Greene v. Shapiro & Ingle, LLP

          ORDER

          David C. Keesler United States Magistrate Judge

         THIS MATTER IS BEFORE THE COURT on the “Motion Of Defendant To File Summary Judgment Papers Under Seal” (Document No. 26). This motion has been referred to the undersigned Magistrate Judge pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(b), and immediate review is appropriate. Having carefully considered the motion and the record, the undersigned will grant the motion in part and deny the motion in part.

         A party who seeks to seal any pleading must comply with Local Civil Rule 6.1. The Local Civil Rule provides in relevant part as follows:

LCvR 6.1 SEALED FILINGS AND PUBLIC ACCESS.

(a) Scope of Rule. To further openness in civil case proceedings, there is a presumption under applicable common law and the First Amendment that materials filed in this Court will be filed unsealed. This Rule governs any party's request to seal, or otherwise restrict public access to, any materials filed with the Court or used in connection with judicial decision- making. As used in this Rule, “materials” includes pleadings and documents of any nature and in any medium or format.

(b) Filing under Seal. No materials may be filed under seal except by Court order, pursuant to a statute, or in accordance with a previously entered Rule 26(e) protective order.

(c) Motion to Seal or Otherwise Restrict Public Access. A party's request to file materials under seal must be made by formal motion, separate from the motion or other pleading sought to be sealed, pursuant to LCvR 7.1. Such motion must be filed electronically under the designation “Motion to Seal.” The motion must set forth:

(1) A non-confidential description of the material sought to be sealed;

(2) A statement indicating why sealing is necessary and why there are no alternatives to filing under seal;

(3) Unless permanent sealing is sought, a statement indicating how long the party seeks to have the material maintained under seal and how the matter is to be handled upon unsealing; and

(4) Supporting statutes, case law, or other authority.

To the extent the party must disclose any confidential information in order to support the motion to seal, the party may provide that information in a separate memorandum filed under seal.

(d) Filing of an Unredacted Copy Allowed. The party seeking to file material under seal may submit an unredacted version of the material under seal for review by the Court along with the motion to seal.

(e) Public Notice . No motion to seal or otherwise restrict public access shall be determined without reasonable public notice. Notice is deemed reasonable where a motion is filed in accordance with LCvR 6.1(c). Other parties, intervenors, and non-parties may file objections and briefs opposing or supporting the motion within the time provided by LCvR 7.1 and may move to intervene under Fed.R.Civ.P. 24. Where ...