Joann LeDoux v. Outliers, Inc., et al.

Summary

The United States District Court for the Western District of Washington grants Defendants’ motion to seal exhibits containing a personal notes document and related materials, finding good cause based on sensitive, nonpublic business and trade-secret information. The Court denies Plaintiff’s motion to seal a deposition transcript as moot, strikes the improperly filed full transcript, and orders Plaintiff to refile only relevant excerpts after the parties meet and confer.

Holdings

1. Good cause supported sealing the Standup document and related materials because the record showed that they contained sensitive, nonpublic business information, were not intended for public disclosure, and could cause competitive harm if disclosed.
2. The motion to seal the entire deposition transcript was denied as moot, and the exhibit was stricken, because Plaintiff failed to comply with the requirement to submit only excerpts directly germane to the matter under consideration.
3. Before refiling relevant deposition excerpts, Plaintiff must determine which portions are germane, determine whether any are designated confidential, meet and confer with Defendants regarding sealing and alternatives, and, if necessary, file the excerpts provisionally under seal.

Questions Presented

1. Whether good cause supported sealing the Standup document and related materials attached to a nondispositive discovery filing.
2. Whether Plaintiff's motion to seal the entire Freed deposition transcript should be granted when she failed to submit only the excerpts directly germane to her summary-judgment response.
3. What procedures Plaintiff must follow when refiling relevant deposition excerpts that may contain information designated confidential under the protective order.

Disposition

other