Civil Procedure
Protective Order
A court order limiting discovery or controlling how confidential information may be used and shared.
Governing rule: Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(c)
Plain-English definition
A protective order can shield sensitive material from public exposure or limit burdensome discovery. In business cases, it often creates confidentiality tiers for trade secrets, customer records, source code, medical files, or private financial information.
How it works
A party seeking protection must usually certify a good-faith effort to resolve the dispute without court action and show good cause for the requested limits.
Why it matters
Protective orders decide whether discovery becomes a public record problem, a business risk, or a manageable exchange of information.
Related terms
More in Civil Procedure
Amended Complaint
A revised complaint that changes, adds, or clarifies allegations, parties, or claims after the original complaint was filed.
Answer
The defendant's formal written response to the plaintiff's complaint, admitting or denying each allegation.
Class Certification
The judicial decision to allow a lawsuit to proceed as a class action on behalf of similarly-situated plaintiffs.
Collateral Estoppel
Also called issue preclusion. The doctrine that prevents re-litigating a specific issue that was actually decided in a prior case.
Complaint
The initial pleading filed by the plaintiff that starts a civil lawsuit.
Consolidation
Combining related cases for coordinated management, discovery, hearings, or trial.
Counterclaim
A claim brought by a defendant against the plaintiff within the same lawsuit.
Crossclaim
A claim by one party against a co-party, such as one defendant suing another defendant in the same case.
Not legal advice. Definitions are for general reference. Consult an attorney before relying on any term in a real case.