Slone v. Racer

• Court: District Court, S.D. West Virginia
• Decided: June 4, 2024
• Docket: 3:23-cv-00636
• Status: Unknown

Opinion

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF WEST VIRGINIA

HUNTINGTON DIVISION OPAL R. SLONE, individually and as the Administratrix of the Estate of Jacquline Hudson, and THE ESTATE OF JACQULINE HUDSON,

Plaintiff,

v. Case No.: 3:23-cv-00636

JEFFREY RACER, et al.,

Defendants.

MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER

Pending before the Court are Defendants Cabell County Sheriff Office, Chuck Zerkle, and Cabell County Commission’s Motion to File Motion for Judicial Review Under Seal, (ECF No. 58), and Motion for Judicial Review. (ECF No. 58-1). Due to the confidential information contained in the motions, and there being no objection by Plaintiff, this Court GRANTS Defendants’ Motion to File Under Seal and ORDERS the Clerk to file Defendants’ Motion to File Motion for Judicial Review and Defendants’ Motion for Judicial Review under seal. (ECF Nos. 58, 58-1). The undersigned is cognizant of the well-established Fourth Circuit precedent recognizing a presumption in favor of public access to judicial records. Ashcraft v. Conoco, Inc., 218 F.3d 288 (4th Cir. 2000). As stated in Ashcraft, before sealing a document, the Court must follow a three-step process: (1) provide public notice of the request to seal; (2) consider less drastic alternatives to sealing the document; and (3) provide specific reasons and factual findings supporting its decision to seal the documents and for rejecting alternatives. Id. at 302. In this case, Defendants’ Motion to File Motion for Judicial Review Under Seal and Defendants’ Motion for Judicial Review shall be sealed and will be designated as sealed on the Court’s docket. The Court deems this sufficient notice to interested members of the public. The Court has considered less drastic alternatives to sealing the documents, but in view of the nature of the information set forth in the documents—which is information generally protected from public release—alternatives to wholesale sealing are not feasible at this time. Moreover, the information provided in the motions is submitted to the Court for the purpose of resolving a discovery dispute, rather than for disposition of substantive claims in this action. Accordingly, the Court finds that sealing Defendants’ Motion to File Motion for Judicial Review Under Seal and Defendants’ Motion for Judicial Review, do not unduly prejudice the public’s right to access court documents. With respect to the Motion for Judicial Review, (ECF No. 58-1), Plaintiff has not objected within the time frame permitted. Therefore, the Motion is GRANTED. Defendants Cabell County Sheriffs Office, Chuck Zerkle, and Cabell County Commission are ORDERED to provide the records for in camera review by delivering them to the Court’s chambers on or before June 11, 2024. The Clerk is instructed to provide a copy of this Order to counsel of record and any unrepresented parties. ENTERED: June 4, 2024

Cheryl A\Eifert United States Magistrate Judge