Opinion
1:20-cv-05198 (JHR) (SDA) 1:20-cv-07246 (JHR) (SDA)
02-06-2024
Seawolf Tankers Inc., Plaintiff, v. Laurel Shipping LLC, Defendant.
ORDER
STEWART D. AARON, UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
WHEREAS, on January 30, 2024, Freepoint Commodities Singapore Pte Ltd. and Freepoint Commodities LLC (collectively “Freepoint”) and Laurel Shipping LLC (together with Freepoint, “F&L”) filed a letter requesting the Court to (1) direct Seawolf Tankers Inc. (“Seawolf”) to produce a brief that Seawolf provided to its expert in this action, redacted as appropriate to conceal any attorney work product, and (2) review an unredacted version of the brief in camera to assess whether any redactions are appropriate (F&L 1/30/24 Ltr., ECF No. 126); and
WHEREAS, on February 2, 2024, Seawolf filed an opposition to F&L's letter (Seawolf 2/2/24 Opp'n Ltr., ECF No. 127); and
WHEREAS, on February 6, 2024, the Court ordered the parties to appear for a conference to address F&L's letter filed at ECF No. 126 to take place at 2:00 PM ET on Thursday, February 8, 2024 (the “Conference”); and
WHEREAS, the Court has discretion to review documents in camera.
See, e.g., Adams v. Quigley, No. 19-CV-01662 (ENV) (RER), 2019 WL 6253824, at *3 (E.D.N.Y. Nov. 22, 2019) (citing In re City of New York, 607 F.3d 923, 948 (2d Cir. 2010)) (“the Second Circuit grants courts broad discretion to rule on the propriety of ex parte, in camera submissions, counseling that a court may do so “‘in the exercise of its informed discretion and on the basis of the circumstances presented.'”); 6340 NB LLC v. Capital One, N.A., No. 20-CV-025000 (OEM) (JMW), 2023 WL 7924176, at *4 (E.D.N.Y. Nov. 16, 2023) (citing Linde v. Arab Bank, PLC, 608 F.Supp.2d 351, 361 (E.D.N.Y. Feb. 25, 2009)) (“the decision whether to even engage in an in-camera review rests within the district court's sound discretion.”).
NOW, THEREFORE, it is hereby ORDERED that, no later than 5:00 p.m. on February 7, 2024, Seawolf shall email an unredacted copy of the brief at issue in F&L's letter ex parte to Aaron NYSDChambers@nysd.uscourts.gov for the Court's in camera review.
SO ORDERED.