Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_12-cv-00234/USCOURTS-caed-2_12-cv-00234-15/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 550
Nature of Suit: Prisoner - Civil Rights (U.S. defendant)
Cause of Action: 42:1983 Prisoner Civil Rights

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 

REX CHAPPELL, 

Plaintiff, 

v. 

B. FLEMING, et al., 

Defendants. 

No. 2:12-cv-00234 MCE AC P 

ORDER AND ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE 

 On February 5, 2015, the defendants filed a Notice of Request to Seal Documents in 

which they identified three confidential memoranda that they sought to have filed under sealed. 

ECF. No. 84-6. Because the request to seal documents did not address whether plaintiff was 

provided with redacted copies of the documents, and there was no explanation as to why 

measures such as redaction and limited access would be insufficient to address security concerns, 

defendants were ordered to serve plaintiff with redacted copies or explain why redaction was 

insufficient. ECF No. 85. In the event defendants believed production was inappropriate and 

their response to the order contained sensitive information, they were permitted to submit their 

response ex parte via email. Id. at 2. 

 On February 13, 2015, defendants provided an ex parte response to the February 5, 2015 

order via email. They advised that redacted versions of the sealed exhibits had been prepared, but 

expressed concerns over the production of redacted versions of Exhibits J and K (confidential 

Case 2:12-cv-00234-MCE-AC Document 88 Filed 02/19/15 Page 1 of 3
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memoranda dated September 28, 2009, and February 2, 2010, respectively). On February 18, 

2015, defendants filed notice that they have served plaintiff with the Request to File Documents 

Under Seal, proposed order, and a redacted version of Exhibit I (confidential memorandum dated 

May 11, 2009). 

While defendants’ concerns regarding Exhibits J and K are valid, the court believes that 

these concerns can be addressed by redaction. Although proposed redacted copies of the exhibits 

have not been provided to the court, defendants’ response indicates that they understood the court 

to contemplate only redaction of inmate names and identification numbers. The court recognizes 

that such limited redaction may be insufficient to address valid security considerations. However, 

the directive to redact was not intended to be interpreted so narrowly. 

 Upon review of the record and Exhibits J and K, it appears that the confidential 

memoranda can be redacted so that they protect sensitive information while documenting the 

basic facts which have already been disclosed to plaintiff in the defendants’ summary-judgment 

motion and accompanying statement of undisputed facts. Defendants will be ordered to show 

cause why they should not serve plaintiff with the redacted versions of Exhibits J and K attached 

to this order as Attachment 1 (under seal).1 Defendants may discharge the order to show cause by 

filing notice that they have served plaintiff with the redacted exhibits, and by filing a copy of the 

redacted Exhibits J and K in support of their summary judgment motion. If defendants seek 

additional redaction or believe that no level of redaction would be sufficient to remove the risk, 

they shall show cause in writing within ten days. Such a response may be submitted ex parte and 

via email. 

Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that: 

1. The Clerk of the Court is directed to file Attachment 1 to this order under seal. The 

Clerk of the Court is further directed to mail a copy of Attachment 1 to counsel for the defendants 

only. 

2. Within ten days of the filing of this order, the defendants shall show cause why they 

 

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 The sealed exhibit will be provided only to defendants. 

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should not serve plaintiff with the redacted copies of Exhibits J and K (confidential memoranda 

dated September 28, 2009, and February 2, 2010, respectively) filed here as Attachment 1 (under 

seal). Defendants may submit their response via email. In the alternative, defendants may 

discharge the order to show cause by filing notice that they have served plaintiff with the redacted 

exhibits, and by filing a copy of the redacted Exhibits J and K in support of their summary 

judgment motion. 

DATED: February 19, 2015 

Case 2:12-cv-00234-MCE-AC Document 88 Filed 02/19/15 Page 3 of 3