Skurdal v. United States of America et al

Filing 5

ORDERED: Plaintiff shall be given two weeks to re-file a redacted complaint and exhibits in conformance with the above rules and guidance, or Wednesday, December 2, 2020. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the original Complaint (Doc. 1) shall be temporarily SEALED until December 3, 2020, unless a redacted complaint and exhibits are filed, in which case the original Complaint will be permanently sealed. Signed by Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Cavan on 11/18/2020. (HEG) Modified on 11/18/2020 Copy mailed to plaintiff. (HEG).

Case 1:20-cv-00171-SPW-TJC Document 5 Filed 11/18/20 Page 1 of 2

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF MONTANA
BILLINGS DIVISION

RODNEY OWEN SKURDAL,

CV 20-171-BLG-SPW-TJC

Plaintiff,
ORDER
vs.
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
et al.,
Defendants.

Plaintiff Rodney Owen Skurdal (“Plaintiff”) filed this action on November
17, 2020. (Doc. 1.) The Court notes that among Plaintiff’s attached exhibits are
documents containing social security numbers. (See e.g. Doc. 1-6.) Privacy
protections afforded to litigants by Rule 5.2(a) are waived when a person files
documents that reveal a person’s own information without redaction and not under
seal. Fed. R. Civ. P. 5.2(h). Here, Plaintiff is a pro se litigant and the Court
believes Plaintiff should be given the opportunity to seal and redact both the
complaint and any exhibits revealing personal information, such as social security
numbers, pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 5.2(a) and in conformance with the Guide for
Filing in the District of Montana § 6(d)(i). The aforementioned guide may be
found at:

Case 1:20-cv-00171-SPW-TJC Document 5 Filed 11/18/20 Page 2 of 2

https://www.mtd.uscourts.gov/manuals-training.
Accordingly,
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that Plaintiff shall be given two weeks to re-file
a redacted complaint and exhibits in conformance with the above rules and
guidance, or Wednesday, December 2, 2020.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the original Complaint (Doc. 1) shall be
temporarily SEALED until December 3, 2020, unless a redacted complaint and
exhibits are filed, in which case the original Complaint will be permanently sealed.
DATED this 18th day of November, 2020.
__________________________
TIMOTHY J. CAVAN
United States Magistrate Judge