Ekeh

ORDER DENYING DEFENDANT’S REQUEST FOR IN CAMERA REVIEW OF PRIVILEGED DOCUMENTS

Defendant Hartford Fire Insurance Company moves this Court to conduct an in camera review of certain privileged communications between plaintiff Inno Ekeh and his attorneys.

This case has its origins in a 1994 lawsuit filed against Ekeh and the Urban Economic Development Corporation (UEDC), Ekeh’s former employer and Hartford’s insured, by Kristine Knockum, a former employee and subordinate of Ekeh’s. After Knockum sued, Ekeh was fired. He then filed a cross-complaint against Knockum and UEDC, alleging in part that UEDC defamed and wrongfully discharged him based on Knockum’s false sexual harassment accusations. UEDC tendered defense and indemnity of the cross-complaint to Hartford, its insurer, but Hartford rejected the tender.

After substantial pre-trial discovery and preliminary settlement discussions, the case was settled at a mandatory settlement conference before the Honorable Donald S. Mitchell, Judge of the San Francisco Superior Court. Under the relevant terms of the settlement reached before Judge Mitchell, Ekeh first dismissed all but his defamation claim. UEDC then agreed to a $1.7…