Opinion
No. 98S00-0608-DI-317.
March 23, 2007.
ORDER GRANTING PETITION FOR LIMITED RELIEF FROM PROTECTIVE ORDER SEALING PROCEEDINGS
On September 12, 2006, upon motion of the Indiana Supreme Court Disciplinary Commission, this Court issued an order sealing the proceedings in this matter. Before the Disciplinary Commission initiated this matter, several parties filed a civil suit against Respondent and others based in part on the acts alleged by the Commission in this matter. That case, Kennedy v. Haigh, Cause No. 49D13-0602-CT-008125, in pending in the Marion Superior Court. Counsel for the plaintiffs in the civil case seek access to documents filed in this disciplinary action that would be matters of public record if the case had not been sealed. On February 16, 2007, the Commission filed a "Petition for Limited Relief from Protective Order," seeking relief from the order sealing the proceedings to allow these parties the access they request.
Being duly advised, the Court GRANTS the "Petition for Limited Relief from Protective Order" and grants the plaintiffs in the civil action and their counsel: (1) access to the pleading in the disciplinary action, and (2) leave to attend any hearing on the merits of this action.
The Clerk of this Court is directed to send a copy of this Order to the parties in this cause and their respective attorneys, and to post this Order on the Court's website for orders concerning attorney disciplinary cases.
DONE at Indianapolis, Indiana, this 23rd day of March, 2007.
All Justices concur.