Thames v. Jerry's Nugget, a Nevada corporation

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT DISTRICT OF NEVADA AALIYAH THAMES, Case No. 2:25-cv-00556-RFB-NJK 7 Plaintiff(s), Order v. [Docket No. 16] JERRY’S NUGGET, 10 Defendant(s).

11 Discovery is meant to proceed “largely unsupervised by the district court.” Sali v. Corona Reg. Med. Ctr., 884 F.3d 1218, 1219 (9th Cir. 2018); see also Cardoza v. Bloomin’ Brands, Inc., 141 F. Supp. 3d 1137, 1145 (D. Nev. 2015) (quoting F.D.I.C. v. Butcher, 116 F.R.D. 196, 203 (E.D. Tenn. 1986)). Unless such stipulation interferes with court proceedings or deadlines, parties may agree among themselves to discovery procedures without obtaining judicial approval. Fed. R. Civ. P. 29(b). Permissible extra-judicial discovery agreements may extend to establishing procedures and protections regarding the exchange of confidential discovery material. See, e.g., Midwest Athletics & Sports All. LLC v. Ricoh USA, Inc., 332 F.R.D. 159, 161 (E.D. Penn. 2019) (“Notwithstanding the absence of judicial imprimatur, the parties may agree to maintain confidentiality of discovery materials”); David J. Frank Landscape Cont’g, Inc. v. La Rosa Landscape, 199 F.R.D. 314, 315 (E.D. Wis. 2001) (“The parties are free to enter agreements between themselves regarding how they will disseminate material produced in discovery”).1 When parties seek judicial approval of a discovery agreement that does not require judicial approval, judges act within their discretion to deny such request as unnecessary. See, e.g., Comminey v. Sam’s W. Inc., 2020 WL 2764610, at *1 (D. Nev. May 27, 2020) (overruling objection).

27 1 If designated discovery material is later filed with the Court, a proper showing must be made at that point to support any request for sealing or redaction. See, e.g., Ricoh, 332 F.R.D. at 161. ] No showing has been made as to why judicial oversight is required for the parties’ 2|| agreement on designation and treatment of confidential discovery material. Docket No. 16.

3 Accordingly, the stipulation regarding designation and treatment of confidential discovery material is DENIED without prejudice.

5 IT IS SO ORDERED.

6 Dated: June 4, 2025 Nancy J. : ps 8 United States Magistrate Judge