Doe v. Metropolitan Life Insurance Company

Filing 6

ORDER FOR PLAINTIFF TO FILE MOTION FOR LEAVE TO PROCEED USING PSEUDONYM. Signed by Judge Maria-Elena James on 5/11/2016. (cdnS, COURT STAFF) (Filed on 5/11/2016)

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

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NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

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JANE DOE,

Case No. 16-cv-02298-MEJ
Plaintiff,

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ORDER RE: PERMISSION TO
PROCEED UNDER PSEUDONYM

v.
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METROPOLITAN LIFE INSURANCE
COMPANY,

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Defendant.

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United States District Court
Northern District of California

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Plaintiff Jane Doe filed this case on April 27, 2016 using a pseudonym. Ordinarily,

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pleadings must identify the parties to a suit. Fed. R. Civ. P. 10(a). Nevertheless, “a party may

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preserve his or her anonymity in judicial proceedings in special circumstances when the party’s

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need for anonymity outweighs prejudice to the opposing party and the public’s interest in knowing

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the party’s identity.” Does I through XXIII v. Advanced Textile Corp., 214 F.3d 1058, 1068 (9th

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Cir. 2000). In evaluating the need for anonymity, the Court considers (1) the severity of the

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threatened harm, (2) the reasonableness of the anonymous party’s fears, (3) the anonymous party’s

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vulnerability to retaliation; and (4) the prejudice to the opposing party and whether proceedings

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may be structured to avoid that prejudice. Id. Additionally, the Court “must decide whether the

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public’s interest in the case would be best served by requiring that the litigants reveal their

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identities.” Id.

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Accordingly, prior to the issuance of summons in this case, the Court ORDERS Plaintiff
to file a motion for leave to proceed under the Jane Doe pseudonym.
IT IS SO ORDERED.

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Dated: May 11, 2016
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MARIA-ELENA JAMES
United States Magistrate Judge