May v. Google LLC
- Beth Freeman
- 5:24-cv-01314
- U.S. District Court · Northern District of California
- 3
In May v. Google LLC, Judge Freeman granted Defendants’ motion to keep an exhibit containing personal information under seal.
The ruling protects Plaintiff’s personal information, including her address, and keeps the exhibit at ECF No. 122 from public access.
What happened
In May v. Google LLC, Defendants asked the court to decide whether an exhibit containing Plaintiff’s personal information should remain sealed. Plaintiff filed a declaration supporting sealing, and Defendants took no position on the request.
The exhibit contained messages with personal information, including Plaintiff’s address. Plaintiff said sealing was necessary to protect her family’s privacy and prevent identity theft. The court applied the standards governing access to judicial records and found compelling reasons to keep the information confidential.
Judge Beth Labson Freeman granted Defendants’ administrative motion and ordered that the exhibit filed at ECF No. 122 remain under seal.
The detailed version
- May v. Google LLC · No. 5:24-cv-01314
- Beth Freeman
- Sept. 17, 2025
Background
Defendants filed an administrative motion asking the court to consider whether Plaintiff’s material should be sealed. Plaintiff filed a declaration supporting the sealing request. The motion concerned an exhibit connected with Defendants’ motion. The exhibit contained messages with Plaintiff’s personal information, including her address. Defendants took no position on the request to seal.
Legal standard
The court explained that judicial records generally carry a strong presumption of public access. Depending on how closely the records relate to the merits of the case, a party seeking to seal them must show either compelling reasons or good cause. The court also noted that requests must comply with the Northern District of California’s Local Rule 79-5, including requirements that sealing be supported and narrowly tailored.
Ruling
The court found compelling reasons to seal the personal information because confidentiality would protect Plaintiff’s privacy and help prevent harm or identity theft. Judge Beth Labson Freeman granted Defendants’ administrative motion. The court ordered that the exhibit filed at ECF No. 122 remain under seal.
Read the full 3-page opinion on CourtListener, the free public archive maintained by the Free Law Project.