Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-3_18-cv-03099/USCOURTS-cand-3_18-cv-03099-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 446
Nature of Suit: Americans with Disabilities Act - Other
Cause of Action: 42:12101 Americans w/ Disabilities Act (ADA)

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United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

IVORY N., a minor, by and through her

mother and Guardian ad Litem, Z.F., and

JAMES B., a minor, by and through his

mother and Guardian ad Litem, A.B., 

Plaintiffs,

 v.

JENNIFER KENT, Director of the

Department of Health Care Services, and

STATE OF CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT

OF HEALTH CARE SERVICES,

Defendants. /

No. C 18-03099 WHA

ORDER RE MOTIONS TO

PROCEED UNDER

FICTITIOUS NAMES AND TO

FILE UNDER SEAL

In this putative class action brought under the Medicaid Act, the Americans with

Disabilities Act, and other statutes, plaintiffs request that they and their guardians ad litem be

permitted to proceed under fictitious names and move to seal in part certain related documents

(Dkt. Nos. 3, 9). 

There is a strong public policy in favor of openness of our court system, and the public

is entitled to know to whom we are providing relief. See Kamakana v. City & Cnty. of

Honolulu, 447 F.3d 1172, 1180 (9th Cir. 2006). Parties may proceed under fictitious names,

however, if anonymity is necessary “to preserve privacy in a matter of a sensitive and highly

personal nature.” Does I thru XXIII v. Advanced Textile Corp., 214 F.3d 1058, 1068 (9th Cir.

2000) (citation omitted). A party requesting to remain anonymous must make an affirmative

Case 3:18-cv-03099-WHA Document 33 Filed 07/06/18 Page 1 of 2
United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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showing that the party’s need for anonymity outweighs prejudice to the opposing party and the

public’s interest in knowing the party’s identity. Ibid.

This litigation involves plaintiffs’ right to access medically necessary in-home nursing

services. Plaintiffs accordingly assert they will be required to present medical records

regarding their disabilities, health histories, and treatments, the disclosure of which could

stigmatize or embarrass plaintiffs or place them at risk of harassment. Plaintiffs further

contend that because their guardians in this action are their parents, the disclosure of their

guardians’ identities would in effect reveal their own identities. 

Given the sensitive nature of the subject matter of these proceedings and that plaintiffs

are minors, for the time being plaintiffs’ motion to proceed using fictitious names is GRANTED

IN PART AND DENIED IN PART. FRCP 5.2(a)(3) already restricts the names of minor

individuals to their actual initials. Plaintiffs may proceed under that rule or may proceed using

their real first name followed by the initial of their last name. Plaintiffs’ guardians, moreover,

may not proceed pursuant to their proposed pseudonyms. Instead, plaintiffs’ guardians may

also proceed under their first name followed by the initial of their last name. In future filings,

plaintiffs shall revise the case caption so that it is in accordance with this order. The

undersigned judge will revisit this determination if, as the action proceeds, it becomes clear

that plaintiffs’ need for anonymity no longer outweighs the public’s interest in knowing their

identities. 

Plaintiffs’ motion to file under seal is accordingly GRANTED IN PART AND DENIED IN

PART. Plaintiffs’ request to seal their actual names and their guardians’ last names is

GRANTED. Plaintiffs’ request to seal the first names of their guardians is DENIED. Plaintiffs

shall file a revised redacted version of the relevant documents by JULY 13. 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: July 6, 2018. WILLIAM ALSUP

UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

Case 3:18-cv-03099-WHA Document 33 Filed 07/06/18 Page 2 of 2