Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-5_19-mc-80131/USCOURTS-cand-5_19-mc-80131-6/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 950
Nature of Suit: Constitutionality of State Statutes
Cause of Action: Civil Miscellaneous Case

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United States District Court

Northern District of California

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

PERSONAL GENOME DIAGNOSTICS, 

INC.,

Movant,

v.

WILSON SONSINI GOODRICH & ROSATI, 

AND VERN NORVIEL,

Respondents.

Case No. 19-mc-80131-SVK 

ORDER GRANTING MOTION TO 

FILE UNDER SEAL

Re: Dkt. No. 18

Before the Court is Personal Genome Diagnostics, Inc.’s (“PGDx”) Administrative Motion 

to File Under Seal. Dkt. 18. PGDx seeks to seal portions of its motion to enforce compliance 

with a discovery order and an accompanying exhibit. See Dkt. 19. 

Courts recognize a “general right to inspect and copy public records and documents, 

including judicial records and documents.” Kamakana v. City & Cnty. Of Honolulu, 447 F.3d 

1172, 1178 (9th Cir. 2006) (quoting Nixon v. Warner Communs., Inc., 435 U.S. 589, 597 & n.7 

(1978)). A request to seal court records therefore starts with a “strong presumption in favor of 

access.” Kamakana, 447 F.3d at 1178 (quoting Foltz v. State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co., 331 F.3d 

1122, 1135 (9th Cir. 2003)). The standard for overcoming the presumption of public access to 

court records depends on the purpose for which the records are filed with the court. A party 

seeking to seal court records relating to motions that are “more than tangentially related to the

underlying cause of action” must demonstrate “compelling reasons” that support secrecy. Ctr. For 

Auto Safety v. Chrysler Grp., 809 F.3d 1092, 1099 (9th Cir. 2016). For records attached to 

motions that are “not related, or only tangentially related, to the merits of the case,” the lower 

“good cause” standard of Rule 26(c) applies. Id.; see also Kamakana, 447 F.3d at 1179. A party 

moving to seal court records must also comply with the procedures established by Civil Local 

Case 5:19-mc-80131-SVK Document 46 Filed 03/20/20 Page 1 of 2
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United States District Court

Northern District of California

Rule 79-5.

In this instance, the “good cause” standard applies because the information PGDx seeks to 

seal was submitted to the Court in connection with a discovery motion rather than a motion that 

concerns the merits of the case. PGDx explains in its supporting declaration that it seeks to seal 

(1) Exhibit 4 to the PGDx motion to compel and (2) certain portions of its motion to compel that 

repeat the information contained in Exhibit 4. Dkt. 18-1 ¶ ¶ 1-3. PGDx asserts that Exhibit 4 

contains PGDx’s confidential business information which is not available to the public and could 

create a risk of harm to PGDx’s business. Id. ¶ 2. Good cause has been shown for this narrowly 

tailored request. Accordingly, PGDx’s motion to file under seal is GRANTED in its entirety. 

SO ORDERED.

Dated: March 20, 2020

SUSAN VAN KEULEN

United States Magistrate Judge

Case 5:19-mc-80131-SVK Document 46 Filed 03/20/20 Page 2 of 2