Taylor et al v. West Marine Products, Inc.

Filing 143

ORDER DENYING 142 JOINT ADMINISTRATIVE MOTION TO FILE DOCUMENTS UNDER SEAL.(whalc2, COURT STAFF) (Filed on 11/24/2014)

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

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FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
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For the Northern District of California

United States District Court

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KAREN TAYLOR, individually and on
behalf of all others similarly situated, and
PAULISA FIELDS,

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No. C 13-04916 WHA

Plaintiffs,
v.

ORDER DENYING JOINT
ADMINISTRATIVE MOTION TO
FILE DOCUMENTS UNDER
SEAL

WEST MARINE PRODUCTS, INC.,

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Defendant.
/

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The parties have filed a joint motion to seal the proposed allocation of funds to individual

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putative class members attached as Exhibit 3 to the Declaration of Stefan Boedeker. They claim

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that the document contains detailed non-public information concerning compensation amounts

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that putative class members may receive under the parties’ proposed settlement agreement.

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Civil Local Rule 79-5(b) provides that documents may be ordered sealed if they are

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“privileged, protectable, as a trade secret or otherwise entitled to protection under the law.”

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Additionally, in Kamakana v. Honolulu, 447 F.3d 1172, 1179 (9th Cir. 2006), the Ninth Circuit

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held that more than good cause, indeed, “compelling reasons” are required to seal documents

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used in dispositive motions. Moreover, here we are dealing with a class action and all members

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of the class have the right to go online and view proceedings on their behalf. Compelling

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reasons have not been shown to seal the allocation of funds laid out in the parties’ proposed

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settlement agreement and thus the request is DENIED.

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IT IS SO ORDERED.

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Dated: November 24, 2014.

WILLIAM ALSUP
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

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For the Northern District of California

United States District Court

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