Taylor et al v. The People of the State of Alabama et al

Filing 12

ORDER TO UNSEAL CASE signed by District Judge Anthony W. Ishii on 1/14/2016. CASE UNSEALED.(Lundstrom, T)

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

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EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

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KIRELL F. TAYLOR, et al.,

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Plaintiffs

ORDER UNSEALING CASE

v.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF
ALABAMA, et al.,
Defendants

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CASE NO. 1:11-CV-1847 AWI DLB

This case was filed as a qui tam action by Plaintiff on behalf the United States under to the

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False Claims Act (31 U.S.C. § 3729 et seq), alleging underpayment of federal income taxes by

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individual taxpayers. Doc. 1. Pursuant to 31 U.S.C. § 3730(b)(2), the complaint was filed under

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seal. Plaintiff was seeking to proceed in forma pauperis. In reviewing the application, the court

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determined that there was no subject matter jurisdiction. Docs. 8 and 10. The United States did

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not take part in this case. There is no reason for the records in this case to remain sealed. See

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United States ex rel. Lee v. Horizon West, Inc., 2006 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 97310, *6 (N.D. Cal. Feb.

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6, 2006) (“other courts faced with this issue have considered lifting the seal on the entire record to

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be appropriate unless the Government shows that such disclosure would: (1) reveal confidential

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investigative methods or techniques; (2) jeopardize an ongoing investigation; or (3) harm non-

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parties”); cf. United States v. Creekside Hospice II, LLC, 2015 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 173556, *11 (D.

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Nev. 2015) (“courts routinely unseal the dockets of qui tam actions once litigation is under way.

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There is a strong presumption in favor of public access to judicial proceeding”).

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The Clerk of the Court is directed to UNSEAL all documents in this case. The case
remains closed.

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IT IS SO ORDERED.
Dated: January 14, 2016
SENIOR DISTRICT JUDGE