11-1800-19377-2

 

STATE OF MINNESOTA

OFFICE OF ADMINISTRATIVE HEARINGS

 

FOR THE COMMISSIONER OF HUMAN SERVICES

 

In the Matter of the Temporary Immediate Suspension of the Family Child Care License of Linda Hegerman

 

                   PROTECTIVE ORDER

 

          Upon the request of the Department of Human Services, Licensing Division, andRamsey County Human Services Department, and pursuant to Minn. Stat. §§ 13.03, subd. 6; and 14.60, subd. 2,

 

IT IS HEREBY ORDERED as follows:

 

1.              Disclosure of not public data is permitted in the course of this matter, but is limited to parties, counsel of record, employees assisting counsel, and representatives and witnesses of the parties to the extent necessary to prepare and present claims and defenses or as required by court order.

 

2.                The Licensee, Linda Hegerman, and her counsel, representatives, or witnesses may not disclose any data encompassed by this Order to persons other than those mentioned in paragraph one above, and must return all data released pursuant to this Order to counsel for the Department of Human Services and Ramsey County Human Services Department at the conclusion of this matter.

 

3.                Notwithstanding Minn. Stat. § 13.46, subds. 3 or 4(e), data identifying victims or witnesses who are children or vulnerable adults shall not become public data by virtue of having been submitted in this proceeding and shall remain not-public data after the conclusion of this hearing.  In preparation for and during the hearing, the parties may refer to names of individuals involved and will have access to documents containing private information.  Unless the Administrative Law Judge determines that it is in the best interest of the alleged victims or witnesses who are children or vulnerable adults, the record will not be sealed.  The Administrative Law Judge’s Recommendation and the Commissioner’s Order shall use non-identifying initials or aliases in place of the names of any alleged victims and witnesses who are children or vulnerable adults.

 

4.                The hearing in this matter is presumed open.  If there is testimony by an alleged victim or witness who is a child or a vulnerable adult, that portion of the hearing shall be closed.  If a transcript is ordered, the names of the alleged victims and witnesses who are children or vulnerable adults shall be redacted and replaced by non-identifying initials or aliases.

 

5.                The data encompassed by this order may be used only in this proceeding and not for any other purpose including collateral litigation, unless otherwise ordered by a court of law.

 

6.                This Protective Order does not authorize the disclosure of the identity of reporters of maltreatment under Minn. Stat. §§ 626.556, subd. 11, or 626.557, subd. 12b(c). 

 

7.                Pursuant to Minn. Stat. §§ 13.03, subd. 6, 13.821, and 611A.90, subd. 2, release of one copy of videotaped interviews of any child victim or alleged child victim upon which the Department and County rely in connection with this proceeding is permitted subject to the following restrictions:

 

a.               The Ramsey County Attorney’s Office is authorized to make one copy of each videotape.

 

b.               The Ramsey County Attorney’s Office may release the copies of the videotapes to counsel for the Licensee.  The videotapes shall not be disclosed to the Licensee or her husband.  Disclosure shall be limited to counsel of record, employees assisting counsel, and representatives of the parties to the extent necessary to prepare and present claims and defenses. 

 

c.               Further reproduction of the videotapes is prohibited.

 

d.               Each individual authorized to view the videotapes shall be instructed concerning the confidential nature of the videotapes, provided with a copy of this Protective Order, and informed that copies may not be made.

 

e.               The videotapes may be used only in this proceeding and not for any other purpose.  The videotapes shall not be publicly exhibited, shown, displayed, used for educational research or demonstrative purposes, or used in any other fashion, except in the above-captioned proceeding.

 

f.                No transcript of the videotapes shall be divulged to any person not authorized to view the videotapes.

 

g.               Upon exhaustion of this administrative proceeding, counsel for the Licensee shall return the copies of the videotapes to the Ramsey County Attorney’s Office.  The Ramsey County Attorney’s Office shall destroy the copies.

 

Date:  January 11, 2008

                                                                      s/Barbara L. Neilson

                                                                      _________________________

                                                                      BARBARA L. NEILSON

                                                                      Administrative Law Judge