Reetz v. Lowe's Companies, Inc. et al

Filing 208

ORDER granting 197 Defendant Aon Hewitt Investment Consulting's Motion for Leave to Permanently Seal Documents Filed Provisionally Under Seal in Connection With the Parties Summary Judgment Briefing. Signed by Magistrate Judge David Keesler on 2/26/21. (mga)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF NORTH CAROLINA
STATESVILLE DIVISION
CASE NO. 5:18-cv-075-KDB-DCK
BENJAMIN REETZ,
Plaintiff,
v.
LOWE’S COMPANIES, INC.,
ADMINISTRATIVE COMMITTEE OF
LOWE’S COMPANIES, INC., and AON
HEWITT INVESTMENT CONSULTING, INC.
Defendants.

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ORDER

THIS MATTER IS BEFORE THE COURT on “Defendant Aon Hewitt Investment
Consulting’s Motion For Leave To Permanently Seal Documents Filed Provisionally Under Seal
In Connection With The Parties’ Summary Judgment Briefing” (Document No. 197) filed
February 11, 2021. This motion has been referred to the undersigned Magistrate Judge pursuant
to 28 U.S.C. § 636(b), and immediate review is appropriate. Having carefully considered the
motion and the record, and noting the motion is not opposed, the undersigned will grant the motion.
A party who seeks to seal any pleading must comply with the Local Rules of this Court.
Local Civil Rule(“LCvR”) 6.1 provides in relevant part as follows:
LCvR. 6.1

SEALED FILINGS AND PUBLIC ACCESS.

(a)
Scope of Rule. To further openness in civil case
proceedings, there is a presumption under applicable common law
and the First Amendment that materials filed in this Court will be
filed unsealed. This Rule governs any party’s request to seal, or
otherwise restrict public access to, any materials filed with the Court
or used in connection with judicial decision- making. As used in this
Rule, “materials” includes pleadings and documents of any nature
and in any medium or format.

(b)
Filing under Seal. No materials may be filed under seal
except by Court order, pursuant to a statute, or in accordance with a
previously entered Rule 26(e) protective order.
(c)
Motion to Seal or Otherwise Restrict Public Access. A
party’s request to file materials under seal must be made by formal
motion, separate from the motion or other pleading sought to be
sealed, pursuant to LCvR 7.1. Such motion must be filed
electronically under the designation “Motion to Seal.” The motion
must set forth:
(1)
A non-confidential description of the
material sought to be sealed;
(2)
A statement indicating why sealing is
necessary and why there are no alternatives to filing
under seal;
(3)
Unless permanent sealing is sought, a
statement indicating how long the party seeks to have
the material maintained under seal and how the
matter is to be handled upon unsealing; and
(4)
Supporting statutes, case law, or other
authority.
Local Rule 6.1. It appears that the requirements of Local Rule 6.1(c)(1) through (4) have been
adequately met.
In support of sealing, Defendant includes the following authority:
In the Fourth Circuit, a district court can seal “judicial records
and documents” when “the public’s right of access is outweighed by
competing interests.” Ashcraft v. Conoco, Inc., 218 F.3d 288, 302
(4th Cir. 2000). “The Fourth Circuit applies the First Amendment
right of access to documents submitted in support of summary
judgment motions in civil cases.” Jones v. Lowe’s Cos., Inc., 402 F.
Supp. 3d 266, 277 (W.D.N.C. 2019) (Bell, J.) (citing Rushford v.
New Yorker Magazine, Inc., 846 F.2d 249, 253 (4th Cir. 1988)).
Courts have routinely recognized that certain private interests, such
as “confidential and proprietary business information,” are
sufficient to overcome “both the First Amendment and common law
presumptions of access.” Accreditation Comm’n for Health Care,
Inc. v. NextLOGiK, Inc., No. 5:20-CV-46-M, 2020 WL 2543787, at
*2 (E.D.N.C. May 19, 2020); Pittston Co. v. United States, 368 F.3d
385, 406 (4th Cir. 2004) (upholding a district court’s denial of a
motion to unseal confidential and proprietary business information
previously covered by a protective order); Jones, 402 F. Supp. 3d
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at 293 (Bell, J.) (granting motion to seal documents under First
Amendment standard where documents contain “confidential
business and financial information and [] the risk of harm to [the
movant] posed by its disclosure outweighs public interest in
access”)
(Document No. 197, pp. 4-5).
By the instant motion, Defendant argues, inter alia, that
all of the aforementioned documents should be filed under seal.
AHIC has publicly filed redacted versions of all documents where
redaction is possible. Confidential information appears throughout
the remaining documents, rendering redaction impossible and
leaving no alternatives to filing these entire exhibits entirely under
seal. As described below, AHIC would suffer harm from the
disclosure of its confidential information, which outweighs any
public interest in the information and necessitates filing the
documents under seal.
(Document No. 197, p. 5).
The undersigned finds Defendant’s arguments and legal authority to be persuasive.
However, noting that the time for public response has not run to this motion, the Court will
consider any objection to this Order from non-parties as an objection to the motion, requiring no
additional burden for any non-party under the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. See Local Rule
6.1(e).
IT IS, THEREFORE, ORDERED that “Defendant Aon Hewitt Investment Consulting’s
Motion For Leave To Permanently Seal Documents Filed Provisionally Under Seal In Connection
With The Parties’ Summary Judgment Briefing” (Document No. 197) is GRANTED.
The Court grants leave to SEAL the parties’ respective summary judgment, opposition,
reply briefs and exhibits as follows:
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Memorandum of Law in Support of Defendant Aon Hewitt Investment Consulting, Inc.’s
Motion for Summary Judgment (ECF No. 140-1)
Lowe’s Memorandum in Support of Their Motion for Summary Judgment (ECF No. 141)
Memorandum of Law in Support of Plaintiff’s Motion for Partial Summary Judgment (ECF
No. 136)
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Defendant Aon Hewitt Investment Consulting, Inc.’s Memorandum of Law in Opposition
to Plaintiffs' Motion for Partial Summary Judgment (ECF No. 162)
Lowe’s Opposition to Plaintiff’s Motion for Summary Judgment (ECF No. 172)
Plaintiff’s Opposition to Defendant AHIC’s Motion for Summary Judgment (ECF No. 161)
Plaintiff’s Memorandum of Law in Opposition to Lowe’s Motion for Summary Judgment
(ECF No. 168)
Reply Memorandum of Law in Further Support of Defendant Aon Hewitt Investment
Consulting, Inc.’s Motion for Summary Judgment (ECF No. 188)
Lowe’s Reply Brief in Support of Motion for Summary Judgment (ECF No. 191)
Reply Memorandum of Law in Support of Plaintiff’s Motion for Partial Summary
Judgment (ECF No. 186)
Rice Decl. Ex. 1 (ECF No. 148-1)
Rice Decl. Ex. 2 (ECF No. 148-2)
Rice Decl. Ex. 5 (ECF No. 148-5)
Rice Decl. Ex. 7 (ECF No. 148-7)
Rice Decl. Ex. 9 (ECF No. 148-9)
Rice Decl. Ex. 10 (ECF No. 148-10)
Rice Decl. Ex. 11 (ECF No. 148-11)
Rice Decl. Ex. 12 (ECF No. 148-12)
Rice Decl. Ex. 14 (ECF No. 148-14)
Rice Decl. Ex. 15 (ECF No. 148-15)
Rice Decl. Ex. 16 (ECF No. 148-16)
Rice Decl. Ex. 17 (ECF No. 148-17)
Rice Decl. Ex. 18 (ECF No. 148-18)
Rice Decl. Ex. 19 (ECF No. 148-19)
Rice Decl. Ex. 20 (ECF No. 148-20)
Rice Decl. Ex. 21 (ECF No. 148-21)
Rice Decl. Ex. 23 (ECF No. 148-23)
Rice Decl. Ex. 24 (ECF No. 148-24)
Rice Decl. Ex. 26 (ECF No. 148-26)
Rice Decl. Ex. 27 (ECF No. 148-27)
Rice Decl. Ex. 28 (ECF No. 148-28)
Rice Decl. Ex. 29 (ECF No. 148-29)
Rice Decl. Ex. 33 (ECF No. 148-33)
Rice Decl. Ex. 34 (ECF No. 148-34)
Rice Decl. Ex. 36 (ECF No. 148-36)
Rice Decl. Ex. 37 (ECF No. 148-37)
Rice Decl. Ex. 38 (ECF No. 148-38)
Rice Decl. Ex. 41 (ECF No. 148-41)
Rice Decl. Ex. 42 (ECF No. 148-42)
Rice Decl. Ex. 43 (ECF No. 148-43)
Rice Decl. Ex. 44 (ECF No. 148-44)
Declaration of Brian Abshire in Support of Defendant Aon Hewitt Investment Consulting,
Inc.’s Motion for Summary Judgment (ECF No. 149)
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Abshire Decl. Ex. C (ECF No. 149-3)
Abshire Decl. Ex. D (ECF No. 149-4)
Abshire Decl. Ex. F (ECF No. 149-6)
Abshire Decl. Ex. G (ECF No. 149-7)
Abshire Decl. Ex. H (ECF No. 149-8)
Abshire Decl. Ex. I (ECF No. 149-9)
Abshire Decl. Ex. M (ECF No. 149-13)
Abshire Decl. Ex. N (ECF No. 149-14)
Abshire Decl. Ex. P (ECF No. 149-16)
Declaration of Matthew R. Clink in Support of Defendant Aon Hewitt Investment
Consulting, Inc.’s Motion for Summary Judgment (ECF No. 150)
Clink Decl. Ex. A (ECF No. 150-1)
Clink Decl. Ex. B (ECF No. 150-2)
Clink Decl. Ex. C (ECF No. 150-3)
Clink Decl. Ex. D (ECF No. 150-4)
Clink Decl. Ex. E (ECF No. 150-5)
Clink Decl. Ex. F (ECF No. 150-6)
Clink Decl. Ex. G (ECF No. 150-7)
Clink Decl. Ex. H (ECF No. 150-8)
Clink Decl. Ex. I (ECF No. 150-9)
Clink Decl. Ex. J (ECF No. 150-10)
Clink Decl. Ex. K (ECF No. 150-11)
Clink Decl. Ex. L (ECF No. 150-12)
Clink Decl. Ex. M (ECF No. 150-13)
Clink Decl. Ex. N (ECF No. 150-14)
Clink Decl. Ex. O (ECF No. 150-15)
Clink Decl. Ex. P (ECF No. 150-16)
Clink Decl. Ex. Q (ECF No. 150-17)
Clink Decl. Ex. R (ECF No. 150-18)
Clink Decl. Ex. S (ECF No. 150-19)
Clink Decl. Ex. T (ECF No. 150-20)
Clink Decl. Ex. U (ECF No. 150-21)
Chalmers Decl. Ex. 1 (ECF No. 151-1)
Chalmers Decl. Ex. 2 (ECF No. 151-2)
Chalmers Decl. Ex. 3 (ECF No. 151-3)
Chalmers Decl. Ex. 4 (ECF No. 151-4)
Chalmers Decl. Ex. 5 (ECF No. 151-5)
Dennison Decl. Ex. 1 (ECF No. 152-1)
Dennison Decl. Ex. 2 (ECF No. 152-2)
Golumbic MSJ Decl. Ex. 2 (ECF No. 141-2)
Golumbic MSJ Decl. Ex. 11 (ECF No. 141-11)
Golumbic MSJ Decl. Ex. 16 (ECF No. 141-16)
Golumbic MSJ Decl. Ex. 17 (ECF No. 141-17)
Golumbic MSJ Decl. Ex. 18 (ECF No. 141-18)
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Golumbic MSJ Decl. Ex. 20 (ECF No. 141-20)
Golumbic MSJ Decl. Ex. 25 (ECF No. 141-24)
Golumbic MSJ Decl. Ex. 26 (ECF No. 141-25)
Golumbic MSJ Decl. Ex. 28 (ECF No. 139-28)
Golumbic MSJ Decl. Ex. 29 (ECF No. 141-26)
Golumbic MSJ Decl. Ex. 30 (ECF No. 141-27)
Golumbic MSJ Decl. Ex. 31 (ECF No. 141-28)
Golumbic MSJ Decl. Ex. 33 (ECF No. 141-30)
Golumbic MSJ Decl. Ex. 35 (ECF No. 141-32)
Golumbic MSJ Decl. Ex. 36 (ECF No. 141-33)
Golumbic MSJ Decl. Ex. 37 (ECF No. 141-34)
Golumbic MSJ Decl. Ex. 38 (ECF No. 141-35)
Golumbic MSJ Decl. Ex. 42 (ECF No. 141-38)
Golumbic MSJ Decl. Ex. 43 (ECF No. 141-39)
Golumbic MSJ Decl. Ex. 44 (ECF No. 141-40)
Golumbic MSJ Decl. Ex. 45 (ECF No. 141-41)
Golumbic MSJ Decl. Ex. 46 (ECF No. 141-42)
Golumbic MSJ Decl. Ex. 54 (ECF No. 141-48)
Golumbic MSJ Decl. Ex. 56 (ECF No. 141-50)
Golumbic MSJ Decl. Ex. 58 (ECF No. 141-51)
Golumbic MSJ Decl. Ex. 59 (ECF No. 141-52)
Golumbic MSJ Decl. Ex. 63 (ECF No. 141-56)
Golumbic MSJ Decl. Ex. 64 (ECF No. 141-57)
Golumbic MSJ Decl. Ex. 65 (ECF No. 141-58)
Golumbic MSJ Decl. Ex. 66 (ECF No. 141-59)
Golumbic MSJ Decl. Ex. 67 (ECF No. 141-60)
Thomson Decl. Ex. 1 (ECF No. 136-3)
Thomson Decl. Ex. 2 (ECF No. 136-4)
Thomson Decl. Ex. 3 (ECF No. 136-5)
Thomson Decl. Ex. 4 (ECF No. 136-6)
Thomson Decl. Ex. 5 (ECF No. 136-7)
Thomson Decl. Ex. 6 (ECF No. 136-8)
Thomson Decl. Ex. 7 (ECF No. 136-9)
Thomson Decl. Ex. 8 (ECF No. 136-10)
Thomson Decl. Ex. 9 (ECF No. 136-11)
Thomson Decl. Ex. 10 (ECF No. 136-12)
Thomson Decl. Ex. 11 (ECF No. 136-13)
Thomson Decl. Ex. 12 (ECF No. 136-14)
Thomson Decl. Ex. 13 (ECF No. 136-15)
Thomson Decl. Ex. 14 (ECF No. 136-16)
Thomson Decl. Ex. 15 (ECF No. 136-17)
Thomson Decl. Ex. 16 (ECF No. 136-18)
Thomson Decl. Ex. 19 (ECF No. 136-21)
Thomson Decl. Ex. 20 (ECF No. 136-22)
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Thomson Decl. Ex. 21 (ECF No. 136-23)
Thomson Decl. Ex. 22 (ECF No. 136-24)
Thomson Decl. Ex. 23 (ECF No. 136-25)
Thomson Decl. Ex. 24 (ECF No. 136-26)
Thomson Decl. Ex. 25 (ECF No. 136-27)
Thomson Decl. Ex. 26 (ECF No. 136-28)
Thomson Decl. Ex. 27 (ECF No. 136-29)
Thomson Decl. Ex. 28 (ECF No. 136-30)
Thomson Decl. Ex. 29 (ECF No. 136-31)
Thomson Decl. Ex. 30 (ECF No. 136-32)
Thomson Decl. Ex. 33 (ECF No. 136-35)
Thomson Decl. Ex. 34 (ECF No. 136-36)
Thomson Decl. Ex. 35 (ECF No. 136-37)
Thomson Decl. Ex. 36 (ECF No. 136-38)
Thomson Decl. Ex. 37 (ECF No. 136-39)
Thomson Decl. Ex. 38 (ECF No. 136-40)
Thomson Decl. Ex. 39 (ECF No. 136-41)
Thomson Decl. Ex. 40 (ECF No. 136-42)
Thomson Decl. Ex. 41 (ECF No. 136-43)
Thomson Decl. Ex. 42 (ECF No. 136-42)
Thomson Decl. Ex. 43 (ECF No. 136-45)
Thomson Decl. Ex. 44 (ECF No. 136-46)
Thomson Decl. Ex. 45 (ECF No. 136-47)
Thomson Decl. Ex. 47 (ECF No. 136-49)
Thomson Decl. Ex. 48 (ECF No. 136-50)
Thomson Decl. Ex. 49 (ECF No. 136-51)
Thomson Decl. Ex. 50 (ECF No. 136-52)
Thomson Decl. Ex. 52 (ECF No. 136-54)
Thomson Decl. Ex. 53 (ECF No. 136-55)
Thomson Decl. Ex. 54 (ECF No. 136-56)
Thomson Decl. Ex. 56 (ECF No. 136-58)
Thomson Decl. Ex. 57 (ECF No. 136-59)
Thomson Decl. Ex. 58 (ECF No. 136-60)
Thomson Decl. Ex. 59 (ECF No. 136-61)
Thomson Decl. Ex. 60 (ECF No. 136-62)
Thomson Decl. Ex. 61 (ECF No. 136-63)
Thomson Decl. Ex. 62 (ECF No. 136-64)
Thomson Decl. Ex. 63 (ECF No. 136-65)
Thomson Decl. Ex. 64 (ECF No. 136-66)
Thomson Decl. Ex. 65 (ECF No. 136-67)
Thomson Decl. Ex. 66 (ECF No. 136-68)
Thomson Decl. Ex. 67 (ECF No. 136-69)
Thomson Decl. Ex. 68 (ECF No. 136-70)
Thomson Decl. Ex. 69 (ECF No. 136-71)
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Thomson Decl. Ex. 70 (ECF No. 136-72)
Thomson Decl. Ex. 71 (ECF No. 136-73)
Thomson Decl. Ex. 72 (ECF No. 136-74)
Thomson Decl. Ex. 73 (ECF No. 136-75)
Thomson Decl. Ex. 75 (ECF No. 136-77)
Thomson Decl. Ex. 76 (ECF No. 136-78)
Thomson Decl. Ex. 77 (ECF No. 136-79)
Thomson Decl. Ex. 78 (ECF No. 136-80)
Thomson Decl. Ex. 80 (ECF No. 136-82)
Thomson Decl. Ex. 81 (ECF No. 136-83)
Thomson Decl. Ex. 82 (ECF No. 136-84)
Thomson Decl. Ex. 83 (ECF No. 136-85)
Thomson Decl. Ex. 84 (ECF No. 136-86)
Thomson Decl. Ex. 85 (ECF No. 136-87)
Thomson Decl. Ex. 86 (ECF No. 136-88)
Thomson Decl. Ex. 87 (ECF No. 136-89)
Thomson Decl. Ex. 97 (ECF No. 136-99)
Thomson Decl. Ex. 98 (ECF No. 136-100)
Thomson Decl. Ex. 99 (ECF No. 136-101)
Thomson Decl. Ex. 100 (ECF No. 136-102)
Thomson Decl. Ex. 101 (ECF No. 136-103)
Thomson Decl. Ex. 104 (ECF No. 136-106)
Thomson Decl. Ex. 105 (ECF No. 136-107)
Thomson Decl. Ex. 106 (ECF No. 136-108)
Thomson Decl. Ex. 107 (ECF No. 136-109)
Barrett Decl. Ex. 2 (ECF No. 164-2)
Barrett Decl. Ex. 3 (ECF No. 164-3)
Barrett Decl. Ex. 4 (ECF No. 164-4)
Declaration of Jacob Punnoose in Opposition to Plaintiff’s Motion for Summary Judgment
(ECF No. 169)
Punnoose Decl. Ex. A (ECF No. 165-1)
Punnoose Decl. Ex. B (ECF No. 165-2)
Punnoose Decl. Ex. C (ECF No. 165-3)
Punnoose Decl. Ex. D (ECF No. 165-4)
Golumbic Opp. Decl. Ex. 72 (ECF No. 172-3)
Golumbic Opp. Decl. Ex. 73 (ECF No. 172-4)
Golumbic Opp. Decl. Ex. 74 (ECF No. 172-5)
Golumbic Opp. Decl. Ex. 75 (ECF No. 172-6)
Golumbic Opp. Decl. Ex. 76 (ECF No. 172-7)
Richter Opp. Decl. Ex. 1 (ECF No. 161-3)
Richter Opp. Decl. Ex. 2 (ECF No. 161-4)
Richter Opp. Decl. Ex. 3 (ECF No. 161-5)
Richter Opp. Decl. Ex. 4 (ECF No. 161-6)
Richter Opp. Decl. Ex. 5 (ECF No. 161-7)
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Richter Opp. Decl. Ex. 6 (ECF No. 161-8)
Richter Opp. Decl. Ex. 7 (ECF No. 161-9)
Richter Opp. Decl. Ex. 8 (ECF No. 161-10)
Richter Opp. Decl. Ex. 9 (ECF No. 161-11)
Richter Opp. Decl. Ex. 10 (ECF No. 161-12)
Richter Opp. Decl. Ex. 11 (ECF No. 161-13)
Richter Opp. Decl. Ex. 12 (ECF No. 161-14)
Richter Opp. Decl. Ex. 14 (ECF No. 161-16)
Richter Opp. Decl. Ex. 15 (ECF No. 161-17)
Richter Opp. Decl. Ex. 16 (ECF No. 161-28)
Richter Opp. Decl. Ex. 17 (ECF No. 161-29)
Richter Opp. Decl. Ex. 18 (ECF No. 161-20)
Richter Opp. Decl. Ex. 19 (ECF No. 161-21)
Richter Opp. Decl. Ex. 20 (ECF No. 161-22)
Richter Opp. Decl. Ex. 21 (ECF No. 161-23)
Richter Opp. Decl. Ex. 24 (ECF No. 161-26)
Richter Opp. Decl. Ex. 25 (ECF No. 161-27)
Richter Opp. Decl. Ex. 26 (ECF No. 161-28)
Richter Opp. Decl. Ex. 27 (ECF No. 161-29)
Richter Opp. Decl. Ex. 28 (ECF No. 161-30)
Richter Opp. Decl. Ex. 29 (ECF No. 161-31)
Richter Opp. Decl. Ex. 31 (ECF No. 161-33)
Specht Decl. Ex. 1 (ECF No. 168-3)
Specht Decl. Ex. 2 (ECF No. 168-4)
Specht Decl. Ex. 3 (ECF No. 168-5)
Specht Decl. Ex. 8 (ECF No. 168-10)
Specht Decl. Ex. 9 (ECF No. 168-11)
Specht Decl. Ex. 10 (ECF No. 168-12)
Specht Decl. Ex. 11 (ECF No. 168-13)
Specht Decl. Ex. 14 (ECF No. 168-16)
Specht Decl. Ex. 15 (ECF No. 168-17)
Specht Decl. Ex. 16 (ECF No. 168-18)
Specht Decl. Ex. 17 (ECF No. 168-19)
Specht Decl. Ex. 18 (ECF No. 168-20)
Specht Decl. Ex. 19 (ECF No. 168-21)
Specht Decl. Ex. 21 (ECF No. 168-23)
Specht Decl. Ex. 22 (ECF No. 168-24)
Specht Decl. Ex. 26 (ECF No. 168-28)
Aronsson Decl. Ex. 1 (ECF No. 188-1)
Aronsson Decl. Ex. 2 (ECF No. 188-2)
Lowe’s Reply Ex. 80 (ECF No. 191-4)

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SO ORDERED.

Signed: February 26, 2021

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