Campbell v. Columbia University

Opinion

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK ----------------------------------------------------------X : JODY-ANN CAMPBELL, : Plaintiff, : : -against- : 22-CV-10164 (VSB) : COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY, et al., : ORDER : Defendant. : : ----------------------------------------------------------X

VERNON S. BRODERICK, United States District Judge: Defendant requests to seal their letter at Doc. 9, on the grounds that it relates to Plaintiff’s sensitive health matters and Defendant’s response to those matters. While I appreciate Defendant’s solicitude for Plaintiff’s interests, Plaintiff opposes this sealing. (Doc. 11.) Additionally, Plaintiff, through her publicly docketed letters, has effectively disclosed the contents of the contested letter. (See Docs. 10, 11, 15.) “In considering whether sealing is appropriate, an important consideration is, of course, whether the information sought to be kept confidential is already public.” United States v. Avenatti, No. (S1) 19 CR. 373 (PGG), 2020 WL 70952, at *6 (S.D.N.Y. Jan. 6, 2020). Thus, thought the presumption of public access to this document under Lugosch v. Pyramid Co. of Onondaga, “is low and amounts to little more than a prediction of public access absent a countervailing reason,” I find no countervailing reason because the material is already public. 435 F.3d 110, 121 (2d Cir. 2006) (quoting In re Reporters Comm. for Freedom of the Press, 773 F.2d 1325, 1050 (D.C.Cir.1985)). The Clerk of Court is respectfully directed to unseal the document at Doc. 9, and to terminate the motion at Doc. 8. SO ORDERED. Dated: January 9, 2023 New York, New York /} f | )

Vernon S. Broderick United States District Judge