Right of Access
Court Rejects Motion to Seal Litigation Finance Agreements
"The public may well have an interest in how litigation is funded by third parties," the judge concludes. A law firm and two litigation finance companies are disputing (among other things) whether the litigation finance agreements are illegally usurious.
No Sealing of Photos and Plans of $20M, 29,000 Sq. Ft. House (with 55,000 Sq. Ft. of Improvements)
So a New Jersey tax court held last week, in a case brought by prominent bank founder Vernon W. Hill.
Motion to Stop Me from Publishing Material …
that I had gotten from a court docket while it has not been sealed, but that the movant is seeking to seal.
"Essentially, [the City] Defendants Request That the Court Resolve This Case Entirely in Secret"
No dice, says the District Court.
Interesting Sealing Decision in Divorce-Related Case of a Powerful Washington Public Affairs Consultant
The ex-wife had withdrawn her complaint before the court took any substantive action, under circumstances that cast doubt on its accuracy; because of that, a Virginia court agreed that it should be sealed.
No Sealing of Whirpool Corp. Documents in Product Liability Case
"While such documents may be unflattering to Defendant's business, Defendant has not satisfied the burden of showing that the documents are proprietary in nature. Nor has Defendant satisfied the burden necessary to show that any interest in maintaining secrecy is outweighed by the presumption of access."
Can Childhood Sexual Abuse Complaints Be Routinely Temporarily or Permanently Sealed?
And does a Vermont statute mandating such sealing apply in cases that are being litigated in federal court?
Can't Seal Lawsuit to Protect the Marketability of Your House
Lawsuits are matters of public record -- and you generally can't hide them from prospective business partners, employers, house buyers, or others.
Another Decision Against Sealing Records in Libel Cases
"The logical conclusion of Plaintiff's argument is that whenever someone sues for defamation because of potentially embarrassing comments, the plaintiff should be allowed to sue anonymously and with the case under seal."
Disclosure vs. Secrecy All the Way Down
An attempt to seal a key document in a libel / breach of contract case filed by a former communication strategist for Julian Assange against a former lawyer for Edward Snowden.
No Sealing of Business Details "Directly Relevant to the Heart of [a Civil] Case"
"If the Court sealed the disputed materials, it would essentially conceal the very mechanism that REA used to perpetuate the scheme, leaving the public with little more than the judgment itself to establish the existence of the scheme."
OK to Oppose Sealing of Court Documents Without Local Counsel
... if you're asserting your own rights of access (which all of us have) to court records.
"Right to Be Forgotten" as to Court Opinions Rejected …
... by a federal district court decision yesterday, in a case brought by a pro se litigant in New Jersey.
A Tip for People Who Seek to Seal Court Filings
Avoid motions "for Leave to File Under Seal Any and All Documents and Depositions Cited in Support of Any Motion, Response, Reply, or Appendix Filed by the Plaintiff/Counter-Defendant."
Employment Discrimination Plaintiff Can't Get Case Sealed After Settlement
Stephanie Gilliard argued "that offers of employment have been rescinded after Google searches of her name revealed the events of this case, namely her surreptitious recordings of her co-workers."
Doe v. Doe Libel Lawsuit Over Allegations of Sexual Misconduct by a Business Executive
Unsurprisingly, the exact allegations that are said to be libelous don't appear in the complaint.
Court Refuses to Issue Gag Order and Sealing Order in Sexual Harassment Suit Against YMCA of Pikes Peak
(Disclosure: I had filed an objection, on my own behalf, to the motion to seal.)
"Once the Cat Is Out of the Bag, the Ball Game Is Over."
More than just a mixed metaphor -- it's a legal doctrine.
Man Sues Anti-Homosexuality Group for Libel, Loses, Unsuccessfully Tries to Seal Court Opinions
The plaintiff had pleaded guilty to, among other things, having sex with a minor (apparently when he was 21 and the minor was 15); the alleged libel stemmed from, among other things, reports of that crime.
No Preliminary Injunction, No Pseudonymity, No Sealing in Internet Libel Case
That's what a New York trial court decision just posted online today held -- correctly, I think.
When Should Plaintiffs Be Able to Sue Anonymously?
(1) If they're alleging sexual abuse. (2) If they're alleging they were libeled as sexual abusers. (3) Both. (4) Neither.
Application to Release Grand Jury Material Quoted in Mueller Report
Since I've been blogging today about public rights of access to sealed files, I thought I'd pass this along.
