Tara R. and E.G. v. SelectHealth, Inc.; St. Luke's Health System, Ltd.; and St. Luke's Health System Employee Health Care Plan

Summary

The United States District Court for the District of Utah grants Tara R. and E.G.’s motion to proceed under pseudonyms in an action concerning the denial of health insurance benefits for E.G.’s mental health treatment. The court finds exceptional circumstances based on E.G.’s minority when the relevant events occurred, the sensitive medical information at issue, and the lack of prejudice to the defendants, and orders plaintiffs to file their full names under seal.

Holdings

1. Plaintiffs may proceed under pseudonyms because the case presents exceptional circumstances, including highly sensitive and personal medical information concerning E.G.'s mental-health treatment and events occurring while E.G. was a minor.
2. Plaintiffs must file a document containing their full names under seal, and that filing must remain sealed unless the court orders otherwise.

Questions Presented

1. Whether Plaintiffs established exceptional circumstances warranting permission to proceed under pseudonyms.
2. Whether the privacy interests arising from E.G.'s status as a minor when the relevant events occurred, the sensitive medical information involved, and the risk that disclosure of Tara R.'s identity would reveal E.G.'s identity outweighed the public interest in disclosure.
3. Whether Plaintiffs should be required to disclose their full names to the court under seal.

Disposition

other