Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_15-cv-01292/USCOURTS-caed-1_15-cv-01292-1/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

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

Plaintiff David Estrada is appearing pro se in this civil rights action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 

1983. 

Plaintiff filed the instant action on August 21, 2015. 

On October 5, 2015, Plaintiff filed a motion to amend the complaint, along with a copy of the 

amended complaint which was lodged by the Court. (ECF Nos. 10, 11.) 

Plaintiff is advised that at this stage in the proceedings, Plaintiff has the right to amend once as 

a matter of course. Fed. R. Civ. P. 15(a). Accordingly, Plaintiff‟s motion to amend is HEREBY 

DENIED as unnecessary, and Plaintiff may file his amended complaint without leave of court. 

With regard to Plaintiff‟s motion to seal the amended complaint, it must be denied. Local Rule 

141.1(a)(1) states that “[a]ll information provided to the Court in a specific action is presumptively 

public, but may be sealed in conformance with Local Rule 141. Confidential information exchanged 

through discovery, contained in documents to be filed in an action, or presented at a hearing or trial 

DAVID ESTRADA,

 Plaintiff,

v.

TERESA MACIS, et al.,

Defendants.

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Case No.: 1:15-cv-001292-SAB (PC)

ORDER DENYING PLAINTIFF‟S MOTION TO 

AMEND AS UNNECESSARY, DENYING 

MOTION TO SEAL AMENDED COMPLAINT, 

AND DIRECTING CLERK OF COURT TO 

RETURN AMENDED COMPLAINT LODGED ON 

OCTOBER 5, 2015, TO PLAINTIFF

[ECF Nos. 9, 10, 11]

Case 1:15-cv-01292-AWI-SAB Document 13 Filed 10/19/15 Page 1 of 3
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otherwise may be protected by seeking a protective order as described herein.” Local Rule 141(b) 

states that a “Notice of Request to Seal Documents” shall be presented to the court for determination, 

setting forth the statutory or other authority for sealing, the requested duration, the identity, by name 

or category, of persons to be permitted access to the documents, and all other relevant information. If 

the request to seal is denied, the Clerk of Court shall return the documents for which sealing has been 

denied. Local Rule 141(e)(1).

Courts have long recognized a “general right to inspect and copy public records and 

documents, including judicial records and documents.” Nixon Warner Commc‟ns, Inc., 435 U.S. 589, 

597 (1978). “Unless a particular court record is one „traditionally kept secret,‟ a „strong presumption 

in favor of access‟ is the starting point.” Kamakana v. City and Cnty. of Honolulu, 447 F.3d 1172,

1178 (9th Cir. 2006) (quoting Foltz v. State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co., 331 F.3d 1122, 1135 (9th Cir. 

2003)). In order to overcome this strong presumption, a party seeking to seal a judicial record must 

articulate justifications for sealing that outweigh the historical right of access and the public policies 

favoring disclosure. Id. at 1178-1179.

In the instant case, Plaintiff fails to set forth a valid reason for sealing the amended complaint. 

Plaintiff cannot protect the identity of Defendants named in the complaint because if Plaintiff states a 

cognizable claim against such individuals, service of the complaint is necessary for the case to 

proceed. Furthermore, Plaintiff did not attach any medical documents to substantiate his claim that 

confidential medical information is disclosed in the complaint. Accordingly, Plaintiff‟s motion to seal 

the amended complaint shall be DENIED, and the Court will return the amended complaint to 

Plaintiff. See Local Rule 141(e)(1) (If a Request [to seal] is denied in full or in part, the Clerk will 

return to the submitting party the documents for which sealing has been denied.) 

Based on the foregoing, it is HEREBY ORDERED that:

1. Plaintiff‟s motion to file an amended complaint is DENIED as unnecessary;

2. Plaintiff‟s motion to file the amended complaint under seal is DENIED; and

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3. The Clerk of Court is directed to return the amended complaint to Plaintiff pursuant to 

Local Rule 141(e)(1). 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: October 19, 2015 

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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