Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-4_13-md-02420/USCOURTS-cand-4_13-md-02420-66/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 410
Nature of Suit: Antitrust
Cause of Action: 15:15 Antitrust Litigation

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United States District Court

Northern District of California

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

IN RE: 

LITHIUM ION BATTERIES ANTITRUST 

LITIGATION

Case No. 13-md-02420-YGR (DMR)

ORDER GRANTING 

ADMINISTRATIVE MOTIONS TO 

FILE UNDER SEAL

Re: Dkt. Nos. 764, 795

Plaintiffs and Defendants LG Chem Ltd. and LG Chem America, Inc. (“LG Chem”) have 

filed a joint discovery letter. They have also submitted motions to file portions of the discovery 

letter and evidence cited therein under seal. [Docket Nos. 764, 795.] This order addresses only 

the motions to seal.

I. LEGAL STANDARDS

Civil Local Rule 79-5(b) states that “no document may be filed under seal (i.e., closed to 

inspection by the public) except pursuant to a court order that authorizes the sealing of the 

particular document, or portions thereof. A sealing order may issue only upon a request that 

establishes that the document, or portions thereof, are privileged, protectable as a trade secret or 

otherwise entitled to protection under the law (hereinafter referred to as ‘sealable’).” “The request 

must be narrowly tailored to seek sealing only of sealable material, and must conform with Civil 

L.R. 79-5(d).” Id. Furthermore, “[r]eference to a stipulation or protective order that allows a 

party to designate certain documents as confidential is not sufficient to establish that a document, 

or portions thereof, are sealable.” Civ. L.R. 79-5(d)(1)(A). 

Pursuant to Civil Local Rule 79-5(e), a party must file under seal a document designated as 

confidential by the opposing party or a document containing information so designated by an 

opposing party. “Within 4 days of the filing of the Administrative Motion to File Under Seal, the 

Case 4:13-md-02420-YGR Document 835 Filed 09/15/15 Page 1 of 2
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United States District Court

Northern District of California

Designating Party must file a declaration as required by subsection 79-5(d)(1)(A) establishing that 

all of the designated material is sealable.” Civ. L.R. 79-5(e)(1). “If the Designating Party does 

not file a responsive declaration as required by subsection 79-5(e)(1) and the Administrative 

Motion to File Under Seal is denied, the Submitting Party may file the document in the public 

record no earlier than 4 days, and no later than 10 days, after the motion is denied.” Civ. L.R. 79-

5(e)(2).

II. DISCUSSION

Plaintiffs move to seal portions of the joint letter and evidence containing information 

designated by LG Chem as confidential. Specifically, Plaintiffs move to seal portions of the 

August 7, 2015 joint letter and Exhibits 8 and 10 to the August 18, 2015 Declaration of Aaron 

Sheanin. 

LG Chem has timely filed the responsive declarations required by Civil Local Rule 79-

5(e)(1), and has sufficiently explained that all of the designated material is sealable because it 

refers to confidential, sensitive employee information about a non-party, as well as LG Chem’s 

confidential internal policies. [Docket Nos. 775, 807.] Accordingly, Plaintiffs’ motions to seal 

are GRANTED.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: September 15, 2015

______________________________________

Donna M. Ryu

United States Magistrate Judge

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORN

I

A

IT IS SO ORDERED

Judge Donna M. Ryu

Case 4:13-md-02420-YGR Document 835 Filed 09/15/15 Page 2 of 2