Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-azd-2_10-cv-01632/USCOURTS-azd-2_10-cv-01632-5/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 440
Nature of Suit: Other Civil Rights
Cause of Action: 28:1446 Petition for Removal

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WO

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE DISTRICT OF ARIZONA

Leanna Smith, 

Plaintiff, 

vs.

Barrow Neurological Institute of St.

Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, et

al., 

Defendants. 

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No. CV 10-01632-PHX-FJM

ORDER

We have before us defendants' motion to file under seal (doc. 133). Banner Health

System and Scott Elton, M.D. ("Banner defendants") move for leave to file their motion for

summary judgment and supporting statement of facts under seal. These documents quote

from juvenile court records. 

There is a "strong presumption in favor of access" to court records, including motions

for summary judgment and related attachments. Kamakana v. City & Cnty. of Honolulu, 447

F.3d 1172, 1179 (9th Cir. 2006). To overcome this burden, a party seeking to seal a judicial

record "must articulate compelling reasons supported by specific factual findings that

outweigh the general history of access and the public policies favoring disclosure." Id. at

1178-79 (brackets, internal quotation marks, and citations omitted). Compelling reasons

exist when "'court files might have become a vehicle for improper purposes,' such as the use

of records to gratify private spite, promote public scandal, circulate libelous statements, or

Case 2:10-cv-01632-FJM Document 137 Filed 04/23/12 Page 1 of 2
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release trade secrets." Id. at 1179.

Banner defendants claim the records should be sealed because publicly releasing the

information could embarrass, harass, or otherwise harm the children. Juvenile court records

and proceedings are generally confidential. See, e.g., A.R.S. §§ 8-208(F) ("Except as

otherwise provided by law, the records of an adoption, severance or dependency proceeding

shall not be open to public inspection."); 8-537(A) (excluding general public from

termination adjudication hearing). Public policy favors the protection of minors' privacy in

such sensitive matters. Compelling reasons exist for sealing these documents.

IT IS ORDERED GRANTING Banner defendants' motion to file under seal (doc.

133). 

DATED this 20th day of April, 2012.

Case 2:10-cv-01632-FJM Document 137 Filed 04/23/12 Page 2 of 2