Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-azd-2_10-cv-01780/USCOURTS-azd-2_10-cv-01780-5/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 830
Nature of Suit: Patent
Cause of Action: 28:1338 Patent Infringement

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WO

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE DISTRICT OF ARIZONA

Medicis Pharmaceutical Corporation, 

Plaintiff, 

vs.

Acella Pharmaceuticals Incorporated, 

Defendant. 

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No. CV 10-1780-PHX-JAT

ORDER

Defendant Acella Pharmaceuticals, LLC has filed a Motion for Leave to File Its

Unredacted Motion for Summary Judgment and Memorandum of Law and Accompanying

Statement of Material Facts Under Seal (Doc. 233). In support of its Motion to Seal, Acella

asserts that counsel for both parties have designated certain Exhibits to Acella’s Motion for

Summary Judgment, and facts found in those Exhibits, as “Confidential” and “Attorneys’

Eyes Only” pursuant to their Protective Order. The parties’ designation of certain items as

confidential pursuant to a protective order does not justify sealing a dispositive motion. 

The Court starts with a strong presumption in favor of public access to court records.

Foltz v. State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co., 331 F.3d 1122, 1135 (9th Cir. 2003). A party that

wants to seal any part of a dispositive motion must overcome this strong presumption with

compelling reasons for sealing. Kamakana v. City and County of Honolulu, 447 F.3d 1172,

1179 (9th Cir. 2006). To seal any part of non-dispositive motion, a party still must

demonstrate good cause. Id. at 1180.

Case 2:10-cv-01780-JAT Document 236 Filed 08/04/11 Page 1 of 3
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Acella offers no reason for sealing other than the parties’ designation of certain items

as confidential. Acella has not met its burden of overcoming the strong presumption of open

access to court documents with compelling reasons. The Court therefore will deny the

Motion to Seal. 

Pursuant to Local Rule of Civil Procedure 5.6(e), the Court will strike the Sealed

Lodged Proposed Unredacted Statement of Material Facts (Doc. 235) and the Sealed Lodged

Proposed Unredacted Motion for Summary Judgment (Doc. 234). Within five days of the

date of this Order, either Acella shall resubmit the stricken documents for filing into the

public record or the parties may file a Stipulation containing compelling reasons for sealing.

If the parties choose to file a Stipulation, the Court encourages them to seek to seal as little

as possible. 

Acella also filed a Motion for Leave to File Excess Pages for Motion for Summary

Judgment and Memorandum of Law (230). Acella seeks an extra two pages for its

Memorandum. Finding good cause, the Court will grant the Motion. 

Accordingly,

IT IS ORDERED DENYING Acella’s Motion to Seal Defendant’s Motion for

Summary Judgment and Memorandum of Law and Accompanying Statement of Material

Facts (Doc. 233). The Clerk shall strike the Proposed documents at Docket entries 234 and

235. Within five days of the date of this Order, either Acella shall resubmit the stricken

documents for filing into the public record or the parties may file a Stipulation containing

compelling reasons for sealing the Memorandum in Support of Motion for Summary

Judgment and accompanying Statement of Material Facts and/or for sealing only certain

Exhibits to the Statements of Material Facts. 

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Case 2:10-cv-01780-JAT Document 236 Filed 08/04/11 Page 2 of 3
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IT IS FURTHER ORDERED GRANTING Acella’s Motion for Leave to File

Excess Pages (Doc. 230). The Clerk shall file into the record the Proposed Motion for

Summary Judgment and Memorandum of Law (Redacted) currently lodged at docket entry

231.

DATED this 3rd day of August, 2011.

Case 2:10-cv-01780-JAT Document 236 Filed 08/04/11 Page 3 of 3