Opinion ID: 16332
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Denial of request for unredacted copy of the

Text: seizure affidavit. Massieu argues that the district court erred in denying his request for an unredacted copy of the court-sealed seizure affidavit. He claims that without access to the affidavit he was unable to ascertain the basis for the seizure in order to contest its legality. Massieu’s claim lacks merit. First, Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 26(c) provides for the sealing of records upon a showing of “good cause” by the moving party. Fed.R.Civ.P. Rule 26(c). A corollary to Rule 26(c) is that, once a district court has sealed a document, it is well within its discretion to deny a party’s request for an unredacted copy of that same document. Second, even assuming arguendo an “illegal” seizure of the defendant currency, because the Government did not seek to introduce the actual currency at trial, there was no evidence in the present case that Massieu could have sought to suppress. See United States v. Monkey, 725 F.2d 1007, 1011-12 (5th Cir. 1984) (explaining that a lack of probable cause for the seizure would “only result in the suppression of evidence obtained by the wrongful seizure and would have no further bearing on the forfeitability of the property.”). Accordingly, Massieu cannot 24 show any prejudice to his “substantial rights” that would justify reversal. See Fed.R. Civ.P Rule 61.