M.B., V.C., and Matt B. v. Medtronic, Inc., Medtronic USA, Inc., and Integra LifeSciences Corporation

Summary

The United States District Court for the District of Utah grants plaintiffs’ motion to proceed under pseudonyms in a products-liability action involving medical treatment and a minor’s medical history. The court also orders all prior filings sealed and directs the Clerk to update the docket to reflect the pseudonymous caption.

Holdings

1. A court may permit plaintiffs to proceed under pseudonyms when exceptional circumstances justify anonymity and the interest in protecting the plaintiffs' identities outweighs the public's interest in access to the proceedings. The circumstances here warranted anonymity for M.B. and M.B.'s parents.
2. When previously filed documents cannot be redacted, the court may seal those filings for good cause shown to protect plaintiffs' identities and sensitive medical information.

Questions Presented

1. Whether plaintiffs should be permitted to proceed under pseudonyms based on exceptional circumstances, including the plaintiff's minority at the time of the underlying events and the sensitive medical information likely to appear in the record.
2. Whether previously filed documents containing plaintiffs' full names should be redacted or sealed.

Disposition

other