Memorandum in Support of Agreed Motion for Entry of Agreed Protective Order Governing Designation and Disclosure of Confidential Information

Plaintiff United States, the seventeen Plaintiff States, and Defendants JBS, S.A. and National Beef Packing Company, LLC ("Defendants") move jointly pursuant to Rule 26(c)(1)(G) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure for entry of the proposed protective order to ensure that disclosure of confidential information produced by parties and non-parties in this proceeding is appropriately limited.⁽¹⁾ The proposed protective order provides an orderly process to govern the designation and disclosure of confidential information to assure that sensitive commercial information is not disclosed inappropriately to competitors, sellers, or purchasers. At the same time, the proposed order ensures that only legitimately confidential information receives such protection in pleadings or at trial. The order affords the parties' outside counsel and experts full access to confidential information. In recognition of the public interest in court filings and court proceedings being open to the public, the protective order draws a clear procedural distinction between materials used in pretrial discovery and materials that form a part of the judicial decision-making process.

I. Background

On October 20, 2008, the United States and thirteen States filed a complaint alleging that JBS's proposed acquisition of National Beef violates Section 7 of the Clayton Act, 15 U.S.C. 18.⁽²⁾ The lawsuit followed an investigation, pursuant to the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act ("HSR Act"), 15 USC §18a, which gives the Antitrust Division the opportunity to evaluate certain mergers and acquisitions prior to their consummation to determine whether they may likely substantially lessen competition. During its investigation, the Antitrust Division issued requests for additional information and documents to JBS, National, and Smithfield Foods under the HSR Act. The Antitrust Division also obtained information from numerous other parties, including some beef processing companies that compete with the defendants.⁽³⁾ Some of the documents and information produced by the parties and non-parties likely constitutes confidential and sensitive proprietary information, such as internal correspondence, strategic business plans and projections, and non-public financial statements.

II. Discussion

1. There is Good Cause for the Order

Rule 26(c)(1)(G) provides that a court may enter a protective order requiring that "a trade secret or other confidential . . . commercial information not be revealed or be revealed only in a designated way." The Court may issue such an order upon a showing of good cause. Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(c)(1)(G); L.R. 26.2. Good cause "generally signifies a sound basis or legitimate need to take judicial action." Hobley v. Burge, 225 F.R.D. 221, 224 (N.D. Ill. 2004). In deciding whether a protective order is appropriate, the court must weigh the harm that would result from disclosure and the need of the party seeking access to the confidential material. Rahman v. Chertoff, No. 05 C 3761, 2007 WL 2892972, at *2 (N.D. Ill. Sept. 28, 2007) (citing Doe v. Marsalis, 202 F.R.D. 233, 237 (N.D. Ill. 2001)).

In this case, the protective order is necessary and justified in order to restrict the disclosure of sensitive business information. See Ball Mem'l Hosp., Inc. v. Mut. Hosp. Ins., Inc., 784 F.2d 1325, 1345-46 (7^th Cir. 1986) (affirming entry of protective order that restricted plaintiff hospitals' access to the confidential price data of their customer, a health insurance company). It is well recognized that the disclosure of sensitive information to competitors can cause harm. See Fieldturf Int'l, Inc. v. Triexe Mgmt. Group, Inc., No. 03 C 3512, 2004 WL 866494, at *3 (N.D. Ill Apr. 16, 2004); Doskocil Cos., Inc. v. C & F Packing Co., Inc., No. 89 C 0600, 1989 WL 152808 (N.D. Ill. Nov. 20, 1989). Such disclosure harms both the competitor whose information is disclosed and the competitive process, which depends on allowing and encouraging firms to try to "steal a march" on their competitors. See Hosp. Corp. of Am. v. FTC, 807 F.2d 1381, 1388 (7^th Cir. 1986). In accordance with the Court's standing Case Management Procedures, the proposed protective order does not include an express finding of good cause.

2. The Proposed Order Appropriately Balances the Interest of Parties and Non-Parties of Protecting Confidential Information with the Interest of the Court in Full Disclosure.

The proposed order complies with Seventh Circuit precedent that shows a clear preference for narrowly tailored protective orders. See Citizens First Nat'l Bank of Princeton v. Cincinnati Ins. Co., 178 F.3d 943, 944-45 (7^th Cir. 1999). The proposed order permits parties and non-parties to designate information, produced during the investigation and during discovery in this action, as "Confidential Information," following the definition in Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(c)(1)(G).⁽⁴⁾ In addition, any party may challenge a designation of confidential information at any time and the proposed order outlines procedures for the challenge (paragraphs 11 and 12 of the proposed order).

Recognizing the difference between information obtained in pretrial discovery and information filed with the Court or admitted at trial, the proposed order establishes a presumption that documents and testimony submitted to the Court are to be disclosed on the record, absent an order from the Court. The proposed order sets forth a procedure under which the parties (and non-parties when applicable) first attempt to resolve any confidentiality issues before documents containing confidential information are filed with the Court (paragraph 17 of the proposed order). If the confidentiality issues are not resolved prior to filing, the designating party must file a motion with the Court objecting to public disclosure. Absent such a motion, an unredacted version of the material will be filed with the Court after three days. Finally, the proposed order provides that, absent a ruling from the Court, all documents and testimony admitted at trial will be disclosed and made a part of the public record (paragraph 18 of the proposed order).

III. Conclusion

The proposed protective order ensures an orderly procedure for the designation and disclosure of confidential information, and appropriately balances the needs of the parties and non-parties to shield sensitive documents from competitors and the interest of the Court in full disclosure. Accordingly, it should be entered by the Court.