Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_13-cv-00035/USCOURTS-caed-2_13-cv-00035-3/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 480
Nature of Suit: Consumer Credit
Cause of Action: 15:1692 Fair Debt Collection Act

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

EUGENE KORTE,

Plaintiff,

v.

MIDLAND FUNDING, LLC, et al.,

Defendants.

No. 2:13-cv-00035 JAM JFM (PS)

ORDER

Plaintiff is proceeding in this action without counsel or “pro se.” This proceeding was 

referred to this court by Local Rule 302(c)(21). 

Before the court are three separate requests from plaintiff, received by this court on 

September 23, 2013. In his requests, submitted on California state court forms, plaintiff seeks

injunctive relief and “intervention/ professional assistance in completing service of process[] in 

this case.” At the top of each document, plaintiff included the following request: “applicant’s 

information to be kept confidential.” The court construes plaintiff’s requests as motions to seal. 

For the reasons discussed below, plaintiff’s motions to seal will be denied.

Documents may be sealed only by written order of the court, upon the showing required 

by applicable law. L.R. 141. Here, plaintiff does not make a showing that his requests should be 

sealed as required by applicable law. See Kamakana v. City and County of Honolulu, 447 F.3d 

1172, 1178-79 (9th Cir. 2006) (a party seeking to seal a judicial record bears the burden of 

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overcoming a strong presumption in favor of access); Phillips v. General Motors, 307 F.3d 1206, 

1210, 1213 (9th Cir. 2002) (non-dispositive documents and exhibits may be sealed if the party 

shows “good cause” for limiting access). For this reason, plaintiff’s motions to seal will be 

denied. However, the court is cognizant of plaintiff’s desire to keep certain personal information 

confidential. Therefore, the court will direct the Clerk of the Court to return plaintiff’s three 

requests, and plaintiff will be given an opportunity to resubmit his requests, omitting his personal 

information.

However, plaintiff is cautioned that the form used for his three requests is not appropriate 

for the relief he seeks. First, plaintiff used a California state court form designed for a request for 

accommodations by persons with disabilities. Second, even if the court were to accept this form, 

the relief plaintiff seeks is not an accommodation of his disability,1but is rather a motion for the 

court to rule on an issue. Therefore, plaintiff’s requests should be in the form of a motion, or 

motions, to the court in accordance with the court’s Local Rules and the Federal Rules of Civil 

Procedure.

Finally, to the extent plaintiff seeks relief from the court in the form of “intervention . . . 

in completing service of process[],” plaintiff is advised of the following information that may 

inform plaintiff’s future filings. On May 3, 2013, this court directed the United States Marshal to 

notify defendants of the commencement of this action by requesting a waiver of service. ECF 

No. 8. If a waiver of service is not returned, the United States Marshal will personally serve 

process upon defendants. While this order was entered in May, the United States Marshal will 

continue to attempt to effect service and, as noted in this court’s February 27, 2013 order, plaintiff 

need not attempt service on defendants. See ECF No. 3.

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See, e.g., Cal. Rules of Court, rule 1.100(a)(3) (defining “accommodations” to include “making 

reasonable modifications in policies, practices, and procedures; furnishing, at no charge, to 

persons with disabilities, auxiliary aids and services, equipment, devices, materials in alternative 

formats, readers, or certified interpreters for persons with hearing impairments; relocating 

services or programs to accessible facilities; or providing services at alternative sites”).

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In accordance with the above, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that:

1. Plaintiff’s motions to seal are denied; 

2. The Clerk of the Court is directed to return plaintiff’s three requests to plaintiff; and

3. If necessary and appropriate, plaintiff may resubmit his motions to the court in 

accordance with the guidelines set forth in this order.

Dated: October 9, 2013

kort0035.seal

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