

Counsel’s Eyes Only” designation within five business days of providing such notice. 7. Nothing contained in this Order will be construed as: (a) a waiver by a Party or person of its right to object to any discovery request; (b) a waiver of any privilege or protection; or (c) a ruling regarding the admissibility at trial of any document, testimony, or other evidence. 8. Where a Producing Party has designated Discovery Material as Confidential, other persons subject to this Order may disclose such information only to the following persons: (a) the Parties to this action, their insurers, and counsel to their insurers; (b) counsel retained specifically for this action, including any paralegal, clerical, or other assistant that such outside counsel employs and assigns to this matter; (c) outside vendors or service providers (such as copy-service providers and document-management consultants) that counsel hire and assign to this matter; (d) any mediator or arbitrator that the Parties engage in this matter or that this Court appoints, provided such person has first executed a Non-Disclosure Agreement in the form annexed as Exhibit A hereto;

(e) as to any document, its author, its addressee, and any other person indicated on the face of the document as having received a copy; (f) any witness who counsel for a Party in good faith believes may be called to testify at trial or deposition in this action, provided such person has first executed a Non-Disclosure Agreement in the form annexed as Exhibit A hereto; (g) any person a Party retains to serve as an expert witness or otherwise provide specialized advice to counsel in connection with this action, provided such person has first executed a Non-Disclosure Agreement in the form annexed as Exhibit A hereto; (h) stenographers engaged to transcribe depositions the Parties conduct in this action; and (i) this Court, including any appellate court, its support personnel, and court

reporters. 9. Before disclosing any Confidential Discovery Material to any person referred to in subparagraphs 8(d), 8(f), or 8(g) above, counsel for the disclosing party (“Disclosing Party”) must provide a copy of this Order to such person, who must sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement in the form annexed as Exhibit A hereto stating that he or she has read this Order and agrees to be escrow, and produce it to opposing counsel either before such person is permitted to testify (at deposition or trial) or at the conclusion of the case, whichever comes first. 10. This Order binds the Parties and certain others to treat as Confidential or Outside Counsel’s Eyes Only any Discovery Materials so classified. The Court has not, however, made any finding regarding the confidentiality of any Discovery Materials, and retains full discretion to determine whether to afford confidential treatment to any Discovery Material designated as Confidential or Outside Counsel’s Eyes Only hereunder. All persons are placed on notice that the Court is unlikely to seal or otherwise afford confidential treatment to any Discovery Material

introduced into evidence at trial, even if such material has previously been sealed or designated as Confidential or Outside Counsel’s Eyes Only. 11. In filing Confidential Discovery Material with this Court, or filing portions of any pleadings, motions, or other papers that disclose such Confidential Discovery Material (“Confidential Court Submission”), the Parties shall publicly file a redacted copy of the Confidential Court Submission via the Electronic Case Filing System. In accordance with Rule 4(A) of the Court’s Individual Rules of Practice in Civil Cases, the Parties shall file an unredacted copy of the Confidential Court Submission under seal with the Clerk of this Court, and the Parties shall serve this Court and opposing counsel with unredacted courtesy copies of the Confidential Court Submission. In accordance with Rule 4(A) of this Court’s Individual Rules of Practice in Civil Cases, any Party that seeks to file Confidential Discovery Material under seal must file an application and supporting declaration justifying—on a particularized basis—the sealing of such documents. The parties should be aware that the Court will unseal documents if it is unable to make “specific,

on the record findings . . . demonstrating that closure is essential to preserve higher values and is narrowly tailored to serve that interest.” Lugosch v. Pyramid Co. of Onondaga, 435 F.3d 110, 120 (2d Cir. 2006). 12. Any Party who objects to any designation of confidentiality may at any time before the trial of this action serve upon counsel for the Producing Party a written notice stating with particularity the grounds of the objection. If the Parties cannot reach agreement promptly, counsel for all affected Parties will address their dispute to this Court in accordance with paragraph 2(C) of this Court’s Individual Practices. 13. Any Party who requests additional limits on disclosure (such as “attorneys’ eyes only” in extraordinary circumstances), may at any time before the trial of this action serve upon counsel for the recipient Parties a written notice stating with particularity the grounds of the request. If the Parties cannot reach agreement promptly, counsel for all affected Parties will address their

dispute to this Court in accordance with Rule 2(C) of this Court’s Individual Rules of Practice in Civil Cases. 14. Recipients of Confidential Discovery Material under this Order may use such material solely for the prosecution and defense of this action and any appeals thereto, and not for any other purpose or in any other litigation proceeding. Nothing contained in this Order, however, will affect or restrict the rights of any Party with respect to its own documents or information produced in this action. 15. Nothing in this Order will prevent any Party from producing any Confidential Discovery Material in its possession in response to a lawful subpoena or other compulsory process, or if required to produce by law or by any government agency having jurisdiction, provided that such Party gives written notice to the Producing Party as soon as reasonably possible, and if permitted by the time allowed under the request, at least 10 days before any disclosure. Upon receiving such notice, the Producing Party will bear the burden to oppose

compliance with the subpoena, other compulsory process, or other legal notice if the Producing Party deems it appropriate to do so. 16. Each person who has access to Discovery Material designated as Confidential or Outside Counsel’s Eyes Only pursuant to this Order must take all due precautions to prevent the unauthorized or inadvertent disclosure of such material. 17. Within 60 days of the final disposition of this action—including all appeals— all recipients of Confidential Discovery Material must either return it—including all copies thereof— to the Producing Party, or, upon written permission of the Producing Party, destroy such material— including all copies thereof. In either event, by the 60-day deadline, the recipient must certify its return or destruction by submitting a written certification to the Producing Party that affirms that it has not retained any copies, abstracts, compilations, summaries, or other forms of reproducing or capturing any of the Confidential Discovery Material. Notwithstanding this

provision, the attorneys that the Parties have specifically retained for this action may retain an archival copy of all pleadings, motion papers, transcripts, expert reports, legal memoranda, correspondence, or attorney work product, even if such materials contain Confidential Discovery Material. Any such archival copies that contain or constitute Confidential Discovery Material remain subject to this Order. 18. This Order will survive the termination of the litigation and will continue to be binding upon all persons subject to this Order to whom Confidential Discovery Material is produced or disclosed. 19. This Court will retain jurisdiction over all persons subject to this Order to the extent necessary to enforce any obligations arising hereunder or to impose sanctions for any contempt thereof.

SO STIPULATED AND AGREED. By: _/s/ David Ludwig__________ _ David Ludwig (NY Bar No. 5546254) Dunlap Bennett & Ludwig PLLC 31 W 34th St. #8030 New York, New York 10001 Telephone: (917) 338-1905 Facsimile: (703) 777-3656 dludwig@dbllawyers.com Hyung Gyu Sun (pro hac vice) Dunlap Bennett & Ludwig PLLC 211 Church Street SE Leesburg, VA 20175 Telephone: (703) 777-7319 Facsimile: (703) 777-3656 hsun@dbllawyers.com Attorneys for Plaintiff James Brandon Dated: November 26, 2019 By: _/s/ Anne Rondoni Tavernier _____ Michael J. Tricarico KENNEDYS CMK 570 Lexington Avenue, 8th Floor New York, New York 10022 Telephone: (646) 625-3952 Facsimile: (646) 625-4044 Michael.Tricarico@kennedyscmk.com Lora M. Friedemann (pro hac vice) Anne Rondoni Tavernier (pro hac vice) FREDRIKSON & BRYON, P.A. 200 South Sixth Street, Suite 4000 Minneapolis, MN 55402-1425 Telephone: (612) 492-7000 Facsimile: (612) 492-7000 lfriedemann@fredlaw.com arondonitavernier@fredlaw.com Attorneys for Defendants NPG Records, Inc., NPG Music Publishing, LLC, the Estate of Prince Rogers Nelson, and Comerica Bank & Trust, N.A. Dated: November 26, 2019 By: _/s/ Howard J. Shire_________________ Howard J. Shire Pepper Hamilton LLP The New York Times Building 620 Eighth Avenue, Ste 37th Floor New York, NY 10018 Telephone: (212) 808-2700 shireh@pepperlaw.com Matthew S. Nelles (pro hac vice) NELLES KOSTENCKI, PLLC Corporate Center 110 E. Broward Boulevard, Suite 670 Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33301 Telephone: (954) 246-4800 Facsimile: (954) 246-4900 mnelles@nklawflorida.com Attorneys for Defendants Spike Lee, Forty Acres and a Mule Musicworks, Inc., and Twentieth Century Fox Corporation Dated: November 26, 2019

SO ORDERED.

Dated: December 3, 2019 New York, New York GREG . WOODS United States District Judge

Exhibit A to Stipulated Confidentiality Agreement and Protective Order UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK JAMES M. BRANDON, Case No. 1:19-cv-01923-GHW Plaintiff, NON-DISCLOSURE AGREEMENT v. NPG RECORDS, INC.; NPG MUSIC PUBLISHING, LLC; THE ESTATE OF PRINCE ROGERS NELSON; COMERICA BANK & TRUST, N.A.; SHELTON JACKSON LEE; FORTY ACRES AND A MULE MUSICWORKS, INC.; TWENTIETH CENTURY FOX FILM CORPORATION, Defendants. ________________________________________ I, ______________, acknowledge that I have read and understand the Protective Order in this action governing the non-disclosure of those portions of Discovery Material that have been designated as Confidential. I agree that I will not disclose such Confidential Discovery Material to anyone other than for purposes of this litigation and that at the conclusion of the litigation I will return all discovery information to the Party or attorney from whom I received it. By acknowledging these obligations under the Protective Order, I understand that I am submitting myself to the jurisdiction of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York for the purpose of any issue or dispute arising hereunder and that my willful violation of any term of the Protective Order could subject me to punishment for contempt of Court. _____________________________ Name: Date: