UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF MICHIGAN

NORTHERN DIVISION

JULIE WARD,

Plaintiff,

Case Number 09-10788-BC

v. Honorable Thomas L. Ludington

CENTRAL MICHIGAN 

COMMUNITY HOSPITAL,

Defendant.

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ORDER ADOPTING STIPULATION TO FILE DOCUMENTS UNDER SEAL

On October 1, 2009 the Court signed a stipulated protective order [Dkt. #21] that had been

submitted by the parties. The stipulated order called for documents that the parties deemed

confidential to be marked “Protected” and filed, if at all, in accordance with Eastern District of

Michigan Local Rule 5.3. The parties filed a stipulation on March 25, 2010, noting that Defendant

anticipates filing a motion for summary judgment and seeking permission to file certain exhibits that

will accompany the motion under seal. The stipulation will be adopted.

Local Rule 5.3 permits parties to file documents under seal in a civil case without a court

order if sealing is authorized by a statute or court rule. E.D. Mich. L.R. 5.3(a). If sealing is not

authorized by statute or rule, a court order authorizing sealing is required. Id. 5.3(b). A motion or

stipulation requesting authorization to file documents under seal must (1) state the authority for

sealing; (2) identify each item proposed for sealing; (3) state the reason the items need to be sealed;

(4) state the reason means other than sealing are unsatisfactory or unavailable; and (5) be

accompanied by a supporting brief. Id. 5.3(b)(2)(A). “Only the germane portion of a filing may be

sealed.” Id. 5.3(c)(2). The Rule is intended to balance the public’s presumptive right of access to
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court records with the interest of litigants in privacy. “Any attempt to maintain secrecy, as to the

records of this court, would seem to be inconsistent with the common understanding of what belongs

to a public court of record, to which all persons have the right of access.” In re Knoxville NewsSentinel Co., 723 F.2d 470, 474 (6th Cir. 1983) (quoting Ex Parte Drawbraugh, 2 App. D.C. 404

(D.C. Cir. 1894)). 

First, Defendant identifies two employment separation agreements between Defendant and

former employees. Defendant represents that the agreements contain confidentiality clauses that

prohibit Defendant from disclosing the contents of the agreements and contends that sealing is

necessary to protect the privacy interests of the non-parties. Assuming that Defendant advances the

exhibits simply to establish the existence of the agreements and the separation dates, and that any

specific provisions contained therein are not material, they may be filed under seal. 

Second, Defendant seeks to file under seal the employee evaluation of a nonparty that was

completed by Plaintiff. In a summary judgment motion already filed in a related case (No. 09-

10790), the evaluation is cited for the proposition that Mike Terwilliger, the nonparty employee, was

evaluated by Plaintiff in November 2007 as a “ ‘high’ or ‘medium’ performer in all categories.”

Although it is not clear why the extraneous personal information in the evaluation was not simply

redacted, that information is not material to the resolution of the motion and may be properly filed

under seal. Terwilliger’s interest in the privacy of that information outweighs the public’s interest

in access, at least at this time. See In re Knoxville News-Sentinel Co., 723 F.2d at 474. If, however,

the personal information in the evaluation or the separation agreements becomes relevant at a later

time, those documents will be unsealed and placed on the public docket. 
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Accordingly, it is ORDERED that Defendant’s stipulation with supporting brief [Dkt. # 24]

is ADOPTED.

It is further ORDERED that Defendant is GRANTED LEAVE to file the proposed exhibits

under seal.

s/Thomas L. Ludington 

THOMAS L. LUDINGTON

United States District Judge

Dated: April 2, 2010 

PROOF OF SERVICE

The undersigned certifies that a copy of the foregoing order was served

upon each attorney or party of record herein by electronic means or first

class U.S. mail on April 2, 2010.

s/Tracy A. Jacobs 

TRACY A. JACOBS