Certain Underwriters at Lloyd's London subscribing to Policy No. CE0052 v. Jupiter Managing General Agency, Inc. et al

Filing 99

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER: Lyndon has failed to meet the high burden established in Shane Grp. Accordingly, for the reasons stated herein, the Renewed Motion for Leave to File under Seal (Doc. No. 84 ) is DENIED. Signed by District Judge William L. Campbell, Jr on 5/9/2022. (DOCKET TEXT SUMMARY ONLY-ATTORNEYS MUST OPEN THE PDF AND READ THE ORDER.)(ln)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE
MIDDLE DISTRICT OF TENNESSEE
NASHVILLE DIVISION
CERTAIN UNDERWRITERS AT
LLOYD’S LONDON SUBSCRIBING TO
POLICY NUMBER CE0052,
Plaintiff,
v.
JUPITER MANAGING GENERAL
AGENCY, INC. d/b/a JUPITER AUTO
INSURANCE, et al.,
Defendants.

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NO. 3:20-cv-01037
JUDGE CAMPBELL
MAGISTRATE JUDGE HOLMES

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER
Pending before the Court is the Renewed Motion for Leave to File under Seal filed by
Defendants Lyndon Southern Insurance Company and Insurance Company of the South
(collectively, “Lyndon”). (Doc. No. 84). For the reasons stated herein, the motion is DENIED.
I.

STANDARD OF REVIEW

A party seeking to seal a document from public view must provide “compelling reasons”
to seal the document, and demonstrate that sealing is narrowly tailored to serve those reasons by
analyzing “in detail, document by document, the propriety of secrecy, providing reasons and legal
citations.” Shane Grp, Inc. v. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, 825 F.3d 299, 305–06 (6th Cir.
2016). The burden is on the party designating the material as confidential. Id. In determining
whether sealing is appropriate, the Court weighs the “presumptive right of the public to inspect”
judicial material with the interests of privacy. In re Knoxville News-Sentinel Co., Inc. v. Knoxville
Journal Corp., 723 F.2d 470, 473-74 (6th Cir. 1983). Typically, in civil litigation, “‘only trade
secrets, information covered by a recognized privilege (such as attorney-client privilege), and

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information required by statute to be maintained in confidence (such as the name of a minor victim
of a sexual assault)’” are enough to overcome the presumption of access. Shane Grp., 825 F.3d at
308. (citation omitted). “The fact that a document will reveal ‘competitively-sensitive financial
and negotiating information’ is not an adequate justification for sealing – rather, ‘the proponents
of closure bears the burden of showing that disclosure will work a clearly defined and serious
injury.’” Kondash v. Kia Motors America, Inc., 767 F. App’x. 635, 639 (6th Cir. 2019) (quoting
Shane Grp., 825 F.3d at 307). “[I]n delineating the injury to be prevented, specificity is essential.”
Shane Grp., 825 F.3d at 308. (citation omitted). In ruling on a motion to seal, “the court must set
forth its specific findings and conclusions ‘which justify nondisclosure to the public.’” Kondash,
F. App’x. at 637-38 (quoting Shane Grp., 825 F.3d at 306).
II.

ANALYSIS

The Court previously denied four motions to seal (Doc. Nos. 31, 47, 52, 59) without
prejudice to the parties refiling with the necessary analysis under Shane Grp, Inc. v. Blue Cross
Blue Shield of Michigan, 825 F.3d 299 (6th Cir. 2016). (See Doc. No. 83). Lyndon filed the pending
renewed motion requesting the sealing of: (1) the percentage of commission that it pays Defendant
Jupiter Managing General Agency, Inc. (“Jupiter”); and (2) a chart showing the performance of
Jupiter’s program. (See Doc. No. 84 at 4; Doc. No. 73-1 ¶ 7).
In ruling on the motion, the Court must first determine the existence of a trade secret.
Kondash, 767 F. App’x at 638. The Federal Defend Trade Secrets Act (“DTSA”) defines “trade
secrets” as follows:
(3) the term ‘trade secret’ means all forms and types of financial, business,
scientific, technical, economic, or engineering information, including patterns,
plans, compilations, program devices, formulas, designs, prototypes, methods,
techniques, processes, procedures, programs, or codes, whether tangible or
intangible, and whether or how stored, compiled, or memorialized physically,
electronically, graphically, photographically, or in writing if—
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(A) the owner thereof has taken reasonable measures to keep such
information secret; and
(B) the information derives independent economic value, actual or potential,
from not being generally known to, and not being readily ascertainable
through proper means by, another person who can obtain economic value
from the disclosure or use of the information;
18 U.S.C. § 1839(3). In the present case, Lyndon submits that it considers its commission amount
with Jupiter and the financial metrics of Jupiter’s program to be trade secrets because, if revealed,
it could cause them competitive disadvantage, and they have reasonable steps to protect against its
disclosure. (See Doc. No. 84 at 3-4; Doc. No. 73-1 ¶ 3). Lyndon asserts that to protect against the
disclosure of this information it designates the structure and pricing terms as confidential, requires
disputes concerning the terms to take place in confidential arbitration, and limiting access to the
information on a “need-to-know” basis. (Doc. No. 73-1 ¶ 6). Lyndon’s efforts to maintain the
confidentiality of its commission and the financial metrics of Jupiter’s program appear to satisfy
the first requirement of the DTSA. It is the second requirement that concerns the Court.
The DTSA requires that a trade secret “derive[] independent economic value” by virtue of
not being known or ascertainable by another party who may obtain economic value from its use
or disclosure. 18 U.S.C. § 1839(3)(B). Lyndon’s argument on this point is that “[p]ublic disclosure
… would give Lyndon’s existing and future administrator partners a basis to negotiate alternate
terms and Lyndon’s competitors (other carriers) a roadmap to steal Lyndon’s existing customers
and outbid Lyndon on future customers.” (Doc. No. 84 at 4). The foregoing argument is highly
speculative. The Court finds that Lyndon has failed to demonstrate that its commission amount
with Jupiter and the financial metrics of Jupiter’s program are trade secrets.
Even if a party fails to establish that their document is a trade secret, the Court may still
find compelling reasons to place it under seal. Kondash, 767 F. App’x. at 638. However, the burden
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is on the moving party to show a “clearly defined and serious injury.” Shane Grp., 825 F.3d at 307.
“That a document will reveal ‘competitively-sensitive financial and negotiating information’ is not
an adequate justification for sealing.” Id. Lyndon’s bare assertions that sharing this information
may place it at a competitive disadvantage fails to meet the standard. The Court therefore finds no
compelling reason to keep Lyndon’s commission amount with Jupiter and the financial metrics of
Jupiter’s program under seal.
III.

CONCLUSION

Lyndon has failed to meet the high burden established in Shane Grp. Accordingly, for the
reasons stated herein, the Renewed Motion for Leave to File under Seal (Doc. No. 84) is DENIED.
It is so ORDERED.
________________________________
WILLIAM L. CAMPBELL, JR.
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

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