In re Clemente
In re Clemente
Opinion of the Court
ON PETITION FOR WRIT OF MANDAMUS
ORDER
Emmett Clemente, Ascent Pediatrics, Inc., Robert W. Mendes, Edward P. Gam-son, and Welsh & Katz, Ltd. (Ascent) petition for a writ of mandamus to direct the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois to vacate its order directing Ascent to produce certain documents containing attorney-client communications and work product and to stay, pending resolution of the mandamus petition, production of the documents.
In the underlying action, Medeva Pharmaceuticals et al. sued Morton Grove Pharmaceuticals for patent infringement. This matter stems from a subpoena action by Morton Grove against Ascent for non-party discovery. The district court determined that Ascent waived any claim for privilege on two grounds. The first ground related to the merits of the waiver and the second was based on Ascent’s failure to timely prepare a privilege log in accordance with Fed.R.Civ.P. 45(d)(2). Rule 45(d)(2) provides:
When information subject to a subpoena is .withheld on a claim that it is privileged or subject to protection as trial preparation materials, the claim shall be made expressly and shall be supported by a description of the nature of the documents, communications, or things not produced that is sufficient to enable the demanding party to contest the claim.
Ascent does not contest that it failed to prepare a privilege log as contemplated by the rule. In its mandamus petition and
We are not persuaded that the district court erred in its ruling on the waiver of the privilege or the failure to prepare a timely privilege log. Ascent has therefore not met its burden of establishing that it has a “clear and indisputable” right to the issuance of a writ of mandamus.
Accordingly,
IT IS ORDERED THAT:
(1) The petition for writ of mandamus is denied.
(2) The motion for a stay is moot.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- In re Emmett CLEMENTE, Ascent Pediatrics, Inc., Robert W. Mendes, Edward P. Gamson, and Welsh & Katz, Ltd.
- Cited By
- 1 case
- Status
- Published