United African-Asian Abilitites Club et al v. Patricia P Chadwell

Filing 10

Order to Show Cause re Anonymity of Plaintiff and Other Parties Named in the Complaint by Judge Philip S. Gutierrez. In the case now before the Court, Plaintiffs have not shown why they need to identify the individual plaintiff and other affiliates o f UAAAC anonymously. The Court therefore ORDERS Plaintiffs to show cause by June 21, 2017 why the Court should permit the individual plaintiff to proceed anonymously and allow plaintiff to refer to others in the Complaint with pseudonyms. Plaintiffs may satisfy this OSC by filing an amended Complaint or by detailing their reasons for anonymity in a separate response. (smo)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
CENTRAL DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
CIVIL MINUTES - GENERAL
Case No.

CV 17-4154 PSG (SKx)

Title

United African-Asian Abilities Club et al. v. Patricia P. Chadwell et al.

Present: The Honorable

Date

June 15, 2017

Philip S. Gutierrez, United States District Judge

Wendy Hernandez

Not Reported

Deputy Clerk

Court Reporter

Attorneys Present for Plaintiff(s):

Attorneys Present for Defendant(s):

Not Present

Not Present

Proceedings (In Chambers):

Order to Show Cause re Anonymity of Plaintiff and Other
Parties Named in the Complaint

Before the Court is Plaintiffs United African-Asian Abilities Club (“UAAAC”) and 011
UAAAC Member’s Complaint asserting federal and state causes of action. Dkt. # 1. In the
Complaint and the caption for the case, Plaintiffs refer to individual UAAAC members
anonymously with pseudonyms like “011 UAAAC Member” and “008” and “010.” See id. ¶ 10.
Pursuant to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, parties to a lawsuit must identify
themselves in their pleadings. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 10. The plaintiff must give the full name of
all parties when known unless the plaintiff shows that there are exceptional circumstances, such
as threat of harm to the unidentified party, that justify use of a pseudonym. See Fed. Prac. &
Proc. Civ. § 132(a); Cyc. of Fed. Proc. § 21:2. In deciding whether to permit the plaintiff to
proceed anonymously, courts consider the severity of the threatened harm, the reasonableness of
the anonymous party’s fears, the anonymous party’s vulnerability to retaliation, the prejudice to
the non-moving party, and the public interest. See Cyc. of Fed. Proc. § 21:2.
In the case now before the Court, Plaintiffs have not shown why they need to identify the
individual plaintiff and other affiliates of UAAAC anonymously. The Court therefore ORDERS
Plaintiffs to show cause by June 21, 2017 why the Court should permit the individual plaintiff to
proceed anonymously and allow plaintiff to refer to others in the Complaint with pseudonyms.
Plaintiffs may satisfy this OSC by filing an amended Complaint or by detailing their reasons for
anonymity in a separate response.
IT IS SO ORDERED.

AB for WH

CV-90 (10/08)

CIVIL MINUTES - GENERAL

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