Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_24-cv-01844/USCOURTS-caed-2_24-cv-01844-1/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 550
Nature of Suit: Prisoner - Civil Rights (U.S. defendant)
Cause of Action: 42:1983 Prisoner Civil Rights

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

JANE DOE #2,

Plaintiff,

v.

MARCUS JOHNSON, et al.,

Defendants.

No. 2:24-cv-01844-DJC-AC

ORDER APPROVING MINOR’S 

COMPROMISE

Presently before the Court is Plaintiff’s ex parte Motion for Administrative Relief 

to Proceed by Pseudonym.

1 Plaintiff seeks to proceed under a pseudonym as the 

case involves allegations of sexual abuse, which raise issues regarding the privacy and 

the safety of Plaintiff. For the reasons stated below, the Court GRANTS Plaintiff’s 

Motion for Administrative Relief to Proceed by Pseudonym (ECF No. 3). However,

Defendants may seek reconsideration of the Motion should Defendants object once 

they have appeared in the case. 

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1 Plaintiff did not file this Motion explicitly as an ex parte request. However, the Motion was filed without 

being noticed on the calendar or proof of service and before Defendants have appeared in the action. 

Accordingly, the Court will view this, at this stage, as an ex parte motion.

Case 2:24-cv-01844-DJC-AC Document 13 Filed 09/05/24 Page 1 of 3
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LEGAL STANDARD

“The normal presumption in litigation is that parties must use their real names.” 

Doe v. Kamehameha Schools/Bernice Pauahi Bishop Est., 596 F.3d 1036, 1042 (9th Cir. 

2010); see also Fed. R. Civ. P. 10(a) (“[t]he title of the complaint must name all the 

parties”); Fed. R. Civ. P. 17(a)(1) (“An action must be prosecuted in the name of the 

real party in interest.”). The Ninth Circuit has held that “a party may preserve his or her 

anonymity in judicial proceedings in special circumstances when the party’s need for 

anonymity outweighs prejudice to the opposing party and the public’s interest in 

knowing the party’s identity.” Does I thru XXIII v. Advanced Textile Corp., 214 F.3d 

1058, 1068 (9th Cir. 2000). This may be the case where a pseudonym is “necessary . . .

to protect a person from harassment, injury, ridicule or personal embarrassment.” Id.

at 1067–68. “Courts have generally permitted plaintiffs to proceed anonymously 

when their claims involved allegations of sexual assault or rape.” Doe v. Rose, No. 15-

cv-07503-MWF-JC, 2016 WL 9137645, at *1 (C.D. Cal. June 17, 2016) (collecting 

cases).

DISCUSSION

Plaintiff here has brought claims related to sexual abuse allegedly perpetrated 

by Defendant Marcus Johnson. (See Compl. (ECF No. 1) ¶¶ 25–41.) Plaintiff states 

that proceeding under a pseudonym will help maintain Plaintiff’s privacy and ensure 

that Plaintiff does not face retaliation from publicly filing a lawsuit after initially filing 

grievances that led to investigations. (See Mot. (ECF No. 3) at 2–3.) 

In light of the above, the Court finds good cause to GRANT Plaintiff’s request at 

this stage of the proceedings based on the sensitive nature of the allegations and the 

potential threat of retaliation Plaintiff faces, which outweighs the minimal prejudice 

Defendants would face because they may obtain Plaintiff’s name from the internal 

grievances and investigations. However, Defendants may seek reconsideration of the 

issue should Defendants object once they have appeared in this action. See Doe v. 

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County of San Joaquin, 2:24-cv-00899-CKD, 2024 WL 1344677, at *1 (E.D. Cal. Mar. 

29, 2024).

CONCLUSION

For the reasons set forth above, the Court GRANTS Plaintiff’s Motion for 

Administrative Relief to Proceed by Pseudonym (ECF No. 3), subject to 

reconsideration once Defendants have appeared in this action. This matter is referred 

back to the assigned Magistrate Judge for all further pretrial proceedings.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: September 5, 2024 

Hon. Daniel J. Calabretta

UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

DJC3 – mcnelis.22cv369.minors.compromise 

Case 2:24-cv-01844-DJC-AC Document 13 Filed 09/05/24 Page 3 of 3