Doe v. Seatree et al

Filing 81

MINUTE ORDER denying plaintiff's 65 Motion to Seal; denying plaintiff's 68 Motion to Seal; directing plaintiff to file one supplemental brief on or before 6/1/2018 indicating whether he is withdrawing the sealed documents at issue in these motions. Authorized by Judge Thomas S. Zilly.(SWT)

1
2
3
4
5

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
WESTERN DISTRICT OF WASHINGTON
AT SEATTLE

6
7

JOHN DOE,

8
9
10
11

Plaintiff,
v.

C17-1572 TSZ

SEATREE PLLC, JAMES J. NAMIKI,
KING COUNTY, and JANE DOES,

MINUTE ORDER

Defendants.
12
13

JOHN DOE,
Plaintiff,

14
15
16

C17-1681 TSZ

v.
SEATREE PLLC, and JAMES J.
NAMIKI,
Defendants.

17
18

The following Minute Order is made by direction of the Court, the Honorable
19 Thomas S. Zilly, United States District Judge:
20
21
22
23
MINUTE ORDER - 1

1

(1)
Before the Court is a series of motions to seal various documents filed by
Plaintiff in the above-captioned cases. 1 The Local Rules impose a “strong presumption
2 of public access to the court’s files.” Local Rule 5(g). For the reasons stated in the
following paragraphs, the Court concludes that Plaintiff has not met the burden of
3 overcoming this presumption. See also Kamakana v. City & Cty. of Honolulu, 447 F.3d
1172, 1178 (9th Cir. 2006).
4
(2)
Plaintiff’s motions to seal, docket nos. 36 and 48 in C17-1681, and docket
5 no. 65 in C17-1572, to which no opposition was filed, are DENIED. Plaintiff seeks to
file under seal hundreds of pages containing certain declarations, emails between plaintiff
6 and defendants concerning bills for legal services, and various invoices, billing records,
copies of checks, and corresponding documents. 2 Plaintiff has not identified why a less
7 restrictive alternative to filing these voluminous records under seal is insufficient. See
Local Rule 5(g)(3)(B).
8
(3)
Plaintiff’s motions to seal, docket no. 45 in C17-1681 and docket no. 68 in
9 C17-1572, are DENIED. Plaintiff has not identified any applicable legal standard
sufficient to warrant sealing the document in question. See Local Rule 5(g)(3)(B).
10

(4)
Plaintiff is DIRECTED to file one supplemental brief, not to exceed two (2)
pages, on or before June 1, 2018, specifically indicating whether he is withdrawing the
11 sealed documents at issue in these motions. Absent such indication, the Court will
promptly unseal these documents for public access. See Local Rule 5(g)(6).
12
(5)
The Clerk is directed to send a copy of this Minute Order to all counsel of
13 record.
14

Dated this 22nd day of May, 2018.

15
William M. McCool
Clerk

16

s/Karen Dews
Deputy Clerk

17
18
19
1

Some of the motions in C17-1572 overlap with the motions in C17-1681 in that they
request to seal what appear to be the same documents or similar information. For the reasons
21 stated herein, the Court finds it unnecessary to provide a detailed recitation of the documents at
issue or the extent to which these documents are subject to multiple motions.
2
Plaintiff is reminded of his obligation to provide the Court with courtesy copies of
22 documents over fifty (50) pages under Local Rule 10(e)(9).

20

23
MINUTE ORDER - 2