Opinion
C 15-05709 WHA
08-16-2021
SHARI ANNETTE JORDEN, Plaintiff, v. COVIDIEN, LP., et al., Defendants.
ORDER GRANTING MOTIONS TO SEAL
WILLIAM ALSUP, UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
The parties have stipulated to a dismissal with prejudice, which was granted, but five motions to seal remain pending.
Plaintiff's motions seek to redact portions of records submitted with the opposition to summary judgment and the response to the order to show cause (Dkt. 79, 97). The presence of personally-identifiable information in these records warrants redactions, but the plaintiff must leave the substance of the records intact as this information assists the public's understanding of the case. The plaintiff shall redact Jorden's personally-identifiable information (i.e., date of birth, social security number) and Refile unsealed versions of the redacted documents By August 23 at Noon.
Three of the pending motions to seek to seal defendants' motions in limine, exhibits filed in support of the motions in limine, and exhibits in support of defendants' trial brief (Dkts. 106, 107, 111). Defendants seek to seal these documents because they contain personally- identifiable information. Typically, the undersigned judge would not allow the sealing of entire exhibits that could be redacted to protect personally-identifiable information. But defendants submitted these materials before the dismissal with prejudice and before the final pretrial conference. Because the dismissal precluded consideration of these documents, the public has little interest in accessing them. The motion to seal these documents is therefore Granted.
IT IS SO ORDERED.