Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-5_18-cv-02813/USCOURTS-cand-5_18-cv-02813-5/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 190
Nature of Suit: Other Contract Actions
Cause of Action: 15:2301 Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act

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United States District Court

Northern District of California

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

SAN JOSE DIVISION

IN RE MACBOOK KEYBOARD 

LITIGATION

Case No. 18-cv-02813-EJD (VKD)

ORDER GRANTING 

ADMINISTRATIVE MOTION TO 

SEAL JOINT DISCOVERY LETTER 

RE CLAWBACK

Re: Dkt. No. 189

In connection with the parties’ joint discovery letter concerning defendant Apple, Inc’s 

(“Apple”) request to claw back information revealed at a deposition that Apple contends is 

protected under the attorney-client privilege (Dkt. No. 190), Apple filed an administrative motion 

to file portions of the joint letter under seal. Dkt. No. 189. Having considered plaintiffs’ 

submission, the Court grants the administrative motion, as set forth below. 

There is a strong presumption in favor of access by the public to judicial records and 

documents accompanying dispositive motions that can be overcome only by a showing of 

“compelling reasons supported by specific factual findings.” Kamakana v. City & Cty. of 

Honolulu, 447 F.3d 1172, 1178–79 (9th Cir. 2006) (internal quotation marks and citation omitted). 

However, the presumption does not apply equally to a motion addressing matters that are only 

“tangentially related to the merits of a case.” Ctr. for Auto Safety v. Chrysler Grp., LLC, 809 F.3d 

1092, 1101 (9th Cir. 2016), cert. denied sub nom. FCA U.S. LLC v. Ctr. for Auto Safety, 137 S. Ct. 

38 (2016). A litigant seeking to seal documents or information in connection with such a motion 

must meet the lower “good cause” standard of Rule 26(c) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. 

Id. at 1098–99; Kamakana, 447 F.3d at 1179–80.

Case 5:18-cv-02813-EJD Document 192 Filed 03/09/20 Page 1 of 2
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United States District Court

Northern District of California

Apple’s motion to seal concerns information submitted in connection with a discovery 

dispute. The underlying discovery dispute does not address the merits of the parties’ claims or 

defenses, but rather whether defendants’ assertion of the attorney-client privilege is proper. The 

material to be sealed is only tangentially related to the merits of the case. The Court therefore 

applies the “good cause” standard of Rule 26(c).

The material proposed to be filed under seal is derived from a deposition that has been 

designated “Highly Confidential – Attorneys’ Eyes Only.” Apple contends that the material

encompasses confidential business communications and that the communications are also 

privileged, which the parties dispute. In these circumstances, the Court finds that good cause 

exists to seal the following material:

Document Portions to be Sealed

Joint Discovery Letter Brief re Clawback (Dkt. 

No. 190)

Pg. 1, 3rd and 4th and 7th to 9th lines of the 

third full paragraph

Pg. 2, header 2, 4th and 5th lines of the third 

full paragraph

Pg. 3, header 3, 3rd and 4th lines of the second 

full paragraph

Pg. 4, 5th to 7th lines of the first full 

paragraph, 1st and 2nd lines of the third full 

paragraph

Pg. 5, 7th line of the third full paragraph

Pg. 6, 3rd to 5th and 7th and 8th lines of the 

second full paragraph

Ex. A

Ex. B, 3rd sentence in the first full paragraph 

of Monday, November 18, 2019 10:00 AM 

email

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: March 9, 2020

VIRGINIA K. DEMARCHI

United States Magistrate Judge

Case 5:18-cv-02813-EJD Document 192 Filed 03/09/20 Page 2 of 2