A judge's ruling that Audi is not entitled to discovery of 54 documents in its breach of contract case against a northeastern Pennsylvania dealership has shed light on the scope of the common interest privilege.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Martin C. Carlson of the Middle District of Pennsylvania denied Audi's request to compel production of discovery from defendant Bronsberg & Hughes Pontiac Inc., doing business as Wyoming Valley Audi, finding that the documents in question were protected by the attorney-client and common interest privileges.

Audi brought the lawsuit alleging that defendant Wyoming Valley breached certain terms of an Audi dealer agreement when it subsequently entered into an asset and real estate purchasing agreement with the Napleton Group.