Opinion
20-cv-04191-BLF
06-24-2024
LIONEL RUBALCAVA, Plaintiff, v. JOSEPH PEREZ, STEVEN SPILLMAN, and TOPUI FONUA, Defendants.
ORDER GRANTING PLAINTIFF'S ADMINISTRATIVE MOTION TO FILE EXHIBITS UNDER SEAL
[RE: ECF 270]
BETH LABSON FREEMAN UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
This order addresses an outstanding administrative sealing motion (ECF 270) related to Plaintiff's Motion in Limine No. 5 (ECF 271), which sought to limit the testimony of Defendants' rebuttal psychiatric expert, Dr. Steven Gaskell, and to exclude the opinions of Defendants' economics expert, Dr. Dwight Steward. The Court failed to rule on the sealing motion when it ruled on the substantive motion.
The sealing motion requests sealing of Exhibits 1-3 to Plaintiff's Motion in Limine No. 5, comprising Dr. Gaskell's rebuttal report, excerpts of Dr. Gaskell's deposition, and Dr. Steward's report. Plaintiff asserts that the exhibits contain highly sensitive information, including his medical diagnoses and information regarding his juvenile and adult criminal history. Defendants stipulate to the sealing of the exhibits. Because the exhibits were submitted with a non-dispositive motion in limine, the Court finds that the lower “good cause” standard applies rather than the “compelling reasons” standard that applies to documents more closely related to the merits of the case. See Ctr. for Auto Safety v. Chrysler Grp., LLC, 809 F.3d 1092, 1097 (9th Cir. 2016). The Court finds that Plaintiff has demonstrated good cause for sealing the exhibits, because the highly personal information identified by Plaintiff is referenced throughout the exhibits such that more limited redactions would not be practical.
Accordingly, Plaintiff's administrative sealing motion (ECF 270) is GRANTED.
This order terminates ECF 270.
IT IS SO ORDERED.