Hoot Winc, LLC v. RSM McGladrey Financial et al

Filing 159

ORDER RE: SUPPLEMENTAL BRIEFING IN SUPPORT OF 158 MOTION TO FILE EXHIBIT L UNDER SEAL. Plaintiff's opinion that Exhibit L is "confidential" is not enough in and of itself to justify filing the exhibit under seal. If Plaintiff wants Exhibit L to be filed under seal, Plaintiff must file a supplemental brief explaining why the exhibit should be sealed. The supplemental briefmust be filed on or before September 7, 2010. Signed by Judge Barry Ted Moskowitz on 8/18/2010.(jer)

-WMC Hoot Winc, LLC v. RSM McGladrey Financial et al

Doc. 159

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 HOOT WINC, LLC, a Kansas limited liability company, v. Plaintiff, Case No. 08cv1559 BTM(WMc) ORDER RE: SUPPLEMENTAL BRIEFING IN SUPPORT OF MOTION TO FILE EXHIBIT L UNDER SEAL

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

RSM McGLADREY FINANCIAL PROCESS OUTSOURCING, LLC, et al., Defendants. Defendant has filed a motion to file under seal Exhibit L (a "Services Agreement") in support of its motion for partial summary judgment. Defendant explains that it moves to file the exhibit under seal because Plaintiff designated the document as "confidential," and Defendant is obligated to seek permission to file the document under seal under the terms of the protective order entered in this case. Defendant does not actually contend that the exhibit should be sealed. The Supreme Court has held that there is a common law right of access to records in civil proceedings: "It is clear that the courts of this country recognize a general right to inspect and copy public records and documents, including judicial records and documents." Nixon v. Warner Communications, Inc., 435 U.S. 589, 597 (1978). Courts are required to start "with a strong presumption in favor of access." Hagestad v. Tragesser, 49 F.3d 1430,1434 (9th Cir. 1995). 1
08cv1559 BTM(WMc)

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However, the presumption can be overcome by sufficiently important countervailing interests. San Jose Mercury News, Inc. v. United States Dist. Court, 187 F.3d 1096, 1102 (9th Cir. 1999). "After taking all relevant factors into consideration, the district court must base its decision on a compelling reason and articulate the factual basis for its ruling, without relying on hypothesis or conjecture." Hagestad, 49 F.3d at 1434. Plaintiff's opinion that Exhibit L is "confidential" is not enough in and of itself to justify filing the exhibit under seal. If Plaintiff wants Exhibit L to be filed under seal, Plaintiff must file a supplemental brief explaining why the exhibit should be sealed. The supplemental brief must be filed on or before September 7, 2010. IT IS SO ORDERED. DATED: August 18, 2010

Honorable Barry Ted Moskowitz United States District Judge

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