Opinion
22-CV-807 (VEC)
02-03-2022
HDI GLOBAL SE f/k/a HDI-GERLING INDUSTRIE VERSICHERUNG AG, Petitioner, v. PHILLIPS 66 COMPANY, Respondent.
SEALED ORDER
VALERIE CAPRONI, UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
WHEREAS on January 21, 2022, the Part 1 judge authorized this case to be filed under seal;
WHEREAS on January 31, 2022, the case was reassigned to the Undersigned;
WHEREAS a presumption of public access applies to “judicial documents, ” defined as documents “‘relevant to the performance of the judicial function and useful in the judicial process, '” Lugosch v. Pyramid Co. of Onondaga, 435 F.3d 110, 119 (2d Cir. 2006) (citation omitted);
WHEREAS “[p]etitions to confirm arbitration awards, and their attendant memoranda of law and supporting documents, are ‘judicial documents that directly affect[ ] the Court's adjudication' of the confirmation petition, ” Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc. v. Fair, No. 11-CV-3694, 2011 WL 6015646, at *2 (S.D.N.Y. Nov. 30, 2011) (citation omitted);
WHEREAS “documents may be sealed if specific, on the record findings are made demonstrating that closure is essential to preserve higher values and is narrowly tailored to preserve that interest. Broad and general findings by the trial court, however, are not sufficient to justify closure, ” Lugosch, 435 F.3d at 120 (cleaned up);
WHEREAS confidentiality agreements alone are not an adequate basis for sealing, see, e.g, Bernsten v. O'Reilly, 307 F.Supp.3d 161, 168 (S.D.N.Y. 2018); First State Ins. Co. v. Natl Cas. Co., No. 13-CV-704, 2013 WL 8675930, at *1 (S.D.N.Y. Feb. 19, 2013); Aioi Nissay Dowa Ins. Co. Ltd. v. ProSight Specialty Mmgt. Co., Inc., No. 12-CV-3274, 2012 WL 3583176, at *6 (S.D.N.Y. Aug. 21, 2012);
WHEREAS court in this District have regularly found sealing inappropriate in cases similar to this, see, e.g., Susquehanna Int'l Grp. Ltd. v. Hibernia Express (Ireland) Ltd., No. 21-CV-207, 2021 WL 3540221 (S.D.N.Y. Aug. 11, 2021); Dentons U.S. LLP v. Zhang, No. 21 Misc. 462, 2021 WL 2187289 (S.D.N.Y. May 28, 2021); AIU Ins. Co. v. Bothnia Int'l Ins. Co., No. 21 Misc. 459, 2021 WL 2206467 (S.D.N.Y. May 28, 2021); and
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that Petitioner must, no later than February 16, 2022, explain why this matter should be maintained under seal given Lugosch and its progeny and why a more narrow sealing cannot accomplish the parties' desire for confidentiality while complying with Lugosch.
SO ORDERED.