Radcliffe v. Securian Financial Group, Inc.

Filing 69

ORDER granting in part and denying in part 66 Defendant's Motion to Seal Court Record (Written Opinion). Signed by Judge Susan Richard Nelson on 12/18/13. (MJC)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
DISTRICT OF MINNESOTA

Kathleen Radcliffe,

Case Number: 0:11-cv-03701-SRN-TNL

Plaintiff,
v.
ORDER
Securian Financial Group, Inc.,
Defendant.

The above-captioned matter came before the Court on Defendant Securian
Financial Group, Inc.’s (“Securian’s”) Motion to Seal the Court Record [Doc. No. 66].
Citing the sensitivity of certain personnel and medical-related information contained in
this action, Securian seeks to seal the entire Court file. (Mem. Supp. Mot. to Seal at 2
[Doc. No. 67].) Alternatively, Securian moves to seal the following specific docket
entries: Doc. Nos. 1-1, 7, 12, 18, 22, 23, 36, 42, and 47. (Id. at 5.) Plaintiff does not
oppose Defendant’s motion. (Id. at 4.)
The Court has reviewed the specific docket entries identified by Securian.
Because these specific documents contain sensitive information concerning personnel
actions and medical history, they shall be sealed. The rest of the docketed entries in this
matter, however, contain no such sensitive content sufficient to overcome the longstanding presumption of the public’s right of access to the court. United States v. Rogers,
13-CR-130 (ADM/JJG), 2013 WL 5781597, at *1 (D. Minn. Aug. 15, 2013) (citing
Richmond Newspapers, Inc. v. Virginia, 448 U.S. 555 (1980); In re Search Warrant for

Secretarial Area Outside Office of Gunn, 855 F.2d 569, 573 (8th Cir. 1988)).
Accordingly, the Court denies Defendant’s motion in part as it relates to Defendant’s
request to seal the entire Court file in this matter, and grants the motion in part, as it
relates to the request to seal the specifically-identified docket entries.
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED:
1.

Defendant Securian’s Motion to Seal the Court Record [Doc. No. 66] is
hereby GRANTED in part, and DENIED in part;

2.

The Clerk of Court is hereby directed to seal the following Docket entries:
Doc. Nos. 1-1, 7, 12, 18, 22, 23, 36, 42, and 47.

IT IS SO ORDERED:
BY THE COURT:
Date: December 18, 2013
s/Susan Richard Nelson
Susan Richard Nelson
United States District Judge