National Union Fire Insurance Co. of Pittsburgh, PA et al v. Seagate Technology, Inc.

Filing 390

ORDER DENYING MOTION TO SEAL by Hon. William Alsup denying 385 Administrative Motion to File Under Seal.(whalc1, COURT STAFF) (Filed on 3/19/2013)

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

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FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

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United States District Court
For the Northern District of California

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NATIONAL UNION FIRE INSURANCE
COMPANY OF PITTSBURGH, PA, et al.,
No. C 04-01593 WHA

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Plaintiffs,
v.
ORDER DENYING
MOTION TO SEAL

SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY, INC.,
Defendant.

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Defendant has filed a motion to seal documents in connection with its motion to vacate.

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The information defendant seeks to seal describes work conducted by defendants’ counsel in the

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litigation underlying this action. According to defendant’s counsel, the materials include

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“confidential attorney-client privileged communications and attorney work product related to

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the underlying action. In addition, the information discloses the precise amounts that Seagate

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has been charged and paid for defense counsel’s work” (Dkt. 385-1 ¶ 4).

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Upon review, the approximately 85 pages of documents defendant seeks to seal pertain

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exclusively to negotiations between counsel over billing rates and amounts charged for attorney

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services. This constitutes neither attorney-client privileged communications, nor work product,

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nor information that is otherwise sealable as a trade secret. Defendant’s boilerplate claim that

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disclosure of this information “could harm Seagate if discovered by its litigation adversaries . . .

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[and] result in harm to Seagate and its defense of the underlying action” is vague and

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unsubstantiated.

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Good cause not shown, the motion is DENIED.

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IT IS SO ORDERED.

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Dated: March 18, 2013.

WILLIAM ALSUP
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

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United States District Court
For the Northern District of California

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