Lawal v. David Yurman Enterprises LLC

Background

The parties, through counsel, jointly requested a confidentiality agreement and protective order under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 26(c). They sought protection for nonpublic and competitively sensitive information that might be disclosed during discovery. The court found good cause for issuing a suitably limited order governing the pretrial phase of the case.

What the Order Requires

The order permits a producing party to designate as confidential only material that it reasonably and in good faith believes includes previously undisclosed financial information, information about ownership or control of a private company, business plans, product-development or marketing information, personal or intimate information, or another category later given confidential status by the court.

People covered by the order generally may not disclose designated confidential discovery material except as the order allows. Permitted recipients include the parties and their insurers, counsel and litigation support personnel, outside vendors working on the case, mediators or arbitrators, certain people identified in documents, potential witnesses, experts and other specialized advisers, deposition transcription staff, and the court. Witnesses, experts, mediators, and arbitrators must first sign the required nondisclosure agreement.

The order allows parties to object to confidentiality designations or request additional disclosure limits. If the parties cannot resolve those disputes promptly, they must bring them to the court under its individual practices. Confidential material filed with the court generally requires a public redacted filing, an unredacted filing under seal, and a particularized application supporting secrecy. The order states that the court has not made a final finding that any designated material is confidential and may decline to seal material introduced at trial.

Confidential discovery material may be used only to prosecute or defend this case and related appeals. The order also addresses disclosures required by subpoenas or law, precautions against unauthorized disclosure, and the return or destruction of confidential material within 60 days after final resolution of the action, including appeals, subject to limited archival retention by counsel. The obligations continue after the litigation ends, and the court retains jurisdiction to enforce them and impose contempt sanctions.

Ruling

Judge Gregory H. Woods entered the parties' stipulated confidentiality agreement and protective order. The order was entered on October 16, 2025. It does not resolve the merits of Olasunbo Lawal's claims or David Yurman Enterprises LLC's defenses.