OAH Docket No. 15-1700-18042-2

 

STATE OF MINNESOTA

OFFICE OF ADMINISTRATIVE HEARINGS

FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RIGHTS

 

State of Minnesota by

Velma Korbel, Commissioner,

Department of Human Rights,

Complainant,

v.

 

Clay County,

Respondent.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PROTECTIVE ORDER

This matter is pending before Administrative Law Judge Beverly Jones Heydinger pursuant to a Notice of and Order for Hearing dated May 21, 2007.  This Order is issued in connection with an Order to Compel Discovery pursuant to the parties’ cross motions to compel discovery, including discovery of documents and data which are classified as private, confidential, nonpublic or protected nonpublic or otherwise “not public” under the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act.

          Margaret Jacot, Assistant Attorney General, 445 Minnesota Street, Suite 900, St. Paul, Minnesota 55101-2127, represents the Department.  Dyan J. Ebert, Quinlivan & Hughes, P.A., P.O. Box 1008, St. Cloud, Minnesota 56302, represents Respondent.

Pursuant to Minn. Stat. § 13.03, subd. 6, and the files and proceedings herein, the Administrative Law Judge finds that the testimony and evidence to be adduced at the hearing in this matter may include data that is classified as “not public.”  Therefore in order to protect the data,

IT IS HEREBY ORDERED:

 

1.               Data that is classified as “not public” under Minn. Stat. Ch. 13, or Minn. Stat. Ch. 363A, or other applicable law, contained in the Department’s or the Respondent’s case files, produced in the course of discovery, or offered as evidence at hearing, shall not be disclosed in the course of this proceeding except as follows:

 

(a)            To the parties in this matter or attorneys representing the parties or their employees assisting counsel in the preparation of the case;

 

(b)            To witnesses subpoenaed or otherwise called to testify at the hearing.

 

2.               “Not public” data may be used only for purposes of this litigation, including discussion with investigators, employees and witnesses as necessary to prepare for or conduct the hearing, and shall not be disclosed to individuals or for purposes not set forth herein.

 

3.               All persons having access to “not public” data herein shall be informed of the Protective Order and are bound by its terms.  Each attorney bears full responsibility for compliance with this Order by persons to whom they have disclosed “not public” information.

 

4.               The parties shall clearly designate “not public” information to avoid inadvertent disclosure.  “Not public” documents shall be kept in a separate file or envelope so marked.  The originals and copies of deposition or hearing transcripts, or portions thereof, containing “not public” data shall bear the legend “CONFIDENTIAL – CONTAINS NOT PUBLIC DATA” and shall be maintained in a separate file or envelope.

 

5.               Upon appropriate request of the parties, portions of the hearing in this matter will be closed and the hearing record will be sealed to the extent needed to permit free discussion of not public data.

 

6.               Should any party seek to use the information subject to this Order in a manner inconsistent with this Order, that party shall bring a motion before the Administrative Law Judge with notice to the other party, requesting permission to use the information and detailing the reasons for the request.

 

7.               This Protective Order may be modified or amended by agreement of the parties and notice to the Administrative Law Judge, or upon application to the Administrative Law Judge for good cause shown.

 

8.               Nothing in this order is intended to limit the availability of judicial review of the final order as provided by Minn. Stat. §§ 14.63-.69.

 

Dated:  October 3, 2007

 

                                                                      s/Beverly Jones Heydinger

                                                                      _________________________

                                                                      BEVERLY JONES HEYDINGER

                                                                      Administrative Law Judge