Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-casd-3_12-cv-02953/USCOURTS-casd-3_12-cv-02953-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 840
Nature of Suit: Trademark
Cause of Action: 15:1114 Trademark Infringement

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

BENCHMARK YOUNG ADULT

SCHOOL, INC., DBA BENCHMARK

TRANSITIONS,

Civil

No.

12cv2953-BTM (BGS)

Plaintiff,

ORDER DENYING MOTION

TO FILE EXCERPTS OF

DEPOSITION [EXHIBIT A TO

DECL. SHAW] UNDER SEAL

[ Doc. No. 32]

v.

LAUNCHWORKS LIFE SERVICES,

LLC DBA MARK HOUSTON

RECOVERY CENTER and

BENCHMARK RECOVERY CENTER,

Defendant.

Plaintiff seeks the Court's permission to file excerpts of a deposition under

seal pursuant to the Stipulated Protective Order (Doc. No. 20) because the entire

deposition transcript was designated “confidential-attorneys’ eyes only.” (Doc. No.

32.) Plaintiff states the good cause for sealing the document is based on the

designation made by the parties at the deposition. (Id. at 3.) 

Having reviewed Plaintiff's Motion to File Documents Under Seal Pursuant

to Stipulated Protective Order (Dkt. No. 32), Plaintiff's Declaration In Support thereof,

as well as the unredacted version of Exhibit A lodged with the Court, good cause does

not appear to file the deposition excerpts under seal.

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"Historically, courts have recognized a general right to inspect and copy

public records and documents, including judicial records and documents." Kamakana

v. City and County of Honolulu, 447 F.3d 1172, 1178 (9th Cir. 2006) (quotation

omitted). Except for documents that are traditionally kept secret, there is "a strong

presumption in favor of access to court records." Foltz v. State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins.

Co., 331 F.3d 1122, 1135 (9th Cir. 2003). "A party seeking to seal a judicial record

then bears the burden of overcoming this strong presumption by meeting the

compelling reasons standard. That is, the party must articulate compelling reasons

supported by specific factual findings, ... that outweigh the general history of access

and the public policiesfavoring disclosure, such asthe public interest in understanding

the judicial process." Kamakana, 447 F.3d at 1178-79 (quotation omitted). The

presumed right to access to court proceedings and documents can be overcome "only

by an overriding right or interest based on findings that closure is essential to preserve

higher values and is narrowly tailored to serve that interest." Oregonian Publ'g Co. v.

U.S. Dist. Court, 920 F.2d 1462, 1465 (9th Cir. 1990) (quotation omitted).

Plaintiff has not satisfied the "compelling reasons standard" asto the excerpts

of the deposition transcript it seeks to file under seal. The excerpts do not reveal any

information that could reasonably need to be kept secret. After reviewing the lodged

document, the Court finds Plaintiff's showing does not rise to the level of good cause

to warrant sealing. See Foltz, 331 at 1130; Beckman Indus., Inc. v. Int'l Ins. Co., 966

F.2d 470, 476 (9th Cir. 1992). 

IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that Plaintiff's Motion to File Documents Under

Seal is DENIED. Plaintiff must publically file Exhibit A to Shaw’s declaration. To

the extent Plaintiff or Defendant intend to file different excerpts of the deposition in

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question in the future and those excerpts contain information that reasonably should

remain secret, the parties may file a request to seal those excerpts at that time.

DATED: January 22, 2014

Hon. Bernard G. Skomal

U.S. Magistrate Judge

United States District Court

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