Jane Doe v. William Reese

Summary

The United States District Court for the District of Nebraska grants Plaintiff’s motions to proceed under the pseudonym Jane Doe and to file the civil cover sheet under seal. The court concludes that the sensitive and highly personal nature of the allegations, along with statutory provisions permitting anonymity, outweighs the countervailing interests at this stage. The ruling is subject to reconsideration after service of process if Defendant requests it.

Holdings

1. Plaintiff may proceed under the pseudonym Jane Doe because her need for anonymity, including the sensitive and highly personal sexual nature of the allegations and statutory authorization for pseudonymous litigation, outweighs the countervailing interests in disclosure at this stage.
2. The civil cover sheet may be filed under seal because requiring Plaintiff to publicly disclose her real identity on that form would defeat the purpose of allowing her to proceed under a pseudonym.

Questions Presented

1. Whether Plaintiff should be permitted to proceed under the pseudonym Jane Doe.
2. Whether Plaintiff should be permitted to file the civil cover sheet under seal.

Disposition

other