Global Refining Group, Inc. v. Savage Software Corp

Background

Plaintiffs Global Refining Group, Inc. and Alpha Recycling, Inc. sought permission to file two documents under seal. The defendants identified in the letter as the “Savage Defendants” were Joe Petti and Savage Software Corp.

The request arose after the parties entered into a Settlement Agreement and Consent Decree, which the court had so ordered on October 18, 2024. According to the letter, the plaintiffs had agreed to provide the Savage Defendants with documents defining the plaintiffs’ trade-secret “data,” which the Savage Defendants had agreed not to use.

Requested Filing

Plaintiffs sought to file unredacted, sealed versions of the Declaration of Iga Wolotowski and the plaintiffs’ Supplemental Response to Defendants’ Interrogatory No. 1. The letter stated that both documents provided a thorough definition of the plaintiffs’ trade-secret data.

The plaintiffs argued that publicly filing documents defining their trade secrets would undermine their effort to keep that information secret. They also argued that the information had been developed using the plaintiffs’ company resources to maintain and strengthen their competitive advantage in the catalytic-converter database business.

Ruling

The court’s endorsement states that the application was granted. Judge Ramos therefore granted the plaintiffs’ request to file the two identified documents under seal. The excerpt does not state any additional limitations or conditions on that ruling.