Michele Metcalf v. Transperfect Global Inc.

Background

The order followed a January 15, 2025 case-management conference and addressed discovery and sealing motions in the putative class action brought by Michele Metcalf and Hannah Lawson against TransPerfect Translations International Inc.

Discovery rulings

The court denied the plaintiffs’ request to reference deposition testimony and emails designated confidential in this case in arbitration demands.

The court also denied the defendant’s requests to compel production of two categories of documents: (1) a spreadsheet that Plaintiff Lawson created while employed by the defendant calculating the hours she worked, and (2) personal, non-work-related communications sent by Plaintiffs Metcalf and Lawson at times they contend they were performing compensable work for the defendant. The court denied those requests because they were not proportional to the needs of the case.

Sealing rulings and disposition

The court denied the plaintiffs’ sealing motions at ECF Nos. 370 and 384 without prejudice because they did not meet the standard for sealing under Lugosch v. Pyramid Co. of Onondaga. The plaintiffs may refile the motions with only information concerning an individual employee’s compensation and individual employees’ personal contact information, including personal email addresses, redacted.

The court directed the Clerk to terminate the motions at ECF Nos. 370, 371, 372, and 384. It also directed the Clerk to keep the documents at ECF Nos. 371 and 385 under seal. Judge Katharine H. Parker signed the order as a United States Magistrate Judge.