Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-3_13-cv-05854/USCOURTS-cand-3_13-cv-05854-2/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 440
Nature of Suit: Other Civil Rights
Cause of Action: 42:1983 Civil Rights Act

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United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

JESSICA K., by and through her guardian

ad litem BRIANNA K.; ASHLEY W., by

and through her guardian ad litem CLEO

W.; ANTHONY J., by and through his

guardian ad litem MAYA J.; and ALEXIS 

R., by and through her guardian ad litem

ANNA R., 

Plaintiffs, 

v. 

EUREKA CITY SCHOOLS DISTRICT;

JOHN FULLERTON, FRAN TAPLIN,

WENDY DAVIS, HENRY BECK, SUSAN

JOHNSON, Members of the Eureka City

Schools District Board; FRED VAN

VLECK, Superintendent of Schools for

Eureka City Schools District; LAURIE

ALEXANDER, Director of Student

Welfare and Attendance; JAN 

SCHMIDT, Principal, Zane Middle School; 

DENNIS SCOTT, Principal, Zane Middle

School; RONALD PERRY, Vice Principal,

Zane Middle School; RICK JORDAN,

Principal, Eureka High School; MARTIN

GODDI, Vice Principal, Eureka High

School; and DOES 1 through 100,

inclusive, 

Defendants. /

No. C 13-05854 WHA

ORDER RE MOTION TO

PROCEED UNDER 

FICTITIOUS NAMES AND TO

SEAL DOCUMENTS

Case 3:13-cv-05854-WHA Document 16 Filed 01/03/14 Page 1 of 2
United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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The undersigned is in receipt of plaintiffs’ motion to proceed under fictitious names and

to seal in part certain documents (Dkt. No. 3). Specifically, plaintiffs seek to seal information

concerning their true identities in (1) their petitions for appointment of guardians ad litem, and

(2) the declaration submitted by attorney Linnea Nelson in support of plaintiffs’ motion here. 

There is a strong public policy in favor of openness of our court system, and the public is entitled

to know who is seeking relief from the Court. See Kamakana v. City & Cnty. of Honolulu, 447

F.3d 1172, 1180 (9th Cir. 2006). This means that normally, plaintiffs must live with the

collateral consequences of commencing a civil action in federal court. 

In this particular case, it seems likely that the identities of plaintiffs and their guardians

ad litem will become well-known as soon as depositions are taken, and that it will be

impracticable to require a deponent to attend a deposition and to keep secret the contents of the

deposition. Also, if it is true that there is only a small percentage of Native Americans and

African Americans in the school, then those Native Americans and African Americans not

bringing this lawsuit will be placed at risk, if indeed there is any risk, by virtue of retribution for

this lawsuit.

The Court would like to hear the views of defendants before making a final ruling. In the

meantime, the pleading will be permitted under fictitious names, with the understanding that

there is a reasonable likelihood that fictitious names will not be permitted once the Court hears

from both sides. Given that defendants were served with the summons on December 19, 2013,

defendants must file an answer by JANUARY 9, 2014. In addition, plaintiffs’ motion to proceed

under fictitious names and to seal in part certain documents shall be re-noticed for hearing on 8

AM ON JANUARY 16, 2014. Furthermore, although the deadline for opposing plaintiffs’ motion

has passed under Civil Local Rule 7-11, defendants may file an opposition by no later than 5 PM

ON JANUARY 9, 2014. 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: January 3, 2014. WILLIAM ALSUP

UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

Case 3:13-cv-05854-WHA Document 16 Filed 01/03/14 Page 2 of 2