Brown v. Google LLC

Opinion

1 2 3 6 7 CHASOM BROWN, et al., Case No. 20-cv-03664-LHK (SVK)

8 Plaintiffs, ORDER ON ADMINISTRATIVE MOTION TO FILE UNDER SEAL 9 v. PORTIONS OF THE JUNE 2, 2021 DISCOVERY HEARING TRANSCRIPT Re: Dkt. No. 194 11 Defendant.

12 Now before the Court is the Parties’ joint submission (Dkt. 194), in which Google requests 13 that the Court seal portions of the transcript of the June 2, 2021 discovery hearing. 14 Courts recognize a “general right to inspect and copy public records and documents, 15 including judicial records and documents.” Kamakana v. City & Cnty. Of Honolulu, 447 F.3d 16 1172, 1178 (9th Cir. 2006) (quoting Nixon v. Warner Communs., Inc., 435 U.S. 589, 597 & n.7 17 (1978)). A request to seal court records therefore starts with a “strong presumption in favor of 18 access.” Kamakana, 447 F.3d at 1178 (quoting Foltz v. State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co., 331 F.3d 19 1122, 1135 (9th Cir. 2003)). The standard for overcoming the presumption of public access to court records depends on the purpose for which the records are filed with the court. A party 20 seeking to seal court records relating to motions that are “more than tangentially related to the 21 underlying cause of action” must demonstrate “compelling reasons” that support secrecy. Ctr. For 22 Auto Safety v. Chrysler Grp., 809 F.3d 1092, 1099 (9th Cir. 2016). For records attached to 23 motions that re “not related, or only tangentially related, to the merits of the case,” the lower 24 “good cause” standard of Rule 26(c) applies. Id.; see also Kamakana, 447 F.3d at 1179. A party 25 moving to seal court records must also comply with the procedures established by Civil Local 26 Rule 79-5. 27 1 Here, the “good cause” standard applies because the information the parties seek to seal 2 was submitted to the Court in connection with a discovery-related motion, rather than a motion 3 that concerns the merits of the case. The Court may reach different conclusions regarding sealing 4 these documents under different standards or in a different context. Having considered the 5 motions to seal, supporting declarations, and the pleadings on file, and good cause appearing, the 6 Court ORDERS as follows: 7 8 Court’s Ruling on Motion to Reason(s) for Court’s Ruling 9 ealed Seal June 2, 2021 Discovery Hearing GRANTED as to Narrowly tailored to protect 10 Transcript redacted portions at | confidential technical information 13:2, 13:8-11, regarding Google’s internal 32:18-20, 36:23- systems and operations, including 12 37:3, 378-11, details related to the various 37:15-20, 37:22-24, «es □ 38:2-5, 46:3-11, types of identifiers/cookies 13 46:17 Google uses internally and their proprietary functions 4 © SO ORDERED. 15 Dated: June 21, 2021 16

vo 7 Sussm QUEM Vine Z 18 SUSAN VAN KEULEN 19 United States Magistrate Judge 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28