Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-casd-3_15-cv-02236/USCOURTS-casd-3_15-cv-02236-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 442
Nature of Suit: Civil Rights Employment
Cause of Action: 28:1441wt Removal- Employment (Wrongful Termination)

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15-CV-2236-CAB-AGS

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

JANET WHEELER,

Plaintiff,

v.

HOME DEPOT U.S.A., INC.,

Defendant.

Case No.: 15-CV-2236-CAB-AGS

ORDER RE PLAINTIFF’S MOTION 

TO FILE DOCUMENTS UNDER 

SEAL

[Doc. No. 42]

This matter is before the Court on Plaintiff’s motion to file documents under seal 

[Doc. No. 42] in connection with his opposition to Defendant’s motion for summary 

judgment. Plaintiff’s only argument supporting the confidential nature of these documents 

is that they were designated as confidential by Defendant. Consequently, the Court does 

not expect any opposition to the motion from Defendant, who bears the burden of 

establishing why these documents should be sealed. However, it is not obvious from the 

contents of the documents themselves that “compelling reasons” justify sealing the 

documents notwithstanding the “strong presumption” in favor of public access. See 

Kamakana v. City & Cnty. of Honolulu, 447 F.3d 1172, 1178 (9th Cir. 2006) (“A party 

seeking to seal a judicial record then bears the burden of overcoming this strong 

presumption by meeting the “compelling reasons” standard.”).

In light of the foregoing, the Court is disinclined to allow the documents seal-lodged 

at Docket Number 43 to be filed under seal. Nevertheless, the Court does not want to 

further delay this case with argument about the documents’ purported confidential nature. 

Case 3:15-cv-02236-CAB-AGS Document 45 Filed 01/10/17 PageID.<pageID> Page 1 of 2
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15-CV-2236-CAB-AGS

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Accordingly, it is hereby ORDERED as follows:

1. The motion to file under seal is GRANTED temporarily;

2. On or before January 18, 2017, Defendant shall file either (a) a memorandum not 

to exceed ten pages explaining why the documents should be filed under seal, 

with citation to legal authority, if any; or (b) a notice that the confidential 

designation is withdrawn and the document(s) can be filed publicly; 

3. Plaintiff may, but is not obligated to, file a memorandum not to exceed ten pages 

asserting her position as to whether the documents should be filed under seal; and

4. Upon receipt of the response(s) to this Order, the Court will determine whether 

to order that the documents be sealed permanently, or publicly filed.

It is SO ORDERED.

Dated: January 11, 2017

 

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