Lauris et al v. Novartis AG et al
Filing
421
ORDER Denying Request to Seal Documents In Support of Petition for Approval of settlement and Compromise of Minor's Claims re 418 , 419 , signed by Magistrate Judge Stanley A. Boone on 9/17/18. (Gonzalez, R)
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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
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EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
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KRISTI LAURIS, et. al.,
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Plaintiffs,
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Case No. 1:16-cv-00393-SEH-SAB
ORDER DENYING REQUEST TO SEAL
DOCUMENTS IN SUPPORT OF PETITION
FOR APPROVAL OF SETTLEMENT AND
COMPROMISE OF MINOR’S CLAIMS
v.
NOVARTIS AG, et al.,
(ECF No.)
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Defendants.
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On August 30, 2018, the district judge referred this matter to the undersigned for
18 disposition of all settlement matters, including the petition for minor’s compromise. (ECF No.
19 417.) On September 14, 2018, Plaintiff filed a petition for approval of the settlement and
20 compromise of the minor’s claims and a request to seal documents in support of the petition.
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Pursuant to the Local Rule of the United States Court, Eastern District of California
22 (“L.R.”), documents may only be sealed by written order of the Court upon the showing required
23 by applicable law. L.R. 141(a). Courts have long recognized a “general right to inspect and
24 copy public records and documents, including judicial records and documents.” Kamakana v.
25 City & Cnty. of Honolulu, 447 F.3d 1172, 1178 (9th Cir. 2006) (quoting Nixon v. Warner
26 Commc’ns, Inc., 435 U.S. 589, 597 & n. 7 (1978)). Nevertheless, this access to judicial records
27 is not absolute. Kamakana, 447 F.3d at 1172. The court has recognized a category of documents
28 that is not subject to the right of public access because the documents have “traditionally been
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1 kept secret for important policy reasons.” Times Mirror Co. v. United States, 873 F.2d 1210,
2 1219 (9th Cir. 1989).
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There are two different standards for sealing documents. First, where the request to seal
4 addresses “private materials unearthed in discovery,” such as discovery or non-dispositive
5 motions, the moving party is required to show that good cause exists to seal the documents.
6 Pintos v. Pac. Creditors Ass’n, 605 F.3d 665, 678 (9th Cir. 2010). Defendant argues that the
7 good cause standard applies to documents attached to a petition for approval of minor’s
8 compromise.
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Where documents are accompanying a motion for resolution of disputes on the merits
10 that “is at the heart of the interest in ensuring the ‘public’s understanding of the judicial process
11 and of significant public events . . . ‘compelling reasons’ must be shown to seal judicial records
12 attached to a dispositive motion.” Kamakana, 447 F.3d at 1179. The Ninth Circuit has recently
13 found that the focus is not on the dispositive nature of the motion, but whether the motion at
14 issue is more than tangentially related to the merits of the case. Ctr. for Auto Safety v. Chrysler
15 Grp., LLC, 809 F.3d 1092, 1101 (9th Cir.), cert. denied sub nom. FCA U.S. LLC v. Ctr. for Auto
16 Safety, 137 S. Ct. 38 (2016). Courts find that a request to seal documents attached to a petition
17 for minor’s compromise must meet the compelling reasons standard. Estate of Levingston v.
18 Cty. of Kern, No. 116CV00188DADJLT, 2017 WL 4700015, at *2 (E.D. Cal. Oct. 19, 2017);
19 M.F. v. United States, No. C13-1790JLR, 2015 WL 630946, at *3 (W.D. Wash. Feb. 12, 2015);
20 M.P. ex rel. Provins v. Lowe's Companies, Inc., No. 2:11-CV-01985-GEB, 2012 WL 1574801,
21 at *1 (E.D. Cal. May 3, 2012).
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The party seeking to have the document sealed must present “articulable facts”
23 identifying the interests that favor secrecy and show that these specific interests overcome the
24 presumption of access because they outweigh the public’s interest in understanding the judicial
25 process. Kamakana, 447 F.3d at 1180. The Court starts from the strong presumption in favor of
26 access to public records and then considers whether the party seeking to have the record sealed
27 has demonstrated a compelling reason to have the record sealed. Id. at 1178-79. This requires
28 the Court to conscientiously balance the competing interests of the public in accessing the
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1 records and the party who seeks to keep the records secret. Id. at 1179. The Court is required to
2 “articulate the factual basis for its ruling, without relying on hypothesis or conjecture.” Id.
3 (citations omitted). The fact that the parties have agreed to keep information confidential is not a
4 compelling reason to seal court records. Foltz v. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Co.,
5 331 F.3d 1122, 1138 (9th Cir. 2003.)
Here, Plaintiff seeks to seal the unredacted version of the settlement agreement and
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7 counsel’s declaration in support of the petition for minor’s compromise to protect the amount
8 and terms of the settlement agreement. However, no compelling reasons to seal this information
9 have been addressed.
Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the request to seal documents is DENIED
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11 without prejudice.
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IT IS SO ORDERED.
14 Dated:
September 17, 2018
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
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