Neuder v. Battelle Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

194 F.R.D. 289, 48 Fed. R. Serv. 3d 929, 2000 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 9764, 2000 WL 641204
CourtDistrict Court, District of Columbia
DecidedMarch 9, 2000
DocketNo. Civ.A. 99-232(RMU)
StatusPublished
Cited by64 cases

This text of 194 F.R.D. 289 (Neuder v. Battelle Pacific Northwest National Laboratory) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, District of Columbia primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Neuder v. Battelle Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, 194 F.R.D. 289, 48 Fed. R. Serv. 3d 929, 2000 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 9764, 2000 WL 641204 (D.D.C. 2000).

Opinion

[291]*291 MEMORANDUM OPINION

URBINA, District Judge.

DENYING IN PART DEFENDANT’S MOTION FOR RECONSIDERATION; RETURNING DOCUMENT NUMBER 524 TO THE MAGISTRATE JUDGE FOR HIS REVIEW

I. INTRODUCTION

This matter comes before the court upon the parties’ separate motions to reconsider discovery decisions rendered by the Honorable Alan Kay, United States Magistrate Judge. The magistrate judge’s decision arose in connection with a discovery dispute occasioned by Battelle Pacific Northwest National Laboratory’s (“Battelle’s”) refusal to produce documents based on a claim of attorney-client privilege. Battelle submitted to the magistrate judge for in camera inspection (1) the disputed documents and (2) a log summarizing their contents and the grounds for asserting the privilege as to each document. After reviewing the documents, the magistrate judge ruled that Document Numbers 395, 400, 554 (in part), 582, 751 and 784 are protected by the attorney-client privilege. See Mag. J.’s Memo. Order dated Dec. 1, 1999 (Memo. Order) at 1. As a corollary, the Memorandum Order provides that the remaining documents are not privileged and, consequently, that the plaintiff, Stanley Neu-der (“Mr. Neuder”), is entitled to have them produced in discovery. The Memorandum Order further ordered that the notes of Linda Wyrick be produced for in camera inspection. Mr. Neuder then lodged his motion for reconsideration of the magistrate judge’s decision that portions of the notes were privileged.

Following the magistrate judge’s determinations, both Battelle and Mr. Neuder moved for reconsideration pursuant to Local Rule 72.2 and Federal Rule 72(a). For the reasons set forth below, the court affirms the magistrate judge’s decision as to all documents save Document Number 524. Document Number 524 will be returned to the magistrate judge for his review and articulated reasons in support of his ruling.

II. BACKGROUND

Stanley Neuder was employed as a Senior Scientist and Engineer for nearly nine years before his employment was terminated. Mr. Neuder alleges that Battelle wrongfully terminated him and engaged in discriminatory and retaliatory conduct on the -basis of his age and disability. Mr. Neuder further alleges that Battelle interfered with his ERISA benefits and retaliated against him for taking sick leave (See Def.’s Mot. to Reconsider, Ex. 1.) Battelle responds by asserting that Mr. Neuder was terminated because he failed to comply with Battelle’s policies, specifically by: (1) failing to complete time sheets on a daily basis, (2) excessively using sick leave and (3) failing to complete an ethics training course. (See id.)

By Battelle’s account, the decision to terminate the plaintiff was made by its Personnel Action Review Committee (“PARC”). (See Def.’s Mot. to Reconsider, Ex. C.) The events that led to Mr. Neuder’s termination are as follows. First, in November 1997, William Farris, the plaintiffs immediate supervisor, issued the plaintiff a written warning concerning alleged recurrent performance-related shortcomings. (See id.) Second, Mr. Farris conferred with a Human Resources Manager, Ms. Lamberson, to devise a plan for taking appropriate action against Mr. Neuder. (See id.) Third, Mr. Farris and Ms. Lamberson requested that the PARC convene to address what personnel actions, if any, should be taken against Mr. Neuder. (See id.)

On June 5, 1998, Battelle convened the first PARC meeting. (See id.) David Maes-tas, Battelle’s Senior Attorney, attended this meeting. (See id.) Indeed, David Maestas' was a member of the PARC committee according to its bylaws. (See Opp’n to Def.’s Mot. to Reconsider. Ex. 7.) After meeting, the PARC committee- decided to obtain an Independent Medical Examination (“the IME”) and to suspend the plaintiff. (See id.) Once Battelle received the IME, it convened a second PARC meeting on June 26, 1998. (See id.) Mr. Maestas again attended, as did other members of the PARC committee. (See id.) At the second meeting, the PARC -decided to terminate the plaintiffs employ-[292]*292merit. (See id.) The plaintiff, accordingly, was terminated by decision of the PARC effective June 30,1998. (See id.)

III. LEGAL STANDARD

A party may invoke Federal Rule 72(a) and Local Rule 72.2 to seek reconsideration of a magistrate judge’s determination in a discovery dispute. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 72(a); L.Cv.R. 72.2. On review, the magistrate judge’s decision is entitled to great deference and will be upheld unless found to be “clearly erroneous or contrary to law.” See Boca Investerings Partnership v. United States, 31 F.Supp.2d 9, 11 (D.D.C.1998); Evans v. Atwood, 1999 WL 1032811, *1 (D.D.C. Sept. 29,1999). In view of this standard, the court will affirm the magistrate judge’s determination unless “on the entire evidence” the court “is left with the definite and firm conviction that a mistake has been committed.” See United States v. U.S. Gypsum Co., 333 U.S. 364, 365, 68 S.Ct. 525, 92 L.Ed. 746 (1948); Arakelian v. National Western Life Ins. Co., 126 F.R.D. 1, 2 (D.D.C.1989); Evans, 1999 WL 1032811 at *1.

IV. DISCUSSION

A. Attorney-Client Privilege

“The attorney-client privilege is the oldest of the privileges for confidential communications known to the common law.” Upjohn Co. v. United States, 449 U.S. 383, 389, 101 S.Ct. 677, 66 L.Ed.2d 584 (1981). “Communications from attorney to client are shielded if they rest on confidential information obtained from the client.” In re Sealed Case, 737 F.2d 94, 98 (C.A.D.C.1984). As a corollary, however, “when an attorney conveys to his client facts acquired from other persons or sources, those facts are not privileged.” See id. The Supreme Court has characterized the privilege’s purpose as follows: “to encourage full and frank communications between attorneys and their clients and thereby promote broader public interests in the observance of law and administration of justice.” Upjohn, 449 U.S. at 389, 101 S.Ct. 677. In assessing the contours of the privilege, the magistrate judge stated that the privilege applies only if:

(1) the asserted holder of the privilege is or sought to become a client; (2) the person to whom the communication was made (a) is a member of the bar of a court or his subordinate and (b) in connection with this communication is acting as a lawyer; (3) the communication relates to a fact of which the attorney was informed (a) by his client (b) without the presence of strangers (c) for the purpose of securing primarily either (i) an opinion on law or (ii) legal services or (iii) assistance in some legal proceeding, and not (d) for the purpose of committing a crime or tort; and (4) the privilege has been (a) claimed and (b) not waived by the client.

See Memo. Order at 4 (citing In re Sealed Case, 737 F.2d at 98-99 (citing cases)).

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194 F.R.D. 289, 48 Fed. R. Serv. 3d 929, 2000 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 9764, 2000 WL 641204, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/neuder-v-battelle-pacific-northwest-national-laboratory-dcd-2000.