3D Systems, Inc. v. Wynne
- Proceeding
- district
- Area
- civil
- Panel
- Andrew G. Schopler (author)
Analysis
The parties filed multiple motions to seal exhibits attached to dispositive motions, relying largely on a protective order. The court denied the motions without prejudice, ordered the documents to remain provisionally sealed, and directed the parties to file a single consolidated joint sealing motion by April 22, 2025.
| What the court decided | The model |
|---|---|
Motions to seal exhibits (ECF 485, 490, 507, 510, 516, 518, 520, 528, 540, 543, 547, 560, 579, 582, 586, 590, 592, 601, 604, 618, 624) are denied without prejudice.“Based on the current muddled record, the sealing motions are DENIED without prejudice, but the Court leaves the underlying documents provisionally sealed pending additional briefing.” | agree with court The court correctly identified that the parties failed to meet the high burden required to seal judicial records attached to dispositive motions, specifically noting that reliance solely on a protective order is insufficient. Denying the motions without prejudice while maintaining a provisional seal is a procedurally sound method to resolve the 'muddled record' and ensure the public's right of access is protected while allowing the parties a final opportunity to comply with the law. |
The order itself: sound — The order correctly applies the Ninth Circuit's strict standard for sealing records attached to dispositive motions. It accurately identifies the procedural deficiencies in the parties' filings (reliance on protective orders and lack of specific factual findings) and provides a clear, structured path for the parties to cure those deficiencies. The decision to keep documents provisionally sealed while requiring a consolidated joint motion is a reasonable exercise of the court's inherent authority to manage its docket and protect the public's right of access.
Opinion
1 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 2 SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 3 3D SYSTEMS, INC., Case No.: 21-cv-1141-AGS-DDL 4 Plaintiff, ORDER DENYING MOTIONS TO 5 v. SEAL (ECF 485, 490, 507, 510, 516, 518, 520, 528, 540, 543, 547, 560, 579, 6 Ben WYNNE, et al., 582, 586, 590, 592, 601, 604, 618, 624) 7 Defendants. WITHOUT PREJUDICE 9 The parties move to seal many exhibits to their motions for summary judgment, to 10 exclude experts, and for other potentially dispositive relief. To “seal judicial records 11 attached to a dispositive motion,” the moving party “must articulate compelling reasons 12 supported by specific factual findings that outweigh the general history of access and the 13 public policies favoring disclosure.” Kamakana v. City & Cnty. of Honolulu, 447 F.3d 14 1172, 1178–79 (9th Cir. 2006) (cleaned up). This rule applies “even if the dispositive 15 motion, or its attachments, were previously filed under seal or protective order.” Id. 16 at 1179. It also pertains to motions that “may be effectively dispositive of a motion for 17 summary judgment,” such as motions to exclude evidence. Apple Inc. v. Samsung Elecs. 18 Co., 727 F.3d 1214, 1222 (Fed. Cir. 2013). 19 Many of those sealing requests improperly rely solely on the protective order. (See, 20 e.g., ECF 528.) For other requests, it’s unclear whether the document’s original holder still 21 wants it sealed. (See, e.g., ECF 516.) Based on the current muddled record, the sealing 22 motions are DENIED without prejudice, but the Court leaves the underlying documents 23 provisionally sealed pending additional briefing. To streamline the process, by April 7, 24 2025, the parties must meet and confer about the sealing requests. By April 22, 2025, the 25 parties must file a single, consolidated, joint sealing motion, including: 26 27 28 1 1. A table with the following columns:
(Description and Burden Sealing (if any) Motion(s) 4 Citations) (ECF No.) 5 2. A consolidated exhibit filing. The parties should include all proposed sealed 6 documents such that they can be identified in the exhibit. See Schopler Local Civil Rule 2. 8 3. A list of any evidence that the parties no longer seek to seal. ? After April 22, 2025, any provisionally sealed document not addressed in such a 10 joint sealing motion will be unsealed. 11 |) Dated: March 17, 2025 12 A 13 Hon. Andrew G. Schopler 14 United States District Judge 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28