Doe 1 et al v. Uber Technologies, Inc.

Filing 42

ORDER by Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers granting 41 Plaintiffs' Motion to Proceed Using Pseudonyms. (fs, COURT STAFF) (Filed on 4/5/2018)

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

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NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

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JANE DOE 1, ET AL.,

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Plaintiffs,

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vs.

CASE NO. 17-cv-06571-YGR
ORDER GRANTING PLAINTIFFS' REQUEST
TO PROCEED USING PSEUDONYMS
Re: Dkt. No. 41

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UBER TECHNOLOGIES, INC.,
Defendant.

United States District Court
Northern District of California

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Plaintiffs Doe 1 and Doe 2 have filed a motion to proceed using pseudonyms as to

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additional plaintiffs named in their First Amended Complaint, specifically using the pseudonyms

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“Jane Doe 3,” “Jane Doe 4,” “Jane Doe 5,” “Jane Doe 6,” “Jane Doe 7,” “Jane Doe 8” and “Jane

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Doe 9.” (Dkt. No. 41.) No opposition to the motion has been filed

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In the Ninth Circuit, parties are permitted to use pseudonyms in the unusual case when

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nondisclosure of the party’s identity is necessary to protect the party from harassment, injury,

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ridicule or personal embarrassment. Does I thru XXIII v. Advanced Textile Corp., 214 F.3d 1058,

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1067–68 (9th Cir. 2000). District courts determine the need for anonymity by evaluating a variety

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of factors: (1) the severity of the threatened harm, (2) the reasonableness of the anonymous party’s

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fears; and (3) the anonymous party’s vulnerability to such retaliation. Id. In so doing, a district

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court must exercise its powers to manage pretrial proceedings and to issue protective orders

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limiting disclosure of the party’s name to preserve the party’s anonymity to the greatest extent

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possible without prejudicing the opposing party’s ability to litigate the case. Id. at 1069.

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Here, the parties seeking to proceed pseudonymously allege that they were sexually

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assaulted by drivers affiliated with defendant. The Court finds the nature of the allegations to be

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highly sensitive, with a high propensity for adverse emotional and psychological impact.

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Therefore, proceeding by way of pseudonyms is appropriate under the circumstances.

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Plaintiffs shall submit a supplement to the complaint, to be filed under seal consistent with

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the Local Rules, providing the true identities of the parties proceeding pseudonymously, and shall

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serve such supplement on defendants. The parties shall keep the true identities of the plaintiffs

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confidential absent further order of the Court.

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This terminates Docket No. 41.

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IT IS SO ORDERED.

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Dated: April 5, 2018
YVONNE GONZALEZ ROGERS
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT JUDGE

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United States District Court
Northern District of California

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