Court Opinion

ID: 9918929
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2024-01-16 22:07:49.170491+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:06:49.539822
License: Public Domain

Tremor Video, Inc. v Alphonso, Inc.
               2024 NY Slip Op 30125(U)
                    January 10, 2024
           Supreme Court, New York County
        Docket Number: Index No. 653266/2021
                  Judge: Joel M. Cohen
Cases posted with a "30000" identifier, i.e., 2013 NY Slip
 Op 30001(U), are republished from various New York
 State and local government sources, including the New
  York State Unified Court System's eCourts Service.
 This opinion is uncorrected and not selected for official
                       publication.
 [FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 01/10/2024 03:46 P~                                                                      INDEX NO. 653266/2021
  NYSCEF DOC. NO. 1049                                                                                            RECEIVED NYSCEF: 01/10/2024

            SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK
            COUNTY OF NEW YORK: COMMERCIAL DIVISION PART 03M
            ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- X

             TREMOR VIDEO, INC.,                                                                    INDEX NO.         653266/2021
                                                          Plaintiff,                                                   09/01/2023,
                                                                                                                       09/01/2023,
                                                - V -                                               MOTION DATE        09/01/2023
             ALPHONSO, INC. N/K/A LG ADS, LG ELECTRONICS,
             INC.,                                                                                  MOTION SEQ. NO.    025 026 027

                                                          Defendants.                                DECISION+ ORDER ON
                                                                                                           MOTION
            ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- X

            HON. JOEL M. COHEN:

            The following e-filed documents, listed by NYSCEF document number (Motion 025) 707, 708, 709,710,
            711,712,713,714,715,716,717,718,719,720,721,722,723,724,725,726,727,728,729,730,
            731,732,733,734,735,736,737,738,739,740,741,742,743,744,977,979,994,995,996, 1025
            were read on this motion to                                 SEAL/REDACT

            The following e-filed documents, listed by NYSCEF document number (Motion 026) 745, 746, 747, 748,
            749,750,751,752,753,754,755,756,757,758,759,760,761,762,763,764,765,766,767,768,
            769,770,771,772,773,774,775,776,777,778,779,780,781,782,783,784,785,786,787,788,
            789,790,791,792,793,794,795,796,797,798,799,800,801,802,803,804,805,806,807,808,
            809,810,811,812,813,814,815,816,817,818,819,820,821,822,823,824,825,826,827,828,
            829,830,831,832,833,834,835,836,837,838,839,840,841,842,843,844,845,846,847,848,
            849,850,851,852,853,854,855,856,857,858,859,860,861,862,863,864,865,974,976,980,
            982,983,984,985,986,987,997,998,999, 1023, 1026
            were read on this motion to                                 SEAL/REDACT

            The following e-filed documents, listed by NYSCEF document number (Motion 027) 866, 867, 868, 869,
            870,871,872,873,874,875,876,877,878,879,880,881,882,883,884,885,886,887,888,889,
            890,891,892,893,894,895,896,897,898,899,900,901,902,903,904,905,906,907,908,909,
            910,911,912,913,914,915,916,917,918,919,920,921,922,923,924,925,926,927,928,929,
            930,931,932,933,934,935,936,937,938,939,940,941,942,943,944,945,946,947,948,949,
            950,951,952,953,954,955,956,957,958,959,960,961,962,963,964,965,966,967,968,969,
            970,971,972,973,975,978,981,988,989,990,991,992,993, 1000, 1001, 1002, 1024, 1027
            were read on this motion to                                 SEAL/REDACT

                      Plaintiff Tremor Video, Inc. ("Tremor"), seeks an order sealing and/or redacting exhibits

            from that were filed in connection with this proceeding as NYSCEF Document Numbers 712-

            740 (MS 025); 749-864 (MS 026); and 870-953 and 956-970 (MS 027), and redacting portions

             653266/2021 TREMOR VIDEO, INC. vs. ALPHONSO, INC.                                                          Page 1 of 7
             Motion No. 025 026 027

                                                                            1 of 7
[* 1]
 [FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 01/10/2024 03:46 P~                                                INDEX NO. 653266/2021
  NYSCEF DOC. NO. 1049                                                                    RECEIVED NYSCEF: 01/10/2024

            of documents filed as NYSCEF Document Numbers 711, 741, 742, and 743 (MS 025); 684, 685,

            749, 753, 853, and 854 (MS 026); and 693, 694, and 972-973 (MS 027). For the following

            reasons, Tremor's motion is granted in part.

                   Pursuant to§ 216.1 (a) of the Uniform Rules for Trial Courts, this Court may seal a filing

            "upon a written finding of good cause, which shall specify the grounds thereof. In determining

            whether good cause has been shown, the court shall consider the interests of the public as well as

            of the parties" (22 NYCRR § 216.1 [a]).

                   The Appellate Division has emphasized that "there is a broad presumption that the public

            is entitled to access to judicial proceedings and court records" (Mosallem v Berenson, 76 AD3d

            345, 348 [1st Dept 201 O]). "Since the right [of public access to court proceedings] is of

            constitutional dimension, any order denying access must be narrowly tailored to serve

            compelling objectives, such as a need for secrecy that outweighs the public's right to

            access" (Danco Labs., Ltd v Chemical Works of Gedeon Richter, Ltd, 274 AD2d 1, 6 [1st Dept

            2000] [emphasis added]; see also, e.g. Gryphon Dom. VL LLC v APP Intern. Fin. Co., B. V, 28

            AD3d 322, 324 [1st Dept 2006]). "Furthermore, because confidentiality is the exception and not

            the rule, 'the party seeking to seal court records has the burden to demonstrate compelling

            circumstances to justify restricting public access"' (Maxim, Inc. v Feifer, 145 AD3d 516,517

            [1st Dept 2016] [citations omitted]).

                   The Court has reviewed Tremor's proposed sealing of the documents filed as NYSCEF

            Document Numbers 712, 713, 717, 721, 724, 725, 730, 731, 732, 736, 737, 740 (MS 025); 752,

            755,756,758,759,760,761,763,764,765,766,767,768,769,771,774,775,777,784,785,

            786,788,790,791,793,794,795,797,799,800,801,805,810,812,832,833,834,836,840,

            849, 852, 857, 861, 983, 984, 985, and 986 (MS 026); and 870, 872, 878, 881, 882, 883, 884,

             653266/2021 TREMOR VIDEO, INC. vs. ALPHONSO, INC.                                       Page 2 of 7
             Motion No. 025 026 027

                                                            2 of 7
[* 2]
 [FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 01/10/2024 03:46 P~                                                 INDEX NO. 653266/2021
  NYSCEF DOC. NO. 1049                                                                       RECEIVED NYSCEF: 01/10/2024

            885,887,888,889,891,892,893,894,895,896,902,904,906,908,911,912,914,916,922,

            926,927,928,930,934,935,936,938,939,949,956,962,964,965,967,989,990,991,and

            992 (MS 027), as well as the targeted redactions the proposed in the documents filed as

            NYSCEF Document Numbers 711, 741, 742, 743 (MS 025); 684, 685, 749, 753, 1 853, 854 (MS

            026); and 693, 694, 875, 876, 2 972, and 973 (MS 027), and finds that they comport with the

            applicable sealing standard as laid out in Mosallem, 76 AD3d at 348-350, and its progeny, in that

            they contain sensitive and confidential business and financial information. Further, these

            Exhibits are properly sealed and/or redacted to the extent they contain nonpublic information

            about confidential contracts or agreements with non-parties to this instant case (Mancheski v

            Gabelli Grp. Capital Partners, 39 AD3d 499, 502 [2d Dept 2007] ["[D]isclosure could impinge

            on the privacy rights of third parties who clearly are not litigants herein[.]"]).

                   However, the parties' generalized assertions of good cause for the remaining Exhibits

            filed as NYSCEF Document Numbers 714, 715, 716, 718, 719, 720, 722, 723, 726, 727, 728,

            729, 733, 734, 735, 738, and 739 (MS 025); 750, 751, 754, 757, 762, 770, 772, 773, 776, 778,

            779,780,781,782,783,787,789,792,796,798,802,803,804,806,807,808,809,811,813,

            814,815,816,817,818,819,820,821,822,823,824,825,826,827,828,829,830,831,835,

            837,838,839,841,842,843,844,845,846,847,848,850,851,855,856,858,859,860,862,

            863, and 864 (MS 026); and 871, 873, 874, 877, 879, 880, 886, 890, 897, 898, 899, 900, 901,

            903,905,907,909,910,913,915,917,918,919,920,921,923,924,925,929,931,932,933,

            1 The proposed redactions for NYSCEF Document Numbers 684, 685, 749, and 753 are found at

            NYSCEF Document Numbers 983, 984, 985, and 986 respectively.

            2 The proposed redactions for NYSCEF Document Numbers 693, 694, 875, and 876 are found at
            NYSCEF Document Numbers 989,990,991, and 992 respectively.

             653266/2021 TREMOR VIDEO, INC. vs. ALPHONSO, INC.                                     Page 3 of 7
             Motion No. 025 026 027

                                                            3 of 7
[* 3]
 [FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 01/10/2024 03:46 P~                                               INDEX NO. 653266/2021
  NYSCEF DOC. NO. 1049                                                                   RECEIVED NYSCEF: 01/10/2024

            937,940,941,942,943,944,945,946,947,948,950,951,952,953,957,958,959,960,961,

            963, 966, 968, 969, and 970 (MS 027), do not establish a compelling justification for the

            complete sealing that is proposed. While portions of these documents may include confidential

            business and financial information, the proposed sealing is not adequately explained or justified.

            Thus, the parties should propose and justify targeted redactions that satisfy the requirements of

            22 NYCRR § 216 [a] and applicable case law.

                   Any subsequent motion seeking to address the above concerns should adhere to this

            Part's Sealing Practices and Procedures (see

            https ://www.nycourts.gov/LegacyPD FS/courts/comdiv/NY/PDF s/part3-sealing-practices. pdf),

            including the requirement to submit an affidavit based on personal knowledge attesting to the

            factual bases for redaction and a spreadsheet setting forth a non-conclusory good faith basis for

            each proposed redaction.

                   Accordingly, it is

                   ORDERED that Tremor's motion to seal the Exhibits is granted insofar as it seeks to

            seal the documents filed as NYSCEF Document Numbers 712, 713, 717, 721, 724, 725, 730,

            731, 732, 736, 737, and 740 (MS 025); 752, 755, 756, 758, 759, 760, 761, 763, 764, 765, 766,

            767,768,769,771,774,775,777,784,785,786,788,790,791,793,794,795,797,799,800,

            801,805,810,812,832,833,834,836,840,849,852,857,861,983,984,985,and986(MS

            026);and870,872,878,881,882,883,884,885,887,888,889,891,892,893,894,895,896,

            902,904,906,908,911,912,914,916,922,926,927,928,930,934,935,936,938,939,949,

            956, 962, 964, 965, 967, 989, 990, 991, and 992 (MS 027), and insofar as it seeks to redact the

            documents filed as NYSCEF Document Numbers 711, 741, 742, and 743 (MS 025); 684, 685,

             653266/2021 TREMOR VIDEO, INC. vs. ALPHONSO, INC.                                   Page 4 of 7
             Motion No. 025 026 027

                                                            4 of 7
[* 4]
 [FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 01/10/2024 03 :46 PM]                                          INDEX NO. 653266/2021
  NYSCEF DOC. NO. 1049                                                                  RECEIVED NYSCEF: 01/10/2024

            749, 753, 3 853, and 854 (MS 026); and 693, 694, 875, 876, 4 972 and 973 (MS 026); and is

            otherwise denied, without prejudice to filing a new motion within 21 days to redact confidential

            portions of the remaining Exhibits consistent with this Decision and Order and applicable case

            law; it is further

                    ORDERED that the County Clerk shall maintain the documents filed as NYSCEF

            Document Numbers 711, 712, 713, 717, 721, 724, 725, 730, 731, 732, 736, 737, 740, 741, 742,

            and 743 (MS 025); 684, 685, 749, 752, 753, 755, 756, 758, 759, 760, 761, 763, 764, 765, 766,

            767,768,769,771,774,775,777,784,785,786,788,790,791,793,794,795,797,799,800,

            801,805,810,812,832,833,834,836,840,849,852,853,854,857,861,983,984,985,and

            986 (MS 026); and 693, 694, 870, 872, 875, 876, 878, 881, 882, 883, 884, 885, 887, 888, 889,

            891,892,893,894,895,896,902,904,906,908,911,912,914,916,922,926,927,928,930,

            934,935,936,938,939,949,956,962,964,965,967,972,973,983,984,985,986,989,990,

            991, and 992 (MS 027) under seal, so that the documents may be accessible by the parties, their

            counsel, and authorized court personnel; it is further

                    ORDERED that the documents filed as NYSCEF Document Numbers 714, 715, 716,

            718, 719, 720, 722, 723, 726, 727, 728, 729, 733, 734, 735, 738, and 739 (MS 025); 750, 751,

            754,757,762,770,772,773,776,778,779,780,781,782,783,787,789,792,796,798,802,

            803,804,806,807,808,809,811,813,814,815,816,817,818,819,820,821,822,823,824,

            825,826,827,828,829,830,831,835,837,838,839,841,842,843,844,845,846,847,848,

            3 The proposed redactions for NYSCEF Document Numbers 684, 685, 749, and 753 are found at

            NYSCEF Document Numbers 983, 984, 985, and 986 respectively.

            4 The proposed redactions for NYSCEF Document Numbers 693, 694, 875, and 876 are found at

            NYSCEF Document Numbers 989,990,991, and 992 respectively.

             653266/2021 TREMOR VIDEO, INC. vs. ALPHONSO, INC.                                 Page 5 of 7
             Motion No. 025 026 027

                                                            5 of 7
[* 5]
 [FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 01/10/2024 03:46 P~                                               INDEX NO. 653266/2021
  NYSCEF DOC. NO. 1049                                                                   RECEIVED NYSCEF: 01/10/2024

            850, 851, 855, 856, 858, 859, 860, 862, 863, and 864 (MS 026); and 871, 873, 874, 877, 879,

            880,886,890,897,898,899,900,901,903,905,907,909,910,913,915,917,918,919,920,

            921,923,924,925,929,931,932,933,937,940,941,942,943,944,945,946,947,948,950,

            951, 952, 953, 957, 958, 959, 960, 961, 963, 966, 968, 969, and 970 (MS 027) shall remain

            provisionally sealed for 21 days from the date of the Court's entry of this Decision and Order on

            NYSCEF. If any party files a new motion to seal or redact confidential portions of the

            documents consistent with this Decision and Order within that 21-day period, the documents

            shall remain provisionally sealed pending resolution of that motion. If no such motion is filed

            within 21 days from the entry of this Decision and Order, the parties shall alert the County Clerk

            that the motion to seal the above-referenced documents has been denied by the Court and that the

            documents should be unsealed on NYSCEF; it is further

                    ORDERED that the parties upload redacted copies to NYSCEF of the documents filed at

            NYSCEF Document Numbers 711, 741, 742, and 743 (MS 025); 684, 685, 749, 753, 5 853, and

            854 (MS 026); and 693, 694, 875, 876, 6 972 and 973 (MS 027) within 21 days of this Decision

            and Order; it is further

                    ORDERED that, as it relates to future submissions that contain subject matter that the

            court has authorized to be sealed by this Decision and Order which are made by any party, the

            parties may file a joint stipulation, to be So Ordered, which will authorize the filing of such

            5 The proposed redactions for NYSCEF Document Numbers 684, 685, 749, and 753 are found at
            NYSCEF Document Numbers 983, 984, 985, and 986 respectively.

            6 The proposed redactions for NYSCEF Document Numbers 693, 694, 875, and 876 are found at

            NYSCEF Document Numbers 989,990,991, and 992 respectively.

             653266/2021 TREMOR VIDEO, INC. vs. ALPHONSO, INC.                                   Page 6 of 7
             Motion No. 025 026 027

                                                            6 of 7
[* 6]
 !FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 01/10/2024 03 :46 PM!                                             INDEX NO. 653266/2021
  NYSCEF DOC. NO. 1049                                                                     RECEIVED NYSCEF: 01/10/2024

            future submissions to be filed in sealed and/or redacted form on NYSCEF, provided that an

            unredacted copy of any document is contemporaneously filed with a request to seal.

                    This constitutes the Decision and Order of the Court.

                    1/10/2024
                      DATE                                                     JOEL M. COHEN, J.S.C.
             CHECK ONE:                   CASE DISPOSED                NON-FINAL DISPOSITION

                                          GRANTED         □ DENIED     GRANTED IN PART          □ OTHER
             APPLICATION:                 SETTLE ORDER                 SUBMIT ORDER

             CHECK IF APPROPRIATE:        INCLUDES TRANSFER/REASSIGN   FIDUCIARY APPOINTMENT    □ REFERENCE

             653266/2021 TREMOR VIDEO, INC. vs. ALPHONSO, INC.                                   Page 7 of 7
             Motion No. 025 026 027

                                                            7 of 7
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