Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_15-cv-02023/USCOURTS-caed-2_15-cv-02023-0/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
Commissioner of Social Security
Defendant
Adam E. Fry
Plaintiff

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 

ADAM E. FRY, 

Plaintiff, 

v. 

COMMISSIONER OF SOCIAL 

SECURITY, 

Defendant. 

No. 2:15-cv-2023-KJN 

ORDER 

 On April 15, 2016, plaintiff filed a request to seal the administrative transcript in this 

social security case. (ECF No. 18.) 

Although administrative transcripts in social security cases often contain sensitive and 

personal information, the administrative transcripts are central to dispositive motions filed in the 

case, and there are no compelling reasons for the court to seal the entire transcript. See 

Kamakana v. City and County of Honolulu, 447 F.3d 1172 (9th Cir. 2006). Furthermore, given 

the large volume of social security cases filed in this district, neither the Clerk of Court nor the 

attorneys representing the Commissioner have the resources to redact individual administrative 

transcripts. Instead, as a precautionary measure, the court limits access to the administrative 

transcripts in an attempt to prevent the use of information in the administrative transcripts for 

improper purposes. 

Case 2:15-cv-02023-KJN Document 20 Filed 05/13/16 Page 1 of 2
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In light of the above, the court denies plaintiff’s request to seal the administrative 

transcript, but without prejudice. If plaintiff in good faith believes that he can make a specific 

showing, beyond general concerns about sensitive and personal information, that compelling 

reasons exist to seal his particular transcript, he may refile an appropriate motion. 

Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that plaintiff’s request to seal the administrative 

transcript (ECF No. 18) is DENIED without prejudice. 

Dated: May 13, 2016 

Case 2:15-cv-02023-KJN Document 20 Filed 05/13/16 Page 2 of 2