Francine Simon v. Brookshire Grocery Co.

Summary

The United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana denied Brookshire Grocery Co.’s motion to file under seal surveillance-video still images attached to its motion for summary judgment. The court held that a stipulated confidentiality agreement and protective order did not overcome the strong presumption of public access to judicial records, and that the defendant had not shown specific, compelling reasons for sealing the exhibit.

Holdings

1. The motion to seal was denied because Defendant failed to articulate specific, compelling reasons sufficient to overcome the strong presumption of public access to judicial records.

Questions Presented

1. Whether Defendant showed specific and compelling reasons sufficient to overcome the strong presumption of public access to a surveillance video filed as an exhibit to a motion for summary judgment.
2. Whether a stipulated confidentiality agreement and protective order governing discovery materials justified sealing the surveillance video after related materials had been filed in the court record.

Disposition

other